We're a long way from being self sufficient but I thought it might be interesting to list the foods we grow ourselves etc:
Grow on our windowsills
tomatoes, salad leaves, herbs (parsley, basil and coriander) - with varying degrees of success
From Crafty Green Boyfriend's parents garden
leeks, courgettes, cooking apples, eating apples
Foraged
brambles, raspberries and sometimes fungi. I definitely want to experiment with foraging for edible leaves from trees next year, basically when I'm cutting down tree branches that cause problems on the Water of Leith walkway, I want to keep the leaves that are edible!
So it's a small contribution to our overall diet, but it's something and not bad for living in the city centre! Theoretically we have a share in the garden at the back of the building, but one particular family have comandeered all the growing area.
What do you grow for yourselves and what kind of space do you have for growing?
I'd love to know what leaves might be edible. I wonder if they are tough and need to be eaten in spring when they are young.
ReplyDeleteI would love to be able to do this someday. I think of it often - living off the land :)
ReplyDeleteWe're fortunate in having quite a large garden - just under half an acre, although there are some large trees, especially a huge willow, that cover part of it. When we moved in 13 years ago it was mostly a field and one of the first things we did was plant a small orchard of five heritage apples, a damson, a quince and two hazels. These are now highly productive most years (except the quince which sets fruit then drops them all). We also have a herb garden and a vegetable garden which gives us lots of garlic, shallots, beans, courgettes, leeks, parsnips, beetroot, cabbages, squashes and plenty of salad. In the greenhouse we grow tomatoes and chillies. Even the flowers get eaten - rose petals, marigolds, borage etc. We also go foraging on our walks, especially the wild garlic in spring and, of course, blackberries and sloes. As there may be vegetarians reading, perhaps I'd better not mention the furred and feathered game from local farmers.
ReplyDeleteEG Camera Girl - I think most leaves from trees need to be collected in spring if they're to be eaten, but I've tasted an wonderful wine made from autumnal oak leaves...
ReplyDeleteOptimistic - it would be a nice lifestyle
Pete - that's impressive!
I have a large garden and grow tomatoes, watermelon, canteloupe, various lettuces, strawberries and herbs--especially cilantro and parsley. This was a difficult year in our garden as there was unrelenting rain at the beginning through mid-season, and temps in this area are very hot all summer. Regionally, we all experienced a tomato blight--very disappointing. It is humbling to work so hard on something and have it look so robust and promising, and then wilt, flood, be eaten by critters, etc. Makes me especially grateful for grocery stores!
ReplyDeleteThis year we had Strawberries, Blueberries and tomotoes. I wish we had more space to plant more veggies. We do see people collecting mushrooms and blackberries or raspberries from the woods next to our place. I think it is a great idea to grow as much of your own food. Have a happy day!
ReplyDeleteNasturtiums grow easily here - leaves and flowers both good for salad. We grow spring, summer, and fall greens for the bunnies and some for us. We grow zuchinni! (BL likes making things with zuchinni. Things needing heat (tomatoes!) don't do well. Potatos, garlic, apples and aisan pears - those we grow especially for us and family. 5 miniature trees and three 4' x 8' raised bed gardens. We also live in a very fertile, rural area and so everybody grows stuff in the back yard and the farmers markets and the "barter" system work for half of the year for fresh stuff! We feel very fortunate.
ReplyDeleteits fun to try and grow a few nibbles,xx Rachel
ReplyDeleteGood for you ... we used to grow a big garden (when we had more mouths to feed and an actual house with a yard). Still forage for berries when we're in Oregon ...wild ones and blueberries our daughter and sil grow. Other than that, my contribution is to buy as much as possible from local farmers markets. Wherever we are.
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