We’ve had a huge year in the garden. We tripled our space, tried new veggies & planting methods, and settled on straw mulch as our magic strategy for keeping weeds at bay and keeping the soil covered. We’ve had new successes (we’ll have enough Butternut Squash for a lifetime), and surprising failures (at least the bugs got to enjoy my spring Kale). Some things I will dedicate more space to next year (onions & cilantro) and some things will get less real estate (waaaaay too many cucumbers!).
I think growing tomatoes has brought us the most joy. They’re just so beautiful. Perhaps we should do this on a larger scale. Maybe start selling some?
This is our first year with, what looks to be, a successful corn crop. We even tried quesadillas with corn smut! (Corn smut is a funny little corn parasite that is a delicacy in Mexico.)
We lived in Alabama for 20 years and one of the staples of the thriving farmers market and high-end farm-to-table restaurants is Lady Peas, which is a form of Cowpea. We grew them for the first time this year and they are divine. Our son is now hooked on them, too.
The basement shelf is starting to fill up with various salsas, jams, beans, pickles, storage potatoes, squash, onions, garlic and carrots. (It’s fun to grocery shop in your own home!)
The most surprising thing about gardening, for me, is that it has become the place where I can get a brutal workout, have therapy, find alone time with God, spend quality time with my family, and a platform for connecting with community, whether it be over a shared meal or simply talking about growing beans. I did not expect to find such grounding in that space. The food is just an added bonus. I am convinced that gardening is sacred.
But the patience & planning required is not for the faint of heart. Patience to remedy mistakes, “Well, I won’t do that again next year!” Or patience waiting for a watermelon to ripen. Patience to wait on weather. It’s therapy for my instant-gratification-addiction. The prepping and planning is one area where we have improved a lot, but still have a ways to go. The entire process is such a dance, and finding the rhythm is so tricky. Build it up has really helped. Having someone there to help you keep the pace and hold you accountable is such a blessing.
It’s been a year of finding our own methods, getting into a rhythm and growing in confidence.
We came into farming knowing so little about growing our own food sustainably, and we’re leaving the program with real knowledge that will benefit our family and the next generation. We aren’t just growing hundreds of pounds of food, but we’re cooking it, canning it, selling it and sharing it. We’re finding community through BIU with likeminded people that we will continue to walk alongside even after our time with the program is over. The experience has been so rich. We are so grateful!
Follow us on this journey! @themodernfarmstead
