Cold Weather Gardening.

The weather has cooled down considerably and I am really starting to be able to see how practical certain plants are for creating food with the short days and cold frosty nights. As it turns out the short days are the killer, things dramatically slow their growing time. Everything seems frozen, the progress to small to see. I am going to have to figure out a new crop or some sort of creative growing solution for the next three months before the spring starts and everything starts growing like bananas.

I am presently surprised to find that as of now we are still eating out of the garden everyday. At times it has taken some creative dishes, and rationing but of the first winter trying to grow my own food it is pretty good. Here are some of the ways you can be creative and stretch your winter garden out.

Winter squash rock! I was thinking this summer that next year I would not grow them because they cross pollinated with my summer squash and gave some of their skins a bad, tough texture. I didn't eat any of them and stored them to see how I felt about them in the winter. I love them.

They are still super fresh, I have been making soups and baking them. They are so versatile and are wonderful tasting. People have been growing them to consume in the winter forever, it feels good to do the same. To feel their shadow fall across your shoulders. The really helps with providing food during the winter months.

Winter greens, broccoli leaves, beets and potatoes.

The collard greens seem to grow fine in the cold, as well as the broccoli. We are in between broccoli harvest so I tried sautéing the greens from the plant. It worked and tasted great! The potatoes and beets are being stored by the soil so I harvest them as needed. They are providing a bounty of winter veggies between them. Yay garden!

The quail are back to laying thanks to their new heat lamp. I am thrilled, I really missed their eggs. They are so tasty and nutritious.

This year I have learned so much about the practical aspects of being self sufficient. What it really takes, the amount of calories that need to be produced to make a difference. What plants thrive in my climate, in the seasons. Which ones we like to eat, cook and share. How much work and resources it takes to pull it all off. It has been fun writing about it, that's for being my witness.

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Big Love ❤

Ren.