To CSA or Not To CSA--That is the Question

My seeds finally came in!  I order organic heirloom seeds for the garden each year, and have had various levels of success.  I find that I do best when I direct seed outdoors.  When I try to start inside and transfer out I always kill all my plants.  I guess I don't harden them off properly or something, but I'm not sure.    The seeds took a long time this year because of a system glitch that left my order stuck in "processing".  A quick email to Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds fixed the problem, and my seeds were here a couple of days later.

I subscribed to Mother Earth News for their garden planner, and have my layout all done.  It is 25' x 40' with a collection of raised beds and seasonal rotation.  It is ambitious.  Sometimes I get overly ambitious on my garden---I am hoping my ambition level is just right, and not too high.  This Garden Planner software is wonderful.  It reviews what I am planting, and emails me two weeks before planting time for each plant, so I can plan ahead and get things done on time.  In a week or so we will start tilling and hauling up composted manure (thank you horses!) to get the beds ready for planting.

Here is a link to my actual garden plan: Sariah's Garden Plan

So, that leads me to the big question. I plan on doing canning and dehydrating this year.  I do think it is smart to have a reasonable food storage.  It's way cheaper to eat organic all the time if you plan ahead for it.  So, do I join a CSA or not?  I haven't in years past, and by mid-Summer have always wished I had.  Of course, I've had a couple of years of unsuccessful gardening, too.   Hendersonville Produce is taking signups now, and if I sign up before the 20th it will save $25 for the year.  Lots to think about, and lots to do.
 

Cornucopia

So the Summer didn't go as planned.  Joel and I were in the process of getting our home study done for adoption.   Part of that included a TB Skin test.  We were both negative for TB, however, a raging positive for allergic reaction to the preservative used in the skin test.  Within a week I had an awful rash.  Within 10 days the rash had spread to itchy hives all over.  I spent the Summer on Dr.'s orders to stay out of the heat, and on steroids.  In between being teased and called Aunt Spot (lovingly by my Sister in Law), it was also suggested that I was just going through the adoptive version of pregnancy---the steroids made me tempermental, hungry, and caused weight gain.

So, in the midst of all of that, my Garden suffered.  I didn't get much of a harvest and the birds ate everything in the fruit trees.  This was my best and prettiest harvest of the year.  I do love how gorgeous the pattypan squash was, and the Zucchini made about 10 great loaves of bread.

An Apple A Day

The orchard is flourishing, and we will have lots of fruit for later this summer - homemade fresh apple pie, and canning is in the future.


The Garden is hit or miss, but is doing ok for a first year here.

We have an apple tree:




A pear tree:



Zucchini:




Corn:



Along with Cherries, Beans, Okra, Tomatoes and a few other things. My peppers have been poor performers this year, and the lettuce has bolted to seed with the hot Spring we had.

Productive Produce

The garden is growing, and starting to produce little by little. Yesterday I was able to eat the first pole bean right off the vine, and we gave a couple of baby hungarian hot wax peppers to Poncho and Jesus. The apple tree and pear tree are LOADED with little baby fruits.

This weekend I hope to till the last two garden beds to get the winter squash and watermelons planted. Everything else is in the ground and growing away. I'll do the first neem oil spray of the year to make sure we don't get a pest problem as well.

All the corn is sprouted, the lettuce is going gangbusters. Our broccoli and Cauliflower are looking spectaculer, and the first sprouts of baby carrot foliage are peaking up. The potatoes are also all vining above ground now.

This Spring rain has set everything off on the right foot for a bountiful harvest, and we should have bushels of organic produce---enough to put away for winter, and share with friends.

Mojo Faux

Ande from Mojo Faux just left, and we have picked out our cabinet finishes. We should have our quote tomorrow. This is the photo for what I will call our "inspiration room".

It would be nice if our kitchen was actually this big, but we can at least go for the basics of the look. It will be really nice when it is done.