First things first....

I want to teach myself to garden. Sure, I've done it in the past but didn't really put any real effort into making it produce, it was just something to do with the extra space we had at the time in the yard. We don't have that extra space or even good dirt at the moment, BUT that will change soon. We are looking for greener pastures, packed and ready to go. Just waiting for the word and we are OUT of here.

So in preparation for that time I am putting a lot of thought and research into having a garden next year. What to plant, when to plant, how to work the soil to get a bountiful harvest. Oh, and how to handle pests, I want to surprises on that front either.

Until then I am practicing on my houseplants. I have a Hibiscus that I've managed to keep alive for the past two years, a croton and and philodendrun. They all have different needs, I'm learning.

I tried to find some seed packets so I could do a trial run growing that way but it must be too late in the season, couldn't find any at the local stores. I've been looking into composting as well. So much goes to waste just tossing it in the trash! Put all of that to work for me.

I'm figuring what types of food plants to grow. I would like to grow enough to fill my pantry and still have enough to sell. What doesn't get sold will be canned. Tomatoes, onions and peppers can be used to make salsa, soups or dried as seasonings. Pumpkins can be sold in the fall, what doesn't can be canned and the seeds used for cooking and breads. Crushed pumpkins seeds go really well with hot cereal in the morning. Raise a few chickens, we can eat the eggs, sell or use for baking. And if we end up with too many chickens guess what's for dinner.

Back to the future garden.... Been checking out varieties of tomatoes. Can't believe how many there are to choose from, and all the different colors! Red, orange, yellow, purple and brown, even. Don't want to go overboard, God knows how easy that would be for me, but I want to choose at least 4 different kinds to try out. And if they don't work out, there's always next year, right?