I am attempting a few vertical growing projects this year. I started Tristar strawberries in a pallet and today constructed a trellis for Delicata squash. Mostly I'm trying to be as productive as possible in between the cloud bursts that are hitting Portland today.

I have to say keeping a garden journal is an essential tool to successful gardening. This is the third year I've kept track of what I've planted. 

Some ideas of what to write in your journal: When you start seeds, how much soil you ordered and where you got it i.e.: 4 yards of compost from Grimm Fuel. I also keep track of the when my hops starts to show, what birds I see at the feeder and any construction projects I do that are garden related. Once you get started it really helps plan year round gardening.

Also record what varieties produced well to help your seed ordering and troubleshooting for the following year. i.e.: Planted Black Prince, yield was poor, must move to sunnier place. 

I love being outdoors and gardening goes along with that love. My partner has a degree in horticulture, but I tend to feel more in touch with the natural world because I slow down to observe it. I know what the charts say about best planting dates, and the gardening books, but I also know what is already springing to life because I observed it in someone else's yard.

Yesterday, despite the rainy weather, I spent several hours constructing another garden box. I needed one for the quinoa seeds I purchased. I bought a variety that is supposed to do well in the Pacific Northwest and I am eager to see how it does.

 

This is pallet wood and a few fence boards I salvaged for this project.

The dimensions are 3 ft. x 4 ft. I kept a small path in front, wide enough for the wheel barrow. I used plastic, lids and sheeting, to keep the soil from touching the house and prevent rot. 

 This is the bed at the end of the day. There is a layer of straw and compost under the soil. I planted Red Headed Quinoa from Uprising Organics.