I'm all about "urban farming." Since I can't live in the country, I do what I can in to live "rurally" in town. I live in a townhouse. I have a deck, and a small patch of yard in the back. Ten years ago when I moved here, I created a big flower garden, and I have always had lots of pots of flowers on the deck. Years later, the flower bed has been reduced to a more manageble size, most of the English roses and other perrenials I planted have died, and I have started filling in the bare spots and the deck pots with can't-fail herbs.
Last Spring, with the economic climate what it was (and largely still is) I tried to plant more edible things in the deck pots and garden. Overall, my deck and garden are more of a 'potager' now.
A 14"pot of green beans on the deck produced enough single servings over the growing season for at least 6 meals and a growth spurt last week allowed me to freeze a quart! The foliage is dying now so I took the last beans off today - make that 7 servings.
Another big pot gave me 2 eggplants (I had lots of blossoms but they did not set fruit-despite the bees and my attemps to hand-pollinate).
Although it is still warm here, we could have our first frost any time, so today I pulled up the basil plants - an armload - that I will make pesto from. I also harvested sage, rosemary and thyme, (no parsley, sorry) and oregano to dry. I already have LOTS of basil I dried throughout the summer. I still have carrots that I will pull after first frost (I'm told they are sweeter that way?) and I noticed some rose hips I will harvest later for tea. I cut and dried peppermint earlier for tea also.
I have Swiss Chard I planted in the spring that is taking off now that Autumn is upon us. I will plant some garlic later today, if it doesn't rain.
If I got serious about making every square inch and surface productive, I could do a lot more, but I also have the dreaded "townhome association" to deal with. Arrrrrgggh! I would love to have a few laying hens in a coop under the deck (it is supposedly legal in my town) but association rules trump city ordinances here, so I'm assuming it is out of the question.
There is something really primal about planting and harvesting, "putting things up" for the coming winter. I don't think I've done too badly, and it really feels good.
Hi Deb!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by the other day and leaving a comment...its so much nicer to know something is reading and takes the time to comment. Once a ram or buck is wethered, it takes all those hormones out of the system which basically is the reasons for the horns, and for the most part stops the horn growth. I may have to trim his horns, but other than that he will be good to go. Had I not wethered him, the horns would have grown right into his head. Hey, since your an "urban farmer" have you read Hobby Farms new magazine for the Urban Farmer? Great magazines:)
HI Deb! Thanks for the fleece comment on my blog :)
ReplyDeleteNot all of my fleece were sold from this spring. I'm terrible at marketing my fleeces! What might you like? I can send samples of them if you wish?
my email: gramsay@arvig.net
Thanks!
Congratulations on joining the blog world! No one could be more techno-challenged than me, so if I can do it, you can too! Sounds like you've done a great job utilizing your little patch of earth. Growing vegetables gives such a sense of accomplishment.
ReplyDeleteHello, and welcome, welcome. I enjoyed your post on your harvest - i have to tell you that you did more with your pot of green beans than I did with the beans in our garden! Sounds like you've had a rather nice harvest there on the deck ;) I say go for it with the chickens.. as long as they're hens, and you don't get stuck with a rooster, maybe no one will notice? lol.
ReplyDeleteComments! I have comments! People actually read this thing! Surprise, surprise...people responded to comments I left on their blogs, and they ended up here! Who knew!! I wondered why you didn't answer...
ReplyDelete