This weekend we planted Lazy Housewife, Nance, Purple Queen, Rattlesnake and Scarlet Runner beans, Cherokee Long Ear Corn, Strawberry Spinach, Prescott Fond Blac cantaloupe, Vine Peach/Mango Melon and numerous herbs. We are trying to increase the amount of food we can grow and also support heirloom vegetables. The farther we can get from the industrial food system the better I will feel. We have half of a hog that should be coming our way sometime soon, and our local CSA starts up again in April. Now if I can find some local chickens again we would be set. Our Friends Chris and Tripp are planting their farm and are planning to put in hoop houses next year. Hopefully we can start taking the boys out there soon to run around and play. We might even be able to help out a little while we are there.
On the preparedness front, we are ordering a Katadyn Pocket Water Microfilter capable of filtering 13,000 gallons of water at 1 quart a minute before the filter needs to be changed as well as some 5 gallon collapsible water storage bags. This will be great for camping and will also help during hurricane season (We were a week without water after Hurricane Ivan). We are looking at purchasing some rain water collection barrels to help with watering our garden during the summer, a new steel door and two decorative steel screen doors for our house. This will increase both security and energy efficiency. A wood burning stove our fireplace insert is also high on our priority list, we discovered this winter that if we turned off our power for a week (we didn’t do this, we only had to ask “what if?”) we would be miserable and have no way to heat our house. We can cook on my little backpack stove (and have before during power outages) but heating is impossible without gas and power and I do not want to have to put my boys through that.
I discovered today that a fence is needed to keep Ian (our youngest son) contained in the yard, plus we would like to have a dog soon too. But trying to watch both Ian and William was very hard today and I think that Kristina must have some secret superpowers to both play with William and keep Ian from disappearing off somewhere so the fence has moved up in priority.
There are so many things that we feel that we need to have and so many more that we think we should have. Plus there a more skills and crafts that we want to learn that we can keep ourselves entertained for a lifetime or two just trying to learn them all.
I did hear a sad statistic today, that at least 60% of American house holds have 1 or more HD flat screen TV’s but that less than 50% of the US population reads one book or more a year for pleasure. What does that say about our society? What is becoming of our culture? Are we dumbing down as our empire fades? Please read to your kids and encourage creativity and free thinking in all of the children in your life.
Still too early to plant, here. I usually grow tomatoes, basil, peppers and a few surprises... just something different every year, zucchini last year, cantaloupes and strawberries another. I think the problem most people have with gardens is they try to make them too big. I can get 4 tomato plants, 5 basil plants, 3 bell peppers and 3 jalapeño and 3 tabasco peppers and the "surprise" in a 5 x 5 piece of ground. Don't try to make it a little farm, and don't worry about the weeds too much. Just plant it and the only thing you have to do is water it if it's a dry summer. (Well, and stake the tomato plants.) But most of the time just forget about it.
ReplyDeleteI really want to raise chickens. They are easy to keep and they eat just about anything. But living in city limits I can't. Plus, free eggs. They come right out the chicken's butt and they hardly cost anything.
Wayne,
ReplyDeleteMy garden is about 15x20 feet with a few separate herb, blueberry, blackberry, raspberry and ornamental bean beds. It is surprising how much you can grow in a small space. Between the garden, beds and potted plants we will see how much food we can grow.
As for chickens, check your local ordiance. I bet you that you can have a few "pet" bantam hens. As long as you don't have a rooster they'll be quieter than most dogs.