Edible Landscaping

What do you think about edible landscaping? About Permaculture/Permanent Agriculture?

I cannot remember where I heard it, but I once read gardener's quote that said, "If you still have grass, your garden is too small." ...or something like that. The point is, why do we have a lawn over a garden? Who created lawn and what's the point? It makes work that does not produce anything lasting or of any value and we get no real benefit from it in the long run. In fact, the work in maintaining lawn is never ending (and sometimes causes pride and envy!).

In my opinion, if you're going to spend time and energy keeping something, why not grow food? There are so many things that can be grown that are edible and ornamental...way prettier than grass! And more useful too!

These days, when people are stressed out and running ragged, it makes sense to spend a bit of time each day relaxing in the garden. If gardening is done right, it is not a chore, it is therapy! It's good for the spirit and soul. It gives one time to ponder and the benefits are not only invisible...they reap fruits and vegetables! It's a win-win deal!

What about growing food and helping reduce dependence on the grocery store?  You know right where your food came from AND the bonus to your pocketbook is a help too!

God started the world with a garden for people. The world has moved far away from what God has intended, yet there has been a surge these past years to return to the agrarian lifestyle. If the agrarian lifestyle is not possible where you live, you can still garden. If you live in a city and have a balcony, you can garden. Hey, they even sell countertop gardens for apartment dwellers who have no balcony or dirt access!

Gardening, and turning your lawn into a productive piece of land is also great for the children/grandchildren of the family. It is an opportunity to spend much time together. Children learn the benefit of each one putting in his labor for the blessing of all. It is a chance to pass on the wisdom and knowledge one generation has acquired to the next generation. 

This is my goal in my little acre this year. To take the spaces that are bare, where nothing is growing, and turn it into a garden that will keep us alive. Perennial and annual. Not just to fill in spaces, but to make things work together as pleasing to the eye, yet having a purpose beyond eye candy!

So, you will find me talking about this quite a bit this year as I work at changing things around here. It's going to take time, there will be a lot of physical labor. In the end though, it will be well worth it.

Are you ready to make the necessary changes in your Home-Sweet landscape to create a sustainable spot of earth for your family? It is possible, and everyone working together teaches many lessons. Life lessons that cannot be learned on TV or video games! Take the plunge...it cannot be done all at once...but it can be done!

 Praise God for the opportunity to take His earth and be productive and creative and all the while be a blessing to our own family as well as others. This is a bit of what one-anothering is all about!

Home-Sweeet Homestead News For April 5th, 2014

It was a brisk October April day today. Chilly and gray! Not too good for outside work. I've been trying to clean goat areas little by little. Time consuming, but very necessary. Now that the snow is melted, I can see all the work to be done...and I have to think about how to eat an elephant! (One bite at a time!)

I've got some things coming up to keep me busy in the next few days. Today I received two elderberry bushes I ordered from Stark Bros. I've been wanting to go elderberry picking for a few years now and can't seem to beat the birds. At least with my own bushes I can put bird netting over them and hope to get some for my own use. Mostly medicinal, no, not wine.

I have 12 blueberry plants coming too. We used to go into the woods in Pennsylvania foraging for wild blueberries, but I don't know what I'd ever do if I met up with a bear and it's not something I want to find out. I was buying some from a man who grew them, but he was not local and getting to him was not always convenient. So, a one-time investment will take care of that and after a few harvests the bushes will pay for themselves.

I'm also considering grapes and will have to decide soon. I only have most of one usable acre, so I have to be strategic about where I place things.

Always learning something around here. New things happening and some of the old things changing. But that's how life is.

Mr. Home-Sweet and I went and picked up three bee packages last Friday in Kingston, NY.  He lost two hives this winter, which isn't bad, it's been worse. He's setting up to do some splits when the weather permits.

 We have three Boer/Nubian mixes that I believe will soon be sold for meat. It's hard to do that, believe me, but that's the way of it...and there's nothing to be done for it. Two of them I worked hard on last year with mastitis...oh my. But they healed up nicely. I just cannot handle them. They're strong and hard for me to control. I'm just not as strong as I used to be! I have to be serious about making things financially friendly too. It's not worth feeding all these goats with no benefit. People need to eat and they can provide it for them.

I will be moving plants to the front of the house too, to make a sitting/resting garden. The area they are in now will be used to grow food. It is my aim to grow most, if not all of our food this year. I do not know if I can accomplish it, honestly, it seems monumental, but I am going to try and hopefully I'll get better each year.

I've been studying dehydration and this seems like the best method for many things. I've been watching many videos, reading tons of different gardening ideas and off-grid and self-reliant information. So much out there.

I'll share this video, this couple knows how to utilize their 1/12th acre!

 

What plans do you have to improve or work your Home-Sweet this year? 

Praise the Lord for the gift of life and the ability to tend what He's blessed us with. We are truly grateful!

We must remember to always be grateful for all of God's gifts in our lives...we are so truly blessed. Living as good stewards in every area of our lives is also important. Ask Father God for wisdom and He will give it! 

Blessings!