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A Farm of My Own:  It's time for next year's planning to begin!  |
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Libbie
Farmgirl Connection Cultivator
3579 Posts
Anne E.
Elsinore
Utah
USA
3579 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 24 2006 : 09:40:42 AM
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I get so excited this time of year - it's when things that I've been working on all year come to fruition - lambs, veggies, etc. All that makes autumn feel more like "New Year's" time than January, to me. It's at this time of year that I begin analyzing what I did that I want to do again, and what I did that I DEFINITELY DO NOT want to do again (like plant a corn patch before leveling the ground!) .
What lessons have you all learned this year? What are you going to try next year?
I'm so excited to come up with a plan for next year. I have such a good feeling about it, especially since I really, truly feel like I have such a big, wonderful group of farmgirl friends to share in the adventure!
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
Posted - Sep 24 2006 : 09:45:17 AM
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I'm planning too and haven't even gotten everything done from this year! I'm definitely going to expand my garden and include an extra big area for more pumpkins and cutting flowers. I want to have a market garden so that we can sell from a stand next year. So there will be plans for the stand too. Can hardly wait until the seed catalogs arrive in January so I can pick out seeds for next year!
Handmade purses and bath delights at www.rusticcottagecreations.com |
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DaisyFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
1646 Posts
Diane
Victoria
BC
Canada
1646 Posts |
Posted - Sep 24 2006 : 10:57:28 AM
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I think it's wise to begin planning this time of year. I always think I'll remember what worked and what didn't come next spring...wishful thinking! I do keep a journal of good and not so good varieties, what sold well and what didn't. But this time of year everything is fresh in your mind. Folks went crazy over purple haze carrots, go figure!
We have planted more fruit trees this fall and are still hoping to plant a couple more. I would like another type of berry as well, maybe boysen or logan?? Anyone with experience with these?
I have a nice, full-sized semi-trailer that was left on the property when we bought it. It's tucked into a corner of the property under some big fir trees, so I'm thinking of keeping it and converting it to a turkey barn and will probably make that a winter project. I just have to figure out how to get rid of all the tv's, electronics, etc. that was left with it!
I'm so not looking forward to winter...I want it to be spring now! lol
Di |
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~Tracey~
True Blue Farmgirl
351 Posts
Tracey
TN
USA
351 Posts |
Posted - Sep 24 2006 : 9:13:48 PM
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My mind is racing with plans already for the coming year!! I am with you, Di, I want it to be Spring NOW!!
DH is working on a farmhouse table for our family (7 of us), that will be a late winter project propably.
We are growing lettuces and greens this Fall and Spring (a first for us), sadly we are giving up other veggies, we just don't have the sun.
Most of my plans are indoors though so I guess I need winter to work on those: painting, remodeling some bathrooms, etc.
I would like to plant a couple of apple trees in one of the sunny spots we have. Guess I better get on that quick.
Tracey,
mama to Callum 13, Katie 8, Wil 5.5, Benjamin almost 3 and Andrew 6 months!! |
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BlueApple
True Blue Farmgirl
430 Posts
Julia
Oregon
USA
430 Posts |
Posted - Sep 25 2006 : 04:45:30 AM
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My garden did not do as well as I would have liked this year so I'll be doing a few things now to make it better for next spring. I will have dh make a few raised beds in the garden for the tomatoes, will move my pumpkins (because they take soooooo much room) to some other areas of our property. I'm going to put in a few more fruit trees and still working on hubby to have chickens!
Julia
BlueApple Farm |
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Horseyrider
True Blue Farmgirl
1045 Posts
Mary Ann
Illinois
1045 Posts |
Posted - Sep 25 2006 : 05:14:25 AM
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Julia, years ago when I was gardening pretty seriously, we had separate beds for the vine crops. The pumpkins, butternut squash, acorn squash, zucchini and yellow crookneck squash (and sometimes pattypan squash) all went in one giant bed. That way if I needed to spray, it could be done more economically. I rotated corn and squash (although they're good companion plants) to cut down on those %$#@!! squash bugs. I could always knock back squash vine borers with Bt.
Another large bed all by itself was strawberries. There was also a big raspberry hedge which we cut to the ground every fall and had one fall crop each year (easier to manage), and lots of little beds for veggie crops. We used the French Intensive/biodynamic method. At it's peak, we had about 100 different varieties of veggies, fruits, and herbs. It was a LOT of work, but it was sure fun; and it fed us well.
This year I'm shopping for a hotbed and cold frame again. I miss being able to start my own seed. Sometimes I want certain varieties, and the greenhouse doesn't carry them. I had bad luck with having veggie and herb plants shipped this year, so I won't do that again. I miss having such a big garden, but I sure don't miss all the work!
Also, I need to add some new flower beds. I need to get them worked this fall for planting next spring. But it's such a biiiig job it's almost overwhelming. So much land, so many materials required. |
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garliclady
True Blue Farmgirl
274 Posts
Reidsville
NC
274 Posts |
Posted - Sep 25 2006 : 06:24:38 AM
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We are into one of our busiest times of the year. We have a big garlic festival coming in 3 weeks with lots of garlic to clean and braid plus lots of garlic herbs peppers abd garlic to dehydrate for the seasonings I make . We are still planting fall crops and still harvesting summer crops . We need to plant all our garlic and shallots in the next month or so. We will still go to farmers market through late December. So most of my planning will have to wait. The garlic planting is for next years crop so once we get that done that will be a huge step. We are almost doubling the amount we are planting. Some of our spinach we are planting will be next springs crop also.
My Farm http://home.bellsouth.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=16&ext=1&groupid=140532&ck=
My Recipes http://recipecircus.com/recipes/garliclady/]
My blog http://www.epicourier.com/Garliclady/ |
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~Tracey~
True Blue Farmgirl
351 Posts
Tracey
TN
USA
351 Posts |
Posted - Sep 25 2006 : 06:48:10 AM
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Garliclady (sorry I don't know your real name :))
I just looked at your site and your farm looks so beautiful! Best wishes for a great Festival!! My dd wants to come and help braid the garlic ;).
Tracey,
mama to Callum 13, Katie 8, Wil 5.5, Benjamin almost 3 and Andrew 6 months!! |
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CabinCreek-Kentucky
True Blue Farmgirl
8529 Posts
Frannie
Green County
Kentucky
USA
8529 Posts |
Posted - Sep 25 2006 : 12:45:01 PM
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2007 PLANNING:
GARDEN: i want a larger 'herb garden' .. more 'sweet annie' .. lot of sunflowers .. a large flower cutting garden ... "some" veggies ... dont' really want to plant more than we can eat and have a little to share with friends and family. we want to have our fruit trees pruned and plant more 'berry bushes' .. especially BLUE berries! going to plant LOTS of spring bulbs when i get back home next week. i might cultivate a field of "MUMS" like two of my girlfriends who own small nurseries do. what a wonderful 'atumn gift' for those i love.
DEFINITELY more pumpkins and gourds for next fall!
TRAVEL: want to do lots of travelling (near and far) with honey hunk next year ... we've already planned a fun trip to africa then to amsterdam on our way back home for january/february .. so that should get the 'travelling' off to a good start! wanat to see more of the south. i love travelling to areas of historic interest.
CRAFTING: i, of course, want to make more dollies and more folk art crafts (rug hooking, folk art painting, spinning (don't have a big desire to start weaving again though) .. HEARTH COOKING .. want to learn lots more about that!
FAMILY: travel more often to see family members now that we are pretty much settled in the cabins ... would also like to plan finding a second home here in ohio close to the grands .. want to create lots of scrapbooks from all the treasures i've saved over the years.
ORGANIZATION: want to clear out the SCHOOLHOUSE and set it up as a 'guest house'/sometimes antiques shoppe! that's a biggie on my 2007 planning list.
True Friends, Frannie
CABIN CREEK FARM
KENTUCKY
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garliclady
True Blue Farmgirl
274 Posts
Reidsville
NC
274 Posts |
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~Tracey~
True Blue Farmgirl
351 Posts
Tracey
TN
USA
351 Posts |
Posted - Sep 26 2006 : 06:36:46 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by garliclady
Tracy I wish your daughter could help. My kids 2& 4 are too small to help braid right now and I have no one else who wants too around here.
Tracy there are a few things you might try growing. Radishes , bok choy and arugala they are all fast(20 days) easy crops and are not too picky about growing conditions and will withstand some frost.
Natalie (the garlic lady)
Thanks Natalie!! I had forgotten about radishes but I love them!! I was just thinking greens only. I have eaten but never tried growing the others! I will have to check to see if it is too late to start some here in TN.
Natatlie, I am sure your little ones love to help though huh? Mine always try to *help* not matter what the chore is. It is so cute and wonderful training for them, just takes lots of patience on mine and dh's part (something that took him years to accomplish!!).
Again, good luck with getting the garlic ready!! Thanks for the gardening tips.
Tracey,
mama to Callum 13, Katie 8, Wil 5.5, Benjamin almost 3 and Andrew 6 months!! |
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happymama58
True Blue Farmgirl
1210 Posts
Patti
Missouri
USA
1210 Posts |
Posted - Sep 26 2006 : 08:08:46 AM
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I also tend to have my "New Years" around this time of year -- for me it's August/September. I think that's because I've been either a student or a teacher most of my life, so my beginnings are when school starts.
I'm really getting excited about planning this year because I know next Spring I'll have my new vegetable and flower gardens, an entire yard to landscape, etc., etc. I'm really excited. It's nice to have a blank page to work with and start from scratch.
Some people search for happiness; others create it.
http://happymama58.typepad.com/my_weblog/
Please visit me at www.marykay.com/pmiinch |
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Clothcraze
Farmgirl in Training
42 Posts
Kristina
CT
USA
42 Posts |
Posted - Sep 26 2006 : 4:57:23 PM
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I'll probably remain behind the 8-ball for next season.
We just put the offer in on a home that I imagine will involve at least a month's negotiations before we settle on a price. Then setting a closing date. It will take all my effort to close on the farm before Thanksgiving. 
Then there is a LOT of work involved in getting the house ready for us to live through winter there. We plan to build a home on the property further back in the spring, so I'll be lucky to get my garden out next year. 
I might be able to get chickens up and going too, but the goats and cattle might have to wait. I have a lot of research to do before I get to that point which is why I'm here.
I'm going to enjoy reading!!! 
Kristina
Mama of 5
Seeker of a simpler life |
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zilzirk
Farmgirl in Training
30 Posts
Liz
Fort Mill
South Carolina
USA
30 Posts |
Posted - Sep 26 2006 : 7:53:51 PM
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Hello All! We have been so busy! Everyone is this time of year it seems...
My plans are to finish converting the 'barn' to a chicken coop and re-fence the barn yard and make raised beds for new veggie gardens.
We cut a bunch of sod out in the planned bed area! yeah! and planted a bunch of hedge bushes along the street side. (also plan on building a split-rail fence too..)
My current project that is pushing the coop plans back is renovating all 3 bathrooms! Had some plumbing leaks in the downstairs bath, and remove all the wallerpaper in all 3 baths!!! and remove wallpaper in the kitchen, and hall and stairwell and entry and dinningroom while I'm at it :( (haha)
and dream of spring and planting all those tasty veggies!!!
a city girl with farm roots
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katiedid
True Blue Farmgirl
601 Posts
Kate
West Jordan
Utah
USA
601 Posts |
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farmgirlfriday
Farmgirl in Training
21 Posts
Brooke
Puryear
TN
USA
21 Posts |
Posted - Sep 27 2006 : 4:15:14 PM
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This winter I am hoping to clean out the barn, and surrounding "pen"...that will be my biggest project...
Build a greenhouse and some frames...
I am also going to try my hand at composting more this winter so that I have a ton for some nice organic springtime planting!
I am also going to do a bit of research on various breeds of sheeps and goats...and hopefully will purchase a few to keep the barn company...(and for some fiber!)
Come springtime...wow...it seems so far off! I'll focus this year on medicinal herbs...
"it's a bloody mary morning" |
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A Farm of My Own: It's time for next year's planning to begin! |
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It's time for next year's planning to begin!
