Practical and Seasonal
Growing Food Guidance
Every Spring I tell myself the same story and now my family just laughs, because they know I'll just do it. :)
And still in the back of my mind, every spring, I tell myself the "Little Red Hen" story:
- Growing:
- "Who will plant the seeds? I will. (Starting seedlings, weeding, watering for 90 days)."
- Harvesting:
- "Who will pick the ripe fruit? I will. (Lugging 150 lbs of tomatoes from the garden to the kitchen)."
- Processing (The Marathon):
- "Who will wash, core, peel, and can the food? I will. (Highlighting the 6-hour marathon session of boiling, peeling, jarring and water-bathing 50 quarts)."
- Cleaning:
- "Who will clean up the sticky, acidic mess? I will."
The Reward:
The powerful payoff? The incredible satisfaction, the superior taste of homegrown food and the security of having a fully stocked pantry.
The Lesson:
The work is immense, but the nourishment, connection to the food and independence are worth every single minute of it. ( - Most days — and then the days that the jars won't seal, I would rather be sailing. :) - )
Explore the Garden by Crop Type
The Full Planting Plan: Vegetables, Fruit and HerbsUse these guides to plan your planting strategy for a year's supply of food for two:
- Root, Tuber & Bulb Crops (carrots, potatoes, onions, garlic, beets, turnips)
- Leafy Greens (lettuce, spinach, kale, chard)
- Legumes (peas, beans)
- Brassicas (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts)
- Nightshades & Fruiting Veggies (tomatoes, eggplants, peppers)