Originally Posted by
line052
Like you we have bought 5 acres and a homestead and plan over the next 5 yrs to turn it into a market garden. Been doing lots of container gardens over the last 5 yrs and using what space we had in townhome to grow as much as we can. Lots of learning and failures.
The biggest successes have been early seed starts under grow lights which have increased our yields, plus learning the nutrient cycles of plant grow. Having a good seed start indoors has been the biggest improvement yet with understanding nutrient cycles.
I had grandiose plans for 2 acres this summer of veg, but realistically it will more of a 100 X 100 foot space we grow this year. This year we will grow for us only and share any excess. I started seed saving heirloom mixes 4 yrs ago and have had great success and will see how that goes as we scale up. Cherry tomatoes and a few beefsteak varieties will be going in, as well as peppers, snow peas, bush beans and pole beans. lots of salad greens and spinach (family cant enough of spinach) We are going to try a new method for squash, ground cover growers, zucchini, cucumbers and watermelons by clearing out 4 X 4 patches (12 ft apart) amending the soil and growing in these boxed areas for the space it will create for leaf growth and spread. This will allow for maximum space usage in proper garden rows.
The focus this year will be fresh greens and root vegetables for our family. I will start the asparagus patch this year as well. 3 to 6 Apple, pear, peach trees (still not totally set on which yet) are going on front of property as well. A big potatoes patch will be going in as FIL is planting his there as well
We cleared 4 of the 5 acres last year of the 19 yrs of fallowed overgrown land, and have lots soil amending to do to restore the organic matter. The local beef famer will give me all the cow manure/straw I can take, so I will also be starting a good compost pile or just adding to tilled (but unplanted areas), to let the manure mature over this growing season, with a couple of good tillings to mix.
Our goal is to be viable for sales in 3 to 5 yrs, and, the site plan is laid out for new building/barns/coops and goat pen...just have to build it all now. Eventually the home will be off grid as much as possible. First building going up this year is future steel bldg., which was supposed to be up last fall, but shipping delays never seen it come until late Sept. Next will be 16 X 40 open post and beam (style) open barn, 12 X 18 Amish shed (coming in May), then new road surfaces to these bldgs. (tractor and cars).
Eventually the farm layout will have wheat and corn in front half with fruit trees, a berry patch, strawberry, raspberries, blueberry, a small solar power store front near road with parking. Up to 4 beehives in back of property (2-3 yrs).
That's the plan - now to make it happen...
