Where the weeks prior had apples in the mix...we are now in the citrus-only time of the year. With 135 mandarins harvested in th epast two weeks (those that I counted...I am sure there were more!!) we are in the middle of citrus season. It is a bumper crop for the mandarin trees this year and I forsee harvesting mandarins well past Christmas...with the fruit getting sweeter along the way.
One nice thing about a variety of fruit trees is that while one tree may have a bumper crop, others will have a low year. Our orange tree and grapefruit tree are just having a normal year so having 2 - 3 months of mandarins will help us get through the winter. The size of the crop seems to really depend on what is happening during the flowering time of the year. If your trees flower during a warm spell, the bees can get out there and do their polination. If the trees flower during a rainy period the crop will be small or non-existant. Looks like my goal of daily harvests will make it through the 1/2 year target!! Need to make sure that I have something ready to harvest beyond March from the veggie garden when there is very little fruit.
Speaking of the veggie garden, the eight beds look like this:
Hot zone
1) Cover crop
2) Kale (starting to get bigger!!)
Medium-hot zone
3) Cover crop
4) Garlic (4 rows)
Medium-cool zone
5) Cover crop
6) Cover crop
Cool zone
7) Cover crop
8) Cover crop and the venerable Chard!!
We also had a frost scare this past week. Temperatures were supposed to get into the mid-20's which raises the alarms for me. I covered the trees the first night but the temperatures only droped to about 30 degrees. I left the covers off the remaining nights and I saw the temperature drop to 29 degrees. I do not worry about that. My rule of thumb is only to worry if the temps drop below 28.
Here is a link about citrus varieties and their harvest times/cold tolerance. Great list!!
Harvested over the past 2 weeks:
Day 137
1) 7 mandarins ($1.75)
Day 138
1) 11 mandarins ($3.75)
2) 3 lemons ($1.50)
Day 139
1) 4 mandarins ($1.00)
Day 140
1) 8 mandarins ($2.00)
Day 141
1) 5 mandarins ($1.25)
Day 142
1) 12 mandarins ($3.00)
Day 143
1) 5 mandarins ($1.25)
Day 144
1) 4 mandarins ($1.00)
Day 145
1) 9 mandarins ($2.25)
2) 4 lemons ($2.00)
3) 1 lime ($0.25)
Day 146
1) 5 mandarins ($1.25)
Day 147
1) 17 mandarins ($4.25)
Day 148
1) 6 mandarins ($1.50)
Day 149
1) 27 mandarins ($6.75)
Day 150
1) 13 mandarins ($3.25)
2) Two bunches chard ($6.00)
Two-Week harvest: $43.50
Total Produce Harvested (Year-to-Date): $860.00
Total Honey Harvested (Year-to-Date): $360.00
Expenses (Year-to-Date): $105.00
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Days 123 - 136 The Clock Starts Ticking
I have known a colleague at work for many year now and all this time we have been talking about planting fruit trees at his house, particularly some kind of citrus. Well, it is citrus season now and he has missed the opportunity once again. If he had only planted those citrus trees when we first started talking about it, he could have been harvesting some beautiful citrus right now. This is a typical problem though...you think about it and say to yourself, "it will take so long to get any fruit if I plant a tree this year." Well, the clock starts ticking and time does pass. Three years is typical for the time between planting and first harvest and it may seem like a long time, but it really comes pretty quick. If you do not plant soon, you just delay the start of the clock. One of the first things I did when we moved into this house was to plant some citrus: an orange and two satsuma mandarins.
We have been enjoying the fruits of the two mandarin trees for over two weeks now. As I have said in past, fresh picked citrus is hard to beat and it surely cannot be replicated from store-bought citrus. Was at the local produce store yesterday and saw some organic mandarins...and you could tell that they had been harvested a while ago. The vim and vigor of the fruit had been lost...and they were still charging $3.50 per pound!! We have been harvesting between 5 - 10 mandarins a day over the past couple of weeks. Count them up. 90 mandarins and that does not include the ones that I do not know about as our kids harvest at will!!
Bees. I felt like I needed to shrink my hives down a level for winter and this was the weekend to do it. Warm weather!! Well, I took down the hives a box or two. Along with it came a harvest of about 2 gallons of honey. One of my hives is doing great, the other may not make it though the winter. Have to say that it is probably my fault because I did not set them up correctly when I picked them up this Spring. Did not have the time to spare at the time and of course when you do a poor job at something, you get poor results. Lesson learned.
Harvested over the past 2 weeks:
Day 123
1) 6 mandarins ($1.50)
2) 1 apple ($0.50)
Day 124
1) 7 mandarins ($1.75)
2) 2 apples ($1.00)
Day 125
1) 4 mandarins ($1.00)
2) 3 apples ($1.50)
Day 126
1) 8 mandarins ($2.00)
Day 127
1) 9 mandarins ($2.25)
2) 2 apples ($1.00)
Day 128
1) 7 mandarins ($1.75)
Day 129
1) 3 mandarins ($0.75)
Day 130
1) 11 mandarins ($2.75)
Day 131
1) 3 mandarins ($0.75)
2) 1 apple ($0.50)
Day 132
1) 3 mandarins ($0.75)
2) Two bunches chard ($6.00)
3) 1 apple ($0.50)
Day 133
1) 13 mandarins ($3.25)
Day 134
1) 3 mandarins ($0.75)
Day 135
1) 6 mandarins ($1.50)
Day 136
1) 6 mandarins ($1.50)
2) 7 quarts honey ($140.00)
Two-Week harvest: $33.00
Honey Harvested: 7 quarts ($140)
Total Produce Harvested (Year-to-Date): $816.50
Total Honey Harvested (Year-to-Date): $360.00
Expenses (Year-to-Date): $105.00
We have been enjoying the fruits of the two mandarin trees for over two weeks now. As I have said in past, fresh picked citrus is hard to beat and it surely cannot be replicated from store-bought citrus. Was at the local produce store yesterday and saw some organic mandarins...and you could tell that they had been harvested a while ago. The vim and vigor of the fruit had been lost...and they were still charging $3.50 per pound!! We have been harvesting between 5 - 10 mandarins a day over the past couple of weeks. Count them up. 90 mandarins and that does not include the ones that I do not know about as our kids harvest at will!!
Bees. I felt like I needed to shrink my hives down a level for winter and this was the weekend to do it. Warm weather!! Well, I took down the hives a box or two. Along with it came a harvest of about 2 gallons of honey. One of my hives is doing great, the other may not make it though the winter. Have to say that it is probably my fault because I did not set them up correctly when I picked them up this Spring. Did not have the time to spare at the time and of course when you do a poor job at something, you get poor results. Lesson learned.
Harvested over the past 2 weeks:
Day 123
1) 6 mandarins ($1.50)
2) 1 apple ($0.50)
Day 124
1) 7 mandarins ($1.75)
2) 2 apples ($1.00)
Day 125
1) 4 mandarins ($1.00)
2) 3 apples ($1.50)
Day 126
1) 8 mandarins ($2.00)
Day 127
1) 9 mandarins ($2.25)
2) 2 apples ($1.00)
Day 128
1) 7 mandarins ($1.75)
Day 129
1) 3 mandarins ($0.75)
Day 130
1) 11 mandarins ($2.75)
Day 131
1) 3 mandarins ($0.75)
2) 1 apple ($0.50)
Day 132
1) 3 mandarins ($0.75)
2) Two bunches chard ($6.00)
3) 1 apple ($0.50)
Day 133
1) 13 mandarins ($3.25)
Day 134
1) 3 mandarins ($0.75)
Day 135
1) 6 mandarins ($1.50)
Day 136
1) 6 mandarins ($1.50)
2) 7 quarts honey ($140.00)
Two-Week harvest: $33.00
Honey Harvested: 7 quarts ($140)
Total Produce Harvested (Year-to-Date): $816.50
Total Honey Harvested (Year-to-Date): $360.00
Expenses (Year-to-Date): $105.00
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Days 109 - 122 Change of Seasons
Well, late in writing this posting...skipped last week but still harvesting each day. Since last posting we have had some serious rain. The rain and cold pretty much halt the fruit from getting much sun and ripening. The figs are done after a good soaking and the grapes that are remaining have taken on some mold.
The garden continues though with Satsuma Mandarins being the current harvest. A little green on the outside but open it up and the bright orange citrus is wonderful!! If you have not grown your own citrus, you are missing out! The only problem with growing your own citrus is that once you have your own fresh citrus you will NEVER be able to eat store-bought citrus ever again. I have been spoiled because I grew up eating fresh oranges in S. California and now I have Mandarins, Oranges, Grapefruits, Lemons, and Limes all in the yard.
The garlic is in the ground and plan on planting the cover crop this week with moist soil and warm weather predicted through the middle of the week. I did buy a few supplies since last posting. Some organic fruit tree fertalizer and some chicken manure for the garlic patch.
Harvested over the past 2 weeks:
Day 109
1) 1 fig ($0.25)
2) 3/4 pounds tomatoes ($1.50)
3) 1 mandarin ($0.25)
4) 1/2 pound grapes ($1.00)
Day 110
1) 3/4 pound grapes ($1.50)
2) 3/4 pounds tomatoes ($1.50)
3) 8 figs ($2.00)
Day 111
1) 1/2 pound tomatoes ($1.00)
Day 112
1) 1/2 pound tomatoes ($1.00)
2) 3/4 pound grapes ($1.50)
Day 113
1) 6 figs ($1.50)
2) 1/2 pound tomatoes ($1.00)
Day 114
1) Two bunches chard ($6.00)
Day 115
1) 3 mandarins ($0.75)
2) 1/4 pound grapes ($0.50)
Day 116
1) 3/4 pound grapes ($1.50)
2) 3 mandarins ($0.75)
Day 117
1) 1/2 pound tomatoes ($1.00)
Day 118
1) 1 mandarin ($0.25)
2) 1 tomato ($0.50)
Day 119
1) 1/2 pound grapes ($1.00)
Day 120
1) Two bunches chard ($6.00)
2) 3 mandarins ($0.75)
Day 121
1) 4 mandarins ($1.00)
Day 122
1) 4 mandarins ($1.00)
Two-Week harvest: $35.00
Expense: $35.00 (Fertilizer, water)
Total Produce Harvested (Year-to-Date): $783.50
Total Honey Harvested (Year-to-Date): $220.00
Expenses (Year-to-Date): $105.00
The garden continues though with Satsuma Mandarins being the current harvest. A little green on the outside but open it up and the bright orange citrus is wonderful!! If you have not grown your own citrus, you are missing out! The only problem with growing your own citrus is that once you have your own fresh citrus you will NEVER be able to eat store-bought citrus ever again. I have been spoiled because I grew up eating fresh oranges in S. California and now I have Mandarins, Oranges, Grapefruits, Lemons, and Limes all in the yard.
The garlic is in the ground and plan on planting the cover crop this week with moist soil and warm weather predicted through the middle of the week. I did buy a few supplies since last posting. Some organic fruit tree fertalizer and some chicken manure for the garlic patch.
Harvested over the past 2 weeks:
Day 109
1) 1 fig ($0.25)
2) 3/4 pounds tomatoes ($1.50)
3) 1 mandarin ($0.25)
4) 1/2 pound grapes ($1.00)
Day 110
1) 3/4 pound grapes ($1.50)
2) 3/4 pounds tomatoes ($1.50)
3) 8 figs ($2.00)
Day 111
1) 1/2 pound tomatoes ($1.00)
Day 112
1) 1/2 pound tomatoes ($1.00)
2) 3/4 pound grapes ($1.50)
Day 113
1) 6 figs ($1.50)
2) 1/2 pound tomatoes ($1.00)
Day 114
1) Two bunches chard ($6.00)
Day 115
1) 3 mandarins ($0.75)
2) 1/4 pound grapes ($0.50)
Day 116
1) 3/4 pound grapes ($1.50)
2) 3 mandarins ($0.75)
Day 117
1) 1/2 pound tomatoes ($1.00)
Day 118
1) 1 mandarin ($0.25)
2) 1 tomato ($0.50)
Day 119
1) 1/2 pound grapes ($1.00)
Day 120
1) Two bunches chard ($6.00)
2) 3 mandarins ($0.75)
Day 121
1) 4 mandarins ($1.00)
Day 122
1) 4 mandarins ($1.00)
Two-Week harvest: $35.00
Expense: $35.00 (Fertilizer, water)
Total Produce Harvested (Year-to-Date): $783.50
Total Honey Harvested (Year-to-Date): $220.00
Expenses (Year-to-Date): $105.00
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Days 102 - 108 Winter Planting
Winter is a time of lots of rain. This means that you do not need to do any watering...but it also measn that it is a time when the snails, slugs, and weeds thrive.
For this reason I like to plant a cover crop to keep the weeds down. Just ordered some seed and hope to plant by next weekend. With the nice rain shower today it makes the soil ready for the new seed to sprout. I really do not like to have to water the seed...call me lazy.
I also like to plant garlic. It grows with little care, the slugs and snails do not touch it, and we get enough garlic by May to pretty much have garlic for the year. All for very little work...and don't forget, the garlic that you get out of your own garden is truly amazing!! If you want to make sure that the garlic does not sprout after harvesting, keep it in a cool, dark place.
What is happening in the garden right now? The figs are the real star of the garden with a plentiful supply of the sweetest fruit you can imagine. We have a "white" fig that becomes a beautiful red inside and green outside. Still getting grapes, tomatoes, and of course chard (the plants are 6 months old now!!)
Day 102
1) Two tomatoes ($1.00)
2) Handful of grapes
3) One fig
Day 103
1) 1 pound grapes ($2.00)
2) Three mandarins ($1.00)
Day 104
1) One tomato ($0.50)
2) Two bunches of chard ($6.00)
3) 1 1/2 pounds grapes ($3.00)
4) Six figs ($1.50)
Day 105
1) 3/4 pound grapes ($1.50)
2) 1/2 pound apples ($1.00)
3) 1/2 pound tomatoes ($1.00)
Day 106
1) 1/2 pound grapes ($1.00)
2) Eight figs ($2.00)
3) 3/4 pound apples ($1.50)
Day 107
1) 1 1/2 poounds tomatoes ($3.00)
2) 1/2 pound grapes ($1.00)
Day 108
1) 3/4 pound strawberries ($1.50)
2) 3/4 pound grapes ($1.50)
3) 1/2 pound tomatoes ($1.00)
4) Eight figs ($2.00)
Weekly harvest: $33.00
Total Produce Harvested (Year-to-Date): $748.50
Total Honey Harvested (Year-to-Date): $220.00
Expenses (Year-to-Date): $70.00
For this reason I like to plant a cover crop to keep the weeds down. Just ordered some seed and hope to plant by next weekend. With the nice rain shower today it makes the soil ready for the new seed to sprout. I really do not like to have to water the seed...call me lazy.
I also like to plant garlic. It grows with little care, the slugs and snails do not touch it, and we get enough garlic by May to pretty much have garlic for the year. All for very little work...and don't forget, the garlic that you get out of your own garden is truly amazing!! If you want to make sure that the garlic does not sprout after harvesting, keep it in a cool, dark place.
What is happening in the garden right now? The figs are the real star of the garden with a plentiful supply of the sweetest fruit you can imagine. We have a "white" fig that becomes a beautiful red inside and green outside. Still getting grapes, tomatoes, and of course chard (the plants are 6 months old now!!)
Day 102
1) Two tomatoes ($1.00)
2) Handful of grapes
3) One fig
Day 103
1) 1 pound grapes ($2.00)
2) Three mandarins ($1.00)
Day 104
1) One tomato ($0.50)
2) Two bunches of chard ($6.00)
3) 1 1/2 pounds grapes ($3.00)
4) Six figs ($1.50)
Day 105
1) 3/4 pound grapes ($1.50)
2) 1/2 pound apples ($1.00)
3) 1/2 pound tomatoes ($1.00)
Day 106
1) 1/2 pound grapes ($1.00)
2) Eight figs ($2.00)
3) 3/4 pound apples ($1.50)
Day 107
1) 1 1/2 poounds tomatoes ($3.00)
2) 1/2 pound grapes ($1.00)
Day 108
1) 3/4 pound strawberries ($1.50)
2) 3/4 pound grapes ($1.50)
3) 1/2 pound tomatoes ($1.00)
4) Eight figs ($2.00)
Weekly harvest: $33.00
Total Produce Harvested (Year-to-Date): $748.50
Total Honey Harvested (Year-to-Date): $220.00
Expenses (Year-to-Date): $70.00
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Days 95 - 101 What have we done with our food?
I was having lunch with a colleague the other day and we often talk about food...for we are eating of course!! Anyhow, I have been bringing tomatoes to share at lunch and he has been getting kind of used to having fresh garden tomatoes for lunch. He had gotten so used to it that he went out to buy some tomatoes when I was not supplying quite enough for him.
Well, he was not happy with what he got. He bought an heirloom variety from the local Whole Foods Market and what did he get? A tomato that looked great but tasted like nothing he had gotten used to. You might say...of course. Nothing compares to a home-grown tomato. What was he thinking? My response is that this tomato was from Whole Foods and it was an heirloom variety. Seems to me that that should have come from a farmer who nurtured that tomato from seed to fruit and would pick it only when it was the exact right time...for it was an heirloom... But not. He then had some figs that he bought too. Figs are expensive in the store and for the price you pay you would hope that you get something good. Nope. I tried one and could not finish it. Tasted like nothing. Not sweet at all. No hints of strawberries that we get in our figs. Not even close to a fig as I know it.
What will it be like when this is what we think food tastes like? I was down at Google this summer for a computer science symposium and they had some fruit plates out for people to snack on. A guy from Indiana picked up a fig and asked me what it was. He had never eaten one before...and I am sure I would have not either if I was from Indiana. I told him that it was a fig, he took a bite, and it was just awful. I told him that is not what a real fig tastes like...and he should try again when he can pick one off of a tree when it is ripe... I hope he does.
Day 95
1) 1 1/2 pounds tomatoes ($3.00)
Day 96
1) Two bunches chard ($6.00)
2) 1/2 pound grapes ($1.00)
3) Five figs ($1.00)
Day 97
1) 1/2 pound grapes ($1.00)
2) 3/4 pound tomatoes ($1.50)
3) Four figs ($1.00)
Day 98
1) One fig ($0.50)
2) 3/4 pound grapes ($1.50)
3) One basket of strawberries ($2.00)
Day 99
1) 1/2 pound tomatoes ($1.00)
2) 1/2 pound grapes ($1.00)
Day 100
1) 1/2 pound tomatoes ($1.00)
Day 101
1) 1/4 pound tomatoes ($0.50)
2) Five figs ($1.00)
Weekly harvest: $23.00
Total Produce Harvested (Year-to-Date): $715.50
Total Honey Harvested (Year-to-Date): $220.00
Expenses (Year-to-Date): $70.00 (water)
Well, he was not happy with what he got. He bought an heirloom variety from the local Whole Foods Market and what did he get? A tomato that looked great but tasted like nothing he had gotten used to. You might say...of course. Nothing compares to a home-grown tomato. What was he thinking? My response is that this tomato was from Whole Foods and it was an heirloom variety. Seems to me that that should have come from a farmer who nurtured that tomato from seed to fruit and would pick it only when it was the exact right time...for it was an heirloom... But not. He then had some figs that he bought too. Figs are expensive in the store and for the price you pay you would hope that you get something good. Nope. I tried one and could not finish it. Tasted like nothing. Not sweet at all. No hints of strawberries that we get in our figs. Not even close to a fig as I know it.
What will it be like when this is what we think food tastes like? I was down at Google this summer for a computer science symposium and they had some fruit plates out for people to snack on. A guy from Indiana picked up a fig and asked me what it was. He had never eaten one before...and I am sure I would have not either if I was from Indiana. I told him that it was a fig, he took a bite, and it was just awful. I told him that is not what a real fig tastes like...and he should try again when he can pick one off of a tree when it is ripe... I hope he does.
Day 95
1) 1 1/2 pounds tomatoes ($3.00)
Day 96
1) Two bunches chard ($6.00)
2) 1/2 pound grapes ($1.00)
3) Five figs ($1.00)
Day 97
1) 1/2 pound grapes ($1.00)
2) 3/4 pound tomatoes ($1.50)
3) Four figs ($1.00)
Day 98
1) One fig ($0.50)
2) 3/4 pound grapes ($1.50)
3) One basket of strawberries ($2.00)
Day 99
1) 1/2 pound tomatoes ($1.00)
2) 1/2 pound grapes ($1.00)
Day 100
1) 1/2 pound tomatoes ($1.00)
Day 101
1) 1/4 pound tomatoes ($0.50)
2) Five figs ($1.00)
Weekly harvest: $23.00
Total Produce Harvested (Year-to-Date): $715.50
Total Honey Harvested (Year-to-Date): $220.00
Expenses (Year-to-Date): $70.00 (water)
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Days 88 - 94 Three months and counting!!
Well, we have made the daily harvest for 1/4 of the year. I have to believe that a difficult time is coming in the next month. Our Sierra Beauty apple tree is light on the fruit this year and our family is eating more fruit than ever. Seems like the trees barely keep up with the family consumption...
I know that we can make it for the next couple of weeks. We still have a good supply of chard, apples, tomatos, figs, and grapes. The problem comes in late October and early November. If we can make it to mid-November, we will start the citrus harvest (can't wait!!) with the Satsumas coming in. We have a bumper crop of satsumas this year so that will take us well into 2011.
This has made me think about what is needed this time of the year. I have been trying to fill in the early fruit trees (planted Apricot, Aprium, and White Nectarine) to have some June fruit. I think that I will replace our Red Delicious apple tree (that nobody really likes anyhow...but was here when we bought the house) with a Granny Smith. My friend has a Granny Smith and it holds apples well and we have had apples from him well into November. Seems like the longer on the tree the better too!!
Well, the harvest is lighter this week.
Day 88
1) Four apples ($2.00)
2) One tomato ($0.50)
3) 1/4 pound grapes ($0.50)
Day 89
1) Two tomatoes ($1.00)
2) Three apples ($2.00)
Day 90
1) Two bunches chard ($6.00)
2) One pound grapes ($2.00)
3) 1/2 pound tomatoes ($1.00)
4) 3/4 pound apples ($1.50)
Day 91
1) 1/4 pound grapes ($0.50)
2) 3/4 pound apples ($1.50)
3) One pound apples ($2.00)
4) Basket raspberries ($2.00)
5) Two figs ($0.50)
Day 92
1) 3/4 pound grapes ($1.50)
2) 1/2 pound apples ($1.00)
3) 1/2 pound tomatoes ($1.00)
4) One basket of strawberries ($2.00)
5) Seven figs ($2.00)
Day 93
1) 3/4 pound grapes ($1.50)
2) 1/2pound apples ($1.00)
Day 94 (gone much of the day)
1) a few grapes
Weekly harvest: $33.00
Total Produce Harvested (Year-to-Date): $692.50
Total Honey Harvested (Year-to-Date): $220.00
Expenses (Year-to-Date): $70.00 (water)
I know that we can make it for the next couple of weeks. We still have a good supply of chard, apples, tomatos, figs, and grapes. The problem comes in late October and early November. If we can make it to mid-November, we will start the citrus harvest (can't wait!!) with the Satsumas coming in. We have a bumper crop of satsumas this year so that will take us well into 2011.
This has made me think about what is needed this time of the year. I have been trying to fill in the early fruit trees (planted Apricot, Aprium, and White Nectarine) to have some June fruit. I think that I will replace our Red Delicious apple tree (that nobody really likes anyhow...but was here when we bought the house) with a Granny Smith. My friend has a Granny Smith and it holds apples well and we have had apples from him well into November. Seems like the longer on the tree the better too!!
Well, the harvest is lighter this week.
Day 88
1) Four apples ($2.00)
2) One tomato ($0.50)
3) 1/4 pound grapes ($0.50)
Day 89
1) Two tomatoes ($1.00)
2) Three apples ($2.00)
Day 90
1) Two bunches chard ($6.00)
2) One pound grapes ($2.00)
3) 1/2 pound tomatoes ($1.00)
4) 3/4 pound apples ($1.50)
Day 91
1) 1/4 pound grapes ($0.50)
2) 3/4 pound apples ($1.50)
3) One pound apples ($2.00)
4) Basket raspberries ($2.00)
5) Two figs ($0.50)
Day 92
1) 3/4 pound grapes ($1.50)
2) 1/2 pound apples ($1.00)
3) 1/2 pound tomatoes ($1.00)
4) One basket of strawberries ($2.00)
5) Seven figs ($2.00)
Day 93
1) 3/4 pound grapes ($1.50)
2) 1/2pound apples ($1.00)
Day 94 (gone much of the day)
1) a few grapes
Weekly harvest: $33.00
Total Produce Harvested (Year-to-Date): $692.50
Total Honey Harvested (Year-to-Date): $220.00
Expenses (Year-to-Date): $70.00 (water)
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Days 81 - 87 Potatoes
Well, I planted some sprouting potatoes awhile back and dug them up yesterday. From what was going to be just trash (or compost) became part of tonight's dinner!! Being my first try,I was curious as to how the potatoes were looking so I dug them up. They were small but we will have almost two pounds of potatoes to go with the dinner tonight.
John Jeavons is a real believer in potatoes as a basis for a sustainable garden. Seem really easy to grow...perhaps it is why so many varieties grow all around the world.
What else has happened over the past week? Planted my Kale starts in the ground and they are looking happy. Looking forward to having greens through the winter. Bees are still buzzing about. Do not know what they are getting right now but they are as busy as they were in the spring. I also did a little slideshow for a class that I am taking at the Junior College. Here is a link.
Weekly harvest:
Day 81
1) 2 baskets of Strawberries ($4.00)
2) Three apples ($1.50)
3) 1/2 basket of raspberries ($1.50)
Day 82
1) Three tomatoes ($2.00)
2) Three apples ($2.00)
3) 1 lb grapes ($2.00)
Day 83
1) Two bunches chard ($6.00)
2) 3/4 pound apples ($1.50)
3) 2 1/2 pounds tomatoes ($5.00)
4) 1 lb. grapes ($2.00)
5) Four figs ($0.50)
Day 84
1) Three apples ($2.00)
2) Four tomatoes ($3.00)
3) 1 1/4 lb Grapes ($2.50)
4) Handful of green beans
Day 85
1) 1 1/2 pounds tomatoes ($3.00)
2) 1 1/4 pound apples ($2.50)
3) 1 lb grapes ($2.00)
Day 86
1) 1/2 lb grapes ($1.00)
2) 1/2 pound tomatoes ($1.00)
3) 1/2 pound apples ($1.00)
Day 87
1) 3/4 pound grapes ($1.50)
2) 1 3/4 pound potatoes ($2.00)
Weekly harvest: $49.50
Total Produce Harvested (Year-to-Date): $659.50
Total Honey Harvested (Year-to-Date): $220.00
Expenses (Year-to-Date): $50.00
John Jeavons is a real believer in potatoes as a basis for a sustainable garden. Seem really easy to grow...perhaps it is why so many varieties grow all around the world.
What else has happened over the past week? Planted my Kale starts in the ground and they are looking happy. Looking forward to having greens through the winter. Bees are still buzzing about. Do not know what they are getting right now but they are as busy as they were in the spring. I also did a little slideshow for a class that I am taking at the Junior College. Here is a link.
Weekly harvest:
Day 81
1) 2 baskets of Strawberries ($4.00)
2) Three apples ($1.50)
3) 1/2 basket of raspberries ($1.50)
Day 82
1) Three tomatoes ($2.00)
2) Three apples ($2.00)
3) 1 lb grapes ($2.00)
Day 83
1) Two bunches chard ($6.00)
2) 3/4 pound apples ($1.50)
3) 2 1/2 pounds tomatoes ($5.00)
4) 1 lb. grapes ($2.00)
5) Four figs ($0.50)
Day 84
1) Three apples ($2.00)
2) Four tomatoes ($3.00)
3) 1 1/4 lb Grapes ($2.50)
4) Handful of green beans
Day 85
1) 1 1/2 pounds tomatoes ($3.00)
2) 1 1/4 pound apples ($2.50)
3) 1 lb grapes ($2.00)
Day 86
1) 1/2 lb grapes ($1.00)
2) 1/2 pound tomatoes ($1.00)
3) 1/2 pound apples ($1.00)
Day 87
1) 3/4 pound grapes ($1.50)
2) 1 3/4 pound potatoes ($2.00)
Weekly harvest: $49.50
Total Produce Harvested (Year-to-Date): $659.50
Total Honey Harvested (Year-to-Date): $220.00
Expenses (Year-to-Date): $50.00
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