Planning Out the Next Years Garden: part one

Each year, about this time, I get the itch. Something I would never have believed way back in September. Back when work was long and the days short. Back when I would’ve sworn I was cutting back next year.

Well. It’s next year, and right on time the itch has come. The one that asks what will be do this year and what more can be done. The one that gets out the graph paper and starts the drawings—oh, how the Farmer HATES that graph paper.

And the garden. Yes. I’m starting to look at that, too. We added a whole new section onto the West garden, because, apparently, you can never have too many gardens. But seriously, though. When you begin to attempt to feed your family (and your animals) on what you grow right there on the farm, there will always be a need for more.

That garden will house the tomatoes, (for us) the sorrel, (for us and the chickens) the corn, (a starchy variety for us and the chickens), and the potatoes (just for us).

Based on the amount of feed we have left for the animals, it has become increasingly apparent that we need to plant more next year, or add another source. I just spoke with a kind woman who suggested drying the mulberry leaves in addition to the mulberries. That would certainly add to the volume. Those trees make a lot of leaves. I’ll have to look into that.

And for us. I’ve looked at all the empty jars lining the basement walls—hints at the food we’ve consumed so far. From that I can see the Chili base is a must. And the Sauce (of course). A surprise was the Cowboy Candy. It’s already almost gone. The Farmer loves that stuff. The beef stew is gone already. I will not make as much (or any) baked bean base. The Farmer announced after its first appearance at the dinner table that he does not really care for the baked bean. So, I will use up what we have this summer (when everyone loves baked beans, even a certain Farmer) and call it good. We have way, way too much jam and jelly, even after the Christmas gifts were given. The green beans were about right. The potatoes are a little scarce (hence their move to the bigger plot in the West garden). The canned fruit is hard to judge just yet. You see, I have accepted a position as a pastry chef at a new local restaurant where they would like farm-to-table offerings. That should begin sometime in March, so most of those should be used up for that. We will see. The greenhouse has been doing a great job keeping us (and the poultry and the pigs) kept up with our greens. I’d like more onions for next year. And garlic. So, I plotted that out accordingly. And I hope to have more people over here this summer. So, that means more food. More planning. More graph paper. More gardens.

I have most of the seeds I need. Either from saving them myself or paranoia on my part which made me order those I needed late Summer/early Fall of last year. But now I’m thinking about flowers. Wouldn’t it make sense to grow those, too? Especially now that we have the greenhouse? Yes. That makes perfect sense. It also makes sense that I must. I simply must order a seed of some sort in the month of January to scratch that itch or I will go mad. So, for next year remind me of that, when I go to order them again late Summer/early Fall. It will save me a bit of double-spending I think.

And now. For the graph paper. Instead of sitting here explaining all that I did and why, I will simply show you in pictural form. Now. This is just a January dream, mind you. It is bound to change in one way or another. AND my garden and my needs are not the same as yours. You may hate the tomato and not want a thing to do with it (banish the thought). In its place you might be thinking along the lines of a Kohlrabi (silently shakes head) or some other forsaken vegetable. That’s fine. Your garden, your rules. Just don’t expect anything like that in Mine.