I bought my first/last home on 1 acre at age 50. I started building infrastructure on the basis that I can keep doing it as I may age and/or have physical limitations. I’m already reaping the benefits of that thinking 5 years later as I’ve had health challenges already! I might slow down a bit but still able to garden to my hearts content. My next biggest “infrastructure” is in ground irrigation to each of my garden beds/zones. I have apple trees, blue berries, greenhouse, and about 300 square feet of raised garden beds. I will be adding some asparagus and blackberries and that should top off my garden space. I also have a woodlot as part of my 1 acre which is close to 1/2 acre that backs up to a creek. I have made a trail to the creek and will be planting native plants in there and adding a sitting area. Doing new things each year makes it so much fun!
I am doing a medicinal garden plot this year as well--but focusing on the wild plants already in abundance on my rural zone 2b garden in northern BC Canada
I’m 33, with four small children (one of them due in April). I have heavy clay soil mixed with gravel (old county construction yard) in a 5b zone surrounded by wind towers here on the high plains in Colorado. Gardening here is definitely a challenge, lol. My husband and I are working to expand the garden this year, including adding hydroponics to our greenhouse to grow tomatoes and peppers, and possibly cucumbers. I’m adding grow bags for potatoes and carrots. Last year we put in 10 raised beds, and I’m planning on succession planting salad greens in those for most of the season. I also began an apple orchard last year, and for a fun project with my kids, I want to start a teepee with peas in the middle of it, and when the peas are spent I’ll replace them with cucumbers. The rest of my garden I’m hoping to out in-ground, with a three sisters patch, and then put in all kinds of brassicas and beans. I’m sincerely hoping that we can pull it off, because these grocery bills are killing us!
To make your garden Easier in your later years… speaking as one who has been around the sun 70 times…. Add some height to your raised beds. LOL. ADD another 12”-18” so when you can’t reach down and you can still reach out… you can continue to garden..? Just a suggestion. In my hillside garden our terraces are 3’ high, the one raised bed is 2’ high, all the compost bins are 2’-4’ high… making gardening easier.
“I’m going to grow less plants this year” sounds a lot like a book lover going into a book sale saying they don’t need more books 😂 I was reading through suggestions on that video and added a few to my list for 2024. There were some great ideas from people!
Teas I grow .. chocolate mint, orange mint, peppermint, lemon balm, and some more earthy flavors that are usually used for spicing dishes like rosemary, majorum, oregano ,lemon thyme, and I grow my own stevia.
Its -10°c avg temp here in Ontario Canada. My compost froze for the 1st time ever. A little depressing but nature will take care of it. I have a bunch of things I can do to thaw it out.
I grew mbombo beans last year (in Missouri) and they were fantastic!! I think they would do well in your dry climate. They are a semi-pole bean. Ours were from Baker Creek. They taste great as a green bean. We haven't tried them as a dry bean. Look them up!!
Hi Scott!! I’m always late to that party on Mondays with working while you go live, but I always watch after! I just love your channel. Thanks for all that you do. Always love your topics and knowledge. Love the fact you talk about the planter app on occasion too because I use that as well. 😊 I just planted my strawberry seeds yesterday (first time doing strawberries) accidentally grew an avacado tree this year that I haven’t killed (yet lol) over wintering my peppers for the first time this year too. It’s nice to have things to do over winter otherwise it gets too dull!!
I just subscribed to your son's channel! Happy to add a new one! I love that he has a collaboration with Jess from Roots And Refuge. She is another go-to for me.
I appreciate that! There are actually two Ready, Set, Homestead channels and it looks like you subscribed to the other one. My son hasn't done the collab. Here's his link: www.youtube.com/@ReadySetHomesteadUSA
Gardener Scott, how did you manage to stay outside in your garden for over an hour and a half wearing only a long sleeved shirt and no hat? In my area of northwest Indiana we were having similar temps and were advised not to spend more than ten minutes out side for fear of frost bite. How did you do it?
I bought my first/last home on 1 acre at age 50. I started building infrastructure on the basis that I can keep doing it as I may age and/or have physical limitations. I’m already reaping the benefits of that thinking 5 years later as I’ve had health challenges already! I might slow down a bit but still able to garden to my hearts content. My next biggest “infrastructure” is in ground irrigation to each of my garden beds/zones. I have apple trees, blue berries, greenhouse, and about 300 square feet of raised garden beds. I will be adding some asparagus and blackberries and that should top off my garden space. I also have a woodlot as part of my 1 acre which is close to 1/2 acre that backs up to a creek. I have made a trail to the creek and will be planting native plants in there and adding a sitting area. Doing new things each year makes it so much fun!
Thank you, once again, Gardener Scott! Greetings from Macedonia, Greece!
I am doing a medicinal garden plot this year as well--but focusing on the wild plants already in abundance on my rural zone 2b garden in northern BC Canada
I’m 33, with four small children (one of them due in April). I have heavy clay soil mixed with gravel (old county construction yard) in a 5b zone surrounded by wind towers here on the high plains in Colorado. Gardening here is definitely a challenge, lol. My husband and I are working to expand the garden this year, including adding hydroponics to our greenhouse to grow tomatoes and peppers, and possibly cucumbers. I’m adding grow bags for potatoes and carrots. Last year we put in 10 raised beds, and I’m planning on succession planting salad greens in those for most of the season. I also began an apple orchard last year, and for a fun project with my kids, I want to start a teepee with peas in the middle of it, and when the peas are spent I’ll replace them with cucumbers. The rest of my garden I’m hoping to out in-ground, with a three sisters patch, and then put in all kinds of brassicas and beans. I’m sincerely hoping that we can pull it off, because these grocery bills are killing us!
To make your garden Easier in your later years… speaking as one who has been around the sun 70 times…. Add some height to your raised beds. LOL. ADD another 12”-18” so when you can’t reach down and you can still reach out… you can continue to garden..? Just a suggestion. In my hillside garden our terraces are 3’ high, the one raised bed is 2’ high, all the compost bins are 2’-4’ high… making gardening easier.
Thats one of the things that started me gardening-wanting to grow medicinal plants. I’ve made salves and some yummy teas from plants I grew 😊
Good evening Gardener Scott. It's cold here in London.
Yes I use grow bags in my raised bed sometimes. Especially where I have built an arch to hold the grapevine, I put grow bags in the empty space
“I’m going to grow less plants this year” sounds a lot like a book lover going into a book sale saying they don’t need more books 😂 I was reading through suggestions on that video and added a few to my list for 2024. There were some great ideas from people!
Teas I grow .. chocolate mint, orange mint, peppermint, lemon balm, and some more earthy flavors that are usually used for spicing dishes like rosemary, majorum, oregano ,lemon thyme, and I grow my own stevia.
Its -10°c avg temp here in Ontario Canada. My compost froze for the 1st time ever. A little depressing but nature will take care of it. I have a bunch of things I can do to thaw it out.
Its feels like -27 in Central Mn. Brrrr....just keeping the animals happy. Love Jess from R&R. ❤❤
I grew mbombo beans last year (in Missouri) and they were fantastic!! I think they would do well in your dry climate. They are a semi-pole bean. Ours were from Baker Creek. They taste great as a green bean. We haven't tried them as a dry bean. Look them up!!
Hi Scott!! I’m always late to that party on Mondays with working while you go live, but I always watch after! I just love your channel. Thanks for all that you do. Always love your topics and knowledge. Love the fact you talk about the planter app on occasion too because I use that as well. 😊 I just planted my strawberry seeds yesterday (first time doing strawberries) accidentally grew an avacado tree this year that I haven’t killed (yet lol) over wintering my peppers for the first time this year too. It’s nice to have things to do over winter otherwise it gets too dull!!
Also check plants related to your allergies...ie: chamomile relating to ragweed
Good morning Gardner Scott! Cold here in Maine
I just subscribed to your son's channel! Happy to add a new one! I love that he has a collaboration with Jess from Roots And Refuge. She is another go-to for me.
I appreciate that! There are actually two Ready, Set, Homestead channels and it looks like you subscribed to the other one. My son hasn't done the collab. Here's his link: www.youtube.com/@ReadySetHomesteadUSA
@@GardenerScott uggh, sorry! Thank you for the link! I subscribed before I saw Jay link it so I never paid attention!
Fantastic information as usual, always look forward to your show.
Cheers Steve, Leeds UK.
Has warmed up to seventeen in Oklahoma
It’s cold in western Canada. My big change is I am adding some of my compost soon and not waiting till spring. Feedback appreciated.
I like adding compost sooner rather than later. That allows more time for it to benefit soil.
do we get more extreme volatility with the 1.5 degree warming we've been advised?
Gardener Scott, how did you manage to stay outside in your garden for over an hour and a half wearing only a long sleeved shirt and no hat? In my area of northwest Indiana we were having similar temps and were advised not to spend more than ten minutes out side for fear of frost bite. How did you do it?
I wasn't outside the entire time, but only for a few minutes. My low humidity does make it easier.