Ever since she was a kid, Environmental Science and Biology teacher, Amy Thut has loved gardening. She remembers being young and watching her parents work in the garden while she would climb a tree or play in the yard. Amy’s garden now is around 25 by 40 feet.The garden includes a variety of food including blueberries, asparagus, serviceberries, currants, and grapes. Amy’s favorite fruit to grow however, are strawberries. They “are easy and rewarding.” Another reward for her is the fresh air, the smell of the earth, and being about to watch her family interact with the garden. Her kids really enjoy watering, playing in water, and eating all of the fruit.
Amy prefers working in her garden during the evening. It is at this time when “the sun is setting, it’s cooler, and and robins are singing.” She also really enjoys the planting season. She enjoys it more so than the harvesting season because, “it’s spring, it’s exciting for the weather to warm up, and there’s an anticipation of new life.”
As of right now, they have a greenhouse made of a frame with plastic, and the only future plans they have are for getting a more permanent greenhouse. They use and will use the greenhouse to grow kale, spinach, and mustards greens. The reason they do not have any bigger future plans in place is because they have “small children to tend to.”
For Amy, the most challenging thing she has ever grown is blueberries. Blueberries have to have more acidic soil and so some years she gets a lot more and some years she gets a lot less. When asked, “What have you always wanted to grow but couldn’t because of price/weather/where we live?” Amy responded, without much thought, “Mangos! I would love a mango tree!”
Amy also had a few tidbits of wisdom for young gardeners!
- Don’t think too hard. Just do it!
- You can always start with transplants, they’re much easier than seeds!
- It’s very possible to garden in a small yard.
- Don’t worry about messing up. You’ll figure it out as you go.
If you ever have any questions about gardening, Amy is the person you should talk to!
~Carissa