Intro to the fam

I started a blog on our website (www.geocities.com/thorntonwilliamsfamily) but it's just getting too difficult. If you'd like to read about us starting in May, go back there and follow the blog links.

Who are we?

We are three. On April 13 2007, Vikki and 10 yr old son (now 11) married Doug. We met through Craigslist - yes, online. Vikki (that's me!) posted an ad searching for a hubby, and after e-mailing then talking and finally meeting and dating, we decided to get married. Nice little wedding (my second, his first); Weslee was a big part of it.

While we're still working on blending this family, and preparing to adopt (hopefully a little girl!), Doug works at a company near our new house, I collect disability and help Doug try to make more money, and Weslee is learns what he needs to - at home which is suited for a young man like him.

In January, we bought this house. It was a foreclosure, and had lain empty for a long while - long enough for squirrels to set up housekeeping in our attic, foxes to be permanently fixated under our back patio, and weeds to replace any and all grass that ever existed. When we tried to do something about the lawn and to plant some berry bushes and fruit/nut trees, we discovered that our "soil" is basically a couple of inches of sand on top of clay. So, since we've planted the trees and bushes and hedges and grass seed, about only 30% has not died. And discovered that we have a cherry tree out front! Unfortunately we realized what it was AFTER the birds started their harvest. Well, maybe next year! Meanwhile, we've removed one dead fir tree, need to remove another and a dead/dying aspen. Bummer.

This house and the plot (small - .22 acres!) is weirdly configured but we have a good portion that faces south and some that faces east, so because Doug and I have always wanted to grow our own food, we got busy. I researched how to do it without digging up our yard and without spending thousands of dollars on compost and potting soil, and without waiting years.

In March, we planted 2 filbert trees (one looks great!), a self pollinating almond (looks dead), miniature fruit trees (all look dead), and 4 collonnade fruit trees (all doing great!). Blueberries, cranberries and lingonberries in the back now mostly look dead - 3 out of 6 grapes might hang on. All of the raspberries died, and 5 of 8 blackberries look ok.

We have a tri-level terrace in the front yard where, in May, I planted a couple of roses, with tomatoes and marigolds in between. I left the middle terrace alone (so I can walk along and weed but soon - will plant some swiss chard!). On the bottom one, on 1/4 I planted some gourds (that survived a fox attack), a small circle of bunching onions, 1/4 bush cukes, 1/4 soybeans and 1/4 black turtle beans.

In April we had scavenged some plastic kiddie pools, planters and tires, so we've set up quite an unusual veggie garden. In May, we planted potatoes in "tire towers", rhubarb in another tire, berries in tires, and using some wood we also scavenged, I built some frames for various beds. We have corn growing in a "Three Sisters" formation - with beans and various gourds/squash (using five 2'x4' raised beds). Our kiddie pools (holes drilled) have potting soil and cool-weather crops like broc, cauli, greens, carrots, radish, etc, and covered it with yellow tulle fabric we bought by the bolt for $5.00 last year at a yard sale (nicely shades it plus it's under a tree in the backyard).

We have about 15 tomatoes, each in it's own pot with a marigold and basil (except a critter took most of the basil). We have eggplants in a tub (holes drilled), and more with various beans. (Note: need to plant LOTS more beans - Doug picked up another 7 bags of potting soil today for more beans and for me to plant amaranth - now THERE's an experiment!). Plus lots of jalepeno peppers coming up in pots up front, and several various sweet peppers coming up out back. Planted various melon seeds the other day - haven't sprouted yet. Zukes, yellow squash and vining cukes coming along nicely - little babies now. Patience!

Anyway, as you can tell, I'm obsessed with my garden. We still have more space for me to use but I'll try to explain my obsession to you.

Peak oil (at about the halfway mark for use of total available oil) means peak food (how can we mass produce food without the industrial agricultural "farms" using machinery to plow, pick, transport, etc.)? I attended an "EarthWorks" convention this weekend in Denver, and am more obsessed than ever. I'm working up a plan on how to grow most of my family's food - which means figuring out what we need, what we can do without, and what we have to store from sales at the grocery. Especially difficult since Weslee and I are both very picky eaters and don't like cooked veggies (love them raw!). I could definitely use your input so...

Questions:
1. If you had room to grow only 10 veggies and 5 fruits (that these would be your only veggies and fruits for 6 months), what would they be?
2. If you had only a limited space to store 6 months worth of staples from the store (like flour, yeast, cinnamon, etc.) what 20 items would you store?
3. If you had room for a small windowbox (south facing for USA people), what veggie/fruit would you grow year-round? (Lettuce, carrots, etc.)

Thanks for reading! Please come back - I'll try to update this every day, and post pics whenever I can. Vikki