Why I do not garden

[buckeyefarmer]

I do find frozen vegetables to be much better tasting than canned. I no longer grow peas. For the work involved vs the price of frozen peas, we buy peas.

 

[shooterdon]

I did not say that. I queried why you would not want to eat fresh food in preference to store bought canned.

I prefer fresh...who would not? But gardens have a short life of productivity where I live. So for 10 months of the year another source is needed....and the “fresh” stuff in our stores in the off season is not great. For me, it is too much work for little gain to garden.

I live 25 miles...40 km...from a store. If I want “fresh” during the off season it is a two hour trip and three gallons of fuel. So much easier to go to the pantry and get a can of crap. And that trip to town can be challenging during Michigan winters...we get 120” of snow a year.

LastLy, canned stuff fits my prepper goals. I can store months of food with no concerns about a power outage or other “event”. The stuff lasts for years. When Covid was at its worst, we went weeks without having to go into town.

 

[Diggin It]

My 'fresh' stuff usually has a little extra protein wiggling around in it. Canned and frozen usually doesn't.

 

[Jstpssng]

My 'fresh' stuff usually has a little extra protein wiggling around in it. Canned and frozen usually doesn't.

I have ways of taking care of those, methods which tend to be much better than what's sprayed on the food you buy in the store.

 

[Hay Dude]

Why I do not garden LOL

 

[Diggin It]

^^^

Fresh veggies + blender = fresh drinkable veggies.

Fresh fruits + blender = fresh drinkable fruits.

 

[BackRoad]

We all make life choices that seem smart at the time. Might be why I have a few nice things like the ones in my avatar you commented on.

You mention if you had made a dollar an hour you would have a fair bit more money than you have now, but you do not regret your choice...and that is what worked for you and what you want out of life. That is great!

My life was different....by choice...my choice...

Mr. ShooterDon, it would have been easy to react with a harsh reply.

Greatly appreciate your thought-full response.

 

[OldMcDonald]

You believe you live a better life than I do, but it does not matter to me. The difference is I can choose to live like you if I wanted to but it does not interest me. You cannot choose to live like me even if you wanted to.

Mr. ShooterDon, it would have been easy to react with a harsh reply.

Greatly appreciate your thought-full response.

I thought that was a harsh reply, and downright ignorant. The man has no idea of my financial circumstances. I chose not to mention it in my response, but now you raise it consider I should.

I have enjoyed farming around the world for a very long time, owning 5 farms in 4 countries in both hemispheres consisting of between just a few acres run fairly intensively and over 3000 mainly grazing cattle and sheep with a couple of hundred acres of cultivations. One cannot do that on a shoestring. Earlier this year I decided to retire from business. I own only a few hundred square yards with the house I bought - quite a decent size, 4 bedrooms and all en suite for starters, plus the usual other rooms. I will be fishing (both trout and sea) and gardening, both outdoors and under cover in my spare time. I used to hunt with horse and hounds and shoot too (hunting to those in USA I suppose) but the old legs do not like a lot of walking or standing still for long periods now.

I did refer to not making a dollar an hour whilst gardening and stated I did not consider myself rich in monetary terms - by that I mean not having a few millions in spare cash. I doubt if many TBNers have. Do you, Back Road?

 

[Paddy]

we have a small garden to enjoy some fresh vegies. We don't till, just dig a hole in the lawn and plant a tomato, we might have 6 plants.
Same with cucumbers but along a fence. For a few months we have all the tomatoes and cukes we want. Only a few hours to plant. No need to weed.

The real stars of the garden are the 3 peach trees, 3 cherry trees.
We freeze enough for a few pies, wife makes peach butter (like apple butter). This year we picked close to 1500 peaches, most were given away to local food pantries and to friends and family.

 

[Oaktree]

Check with Fedco seeds of Maine for a garlic variety they might suggest for your growing season in Coos NH? (You shouldn't have any trouble there, even if it does snow every month of the year! ;-) I met my wife while living in Bethlehem.. On rt302, "in the shadow of Mt. Wahington!"

I'll have to give them a try, always looking for something new to try and grow. Hope they do better than onions...lotsa leaves (or whatever they're called) but almost no bulb.

 

[Oaktree]

Raised beds? I cut the top and bottm thirds off some plastic 55g barrels. Filled about two thirds full of dirt and plopped potatoes in'em Grew rather well. Got lots of those little baby potatoes too.

Not a bad idea, if I ever get to the point where I want to do raised beds I might try that.

 

[CalG]

we have a small garden to enjoy some fresh vegies. We don't till, just dig a hole in the lawn and plant a tomato, we might have 6 plants.
Same with cucumbers but along a fence. For a few months we have all the tomatoes and cukes we want. Only a few hours to plant. No need to weed.

The real stars of the garden are the 3 peach trees, 3 cherry trees.
We freeze enough for a few pies, wife makes peach butter (like apple butter). This year we picked close to 1500 peaches, most were given away to local food pantries and to friends and family.

Paddy

We pulled 250 pounds of peaches off three trees. Froze lots. dried lots ate lot, gave away lots.