Garden Plans for 2011 - Taking Shape

Since we've made the move to our new home we have been SO BUSY! With the new baby, unpacking, organizing, checking out our new property and building our garden space and chicken coop.... our days are FULL.

We walked the property over the first several days and selected our garden area. We chose an area with a wide swath of southern exposure for sunlight, and slightly higher ground for better drainage. Our new property is partially marshy and muddy. But this higher portion (created when they dug out the well and dumped the sediment there) drains very well and has quite a bit of organic material mixed in with it. I feel that with some work, this area and its soil can make an excellent garden area.

Because of the need for more organic material and soil improvement AND because of costs I have chosen strawbale gardening this year. I hope that with this added material I will be able to just garden in my own soil and compost within the next two years.

We purchased the fencing materials, needed to keep out deer and other wildlife. As we began putting the fence posts in, my husband encouraged me to use the entire open space on that higher ground, instead of the smaller, measured garden plan I originally drew up.

So we marked it out and put in the stakes. We checked out the fencing this weekend, but as you can see from the pic, did not finish getting it up. And today I re-drew up new garden plans.

This includes out fruit trees and compost bin which we got in last week, and the bee hive which we might get to building this weekend.

I have also drawn in the potatoes.... but I'm not sure exactly how I'll be planting them. I do have access to additional strawbales and pallets and am leaning in that direction. Or I might try several different methods, the straw and pallet bins, a dirt mound, or ditches. I want a good potato harvest and am not sure what will work best. Any ideas????

We plan on getting some grapes to plant and train up over the entire fence. We figure this may appease some of our deer by allowing them to eat what is outside the fence. We also want to get raspberries, blackberries and blueberries in there somewhere. The area is slightly larger than my drawing shows and there is plenty of open space for me to give me lots of options.

And now..... a pic of how my children spend their time outdoors!!

Colcannon - It's What's For Dinner

My husband has been asking for me to make a special dinner for a few weeks now. I always drag my feet in these issues. It is sooooo difficult for me to step out of my comfort zone and try new recipes!

While what he asked for seemed pretty straight forward, I was concerned that.... it would be lack luster and a disappointment. What did he want?

Mashed Potatoes, Cabbage and Bacon. - aka Colcannon

As a meal??

Yup.

So tonight, because I was slower about selecting the meal de jour, Aaron once again threw his request out there. I had all the ingredients... so... I said ok.

My son, 4 year old Isaiah, hates potatoes. I have tried many many different methods of preparing them. He accepts hashbrown casserole and chokes down anything else. Really. He even hates french fries.

He watched me sadly as I peeled the potatoes. "Mama? Are you making that for the family, and something else for me?" "Nope honey. Tonight we will all eat this."

"Ok mama." He sadly left my kitchen, but did not complain.

So I cooked it up and served it into the bowls and called everyone to dinner.

Isaiah took the first bite. And exclaimed, "This is soooooo good!" He devoured his entire bowl and requested that we have this for dinner every night.

It is EASY to find recipes online, but here is what I did.....

Peel and dice 2 potatoes per person.
Chop 2 or more cups of cabbage.
Cover in water and boil until potatoes are soft, (about 15 mins for me).
Drain. Mash with masher and some pepper.

In a skillet cook a package of bacon to desired doneness. Take out bacon so you can chop or tear it into little pieces.

Then pour the bacon and ALL bacon grease into the potatoes and cabbage. Mix and serve.

It really is awesome. :)