We here at Eating Well on Fifty Bucks a Week like to think we’re giving you a little something while helping our own wallets, whether it be recipes, helpful links or somewhat humorous one liners about our various vices (peanut butter, alcohol, expensive coffee in my case). Now, readers, I turn to you for advice.
I have mentioned in pretty much every post that I belong to an amazing CSA that provides me with milk, cheese, meat, bread, eggs and vegetables every week for only $25. Not only am I supporting local farms and eating foods I might not otherwise buy, I’m saving a ton of money on groceries. What I failed to mention when bragging endlessly about this particular CSA is that it ends in September—at which point I worry I will be royally screwed. The silver lining is that I will be forced to do what I’ve been saying I was going to do since I moved to Kansas City in late December: grow my own vegetables.
The landlord of the building next door has generously allowed me to use a 6 x 2-ish plot of land in the back of his building for my garden, but I’ll admit: I have no clue what the hell to actually do with it. I have most certainly missed planting season, the soil probably sucks and I have very little experience growing anything that can’t survive on a fire escape (even then, there’s been trouble).
So, if you were me—but with advanced knowledge of what vegetables to plant in the summer that would survive in the Midwest in possibly-crappy soil—what would you plant? And how?
#1 by Cathy at July 10th, 2009
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OK–you need to go check out http://www.squarefootgardening.com/ and the book that goes with it–All New Square Foot Gardening. It will tell you how to fix any problems you might have in that garden plot, how to plant, when to plant, and what to plant. I found this after planting season here, too, but have the hubby working on making my planters so I can plant peas, lettuce, radishes, etc. come fall. The tomatoes I have are doing fine in my topsy turvy planters, and I also have an AeroGarden (indoor hydroponic garden) with herbs. And that’s the extent of my edible planting.
#2 by cari at July 11th, 2009
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You’re late for summer veggies, but not for fall and winter (and early spring). I love this book:
http://powells.com/biblio/1-9781890132279-0
#3 by Emily at July 13th, 2009
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Which CSA are you in? I live in Kansas City and would love to be part of the one you’re in!
#4 by emily at July 14th, 2009
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Sorry. Just updated it with this link: http://www.henhouse.com/cnt/BFBL_growersalliancecsa.html