Garden Map 2022 |
Years ago, I got the idea of mapping your garden from the manager of our local nursery—but didn’t draw my first map until last year! Now, I don’t know how I ever did without one.
Being able to clearly see (and not have to rely on my often unreliable memory) what crops have been planted where in the last 4 or 5 years is already helping my efficiency in the garden.
Also, with a lot of family things going on the last 9 months, having my garden map helps prevent the sort of mild paralysis I’ve been having over all the decisions a food gardener has to make at planting time.
For instance, at the end of April and early May, I’ve got 6 or 7 beds to sow—and I tend to keep second-guessing myself until I actually get the darn seeds in the ground, and it’s too late to do anything about it!
When I get overwhelmed by garden chores, my husband John always gives me the same advice: just pick one job and work on that.
Having a map, I’m learning to apply the same suggestion to deciding what crop to plant in what location. If you’ve got a map, just take things one bed at a time. Select your bed, assess what you’ve planted there previously, then make your choice from your collection of seeds that hopefully you’ve purchased by now!
Price Surprise: Like you probably are, I’ve been tracking the prices of our usual food purchases and household items. The seeds we buy from a local seed grower haven’t gone up in price—but oh my gosh, did I get an inflation shocker: the new 40 lb. sack of organic, locally-made layer mix we feed the hens skyrocketed by $7. In 2 months, it went from $35.99 to $42.99. Just last summer, the price was $32.99.
Ouch!
A few months back, I did a post on the economics of keeping a home flock of laying hens. My conclusion back then: let’s just say don’t expect to save any money on home-grown eggs. With this latest price increase, our home flock seems to be even more like a hobby—and expensive one at that.
However you look at it, self-reliance doesn’t always come cheap!
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