I’ve got a bunch of plans for the homestead right now.
There are way too many great gardening ideas in my head but I’m going to try and get the important ideas down for now.
If any of these strike your fancy, try ’em and see how you do.
IDEA #1: Micro-farming
I’m thinking of trying my hand at farming a small amount of vegetables for a circle of local friends.A box subscription sort of a deal. Like… $30 a week and I provide a regular box of fresh-picked organic produce to everyone on the list.
Just toying with the idea right now.
IDEA #2: Massive Banana Circles
I’m also considering hanging gutters on the portions of my house that don’t currently have them, then creating 3 or 4 BIG banana circles to catch the run-off and simultaneously grow us more bananas.We get a decent amount of bananas right now but I’d like to have enough that each kid can eat one per day. That’s a tall order, but it’s a goal.
IDEA #3: Grafting Mulberries
It’s time to try grafting mulberries.I’m not happy with the fruit quality or quantity from my largest mulberry tree in the front yard so I’m thinking of grafting a half-dozen different varieties all over it. Ought to be fun.
Imagine white mulberries, Pakistan long mulberries and other types all growing on the same tree. I don’t know about species compatibility since it’s a Morus nigra and I’d be grafting Morus alba and Morus rubra onto it… but hey, why not try?
IDEA #4: Expanding The Annual Garden
This was my last year fiddling with a big patch of sugarcane.I need more space for food for the family, so it’s goodbye for now.
I’m going to press that area into service as an expansion of my vegetable gardens.
More roots, more Seminole pumpkins, more greens!
IDEA #5: Build a Smokehouse
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After my successful small-scale experiments with smoking on the StoveTec, I’m going to go big.
It’s time for me to take a bunch of cinderblocks and get busy building a killer smokehouse.
IDEA #6: Build A Tropical Food Forest
IN NORTH FLORIDA!That’s right. A friend owns a greenhouse frame and wants me to have it. It’s a HUGE greenhouse.
I’ve got a friend with some land. She and I are talking about setting it up at her place and planting a tropical in-ground food forest beneath it. The plastic could be removed for half the year, then installed in the winter.
I don’t know if it’s workable or not but I’d like to try.
IDEA #8: Grow More Yams
Apparently, there are non-invasive varieties of true yam which grow in Florida and make huge roots.I want to grow some. I love the winged yam but my nursery license doesn’t allow me to carry it in my nursery.
I’m looking for Dioscorea caymanensis in particular. If anyone has a source, please let me know!
IDEA #9:Â Grow Sweet Potatoes In Plastic
I’m thinking of covering an area with a plastic tarp or weed cover, then putting small holes in it for my sweet potato slips.I think the tarp should keep them from secondary rooting and weeds, leading to much bigger final tubers.
Going to have to try and see.
IDEA #10: Plant a Mahonia Patch
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Why not plant it then start using the berries? They’re acid but can be processed into jams and jellies. Maybe they’d be good dried?
I need to know!
In Epilogue
Finally, what happened to Idea #7?
I don’t know. Idea #7 was obviously so secret that my subconscious caused me to delete it.
And a better question, what are YOUR great gardening ideas for the new year?
If there’s anyone reading who hasn’t succumbed to post-Christmas blood sugar overload… share your ideas in the comments!
