Sunday, December 23, 2012
Growing Grains on a Small Scale
Years ago I read a copy of Gene Logsdon's "Small Scale Grain Raising". It is an excellent book, but at the time I really wasn't ready to jump into the world of raising substantial amounts of grain. I did, however, experiment with very small plots of different grains just so that I could get a feel for what it was like and what was required. Well, with the increase in feed prices and the fact that I can only downsize my herds so much it is now time to really think about raising feed for the livestock. So that is my goal this week, start planning out the grain patch and decide how to rotate it out to get the most out of the land that I have to use. It would be nice to be able to grow all that I need, but I will be happy if this first year I simply offset my feed cost by even just a little bit. So what are you planning for your garden this year? Blessings from the farm, Kat
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Many times I want to give up on a garden. But every year I plant seeds and seedlings and start again. The dirt calls me to grow my own food. The cost of groceries is going up and the least I can do is grow some of our own veggies. So I will try again but this time with only the basics, meaning the stuff we eat on a regular basis. Lettuces and other greens, tomatoes, peppers, and squash. I also plan on planting some fruit like berries and maybe a couple of peach trees. We just got a few fig trees from friends and we look forward to those next year. Thanks for encouraging me not to give up on gardening. It's really worth all the work!
We will be planting heirloom field corn and sweet corn this year separated by a good distance and a few trees to protect from cross pollination. I'd like to try some wheat and oats for us and the livestock but we'll have to see how much hayfield my husband is willing to part with! I'd love to be able to grow cabbage to make kraut but haven't managed to yet. Lots of tomatoes, peppers, herbs and winter squash and pumpkins. We'll also spend time looking for wild forage to supplement our garden. We're starting new on this place and that's always hard. Spent 7 years getting gardens to produce well and then sold and moved. We love it here though. How's the rabbit colony doing? Picks would be nice if you can! :)
Chris, Keep at it girl! It is tough, but just remember with every failure you have learned something that you didn't know before. Call it brain training if you will. Absolutely grow what you eat most as it will be most beneficial. Berries and trees are an excellent way to expand with minimal maintenance efforts.
Missy, I have a hard time with cabbage as well and cauliflower. I can't get cauliflower to grow to save my life. We don't use much corn so that will be downsized if not cut out altogether. Rabbit colony is doing well, very well. I am very pleased with the move to the colony. Production is up tremendously with at least two litters a month. Right now we have 21 in grow out cages and another 16 babies in nests in the colony. I will get a post up with picks soon. Blessings to both of you, Kat
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