We got our seeds this year from Johnny's Seeds, a Maine seed company. They produce organic seed here in Maine, and have a great reputation, from everything I have ever heard. This is our first time using their seed, but everything is here and ready for when the fellow comes to till.
Sara and I have planned our garden, where to plant each veggie, which will be multiple crops, and harvest times on each. There is a lot of planning to do this time of year, and truth be told, we are late in our efforts. I plan on planting later this week shell peas, sugar snap peas, dill, spinach, and romaine lettuce. Adding over the weeks will be green beans, corn, onions, carrots, a few varieties of cucumbers, broccoli, squash(spaghetti and zucchini), peppers, parsnips, and turnip.
Our family of 5 has a larger plot to tend to than in years past. We expanded to an area 32'x60' this year in hopes of providing more of our families food this coming year. We still have a lot to learn, but are reading and asking questions of our more seasoned farmer friends. No doubt we will make some mistakes along the way, but we all enjoy gardening and it provides for our family. The kids all have a part in the process, with planting, weeding, watering, harvest, and storage. We will be canning this year, and freezing also.
Along with our garden, we have fruit trees coming, strawberry plants on the way, and of course the sheep and chickens I mentioned in an earlier post. We have finished clearing and seeding the back of our lot, and should be seeing timothy and red clover coming up soon for the critters to eat.
We are so excited this year, as things seem to be coming along for us quite nicely as a homestead. We are not exactly self sufficient yet, but working and getting closer each season. We do have all our wood cut for this year, limbed and cut to 6' lengths. Next step is to truck it home and buck up and split. This year we will not make the same mistakes as last year, worrying more about taking time off and then not getting all the wood we needed. Oil is ridiculously expensive, and I don't plan to have to buy any ever again for heating purposes. We shall see, but that is certainly our goal.
Another goal is to get our outbuildings set up right this year. Last year, I planned poorly and paid the cost for it. This year I am already working on what will go where for each season. With most of the clutter removed, it will be a lot easier to organize than last year. We now have more storage space then we did, and most of it is open, rather than clogged arteries of junk.
Looking back over this post, I am thinking about changing our garden plan... again!!
And so it goes around the 1 acre homestead, until it is in the ground, the plans evolve and are fine tuned. I love spring.
Mark
