Jumping into Urban Farming

Over the last couple of years, we've put in raised garden beds in the backyard and tried growing a variety of different things.  In the past, we've grown tomatoes, corn, summer and winter squash, beets, potatoes, onions, lettuce, green beans, peas, and more.  We learn a little bit more each growing season.

For example, planting broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage in the spring brings those little white butterflies that lay their eggs which hatch into green horn worms and eat the plants, and the cycle just keeps going.  We tried spraying the plants with soapy water, but that didn't work.  We tried going out each morning and picking the worms off the plants, but there were so many we couldn't keep up.

Last year, we planted broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage in the fall instead.  We picked off 5 worms total, and that was the end of it.  So we've decided to only plant those crops in the fall because it makes our lives easier.

This year, we thought we wouldn't get much at all planted in our garden because of different circumstances.  We surprised even ourselves!  Not only were we able to plant potatoes, tomatoes, lettuce, green beans, and peppers, but managed to build a chicken coop and run to house 5 chickens!

2 of our girls--the Ameraucanas

Barred Plymouth Rock, Ameraucana (see above), Australorp
Not pictured in either photo: our Buff Orpington

We're now talking about putting in fruit trees next spring, and have planned our fall garden which will be planted this week and next.  We've become city farmers, I guess, and loving every minute of it!