Two Steps Back - Grow it!

Two Steps Back

This is my little way of combining my love of growing some of our own food (two steps back) and preserving it (one step back) for use during the rest of the year.  Now, you could apply these same techniques to produce that you pick up at the Farmer’s Market or your grocery store, but I encourage you to start pondering what you could grow on your patio or in your yard.

If you do not have much space, try starting with a pot or two on a sunny counter or window sill, or your patio. A small pot is sufficient space for a few herbs.  If you want to try something a little bigger, a five gallon bucket, or a prettier container if you so desire, is great for one of any of these: tomato, cucumber, crookneck squash, etc. Or, you could plant a variety of 3 or four lettuce plants, kale, spinach, peas, a small patch of carrots,or an herb blend.  Your plants will need some attention as far as making sure they get 6-8 hours of sunlight per day, about a gallon of water over the course of a week (consider how much rain you get) and an occasional feeding.  We can talk more about this when spring rolls around and it is time to actually think about planting something.  

I do love to keep some herbs growing in the house over the winter. They add such a nice splash of color in the kitchen with the snow burying us in white at our mountain home.  Of course, they also bring fresh flavor to our meals.  There are a few ways to keep herbs growing inside over the winter. It can be as simple as having a small potted herb in a sunny window to as high tech as a greenhouse or hydroponic setup.