How to Grow Your Own Food – 2013 Garden Tally

{Winter Squash 2012}

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

This past week I harvested a whopping 5 ounces of Swiss chard.

Whop.t.do.

My kitchen, laundry room, and garage all look like a giant garden bomb went off and it’s getting a little tough to keep up. There is potting soil, seeds and containers everywhere, and I am waiting for the HH to make a crack about how he’s living in a garden center.

If I could just have one full day all to myself {no cooking, cleaning, talking, typing, walking} I think I could get caught up. I think.

I can dream right?

It might be time to plug in some headphones, make a giant list, and just power through a day planting, potting, tagging, and marking things off my list with a big fat sharpie as I go. I think that’s part of the problem. I need to get organized.

But first, do you have any suggestions to songs? I need some tunes first. Then I’ll make my list.

~Mavis

Here is what I have harvested so far this year:

{Heirloom beets pictured from last summer}

Beets – 14 ounces

I’ll be planting some more beets this week. I think I am going to try and grow enough to can a years worth of pickled beets. No one else in our house really cares for pickled beets, but I do!

{Tonda di Parigi HEIRLOOM carrots pictured from last summer}

Carrots – 3 ounces

I can’t wait to start planing carrots!

Egg Count – 329 {4.6 per day average}

This week we collected 59 eggs. I have a lot of baking to do so I they’ll all be used and I won’t have any left over to trade with Girly Girl or Mrs. HB this time around.

Lettuce – 6 ounces
Microgreens 5 ounces

Microgreens are easy to grow anytime of year but they are especially fun to grow in winter as it is typically to cold to grow lettuce and greens outside. See those cute heart shaped leaves? Those are radish greens and they are super tasty too.

Potatoes – 2 pounds 9 ounces

I was able to get 15 pounds of  potatoes planted last weekend, but I still have 75 more pounds to get in the ground. I need to schedule an entire work day in the garden here pretty so I don’t get behind on all my planting tasks.

Sprouts – 8 ounces

I need to grow some more, I miss having them on my egg salad sandwiches.

Swiss Chard 11 ounces

Think of all the money brides would save if they used bouquets of Swiss chard instead of roses. Hmmm.

Wheatgrass – 7 ounces

Total Food Harvested in 2013: 5 pounds 15 ounces

Total Eggs Collected in 2013: 329

Have you planned out your garden yet for this year? Are you feeling overwhelmed like I am? If not, what is your secret?

~Mavis

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