Tour our small garden

After one year on our own property, we’ve gotten our garden started and many things growing. We’ve had a lot of things do well and some not so well. But onward and upward! We’ll keep working on creating the garden of our dreams.

[@TheBackwoodsHermit]

Completely agree with you that planting protein foods is essential in preparing for scarcity. My focus in annuals has been the calorie dense staple crops with protein and fats like squash, field corn (dent and flint), beans, potatoes and sunflowers. I also like perennials as the plant once thing is perfect for my lazy gardening style. Do you guys have any native edible plants growing on your land?

[@miscellaneousme]

Those are all great options! As for the native edible plants, we have shiso (a.k.a. beefsteak plant), wild dewberry, dandelion, one that’s like hyssop (the name escapes me), a small redbud tree in need of some care, elderberry, wild onion, and I’m sure many more we have yet to identify.
Our goal is to make our land filled with many edible plants, so we have the orchard, the garden, and when I plant flowers, they’re usually edible pollinator-friendly ones. We’ll also be slowly adding more berry bushes and whatever else that can serve a dual purpose.
I’m currently propagating mimosa trees (native to this area) and will be getting those planted next spring.
We have the same goal as you: set it and forget it. Minimal care but a little something everywhere so we can have our eggs in more than one basket, so to speak.

[@robert-yv2yj]

I'm in touch with a few homesteaders/gardeners in the USA and Britain, and everyone is having failures. Various reasons offered. weather, over/under water, raised beds, compost, and the list is endless. Not sure what's happening. But it's good you got the bulk of crops going. It's the advantage of not growing a monoculture.
I grow Belotti beans. they are my staple and are just so reliable.

[@miscellaneousme]

I’ve noticed that as well- that some years everyone seems to have similar issues, regardless of where they’re growing. Very odd, indeed. And yes! Monocultures are a big risk! Keeping it varied and crop rotation is a home gardener’s best friend