The Final Post

This is my last post for this blog...

In 2015 I moved to Texas. It was one of those moments in life that presented a great opportunity but required I put all of my energy into quickly moving 1003 miles. Sadly the blog had to be put on the back burner.

To those still fighting the snow to grow food and blogging about it, message me. If I think it is a good blog that fits this theme, I'll add it to the bottom of this post for other to read.

Before I walk away from this blog lets go over some some points of what worked and what failed...

What Worked:

• Hugelkultur raised beds
• Fixing clay soil by tilling in leaves
• Raised garden beds (vs ground level)
• Directing water low spots toward garden beds

What failed for me

• Weed control using vinegar
• Cold frame grow boxes
• In-ground beds
• container gardening

blogs and ideas left unfinished

Gardeners 'To Do List': Nov

It gets colder and thus it is time to start planning for next year
This is the time to be picking the last of your harvest before snow hits. While racking up leaves is probably consuming your free time, now is the time to put your gardens to bed... If you have been freezing/canning/dehydrating then now is your time to shine. Time to make pies, start us the jars of jam, and heating up soup mixes.

I am preparing my garden beds for next year by:

• tilling garden beds
• fixing and setting up new garden beds
• emptying my compost bins to store leaves I am raking up
• mixing compost into the garden beds
• propagating my strawberry/raspberry plants to other areas
• trimming trees and shrubs (1/3 rule)
• storing my rain barrels
• cleaning gutters one last time.
• cleaning out the shed and checking the snow blower
• writing blogs to post next year :)

Time to harvest and eat:

• Kale
• Broccoli

Sow seeds into the soil:

• indoor herb garden.

You still have extra time and want to do more. (where are you getting this free time???)

• Go to a winter farmers market
• Plan for next years crop
• Read a gardening book
• Start building hot boxes
• Start building potato boxes
• Sharpen your gardening tools
• What about adding a automated drip irrigation system?

Gardeners 'To Do List': Oct

You should be seeing frost soon. Time to prep your garden for winter.

Harvest what is left. Dehydrate what you can't eat right away. I always have extra mint I need to dry out. Start mulching leafs and packing away the rain barrels for winter. Time to plant your garlic for next years harvest. Extra bonus points if you keep a green house going through the winter, as now is your time for winter setup and planing seed starting.

Time to harvest and eat:

• Green Tomato
• Peppers
• Potatoes
• Carrots
• Beats
• Broccoli
• Spinach
• Carrots
• Spinach
• Celery

Sow seeds into the soil:

• Garlic

You still have extra time and want to do more. (where are you getting this free time???)

• How about adding more mulch to your garden beds? You should be racking leaves right now.
• How about a hugelkultur garden bed?
• Water your plants with city water?

CSA: LotFolt end of 2012 Summary

If this was a dry year for CSA Farmers... why was there so much food!


With the 13 boxes (from LotFotl) every other week, that was a lot of food for 2 people. I seriously wonder if this was a slow year because of the drought, could I eat all the food of a "normal" year? The drive to my pickup spot (Sweet Water Organic's Warehouse) was a little far, the food was awesome.

Lets get to the summary of the break down and see what this is worth (Detailed breakdown here)

Total Price       $420.00
Total Food Items      486
Total Weeks                26
Total Boxes                13
Price/Box           $32.31
Price/Week       $16.15

Item                                                 Quantity
Food Price LotFolt                    $420.00
Food Price Pick'n Save:                 $537.64

Here is a link to all CSA photos

Getting that Farmers Market itch?
Check this list of Milwaukee farmers market here

CSA: 13th Box

The 13th and last box from my CSA (from LotFotl). I know I am late on this post, I originally got this on Nov 15th 2012. As I remember it... It was getting cold, and I think my time of raking leaves was finally done.  I all I can say the soups I made were awesome.

The box includes the following:

• Spinach 
• Potatoes (19)
• Turnips (4)
• Beet
• Winter Squash
• Cabbage 
• Lettuce 
• Carrots (8)
• Brussel Sprout 
• Red Onions (3)

You can check out my CSA price break down here (Frozen Gardener). Getting that Farmers Market itch? check this list of Milwaukee farmers market here (http://milwaukee.about.com/
od/sportsrecreationhealth/qt/FarmersMarkets.htm)  Stay tune for my price point comparison, where I total up my bounty and see what it would cost at the store for all of this.

National Day of Remembrance

CSA: 12th Box

The 12th box from my CSA (from LotFotl). This week was very exciting. As you remember I missed a week, due to a vacation. With that weeks credit, I got some extra goodies. as for the regular box, I know sautéed is just basic cooking technique, but most of these items are great sautéed in butter. It is just so easy and quick, especially the winter squash.

The box includes the following:

• Kale
• Carrots (7)
• Beets (4)
• Winter Squash (1)
• Potatoes (10)
• Broccoli
• Turnips
• Spinach
• Kohlrabi

Extra items from vacation box ($30.25)

• Eggs $4.75
• Chicken $14.50
• Yellow Potatoes 5 lbs (27) ($7)
• Honey (6oz) $4

You can check out my CSA price break down here (Frozen Gardener). Getting that Farmers Market itch? check this list of Milwaukee farmers market here (http://milwaukee.about.com/
od/sportsrecreationhealth/qt/FarmersMarkets.htm)