This suburban garden produced more than I could consume. There's only so much you can eat! I let much of it go back to the earth and toward soil building. I also shared a lot of it. Before I ended up moving I was considering starting a small CSA out of my backyard. As a trial I started bringing a box of veggies to my sister at least once a week for several months. She got to try out new veggies and I was rewarded with the satisfaction of sharing.
I shared veggies and herbs with many friends and family. All in all I am thankful to mother nature for providing so much abundance... all I had to do was let go of control of where plants should grow and how they should grow and she showed me what they wanted.
I spent roughly two years working in this garden.
From the failed attempt to grow veggies, followed by sheet mulching all the grass with a permaculture twist, followed by a shower of abundant vegetable and herb harvests. This post is proof that a gardener rookie can grow lots of veggies with a little effort and trusting and letting go to mother nature.
I'll take you through many of my firsts and my larger harvests month by month. Let's go!
More posts in this series:
Part 1: From Grass to a Vegetable Polyculture
Part 2: How I Used Pioneer Veggies to Build Healthy Soil
Part 3: A Permaculture Consultation for A New Garden
Part 4: Celebration of Abundance! Epic Garden Harvest
Year 1: August
First zucchini ;)
Figs from the tree I dug out of my friends' backyard. They were re landscaping and didn't want this young fig tree. I happily dug it up and ended up transplanting it twice. Turns out the fig is amazingly resilient and extremely fast growing.
Basil, first tomato and zucchini
First carrots, tomato, tomatillo and various herbs: Chicory, basil, parsley, thyme, oregano
Year 1: September
Tomatillos
More herbs including sage now.
Year 1: October
Carrots, fava leaves & chicory
Year 1: November
Greens, abundant greens! Including Chicory and Radish greens.
Parsnip, purple green beans, basil, oregano, squash blossom, various greens.
Carrots, parsnips, daikon radish, black radish, herbs
Chicory and other greens
Chicory, radish greens, young bok choy, young kale, fava leaves, basil
A happy gardener's breakfast sandwich
A green bouquet!
Breakfast salad
Radish greens, lettuce, chicory, swiss chard, kale, bok choy
Year 1: December
Lettuce, fava leaves, kale, bok choy, fennel leaves, kumquats, chicory, collard greens, yarrow leaves, radish leaves
Year 2: January
Into a nice salad!
Sauteed greens
Budding peas
Turnips, lettuce, kale, chicory, garlic leaves
Into a delicious veggie salad with homemade bread
Kale, lettuce, turnips & greens, chicory
Huge turnip!
Year 2: February
Young fava beans, peas, kumquats & lettuce
Into a delicious garden salad
Parsley, chicory, fennel, kale, rosemary, thyme, turnips, peas, sage, black radish, swiss chard
Year 2: March
Fava beans, fennel, chicory, kale, parsley, rosemary, turnips
Into a delicious veggie curry!
You a-peas me!
Lettuce rejoice!
We might need a bigger bucket for the lettuce and chicory
Get the grill ready for searing the veggies
Fennel leaves, parsley, fava beans, kale, garlic leaves, oregano, thyme, yarrow leaves, lettuce, chicory
Your roots are starting to show! Turnips and chicory roots
Year 2: April
Fennel, chard, kale, turnip, garlic leaves, fava beans
Year 2: May
Huge black radish
Kale, chard, fava beans, garlic leaves, yarrow leaves, sage, thyme, mint, fennel leaves
Year 2: July
Broccoli greens, chard, green fennel seeds (delicious!), first onion, first corn
Year 2: August
All the herbs harvest, probably for a chili.
First of the garlic harvest
Year 2: September
Young sweet potato
Year 2: October
Ready to prepare a family meal. Collard greens, fennel, kohlrabi
Year 2: November
Swiss chard: perpetual spinach and fava leaves
Year 3: January
CSA delivery for sis: Fava leaves, mint, lemon grass, green peppers, celery, collard greens, possibly more hidden from view!
Buddha's feast with first harvested broccoli
Minced lemongrass ready for curry
Year 3: February
Fava beans, monster carrot, kohlrabi, and fennel
Year 3: March
Artichokes galore!
Tip: you can make a tea from artichoke leaves
Peppers spice up your life and add vibrancy to the garden.
It all started with just a few seeds!
When it was time to move it was hard to say goodbye to the garden because I had so much love for it. It gave me so much joy. But it was easy to leave the garden because it had taught me to appreciate nature and food so much more and I knew I would take that with me wherever I go. And I knew there would be more gardens in my future!
More posts in this series:
Part 1: From Grass to a Vegetable Polyculture
Part 2: How I Used Pioneer Veggies to Build Healthy Soil
Part 3: A Permaculture Consultation for A New Garden
Part 4: Celebration of Abundance! Epic Garden Harvest
all i have to say is - that BREAKFAST SANDWICH IS LIFE, OH MY WORD!
<3 <3 <3
LOL I totally agree. I love making crazy sandwiches. Here's another shot for you!
I know right!! That sandwich is epic! Ahh I miss Socal and it's citrus. Those kumquats look great, too!
I miss it too! Luckily my parents visited me and dropped off some home grown citrus.. I am savoring it!
Ahhh amazing harvest! Gardening is so fun and rewarding! :)
Thank you @polebird :)
You have quite the green thumb there Mr. @sagescrub. All of your hard work and efforts certainly brought about the abundance. I started to salivate at the wonderful dishes you prepared with all the produce. Only question I have is what in the world did you do to those eggs! lol Is that lacy stuff I see around the edges? You must not have seem my poem about the omelet. LOL Just jerking your chain, and hoping you have a grand sense of humor. The dish looks amazing and I would eat it all up if you made it for me. Lacy eggs and all. wink wink. Happy gardening
https://steemit.com/foodphotography/@warpedweaver/the-omelet-and-i
Haha! Nice poem :) I take it you have never had a thai fried egg? It's cooked in oil very hot very quick, crispy bottom, soft top and runny yolk. yum!
To be fair I hated those lacy eggs as a kid.. I told my mom I didn't want any "plasticy eggs!"
nope, never had a Thai fried egg. It looks amazing though and as I said, I would eat it all up. We have some funny ideas when we are kids. I don't like rubber eggs either. :)
LOL!!!!
Well if you are ever in So Oregon look me up and I'll fry you some eggs ;)
how close are you to burns? Would love to meet you someday.
It looks like it's about 6 hours... west of Ashland. I spent some time north of you on a farm in 2016 near john day area. It is so beautiful up there!
I am actually in Idaho, but I do have friends in the burns oregon area. Yes John Day is beautiful, but winters can be brutal with wind and snow. We avoid that stretch of road in the winter time and recomend everyone going to portland to up through lewiston Id.
Being able to pick fresh fruits and veggies from your own garden is literally the best feeling! Beautiful thanks for sharing :D
Totally agreed! I am hooked now :)
So many photos of greens! All that in your back yard. Lettuce rejoice!
This is totally awesome - fresh vegies all year round! It's an inspiration to all!!
Hats off to you! That is a great harvest and such a beautiful natural garden! =)
You put up so many great pictures so I am nominating you for the Seven Day Black and White Challenge. Hope to see some more of those pictures. Check out my post for the details!! =)
Thanks @jordanmccraw! I actually just finished posting on the b&w photo challenge... You can see my photos in my blog if you're curious. Thanks for thinking of me!
Love your posts! Thought you would throw up some great b&w! =)
The all animal theme is great!
Thank you @jordanmccraw!
Great to see the progression. It always starts off small...Eventually your love of it takes over haha
Wow. Nice looking courgettes! People are starting to grow figs here in Thailand too and they are soooo yum! Never seen anyone mince lemongrass for a curry though - Thai style we toss the whole piece in the pot and pull it out afterwards.
I'm getting healthy just looking at all these great veges.
Love It!! Amazing harvest you got, with so much variety. Not only do you have a green thumb there seems to be some sort of organized know how about different plants and garden planning. I hope to see your next garden and what sprouts!
Thank you @enolderman :)
Really cool article ! That's a beautiful journey and garden that you have ! :)
I'm starting mine, i have a bit of experience in gardening already but i'm really starting now at Year one.
I can see that your passing through same failed and sucess that i am passing through before and actually. That's nice to see people doing "small" things and going to more and more. Growing healthy in every way !
Wish you good harvest in you garden, & on steem ! :)
Thank you @quelquun! I wish you a year of abundance in your new garden :)
Loved checking these pics out! You’ve done s great job at inspiring me! I’m going to get planting right now!!! You really have highlighted abundance you’ve Co-created and got me all fired up for spring. Been planting so many perennials lately I’ve forgotten to focus on getting garden going.
Yay for spring! I am excited to get some seeds going too.. that's my goal for this next week. I did get some garlic in the ground last week! Better late than never :) All the perennials you have been planting and pampering will be rewarding you so well in the years down the line!
Excellent post and great pics. Makes me hungry to go out to the garden to harvest my salad greens and vegies. Only one problem - a foot of snow.
I am pretty sure when the snow melts you'll come out guns a blazin'!
I'm a little envious of those artichokes! I have never seen them grown around here and they are tasty! It looks like your gardening skills progressed considerably over the two years you worked this area.
Also I was looking through my wallet and noticed that you signed me up for steembasicincome! That was very thoughtful of you and I appreciate it. Thank you!
How do you like the program? I am considering buying a few more shares, especially since you get to share them with other people.
I do miss the artichokes! I have seen them grown up here and mulched well they come back following years, but the whole plant dies down to the ground and so it is not as vigorous as in so california. But some is better than none!
Glad you enjoyed your @steembasicincome :) Yes I do like the program. I think it is sbd well spent and it helped me get into the spirit of generosity :)
Wow, just amazing. Look at that gorgeous abundance and beautiful colours. You've got quite the yield there. 2 years, you say? I can imagine the hard work that went into this. This is super inspiring and here's hoping we can get to a similar place in a couple years too!
Yes 2 years and hard work already begins paying off within just a few months. I wish you luck in your garden or future garden :)
Looks like an amazing harvest. What are the plans for this year?
I just moved, so I am starting a new garden this year.. I will be posting progress as I go :) The main idea is to grow a lot of food!