NEW! We are moving moving and finally able to have a garden! SO excited! Remember all the work I did as a kid....but sadly I didn't pay much attention to the PLANTING part :( I was pulled in for child labor on the harvesting, cleaning, shucking and shelling ;)

I have read a post here about preparing the ground without tilling by using cardboard, newspaper and layering it over time until needed. I KNOW the spot I chose has clay. I could make bricks. I want to use THAT spot for root vegetables (if you guys think I can do it after a winter of preparing the soil with the layer method and heavy composting...we are making bins now)

I want to do my vegetables in an entirely diff spot but the grass is CRAZY thick. My grandfather built this home by hand...he did things for everyone and helped build the school's stadium....then brought the spare sod over and we have LUSH, grass that kids will knock on the door just to ask if they can play football out there :)

(I have all girls but they are happy about having this yard...lol)

I have multiple questions....the cold frame first because I'm a talker and jump topic, so sorry, bear with!!

WHAT side of the house would I need to place this for best results? My husband chose a spot but I'm not liking it. The location? IDEAL for "looks" due to it being right behind our garage, up against cinder block and "he" said he would build up the frame with cinder block to the same size...fill in dirt and then frame it from there so it's all nice looking.....me? I think that's not a bad "idea" but that spot is COLD! (when I say I'm a beginner? I AM but I have a "little" idea from just living that life...I can't help much but instinct is there? make any sense? It just feels WRONG...kinda like wearing gloves when planting...I can't do it....can't FEEL what I'm doing) It's even a cool spot in summer...the ground is a bit sandy/rocky...even though I won't actually PLANT there, will it not be too cold? I noted the sandy bare aspect because I think it's due to little light, cold and damp...I don't want my seeds to mold! (I've noticed I have mixed soil in so many areas).....a barn is directly in front of it so it may block my sun....thoughts? Ideas? I can post some photo's a little later.

WHAT is the easiest way to build a cold frame? We were going to buy all the materials but we SCORED yesterday! I noticed the sun shine off something buried half in the wood-line....of course i am a "trash to treasure" type girl so I wandered (more like waddled...I'm 6 months pregnant at age 37 with number 5 :) ANYWAY, wandered/waddled over and saw a shattered full framed glass door. :( I was so sad. My husband went to pull it up so we could clear it. (I have teen daughters but one IS only 3 so she would be the one to fall in that and get cut). He pulled it up....it was double paned, only ONE side broken! YES! THEN? I not only found a very cute salamander and started a science lesson with the toddler but 3 MORE buried doors....UNtouched but FILTHY! Must clean. SO?

Because of their length, I'm worried about how sturdy they will be. Hubby said to frame up, add hinges and a seal and a handle. hmmm. I think We should frame up the GLASS a little as well so it's got support in the "center"....then hinge and handle. (I CAN use a power saw ;)

WHAT is the process of seed starting in these? ANY time?? Do I have to wait till After Christmas as I've read some say? Is there a list of plants I can start from seed and WHEN to start from seed?

I like "natural" so I would be using homemade seed containers from egg shell cartons and the like. Would they break down before I have a chance to plant my "plant"?

I don't want to start TOO early and my seedlings be TOO large for my frame and end up having to lug them into the laundry/sunroom (husband would SHOOT me....well...not really but he would want to...lol)

Sorry if I'm all over the place with this. I have not gardened even with flowers in so very long and I miss it. My little boy passed away at the age of five, almost 5 years ago (this coming June is 5 years)....I gave up on the yard. I was about a year into working with a family owned nursery...learning plants and getting cuttings and doing my thing. He helped me....I just let it all grow wild or get choked out.

Last week I dug up my bulbs.... I have Hosta, Daylily, lots of woodland plants....Trillium that I had to SCROUNGE for...Ferns, Strawberry Vine, Purple Oxalis (sp? it's been so long I can hardly remember)...Hellabore, Iron Plant (green and aggressive...Not sure if it's the real name but I heard it called that)...I have a LOT of hard to find things that I can still get to and have not died out...I used to know ALL the names but some have escaped me....Can I dig those now or just hope my house doesn't sell before spring (which would be a nightmare as I want OUT from under a mortgage!!!) CAN I move those plants?? Can I dig any and dry them out....save till spring and just wait the 2 years (I'm assuming) for them to come back? SO MUCH TO DO!

The Bulbs are "heirloom" family bulbs. I am NOT leaving my momma's plants here! SO? Gotta figure out whether to dry/store those till later and plant OR to get busy before it's entirely TOO cold now?

*SIGH*....anyone have a headache yet :)

Hope for help. Think I found a good spot to start! I've looked at your plant swap post and saw some faces...wondered if I may know anyone. I would LOVE to become a part of a group that can teach me! I want to be sure MY GIRLS I learn! I am so ready to try and supplement my groceries. I want to grow herbs, food. I want to plant some fruit tree's for when I'm older so my kids have them.

I came from a family that did everything they could by hand. I didn't keep that up :( when I had friends over they wondered why our meat was wrapped in "brown paper" :)

We have 65 acres about 5 miles from the "homestead" as it was called....it had EVERYTHING!!! I used to wake up at darkthirty and go harvest. So fun.....We had our own cows....we kept those in another area of course...sold most but kept "meat" for slaughter. We had chickens, pigs. I think the only thing momma (granny really but she raised me) bought from the "store" was flour, sugar etc. She made EVERYTHING! I just cleaned the butter churn out yesterday that I watched her work over while I played in the yard! I miss her. Quilt racks that were suspended in the ceiling and I can remember my aunt's sitting around it all chatting and working away.

I may never get THAT far in our busy lifestyle but I'm ready to SLOW IT DOWN and teach my kids that life isn't ALL ABOUT processed foods from the grocery and McDonalds. My teens are excited.....my toddler will LOVE it! Husband wasn't raised like I was, he was a military brat and became a soldier. He's all done now and ready to help out....but I cannot depend on much other than "muscle" till I can learn and pass it on.

SHUTTING UP NOW!

:)

lemme have it guys. Think newbie, basic carpentry skills....good instincts and learns quickly....retains it fast. I know I have "big plans" but I'm going to start slow...learn as I go and increase.

PRIORITY NOW?

Getting what I CAN "moved" without killing it from this spot....and it's GROWN UP and out of control. (like random garden plants growing wild in a woods!!! so I want to save what I can)

Getting that cold frame built and seeds started.

Getting my "spots" started with the no till method for spring planting WITH my seedlings. :)

COMPOST help!!!! I need LOTS and we are only using 2 trash bins so any idea how to build a bigger one for the edge of the woods would be helpful too.

Is my post in the right spot....I hated to put all this in "separate" posts all over because I have such limited time on the computer (I mentioned teens right lol) I would love to be able to come "here" and read any tips and if you can LINK me to a good post/read, I can do that too!

Thanks so very very much in advance.

PS----including a photo of the door that now has only "one pane"...you can see a second one beside it that is still a double. (we have 3 double pane and the one that was shattered remains a single)

HOPING that dirt is only on the outside but IF it's on the inside...HOW can I "break" one pane without harming the other?? YES they are NASTY....We were not dressed for yard work so we are going to clean them this weekend. BUT! That's the spot he want's to put them (the cold, dreary spot) He say's it's on the NORTH side of the home....(but there is a barn 10 feet in front and this gets LITTLE sun due to that.

Ignore that ugly wiring! There was an outdoor industrial type light mounted above somewhere and those are coming off!