I love that idea Spector. Just today I notice a snap pea that had my name on it (figuratively). There were just a few; nowhere near enough for a meal but the taste/flavour was a treat for me.My goal is not necessarily to grow everything I need, but to have something that I can harvest, despite the season. There is something delicious about walking outside and being able to pick a fresh strawberry, or a peach, or a lemon, or a cucumber, etc, no matter what time of year it is. I try, every day, to find something that has ripened and is ready to eat, and whatever it is, it doesn't usually make it back into the house!
I love that idea Spector. Just today I notice a snap pea that had my name on it (figuratively). There were just a few; nowhere near enough for a meal but the taste/flavour was a treat for me.
Is it bad that I am already anxious for next spring? I have some new (to me) varieties of veggies I want to try. I feel like that old ad, where the customers stood outside the closed glass doors, chanting "open, open, open." I suspect I will be starting some seeds inside FAR too early next year!
Thank you for moving the thread.
I'm thinking that growing a completely balanced diet is possible. We haven't been trained to do it 100%-yet I believe it's possible. We are use to buying our junk food goodies, and not SO necessary items-giving up those creature comforts is the real issue for many people. .it's all about training and perspective.
does recovering salt count? I recover all salt from my brines that I use for pickles - to be re-used for pickles......We just had a family get together. We prepared most all food from our garden. ( We bought the butter and a few odds and ends) . It was pretty good.
that is absolutely intriguing nzmitzi - how do you 'recover' salt from your brines if you don't mind me asking?does recovering salt count? I recover all salt from my brines that I use for pickles - to be re-used for pickles......
that is absolutely intriguing nzmitzi - how do you 'recover' salt from your brines if you don't mind me asking?
very clever and frugal, I'll certainly keep that in mind when I do my next lot of brine/fermentsI boil most of the water off then place the remains onto a plastic tray and set in a warm place to let it evaporate. It takes some time as it is not a warm climate here and I do have to cover it so the bugs and stuff don't get into it. Once dry, it is literally caked onto the tray so I just break it up and crush to get it back into small particles again. I only re-use for brine. The salt often smells of the vegetables that were in it.
You'll soon work out how to maximize your production in the times you can grow things Charity, we have the same thing here in summer, having been in drought for umpteen years there is no ground water so now I am gearing up to grow a lot of things in pots, using any kind of vertical space that I can find. Planning a 'preserving' garden is something that everyone could benefit from as well as the plot to eat from!!I had started gardening a few years ago, but had to stop due to several things. I have picked it up again this year and am working toward providing us all our veg. We have already been able to buy less veg from the store, but my little garden runs out pretty quick. My fall crops have just began to grow, but I’m hoping to grow until frost takes them out, usually around Christmas. Being in South Texas, we can grow 2 or 3 sets of crops per year. The height of summer is hard to grow in because it’s so hot. My cucumbers didn’t produce much, but are coming back with a bumper crop now that its cooled down a bit.
You'll soon work out how to maximize your production in the times you can grow things Charity, we have the same thing here in summer, having been in drought for umpteen years there is no ground water so now I am gearing up to grow a lot of things in pots, using any kind of vertical space that I can find. Planning a 'preserving' garden is something that everyone could benefit from as well as the plot to eat from!!
Let us know how that works out for you. I might have to try some of your vertical techniques.
Can you expound on this? Can you derive salt from celery? I’m very interested!!Juice celery then dehydrate it
We are a lot like you at this point, Spector. I am really looking forward to "over" abundance, so more can be stored for the future. Am hoping next year we will be able to freeze asparagus, make more pickles, starfruit, blackberry, blueberry, raspberry and hibiscus jam, and eat more fruits. Last year only the lemons were productive enough to freeze some back, and the bananas are growing like mad !!! I am pleased that we are off to a running start and that 4 years in, we are harvesting most of the year, even if only enough for a dish here and there.I try, every day, to find something that has ripened and is ready to eat, and whatever it is, it doesn't usually make it back into the house!