Jerrica

I have a backyard that used to be all lawn that I'm gradually converting into vegetable and flower garden. I try to be as chemical-free in my garden as possible, but I don't know if I'd call myself organic. I've got four catulpa trees in the front, and bearded iris foundation plantings. The back yard has a lot of lawn and now four or five beds where I'm building up the soil to grow tomatoes, peppers, beans, etc.

My neighborhood is old enough that there aren't too many deer or raccoons around. I do have to contend with Fibber, my part German Shepherd Dog, part lab, who likes to dig and run and wreak havoc. He loves lying in the dirt, on top of whatever was planted, and making mud paths through the grass. At least he keeps the rabbits out of the yard and keeps weeds from growing on our fence line.

I am taking over tending a bed of roses at my church. I would like to convert this to chemical free/organic, in a way that the long standing members of the church don't get all worried. (They can be a little resistant to change.) I'm thinking about interplanting some onions, garlic, chives and anything else I can get for cheap, to keep bugs down, and then I'd like to figure out some non-chemical fertilizer to use when the roses need it. A lot of church members seem to think I'm an expert at gardening, when in fact, everything I know I learned from a few minutes googling, so I really need the roses to flourish to keep them fooled!

I belong to a CSA, which is where I get a lot of ideas for what I would like to grow. I am addicted to their fresh garlic, and jealous that they can successfully grow carrots when all I can get is carrot tops. (Have a great vegetable broth recipe that uses carrot tops, though, so I'll keep planting them.

-- -Jerrica --Kansas City, MO --zone 5