Heirloom Vegetable Garden
"The kiss of sun for pardon,
The song of birds for mirth~
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth."- Dorothy Gurney
The song of birds for mirth~
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth."- Dorothy Gurney
Our 651 sq. foot heirloom vegetable garden, or potager (literally 'soup garden'), conveniently located right off the kitchen supplies resident chef, moi, with our daily herbs and vegetables. Based on French intensive gardening and cyclical in nature, current crops are harvested while another crop is being sown. We rely on 100% natural methods, permanent raised beds, succession plantings, keeping weeds at bay, water conservation and rain water collection.
Gardening in harmony with the earth enables us to prepare meals full of each seasons fresh flavors. Our garden is still young, but with each new bed installed, we're very close to growing all the herb and veg of our dreams!
The varieties we've chosen perform well in our Pacific Northwest maritime climate (also considered 'modified Mediterranean'). Although not all are heirloom, they are all open-pollinated (OP) and from organic or untreated seed, as well as native perennials. *Now growing for 2009*:
Vegetable-
Culinary Herbs-
Borage^
French tarragon
Thyme
Greek Oregano
Sage
Fruit-
Cherry- Pie, Rainier, ?
Plum
Medicinal Herbs & Flowers-
Dandelion
Wild Rose
^ = medicinal properties also
Gardening in harmony with the earth enables us to prepare meals full of each seasons fresh flavors. Our garden is still young, but with each new bed installed, we're very close to growing all the herb and veg of our dreams!
The varieties we've chosen perform well in our Pacific Northwest maritime climate (also considered 'modified Mediterranean'). Although not all are heirloom, they are all open-pollinated (OP) and from organic or untreated seed, as well as native perennials. *Now growing for 2009*:
Vegetable-
Culinary Herbs-
Borage^
French tarragon
Thyme
Greek Oregano
Sage
Fruit-
Cherry- Pie, Rainier, ?
Plum
Medicinal Herbs & Flowers-
Dandelion
Wild Rose
^ = medicinal properties also
What is an 'Heirloom'?
"What is an 'heirloom' vegetable?", you may ask. Quite simply, an 'heirloom' is an open pollinated (OP) plant that has been grown for at least 50 years, with a rich history all it's own. Many are the old-fashioned vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers our grandparents grew in their gardens. Some use 1940 as the cut off date because it is before the big push for hybridization began. But there were some great OP crops introduced in the 40's and 50's. Heirloom seeds are collected from all around the world. The very rare varieties date back to ancient Babylonian times!
So, why grow heirlooms? "Superb flavor", "lovely appearance" are typical comments in comparison to their hybrid counterparts. Interest in heirlooms has increased remarkably in the past 10 years. Many people want to protect our food heritage and don't want to consume the genetically modified (GM) foods on the market these days. Experts fear GM foods have contributed to an increase in allergies. Natural foods are better for us and we don't have to worry as much.
So, why grow heirlooms? "Superb flavor", "lovely appearance" are typical comments in comparison to their hybrid counterparts. Interest in heirlooms has increased remarkably in the past 10 years. Many people want to protect our food heritage and don't want to consume the genetically modified (GM) foods on the market these days. Experts fear GM foods have contributed to an increase in allergies. Natural foods are better for us and we don't have to worry as much.
Historic Plant Labels
Before the
days of aluminum and plastic, how did gardeners label their plants? What on earth did George do? Here
are two 18th-century methods from Wesley Greene of
Colonial Williamsburg:
"I have
come across an interesting reference to plant labels in instructions from George
Washington to William Pierce, his manager at Mount Vernon, written on Feb. 26,
1794. These instructions were meant to be relayed to the
gardener.
"'Let him number the papers which contain these seeds, and drive stakes with corresponding [sic] numbers by each kind, when sown, that he may be at no loss to know them: Putting the papers as is usual, in a split stick by them, is apt to be lost; or so defaced by the weather as to become, after a while, unintelligible; and then the name will be forgotten. By the method I have proposed this cannot happen. On the papers too may be noted the places where they are sown.'"
"In a second letter, written on May 18, 1794, he gives this advice concerning seeds recently received from Europe: 'He should set boards by them, with inscriptions thereon, similar to those which are written on the papers, containing the respective seeds.'"
There you have it. Pretty ingenious, I think, and very useful in today's garden!
"'Let him number the papers which contain these seeds, and drive stakes with corresponding [sic] numbers by each kind, when sown, that he may be at no loss to know them: Putting the papers as is usual, in a split stick by them, is apt to be lost; or so defaced by the weather as to become, after a while, unintelligible; and then the name will be forgotten. By the method I have proposed this cannot happen. On the papers too may be noted the places where they are sown.'"
"In a second letter, written on May 18, 1794, he gives this advice concerning seeds recently received from Europe: 'He should set boards by them, with inscriptions thereon, similar to those which are written on the papers, containing the respective seeds.'"
There you have it. Pretty ingenious, I think, and very useful in today's garden!
Got Weeds?
The type of weeds growing on your property can tell you a lot about the soil below. Here's what to look for:
Good Drainage- humusy, well-drained soil is often indicated by the presence of burdock, chicory, pigweed, purslane, dandelion and lamb's quarters.
Bad Drainage- if mosses, sedges, curly dock, horsetail, may apple or joe-pye weed are thriving, then you have poor drainage.
Heavy Soil- soil that is heavy but not necessarily poorly drained may have buttercups, broad-leaved dock, dandelion and plantain growing in it.
Light Soil- sandy, light soil is often home to sheep sorrel, wild cornflower, white campion and yellow toadflax.
Good Drainage- humusy, well-drained soil is often indicated by the presence of burdock, chicory, pigweed, purslane, dandelion and lamb's quarters.
Bad Drainage- if mosses, sedges, curly dock, horsetail, may apple or joe-pye weed are thriving, then you have poor drainage.
Heavy Soil- soil that is heavy but not necessarily poorly drained may have buttercups, broad-leaved dock, dandelion and plantain growing in it.
Light Soil- sandy, light soil is often home to sheep sorrel, wild cornflower, white campion and yellow toadflax.
Fertilizer
We use the manure from our Rabbitry to fertilize the nearby kitchen garden. Rabbit droppings are a gardener's dream, nature's practically perfect fertilizer, highly sought by horticulturists! It is high in nitrogen and phosphorous, non-burning, slow release, free of weed seeds and virtually odorless when spread in the garden and pasture.
Rabbit manure is suitable for use around shrubs, trees and flowering plants alike. Plus, it's naturally pelleted form is easy to use! As the pellets breakdown, they work to build and stabilize the soil for erosion control and better drainage. At the same time, holding moisture and nutrients for plants and beneficial soil organisms. It is best if immediately worked into the soil or a light layer of mulch applied, to prevent 'evaporation' of the nitrogen and leaching of other valuable nutrients that occurs if exposed to the elements.
All animal manures need to be composted before use, except rabbit! Here is a comparison of their main properties:
Rabbits are a versatile, valuable animal especially for the small homestead. Since a rabbit can produce 10 times it's weight in meat per year and each adult generates up to 50 pounds of manure per year, a trio of rabbits provides a family with enjoyable pets, a source of high quality meat and the world's best fertilizer for the garden. All at a reasonable price and requiring little space and time for up-keep. What an amazing livestock animal!
Rabbit manure is suitable for use around shrubs, trees and flowering plants alike. Plus, it's naturally pelleted form is easy to use! As the pellets breakdown, they work to build and stabilize the soil for erosion control and better drainage. At the same time, holding moisture and nutrients for plants and beneficial soil organisms. It is best if immediately worked into the soil or a light layer of mulch applied, to prevent 'evaporation' of the nitrogen and leaching of other valuable nutrients that occurs if exposed to the elements.
All animal manures need to be composted before use, except rabbit! Here is a comparison of their main properties:
| Animal | Nitrogen (N) % | Phosphorous (P) % | Potassium (K) % |
| Rabbit | 4.8 | 2.8 | 1.2 |
| Dairy Cow | 3.3 | .35 | 2.0 |
| Horse | 2.5 | .25 | 1.2 |
| Sheep | 3.5 | .55 | 1.0 |
| Beef Steer | 2.0 | .65 | 1.6 |
| Chicken | 3.6 | 1.3 | 1.3 |
Rabbits are a versatile, valuable animal especially for the small homestead. Since a rabbit can produce 10 times it's weight in meat per year and each adult generates up to 50 pounds of manure per year, a trio of rabbits provides a family with enjoyable pets, a source of high quality meat and the world's best fertilizer for the garden. All at a reasonable price and requiring little space and time for up-keep. What an amazing livestock animal!
