Tried my hand at a vegetable garden in the past, and had miserable luck with it. To be fair, it was in some pretty crummy Maine soil that was full of rocks. Might have more success now though. Just curious what everyone is growing.
What I really want is a yard of just wildflowers. Better for the environment, less effort to maintain, and much more in keeping with my personality. I hate the fully manicured look. Only downside to that is ticks…so many ticks in New England…walking through it would likely be a horror show.
I’m probably not the target demographic of this community, but I’m a big believer of whatever plants I have need to give back more than what I put in and be self-sufficient. Rhubarb, raspberries, wildflowers are good because they mostly take care of themselves. I’m kind of an anti-gardener I guess?
I, too, consider myself an anti-gardener. My long term goal is a good forest. In the meantime while the fruit trees grow I’m not relying too much on production and focusing on soil building, and increasing insects.
I’m not mowing this year, and I left the acorns and leaf litter over the winter. Not sure if it’s confirmation bias, but it feels like I have more lightning bugs than last year. I know my yard has enough to support a number of snakes, rabbits and possums; a box turtle; and at night when I go out with my headlamp, it’s a sea of wolf spider eyes glaring back at me!
Oh wow, sounds like you have a thriving ecosystem in your yard! I’m right in the city so can’t commit to no-mowing (there are bylaws about it) but the slow conversion to less maintenance and more enjoyment is a worthy one.
You can get around those with mulch & perennials! Unless the grass itself is required, which sounds awful