Baby steps towards self-sufficient living are as easy to take as adding some fruit plants to your landscape.
As part of my continuing journey towards growing as a gardener the landscape design at our new house includes not only a large cottage-style flower and herb bed, but also a series of vegetable plots in the backyard. More about the vegetables later. My husband and I also decided to plant some fruit plants that are going to be a bit more of an investment to our self-sufficient living process as these grape vines and raspberry bushes won't bear fruit for two, maybe three years.
But as my husband says, if we don't plant them this year that will be just one more year to wait.
So out came the tape measure, the shovel, the posts and the wire. By the end of the day five grape vines and four raspberry bushes had been planted in the backyard behind the vegetable squares. I have to admit - I feel an immense feeling of pride when I look down the side yard and see the grape leaves beginning to appear on the plants.
This year while the grapes and raspberries are very young and don't take up much room I plan to plant so of my cucumbers, peas and pole beans between the grape plants. This will give me more time to prepare the vegetable beds properly for future planting.
Having a self-sufficient attitude in our gardening doesn't mean we have to go to extremes. For me, one step in the right direction is a huge accomplishment. Saving seed, trading plants, or including edible plants in your landscape are all steps you can take towards a more creative, and self-sustaining model of gardening.
It's also just a sign of how my gardening style has changed since I've had children and starting supporting a family on one income! How has your gardening style changed over the past few years?
