It's a little weedy.
I can't tell if I need clippers.... or a goat. This could take a while.
Note to self: next year remember to go into the greenhouse at least once a week to pull weeds and keep it cleaned up.
Also, one of my pals asked about my canning strategy. Pretty much we eat what we have and then fill in with stuff from the store. But we don't consider ourselves to be extreme - for instance, I'd never give up coffee or chocolate just because we can't grow it here. But we don't buy a lot of avocados or pineapples either - mostly because produce here is expensive and the quality is very poor.
You'd think that in this nation's "breadbasket" that there would be a ton of produce of all kinds. Nope. Unless it's clearly local (from a farmer's market, farm stand, or produce auction) most of the food here is shipped in from the South or Mexico. Or China. It's shocking.
Last year we did really well - we had enough beans, potatoes, peppers, and tomato sauce (in all varieties) that we lasted the entire year. This is always our goal. We buy almost no meat from the store. The only exception is lunch meat and cheese for my husband's sandwich at work.
I'm fairly certain that we are on every single watchlist because our grocery shopping generally consists of cat food, chips, beer, and lots and lots of freezer baggies. I'm pretty sure they think we are drug dealers (because of the baggies) who dip chips in cat food and wash it all down with beer.
This year we'll have to see how it goes. This summer has been a smashing success - my lettuce/greens, broccoli, tomato, and onion projects really paid off - so we had mostly fresh veg that we either grew or traded with friends. I'm also purchasing some veg from the produce auction and farmstands that I can't grow - like sweet corn, eggplant, and for heavens sakes... carrots.
And some things don't make sense to grow. For instance I can get a lot of pumpkins for $0.10 each at the produce auction. Since I'm constantly fighting squash bugs and pumpkins take up so much room - it's better for us to just buy some.
There was also no summer fruit - peaches or berries - because of the extremely harsh winter. But the apples and pears are coming on strong.
But to answer your question - if we get stranded out here due to some kind of catastrophe - we are good for a long long time. But they keep our road plowed during the winter and my husband drives in every day so he can stop and get cat food, chips, and beer just about anytime.
So that's our strategy. And now I'd better go find the clippers and try and bushwhack my way into the greenhouse so I can get some greens growing in there.
Happy Monday everyone - is your greenhouse in tip top shape?
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3 comments:
We are a lot alike. For heavens sake I will NOT give up my coffee OR chocolate. And if someone wants to be brave enough, let THEM ask hubby to give up his beer! Not me! We grow about 80% of what we eat. I do buy cheeses, some I just can't make, Lunchmeat, coffee, Tea, chocolate, flour and sugar, yeast and cleansers. Oh, and TP. MUST have the TP! I have also been known to buy cookies, ice cream and chips... on occasion. :)
I love to hear when other people manage to feed themselves because it helps encourage me to keep on along a similar path. As for buying food in,..... my food bill has become vastly reduced because of the produce we have managed to grow and the meat we have raised and home killed, but we still have to buy in some items. I also buy vegetable produce when it comes on offer at our local supermarket which I normally dehydrate. It is a very special feeling to know that we can feed ourselves if the cash does not come in, that we shall not starve. I would think that you feel the same. Vx
I would go with a goat that way you get fertilizer too. I agree with buying the pumpkins. For me it is carrots that I never bother to grow as in our hot climate and soil they are not worth the space and effort.
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