I just finished reading 'the Winter Harvest Handbook' by Eliot Coleman. I must say that this book has made me determined to grow my own food...year around. This book is very detailed in the ways you can do this where you live. Methods that don't involve fancy glass greenhouses or expensive heating systems. As that I live in zone 8 of the temperate Pacific Northwest I have no excuse at all not to harvest fresh from my own garden 12 months of the year. Mr. Coleman harvests 12 months...in Maine!
So as of today I am making a plan to do just that. To keep myself (and hopefully you) motivated I am posting here each week with pictures of what is growing in my garden...no flowers allowed, well unless they are edible! Just practical nutritious food.
I will also be letting you know what kind of projects I am doing and methods I'm going to use to accomplish this important step towards self-sufficiency.
Here is how my garden grows today...
Last fall I planted 2 beds (4 x 12') of 5 varieties of garlic from Territorial Seed...it is doing marvelously! Garlic braids are going to be one of this year's Christmas gifts.
Rhubarb is poking its little head out of the soil...can't wait to make cobbler!
I want to challenge you to rethink your garden. It is too important in this age of huge corporations owning most of our food system for us to not utilize our gardens in ways that we never thought we could. We need to experiment, learn, and implement methods that will help us sustain ourselves and our families through the winter months as well those during the summer.
So follow along with me as I try to make every day of every month count in quest for a truly year 'round garden
