This time of year is very busy around here, especially with trying to get our farm business off the ground. Of course I still try to find time for learning opportunities. I've also decided it is time to get more involved in the community and recently attended the first meeting of our local Historical Society. On top of all of that we are growing our most ambitious garden yet.
So far I am very pleased with how the garden is going. We have onions, luffa, cabbage, carrots, garlic, arugula, spinach, basil, ground cherries, cress, lettuce (leaf and head), mustard, peas, potatoes, strawberries, sweet corn, and sunflowers in the ground now. Over the next few weeks we will be adding tomatoes (several varieties), peppers (also several varieties), more sweet corn, popcorn, peanuts, paprika, watermelon, cucumbers, green beans, and pumpkins.
Part of what has been keeping me so busy is that we have added several new permanent beds to the garden, and also had to clear a spot for the expansion. By the end of the year I expect to have close to 1,000 row ft planted. Several of the crops we are attempting are brand new to us, so it is going to be interesting to see how everything goes. This is definitely an experimental year. I hope to have some excess to sell at the farmers market. More importantly, though, I hope to produce a significant portion of our own food. Next year we will focus more on crops for market, depending on what does well for us this year and what we see is lacking at the markets we sell at.
So far I am very pleased with how the garden is going. We have onions, luffa, cabbage, carrots, garlic, arugula, spinach, basil, ground cherries, cress, lettuce (leaf and head), mustard, peas, potatoes, strawberries, sweet corn, and sunflowers in the ground now. Over the next few weeks we will be adding tomatoes (several varieties), peppers (also several varieties), more sweet corn, popcorn, peanuts, paprika, watermelon, cucumbers, green beans, and pumpkins.
Part of what has been keeping me so busy is that we have added several new permanent beds to the garden, and also had to clear a spot for the expansion. By the end of the year I expect to have close to 1,000 row ft planted. Several of the crops we are attempting are brand new to us, so it is going to be interesting to see how everything goes. This is definitely an experimental year. I hope to have some excess to sell at the farmers market. More importantly, though, I hope to produce a significant portion of our own food. Next year we will focus more on crops for market, depending on what does well for us this year and what we see is lacking at the markets we sell at.
