Earlier this year, we installed six raised garden beds with no real expectations beyond learning as we went. This was our first true attempt at gardening on this land, and we knew there would be a learning curve.
As summer has rolled on, those beds have surprised us. The plants are thriving and the garden is producing better than we expected for a first year. Strawberries have taken off, ginger is growing strong, squash vines are stretching in every direction, and the tomato plants are loaded. Asparagus has produced steadily all season. A mix of herbs fills in the rest of the space, adding color and scent every time we walk past.
There have been mistakes along the way. Some things did better than others, and a few lessons came the hard way. But overall, the garden has been generous. Harvesting food that came straight from the soil we work every day never gets old.
These six raised beds are already teaching us what grows well here and what needs more attention. More than that, they are reminding us that steady effort adds up. For a first year, we are grateful for what they have given us.