In addition to the Salem Farmer's Market being up and running every Thursday from 3pm to 7pm (just a mile walk from our house), our own garden has begun to produce harvest worthy items.
Okay, admittedly, our tomato plants are looking pretty pathetic. We started them very early and they became tall and leggy as they waited in our not quite south facing window for the evening temperatures to climb up to above 50ยบ F. When we were finally able to get them in the ground... they were flopping over and generally looking sickly. Then the wild rabbits found them, and though tomato plants are supposedly toxic to eat, the rabbits appear to be immune. So, we may have to replant some new tomatoes.On the other side of the spectrum, our spinach, arugula, and swiss chard plants are growing so fast that we almost can't keep up with them. I'm dining every evening on tasty salad mixes with slices of our radishes mixed in. Our herb garden is now three years old, and we've got an over abundance of sage, thyme, oregano, lemon balm, chives, garlic, tarragon, lavender, and rosemary. Our dinners-no matter what we're eating-are always seasoned with fresh picked herbs and life has gotten quite delicious.
I can't wait for the peas, beans, zucchini, carrots, beets, cucumbers, (hopefully) tomatoes, watermelons, cantaloupes, acorn squash, buttercup squash, lakota squash, and sugar pumpkins to produce :)In addition to what we've got growing in the garden, our red and black raspberry plants are about to bloom, our strawberries have finished flowering and are setting tiny green fruits, our lonely blueberry bush survived the winter, and the two peach trees we put in the ground at the beginning of April survived and have leafed out. They won't fruit for a few years, but when they do... OMG, there is nothing finer that a ripe peach plucked right off the tree.
Why are we homesteading at the Karch house? To sum it up, we care about our physical and mental health and we care about our environment. Home grown food is a known quantity. We know where it's coming from, how it's being grown, and what chemicals are or aren't being used on it. And we know how much fossil fuels are being used to grow it, water it, fertilize it, package and process it, transport it, and keep it cool until it gets to our plate. We could buy a share at a local CSA like Green Meadow Farm or Appleton Farm, but I and my husband feel that it's important for our children to see food growing and be involved in the process of getting it from seed to the dinner plate.
Mrs. Karch,
ReplyDeleteI think this is amazing; I have tried to grow many things in my garden, when I was younger and did not get as far as this. I agree that it is good to know where your food is grown! Americans in general don't produce very many products and we rely on other countries. As well homegrown food just tastes better, mostly because it is fresher. -SC
My family recently started a vegetable/herb garden. I think it is a great idea. The process is so rewarding, from turning the earth to having a ripe tomato in your hands. Buying produce at a supermarket instead of buying locally grown, makes a larger carbon footprint. I wonder what a difference it would make if every family at Pingree produced their own vegetables?
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The garden is such a great idea! It sounds like it could be something fun that the whole family can be part of. I am hoping to start a garden for my family myself. This article also got me thinking about what chemicals are really o ne those vegtables I am eating.-LO
ReplyDeleteStarting a garden would be great. Not only will it be fun but the food you eat would be healthy. Instead of buying fruits and vegetables from the supermarket where the food is transported there, you know that it came from your garden. The food you would eat would be fresher and would taste better.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with this article. It is a great idea to grow foods in your own garden for many reasons. Learning and knowing where your foods are coming from is very important as well as being more environmentally cautious.
ReplyDeleteGardens are a great solution to keep the plant healthy, along with yourself. You know for a fact that you are not eating pesticides, and that your nutritious food did no damage to the earth. My family has a garden in our backyard. It is fairly small, but we get our use out of it, and have fresh, tasty food growing in our backyard. I definitely agree that gardens can help keep our future bright.
ReplyDeleteI've done a lot of gardening as well, but unfortunately working in others yards rather than my own. I have found it very rewarding as well all though it is an ongoing battle. In addition to the the tomatoes i would be interested to hear which plants gave you trouble and which you have found the most rewarding.
ReplyDeleteI love the thought of growing all your food from your own garden, and being a part of a farmer's market! My mother and I grew tomatoes, grapes, and basil in a small garden in our back yard this summer. In the spring we plan to make a bit larger garden, and grow more vegetables from that! It is so much healthier for us.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately our yard is built on pure rock so it is impossible to plant anything in our yard and have it grow. On the bright side, our neighbors have a small garden, and our other neighbors have chickens that they use for eggs. We also use these eggs, and we belong to the Marblehead CSA. But i agree that it is a great thing that you can see where your food comes from. It is hard to keep the bugs from eating your veggies, when gardening organic. Does anybody have any tips for keeping the bugs away?
ReplyDeleteHaving a garden in your yard is a great idea and one that most people with enough land and time should take into consideration. Last year when I became interested in the american food industries I learned where our food really came from and how it has a negative impact on our planet rather then a positive impact. Growing a garden keeps YOU healthy and the PLANET which I think is the core reason why this is such a great idea. I hope you continue with your garden and influence those around you to do the same.
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