"Tina Gibson" wrote in message news:Uljeb.40371$O85.33286@pd7tw1no...

1. To produce all the veggies and salad stuff we eat year
round (by extending the season with a hoophouse and row
covers, and by freezing, drying, or canning) - EXCEPT winter
squash, sweet corn, and maybe potatoes and onions and
carrots.

I have lots of hoophouse experience, so if you need advice just ask.
(I won't see your reply unless you change your archive setting though)
There are lots of greens that will take 10F for prolonger periods
without
dying. You have to figure out if you want to water under the hoophouse
(it gets very dry, even in winter. But if you leave a hose outside it
will burst, at least here). I water maybe twice during the three
coldest months, and only the overwintering lettuce and arugula which
needs it. The radicchio goes down three feet if established and gets
water from there. Not watering virtually eliminates winter weeds.


I haven't space enough to grow winter squash or sweet corn,
and I can buy potatoes, onions, and carrots reasonably year
round. I'll grow *some* potatoes, onions, and carrots but
won't be able to grow a whole year's supply.

Because the deer leave them alone, I grow potatoes in trash parts of
the yard (places I don't want to mow, for example). I cover with wood
chips, and let nature take its course. Low yields, mostly partial sun
locations, but no work. I am mentioning all this so that you may
consider growing potatoes in places other than your garden, ifspace is
at a premium. It is good to have potatoes. When I have them, I eat
very little other starches.

Also, if you don't have a lot of spce, you should consider planting
high yield veggies. Corn, high yield, it ain't.

You could also consider overall nutritional value. It ultimately
affects your quality of life by keeping you strong. Probably minerals
and vitamins are only part of the story - somehow, beets and Concord
grapes make me feel very well, even though they are not all that
nutrient rich - however, greens tend to top the charts of nutritional
content. And, they are also the hardiest of veggies.


2. To grow some of our fruit. We planted blueberries,
blackberries, raspberries, rhubarb and gooseberries this
year. We'll probably plant more blueberries next year, and
maybe a fruit tree or two. And a kiwi vine or two, *if* I
can get a friend to build a strong trellis for them (he
builds beautiful trellises/arbors). I'd like to put
strawberries in next year too.

If you are going to grow fuzzy kiwi, they will produce tremendously
and last you through the winter and are also very healthy (three times
the Vit C of an orange, and as much salicilic acid as an aspirine).
But they are a lot of work, watering and manuring. Hardy kiwis don't
last nearly as long, though. And it takes forever before they start
bearing.


3. I have a goal of eating something fresh from the garden
every single day of the year. By dint of using the big bay
window ledge to grow mini-tomatoes (etc.) indoors in winter
- as well as by season-extension with a hoophouse - I can
accomplish this without too much difficulty.


I found that the best yield indoors is from pea shoots. I usually
start them in early december and grow them until I need the window
space for seedlings in february. You can buy low quality peas in bulk
for the purpose, and they are cut and come again.
The next best, of course, are sprouts.

4. In addition, I have a goal of producing $500 profit from
the garden next year, $1000 the year after next, and
$1500/year thereafter.

We haven't enough room for to do this by selling fresh
veggies (low profit margin), but I *might* be able to do it
by selling miniature vegetable plants, herb plants, started
vegetable plants, and started perennial flower plants. I
will certainly try.

I think it can be done. There are books on backyard gardening for
profit, and you should talk to local nurseries.


We're living on a minute, fixed income (health problems) so
meeting these goals would make a very, very substantial
contribution to our welfare and standard-of-living. Even
meeting the first two goals will help a lot.


I hope you succeed. When we eat particularly well from the garden, I
tell my wife that we live like kings. And nothing keeps me as strong
and as healthy as a little garden work and huge salad from the garden
each night. It is great that certain pleasures are available to all.