The snow is melting here in Central Michigan. That means it is time to start planning my garden. In the last few years I've pretended to have a garden in a couple of raised beds. This year I'm going to have a real garden.
I want to grow enough beans, corn, tomatoes and cabbage to last us a year. I also want to grow some things just to sneak in something new here and there for my kids. Like beets, brussles sprouts and radishes. And some things are just for fun, like the mini ornamental corn I have that is suppose to make great popcorn.
As if that weren't enough, we have to have some watermelon and how great to have lots of pumpkin. Not only is pumpkin good for Halloween jack-o-lanterns, but also good for the family and the animals.
Speaking of the animals, we are thinking of growing some of our own feed this year too. I was inspired by THIS article at the Mother Earth News web site. So we are looking at growing some feed corn and some sunflowers (which Jade wanted to do anyhow) and maybe some sort of barley or rye just rough sewn in the pasture. We are also going to have pigs this year. That means that there will be squash-a-plenty in the garden.
Squash is a great crop to grow as a supplemental feed crop. It's one of those crops that seems to produce more than a family can use before it goes bad. So on the garden menu will be summer squash, zucchini, butternut, acorn, patty pan, and any other kinds I can find seeds for.
Oh so many possibilities. It's hard to limit myself. Especially since I really have all the space I want for a garden. I just have to remember that I don't have unlimited time to manage it.
What is everyone else planting this year?
3 comments:
Foo Foo and I just decided last night to add beets to the mix. We are the only two that love them. :)
Seeing your list of squash is including the winter squash, such as butternut, acorn, etc. made me wonder if you also have recipes for using them on your table for next winter. We are BIG fans of especially the butternut and then acorn. I have two blogs...Bits and Pieces is the daily one, but at the bottom of that blog page is a link to A Collector's Stash, which is another blog I do where I post only recipes. I'm working at turning it into a more "healthy site"...so I will be posting recipes using those wonderful squash that you mentioned!
The pictures of tomatoes on your posting today makes my mouth water for a fresh from the garden tomato!
I want to plant brussel sprouts in our garden this year. We grew them years ago. Love your pretty Toggenburg goats!!
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