Winter Garden

Well, we finally got our winter garden in, again.  I had sprouted broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage and was surprised at how fast and well everything sprouted.  But then something (chickens?) started eating the tops.  It wasn't cutworms.  They sort of recovered, but it was slow going.  I also had seeded radishes, beets, and carrots in the garden beds by the house, thinking that the chickens would leave the beds alone.  Silly me.  They left the beds alone long enough for everything to sprout, and then had a fabulous time digging in them.  So, this week the kids and I replanted in two different spots.  I fenced in an area by the chicken coop where I had some summer produce growing, and carrots, beets, kale, peas, lettuce and beets were planted.  We chittered (pre-sprouted) the peas, and I soaked the carrot seeds as well.  So far, so good with regards to the chickens.  They only scratched up the area with the beet seeds.  Then we planted the area in the back.  I felt comfortable planting there as the cows are in the front, and I think we can get the garden area fenced in well enough to keep the cows out, when it is time for the cows to go in the back.  We planted broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and celery that I bought at Green Acres.  Also, I tried to transplant the pretty sad looking broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower I had grown from seed.  It is rather late for the direct seeding, but seeds are cheap, and I will learn something for it.  Hoping to have an Indian Summer, so the seeds do well.  Now, I just need to plant garlic and green onions.

I am working on extending the garden area by the chicken coop for next spring.  I have had two loads of ground-up trees dropped off, and so I am following the "Back to Eden" method.  If you are interested in gardening, I highly encourage you to look at this.  Next spring, I will be able to speak as to whether it is a viable method for me.  I also have several cut up logs from the ground-up trees, and so I am going to try another huglekulture bed.  I have one that I dug down, and what I have growing there seemed to do very well, and needed slightly less water than some of the other areas. This time, though, I am going to build the bed up by the back of the garage.  The area is considerably lower than the rest of the garden area, so it will make the area more level. 

My goal, come spring, is to be able to produce at least 50% of our food, hopefully more towards 70%.  We will see.  I don't know if I can plant enough of everything or not.  Actually, the food prouction might be more toward the summer time.  I will need to get grains, oils, and some other miscillanious things, but should be have eggs, cheese, milk, yoghurt, and any veggies and fruit that I can grow.  I think the trick will be to grow enough to have some preserved over the winter.  Hence the fall garden.  I *think* the weather here will allow the garden to still produce (some) during the winter.  Regardless of how things do, it won't be a waste, as it is all a learning experience.