My family has decided to have a “buy-in” garden, where we all pitch in $30-50, (depending on how much produce we will want to eat!), and we will be preparing an organic vegetable/flower garden this coming summer!
I’m really excited, not only to have fresh produce at the work of our fingertips, but to have this project as a “family” affair. It came to my attention that planting a garden over time with your own, even extended family is a great way to stay in touch. My family is relatively small, all living in Gresham and many middle-aged members still unmarried. However, we still always seem to be too busy to check in with each other or have family dinners or meals. 
We will be planting the garden out on a large piece of property that my aunt and uncle had purchased when they were contemplating building their house. It’s about 8 acres, but they failed to start the housing process because of the state requirements to furnish a nursey or cattle livestock. Now, there is a beautiful piece of land that appears to be level with Mt. Hood on a clear, blue day. Finally, that poor, neglected property will fit in with the other farm-developed property out in the country area.
We are learning that furnishing an organic garden for the first time can actually take a lot more contemplation and focus then one would think. The correct type of soil must be purchased (one that was never fertilized or used with cattle because we don’t know what material the cows were fed). It actually takes a lot of tracking down and reading many labels to investigate the ingredients in the soil. We have been attempting to located an organic gardening store, but have failed to do so, so far. We may end up just purchasing some very trustworthy products online! Either way, we are learning a TON of tips, facts, and useful behaviors in keeping up a garden and even the environment around the garden!