Well, this is bold.
My garden is currently frozen and somewhat littered with dog feces. Its muddy in places where I dug up sod and clumpy in places where I threw sod. It has random plants, some I added right after we moved in so that they would get established over the fall and winter. Others (the pink flowering ones) linger from my house's previous owner. I have great visions for my garden tempered by the knowledge that it won't come quickly, shouldn't come quickly. That knowledge I obtained through experience. There is a family back in Cleveland who will curse me in the summer when all of the plants (many edible, many, many edible) will compete for space and potentially make all of them uniformly unhappy (and the edibles inedible). If I was still there I would get to work rearranging and sharing with neighbors or creating new beds. Very efficient.
So, I have been given a clean slate (and already done some damage), but I learned something about myself recently. I can stick to some things, especially given a new medium and a new computer to play with. I will use this blog to keep myself on task and remind myself of my choices and observations and use my energy for good. My good, at least.
SO, off to the races...
Raised bed, even with wood sides and gravel under to deter rodents. New soil, mostly compost. Over wintered compost in the bottom (lasagna style) where I plant stuff that isn't rooty. The overwintered compost is, of course, frozen and won't be real compost for a while.
Herbs by the door.
Lavender in the front.
pea tee-pee or tall tunnel for the kids (did I mention I have three boys, 7,5 and 2).
green manure for the rest of the crappy clay yard - lightly seeded and maybe mowed in patterns.
REAL cold weather garden - greens and peas.
that's all I can remember for now.