This year we are really trying to push the envelope a little more, after what I would call a successful season of growing during the winter. We have been starting snapdragons since Jan. and have also been doing a lot of Delphiniums as well. All of our seeds are started in the basement under 4 foot fluorescent, after they get so big then we plan to move them out into our small heated greenhouse to continue growing. The problem is we have yet to finish the greenhouse so I'm not sure what we are going to do yet. It will all work out. We also started 2000 artichokes plants.
We are getting ready to start our seeds for the plants we intend on selling as veggie starts, it's a part of our farm that I enjoy, because it encourages others to grow there own food as well as buying from local growers. After those are started it will be time for all our cut flowers, our own garden and for the csa garden. We are really excited about our plans this year for our garden and for our csa garden. In the past years it was all mixed together, which was okay, it just didn't have a lot of harmony. This year we are planning on keeping our garden and the csa garden together and using everything we have learned about spin farming to prove that we can feed 5-10 families on a small garden. I'm very excited about this. It has been such a long time since I have done a small garden for just food.
My second garden ( my personal favorite) was small and really well maintained, this one will not be as small, but it will be kept in order like with small gardens. During that garden is when I discovered that I really enjoy growing food. I am a big believer in food being the staple that keeps families rediscovering communication, by growing, cooking, and eating the veggies that they work so hard together to produce. That is why I can't give up growing veggies on our cut flower farm. It doesn't make a lot of sense on our books, it's not that the veggies don't sell, it's that the flowers sell so well. We will always grow veggies, not just for our selves, but for our community as well. That is very important to us, I always wanted to be able to help different groups of people, but never had the tools to do so, growing fresh, organic food gives me those tools to provide to not only a certain group, but to my community. And, that can be the Berwick folks, the 3 creeks people, or the city of Columbus. We are very lucky to be doing this for a real job. I appreciate everything that I have, even if it is cheap and brakes all the time, no really all the time.
Thank you
You had me at "Urban farm". I should first start out with the fact I have been searching for Ohio Homesteads of all sizes. I am begining a video blog series which will take our readers/viewers on an adventure with us as we travel around and spotlight Real People living more self sufficient ways plus hands on artisans as in pottery, willow furniture makers and such. Not only are we doing a spotlight on the people and what they do but are including tips, how to's and cooking/baking. From tapping trees,hunting for mushrooms and getting my first taste of a morel, Cooking tutorials for unusual edibles or just too darn good not to include, making clay pots w/out a wheel and firing them in a pit fire to unusual Festivals such as the upcoming Dandelion fest in Dover, ohio.
ReplyDeleteI have looked over your blog and am very (o.k more like begging but lets keep that between us- I do have an image to protect :) ) I would love to spotlight you guys in a segment. I have been looking over so many blogs and have wrote very few. Please do consider what I am asking. Take a look over at my blog (been writing there for 4 yrs now)and let me know either way if ya mind we set up a time in the next few months for a day of exploring at your place. You can say "get lost crazy lady" or " be prepared to get dirty". Just please do let me know.Also, if you would tell me a little more about you guys are doing. Are you a CSA in the burbs? Was I reading that right? (it helps me focus on what we may want to focus on during the visit).I am just stuck at awww. I so have to spotlight their Urban farm!
Alright. Now I must be off to feed the rabbits and shovel the drive.
Hope to hear from you guys soon.
~Tammie