http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/ DLC Homecrafting Garden This is a view of my garden during the transition to raised beds. (My chicken yard is in the foreground.) http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=154989799 154989799 We cut out a Spruce tree to allow more sunlight in the garden pictured above. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155000835 155000835 We planted two apple trees this year. My first fruit trees. Scarlet Runner Beans and Christmas Lima Beans are planted along the fence and will climb the wire trellis. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=154989800 154989800 We added a few artichokes on the right side of the back yard. Using edibles as part of the landscape. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155000598 155000598 My chickens work with me by eating bugs, scratching and turning my compost and of course providing me with fresh eggs. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155000886 155000886 Some of my plants waiting to be transplanted into the garden/yard. I have at least 6 mints that I'm building wood borders for - mostly to deter the chickens from scratching them out. The chickens don't seem to like eating them. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117667 155117667 My miniature rose - Cinderella. Starts out light pink and fades to almost white. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117668 155117668 I have lettuce starts, 2 kinds of eggplant starts, peach trees, Japanese Red Kuri Squash in the foreground, honeysuckle cuttings, 'Bee's Bliss' Sage cuttings, California Native Morning Glory (which I'm told is very hard to start from cuttings), and some plants that I haven't identified yet. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117669 155117669 I haven't decided where to plant it yet, so it's in a pot for now. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117670 155117670 These squash are 3rd generation volunteers. I had about 10 plants that came up and wanted to save some. The original parents were Summer Crook Neck and Zucchini. Last year they were green/yellow mottled. It will be interesting to see what I get this year. I stapled the paper onto the planter box to deter the chickens from scratching around the plants. They won't eat the plants because of the spines (I think). http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117671 155117671 'Moonshine' Yarrow, Purple Allysum, Marketmore 97 Slicing Cucumbers - left to right. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117672 155117672 http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117673 155117673 Yukon Gold Potatoes coming up along with Dill (pest deterrent) and a few Lamb's Quarters. Garlic is in the background. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117674 155117674 Seeded from last years leftovers. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117675 155117675 This is an open pollinated variety. Most corn you buy from seed companies these days are hybrid and will not reproduce. I can save the seed from these and grow again next year. I directed seeded the plants in the back bed and planted the front in seed trays since the front bed wasn't ready at the time. The ones in back are definitely a little taller. Hopefully the front will catch up or maybe I'll just have an extended harvest. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117676 155117676 These are my pepper beds. I mulched with needles from the Spruce tree we cut down since peppers like slightly acidic soil and ours is more alkaline. Planted Basil down the center as a companion plant. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117677 155117677 You would think I purposely grew these Lamb's Quarters, but I didn't. I just let last year's "weeds" go to seed and they came up like this. I'll but them soon before they go to seed again. The plants are highly nutriscious. The roots go deep and bring up micro-nutrients. I've already frozen 13 packages of Lamb's Quarters so will probably use these for mulch on my potatoes and till under some as a green manure crop. This bed is slated for Okra and Eggplant. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117678 155117678 I have 13 tomato plants. 3 Better Boy, 3 Big Boy, 2 Early Girl, 1 Mortgage Lifter, 1 Prudens Purple, 2 Amish Paste and 1 Reisenstraube (in the pot). http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117679 155117679 This is my Asparagus bed which desperately needs weeding. It is inter-planted with Parsley. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117680 155117680 Comfrey is tucked back in the Northeast corner http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117681 155117681 http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117682 155117682 My herb bed on the Northwest side in ready for some pruning/harvesting. Pictured from right to left is a Butterfly Bush, Pineapple Sage (which just finished blooming), Greek Oregano, Lavender, with Silver Thyme and Rosemary at the far end. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117683 155117683 Thyme in the foreground is great in soups and seems to enhance any other herbs it is used with. Rosemary in the background is a little strong for my taste, but is a great astringent and disinfectant. I use it as a tincture for my face and as a flea deterrent for Pete. I'll also add it to household cleaning solutions - it smells great! http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117684 155117684 Red cabbage, down to just 2 plants since the seedlings got burned on an unusually hot day right after planting http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117685 155117685 I also planted Chinese Cabbage (in the back), but it is going to seed. The chickens and rabbits don't care that it has been eaten up by earwigs and slugs. Some people use Chinese Cabbage as a trap plant so the bugs leave their regular cabbage alone; however, I like the taste of Chinese Cabbage. It's milder than regular cabbage. Great as a stir-fry, in omelets, soups or coleslaw. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117686 155117686 Bed of radishes surrounded by onions. I also planted beets in here, but the Ugly Chicken got in here one day and I think she ate all the beet seedlings. I have since clipped her wings so she can't jump the fence. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117687 155117687 At the top are Chicory plants that came up volunteer in the garden rows. I just transplanted them here as Chicory is great added to salads. There were Swiss Chard and Dill seedlings at the bottom, but Ugly Chicken did them in too. Notice the leaves from our trees used as mulch to keep the soil moist. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117690 155117690 Radishes and Buttercrunch Lettuce intermingled. The bugs are eating the radish greens and leaving the lettuce alone. I wonder if I should learn something from them. Did you know you can eat radish greens? http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117692 155117692 My Mom gave me seeds last year from her plants. She said she got her seeds from her neighbor. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117693 155117693 http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117694 155117694 http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117695 155117695 http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117696 155117696 Chives in the middle. Chives are great in Egg Salad! http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117697 155117697 Several years ago, I gave my mother a Fairytale Rose that I purchased from Heart's Ease in Cambria. Last year she gave me a cutting. I stuck it in a large juice bottle and forgot about it. This spring it had developed roots and new leaves. Now it's blooming. So pretty. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117698 155117698 My first Artichokes. I bought the cuttings for these from a guy at the Farmer's Market for $1 each. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117699 155117699 One of my Western Elderberry bushes. I think Elderberries are a miracle food. They are great for your immune system. And they make great jelly. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117700 155117700 We planted Scarlet Runner Beans and Christmas Lima Beans along the back (North) fence of the yard. The will grow up the trellis and provide a nice red, white and green fence cover. Also some great beans for eating. Hummingbirds love the Scarlet Runners and Woodcutter Bees love the blossoms of all kinds of beans. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117701 155117701 Our new Red Delicious Apple tree is really putting out the new shoots. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117702 155117702 Our Honeycrisp Apple is also doing well. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117703 155117703 This is our back yard. You may just see a bunch of weeds, but look closer. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117704 155117704 This is Chickweed. It is edible cooked or in salads. Chicken's also love it; hence the name. The doves like to eat the blossom buds. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117705 155117705 This is Lambs Quarter - edible in salads or cooked. Young leaves are best for salads. Tastes like spinach. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117706 155117706 This is Mallow. All parts are edible. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117707 155117707 http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117709 155117709 - all parts edible. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117710 155117710 Edible & medicinal. So you can see, there's food in our "lawn". http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=155117714 155117714 http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=156261195 156261195 The chicken wire is to prevent the chickens from scratching around the roots and digging them up. They don't really care for the taste of the mint so the plants can fill the boxes and grow up through the wire and it will look very pretty. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=156261196 156261196 http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=156261197 156261197 http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=156261198 156261198 I have two cucumber vines growing on the east side of my gate arbor. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=156261199 156261199 http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=156261200 156261200 This Moonshine Yarrow has been blooming for a long time and it doesn't show any sign of stopping. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=156261201 156261201 Adirondack Blue in front and Yukon Gold in the back. I inter-planted with dill as a pest repellent, but the dill in the front box is not as prolific. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=156261202 156261202 I have inter-planted with beans, but they aren't up yet. I hope I didn't wait too long to plant the beans. http://sustainableseedco.com/Improved-Golden-Bantam-Corn.html http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=156261203 156261203 Pepper beds are doing well, but only one or two basil seeds came up. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=156261204 156261204 The first of my okra coming up. I have one bed of Red Burgundy Okra and one bed of okra from saved seed. http://sustainableseedco.com/Red-Burgundy-Okra-Seed.html http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=156261205 156261205 The California Poppies are blooming beautifully. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=156261206 156261206 My second crop of corn, Stowells Evergreen Sweet Corn, is also up. http://sustainableseedco.com/Stowell-s-Evergreen-Sweet-Corn.html http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=156261207 156261207 These germinated so fast because I soaked the seed for about 30 hours before planting them. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=156261208 156261208 I'm having to compete with a gopher for these. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=156261209 156261209 Chicory - comes back every year as a "weed". I originally planted it as part of a "salad greens" seed mix. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=156261210 156261210 I'm letting one plant go to seed so I can save the seed for next year. I found out I really like Chinese Cabbage, but so do the earwigs. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=156261211 156261211 Close up. http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=156261212 156261212 http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=156261213 156261213 http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=156261214 156261214 http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=156261215 156261215 http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=156261216 156261216 http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=156261217 156261217 The Scarlet Runner Beans and Christmas Lima Beans are starting to climb their trellis on the back fence. You can find the seeds for these beans here: http://sustainableseedco.com/Christmas-Pole-Bean-Seed.html and http://sustainableseedco.com/Scarlet-Runner-Beans.html http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/apps/photos/photo?photoID=156261218 156261218