How to Grow Your Own Food – 5/8/2013 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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Thanks to the food we have growing in the greenhouse gutters, we were able to harvest a few handfuls of romaine lettuce this past week.  I’ll post some more greenhouse pictures in a little while so you can see everything that’s growing in there.

The mesclun lettuce needs to be harvested {it grows back} so I think I’ll make a big salad for dinner tonight.

We also harvested a few French breakfast radishes {my favorite} plus some basil and chives as well. From now until the end of October we should be able to enjoy our own homegrown veggies and I couldn’t be more excited. Growing your own food is cool!

Now, if I could just figure out how to grow cinnamon gummy bears, I’d be all set.

~Mavis

Here is what I have harvested so far this year:

Basil – 2 ounces

Beets – 14 ounces

Carrots – 3 ounces

Chives – 6 ounces

Egg Count – 1,013

There were only 77 eggs this past week. I’m not sure why the hens slacked off, but there are still plenty of eggs for breakfast and baking and plenty extra to give to neighbors so I’m not complaining.

Maybe it had something to do with the heat?

Lettuce – 14 ounces

Microgreens 5 ounces

Oregano – 1 ounce

Potatoes – 2 pounds 9 ounces

Radish – 9 ounces

My neighbor Hudla and I both picked a few radishes.

Spinach – 3 ounces

Sprouts –1 pound 2 ounces

We harvested a bunch more sprouts this week, I’ll be posting about those a little later, but if you don’t already grow your own sprouts, they are super simple to grow. Here are instructions for growing your own sprouts.

Swiss Chard 11 ounces

Wheatgrass – 7 ounces

Total Food Harvested in 2013: 8 pounds 7 ounces
Total Eggs Collected in 2013: 1,013

Little House in the Suburbs: Backyard farming and home skills for self-sufficient living