Virginia Transplant

Hellow everybody! I'm transplanted after having lived in FL since 85.

Live in South Central VA. Got my greenhouse up and plan to sell at farmers markets and if zoning will allow off of my own property.

I'm going to need a lot of help with this market gardening stuff cause it's a "have to succeed" situation.

Hubby had congestive heart failure two years ago and we don't know how long he'll be with us but he told me God would keep him alive until I got this business going.

We've got a little over an acre and a 24 x 24 x 10H greenhouse and some cleared land for garden/nursery.

Steph

Hello Steph and welcome to DG. It's so good to see someone else in central VA and wondered if perhaps you were anywhere near Charlottesville which does have a farmers' market. I wish you every success in your endeavours and new home.

Welcome, Steph! This is the friendliest spot on the Web, and there is such a wealth of information here on so many subjects. Best wishes on your business and for your husband's health to improve. Enjoy DG!

Welcome to DG. You've come to the right place. I hope to read about your successful business/greenhouse venture. Good health to your husband, tell him hello for me.

seph - welcome from upstate new york. you will get all the help you need here. wish you husband well for me.

Thanks for the wonderful welcome! I feel like I've come home after wondering around in a desert for a long time.

I will tell hubby I said hello! He's already in bed.

No, I'm not near Charlottesville, try almost to NC border in Lunenburg Co. Kenbridge is between Blackstone and South Hill.

I'm a little fleck on the map, LOL!

Thanks for the well wishing. I think with new friends like you to be there covering my back I should do very well.

Love you guys/gals

Steph

Oh to be sure, very much to the south of me. :-)

Welcome Steph. Glad to see you here at Daves. I know you will enjoy it here. There is just so much to read and to keep us busy, besides you will meet some great people here. Hope to see you around the forums.

Welcome to DG from a former Virginian. I know you will do well with your endeavor. Jo

Welcome from another newcomer. You'll love it here. So much to learn, so many helpful people, etc. If you have a question about your new business, don't hesitate to ask. Someone will be able to help you! Best wishes to your husband and God bless!

Thanks everybody! My hubby is amazed at how friendly the people are in this forum. He's been reading over my shoulder, LOL!

He sure does get a kick out of it and if he keeps it up we will definitely give him the gardening bug!

Steph

Hi Steph, it's great to meet another garden friend. My best to your husband also. This is a great place to grow.

I think in more ways than one! I've never had so much encouragement in my life!

Steph

Welcome, Steph! I'm not tooooo far from you, in central-western NC. Good luck with your new business. I've read your posts in the Market Growers forum, just didn't realize you were new to DG. There are so many I see that have been here a long time just lurking, so I'm learning not to make assumptions, LOL.

Are you going to raise organic vegetables to feed that husband of yours? They'd be good for him.

I wish I could go organic, but don't know if I'm up to all the extra work physically. Right now, I would just settle to be pesticide free and to improve the soil as much as possible each year.

The Backyard Market Gardening book had a good, viable idea for me to use. He was talking about raising pumpkins and planting clover in with it.

What I had in mind was growing wheat and hull-less oats on the ends of the rows in the flower garden. To keep them from getting blown down. That would be roughly half of my garden area.

The other half, I would plant my crops and plant clover in with it after the plants are established. Then when the crops are harvested, plow the clover under. Replant winter wheat and in the spring adds some oats....I'll have to keep switching around.

What little composted material I have right now I will use in the perennial beds because I can't plow them under.

I'm also going to see if I can get a load of composted manure trucked in. The neighbors are far enough away that they won't notice. LOL

Lord willing, I would like to lease some land nearby and let our land rest 2005 so we can really work on the soil. But, I can't really do both at the same time, we don't have enough land to do that. At least not land that is stump free. I got a 1/2 acre that has stumps in it.