I am keeping a list of garden plans as the summer winds down.
Find out about growing beans for drying-kidney, pinto. How many to plant?
Build a new compost bin in a more convenient spot.
Rain barrels? Find out about local regulations.
Add two new garden boxes for next summer's garden, reducing lawn area.
Plant two apple trees-look into espalier trees
Remove old roses in front yard and add something deer resistant.
Plant three blueberry bushes that will work in our climate.
Plant fall/winter garden: peas, broccoli, spinach, lettuce, carrots, green onions.
Learn about winter cover crops.
"If mothers could learn to do for themselves what they do for their children when these are overdone, we should have happier households. Let the mother go out to play! If she would have the courage to let everything go when life becomes too tense, and just take a day, or half a day, out in the fields, or with a favourite book, or in a picture gallery looking long and well at just two or three pictures, or in bed, without the children, life would go on far more happily for both children and parents. The mother would then be able to hold herself in "wise passiveness’ and would not fret her children by continual interference even of hand or eye - she would let them be." Charlotte Mason
My garden is a continual source of rejuvenation for me and time spent thinking about it and working in it is time well spent.
Barb-Harmony Art Mom
Those plans look great! I purchased Hairy Vetch seeds to plant as a cover crop this winter. I have cabbage, broccoli, and kale started under lights indoors. I have also learned that pepper (bell, jalapeno etc) are perennials and can be dug up in the fall, overwintered inside, and then will produce earlier when set out in warm weather. I definitely want to try that!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite CM quotes there!
ReplyDeleteI've been growing pintos & kidneys this year, from seeds I got from Seed Savers' Catalog. They actually are harvested dried like that. You grow the dry bean seeds, and they grow like regular beans, but you let them dry out on the bush before you pick them. Then when you shell them they're just like they're supposed to be. It's pretty cool, really. Only I think that I'm going to have to plant more of them next year because it seems to take quite a few plants to get very many beans. Of course, I'm just starting my harvest - we're considerably north of you guys - so I may yet be surprised. The nice thing about using the heirloom seeds is that you don't have to buy them again, just save some of the beans and plant them.
ReplyDeleteRitsumei,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the info on the dry beans. I am sort of concerned that I will need to plant *a lot* to have a significant harvest. I will look into the Seed Savers catalog. :)
Barb
Aaargh, now I have to make my list even longer: many of the projects you mention, I forgot!
ReplyDeleteI also grew Red Kidney and Cannelini (sp?) and they're drying well on the bush. Not enough (1 box) for a good dry bean store, but enough for next year's much bigger planting!
Katrien,
ReplyDeleteThat is what I am worried about. How many plants would it take to make a decent sized crop for actually eating? Am I just crazy to think that in my smallish backyard that I can actually grow enough to make it worthwhile?
More research and then experiment I guess.
Thanks for the comment,
Barb