In my last post I had mentioned that buying quality seed is an essential for raising the best quality plants.........................and now I have been introduced to a new internet seed company named........
They offer 100% non-hybrid long term storage seeds, which in these struggling times, is something a family could really use and rely on. Long term storage means that if you do not wish to plant all of the seed this season, the rest of the seeds can be stored away for 4 years or more if done so properly! They have seed of every kind to offer..................but take a look at what you get when you order their Emergency Survival Seed Package.............
First of all, notice how much seed you get in one package! Enough to plant 3/4 acres. I, in all my years of seed buying, have never gotten this much! In the Survival package, there are 16 packages of seed. (You can see them all, by clicking onto the link above). Also, a booklet is included with information on the seeds, helpful planting guides, and description and information on the seeds in the packages. The idea on the Survival package is that one will have peace of mind knowing that their family will have food during a crisis.
There are some seeds in this group that I have never tried to plant before, such as cabbage, carrots, Swiss chard and beets. As you all know, I struggle with the harsh winds, no rain, and trying soil conditions here in West Texas....... And I have to tell you that I was only planning on planting Zinnias, pumpkins, tomatoes, and cantaloupe this year..........I'm comfortable with those plants......... But after visiting Hometown seeds website and now looking at all of these wonderful seeds, I am going to make this my "test garden" and project for this planting season! Have any of you ever done this???
I have kept my large flower garden for planting my zinnias, larkspur and hopefully roses this year, and my pumpkins will have their usual space. So I tilled up a whole new garden space just for Hometown seeds alone. I plan to plant a partial amount of the seeds and store the rest away. So for now this is the size of my new garden............but I have room to till up more if I need to. I also plan to sprout some in the greenhouse. I am anxious to see how good of a gardener I become with this project. So I will be showing all of you as I go,from the ground being prepared, to planting the seed, to getting it to grow and hopefully harvest. (You will also hear about my failures.......) I am in need of more experience and this will be just the thing to test my wings! Please stop by Hometown seeds and take a look at the wonderful things they have to offer! Now my question to you...........
First of all, notice how much seed you get in one package! Enough to plant 3/4 acres. I, in all my years of seed buying, have never gotten this much! In the Survival package, there are 16 packages of seed. (You can see them all, by clicking onto the link above). Also, a booklet is included with information on the seeds, helpful planting guides, and description and information on the seeds in the packages. The idea on the Survival package is that one will have peace of mind knowing that their family will have food during a crisis. 
There are some seeds in this group that I have never tried to plant before, such as cabbage, carrots, Swiss chard and beets. As you all know, I struggle with the harsh winds, no rain, and trying soil conditions here in West Texas....... And I have to tell you that I was only planning on planting Zinnias, pumpkins, tomatoes, and cantaloupe this year..........I'm comfortable with those plants......... But after visiting Hometown seeds website and now looking at all of these wonderful seeds, I am going to make this my "test garden" and project for this planting season! Have any of you ever done this???
I have kept my large flower garden for planting my zinnias, larkspur and hopefully roses this year, and my pumpkins will have their usual space. So I tilled up a whole new garden space just for Hometown seeds alone. I plan to plant a partial amount of the seeds and store the rest away. So for now this is the size of my new garden............but I have room to till up more if I need to. I also plan to sprout some in the greenhouse. I am anxious to see how good of a gardener I become with this project. So I will be showing all of you as I go,from the ground being prepared, to planting the seed, to getting it to grow and hopefully harvest. (You will also hear about my failures.......) I am in need of more experience and this will be just the thing to test my wings! Please stop by Hometown seeds and take a look at the wonderful things they have to offer! Now my question to you...........I am not so acquainted with beets.........do any of you grow them? If so, how do you prepare them for a meal? I would love to hear!
23 comments:
Love the site and the idea of having a food source if we needed it. I have thought of that before...especially since I seem to read books about end times sort of things (o: My front yard is bigger than the back...so my victory garden would be in the front I guess. Here in Colorado we would have to worry about the water. It does not rain that much and there are no lakes close by...so like farmers in the old days we would be dependent on the rain. We often have summers where you can only water on certain days...so I figure they would be stingy with the water
your garden area looks so nice and "clean"! it sounds like your on to something good. i like the idea of the seeds being able to store well.
as for beets. i've never personally grown them, but my dad does every year. he pickles them. they are so good. in fact we had some over at his place last saturday for lunch.
i bet you could do a search for pickled beets to find recipes.
good luck!
I have never grown beets or prepared them either. They are just not my favorite.
I love beets, I have pickled and canned them for years..so good! I love them just cooked too with butter s&p and a bit of vinegar on them. The seed are beautiful and the garden size looks perfect! Come say hi :D
That's wonderful Kathleen. Now all I need is the space! :)
Debbie
Thank you for the information about the seeds! That is a find!!
We don't grow root vegetables but would if our soil would allow it! Beets are wonderful boiled fresh and a little butter added! They are good in rich beef soups and perfect pickled! They can be used in salads,hot dishes and eaten cold. Go for it! Just till the soil deaply like for carrots.
Kathleen, I'm wondering if you could plant a windbreak that would tame some of that wind for you. You have a lot of land. Just thinking.
Wow! Looks like you're going to be busy, Kathleen! There are a lot of seeds in those packages. Best of luck to you with your garden this year. I hope it does well for you. I bet it will be fun for you to get to try some new kinds of plants. :)
Kathleen, thanks for your visit! I'm very jealous of your seed packets! I'll have to check this out...
As for cabbage, this is my first year to grow them. I think cabbage is a cool weather plant. At least that's what I've read. I bought some little sprouts and set them out in my garden. They lived through the snow. I have one or two out of 18 that bit the dust. I'm anxious to see how the rest of them do.
It seems logical to think that you'd be able to start your cabbage seeds for sure in your greenhouse, and MAYBE in the garden, too. Somebody suggested a wind break? Can you water out there or will you be depending onlly on rain?
I bet you can get on the internet and find out exactly how to grow cabbage (which is what I need to do, too...) or ask a local nursery what would be the best way.
I enlarged my garden by about another 12'x20'. I meant to ask you about your zinnias last year. They were so beautiful. Are they easy to grow?
Either way, I love your seeds. I'm gonna check out that website right now!
thanks for the tips!
great blog and very helpful post!!!
i'm off to visit more of your blog and visit that site. yay!
Cool! Thanks for the link to the seed site! I haven't ordered any yet. I may try them. I've never grown beets, or eaten them, so I don't know what to tell you. Good Luck!
The seeds look amazing and what a great area you have for planting. I've never grown beets and don't like the taste myself, BUT my grandma used to pickle them and then serve them warm.
I heard about this yesterday from Tipper @ Blind Pig & An Acorn blog.
Got mine ordered yesterday! Lord, looking at that fresh plowed dirt makes my hands itch! Hurry up Spring!! :)
sigh. I so wish I had a garden spot to plant something. In the meantime I'm enjoyin reading others gardening adventures.
Very cool gardening plans! I know you are going to have fun with that. We never planted a "test garden" All our gardens had to be for the real thing, feed 6 kids! But I am going to check out that Hometown Seeds site. Another very good one is Baker's Seeds. They also have non-hybrid seeds. As to saving seeds, we have always saved seed from year to year. You can test it by sprouting a sample in a damp paper towel and see what percentage germinates.
We have grown beets about every year. When you dig them, cut the tops leaving 2" greens and leave the tap root. Boil them in a kettle or large pan until the skins slip. you can then finish cooking and have sliced or diced with salt, pepper and butter ( my favorite) or pickle them (hubby's favorite) My mom made a beet salad using beets, hard-cooked eggs, a little onion, and lettuce, with a mayonaise dressing. It really is quite good. And since reading your post, I think I will go downstairs and open up a jar of my canned beets and make that for supper! Have a great weekend and happy gardening!
Hi Kathleen, I love the tilling job you have done...it looks good and ready to produce anything you tell it too :o)...I love the sight you posted..it looks like a good buy, Cecil is going to see if he can get someone to plow up the soil for him...with the hip replacement he won't be able to do it...I can bend to plant and that would be enough for me :o)...enjoy every minute of it now..age comes quickly...Ginny
That is really interesting, my little plot couldn't handle so much, but it will be fun to keep up with what you are planting.
I always plant beets, Bull's Blood, here, pretty early and the tops are so pretty, Last year I had so many I couldn't give them all away.I had planted them like a border around all the other vegetables. We just boil them whole, skin them and then reheat with a little real butter. Or you could pickle them and can for the winter. They're really good for ya!
That is a wonderful assortment, Kathleen- I've never tried beets either.
The garden spot looks wonderful- looks like you're ready to start planting!
OK girl, you are wearing me out! Oh to be youthful again and have the nice spread of ground to work with. I'm so proud you found this place - they sound like a very neat online store. I pray you have good luck in your garden whatever you plant.
Blessings, Doris
Thank-you for this source, I think we will be looking it up and probably using it.
You're already way ahead in your gardening for this coming year, I am looking forward to your posts about your garden and harvest.
Can't wait to see how it all turns out-I love Hometown Seeds : ) I'm planting beets for the first time this year too-I hope we both have a bumper crop!
Wow! That's alot of seeds. I will need to check them out.
I'm ready to start planting my seeds.
I have never grown beets.
Irma :)
We love beets! We plant them and then following the recipe for spicy pickled beets in the Ball canning book, I can them.
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