The Spring Crops Are Planted! - COME SEE THE HOMESTEAD GARDEN
I was determined that I would get the spring crops in on March 1st. Normally that is too early for us we don't have grow lights or heating mats on the homestead. And sometimes we are in danger of frost for a another month or so here in the higher elevations of the Ozark mountains.
But these are spring crops and they can take a light freeze and germinate in the colder weather. Plus, every year, it seems that my spring crops are coming in during the heat of summer and I'm constantly battling all the pests in the last few weeks. Every years garden is an adventure. Some things are going to do wonderful and some things are going to fail. Even master gardeners fail at certain attempts year after year because every year is different with so many variables. The fun in gardening is getting out there and trying.
This year I'm going to try some different items and switch things up a bit.
GARDEN MANURE
Normally every year I put a good layer of rabbit manure purchased from a grower in the city to spread on my garden. But I've been doing that for the past 4 years now and I think the soil is healthy enough that I can skip doing that this year. I will still get some rabbit manure and mushroom compost for a couple of sections of the garden where I have some specialty items growing but it won't be much.
PARAMAGNETIC ROCK DUST
One thing I will be trying this year is putting down paramagnetic rock over the soil. If you have never looked into this, check it out. Some gardeners try to weave in a bunch of new age mysticism with this soil additive. But the reason paramagnetic rock works is simple, It's full of rich minerals that encourage microbial life in your soil. Older volcanic regions on earth are some of the most fertile growing areas because the soil is full of these minerals and nutrients. Adding paramagnetic rock to your garden is like bringing the fertility of the volcano to your veggies. One master gardener I talked to told me that adding paramagnetic rock dust on your garden would add at least 10 years of super charged growing ability.
SPRING CROPS
Japanese Turnips
Until then, I will be happily buying these seeds until I can produce my own.
Brunswick Cabbage
This is a simple heirloom cabbage that we got from Baker Creek and have been growing every year.
We have grown some impressive cabbages in this soil. Jaimie uses the harvest to make my all time summer favorite of egg rolls. Lots of cabbage means lots of egg rolls! We also make cabbage steaks and sour kraut. This year we are going to use the cabbage and other items to make kimchi with the Perfect Pickler.
Oxheart Carrots
I think these seeds were given to me by @papa-pepper and I was looking for a new carrot alternative to try out this year.
We will use these in the making of any kimche and also in those awesome egg rolls Jaimie makes on the homestead!
Jericho Romaine Lettuce
Check out this variety if you can. They sell it here.
Sugar Snap Peas
Not sure what variety this is. I lost track. To be honest, the best harvest of peas was back when we had the aquaponics running. But, I'm going to try this again in the garden in a different spot and see how it goes. We don't can peas or freeze them. I don't like them any other way but fresh. I think they lose so much taste after they have been saved by freezing or canning. But I love them fresh!
Grow What You Like To Eat
I know a lot of people put all kinds of things in their garden because they feel like they have to based on what other gardeners are growing. After doing this and saving our harvest for a few years. We will only grow what we eat and save. Somethings we just grow to eat and don't save any for the pantry. Peas are one of those items. The preservation is a time consuming activity for any produce.
Can't wait to see everyones gardens this summer! Happy spring planting!
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paramagnetic?
what does that even MEAN?
(does not compute...do snot compute...error..error..)
Ooooh - Oxheart carrots and Japanese turnips! I've gotta try those :) We were planting this weekend too. Thanks for sharing your journey!
We are building the $100 green house with cattle panels. Josh just needs to put on the plastic and door and we will be ready to plant in it. We are also putting in a few raised beds as well. With the baby due in June we figured it's best to go light on the garden this year. Josh works full time, runs our business in the evenings, and most of the summer will be doing my end of the work with the livestock. So our garden will be much smaller this year. It's really taking me much restraint to not plant a lot. Ha ha ha! But our big priority this spring is to get the blacksmith shop up and going before baby comes! So next year we will go gungho with the garden again!
Wise to go light, you are already growing plenty, LOL! Blacksmithing is a growing business. If you can make the sell online hill, it will be very good money! Best of luck, and enjoy the Baby!
I keep lavander oil by the forge, to treat the burns that always seem to sneak in, I recommend it.
Thanks @smithlabs! My husband completed two weekend long trainings when we lived in Michigan several years ago and volunteered at the nature center to demo during their festivals throughout the year. Two years ago we invested in a week long training at John C Campbell Folk School in North Carolina (we highly recommend) and he's been working on piecing together a shop of his own since then! We are hoping to someday have him make his living that way, but if not, then it's a good side income opportunity! :)
Be sure to post it here. I have a Machine shop, so I do light Blacksmithing to support work there, but it is fascinating, and I knew one in KC, Mo. that made wrought iron for many years, and did well. Online selling will let you help him by doing the non anvil work. Small items, like hot pan trivits that he can make 20 at a time, will give you producta to sell. His Wife did stained glass, and it seemed to work well together. They did some wrought iron frames with stained glass inside, and some mixed lampshades as well.
Be sure to put Baby pictures on here too, LOL! Best of Luck and may GOD Bless you and yours!
We can't even see out garden yet, its still buried under a mountain of snow. You're lucky you can plant so early. :D I look forward to seeing what we end up with in our garden this year myself. :D Love your greenhouse, its huge. :D
God bless you and your fantastic family. :D Have an awesome day my fabulous friend! :D
Zac how big is your garden space?
You have a wonderful area to plant - so big!! The white butterfly is a real problem at the moment - it must be the year for them - all my broccoli, cauli and cabbage are quite holey lol I do plant things that I won't eat too much of simply because I can use my excess as pig food. I grow courgettes and will freeze some for soups etc but I leave some on the plant till huge then the pigs get a treat.
I have so much to learn. I don't have a lot of space to grow, as we currently rent, but I really want to finally start a small raised garden in the back corner of the yard. I've already been saying this for a few years though. I am so intimidated in trying new things, but I understand the value in growing your own food and it is a skill that I definitely want my son to learn--though I will be learning right along side him.
How do the Japanese Turnips compare to normal ones? I assume you get the seeds from Baker Creek? You are brave to start your planting so soon, best of luck on that!
We just got a lot of wind damage to repair and I'm afraid the damage is near the raised beds, which may have to torn up to fix the fence. That may interfere with gardening this year. I'm trying to espalier the fruit trees this year to. Seven years without one fruit because of the curculio infestation. No amount of spraying seems to help. Wish me luck, skill don't help.
Awesome feeling to get your garden planted. I’m about halfway done with mine.