It’s hard to believe that 2024 is over. This passing year was full of surprises and turns for us in our personal lives. The most notable is our move from Arizona to Michigan. Now that we are settling down in my husband’s home state, it’s time to get our homesteading lives back in order.
One of the first things that we have done on our land is set up a composting station. Compost, especially the kind that you make yourself if the most nutrient rich, and cheapest thing you can produce yourself. The draw-back, is it takes time to make. Since we had moved closer to winter, that meant that it was more imperative to make that first, since the leaves had fallen and weather was getting cooler. Now that it is done, and we are now in the month of January, what’s next.
Well, it’s time to start planning the new gardening season. This year I am at a little disadvantage since I don’t have my garden completely spaced out, however I am not letting that stop me. I have a FULL garden to fill up because I am starting from scratch. The land we have purchased has nothing on it, so we are installing everything, from hard scape to landscape.
First up is my garden beds. They will be 6 foot long by 4 foot wide. My plan is to 10 of them. The rest I will be planted inground. I am truly trying to figure out if I want all raised beds or not. We are planning on being here for a while, and as I age, I know there will come a time when I won’t be able to bend down like I can today. For now however, I am choosing to do a mixture of raised beds and inground, and I will see what that will do for me in the future.
I am so thankful that the back of our house is south facing, that being said, my plants should have plenty of light to grow. When picking a spot to grow your garden you want to pick the sunniest spot, that is closest to your house. For me this right outside our back door. Since we are in growing zone 6a with a last frost date of May 25th, the use of row covers and a greenhouse have been high priority for me. Next month we get our green house/high tunnel installed. I am so excited. March is when I will start putting things in the greenhouse to harden off and use as a season extension.
Here is a list of the things I will be planting this year. I am not listing the exact varieties but just the simple names. As the season goes on I will be mentioning the exact types.
ONION |
PEPPER (SPICY) |
ARTICHOKE |
PEPPER (SWEET) |
SPINACH |
CABBAGE |
COLLARDS |
CAULIFLOWER |
BOK CHOY |
BROCCOLI |
CELERY |
KALE |
LETTUCE |
DILL |
CORRIANDER |
CHARD |
CARROTS |
TOMATILLO |
TOMATO ROMA |
TOMATO BRANDYWINE |
CORN |
PEAS |
RADISH |
MELONS AND CANTALOUP |
CUCUMBER |
PUMPKIN |
BEANS BUSH |
BEANS POLE |
OKRA |
SUMMER SQUASH |
WINTER SQUASH |
CHAMOMILE |
OREGANO |
ROSEMARY |
LEMON BALM |
FEVER FEW |
SAGE |
PARSELY |
TARRAGON |
THYME |
YARROW |
COMFREY |
CILANTRO |
ECHINACEA |
LEMON GRASS |
VALERIAN |
BASIL |
CHIVES |
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