Using wasted space

We have a couple of huge Oak trees in the yard that really cast a lot of shade. This means we have to get a little creative trying to find full sun locations to garden. This weekend my dh removed monkey grass for me in the latest grand gardening scheme. We'll use this previously wasted space to plant tomatoes and herbs----training the tomatoes up the fence for support. On paper is sounds like a good idea:>. Two more 8 ft by 18 inch boxes are going to go in along the fence line. The cool part is that the herbs and maters will be close to the side door for easy gathering around meal times.

Well, 12 cabbages and 9 broccoli plants are now in and mulched with straw from the bunny pen. Potatoes are in the first of three boxes. Tomorrow is garden day for the whole family so we'll all spend time tomorrow working as a family.

Since it's too cold to garden right now and littleman is sleeping so I have some quiet time I've been looking at ideas and websites of urban and suburban gardeners/farmers to get ideas for small space growing. I think I have Way more potatos to plant then I have potato boxes so I'll need to pull some wool out of the extra trashcan and get that set up for planting this week. I may need to set up more then that one. I want to find out if sweet potatos can be grown that way cause I have a lot of them with slips on them ready to go. Another project I've been looking at is self watering containers made from things like plastic soda bottles. We don't buy any but we have friends who do and it seems like it'd increase the usuable, plantable real estate in the backyard. I haven't had much luck regular container gardening cause they just dry out too fast (plus I'm forgetful about them). Also still need to make the clay pot irrigators for the upper garden as an experiment. I have a ton of clay pots down at the old house but no plans to go there for months so I guess I'll be buying some around here:<. It'll still be cheaper then the gas to go get the old ones. After tonights freeze I'm going to pop some hardy spring transplants into the ground like leeks and cabbage and cross my fingers. I know this violates the "don't plant till after Easter" rule but they are cold weather plants. My mom is still in shock at the concept:>.

http://www.homegrownevolution.com/
So the entry on this one today is about SIPs with nice links

greenroofgrowers.blogspot.com/2008/07/how-make-two-bucket-sub-irrigated.html
nice tutorials

and for fun....Rebar in the Garden...maybe I'm just too Scadian cause this seems like a cool idea to
me...www.ramshacklesolid.com/2008/06/rebar-bean-poles.html

I have an old clawfoot bathtub in the family that I'd also love to find a semi-tasteful way to incorporate into the yard. Maybe filling with dirt and planting with big, overflowing flowers or something:>.