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Garden Gate:  Whats your garden like?  |
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sugarsfarm
True Blue Farmgirl
272 Posts
Leah
Woodward
Iowa
USA
272 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 11 2006 : 12:24:47 PM
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Hello ladies! I was just wondering about your gardens! Do you have a theme? One year i had a mini salsa garden, tomatoes, peppers, that sort of thing...Yesterday I finally cleaned off the bed (it hasnt been REALLY used in about 5 years!!) and this year will be my biggest garden yet....in years past ive helped my grandpa with his and kind of learned the ropes...he has quite a green thumb! My plot is about 30' x 15' which i think is prefect for my first year doing this by my self....im not quite sure how to lay it out as far as what i should put next to what....Ill post some pictures when things get going....I hope to hear and maybe see a picture or two!!
You must be the change you want to see in the world.
Mahatma Gandhi |
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Lacy
True Blue Farmgirl
114 Posts
Lacy
Dallas
Texas
114 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2006 : 3:01:16 PM
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My garden is a container kitchen garden-- my first! It's living on my back porch right now, with some seed starts making home in my bathroom/greenhouse! I'm growing some herbs, a few kinds of tomatoes, tomatillos, a few kinds of peppers, squash, canteloupe, assorted flowers, sugar snap peas, edamame, and broccoli (but I think I'm pretty much dead on my feet as far as the broccoli's concerned!)
good luck with your garden, Leah!
http://farmaspirations.blogspot.com |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2006 : 4:12:41 PM
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Lacy -- your garden looks so pretty! I envy you Southern gals getting to garden so early. And I'm really envious that you're having strawberries already!
http://therusticcottage.etsy.com
New Product -- Soap Souffle
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Julia
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Julia
Shelton
WA
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2006 : 9:43:09 PM
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Last year I plant mostly what I would need to can. I canned salsa, zucchini relish, tomato ketchup, dilly beans, pickled beets. This year I will do the same with other things as well.
"...the setting sun is like going into the very presence of God." Elizabeth Von Arnim |
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HERBMAN
Farmgirl in Training
20 Posts
ROGER
HARLAN
KY
USA
20 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2006 : 10:02:46 PM
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| Anyone ever heard of good old country chow chow. |
Edited by - HERBMAN on Apr 12 2006 3:33:20 PM |
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sonflowergurl
True Blue Farmgirl
349 Posts
Katee
Tampa 'Burbs
FL
USA
349 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2006 : 05:58:49 AM
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Lacy, I LOVE your garden! That's what I need to do. I'm just wondering how the squash and cantalope do in containers, how big do they need to be?
I need to start gathering pots from somewhere cheap! LOL (Maybe the dollar store...hmm...)
Katee
The end will justify the pain it took to get us here.
"Looking Toward the Son"---- http://sonflowergirl731.blogspot.com
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Lacy
True Blue Farmgirl
114 Posts
Lacy
Dallas
Texas
114 Posts |
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sillyfoulks
True Blue Farmgirl
164 Posts
Elizabeth
Illinois
USA
164 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2006 : 06:32:26 AM
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Last year my garden was about 30'x50'. We had lots to eat and plenty to share. This year I am requesting 30'x70'. I would like to grow a bigger variety, do alot more sharing, and more canning. Once DH helps prepare the ground, I pretty much take over. The kids help some, they really love when it is time to pick. Eventually I think I want to sell some of our excess, but I am trying to take it slow.
DH is planning about an acre of sweet corn, however, I have been trying to talk him into planting half in pumpkins. Around here everyone grows tons of sweet corn and shares. I think I froze about 3 bushels of corn from fellow farmers. There isn't anyone in our community that grows pumpkins. Each fall we host a Weiner Roast for our childrens summer sports leagues. Last year we had about 100 people. I told my husband that if we send eveyone home with a pumpkin, the following year that just might come on back out and buy one.
Elizabeth
Not how long, but how well you have lived is the main thing.
http://livingcountrystyle.blogspot.com/ |
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HorseyNut
True Blue Farmgirl
78 Posts
Allena
MO
USA
78 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2006 : 07:07:25 AM
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Katee, You can get containers CHEAP at auctions here. If they have them there go tothem and just look around and if you don't see naything go on to the next one. My mom got a HUGE pressure canner for $5 last week. She was nice enough to give it to me since I don't have one. Those cost about 70 bucks new all it needs is a new seal. One year she got jars and I mean hundreds of jars for $4. So this is a very good way to get some of this stuff that costs so much. I should go more too.
My garden is empty except for strawberries. We have apparently sold our house and are moving. I have some 40 tomato seedlings so I hope I find somewhere with a garden. Pray for me Farm girls.
Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do...but how much love we put in that action. - Mother Teresa |
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sonflowergurl
True Blue Farmgirl
349 Posts
Katee
Tampa 'Burbs
FL
USA
349 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2006 : 07:18:00 AM
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Thanks for the idea, I need to go back to a really cool thrift store I found awhile back too. It's really "junky" inside and looks like they just threw stuff in there b/c they have so much stuff, but it's huge and had lots of good stuff. There's an auction in our town every Wednesday evening, I've yet to check it out, but I may just have to do that! Didn't even think of going there for stuff.
(Allena, I have a pressure cooker too, I've not used it since I got it from my grandma's stuff. Guess I need to look up online some great ways to use it, she did all of the time!)
Katee
The end will justify the pain it took to get us here.
"Looking Toward the Son"---- http://sonflowergirl731.blogspot.com
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akcowgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
296 Posts
Valerie
Homer
Alaska
USA
296 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2006 : 08:52:03 AM
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Ok I will Bite: What is good old country chow chow?
Valerie
Alaska Girl all the way
Deja Moo: The feeling that you've heard this bull before.
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akcowgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
296 Posts
Valerie
Homer
Alaska
USA
296 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2006 : 09:12:07 AM
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Ahh i just earsed my post :(
Right now my Garden is still under about a foot od snow but it is going away fast now. My step mom and I share a garden and will be doing a whole bunch of work to it this year. We grow alot of potaoes and the skins of them have been comeing out scaly, they taste fine4 but look funny so we are going to do raised beds and bring in all new soil. Then Dear other half is going to build me a green house for my tomatoes and cucumbers. I am Also going to grow pumpkins this year.
Valerie
Alaska Girl all the way
Deja Moo: The feeling that you've heard this bull before.
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coconutcakes
True Blue Farmgirl
52 Posts
Emily
Summerfield
NC
USA
52 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2006 : 11:49:09 AM
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My vegetable garden is also about 15'X 30', which for me working it alone is just about right. I can keep it neat and pretty. I don't really have a theme. Each year, I just decide what I might like to try and what I have to have (plenty of tomatoes, bush beans and yellow squash). I typically do cucumbers, pole beans, peppers, zucchini and yellow summer squash and tomatoes of different varieties. I don't always do an early Spring garden as it depends on how soon I can make the time to get out there and work.
I also have a little kitchen herb garden that's about 12' X 12'. I grow the basics like oregano, thyme, rosemary, mints (contained), sages, chives, lavender, nasturtiums, etc. I like to back that bed with hollyhocks. . .
And then there's my flowers and such all over our property in various beds and naturalized. One of my favorite spots is my little shade garden. I like the delicate stuff like white bleeding heart and love foxgloves.
This year, I'm actually going to just plant a row of tomatoes and some beans (to till back under to nourish the soil) and cover crops. I'm preggers and DH isn't into weeding and taking care of the garden. I was on bedrest last time, so I just can't plan on investing in much gardening time this go 'round. So sad. But I'm getting a jumpstart on next year!
To answer the question about chow chow (unless it's a joke). . . Chow chow is a relish made of various pickled vegetables and spices. You can find a ton of different recipes for it, I'm sure, on line. I like it on sandwiches and burgers myself.
Emily
"After a long period abroad nothing could make me more homesick or emotional than an American magazine ad of a luscious layer cake, except one, and that was a pictured lemon pie." Irma Rombauer, Joy of Cooking (1943) |
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coconutcakes
True Blue Farmgirl
52 Posts
Emily
Summerfield
NC
USA
52 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2006 : 11:50:57 AM
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Oh yeah, I also had great success with eggplant last year. The deer didn't eat those, and we certainly got sick of them.
Emily
"After a long period abroad nothing could make me more homesick or emotional than an American magazine ad of a luscious layer cake, except one, and that was a pictured lemon pie." Irma Rombauer, Joy of Cooking (1943) |
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Destiny~
True Blue Farmgirl
195 Posts
Dar
west
TX
USA
195 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2006 : 2:06:15 PM
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| They sell chow chow in our grocery store. It is good. |
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HERBMAN
Farmgirl in Training
20 Posts
ROGER
HARLAN
KY
USA
20 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2006 : 3:36:20 PM
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| chow chow is a relish that goes good with about anything.Have not had none in years.I wonder if anybody cans it anymore. |
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ThymeForEweFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
705 Posts
Robin
An organic farm in the forest in
Maine
USA
705 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2006 : 4:51:16 PM
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My aunt made chow chow for years. I'm not sure if she still does or not.
Robin
www.thymeforewe.com
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Utahfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1940 Posts
Portland
Oregon
USA
1940 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2006 : 5:22:09 PM
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Lacy, I love your container garden! It's so pretty! And the dogs are great, too!
Stu and I put in our tomatoes, some lettuce, herbs, peppers, a couple of rose bushes, and a peony plant (Stu loves peonies - we have more on order but he couldn't wait) today. Also I tried some strawberry plants in a strawberry pot. First time. I hope I did it right. We have some fruit and flower seedlings sprouting indoors, too. We'll be planting more as we get them.
Last year, we had our first garden and it was great! We're still newbies but are loving every minute.
Come visit my Etsy store at www.chezPatricia.etsy.com
Farmgirls do it organically! |
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LJRphoto
True Blue Farmgirl
760 Posts
Laura
Hickory Corners
MI
USA
760 Posts |
Posted - Apr 13 2006 : 05:16:14 AM
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i've never heard of chow chow. Does anyone have a recipe?
"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect." -Mark Twain
http://ljrenterprises.blogspot.com/ |
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Garden Gate: Whats your garden like? |
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Whats your garden like?
