Friday, January 26, 2007

Page gardening: Visions of grandeur


The greenhouse bed last fall

So I read another one of this bloke's books recenly, this one about small-scale vegetable production (as in, sell the things) and somehow I am convinced that my land is being underused. Hmm. Maybe it is possible for me to produce EVERYTHING my family of three needs for a year, and not just 60% of it.

Beware the January garden, in other words. Lots of ideas, no weeds.

4 comments:

Liz said...

Don't forget, that bloke has had a whole crew (including unpaid interns) to do his bidding for years.

Just saying... he's a great guy and all, but has become somewhat of a mythical figure. Things aren't always what they seem, but they do sell books. ;)

El said...

Oh, I hear you, Liz. I made baked beans a couple of days ago from some cranberry beans I grew and dang but didn't they taste good with their local honey and onions, garlic, and sage from the garden. I am just a glutton. I wish I had a lot more of those beans.

The Nearings were pretty mythical, too. But Coleman has some good points about succession planting, about green manures, and about being realistic...Ah! So little time, such big plans.

meresy_g said...

Yeah, so little time. Such big plans. I need to find a place where I can buy time. I never have enough. I've never read his books, but perhaps I shouldn't. Like Martha Stewart, just one more person making me feel as if I'm not measuring up.

El said...

Meredith, I keep reading these books, see, so that I can glean ways to save time! (Of course, I spend a lot of time trying to save a lot of time...) I wouldn't say he's really a shame master the way Ms Stewart is. If anything, he has you bite off more than you can chew.

All I can say is, if you want to save time in the garden, mulch. Doesn't work in wet areas, doesn't work in early spring, but dang it, it does save time spent weeding and watering.