The Extent of Our Garden

First, I wanted to let all you folks that did not finish reading the post on us possibly milking water buffalo, that it will not work out.  To find out why, you have to read all the way to the bottom of the post.... ☺ http://beingtriedasgold.blogspot.com/2012/04/change-in-making.html

Our garden seems to shrink more and more each year.  We do not have rich, deep soil around the house, but a lot of shale, so a few years ago we started building up a small area in the yard with compost.  Last year, we planted 50 strawberry plants in that area and still had room for some tomato plants.  This year, however, Dave transplanted the strawberry runners into the remaining space and eliminated any room for anything else besides a small patch of lettuce and a yellow baseball plant.  Baseballs?  Never heard of growing baseballs?  It's the new thing...... heeeeheee

Usually, we planted potatoes back in a field somewhere, but each winter we had the issue of poor storage.  So this year, we decided to down size and try to grow just enough potatoes to eat through the fall.  I had come across a neat idea on the internet to grow them in barrels and decided to experiment with it.  Our milk house detergents come in plastic "barrels" so, Ben drilled holes in the bottom for drainage (or you can completely remove the bottom and set barrel on old carpet) and dug up some rich soil from elsewhere on the farm.  We mixed it with some sawdust, put approx.6 inches of this soil in bottom of barrel and "planted" the seed potatoes in that....

In a barrel this size, we only planted 2 seed potatoes.  If you plant them too close together, they will be crowded and produce tiny potatoes..

As the sprouts grow into plants and start peeking through the soil, you add another layer of soil.  This is continued until the barrel is full of soil and the plants are growing out the top.  The end result is to be a barrel full of potatoes.  We will see......

I purchased a huge number of 4 tomato plants!  I think I can handle that many ☺ and those ended up down at the house in tubs. 

And that is the extent of our garden!  We are hoping to someday put in a few raised beds, but until that time I will be looking for any extra produce that friends, family and neighbors may have to sell.  Keep me in mind and give me a buzz if you fall into that category.

Ben purchased 2 more composters this year and we already can taste that sausage.....

And did you know there is 40 calories in 1 tablespoon of raw milk cream?  so how many calories does that make in a batch of homemade ice cream made with pure cream?  Waaayyy too many!  Why are calories so yummy?

Until next time..................