Out Around the Barn

These days we all hear about “Going Green“.  It is a great idea and if it is possible to do, well worth it.  There are simple things we can do to accomplish this if we put in a little effort.

Here are just a few ideas:

Car pool, use public transportation, reduce our electric bill by buying energy saving bulbs, drink tap water instead of bottle water, recycle; these are simple steps to improve our environment.

Another is growing your own food.  Every year I plant a garden and usually have enough of our favorite foods throughout the winter.  It saves a bundle on our grocery bill.  This year I have invested in a greenhouse to start my plants and have them ready to plant into the garden as soon as the ground warms.  With the economy as it is, my garden will contain more variety among my crops this year.  I’ll put out the regulars; green beans (bush and pole), tomatoes (usually four or five varieties), squash, cantaloupe, pumpkin, cucumbers, lettuce (two or three varieties), broccoli, spinach, bell peppers (red, green, yellow), chili peppers, jalepeno’ peppers, potatoes, sweet potatoes and corn.  If I have more room I’ll add a few more plants.  If Mother Nature cooperates and you can plant a little earlier than May, you can have two or three harvests from your garden.  What I mean is for example; when you finish your first crop of lettuce, plant more.  Same goes for green beans, onions and etc.  There are several vegetables that can be double cropped.    

I try to plant enough to can for our whole family since, canning is almost a thing of the past, my children never took an interest in learning how.  These days it is an idea that needs to be brought back to the basics of farm life.  There is nothing better than home grown.   

The same goes for fresh eggs.  I have my own flock of 30 or so hens and average 12 – 15 eggs a day right now.  They are just beginning to lay since some are first timers.  I have only bought one dozen eggs in the last year and that was in December.  Other than that, we have a constant supply.

As for my greenhouse, I consider it a vital part of my garden accessories.  It allows me to get a head start on my planting, saves me money and gives us fresh food all year round.

Here is something to see and think about.  A man gave me this picture of his greenhouse with one neglected tomato plant in it.  His son planted this plant in the center of the floor after it was cast away.  He just done it for fun and expected nothing would come of it.  To their amazement, it grew and grew and grew.  It was not given any attention, no water or anything else, it just kept growing and started producing so many tomatoes that they could not even get into the greenhouse to collect/harvest them all.  An amazing story and picture but it just goes to show that with a greenhouse you can grow food all year round, save money and Go Green.