I like to keep multiple records of what we do every year on the homestead. Usually it ends up on one of my blogs, this one, or my food blog The Leftover Queen. I have a whole archive of homesteading activities over there from last year.
This year we expanded our garden by adding 6 new raised beds (you can tell which ones are new by the color of the beds), two 12-footers and four 6-footers. Our goal really is to grow 90% of our own food.
Each year we expand a bit more. This year we might actually do better on the winter storage front since we started the winter squashes indoors and were able to get them in the ground over a month earlier than last year. Last year they didn’t get big enough to produce anything before the frost hit.
In addition to our own garden, we also joined a brand new CSA this year Hatch Brook Gardens. They have partnered with our favorite local farm, Applecheek Farm, whose meat CSA we already belong to. They offer a preservation share, which is smaller than the other shares, and targeted for food preservation. So we have to get really serious with our food preservation practices this year! See under the cut for the list of all the varieties we are growing. Let’s see if this gets us closer to our goals this year.
GREENS:
rouge d’ hiver lettuce
lettuce blends
arugula
mache
rainbow chard
lacinato kale
PEAS:
sugar snaps
ROOTS: for storage
chioggia beet
cylindra beet
danvers carrots
turnips
rutabaga
radishes
POTATOES: for storage
purple viking (18)
yellow finn (18)
yukon gold (13)
la ratte (18)
ONIONS: for storage
yellow borettana (18)
TOMATOES: some for canning/preserving
san marzano (10)
mystery cherry tomato (7) – saved seed from last year
mystery fuzzies (3) – saved seed from last year
bonny best (2)
big red (2)
cherokee purple (2)
persimmon tomato (1)
tigerella (2)
black krim (2)
costoluto (1)
PEPPERS: pickled peppers
hungarian wax (8)
sweet chocolate pepper (8)
CUKES/ SUMMER SQUASH
national pickling (4)
cuke (4)
black beauty zucchini (4)
BEANS:
trail of tears black beans (6)
CORN:
storage multi colored corn
sweet corn
HERBS:
cilantro
fennel
genovese basil
thyme
oregano
sage
rosemary
dill
FLOWERS:
nasturtium
borage
marigolds
WINTER SQUASHES: storage
baby pumpkins (5)
buttercup squash (12)
red kuri squash (6)
MELONS:
cantaloupe (3)
moon & stars watermelon (3)
mixed melon (2)
CAULIFLOWER
snowball(18)
CABBAGE
farao (18)
Love the variety! We’re trying the first lettuce you mentioned, too. The rouge d’ hiver lettuce? Can’t wait to try. You guys are so inspiring. My only wish is that we had more room, because I really wanted to try growing more things for winter storage, too.
Good luck!
Thanks Elle! Yes, we grew it last year as well, as a late season lettuce and it did very very well. Even if there is a frost, it survives. Very good for us New Englanders!
What about container gardening? Or doing landscaping with them (the winter squash)?
Sounds great! We scaled back from last year, because the garden got out of control, and our yield wasn’t what we wanted it to be. This year besides joining a local CSA we are growing:
Herbs:
Cilantro
Rosemary
Apple Mint
Golden Sage
French Thyme
Oregano
Basil
Tomatoes (usually one of each):
Sungold
Brandywine
Black Cherry
Cherokee Purple
Sweet Olive
San Marzano
Viva Italiano
Mystery Tomato (got it unlabeled)
Early Girl
Beefeater
Wapsipicon Peach
Amish Paste
Gold Medal
Beans:
Tiger Eye (for drying)
Rattlesnake
Purple Pole
Vegetables:
Cheddar Cauliflower
Leeks
Brusselsprouts
Chard (Bright Lights, Rhubarb and Fordhook)
Squash/Cucs:
Butternut
Pottimarron
Mexican Sour Gherkin Cucumbers
Russian Pickling Cucumbers
Wow, writing it all down makes me realize what a bounty we will have. I need to post some pics. We really did scale down which is scary….
HAPPY GARDENING!
Forgot peppers! We are growing jalapeño, bell and banana
That looks like an awesome garden, Georgia! Wow! I want to try brussels sprouts next year. Are they difficult?
Not yet! I have them planted in our raised bed, and they probably could have been spaced a little better, but look great so far!
Wow…I am always so impressed with those of you who have green thumbs. Was a great selection! Can’t wait for the updatesm
Thanks Chris! We are excited! Hope they all turn out!
Lordy. That is a lot!!!!!! I have not even heard of some of your root veggies. I am too impressed. Was that YOU building that bed!!! Very inspiring. You sure do practice what you preach.
Yes, I did help with building the beds! Bertie even let me use the drill this time!