We haven’t spoken much of our small Urban Farm this year, and that’s because we got a late start this spring in lieu of expanding last year’s garden to double it in size. While we don’t have an abundance of plant varieties, we have the “mains” like tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, peppers, zucchini, and a handful of potted herbs. We try to grow what we will use in the future and preserve it by freezing and canning. The first picture is of what we picked this morning. The tom’s are small and the cuc’s are in short numbers, but be reminded this is the first picking of our garden.
You can see the new Farm fence in the background and the unfinished pathway alongside the fence and garden edge. That is to be filled in with rocks and pavers to complete the path from the backyard through the garden to the front yard.
Sure, there is some unused areas throughout the garden, but we plan on doing a fall planting with potatoes, onions, collards, carrots, and the “spring mains” so as to catch up from this past spring that we missed out on.
As you can see, we like to vine our tomatoes. Some folks prefer to grow them as a bush, but in conjunction with our DIY Tomato Cages that have no stakes, the weight of the tomato vines help hold them down. We have roughly four different varieties of ‘maters this year, and have no real idea of the different strain. Why, you ask? These fourteen plants were given to us by Scissors’ dad after we failed at starting seeds indoors this year. We do know that there are yellow tomatoes and 2 different varieties of an Heirloom type. Just not sure of the make and model.
Yes, we still have green tomatoes. Once these get picked and out of the way, the bulk of the flowering will soon take place. You can see that this one plant is caged with chicken wire, which is opposite of what our video shows using rabbit wire. I ran short and needed another cage, so I used what we had on-hand. Isn’t that what Urban Farming is all about?
We don’t have a lot in the way of plant variety, harvest, & bounty, but what we do have is what we will use and share with those nearby. It’s not about the biggest and the prettiest, as it is what it means to you and those around you. If it fits into your ideals, then it works, no matter what anyone else says. Every time we look like we are heading to the garden, the kids are in tow, damned near on our heels. They were excited to see that the cucumbers we have been gawking over were ready. They started picking beans and walking through the garden pinching suckers off the tomato plants. This is what it means to me. Teaching our kids how to do it the REAL conventional way…….by hand.
How is your garden coming along this year? Did you get a late start like we did? Are your family members involved? Do you preserve and can your pickings and let your kids take part in this cool ass activity? We do!
We got an early start this year and have harvested more than we did last year already. Unfortunately, we have lost our entire cucumber patch, 3 tomato plants, our squash and zuchini, and even some pumpkins. No worries though. Our pigs have enjoyed everything we toss their way. We have started the seed for our fall round of cucumber and are planning some more spinach, some pumpkin, and possibly some sweet potato. Then we move on to setting up the hoop house and our cold frames. My entire family is involved. They have to be. The family that picks together, sticks together! And yes, we can anything and everything. It is a great way to bond and a great way to eat healthy all year round.
Drew,
You guys must be living right to double your pleasure. I guess that comes with the losses though. Our cuc’s are thriving ridiculously! 150 individual plants are flowering like crazy. Keeping the bees busy too.
I couldn’t agree more….as you said “My entire family is involved. They have to be. The family that picks together, sticks together! And yes, we can anything and everything. It is a great way to bond and a great way to eat healthy all year round.”
I’ve gotten a late start this year, but am lucky enough to get to see where my plants are headed because other members of my community garden were right on time.
Stacey-We hear ya on the lateness. It is what it is, I reckon.
Glad that you have the community garden to fall back on. And, I hope that the community garden is doing well and your plants are headed in that direction.