Aa
Free Food
I was just wondering with the current economic conditions who is planting a garden this year? If you are what are you planting and how many will it feed and for how long? If you are not, why not? I would really like to hear from both sides on this one.
My family always had a garden when I was growing up and my Dad woould plant and tend to it and Mom and Grandmas would can and/or freeze veggies. These would last us almost a year and cut the food cost down considerably.
We are planning to have a flowerbed type garden this year around the house. Growing tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans and we may grow a little sweet corn behind the garage. I think we can grow enough to last the two of us for about 6 months in a very little space.
My family always had a garden when I was growing up and my Dad woould plant and tend to it and Mom and Grandmas would can and/or freeze veggies. These would last us almost a year and cut the food cost down considerably.
We are planning to have a flowerbed type garden this year around the house. Growing tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans and we may grow a little sweet corn behind the garage. I think we can grow enough to last the two of us for about 6 months in a very little space.
When we first moved to this house, we had a peach tree and some grapes and tangerines. The soil isn't all that great though so we don't grow anything anymore, but I would love to. My husband does too, we just haven't brought it up recently because of the bad soil.
PK, I know what you mean, LOL. But I have classified my husband as a certain animal, I just won't say it here, LOL
PK, I know what you mean, LOL. But I have classified my husband as a certain animal, I just won't say it here, LOL
BP, he has not been registered as a specific type or breed. He is just an animal LOL.
If I ever have a yard I will try my best to grow grapes. :)
If I ever have a yard I will try my best to grow grapes. :)
Ha ha ha ha, well, I wouldn't eat anybody! Maybe myself :) just kidding!
Oh, so now not only would you eat your husband, but he's an animal? LOL. I'm a lion right now, what is he? LOL LOL
Oh, so now not only would you eat your husband, but he's an animal? LOL. I'm a lion right now, what is he? LOL LOL
I gotta say, I can't kill an animal I've watched grow and get strong. My family does that. I get attached to all of them. When they get sent to the butcher I just cry. But then I eat them good!!!!!!!!!!
BP, I would have never thought you'd be able to practice canivalism. You s uck LOL and just in case you are thinking of mentioning me eating me husband......he is an animal, so he doesn't count lol.
BP, I would have never thought you'd be able to practice canivalism. You s uck LOL and just in case you are thinking of mentioning me eating me husband......he is an animal, so he doesn't count lol.
Oh, and my doggies are too skinny, ha ha ha ha ha.
LOL. But I never said I would eat them! LOL
I'll just cut pieces off myself and snack on that. I got plenty! LOL
I'm still telling your husband!
I'll just cut pieces off myself and snack on that. I got plenty! LOL
I'm still telling your husband!
Hehe, we just got our cow butchered. I named him Petey when we picked him out. He turned out to give us 459lbs of meat, now Petey is in those little white packages!!
I'm all for growing and raising your own stuff if you can.
I'm all for growing and raising your own stuff if you can.
BP,
You have more options. You can eat Amber or David. You have two pooches and your parents and sister. You have supply for like 4 years girl!!!!!!!!!!!! I only have my husband and the lizards.
You have more options. You can eat Amber or David. You have two pooches and your parents and sister. You have supply for like 4 years girl!!!!!!!!!!!! I only have my husband and the lizards.
Oh, and we've often talked about it, but never done it. It's a great idea though! Thanks for bringing it up! I'll mention it to my husband again :) I'm sure he'll agree...
LOL I'm going to tell him you said that, PK! LOL
Oh yes. I would starve before eating my babies!!! I'd rather eat my husband lol
LOL, We used to raise steers and pigs, they would go to the butcher on all fours and come home in little white packages. It was not what are we having for dinner, but who. I am not sure I could eat a cat, well at least knowing it, some Chinese food make me wonder. I know you are kidding though.
Its also so satisfying to know you grew it. those 4 blueberries tasted like ambrosia....am waiting to get some olives this year, my fig trees were a disaster also the avocado didnt turn out well.
I don't even have a yard...
Ultimately, I am feeding my cats pretty well. They're fat and healthy. If the times comes, I can just eat them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ultimately, I am feeding my cats pretty well. They're fat and healthy. If the times comes, I can just eat them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know the seeds and plants do cost some, depending on where you get them and how much of a green thumb you have a lot of the seeds can be gathered though out the winter from store bought things such a green peppers, cantaloupe, tomatoes and such. We never paid for fertilizer, a lot of farmers are happy to let you shove your own if you help clean a stall. Mail order seed places, showing my age here, internet seed store also provide a good low cost bulk seed supply, if you have some friends doing the same and you can share the seeds the cost for all goes way down. I typically don't charge myself for my time so I guess that is just sweat equity.
Your right it’s not free, but all and all the cost can be a fraction of store bought.
Your right it’s not free, but all and all the cost can be a fraction of store bought.
Forgot to mention -- this isn't "FREE" food. It costs $ to buy the seed, fertilizer, water, time, etc. No "free" food.
We tried some potatoes this year - no idea what that will bring. We normally have fair luck with tomatoes - enough for our own use and we take some to work plus share with family/neighbors. Cucumbers do ok - share with family/neighbors & co-workers if we have enough. Crooked neck squash - enough for me (hubby doesn't like them) and to share with family/co-workers/neighbors. We've tried corn - not much luck in previous years, but tried again this year - maybe enough for ourselves and to share with family if it survives!!
Flower garden - yes, bring on the perennials..
Flower garden - yes, bring on the perennials..
Our yard is pretty small, but we do grow a few things. Not enough to feed us, but enough to have for a few meals. Grandma always grows cucumbers to make cans of sliced bread and butter pickles to sell at the church. She also grows swiss chard and rhubarb. We have a black walnut tree, but it seldom produces nuts and the ones it does, the squirls take...
Last couple years I planted some winter squash. First year it was butternut squash. (We only got one if I remember and it was a huge one.) Second year I planted what I thought would be butternut squash from seeds dated 1988... Turned out someone must have swapped seeds because when it produced in September it wasn't a butternut squash.... I think it was a carnival squash. We got about 4 out of about three vines. We don't have much luck with squash because it seems they only produce "male" flowers and the "females" don't start blooming until very late August...
We also grow zucchini. Last summer we fried some big ones and that was really good.
Other things we grow: Chives (and we harvest them and use them), basil (that I plant. I use it fresh), and cayenne peppers.
Last year it was an accident. I meant to buy sweet bell peppers, but didn't look at the tag... We got some bell peppers later but the result was disappointing. We only got three small bell peppers total.
The cayenne pepper one turned out better. I didn't get the full crop of peppers I got the year before, but I got some and they turned out pretty good. I slice them up into small pieces and add them to my food. Right now I'm using some of the dried peppers from two summers ago. They are pretty mean spicy peppers too.
Then I also have a small flower garden in front. I dug it up around the city curb where we used to have a tree. It took a lot of work digging it and planting various annuals but it looks really pretty. We also have a small garden around the west side of our house.
Last couple years I planted some winter squash. First year it was butternut squash. (We only got one if I remember and it was a huge one.) Second year I planted what I thought would be butternut squash from seeds dated 1988... Turned out someone must have swapped seeds because when it produced in September it wasn't a butternut squash.... I think it was a carnival squash. We got about 4 out of about three vines. We don't have much luck with squash because it seems they only produce "male" flowers and the "females" don't start blooming until very late August...
We also grow zucchini. Last summer we fried some big ones and that was really good.
Other things we grow: Chives (and we harvest them and use them), basil (that I plant. I use it fresh), and cayenne peppers.
Last year it was an accident. I meant to buy sweet bell peppers, but didn't look at the tag... We got some bell peppers later but the result was disappointing. We only got three small bell peppers total.
The cayenne pepper one turned out better. I didn't get the full crop of peppers I got the year before, but I got some and they turned out pretty good. I slice them up into small pieces and add them to my food. Right now I'm using some of the dried peppers from two summers ago. They are pretty mean spicy peppers too.
Then I also have a small flower garden in front. I dug it up around the city curb where we used to have a tree. It took a lot of work digging it and planting various annuals but it looks really pretty. We also have a small garden around the west side of our house.
My yard is way to small to have a garden.
He he sorry to giggle but you may need it... me I am growing grapes and figs amd lemons ..well I say growing ,some havent made it this year , Olives are really tough they thrive it seems to me, but my grapes ..no and I had 4 blue berries off my bush, am persevering but I really thought these grapes would yield some wine...oh Ce'st La Vie
We do a community veggie garden on our block. There are two empty lots that the owner of lets us use for our garden. It ends up feeding 6 families for the whole summer. We do zuchinni, squash, gb, onions, peppers(variety), corn, tomatoes, potatoes, brocolli, cauliflower, and do a small section of herbs for the fall. Also do pumpkins and that's where we all get our pumpkins for Halloween!
It's great b/c it's actually less work b/c you have 6 families tending the garden.
Oh, incase people are wondering. No, we don't like count how much each family gets. If you need something you just go and pick it. Fortunately, it's not a greedy group of families so, it's worked out great in past years.
It's great b/c it's actually less work b/c you have 6 families tending the garden.
Oh, incase people are wondering. No, we don't like count how much each family gets. If you need something you just go and pick it. Fortunately, it's not a greedy group of families so, it's worked out great in past years.
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