This is late January and by this time you have made decisions for the spring. You have analyzed last year’s harvest, made decisions for this year. You have purchased your seeds, prepared the fields for spring ploughing, discing or… .
If this was 1830 you would have shelled the seeds saved from the last harvest you are going to use for planting or you would have used mail order from England to purchase seeds to meet your needs. Seed and feed stores were few and far between. At any rate now is the season for planning and preparation for the new planting season.
I have said before. I am not a farmer and I do not play one on T.V. But I do plant a sizeable garden with some success. I am now accessing sources for the seeds I will plant in the next three or four months.
Last year I was not picky and just bought seeds. My beans were not stringless and my tomatoes were not disease resistant. I know better than that. Confession is good for the soul, So there. I will not repeat that process.
I plant what would have been referred to as a kitchen garden in mid 1800’s. It is intended to provide sustenance for me and my family.
This year I will plant okra, beets, onions, carrots, maybe beans and certainly tomatoes, cucumbers, summer squash, zucchini and butternut squash. I cannot leave out peppers and egg-plant. Beyond that will be the direct consumables, radishes and lettuce. And I know where each will go in the garden. I rotate the location in the garden for each vegetable to minimize carrying any diseases over and minimize any need for chemicals. In that regard I have not changed anything significant since 1830. I plant what I like and need to satisfy our needs and it usually sustains us from season to season and gives us an amount that we can share with family and friends who visit. In other words, a kitchen garden.
What? you say. No peas and sweet corn? No. I’m too lazy to shell the peas and I don’t care for sweet corn.
Author Joe Bierce
I will plant all of this produce in 1500 sq. ft. distributed among 5 beds 6’ x 50’ which I created with a single mould board plow which turned the soil in on itself and created a slightly raised bed to improve drainage and accessibility. This technology was developed in northern Europe, during the medieval ages. “The world changed when a plough that could plough deep and turn over heavy clay soil was invented in northern Europe in the Middle Ages.” www.sciencenordic.com In America these plows have been set up as singles or ganged together to turn wide areas at one time. Small acreages either used the single plow pulled by a horse or mule and driven by a farmer who walked behind or a ganged group of two or more “bottoms” hung on a frame with a seat attached for a driver. I used a single 8” bottom attached to a garden tractor.
Between each bed I left about 5’ to separate the beds and allow an area for water to collect and drain through. For weed control I mow this area when I cut the grass. This inexpensive “raised bed” is easy access and maintenance and uses the same methods of 1830 except for the garden tractor.
Next time I will dive into the development of tools as the size of the farms grew.
This year I will plant okra, beets, onions, carrots, maybe beans and certainly tomatoes, cucumbers, summer squash, zucchini and butternut squash. I cannot leave out peppers and egg-plant. Beyond that will be the direct consumables, radishes and lettuce. And I know where each will go in the garden. I rotate the location in the garden for each vegetable to minimize carrying any diseases over and minimize any need for chemicals. In that regard I have not changed anything significant since 1830. I plant what I like and need to satisfy our needs and it usually sustains us from season to season and gives us an amount that we can share with family and friends who visit. In other words, a kitchen garden.
What? you say. No peas and sweet corn? No. I’m too lazy to shell the peas and I don’t care for sweet corn.
I will plant all of this produce in 1500 sq. ft. distributed among 5 beds 6’ x 50’ which I created with a single mould board plow which turned the soil in on itself and created a slightly raised bed to improve drainage and accessibility. This technology was developed in northern Europe, during the medieval ages. “The world changed when a plough that could plough deep and turn over heavy clay soil was invented in northern Europe in the Middle Ages.” www.sciencenordic.com In America these plows have been set up as singles or ganged together to turn wide areas at one time. Small acreages either used the single plow pulled by a horse or mule and driven by a farmer who walked behind or a ganged group of two or more “bottoms” hung on a frame with a seat attached for a driver. I used a single 8” bottom attached to a garden tractor.
Between each bed I left about 5’ to separate the beds and allow an area for water to collect and drain through. For weed control I mow this area when I cut the grass. This inexpensive “raised bed” is easy access and maintenance and uses the same methods of 1830 except for the garden tractor.
Next time I will dive into the development of tools as the size of the farms grew.
