Thread: gardening /09

Originally Posted by Virginia

We live out of our garden year round, (eating fresh in season, storing the harvest for the rest of the year.) so it is very important to us.
Thanks; Virginia

Virginia,
This will be the first year we have a big enough garden to cover us for the full year. We're putting in a root cellar this summer for the root crops and my husband is finishing up the basement storage room now building special shelves for all my can goods. With you living mostly from your garden how much do you spend at the grocery store? I've began making my own soaps and learning as many skills as I can so we will be able to make it on our own and maybe only pick up a few things once or twice a year. Just wondering how well we'll do at the grocery store in the future!

Thanks!
Cherlynn

I'm a newbie here, but a very active member of a gardening forum site that hasn't been mentioned here. I don't know what the protocol is for that, so I won't write it until someone lets me know.

I did want to tell you all, that if you go to Home Depot's website and join their gardening club, they will send you emails with gardening info PLUS coupons - usually 3 coupons in an email. They just started up again for this season this week, and I'm excited to go use my "buy one get one free" bulbs coupon. Not bad, huh?

LynneRoCo,
Thanks for letting us know about the Home Depot Gardening Club! I've never noticed it before and no one at Home Depot has ever mentioned it to me. I semi live at their garden center! LOL!

Cherlynn:

We are small farm people and grow nearly all of the foods that we use. We have lived out of our garden for many years and I have not been to the grocery store in over a year. So, last year I spent nothing. Now, the last time I went I spent $178.68 (one time that year) stocking up on salt and some herb/spices, rice, oats and other odds and ends--stuff we do not grow ourselves, yet. My goal is to grow some rice and oats as well, but would need to be hulless as we do not have a machine to remove the hulls with. (Would love to find one of those machines but have looked and can not seem to find one--would only want a small one not a big commercial monster.)
As to the amount of savings, from what I hear of the prices of veggies and fruits in the store it would seem to be an astronomical amount, but everyone would be different.
Some people say we are crazy others say we have always been strange but it is our way of life, and we a relatively happy. Thanks; Virginia

We were surprised yesterday with the delivery of two boxes--gifts from my sister-in-law. One box was a Gourmet Portabella Mushroom Growing Kit and the other was a Button Mushroom Growing Kit. I followed the directions in the boxes and now have mushrooms seeded hopefully to harvest later this year. How neet is that?!! I love mushrooms but we generally only have them if we wild harvest.

My sweet potato plant had to be transplanted to a bigger container, but is still healthy and strong. Four of my five Jumbo Pink Banana Squashes are thriving, but sadly the fifth one died.

Worked outside most of yesterday, trying to cleanup the yard/garden. The wind and ice storms have downed a lot of our trees, must get them up and out before we can garden. Still have lots to do, but we made a start.

I think we have all the seed for this years garden--we save most of our own seeds. We try to have 5 to 7 years worth of seeds stored in case a crop fails. We do add to our list of growing things each year--this year we will be growing Cranberries. We ordered a plant for that.

Thanks; Virginia

I would like to trade too. Went to Dave's list but haven't gotten any good responders yet.