Featured Freedom Gardener of August

Freedom Gardens: Congratulations Freedom Gardener of August!  Thanks for being a part of this site, contributing to it and spreading the word!  Tell us a little more about your garden.

CornerGardener:  We started gardening 4 years ago when we first moved into our current home. It was something that we had planned to do in our last place but just never seemed to get going. We started with 120 sq ft of raised beds, added a little each year and this year nearly doubled it to what is now over 400 sq ft. Last year we made a decision to begin truly working the land that we have. I had found Path to Freedom’s site and their message and was inspired to take action. Today the garden has grown; we have chickens and worms (so far) for both food and manure. We grow beans, cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers of course but also try to add new plants every year like kohlrabi, kale and heirloom variety vegetables. We grow food both for fresh eating as well as for storage and try to maximize yield in the small area we work by getting creative with our methods and square inch gardening more each year. We are loving every minute and every bite of food!

FG: Behind every garden, there must have been blood, sweat and tears. What have you felt was (is) the hardest thing you’ve faced (or are facing) in your gardening? Would you care to share a story?

CornerGardener:  Of course in the evolution of our garden we did face a lot of work. Last spring, we decided to build our back yard border beds and to pave our pergola floor with recycled “urbanite” that we could get for free. Having three strong young boys (10, 11, 13) we put them to work and attacked a six foot high pile of concrete and within a few trips had reduced it to rubble. We’ve also had to become active in our community to change the laws to allow for the keeping of urban chickens. That’s still an ongoing battle, but nearing completion. The outlaw birds still reside in our backyard.

FG: What do you feel is the most important thing in gardening?

CornerGardener:  I’d have to say failures. I know I know… am I nuts? Failures to me mean a couple of things. One, you tried something new and it didn’t work. The point is, you tried. Two, you now know what NOT to do; you’re that much closer to success and you can try again. I am a firm believer in trying new ways of doing things. We are, most of us, growing in very unconventional ways. Trying, and failing sometimes, helps us to get to know our land and how it works and in the long run will make us better stewards and better farmers..

FG: Have you changed - emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually - since you’ve gardened?

CornerGardener:  In some ways I’ve always gardened. My first memories of growing things go back so far I can’t put a year to them. I can say however, that since I have had this first garden, I seem to have come into my own. I know I was meant to do this. It has given me a way to take back control when I feel the world is spinning out of it. I have found my peace to a great extent. Much of this is tied to my garden.

FG: Has the website (freedomgardens.org) helped you with your garden?

CornerGardener:  It has. It’s given me ability to connect with other FG’ers that share my same passion. I learn and am inspired by others here almost daily. I already have new plans for next year that have come directly from this site! I love it.

FG:  Thank you for taking the time to share with us.  Your blog states: “Ad Posse Ad Esse” – you have really gone from ”possibility to reality” in creating your garden.  We enjoyed learning more about you and your wonderful perspective of treating failures as important lessons to learn in gardening.     We  are behind you in spirit - hoping you win your battle to keep your “outlaw” chickens. :-) 

CornerGardener has some beautiful photos to share with us so be sure to visit cornergardener’s profile to see photos, learn more about his garden and visit his great website/blog “Ad Posse Ad Esse.”

Freedom Gardeners of the Month receive a gift from the online store Peddler’s Wagon - Green Goods for the Good of the Planet. (Please support Freedom Gardens and help us grow by purchasing from our store)

Featured Freedom Gardeners are selected by the amount of time they spend on the Freedom Gardens site, the effort put into their profile, how much they have contributed to the site and how much they have shared or spread the word about Freedom Gardens.