Originally posted on http://digitaldiatribes.wordpress.com on August 2, 2007.
Last year was our first foray into “real” gardening. Oh, we had a small garden the past few years and had tried various things. It was good for what it was – a way to be able to munch on some fresh veggies and tomatoes during the summer. But we had never really taken the step into canning/freezing/preserving before. Well, last year, we dove in head first and created a lot of work for ourselves that we had never created before. But we very much enjoyed it and learned a lot. And so, we do it again this year.
The deal is, we do not have the kind of soil we need, nor do we have a good spot on our land for a garden. But my dear old dad lives an hour away. Dad has farmed all his life and retired a few years ago, but he still works harder than I do. He wants and needs things to do. Thus, he plowed up a huge garden area in a field he had pastured for 20 years, and offered to tend it for us. We do the planting and the harvesting, and much of the weeding, but he makes sure it is watered, and does his best to keep a lid on potato bugs or other plant-destroying insects. We want this as organic as possible, so it limits his options. Thankfully, he’s been a trooper and his help has allowed us to have a wonderful garden. The downside is that it is an hour away, so we can’t just peck away at things on a daily basis.
Well, this May we got things rolling with a large number of herbs. We are experimenting with strawberry plants, but they won’t produce until next year, as far as we understand. The following was planted, and probably more that I’m not thinking of: Corn, Potatoes, Tomatoes (cherry and full), White Cabbage, Red Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, a variety of herbs, Carrots, Green Beans, Yellow Beans, parsnips, Beets, Onions, Peas, Cucumbers (pickling and slicing), Zuccini, Summer Squash, Butternut Squash, two varieties of watermelon, Cateloupe, pie pumpkins, two kinds of leaf lettuce, Sunflowers, peppers and I’m probably forgetting something(s).
June was spent weeding and making sure everything was doing OK. In the last couple weeks, we’ve started harvesting. We’ve already taken care of shredding a number of zuccini and freezing that. We’ve canned a bunch of the summer squash for stir-fry. We’ve frozen a lot of broccoli and cauliflower. The broccoli keeps on producing, much to my surprise. We have already canned 14 quarts of beans, and we will likely end up canning 100 quarts by the time it’s all done. We’ve started harvesting carrots for eating raw, and the peas are in full force. We’re experimenting with trying to make sauerkraut this year with the cabbage. Beets are taken care of already as well. Cucumbers are now starting to produce as well. We’ll be ready for our first watermelon next week, it appears. We’ve started digging potatoes.
We have to head over every 4 days or so during this period, so it keeps us really busy. But we very much enjoy having these raw, healthy, homegrown food for the summer, and then it’s great having a store of veggies both canned and frozen for the rest of the year. The potatoes last into the following spring, and they are a real treat.
On top of this whole thing, we order boxes of cherries, blueberries, peaches, and apples as well and make our own sauces, jams, pie fillings, etc. and can or freeze those things.
I feel like Mister Wilderness or something! I’ve really learned a ton over the last couple years and hope to keep learning. We continue to invest in things to make the job a bit easier and more efficient, as well as the jars and canning supplies. But I believe it’s worth it.
Besides, we need to put our kids to work, anyway. This is a great way to get them doing some work.
I’m sure I will keep you posted on harvest results!
