How to Grow Your Own Food – 6/12/2013 Garden Tally

This year I’m on a mission to grow 4,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables in my suburban backyard. In 2012 I was able to grow 2,028 pounds, and in 2013 I’m going double or nothing. I have absolutely no idea if I’ll be able to achieve my goal. But, as with any adventure, half the fun is getting there.   ~Mavis

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Did you plant peas this year? How are they doing?

The sugar snap peas we planted alongside the teepee poles are growing like weeds I tell you. Right now they are about 5 feet tall and bursting with pods. We’ve already picked them twice and we are about ready to pick them again. I keep thinking we are going to have stir fry for dinner but last night I made a pea salad {I’ll post the recipe in a little bit} and the kids keep munching away at the extra snap peas as well as packing them in their lunches.

Life is good! I love this time of year. Garden fresh strawberries and peas. You just can’t beat that.

Now, if we would just get the tomatoes to hurry up, everything would be perfect.

Oh, and I don’t want to forget the Swiss chard. We collected stalks of that too {for the chickens}.

~Mavis

Here is what I have harvested so far this year:

Basil – 7 ounces

Our second round of basil is poking through the soil in the greenhouse. I LOVE making fresh pesto.

Beets – 14 ounces

So far this year we have planted 2 batches of beets. I think I might start another batch next week.

Bok Choy – 4 oz

Check out this Asian Noodle Salad with Bok Choy I made. It’s pretty awesome.

Carrots – 3 ounces

I planted carrots again last week for the 3rd {or is it 4th?} time. Usually carrots grow like crazy in my garden but this year I’m having a problem getting them going. Or should I say growing?

Chives – 11 ounces

We are picking about an ounce a week to use in recipes.

Egg Count – 1,385

We collected  68 eggs this past week. What a bunch of slackers!!! 😉

Lettuce – 21 pounds 6 ounces

We harvested the last of the endive and freckles lettuce last week. Now all that’s left is the romaine we have growing in the pallet garden.

Microgreens 5 ounces

I need to grow some more of these. My favorite way to eat microgreens is with egg salad sandwiches.

Oregano – 2 ounce

Peas – 2 pounds 10 ounces

Sometimes it’s really, really hard to get a basket of sugar snap peas in to the house. The Girl and I picked a bunch last night and immediately weighed them. What you see is what made it to the back door after snacking on them for a few minutes.

To me, fresh peas and strawberries, feel like the beginning of summer.

Potatoes – 2 pounds 9 ounces

Radish – 22 pounds 2 ounces

We have just enough radishes left for a salad and then they’ll all be gone! Eeeek! I totally forgot to plant more. Now I’ll have to add that to the list.

Spinach – 6 ounces

Sprouts –2 pounds 2 ounces

Here are instructions for growing your own sprouts.

Strawberries 2 pounds 10 ounces

Swiss Chard 2 pounds 8 ounces

Wheatgrass – 7 ounces

Total Food Harvested in 2013: 71 pounds

Total Eggs Collected in 2013: 1,385

If you are new to gardening or just want to learn more on the topic of organic gardening, my #1 favorite book is The Gardener’s A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food By Tanya L.K. Denckla.