About Amanda and the Garden

Welcome to my garden!  I moved to Portland, OR in 2010 and promptly began planning my very first garden.  Along with my partner in crime, Matt, and our two dogglesons, Emerson and Andy Dufresne, I've been spending A LOT of time out on my patch of dirt. 

My garden is organic and vegan (veganic), which means along with chemical pesticides, I refrain from using manure or animal remains in favor of natural, cruelty-free fertilizers.  I strive to be as environmentally-friendly as possible, which often translates into multi-year projects (like getting rid of the darn grass).

I subscribe to the permaculture ideology, attempting to create a "naturalesque" outdoor space, while putting my urban plot to good, sustainable use.  I grow Pacific Northwest native plants and edibles. 

Favorite plants in the garden: I love the Pacific ninebark (Physocarpus capitatus) that I picked up at the 2011 Clark County Master Gardener's plant sale.  Something about its bright green foliage and full habit perk me right up.  My spicebush (Lindera benzoin), which I fell in love with when I lived in Philadelphia, isn't native to the Pacific Northwest, but pretty much every part of this plant can be used in medicinal or culinary applications.  Its fresh and spicy, almost citrusy aroma is phenomenal.

I'm not a gardening expert, but I am an enthusiast!