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| Black eyed peas for good luck! |
As a fairly new urban homesteader, the beginning of a new year signals the shedding of the old way of doing things and beginning anew! The previous year taught me many things about farming...too many to be precise, and I am excited about the prospect of finally being able to eat more of what I grow. It has also been cost effective and fun to only purchase that which I do not grow yet, and a little bit of meat. (I can't fathom eating one of my hens, and just began to consume their eggs.) Fortunately, I have neighbors and friends who have fruit trees, mushrooms and other items that I can trade my crops for, and I am working on adding protein rich veggies to my diet to replace most of the meat that I consume. In short, 2016 will be a year of great change, great learning opportunities...better known as blunders, and the confidence that an abundant harvest can be possible if I work hard, share my bounty, and remember to pay attention to the weather! It seems like I check the weather hourly. I remember when looking out the window was considered checking the weather. Now, I have an app for my phone, follow the almanac like a bible, and pray for rain constantly! You are not a farmer until you fully understand that Mother Nature RULES, and always has the last word! She can be piece of work at times, and you have to learn how to deal with her tantrums.
Moving Forward
To start the year off right, I cooked my first black eyed peas from the garden, and I plan to grow them again this year. In my culture, black eyed peas are eaten on New Years day to bring good luck. http://gosoutheast.about.com/od/restaurantslocalcuisine/a/blackeyedpeas.htm. They have the prettiest flowers, and really add character to the garden. I seasoned them without salt, loaded them with onions, peppers, tomatoes and garlic from the garden and managed to not to poison anyone in the process. (Considering that I was the only one who ate them...not too shabby!) Along with cornbread, and greens, the meal was satisfying and nutritious. Healthy eating, less stress, and playing in the dirt are just what the doctor ordered. It is going to be a great year, and to entice you to keep reading, here is a brief rundown of what I have planned to write about in 2016.
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| Amazing how fast they fill up! |
Rain Water Harvesting!
California has been in a severe drought for several years, and the city I live in installed meters to monitor water use. This did not affect the garden too much as many people elected to sacrifice their lawns in favor of showering and brushing their teeth. (Although folks in Southern CA somehow still managed to fill their swimming pools and wash their cars, hmmm?) I used every conceivable method to conserve water by using in ground water bottles and watering late at night or very early mornings. Thankfully, Mother Nature has been giving us some heavy rain this past week and I was able to fill these two 55 gallon barrels in less than three hours just from leaking gutters. I plan to plumb them to the downspouts within the next week or so, and to purchase several more. At $15 per barrel, this is a great way to capture free water.
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| Re purposed milk crates |
Container Gardening!
In no way am I running out of space, but I like the idea of growing in containers for such things as herbs and flowers that can be moved around for attracting pollinators or discouraging pests. I also just think they look cool when planted with strawberries, garlic, or other root veggies.
Better to use them then to throw them in a landfill. They also make great organizers for garden tools.
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Playing in the dirt! |
I love the smell of compost in the morning! Mixed together topsoil, organic soil booster...(peat, vermiculite, cotton seed meal), worm castings, compost and pulverized egg shells to create a good starter soil for vegetable seedlings. I plan to use some egg shells as mini seed pots and then plant the whole thing in the garden. I also have two worm beds that provide great soil additives, but haven't been able to get any worm tea yet.
Increasing the Flock!
Yes, I want a few more chickens. Those with chickens know what this means. Do the math. Nuff said!
So I think I'm off to a good start thus far, and will be adding new veggies and new techniques as the year progresses. I appreciate any feedback and suggestions on how to do things better, and enjoy writing this blog for you. Be blessed!
Karen
