The risk of frost is almost over, so now the garden moves out doors

For the past number of months we have been growing our garden inside the Earthship. Where we live, we only get about 88 frost free days a year, which means growing food is a challenge.  To overcome that challenge, we start our garden indoors when the snow is still on the ground and we don't move it outdoors until the risk of frost is over.  We are still taking a chance as we have seen frost in the middle of June.

Yes, that may seem weird to most, but the longest day of the year is still early in our growing season as frost comes to visit when the sun shines over our heads for nearly 17 hours in a day.  We also utilize the Earthship, atrium and greenhouse to grow food as well to mitigate the risk of frost and extend the growing season.  Here is our garden so far, in different stages as we work hard now to move it out and get the plants grounded with Mother Earth.

Lettuce, tomatoes and a few other plants waiting to reconnect with Mother Earth.  These were started months ago.

My tobacco ready to get transplanted outside as well.  The first two plantings did not work, but for some reason this one took off.  So we got lots again this year.  

Cucumbers in the atrium.  We expect them to grow to the ceiling and higher.  They are about ready to take off!

Beans, cucumbers, strawberries and other plants growing in my new planter in the atrium.

This picture is blurry, but these are tomatoes around 20 inches tall already.  They too will grow to the ceiling or higher.  They love the heat in the atrium or greenhouse!

Kale growing well too.  We keep a few in pots as we bring them in for the winter so that we can collect seed from them next year.  

Our earthship is not done, so now I'm building planters in front of the earthship that is not currently covered with an atrium.  The clay was removed and I mix goat manure in with top soil to make a mulch for the plant bed.  The tomatoes in the pots will be planted here tomorrow.

My potatoes were planted about 10 -15 days ago.  They are doing well.  They pop up quickly as I plant the tubers in the ground with the sprouts sticking out of the ground.  They grow leaves which gives them a big head start.  

Carey (@carey-page) has the corn and pumpkins in as well.  We lost two pumpkin plants two nights ago to frost.  :(  We also planted peas, beans, beats, carrots and other crops, but they are not up yet.  This year is so dry that we are having to water the garden.  Yet another benefit of each individual growing their own food.  When situations like this come up, small gardeners can take care of their crop.  But the big farmers are overwhelmed and cannot cope with situations like this.  

When I till the garden, the ducks love to come and help.  They are looking for worms and find lots!  They come running when they hear the tiller start up.  Just like the goats come running when I start the chain saw.  They love stripping the trees that I cut down of the leaves and bark.

Watering the garden because it is sooooooo dry here.  

Our rhubarb seems to love this weather.  It is flowering which is the first time I've ever seen this with this plant. 

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