It hardly seems like four years have gone by since we moved to this house with three boys under the age of four, since we started the garden we wanted to grow, and since we started Grow Your Own. The boys have grown and so has the garden, and this year we have over 400 square feet of edible garden space. As we picked blueberries last month my mind went back to when we first looked at this house and saw the back yard, which though large also had a sizable weed problem. I looked around and envisioned a fence with edibles planted all along it: berries, herbs, tomatoes, peppers, and all the other things that we wanted to grow but hadn’t tried yet. I saw nut and fruit trees, and I saw our boys growing up with food all around them, learning about the plants and helping harvest. And we’re making that happen with a lot of work.
So it is a little difficult for me to announce the end of Grow Your Own. I’ve loved the event and reading about what everyone else has grown, foraged, or hunted, but the time has come to end it. We will always promote the ideals behind Grow Your Own and encourage anyone who asks me about starting a garden, and of course we invite you to join us as we continue to share about what we are growing.
We truly appreciate the support you have shown for the event, so as a thank you we’re going to have a giveaway to celebrate four years of growing, hunting, foraging, and sharing.
I am giving away a garden hod, something that we bought for our garden this year and really like. It’s a great tool for harvest, and you can rinse the fruits and vegetables right in the bin with a hose. They come in two sizes and the winner can choose the size you prefer. The large one will hold about 16 quarts of fruits and vegetables and measures 19-¼"L x 11"W x 7-¼"H. The small one will hold about 8 quarts and measures 16"L x 9"W x 5-¼"H. You can read more about garden hods at Yankee Magazine, “What The Heck Is A Garden Hod?”
To enter, leave a comment telling us what you are growing this year, or if you are new to gardening, what you would like to grow. Please make sure your email address is correct so I can contact you if you are the lucky winner. Apologies to my international readers, but the hod can only be shipped within the United States and Canada. The contest closes at 8 P.M. EST on August 13, and Random.org will select the winner. Look for the announcement of the winner in this post and at my Facebook page soon after.
Update August 16, 2011: Congratulations to SharleneT, winner of the garden hod! Thanks to everyone that entered and to everyone that participated in Grow Your Own over the last four years.
Stacy says
I scaled back a little this year but my containers feature tomatoes, jalapenos and bell peppers. On my deck are two big planters of herbs; parsley, oregano, sage, thyme, mint and several kinds of basil.
Elaine says
We're concentrating on herbs, but have a volunteer cherry tomato plant that has been loaded with tomatoes for weeks now. Every day we get another handful, and every day, they're consumed instantly.
Tricia says
This year we are growing the ever bearing zucchini both yellow and green. Tomato's of several different varieties. The green zebra and green grape are favorites. Tomatillo's, habenero's, fatallii, purple bells, yellow wax and Italian peppers. We have to have cucumbers.....the Japanese and Lemon. We had volunteer melons and corn pop up....many blessings.
Kelly says
We are growing lots of herbs on our deck, and tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, cucumbers, beans, beets, eggplant and corn in our regular garden (we are also generously feeding the local deer, groundhog, rabbit and chipmunk populations). We also have raspberries, blueberries and grapes planted around the fences.
Nate @ House of Annie says
Sad to see GYO finished, but things change and life goes on.
This year we are growing a papaya tree, some turmeric, a mulberry plant, french beans, long beans, okra, wintermelon, spinach, and some other plants I can't remember right now.
SharleneT says
This has been my first year for the orchard fruit, peaches and apricots. Two herb gardens, tomatoes, peppers, chard, eggplant, onions, chard. Weather's been really hot and a lot of plants didn't make it, in spite of watering and mulching -- just too hot. Really sorry to see GYO close down, but you're moving on to something bigger and better, I'm sure. Would love the hod.
Julia says
GYO was indeed fun! I've been growing a lot this year (a lot for me considering I don't have even close to 400 feet in my yard).... lettuces, garlic, celery, broccoli, kale, peas, tomatoes, cucumbers, jalapenos, eggplants, raspberry, strawberries and lots of herbs. It's been fun to watch the seasons change in my yard.
Deb says
We are currently growing (trying at least.. triple digits are hampering efforts) tomatoes, jalapeño
plants, strawberries, collard greens, chard, Serrano peppers and, new this year, Spanish piquillo peppers.
Even though it has been a while since I've submitted anything, I will miss GYO. Many thanks for planting that idea in so many hearts!
melanie says
we are trying to grow lettuce in a pot...we'll see how it comes out!
aimee @ smilingmama says
We're only growing tomatoes this year but I have dreams for greens, cucumbers and zucchini next year!
Lynda Clark says
This is our first attempt at vegetable gardening and as novice gardeners, we are learning more about gardening everyday. Currently, we are growing Swiss chard, cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, watermelon and Brussels sprouts.
Solducky says
This was our first year with a real garden. We got a late start and have had some mishaps, but are growing pumpkins, watermelon, tomatoes, lettuce, zucchini and yellow squash, cucumbers and pole beans - all heirloom varieties.
s whelchel says
we are growing tomatoes, eggplant, and bell peppers. i am going to go buy some strawberries to go very soon though.
Sarah says
I've got lots of beans this year, and my tomatoes are going strong. Unfortunately, I'm not doing as much this year because we're trying to sell our house.
jenny says
Tomatoes, Peppers, Herbs.... all in pots... I don't get enough sun in my backyard to grow anything else and I love the shade on our house too much (we rarely have to run the AC)! We get everything else from our CSA!
Tara says
My beans are producing nicely, my tomatoes are begining to ripen and my zucchini has been a good producer too. My cukes are a little lacking this year. Hopefully next year will be better for those.
Dianne says
I'm so sorry this is the finale...I just recently discovered you. This was my first real attempt at a full on garden in many years. I've got MONSTER cherry tomatoes, lettuce, arugula, eggplant, zucchini, cucumbers, jalapeno peppers, broccoli, celery, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts. spinach. basil, rosemary, thyme, parsley, sage, dill, cilantro, mint, oregano and tarragon. All of these things did fabulously. My butternut squash and bell peppers...not so good.
Grace says
I am growing so much this year, and much of it for the first time. Right now I am starting to harvest tomatoes, onions, peppers, and the last of my cucumbers.
Fran says
I am growing several different kinds of heirloom tomatoes for canning and fresh use, sungold cherry tomatoes (like candy on the vine!), plus an attempt at eggplants and peppers. I always manage to grow herbs - oregano, sage, several mint types, chives, and huge quantities of basil. The apple tree is loaded this year, the asparagus is gone wild.
Kathie adams says
Front yard: artichokes figs nasturtiums squash strawberries avocados grapefruit clementines
Back yard: carrots radishes leeks chard plantains sage parsley sorrel kale oregano limes oranges eggplant tomatoes peppers
Tina W. says
I have a cherry tomato and a bunch of herbs, including sweet basil, thai basil, sage, and rosemary.
J Reed says
Currently we have basil and cilantro growing in our apartment. We will be purchasing a house shortly and already are planning out the garden. There are starfruit and coconuts already there. We hope to add planting papaya, pineapples and coffee on our first round of planting.
Andrea says
Thanks for entering the giveaway, entries are now closed. Stay tuned for the announcement of the winner!