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What, only 1 bay leaf? ;-)

I was born summer 1938. I vividly remember returning home from kindergarten to find my father in the front yard, and a man with a horse and a plow. We had just moved to a 1 acre property. About a third in the back left corner (facing front) was wooded, including some old pear trees, an apple tree, and some grape Vines. There were some beautiful forsythia bushes in front alongside black raspberry and blackberry bushes. They plowed the area on the right of the house where pop grew potatoes for several years. In front he plowed a strip where he grew corn several years. In the area in front of the woods he had a large area for growing all kinds of vegetables, perhaps 50 kinds and varieties in all. We gardened for a total 9 years until we moved.

I spent many weekend hours helping with planting, weeding, and picking. Then days helping mom prepare and can for the winter. I was NOT happy when I could not go and play with my friends because I had work to do. On the other hand if we had surplus, my father let me sell it to the neighbors and keep the money, I think we grew about 1/4th of our food. We never grew grain, eggs, or meat. It was a suburban neighborhood. We were poorer than our neighbors, but better nourished I realize now.

Urge your friends to get their gardens started now, food is likely to be expensive or in short supply this year. Both Ukraine and Russia will not be able to provide their usual amounts of grain and sunflower seeds to world markets because of war damage and danger. Russia is definitely suffering from personnel shortage as almost 1 and 1/2 million men have been killed or seriously wounded on Ukraine soil. Many men Russsian choose to work in defense industry as the pay is better. In addition, Ukraine has had large quantities of farm equipment stolen by the Russians. I am not trying to turn this into a war thread, just giving you information as to why this is a good year to have a big garden, or to start one.

I own some rural land in West Virginia and my closest neighbor has a beautiful set up. She raises chickens, has planted fruit trees, and grows a number of vegetables. When I go there I bring her some treats and she gives me some eggs. Her husband has built 30” square 6” high box sides. He starts with two stacked, fills it with loose soil and plants potatoes pieces with live eyes. Once they have grown plants with leaves he puts on another set of box sides, and added more soil. The plant grows higher and produces more potatoes. He had six or seven stacked up when I saw his setup and many potatoes for his family of 5.

I have a question: What can you coat wood with so it is not toxic, but it prevents water and soil from rotting the wood?

Potatoes

Tomatoes

Beans

Corn

Squash

Carrots

Cabbage

Kale

Garlic

Herbs

https://thehouseandhomestead.com/10-best-crops-victory-garden/

“I have a question: What can you coat wood with so it is not toxic, but it prevents water and soil from rotting the wood?”

Here’s a bunch of choices, but the most economical is Linseed Oil.

https://redemptionpermaculture.com/how-to-safely-treat-wood-used-for-raised-garden-beds/

I used to grow potatoes this way with my boys when they were little. I had the garden space for them, but this kept them a little more interested. ‘Can we put another layer on, yet? Can we put another layer on, yet?’ LOL!

Potato Tire Towers: An Ingenious Way To Maximize Your Potato Harvest

https://morningchores.com/potato-tire-towers/