Stepping Toward Self-Sufficiency - Gardening

It's been unseasonably warm in Massachusetts. Highs have been in the low to mid-60s and one day this week we hit 70. I'm afraid this means we'll end up with a blizzard in April.

The nice thing about the warm weather is that I have been gearing up for spring--at least in my mind. I'm determined to put in a small vegetable garden this year. With the poor soil here, raised beds are the way to go. If I set it up now, covering the grass with newspaper, I can keep weeding during the growing season to a minimum.

I found these raised beds at Home Depot. They are made from a composite material that saves 16 pounds of plastic and wood flour from landfills per bed. According to the website, they will not rot. That's a plus. I am going to order three of them--one for me, and one each for the Lil Diva and the Lil Princess. They've helped me garden since they were little, so they want to try their hands at growing their own vegetables. 

I haven't worked out everything I'll put in my bed, but I know it will include:

• tomatoes,
• carrots,
• cucumbers,
• green beans,
• onions.

I am also considering lettuce--which did well in my earlier garden despite the poor soil--and some herbs: rosemary, basil, marjoram. I would like to surround the raised beds with plants that deter deer. At least maybe I can keep some of the wildlife out of the garden.

Do you have a vegetable garden? What are some of your favorite vegetables? Can you recommend any natural products to keep the pests away?

Product Review: Brinkmann 70 inch Premium Grill Cover

We purchased this cover from The Home Depot along with our new grill. It's much heavier and stronger than our old grill cover, which means we can expect several years out of it. The velcro straps on each side keep the cover in place, even with strong winds. We had severe thunderstorms last week with high winds. The grill cover didn't budge.

Our one concern is that the front vent lets in enough moisture that the grill doors might corrode faster than the rest.

The nice thing about ordering a grill cover from The Home Depot is it ships free with a $249 order.

I would definitely recommend this grill cover to anyone.

Product Review: Brinkmann 5-Burner Grill with Sear and Side Burners

We picked up the Brinkmann 5-Burner Grill with Sear and Side Burners based upon the many positive reviews on The Home Depot site. I've used it several times now and am truly enjoying it.

The heat on the ends seems to be more intense than in the middle, but I haven't used all five burners together yet. Assembly was easy, and despite being more difficult to clean, it's significantly better than our old gas grill. I find if I take a bunch of wet paper towels and place them on the burners while they are still warm, they wipe up easier.

My only complaint is that packaging and shipping could have been a bit better. There are several scratches on the back of the grill and the chain for the match lighter was broken off. The side burner will only match light, so we have to call Brinkmann to see if there is a problem with the connections. The delivery company left the grill on our front porch without even ringing the doorbell or asking for a signature. This didn't give me the time to inspect the packaging. The box was slightly torn on top, but otherwise intact.

Overall we are very satisfied with our purchase and would recommend this grill. With the new lower price on The Home Depot site, plus free shipping, this grill is definitely a great value.


Model #810-8501-S