How to Grow Your Own Food – 6/5/2013 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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This week we harvested a boatload of radishes, 6 heads of lettuce, peas, strawberries, chives, indoor sprouts and collected 74 eggs.  26+ pounds of veggies plus eggs! Holy cow things are starting to look up.

Because we had house guests, the Mother Earth News Fair and several garden tours, I didn’t get much done in the garden this past week. But, the weather is suppose to be awesome all week {in the 70’s} so I’ll be out there attempting to get a tan and planting some seeds.

The pumpkins and winter squash need to get planted as well as another round of beets, beans  and lettuce.

The fun never stops!

~Mavis

Here is what I have harvested so far this year:

Basil – 7 ounces

We started more basil seeds in the greenhouse gutters last week and I can’t wait. I LOVE making fresh pesto.

Beets – 14 ounces

Bok Choy – 4 oz

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

Carrots – 3 ounces

Chives – 10 ounces

Egg Count – 1,317

We collected  74 eggs this past week. Coo-Coo and Piggey are still sitting on eggs, waiting for babies to hatch. They are seriously missing out on some good veggie scraps!

Lettuce – 12 pounds 4 ounces

This past week we harvested 6 heads of endive and tonight I am planning on harvesting the rest of the freckles romaine for a salad. The wood pallet garden is going to look a little depressing for awhile until we can get some more stuff planted and germinating.

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 – 7 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 – 21 pound5 13 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 – 3 ounces

Sprouts –1 pound11 ounces

Here are instructions for growing your own sprouts.

Strawberries 9 ounces

Swiss Chard 12 ounces

Wheatgrass – 7 ounces

Total Food Harvested in 2013: 54 pounds 14 ounces

Total Eggs Collected in 2013: 1,317

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.