First of all, take their interest as a compliment to your commitment to the garden -- and also understand that during the nicer times of summer the itch to garden can overcome any lack of experience! So think of it like a bunch of toddlers in your kitchen who want to "help." Instead of letting them help you make dinner, let them play with the pots and pans! If you are worried about telling someone to "not to touch anything ever" you could try posting a list of (non-worrisome) things that need to be done. For the incorrigible "helpers" you could find something that they like to do, and set them up on a schedule for one or two tasks. For instance, edging every other week on Tuesdays, watering every other day, pulling weeds every Saturday, etc. For the truly helpless-but-helpful, how about deadheading? Show them what to look for and how to pull off the deadheads, and they could wander through the garden every day feeling helpful. Later in the season you could direct this energy into saving seeds for next year. Also keep in mind that, unless one of you is the landowner, none of you has sole rights to the garden. So, unfortunately, it falls to the most committed gardener (that would be you) to work hard to communicate to the others what needs to be happening. (Or not happening, as the case may be.) Good luck!

Thanks to you all for your suggestions!!! I really appreciate you sharing your experience with me. To answer some of your questions, I did have plants in these beds, and they did OK. In the existing bed, I had used Posy Power and those plants did TOO well and got totally out of hand, I was always trimming things back. The plants in the mushroom compost beds didn't get very big and I'm sure it was because their roots couldn't get through the layers of paper. I had soaker hoses running on a timer all summer, so the beds had lots of water throughout the drought. Also, I do see some worms but I'm sure not five per shovel full. I didn't understand that I would need a green source when I put down the mushroom compost, I thought it would still have some nitrogen in it. If I make compost tea and apply it to the top of the existing mushroom compost beds, would that help things out any? And with coffee grounds, how much coffee grounds are we talking about here -- a weeks worth from my house, or a weeks worth from Starbucks? What about fresh manure? I've read that a ratio of 1 part manure to 3 parts brown works well. Would you agree? I do have a compost pile and I mix it in when I plant things, but it's not big enough to supply what I need to amend the new beds. I'm going to try to get hubbie to relax on taking out any soil and just add compost and leaves. Oh gosh, yes, we have lots of leaves as our property backs up to a wooded greenspace. Thanks again for all of your replies. It's wonderful to have some clarity with this. And it's so great that there is a community of folks that help each other out with their gardening!!

Memories are being made there. I think you should frame one picture of this for each of them. I'm glad you had help to accomplish so much. A helping hand surely makes a difference in the garden! MeMo

I immediately thought of what Parma said about the european temps this summer when i read your post. I agree, there were good lessons rolled into your experience-- and not that you need my validation, but you made the right decision. I know this is a trip of a lifetime for you-- it wouldnt have been as enjoyable if you werent all feeling great. Hope your daughter is recovering well from the virus and her surgery. Maybe you can do something to whet your appetite in advance of your trip next spring. Maybe plan a trip into the city for an authentic meal. I LOVE Lupa-- one of Mario Batali's restaurants. It is not as upscale as Bobbo but it is a much more relaxed environment and the food is memory making. Of course there are so many great italian restaurants in NYC... many of which are smaller and less expensive. Perhaps you already have your own favorites. Another option I highly recommend is a walking tour of the italian neighborhoods of NYC. Addie Tomei (Marisa's mother) runs Savory Sojourns-- I have been on a few of her tours over the years. She is so vibrant and interesting and KNOWLEDGEABLE. Her tours hit some "must see" sites as well as hidden treasures... and the whole experience is peppered with interesting and entertaining narrations about the life and history of the neighborhoods. It is really a great experience and I think well worth the price (about 150pp). Or.. for a much more modest price, have a family movie night and rent The Big Night or Il Postino or Enchanted April or Under a Tuscan Sun (I didnt love the movie as much as the book-- but still it has gorgeous views of the Italian countrysides). Here is a link that might be useful: Savory Sojourns