Lessons Learned

First, I apologize for the long delay. Things have been interesting, intense, and busy. However, we did enjoy the growing season, with growing some food in our yard and containers, our CSA shares, and farmers markets. I thought it would be good to share our experiences now, as we head into holiday season. I have a few local food sources listed down at the bottom. Also, just after the holidays (as early as January and February), the earliest stages of planning for next year's growing season begin. As such, here are a few things we learned this year:

Top winner is CSA

The space in our yard that is available for growing vegetables is limited and fairly shady. (We rent, so we can use only what we are allowed.) In addition, I'm not a knowledgeable grower. More on growing below, but suffice to say, it was not a financial success. The farmers markets were great for lots of reasons, but with the economics of scale (getting food all season), the CSA worked out as the best bet. We paid $500 for the year for a "large" share. We enjoyed TONS of produce (fruits as well as veggies!!) all season, and have preserved quite a bit for the coming months. (More on preserving below, too.) So, if your primary motivator is money, save up and shop around for the best CSA in your area. (Our CSA was from Stillman's Farm, and have liked it by far the best.) This does not surprise me, but I was kind of hoping there'd be something new or different in the comparison.

How did our garden grow

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: farmers know a lot and I am just starting to learn. All my mistakes and challenges would have been avoided by a more knowledgeable grower -- an important lesson in and of itself, that growing has a learning curve. 

We didn't get much of the greens (chard and spinach) that we had planted. Between cats inside and something else outside, we fed four-legged neighbors more greens than we got to eat. 

The tomatoes did not get as much water as they needed (I did mention a busy summer, right? :) ), and some of the plants died outright from thirst. (I am so sorry, little tomato plants!) The Sun Golds (grape-sized orange tomatoes) in a brass bucket did the best as they grew fast and the water could not drain away from their roots. Even so, we'd need a lot of bushes to really feed us all the tomatoes we like to eat (never mind preserving for soups, stews and sauces.)

We did get a few surprises... we discovered potatoes growing that were wonderfully tasty! 

We had ground ivy and made use of it as medicine, and the zucchinis and summer squash were hit-and-miss -- we only got out a few from each plant due to some kind of vine rot. However, the few we ate were amazing! Our mint, parsley and oregano were very successful. The basil did ok, but not as well as I would have liked. (On the other hand, we could eat basil pesto almost nonstop, so perhaps satisfying our basil habit may be asking too much of the little plants. :) )

Also, while I definitely need to water more regularly (at least this past summer that was hot and dry), weeding was really pleasant. Over all, we'll do it all again, with several modifications, and hope for better results. 

CSA: Making use of all that food!

In addition to eating lots of great, fresh fruits and vegetables, I got to preserve lots for this winter in the hopes of decreasing our food costs throughout the year. However, I have no cool storage space (our basement is another apartment, and the garage is not animal-proof), and our apartment runs ridiculously hot (despite keeping the thermostat turned off all the time.) The only really safe place for preserved food is in the fridge and freezer. So, in no particular order, here is what I've done with the food we got:

broccoli: chopped (stems and flowers) and frozen in bags -- they seem to have extra water this way, so I'm still working out how to cook with them without watering down my soup.

corn: steamed (or grilled) and frozen in bags -- this works exactly like bought frozen corn, except that it has frozen in a big clump, so we're using a butter knife to break off enough for each time we cook.

greens (kale, chard, spinach, etc.): chopped and frozen in bags -- saves a little more water than I wanted, but that can be resolved with draining.

beets: some were pickled for appetizers, and others were shredded and frozen in one-cup quantities (tried long-term storage in the fridge, but that only worked for a few months) -- the shredded ones will be for beet burgers and such.

zucchini and summer squash: some was shredded like the beets, the rest was steamed, mashed and frozen in ice cube trays -- these will be for various fried vegetable patties and zucchini bread.

tomatoes: some tomatoes were skinned and chopped into ice cube trays, while others were skinned and chopped into jars for canning -- so far we have been very happy with the results of these, although (due to the heat in here, and the fact that I only have boiled-sealed jars) I'm storing the jars in the fridge.

cucumbers: pickled -- very successful with the basic pickling.

peppers: roasted, peeled, and preserved in oil and vinegar, these make an amazing appetizer or add-in.

peaches, plums, nectarines: chopped and frozen -- hoping to use these for something tasty mid-winter, when we need the flavor of summer again.

strawberries: beheaded and frozen -- these did not survive much past their season, as we discovered that they were the most amazing treat with local yogurt (from Sophia's Greek Pantry), and as ice cubes in drinks.

blueberries: frozen -- make great blueberry muffins; will need to try them in a pie.

apples: peeled, seeded and chopped, then simmered into home-made apple sauce -- again, this doesn't last long, but is too tasty not to make it.

eggplant: we tried freezing a babaganoush-type dish (melitzanosalata), but it came out watery, so we tried frying up eggplant cutlets to be baked and put with sauce and cheese over pasta -- we'll see how this works out.

We have not been able to preserve onions, potatoes or lettuces. Fortunately, the first two are used as fast as we get them. The winter squash, green beans, and root vegetables (carrots, celeriac, turnips, etc.) we also used up, but I was planning on chopping and freezing them. I'm sure we ate up other tasty food (pears, arugula, etc.) that I'm forgetting now. Of course, I have run out of space in the freezer, so I suppose it all worked out ok.

We'll still go to the farmer's market to get the other stuff (potatoes and onions, of course, milk, eggs, cheese, etc.) I even was able to get flour at the farmers market! And we've found/rediscovered a few more stores for local foods: Sherman Market in Union Square, Somerville, the Harvest Co-Op in Cambridge moved across the street (not permanently closed), and I still need to get over to City Feed and Supply in Jamaica Plain. We haven't quite kicked the big-box-store habit, but we're getting there, little by little.

Please share your suggestions and experiences in any of the above. I look forward to learning from you.

Growing Your Own

Let me start with a reminder that I am not a growing guru! So far, I have mostly accomplished pots of dirt where food plants should be. That said, with my last post about CSAs, I got a considerable response from people who grow their own saying that should be part of the conversation, too. So, I asked them about getting started, especially for smaller spaces (suburban and urban homes, not big farmsteads), and compiled their advice. I've started trying it out, and so far the baby food plants haven't croaked.

Where to grow?

Pretty much any place the has dirt and sun and can get water is a good place to start. Front, side or back yards all work. Large pots, half-barrels or boxes on roofs or porches, or in windows are all lovely places. Also, there are many (and a growing number of) community gardens where you can get a plot. Make sure wherever you plant, the plants are visible to remind you to water them and care for them regularly. (It doesn't take a lot of time, but forgetting is a problem. One I have made several times.)

In your yard, if your soil is questionable, you can work in a raised bed instead of digging into the ground. There are several ways of making a raised bed. One friend described making her raised bed thus: Measured the space; got wood (about $50), got organic dirt ($90). She says the bed is still producing 10 years later (with periodic additions of dirt and compost or manure.) To start, you can even go as low-tech and easy as using the potting soil bag to grow in.

An additional option for those of us who are horizontally/spatially challenged: Going vertical! While I haven't tried any yet, there are several ideas on line for growing plants, including foods, along walls, in an up-ended pallet, a shoe organizer, even repurposed gutters.

Also, in planning where to plant, remember the wild animals. Lots of foods that are edible to us are tasty and edible to the other animals in our environment. "Some are a problem. Some are not. I've given up trying to grow broccoli because the groundhog eats it every time. On the other hand he also eats my Swiss Chard but there is enough for me to share."

Seeds or Seedlings?

In planning your growing, the next question is what to start with. Seeds are cheaper, but baby plants are frequently easier. Due to my horrible track record, I started with baby plants, which were $6 per 6-plant tray. If I can grow well, that would be $1/bunch of spinach and chard. A pretty good price. The odds, of course, are that I'll lose a few, so the price may work out to being even with buying them in the end. (That doesn't include the costs of water or time. The soil I already had, and the compost we've been composting forever.) My friend buys about 20-some tomato plants each year for $12, and even with those that she loses, has fresh tomatoes for 3-4 months, and enough to share with neighbors, a more than reasonable deal.

To start from seeds, at least for the New England growing season (where I am), it seems the best bet is to start them (before now) indoors in trays under a UV lamp. One friend finds this a fun and inexpensive activity with the kids in her building. She recommends going to a plant nursery for your seeds, not a discount place. She also recommends reading the packets about when the plants you are buying grow and what they need. Taking the plants outdoors, requires "hardening off" (where you acclimate the plants to outside temperatures by bringing them out for periods of time before the final move.) I've watched my landlords do this at springtime each year, as the baby plants grow in the basement, and then have visiting time in the yard for a few days before getting replanted in the beds.

If starting from baby plants, it is good to ask if they have been "hardened off" already. If so, you should be able to plant them directly outside. This is another reason I went with the baby plants: timing. I always think of planting after it is too late to start with seeds.

You may have heard about growing potatoes from potatoes. One thing to know is that most grocery store (conventionally grown) potatoes are engineered to make sure they do not grow new potatoes. (This has been the cause of a pot of dirt in our house at least once.) We are trying this one again this year, too.

What to grow?

There are several considerations: what your seasons are like and when you are planting, what your soil is like, how much sun you get, what you like to eat, how much space you have... Some suggested first vegetables:

• Herbs: These can be easy to grow, can grow in small spaces (even indoors), and add a huge benefit in the taste department. Best herbs are those that you like, and that you cook with/eat fresh.
• Leafy greens (spinach, kale, chard, etc.): These are easy to grow (or so I've been told), add a lot of beauty to your garden, and most of the plant (all the leafy parts) are edible, making it a better food investment.
• Small tomatoes: If you have the sunny corner to grow a small tomato bush, the taste of fresh-from-the-vine tomatoes is amazing. Also, the smaller varieties frequently grow faster (although check to be sure about the variety you are about to buy.)
• Perennials: Some plants will produce year after year after your initial investment. A few of these include asparagus, berries, fruit and nut trees, fig bushes, and mint. Of course, you may want to take a little more care in planning these for exactly that reason.
• Start small: It is easy to overwhelm yourself by taking on too much and not enjoying it. Start with a smaller space, easier plants, things you will enjoy eating. If you like it, you can always scale up.

Where to get more information?

Obviously, this is not enough information to get your home farm going. However, there are many resources!

• A great article just came out in Edible Boston for those with small (or smallish) yards.
• Your local Cooperative Extension Service can be really helpful with classes, advice, and inexpensive soil testing.
• Region-specific resources, such as the Boston Natural Areas Network, offer classes and advice.
• Your community-garden probably has a plethora of seasoned gardeners. "Seek out one of the old-timers/elders. Gardeners are notoriously generous with their wisdom, and often plants too."
• Online you will find innumerable resources; I've tried to link to some of them throughout this post. One other that I haven't linked to yet is Square Foot Gardening, which was developed by a non-farmer with a modest-sized yard. His ideas have also been adapted to container gardening as well.
• Non-profit organizations (such as City Growers) are also interested in getting more local food growing going on.
• Home garden planners of many stripes and varieties abound. While they will all cost, you can usually plan with them how much assistance you want, and therefore have some control over how much of an investment you make.

As you try stuff out and learn, remember to share your experiences with the next round of newbies (which may still include me.)

Is it worth it?

This is an interesting question to ask, as it depends on what you value. The growers I spoke with all agreed that growing food is not inherently cheaper than buying it from farmers. It can be. It can be about even. Or, if you go crazy trying to do it all just so, it can get expensive. However, as one friend pointed out, it is a mistake to measure the value of growing your own food only by a dollar sign. She had her own list of benefits:

• FUN! Despite grumbling about forced gardening labor as a kid, she finds as an adult that she really enjoys time in her garden.
• Peaceful: As a city-resident, her garden is a peaceful oasis away from the rush, sensory input and noise of the street, just on the other side of her apartment building.
• Taste: The difference between a tomato or pepper, for example, from the garden and from the store is night and day! As someone who loves to cook good food, she finds this is worth the effort in and of itself.
• Variety: Many seed and seedling sources offer a much greater variety of fruits and vegetables than can be had at the store. Gardening allows you to experiment with different varieties.
• Community: Getting to know your neighbors as you garden, or your garden-neighbors in a community garden are a great way to build up a sense of community. She also tells stories of sharing the bounty of her garden as something that builds relationships.
• Reducing Resources: She likes knowing that she is decreasing her demands on the planet through the shipping and processing of foods.
• Decreasing Stress: Gardening time can have a meditative quality that decreases stress. It is also a way to relearn how to slow down, to take time and literally smell the growing things. These, in addition to the fun, peace and community-building above are all wonderful ways to decrease stress.

Enjoy your time and the fruits of your efforts! (And, please, keep your fingers crossed for my little baby plants.)