Saving Seeds Really Pays Off

Remember when we showed the pictures of the zinnia and marigold seed heads we had picked one afternoon? After they had dried somewhat, we separated them to make sure they dry completely before we store them for next year. There are millions, well maybe not millions, but thousands of seeds. Most of these came from

volunteer plants that came up this year from the seeds we planted last year. Many of those seeds came from an end-of-the-year sale at a hardware store for 10 cents a package. 10 cents! So for 10 cents, we now have thousands of seeds that we can use for 10 years even if we never save another seed.

So, that got me to thinking. We saved three big cucumbers and kept the seeds from them. Since we don't really like cucumbers (believe it or not, I just like dill pickles) these seeds will last us forever - not counting the ones still in the original package I bought that I have been planting for three years now.

In the past few years we have saved okra, corn, zinnia, marigold and black-eyed pea seeds. If we continue to expand this process with seeds from plants we like to eat that are non-hybrid, pretty soon we will not need to buy any. Wouldn't that be great? One more small step toward independence and self-reliance. 

It is always good to have a stock of seeds on hand though. What if the weather doesn't cooperate and you need to replant? What if the bugs kill everything and you need to replant? What if you can never buy another seed and what you have is all you have? You've heard the old saying 'Never put all of your eggs in one basket'? Well, never plant all of your seeds. Never. Always have some in reserve for the unexpected. Your life may depend on it one day.

I know that sounds odd in our day of plenty, but I truly believe this will not always be the case. I am very grateful for the comfort and luxury of living in a time when failure is an option - that I can go to the store and replenish all I need and want that is within our means. We are truly blessed. 

Now, at the end of the season, wisely stock up on extra seeds - more than you think you will ever need in your lifetime. They will be worth more than silver or gold. They may feed your family, your neighbors or your community. They will be tremendous bartering commodities. Providing others with the means to provide for themselves may be one of the most

priceless gifts you will ever be able to give someone.


Until next time - Fern

How Does the Garden Grow?

We have just about decided this is our best garden ever. We had a very cool, wet spring with several late frosts, which was better than the last two very hot, dry springs followed by extreme heat and drought. The weather this year has made everything a little later, but more productive so far. We have high hopes for our harvest.

Here is a pictorial of the garden so far this year.
 

May 2013

Carrots, tomatoes and cucumbers on the trellis to the left, purple hull peas in the middle and the mounds to the right are sweet potatoes

Pole bean on the trellis to the left, sweet peas in the middle, squash behind the beans and to the right of the okra that is just coming up

Okra, squash, peppers in front of the squash, corn to the right

June 2013 

 

Corn, squash, peppers, okra

As the peas started winding down, I planted Romano green beans.

The sweet potatoes are starting to grow.







Purple hull peas are blooming.

Only half of the lima beans came up, so I planted some more. 

We had some wind that bent some of the corn over, but it is growing well.

 

July 2013

The weather is hot and dry now (today it is 105 degrees), but with our watering everything is producing well. The cucumbers and tomatoes are on the trellis in the background, in the middle are the purple hull peas, sweet potatoes and a mutant volunteer squash from last year. It is some kind of cross between a white scalloped pattypan and one of the winter squashes we grew last year.

Sweet potatoes, kentucky wonder green beans on the trellis to the right and lima beans on the trellis to the right of the building.

Green beans again and the trellis where the peas were. The Romano beans I planted didn't come up very well and need to be replanted. I'm not sure if I will get to that or not. The squash is back behind the okra and beans.

The okra on the left is starting to produce well. The red flowers are volunteer zinnias from last year. We have them sprinkled throughout the garden which is wonderful. Amongst the zinnia are the peppers which are starting to put on very well. We planted cayenne, jalapeno, anahiem, paprika, and a couple of sweet peppers. They are great with the soft goat cheese we make.

 More volunteer zinnias and the tomatoes. Our tomatoes aren't doing very well this year, but that is okay. We don't eat very many, but I do want to make some salsa and tomato sauce, so we will see how that goes.

The corn is over six feet tall in places and growing ears. We hope to be able to eat some in the next week or so.

 As you can see, we plant things close together and rather thick. Sometimes you have to step on something to harvest because of the crowded conditions. It is almost like one giant bed once everything grows to maturity. 

Here is the okra in June. Like those nice straight rows? I plant things just far enough apart to till a few times with this small Mantis tiller. Then the plants grow large enough to cover most of the surface of the soil and help keep down some of the weeds. 

I always feel like everything should be farther along than it is. Kind of like a kid in a candy store - isn't there any okra yet? Isn't there any corn yet?

We learn so much every year we have a garden. We plant something new to see if it will produce well in this area and climate. Last year we planted five different kinds of winter squash. It was dreadfully hot and dry so it was a challenge for the plants. Two of them, buttercup and cushaw, did well despite the weather, so we will plant them again this year. We have grown black-eyed peas before, but not purple hull, so we can compare their hardiness and productivity.

The list of things to learn goes on and on and on. Again, take time to learn something that will benefit you and your family every day. It may turn out to be one of the most important things you have ever done.

Until next time - Fern