One of the multitude of lessons I’ve learned from this experience with Andy’s stroke is how to accept help. I don’t like to ask for help as I never want to be an inconvenience to others or be accused of using people. My village (aka friends) have been a life saver for me, and I would never have been able to get through this challenging time without their help and support, both emotionally and physically around the farm.

Andy and I had many projects started prior to his stroke. Post stroke these projects would have been put on hold or not completed at all; the later being problematic as they related to the profitability of the Airbnb or the advancement of the Market Garden. In addition to being a part of the overall Palisade Posh vision, the Airbnb and the Market Garden generate revenue for us, so continuing to move forward is important. The completion of one project, allowed for the advancement of another; this was the case with our Potting Shed. Andy and I had rebuilt the exterior walls last fall. This winter we added additional support beams on the interior, lined the walls with waterproof materials and started the foundation of the floor. We had also started constructing the interior walls with wood we had salvaged from the previous animal stalls. This is where the project left off when Andy had his stroke.

When mom came out to help with Andy’s office, yet another project, I explained how projects built upon one another. She too stepped in to help and offered to give me a portion of my inheritance early and paid to have the Potting Shed finished!

I reached out to my friend Kate, who I knew was a contractor and who knew of my vision for the farm and the Shed. She gave mom a proposal, mom signed off on it and the Potting Shed project was completed within the week! Kate went above and beyond any expectations I had for the shed Andy, and I were attempting to build, even down to custom building the Dutch door!

With the Shed finished I could now move all our garden supplies this one single location, prior to this they were tucked away in various locations around the farm. By consolidating everything into the Shed, it creates a central location for all garden prep both before and after harvesting. It will make the whole farming process more efficient! My friend Laurie from Simply Noble Ltd, helped me organize the shelving in the Shed.

Work bench in the Potting Shed, made by my neighbor Bob!

Bob, another friend, built an additional worktable for inside the Shed. Even though I’m still unpacking and putting materials and tools away, the finished Potting Shed is so much more functional. This past week, I repotted all our seedlings into larger pots. The proper high of the worktables saved me from back pain, which is what happed last year when I did the same task stooped over a folding table that was too short for the task at hand!

I brought in a dog bed for Daisy and her water dish as she is my constant companion. I’ve hung and organized my tools. The baskets are organized, and all my recycled plastics pots I use for potting up the seedlings are in one place. For additional functionality, I ordered two stools so that either I or others have the option to stand or sit while working. I also have enough space and storage to house my starter soil for the seedlings in the Potting Shed. This means rain or shine, I can continue working in the Shed.

The last thing I want to get is some kind of shelving unit, think old school card catalog cabinets so I have a place to store my seeds as well. I’m going to start looking in thrift stores and antique shops for this vital piece of furniture. I’ve been looking on Facebook Market Place with no success. Once I have a place to store multiple kinds of seeds, I can then start harvesting and drying my own seeds which will save on expenses in the spring! I’m trying to be smarter in what I grow in the market garden and focus on what I think might sell and what our Airbnb guests might enjoy harvesting. That said there are also things that Andy and I enjoy that might not be big sellers, but we still want to grow them. I’d like to have an experimental garden bed or two so I can explore different and perhaps unusual seeds. Having a comprehensive seed filing system would allow us to do all these things while keeping our seeds organized and us expanding on the collection. In all having the Potting Shed finished is a game changer for the progress of the Market Garden and I am so very thankful to all the people that came together to make it happen!

Potting Shed Update

Water