We’re in the early days of 2024, and I’m pondering what I want to do in the coming season. We put up a greenhouse, so I plan on starting seeds for plants to sell and plants to grow in the garden. I would like to go back to more of a balance between gardening and baking as we did when my Mom helped in the early days, so that’s what I’ll spend my winter doing – working on a garden plan and dreaming about how my dream space will look. I’ve got a blank slate right now, so the sky’s the limit!
I will definitely have a cutting garden and sell bouquets, there will be only heirloom vegetables grown at Red Gate Farm – likely many varieties of tomatoes, green beans, zucchini, cukes, and eggplant, and I will continue to plant lavender and other perennials each year. We don’t use any herbicides or pesticides in the garden so I will need to be more diligent about watching for pests, but you can feel good knowing that what I sell is all natural.
Herbs are an interesting idea – both plant starts and dried herbs, but I need to do some more research. I’d also like to start both a rhubarb and asparagus plot, because those take years to start producing. There are other things like more fruit trees and berries I’d like to get started, but it will take time to build back what I had at my old place. In my new space I want to be more methodical about what I plant, and make sure whatever is getting my time and energy goes to use.
Another thing I’ll be planting for is canning. I want to be more self sufficient and can and freeze food that we can eat year round. Since hubby is a very picky eater and doesn’t eat many veggies, I’ll try to grow what he might eat (beets, carrots, maybe corn) and grow other things I can eat or use year round (canned tomato sauce, flash frozen fruits, squash, etc.). It’s so nice having winter to plan and dream, the possibilities truly are endless.
I will continue to bake, but likely in more limited quantities. I have started a part time job that goes year round, so I need to figure out how I’m going to manage it all. The good news is that I have tried and true recipes that people seem to like, so I know I have lots of items to choose from to keep baking, I just won’t bake the same quantities that I did in the past.
After a rough 2022, and a slow start up in 2023, I’m feeling good about 2024 and excited to plan for a season full of variety from the garden, and goodness coming out of the kitchen. Stay tuned as I figure out how things will look in 2024, and in the meantime enjoy recharging your battery this winter!! All my best, Andria
Red Gate Farm 