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Home > Ordered seeds today . EEEEE!

Ordered seeds today . EEEEE!

January 8th, 2009 at 02:38 am

I get really excited when the seed catalogs come in the mail. I sent in a rather ambitious order today. I am really planning to garden it up and try to preserve food this year. I just read "Animal Vegetable Miracle" by Barbra Kingsolver for the third time, and that is probably dangerous when planning a garden.

I even made some unconventional choices. I have to garden in the front yard because my backyard is all shade, so I try not to raise the ire of the neighbors by blatantly converting lawn to agriculture, even though that's what I really want to do.

So, I do it secretly with plants that look decorative but produce food. The most obvious choice for that this year, is lingonberries. I ordered three. They look like a short, evergreen groundcover, but produce berries that are tart like a cranberry ( a little sweeter) and can be made into preserves that go great with Swedish pancakes.

I wanted to order some black currants as well, but apparently they aren't allowed to ship to Ohio.

Posted in Uncategorized | 9 Comments »

9 Responses to “Ordered seeds today . EEEEE!”

  1. Petunia Says:
    January 8th, 2009 at 03:06 am 1231384008
    1231384008

    I'm planning to do something similar in my front yard this year. It sounds like you have already started this in other years? You might be interested in a book called Creative Vegetable Gardening by Joy Larkcom. The book is full of pictures and ideas for intermixing fruit, vegetables and flowers. I'm still in the thinking stage and not the ordering stage. Smile I hope you'll post a picture when things get going.

  2. mom-from-missouri Says:
    January 8th, 2009 at 04:30 am 1231389035
    1231389035

    Just an FYI....at least in my area, it is cheaper to buy canning jars, lids and flats, as well as freezer containers this time of the year, when there is little demand. Our prices also go up on pectin as well, after May or June. But, if you buy pectin ahead, be sure to watch the expiration date on the box.

  3. my english castle Says:
    January 8th, 2009 at 04:39 am 1231389549
    1231389549

    If indeed you're buying canning jars, check out garage and estate sales. Estate sales in my area frequently have a whole box of Ball jars for $1.

  4. Ms. Pearl Says:
    January 8th, 2009 at 02:58 pm 1231426685
    1231426685

    ooh! That sounds exciting! I don't get seed catalogs but I'm going to check out the internet today and see what I can find. I am turning a small patch of ground on the side of my house into a garden. I don't think the neighbors will mind though...this is farm country and we're all a bunch of rednecks at heart! lol

  5. Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
    January 8th, 2009 at 03:36 pm 1231428975
    1231428975

    May I recommend ValuesSeeds.com? They are really the world famous Thompson & Morgan. It is not a "complete" selection of garden seed, but they are really good prices.

    Thrift-O, You have quite a few real nurseries in Ohio, so you should be able to buy currants in-state. A related plant to try (and also banned form import into Ohio is American gooseberry. It makes a nice looking shrub. Its cousins such as dwarf European cranberry are often used in landscaping (and also verboten to bring into Ohio.) If I lived where you do I would try honeyberry, too. I really wish I could try it here, but our springs are too short and warm for it. It needs slightly more northern temps.

  6. Dawn Says:
    January 8th, 2009 at 04:24 pm 1231431853
    1231431853

    I just got a seed catalog too - I can't wait to do some gardening this summer. I have a nice space to do it out back, but I like the idea of intermingling some with regular planting beds as well. Thanks for the idea!

  7. gruntina Says:
    January 8th, 2009 at 05:23 pm 1231435439
    1231435439

    I am with you but you are already ahead of me. I want to have a veg. garden started this year too. I am waiting for my hubby to take down three trees so the garden area can have more sun.

    btw - That is a pretty picture of you.

  8. my english castle Says:
    January 8th, 2009 at 06:22 pm 1231438971
    1231438971

    We have horrible clay soil here, so I'm thinking of doing some square foot gardening in raised beds. Anyone try it?

  9. thriftorama Says:
    January 8th, 2009 at 06:58 pm 1231441123
    1231441123

    English-- if you are really dedicated, in a few seasons you could make your soil amenable to growing. There's a whole chapter about it in "Four Season Harvest" by Eliot Coleman. He lives in Maine and manages to grow food year-round without a heated greenhouse. It's one of my favorite garden books.

    Oh, and it looks like my library has Creative Vegetable Gardening. Thanks for the tip!

    Also, I think I will try yard-saling canning jars. Although, I may start looking now for some bargains. can't hurt to have couple boxes on the ready.

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