Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall busy times here and ahead

Busy times are here and ahead as we look towards the Summer and Fall.

Blackberries are coming right along as well as the corn. We are using the intensive growing method for the vegetable garden. Small space that can maximize the harvest while keeping the weeds down. Over the last several years we have been experimenting with the process and have learned from past failures.

More to come, later.

Restart of the blog.

It has been some time since the last entry.
As you can see, the title has been changed and the focus changed a bit. I have expanded the focus to include backyard homesteading.

This includes gardening (vegetable, fruit trees, and berries), small livestock (chickens and rabbits) and using the space we have to achieve the maximum amount of produce.

As we restart,  we hope to demonstrate techniques, offer advice, produce video, possibly a podcast, and offer encouragement to those who are interested in and wanting to learn more.

Stay tuned and follow us.

What a summer

This was some summer. Very busy with cub scouts, work, church, and home. I did not get to blog much. However, we had a very good crop of vegetables form the garden.

Okra was very productive. We have found that dehydration is the best in keeping these for the winter. They can be used in stews and soups very easily. Not slimy at all this way. Plus you can eat them raw after they are dehydrated. They are a little like popcorn. Good snack.

Dehydrated a few tomatoes for use as sun dried tomatoes. These can be used in flavored oils in the kitchen or as gifts. Also, ate a lot of tomatoe sandwiches this summer. Very good.

Tina's corn ended up great. Tina helped pick, shuck, and freeze the corn. They all are frozen as corn on the cob. We used the Foodsaver system. This is great.

Limas, yellow squash, and black eyed peas were all frozen this way.

Last week I planted a fall crop of Lettuce, English Peas, Greens, Mustard, and Purslang.

This afternoon, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts,a dn Cabbage plants will be put out for this winter.

Thru out the week cold frames will be constructed and placed out in the garden over the beds. This will allow us to have fresh produce thru the winter. I am attempting to grow and harvest English Peas this winter.

Progress in the garden

This past week the garden has grown quite a bit. Purple Hull Peas, Lima Beans, Greeb Beans, Tomatoes, Squash, and Corn all are seeming to grow as you watch. The weather has been moist. Not constant rain or large amounts but multiple, short, small amounts. This has helped. It is now been sunny with no rain over the last 2 days. Not as warm as the last two weeks. Highs expected to be in the 80-90's and lows in the 60-70's.

We continue to weed the bedseach evening. The first crop of English Peas have finished and have been removed in order to plant a secong crop of onions in thier place. A second crop of corn was also planted yesterday. This will let us have almost a continous crop of corn this summer. We have also planned a second crop of Green Beans as well. In the next 2-3 weeks they will be planted.

Our goal is not only to have fresh vegetables but also to have enough to can a bit. Maximize the yield in a small space.

We are trying to use a shade cloth to cool the lettuce patch and third crop of English Peas. If it works then they will continue to produce thru-out the summer months!

The Lettuce Patch consits of:

1. A lettuce mix
2. Swiss Chard
3. Second crop of English Peas
4. Carrots
5. Turnip Greens (this planting we are letting the bugs eat, this keeps them off our lettuce and chard)
   

Our main planting of Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplants should be about big enough to transplant in the next 3-4 weeks. Also, the Artichoke plants will be put out. This is an experiment. We had a successful crop in PA. We wanted to try again.

Pictures will be posted later tonight.

How does the garden grow?

This AM when we checked the garden and watered the squares, we were amazed at what we found. Purple hull peas, lima beans, cucumbers, and green beans have now sprouted. Very visible and about 2 inches in height. We also can see the corn sprouting in the beds.

It has now turned very warm during the day and still a little cool at PM. No rain in the forcast for the next 7 days. Only a 20% chance of rain today.

I have been watering the beds a little each day about sunset. This helps in germination of the seeds.

Cantelopes, squash,and cherry tomatoes are yet to germinate. They should within the next several days.

Will add a picture when the plants are up a little higher.

Check back soon!

This is the English Pea patch. We planted this very early in the year. It was a trial to see if the kids would help or even eat the fresh peas. It was a success. So we expanded out efforts.

Since this picture was taken we have planted 4 additional rows of peas. Hopefully, this will be enough to freeze some as well. 

This is the lettuce patch. It also serves as a cold frame. The cinder blocks absorbs the heat from the sun and slowly warms the soil during the night during the cold months. A simple plastic sheet is all that is needed over the top.

We have lettuce, swiss chard, spinach, radishes and a planting of peas. The lettuce is wilting now. The temps are reaching in the 80's.

I plan on attempting a shade tarp to keep the temps and sunlight down on the lettuce, swiss chard, and spinach.

We plan on planting carrots in the next few days. 

Here is the garden layout. May 18, 2006. This shows the method we use in the garden. The square foot method works well for us. Each "square" is no more than 4 foot across, making a 2 foot reach to the center. Very little weeding is involved, because the vegtable plants take up most of the soil space. Quick and easy to setup and maintane.

Start the Garden Adventure

On Saturday May 13, 2006 the garden was planted. We are using the square foot garden method. About 8 weeks ago english peas were planted, now we have started picking the peas. Corn, Green Beans, Purple-Hull Peas, Squash, Butternut Squash, Cucumbers, Cantelope all were planted on May 13, 2006.

Today, May 17, 2006, more English Peas were planted. Also, 4 tomatoe plants were planted. These were bought and started while the seeds that I started are still growing and not quite ready to set out.

Pictures to come at a later time. Stay tuned.