Just as if I was 3 years old…

Just three days ago it was sunny, warm and looking like we were heading into spring. The garden bug was starting to bite and green skirted Martha was getting excited

Today?

Snowing? CHECK. Cold? CHECK. Miserable? Almost!

So much for starting to plan. I won’t be building raised beds for at least another three weeks, so I decided to appease my inner Martha and look at seeds and plants. I stumbled upon (almost literally) a site by the name of “Heirloom Seeds“. I’ve been doing a little research on growing a garden from heirloom seeds. I’m coming to a bit of the conclusion that I haven’t the facilities to grow one at this time as I have a bit of a makeshift garden and I’m putting in the first raised beds this year. But in the near future, I will be growing from heirloom seeds.

Anyway, I came across s section on “Victory Gardens”. Curious, I researched farther. (or is it further?) Victory Gardens were planted during WWI and WWII as a means of reducing pressure on the public food supply brought on by the war effort. Labor and transportation shortages made it hard to harvest and move fruits and vegetables to market. It is approximated that nearly 2o million American answered the call to produce their own fruits and vegetables. It is also estimated that 9 to 10 million tons of produce were harvest, an amount equal to all commercial production of fresh vegetables. Apparently, the program made a difference. It’s also interesting to see that after WWII, in 1946, the government wasn’t continuing it’s Victory Garden push, and many people did not put a garden in that spring. Consequently, the country experienced some food shortages, because agriculture had not yet geared up to full production for grocery stores.

Heirloom Seeds offers these seeds as “Victory Garden” seeds.

BEANS (6 varieties): Black Turtle, Bush Blue Lake, Commodore, Fordhook Lima, Old Homestead Pole and Pencil Pod Black Wax
BEETS ( 2 varieties): Chiogga and Early Wonder
BROCCOLI (1 variety): De Cicco
BRUSSELS SPROUT (1 variety): Long Island Improved
CABBAGE (2 varieties): Early Jersey Wakefield and Red Danish
CARROTS (2 varieties): Amsterdam Minicor and Autumn King
CAULIFLOWER (1 variety): Early Snowball
CELERY (1 variety): Golden Self Blanching
COLLARD (1 variety): Georgia
CORN ( 1 variety): Golden Bantam
CUCUMBER (2 varieties): National Pickling and Tendergreen Burpless
EGGPLANT (1 variety): Black Beauty
GOURD (1 variety): Ornamental Small Mix
KALE (1 variety): Dwarf Blue Curled
KOHLRABI (1 variety): Early White Vienna
LEEK (1 variety): American Flag
LETTUCE (5 varieties): Black Seeded Simpson, Buttercrunch, Freckles Romaine, Gourmet Salad Blend, and Mesculin Mix
MELONS (2 varieties): Jenny Lind and Sweet Passion
MUSTARD GREENS (1 variety): Southern Giant Curled
OKRA (1 variety): Clemson Spineless
ONION, BUNCHING (1 variety): Evergreen White Bunching
PARSNIP (1 variety): Hollow Crown
PEPPERS (4 varieties): California Wonder, California Wonder Gold, Jalapeno and Long Red Cayenne
PEAS (3 varieties): Early Frosty, Mammoth Melting Sugar and Sugar Daddy
PUMPKINS (1 variety): New England Pie
RUTABAGA (1 variety): American Purple Top
RADISH (2 varieties): Easter Egg and Crimson Giant
SPINACH (2 varieties): Bloomsdale Long Standing and New Zealand
SQUASH, SUMMER (4 varieties): Dark Green Zucchini, Golden Zucchini, White Patty Pan and Yellow Crookneck
SQUASH, WINTER (2 varieties): Butternut and Spaghetti
SWISS CHARD (2 varieties): Lucullus and Ruby Red
SOUTHERN PEA (1 variety): California Black-Eyed
TOMATO (6 varieties): Besser, Big Red, Giant Beefsteak, Homestead 24, Pink Brandywine and Roma
TURNIPS (1 variety): Purple Top White Globe
WATERMELON (1 varieties): Sugar Baby
HERBS (10 varieties): Basil, Chives, Coriander, Cumin, Dill, Marjoram, Oregano, Parsley, Summer Savory and Thyme

Interesting. I’ve never even thought to grow about half of the fruits and vegetables on this list, however, it does give one food for thought. I may not eat them myself, but could grow several of them and trade other gardeners for them. Or sell them at a farmers market. Of course, I don’t think I’ll be purchasing the whole Victory Garden set any time soon, but it’s a good list to keep on hand. Especially with the hard times we may be facing…soon.

Our Food Is Fighting

Good afternoon all!

Let me introduce my friends (well it’s really me) “The Skirts”. The Skirts are a bit like a sorority, in the sense that we all come together to make this unique mess.  Me!

Almost Betty – Red Skirt. Almost Betty is my inner Betty Crocker. She’s basically bursting at the seams to bake, cook, fry, saute and generally be in the kitchen. This is the me that wears the apron.

Almost Martha – Green Skirt. Almost Martha is my inner Martha Stewart. She’s the green thumb, jack-of-all-trades, crafty gal who can do it all. At least I think I can

Almost Laura – Orange Skirt. Almost Laura is my inner Laura Ingalls Wilder. She’s my inner child, story teller, writer, thinker, player and the one with all the fun stuff.

Almost Jeanette – Brown Skirt. Almost Jeanette is my inner Jeannette Rankin. My inner politician, fighter, and “I want to help change the word” me. Military and Liberty!

Basically, that sums it up. I have ideas for other skirts, so we shall see what the future brings. For now, four is probably more than enough to unleash on all the innocents of mankind. Mixed in with all of these you’ll find flights of fancy and some hard-knock lessons.

Soon to come – Almost Fanny. She’s a rip-roarin good time!