GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post

16-05-2006, 03:03 AM posted to rec.gardens.edible

wrote:
Well, that's the reason for the question. Stated another way,

At what point (stated in acreage or square feet) does gardening cease
to be fun and therapeutic?

And while we do intend to grow some melons, we want to intersperse
them, and everything else we plant, with suitable companion plants.

While information on companion planting is widely available on the
internet and elsewhere, my reasons for posting here are to hear the
experiences of real people.

As to the agriculture exemption: My first objective is to find
experienced people's view on the largest size garden that two or four
people with modest mechanized resources can reasonably hope to plant,
tend, and harvest.

Let's say the collective answer is: "two acres". In such case, I will
plant EIGHT acres in grass and lease it for hay cutting. Thus, I'll
still have the 10 acres elegible.

Thanks!
Vernon

Vernon,

Coming from a man, who has the same aspirations (but being only 27) with
10+ years of study of all sorts of self sufficiency and the like, i
would reccomend starting small. Burn out from overdoing something you
have never done before (or have only done small scale) is so common,
it's sickening. I started with a 20x20 plot on an acre for my first
garden 6 years ago. I burned out quick. I ended up building 4 4'x 4'
raised beds and worked from those and achieved great results. Over the
years i have added 3 beds (4'x 8') and a 10x15 plot for larger crops
(corn, etc) this has enabled me to learn all kinds of methods on getting
the best quality produce. Things you have to consider with gardens a
pests above the ground (aphids, beetles, worms/caterpillars, etc) pest
below ground (grubs, etc) food for the plants and how to get it to them
(fertilizers) how to control the 3 previous things (organic,
semi-organic, all out chemical warfare) another thing is water ( we are
in a HUGE drought here in central florida, we MAY have had a total of 1
inch of rain in my area for the whole year so far) then you have the
larger pests (such as deer, groundhogs, moles/voles, racoons, etc)
finally, what are you going to do with what you do grow (how will you
store 80,000+ ears of corn?!)

Starting small enables you to spend the most amount of time and effort
on the learning process rather than trying to keep your head above
water. Figurativly speaking, you would be spending so much time
treading water that you wouldn't see the waterfall up ahead.

You asked the question: at what point does gardening not be fun anymore?
answer: When inexperience and desire meet too much land, it can be from
the first week or 2 of starting the dream.

Now, if you are going for a garden to support yourself reasonably then
by all means, increase the size from what i started with, but don't
plant an acre of corn. As for what to plant, i wouldn't even start with
corn, it is a a resource HOG, incredibly thirsty, hungry and whiny. I
would stick with the beans (all types: bush, pole (vining)) DEFINATLY
tomatoes. With the sandy soil (VERY much like what i work with here in
Florida) you could also try planting sweet potatoes (the love the warmth
and sandy soil) peanuts would thrive but again, what would you do with
them? Your squashes and melons are a great idea also. When winter rolls
around, go for carrots, onions, garlic, lettuce, broccolli and maybe
some other brassicae (greens of some kind) this would take care of your
first year of learning. It would give you a broad range of plants to
test the land out on and test yourself on.

What, if any, gardening experience do you have? Do you have any books
specific to gardening that you are reading to help get started? I have
some great reccomendations. "The Vegetable Gardeners Bible" by Edward
Smith is a book i started on and helped a great deal with me
understanding plants and needs. One of the greatest resources you can
have is your local county extension agent. Contact them, they can get
you soil tests, reccomended plants for the area, and many many more
things to help you out in this endeavor.

Your dream coming true makes me smile, I too would like to one day be
doing the same thing you are...but for now, i am still learning and growing.

God Bless You in your endeavor,

Joe