<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-iLzwFMbGOy-Vxd1tQmxIPz8NTsFY6UUt78LKHXhwuEfXJAFkX1gAb5wlxmfoD5x-2qjFeeVV0RXz7ZWN446v6GDec10Il18NGk6VimsjycRL_vp1roh_tPEPFqkP5RJIVrcrLXlnbE/s1600/18+101011.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-iLzwFMbGOy-Vxd1tQmxIPz8NTsFY6UUt78LKHXhwuEfXJAFkX1gAb5wlxmfoD5x-2qjFeeVV0RXz7ZWN446v6GDec10Il18NGk6VimsjycRL_vp1roh_tPEPFqkP5RJIVrcrLXlnbE/s400/18+101011.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666164984066449938" style="height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br /><br /><div>Son Ed and I mixed the soil for two boxes at a time. We loaded equal parts vermiculite, baled peat moss and compost onto a large tarp, picked up the corners and slid the ingredients until they were combined. This stuff is really heavy. The day after my helpers went home, I filled the boxes and nailed 4-foot stakes across the boxes to form the planting grid. (Cue the Wonder Woman music.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3oZV9xxgjbyTa4h2BJm0krHaMciAjAOIGNoex1C16_cnJpVY-5NmSD-OEuyI8jsqiIwCcqruZZ7Cae010tazrkNj8BICxoAgM-iD94aolqAg4EUzcUiGfJ4-2BqaHjmYd_mo57XgdV4/s1600/17+101011.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3oZV9xxgjbyTa4h2BJm0krHaMciAjAOIGNoex1C16_cnJpVY-5NmSD-OEuyI8jsqiIwCcqruZZ7Cae010tazrkNj8BICxoAgM-iD94aolqAg4EUzcUiGfJ4-2BqaHjmYd_mo57XgdV4/s400/17+101011.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666169437723055762" style="height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br /><br /><div>Everything I planted was from seed. Each square foot contains different vegetables, flowers and herbs arranged so they help each other resist insects and diseases. This is called companion planting. Craft sticks are handy markers. But get it down on paper first and stick to your plan.<br /><br />Tomorrow: Growth!</div></div>