What do you grow in your garden?

[CarriBrown]

BYB- I love the garden and coop combo! I'll have to show that to DH....
I'm in zone 18. We're doing tomatoes, basil, cilantro and bell peppers (red and orange). I want to pick up habinaros, corn, watermelon, and maybe some berries. I have to figure out a way to keep the chickens out of it!

 

[bigzio]

We love to garden and preserve enough of everything for a whole year.

Heirloon seeds are the only ones we grow now and are more pleased with taste and variety from them, compared to hybreds and genetically altered seeds.

The ability to save seeds is also a plus over the hybreds that won't reproduce.

Favorites are sweet corn, carrots, green beans, beets, onions, garlic, winter squash, summer squash, tomatoes, green peppers, brussel sprouts, cucumbers, spinach, potatos to list a few.....

bigzio

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Thanks Carri! Since you say you're in Zone 18, I assume you're using the Sunset zone chart to obtain that, right? I think I'm zone 24 on that one. The one put out by the US Dept of Agriculture has fewer zone designations. I'm zone 10 on that one. You're growing habaneros? Oh my! You are a brave soul! The garden/coop combo works very well for most things, but the chickens do manage to nibble a bit as I'm leading them outside the fenced in area in order to free range. If there is any way to fence off your garden area, that ought to keep the chickens out of the goodies.

Bigzio - That's awesome that you're using the heirloom seeds. What source are you using for them? I cannot wait to try that this year! I do have some leftover seeds from last year that I'll probably use up, but I'm hoping to do heirloom for as much as possible.

 

[AccidentalFarm]

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That is so amazing- My coop is also next to my garden (I don't have to give up garden space, because I've got oodles of land to use), but my coop also has the 'red barn' look!

And that lettuce...wow!

 

[bigzio]

Backyard Buddies, Go to www.sandhillpreservation.com They are awesome to order from, and no shipping with orders over $5. Plus they always send a free packet of the seeds of their choice. Too much fun for not alot of money.

I need to warn you that they sell heirloom chickens also.

Were you thinking about building another coop too?

bigzio

 

[AccidentalFarm]

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I already had my clicker poised over the link until I read that...Oh boy..should I even look?

 

[CarriBrown]

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Yep, I use that Sunset book all the time. I take it to the nursery, and when I see something I like, I look it up in the book. I've saved myself a lot of money and headaches that way!
And, yes, I am a brave soul. I will also do just about anything for money. My dad bet me that I wouldn't eat one whole, and I did!

I thought I was going to die, but that's besides the point!

 

[bigzio]

Accidentalfarm, Oh ya you need to check this site out. Lots of seeds and peeps. Down home folks that are great!

bigzio

 

[Backyard Buddies]

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Thanks! I love the red barn look. I'm so jealous that you all have so much land. I live in the land of little yards and big housing prices and no option to live elsewhere because of hubby's line of work. So, I do with what I have. I am toying with the idea of expanding my gardening space outside of the picket fence area in order to gain more growing space. Many veggies can be ornamental as well as practical. A good example is eggplant or peppers that look pretty nice growing amongst flowers. I would also love to learn to preserve what I grow in order to be more self-sustaining. I know it's doable. A gal on my Freecycle sister group gardens on a patio, including growing tomatoes upside down in hanging baskets, growing herbs or shallow rooted veggies in the top half of the basket.

As for the lettuce, I give all the credit to my girls. Were it not for Penny, Ruthie, and Elsie, the lettuce wouldn't have been nearly as nice.

 

[Backyard Buddies]

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Thanks for the link Bigzio! I'm going to do some serious shopping!

As for the coop, funny thing. My little red coop was originally the kids' playhouse, one that they had outgrown. We made some adaptations and turned it into the coop that you saw. Well, the kids (11 and 9) decided that they need a fort, so with their dad's help, they've recently started working on one. My son, 11, designed it, and they got to work, hoping to finish it in a few weeks. Now tell me, what do YOU think it looks like?

My mind is already spinning with the possibilities. LOL.

Eventually, they'll outgrow this one too, and I'm sure that I can put it to good use. The only problem is that I'm limited to four chickens where I live.