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As I prepare my last batch of hot pepper jam for this season and plot out the holiday baking madness for the upcoming season I am also preparing to put our garden down for an extended rest. That’s right, for Garden Season 2012 we will not be planting anything in our garden plot. Does that mean this Farmgirl has given up only 3 years and 6 chickens in? On the contrary, this Farmgirl has been inspired by a great book that I picked up at my local Tractor Supply The Backyard Homestead:
This book is a must have desk reference for anyone who wants to start a backyard homestead or begin to dabble in producing their own food from scratch. Upon purchasing this book I had some AHA moments about being a bonified urban homesteader. I have not mastered anything mind you (as clearly illustrated by this year’s less than bumper crop of carrots and beets), but I do feel that I have a good handle on growing vegetables in a garden. So 2012 our goal is to make our yard a well-rounded food bearing garden retreat. We would like to add apple trees and perhaps some pear trees. We would like to clear out the random and useless rock garden next to our pool and create a blueberry patch. We would like to plot out a location for raised strawberry and raspberry beds. Perhaps a deck and real live fireplace and/or bread oven. Perhaps a door yard full of berries and nuts. Boxed herbs and of course a handful of containers loaded with tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. Oh and maybe, just maybe we might actually get that compost system set up that we have been threatening to put into operation for 3 years now.
So, you ask what will these homesteaders do for fresh and local produce next year? Well, we will start by getting a full share in our CSA, Maplewood Organics. My final calculation after this last pick up of what we received for this season was nearly $350 of organic potatoes, peppers, onions (which, I might add, organic onions were going for $2 a lb. today at the grocery store) brussel sprouts, broccoli, tomatoes, fresh-cut flours, swiss chard, kale, radishes, lettuce, green beans and more. Given that, I am super excited to see what a full share will garner us. Of course there is always our local farmers markets and farm stands where buying in bulk is encouraged. Having just filled my belly with Gluten Free Lasagna made with delicious homemade tomato sauce, we will make sure to do whatever it takes to get our hands on fresh tomatoes. So. long story not so short, we will do what our ancestors have always done and give our garden plot a rest after what can only be described as a “challenging” season for growers across the nation. We will fill it with winter rye, and host a potato sack race over the top of it for leap year in July!!! We will build the backyard homestead/haven of our dream and in 2013 recreate the veggie magic of old. And by then, ideally, I will be picking my first apples from our own tree, making my own soap, jewelry and clothes (try to contain your envy) and munching on homemade yogurt and string cheese. At the end of the day, homesteading is an attitude and a lifestyle. Gardening is a huge part of that, but anyone can grow a vegetable, a true homesteader grows and decorates an entire buffet.
Related articles
- Growing your own (minkyweasel.com)
- The GRS Garden Project: September 2011 Update (getrichslowly.org)
- Beginners Garden 101 – My First Garden (survivalfarm.wordpress.com)
- One Man’s Perspective on Home Gardening (savings.com)
- Urban Container Garden (bryanviper.wordpress.com)
- Get Your Vegetable Garden Ready for Winter [Weekend Project] (lifehacker.com)
Adventures in Farmgirl Chic 
Thanks for the linkback, and what a great plan (including supporting your CSA)! After you trample down the Rye, you might consider tilling it in and following it with a stand of Japanese Millet as a green manure for the following year. I’ll be writing about that sometime soon in my forages section.