Going to Grow Your Own?

by Expat Chef

I've been reading All New Square Foot Gardening and planning. This is my year to end the curse of the "Black Thumb." Yes, it is true, EVERY houseplant I have ever had dies. Merely crossing the threshold of my home and handing me said plant is issuing it a death sentence.

No more, I say. Tired of looking to my child's expensive private day care to put in a school garden program, I've decided that we should have a small garden at home. I've never been one to believe that kids are going to learn everything they need to know in school, anyway. Education starts at home, and this year, extends to the backyard.

I got this message from Laura Bushway of Cornell University describing some resources for gardeners who are interested in more unusual varieties of vegetables and fruits. The resources are provided as part of a citizen science program that allows gardeners everywhere to help with the Cornell research:

This is just a reminder (as you peruse those seed catalogs and start making garden plans) to stop by the Cornell Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners website:  http://vegvariety.cce.cornell.edu

If it's been awhile since you visited, you'll find:

• More than 5,600 vegetable variety descriptions with seed sources.
• More than 3,300 reviews/ratings from nearly 2,300 registered users.
• Online tools to help you find the best varieties for your garden.

Help us grow 2 ways:

• Visit the site and rate and review your favorite varieties, as well as those that didn't do so well for you.
• Forward this email to your gardening buddies and get them to rate and review varieties they've tried.

Getting more reviewers and more reviews in the database will make the site even more valuable for you and your fellow gardeners.

When you visit the site, you'll also find a link to a new project website, Vegetable Varieties Investigation (Vvi).  This intergenerational citizen science project that bridges the technology divide, helping youth connect with gardeners in their community, learn survey skills, and explore biodiversity through the whimsical world of vegetable varieties.  If you work with youth or know someone who does, you'll want to check this out.

Whether you decide to help with the project, or just use the site resources, I found some great information and resources there for planning my garden. Happy Growing!

Comments

[don't eat alone]

I've used Square Foot Gardening for a couple of years with great success. Good luck with the garden.

Peace
Milton

[Lindabeekeeper]

I just went to the Cornell website. Thanks. It looks great and I will try to use it this year.

[Rose]

Thank you for the link! I started square foot gardening with my 2 year old last spring and we both had a great time. If you live in a dry area I recommend installing a drip irrigation system with a timer. That way the first family vacation or emergency isn't the end of the garden. My husband did it for me and I think it's the main reason the garden survived all summer. I'll be starting a gardening with kids thread on my site in the next couple of weeks if you are interested.

[Jeremy Dore]

Thanks for the link to Cornell - the idea of having a rating system is really good. Growing your own is a great way to eat locally and if you want a little help then why not try out our vegetable garden planner at www.growveg.com ? Local sourcing of food is something I'm very keen on, and have blogged about food miles at www.growveg.com/growblogpost.aspx?id=12 so I wish you well with your efforts.

[lynnann]

hi all, At my little earth/people friendly garden center up here in the far northern reaches of WI...I've been preaching "feed yourselves" for many years now.

I would suggest using the big tree planters (free from local garden centers) for food gardens. Our soil is sandy and takes much amending to be food worthy. Much of my veggies live their entire lives in their containers...I bring them into my "greenroom" in late Sept when frost hits and they are still giving me tomatoes. Same goes for my greenpeppers and I actually have a brussel sprout plant that is still pumping out sprouts! love and peace...lynnann

[Clarice]

Here in France my daughter's small school (50 pupils) have a small garden which they help to tend. Produce is either served as part of a meal in their canteen or given to the children to taste, for example radishes.
I think your innitiative is excellent.

Best wishes for the New Year

[Julie]

Thanks so much for the link to the Cornell web site--what a great way to find good vegetable varieties and preserve some genetic diversity in our crops!

I did want to mention that, while I am familiar with the Square Foot Garden, there are much less expensive ways to do the same thing. One other commenter suggested left over nursery pots, which work great, and so does just building a raised bed (skip the cross pieces!) out of untreated lumber and some deck screws.

The key is not the little squares, but actually the concept of intensively planting the bed--called block-style planting--so that you minimize space, weeds, and water usage. The Colorado State Cooperative Extension has a great fact sheet on how to do this:

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/mg/files/gardennotes/713-Block.html

Good luck with the garden. Growing your own food is so rewarding and is a great way to go local!