We are gardening with friends this year, helping out with their large garden in exchange for food. I first wrote about it here.
We go out there weekly and do what needs to be done. I wondered how I would find the time to be away from home one day per week, in addition to my usual errand day. Surprisingly, the time is available. Amazing what one can do when one must! 
Each week, we can’t wait to go! The time we spend there is great family time. We work and laugh together — priceless times.
Beginning a garden is alot of work without much payoff — yet. But we’re beginning to see fruit.
We have brought home lettuce for some weeks. In fact, the lettuce is more than abundant for our two families, so we have some to feed Gracie, too (our milk cow). Gracie gets the heads that are bolting and almost gone to seed.
Some peas are coming up, but not most of them. We had planted seeds that I saved from a 2005 seed purchase, and most were not viable in spite of me keeping them in the freezer. It was a good test! So I just reseeded with new pea seeds.
Interestingly, other seeds that I kept in the freezer all these years are doing really well — such as spinach, beets, cucumbers, and melons.
The radishes are almost ready — in fact, we pulled up 5 or 6. These, along with carrots, we plan to start every few weeks so we can have a constant supply throughout the spring, summer and fall.
How is your garden doing?
I shared this post in Simple Lives Thursday.
Our garden had a rough start. Record breaking rainfall and an unusually late cold snap. I’ve had to redo some of it.
http://www.halleethehomemaker.com/2011/06/the-garden-week-4-2/
Hallee
Hallee the Homemaker´s last [type] ..The Garden- Week 4
Oh, that’s too bad, Hallee! It sounds like you’ve got the right approach — just try, try again.
Most of what we’ve planted has been under the protection of cold frames which is the only reason why they’re doing as well as they are. We haven’t been able to plant much in the outside-outside because of rain and cold.
We moved this spring and left our garden behind, however the new occupants are friends so we just kept returning to harvest, until things bolted. I started an above ground garden last fall there, and the winter harvest came in late this spring, mysteriously. Although this was our first success (or partial) we really enjoyed the results. We enjoyed kale, beets, lettuce variety. The sweet peas, broccoli and onions didn’t make it. We brought a few heads each of kale, lettuce to our new place that did well, and added tomatoes. I think there must be a neighboring child that has been tending the tomatoes, because we are missing some taht were starting to ripe!
And that’s what is going on in our garden life!
Catherine — That is too funny that someone is “tending” your garden! I think it is great that you got to go back and harvest even though you’d moved.
Looks great, Wardeh! Love seeing your garden. My garden is in but it’s not up yet. Our season is short but the days are long so we manage to get quite a bit out of our gardens, God willing.
Marg´s last [type] ..Making butter with a food processor
Marg — I wish I could be a fly on the wall and see how that works with your short, intense garden season!
Looking good!
Shalom, Moira
Moira´s last [type] ..Garden Challenge 3
Thanks, Moira!
Michigan isn’t boasting much produce yet, but Holly and I ate our first wax bean as we weeded the garden. We made quite a fuss about it and nibbled on it as we ran to show my husband. Only the tip was left by the time we found him, but he gave us high praise saying that all that work he did putting in raised beds paid off with that one bean.
Pam
Fun! Can’t wait to see what other things will grow successfully. We are working towards doing the square foot gardening. Working on our compost right now and praying that we start building the raise beds this next week
)
Marg,
Our season is short too! Homer, AK
but like you say the long days make up for it
As it is the 4th of June, I SHOULD be done planting, but still have a little more to do…
I am due with number 7 on the 21st, and it has been a little harder this year to get things all done, but God is good, and He is my strength.
Happy Happy planting and many abundant returns to you all
Crystal
Hi Wardeh,
It just had browned peanuts as the nuts too…much cheaper than pine nuts! We got all excited then and made another bach with radish tops and rocket in with the carrot tops. I think I’ve come to the conclusion that pesto can be made with pretty much anything green that is not toxic…I’m going to have fun trying anyway. 
The other thing was that we didn’t really follow a recipe either. We used the greens, olive oil, parmesan cheese, peanuts and salt and just guessed at what looked right…and it was good!
Lovely to see your garden. Being on the other side of the world, (NZ), we are into Autumn, (Fall). Still, our local homeschool group started a garden at the home of one of the homeschool families. We recently had a weeding and planting session and the children, (and adults lol), were delighted to be able to make a salad with pak choi, beet leaves, beetroot, chickweed and baby carrots. We also tried out carrot top pesto which was an idea from Simple Live Thursday. It was good!! We were surprised, oh we of little faith!
Wardeh, your garden looks great. Here in North Eastern Wisconsin our season is just getting under way. My wife just planted dill this morning and our carrots are starting to come up. Tomatoe plants are healthy but we really need rain here, not just watering but some of God’s greatness.
thanks
Ray