Organic Homestead Gardening

Here on Tallowberry Creek Farm we only knew the old way of gardening until we joined a group called OrganicHomesteadGardening. It's a huge group but a wealth of information and a group owner that is nothing if not brilliant and then add to that kind and giving. Backwater Jon as we call him, really helped us learn about the lasagna method of gardening that we would fall in love with. The concept is to lay down cardboard (no ink if possible), then a moist layer of newspapers (no funny papers), then a layer of compost. We used the bedding from the goat sheds and some rabbit berries to use to help the produce grow. There is hardly any weeding at all which is the point that sold Reidel on the concept. It almost takes care of itself. So we put in a 2ft by 30ft kitchen garden bed, then two 4ft square beds beside that to use for greens etc for the kitchen side. Across the driveway, we put in a 2ft by 40ft bed for tomatoes and then 5 big tractor tires we whittled down to plant into. Asparagus in one, collards in the next one and on the other side, we put in a cucumber trellis in a larger tire and mint growing in another. We placed an old swingset beside those beds, put cattle fencing over the top with small raised beds at each end. I can't tell you how many asparagus beans we raised off that one swingset. They are wonderful growing beans because they grew hanging thru the wire so it was a snap to pick them. Doesn't take many of those long beans to make a meal or fill up a quart jar. In some seed magazines, they are called Amish yardlong beans I think.

By far I recommend planting heirloom seeds whenever possible. I sprouted all my own seeds last year and as far as tomatoes, the Cherokee purple and Brandywine were the best producers and best tasting toms. One slice of the Brandywines would over a whole piece of bread! We could have sold jalapeno peppers if we were so willing to, but we made jalapeno jelly instead and we have used it in literally everything. Stay tuned for recipes!!

We didn't get to grow that much this year due to a late start because of illness, but what we have we are sincerely grateful to the Good Lord for letting it grow. I plan to have a better Fall garden. The big fig tree is producing right now and I'm eating my fill of them. I'll can some and dry some later. Right now having them fresh is just too good to pass up. That tree can't help but produce since it's planted in the old chicken pen. We have a resident big old cotton tail rabbit living in that area. I hope he stays after I build the aviary out there. I love birds so plan to have some 'loose' birds in the little house that we've saved up old windows out of the elementary school to make it out of. They are even the right color! I also plan to build a small greenhouse to start my plants in since now I'm using the dining room.

... an we journey on.