Hi everyone. I have been doing small bits of gardening here and there for the last few years. Lately I've been reading more about our food supply and our family has recently gone 100% organic. Obviously this can get really pricey so we are relocating to a lower cost of living area to both be closer to family as well as have the option to buy cheaper land in a part of the country which has a better growing searson (zone 7!).

We aren't going to get our garden going this summer (obviously) but I'm a planner and realize that before I know it we'll be transplanting those seeds! We/I want to do raised beds and plant enough to feed a family of 4 with a little extra to donate to a local food bank if we can. I recognize that I'm overly ambitious, but I also know that I can scale back if I've planned too big the first year.

My question is where to start? I know we want to do raised beds, companion planting, compost ourselves. I've read tons of information, but honestly and trying to sort everything out in my head about the companion planting, succession planting, spring/summer/fall planting and I'm getting a bit overwhelmed. Any tips? Are there any great plans out there, layouts, software? Any tips, pictures, suggestions or words of encouragement are greatly appreciated!

Hi ladies - this is the third quilt I've made, and definitely the most complicated so far (though it's only a version of 9 patch...).

I think I'll do a solid border, and not sure yet about backing. But I've been collecting these gorgeaous 5" charm squares I've gotten on ebay - and now I think it will be a quilt for my first baby due in June (no idea the gender, but since it's full of bright colors I think it would work for a boy or girl - what do you think?)

So, comments welcome (and since I can't figure out how to put the image directly in the post... all I can do is a link... if anyone has a tip on getting the picture from flickr directly on here I'm all ears)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7243291@N02/2061072620/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7243291@N02/2061071792/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7243291@N02/2061073164/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7243291@N02/2060290279/

Phew! It's finished. My middle sister delivered her first baby at 29 weeks back in October. Now that my niece is out of the NICU and able to go on outings with mommy, I thought I'd put my new sewing skills to work to make her a diaper bag... since I've no idea how to post a pic here I posted all the details and loads more pics on my blog - check it out - any and all comments greatly appreciated....







http://flowersinmay.blogspot.com/2007/05/finished.html