A Front Lawn is a good place to garden

I love a big, beautiful lawn.  Full of bright yellow dandy lions and red clover, a place for the kids to run and play, but if your lawn is large, why not plant a portion of it into a garden?  Over the years our front lawn has been transformed several times.  A 7 circuit labyrinth occupied it for several years.

walking the grassy paths inter-planted with vegetables and herbs,
breathing deep, the fragrance of summer.....
brings solace to the soul

labyrinth society

click here for more information on Labyrinths

 A few years later it was incorporated into a section of the gardens. I left the middle area in grass, herbs, and a bird bath.

foreground:  Iris, one of my favorite flowers

several varieties of summer squash are next, spaghetti squash to the right

several rows of potatoes are planted on the far side

left a large patch of grass in the center

a small 14 x 20 ft. green house frame was moved to the north side of the lawn

 it is usually  planted with lettuce and spinach 

shade covers are added mid summer to protect the greens from the sun,

thus prolonging lettuce the season through the entire summer

This year the entire front area will be planted in vegetables.  The kids are all grown and gone now so the area is being utilized for vegetables.

.                                               We did however keep the tree lined back lawn.
A shady place to rest with a cool glass of ice water.  Plenty of room for the grandkids to run and play.  

Tips for planting vegetables in your front yard:

In the early spring till under the sod.  A large rear-tinned tiller will be necessary to use.  If that is not an option, lay out large pieces of cardboard where you want to plant.  Anchor them down, then begin adding layers of compost, grass cuttings, straw etc. on top of the cardboard, keep this pile moist.  This method will take a year to accomplish killing out the grass, but early the next spring you will have a nutrient rich garden area.  It will be easy to till under or to turn with a shovel or fork.

                                   As you plant keep in mind the size of plants at harvest time.
 WALL:  For a 3 foot section along a wall, plant trellises of warm loving tomatoes along the sunny south side.  Squash and cucumbers also do well trellised this way.  Plant med sized plants in front of trellised veges, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, etc.  then plant early crops like lettuce and spinach in the very front.

BOXES OR OPEN AREAS:  Plant tall vegetables in the center or back and work in layers according to plant height.  Check out the suggestions found on the internet about Square Foot Gardening.  Many gardening centers also offer classes about box/raised bed gardening.

GREEN HOUSE made from CATTLE PANELS

Over the past 23 years of raising market gardens and providing for a CSA we have used a lot of cattle panels.  We found that they wouldn't hold in our large steers if they really wanted to get out . And the rams would just beat them with their massive horns until there were holes big enough to get out of so they could join the ewes.  However, we still purchased quite a few panels for our farm.  They do keep the goats in and allow for feeding outside the fence so feed is not trampled and wasted.  Also a buck cannot climb over them if you stack them two high creating a sturdy 10 foot high fence.  But generally we use them through out the gardens.

  Three or more panels arched, tied together, staked with t-posts, and covered with plastic make a nice little green house.  I also use these arched panels over my lettuce beds covered with black shade cloth to extend my harvest.  One of the best uses I have found is to bend the panel lengthwise into a small arch and cover with plastic.  I use these tunnel covers placed end to end over all my tender vine crops, cucumbers, melons etc. this is the only way I can extend my season long enough to get a harvest.  Remove them when the weather has warmed sufficiently.   Put arched panels in an area sheltered from drying winds , growing vine crops or pole beans up them can save space in your garden and allow for easy harvest as the fruit hangs down inside the arch.

notice the panels arched on the right and left sides of this photo

this area in one of my gardens is protected from wind on 3 sides

pole beans were grown over the panels

a thick layer of straw was placed under one of the arches

it made a wonderful, cool spot for the kids to read

...........sadly the kids have all grown and left home

feeding the goats on the opposite side of the panel cuts down on feed waste

and of course you know we use them as sturdy chicken runs

we have also used them for:

*wood racks on a trailer

*compost containers

*planting potatoes in straw

  (as a round container and also laid flat holding down the straw over a large block planting of potatoes)

* cut in half and folded, not arched the panels for a 4' high trellis

 (leave 4 feet open on end )

MAKE a salad garden underneath, cucumbers on one side, tomatoes on the other and lettuce, spinach, carrots and chard planted under the trellis.  Cover with plastic to give the vines more heat in the early spring.  The vines of the cucumbers shaded the soil to allow for lettuce harvesting all summer.  Only place one panel ( not side by side) so you can access the middle easily from both sides......place  several of these throughout your garden....

make a pasta sauce themed trellis with tomatoes, plant basil, parsley and other herbs underneath

summer squash plants do well grown up them and plant melons or cucumbers underneath

I plant these mini patches so the side of the frames are placed facing the east and west which allows the plants on the inside to get plenty of southern sun. 

*covered panels with plastic and duct tape for quick cold frame covers placed over a double row of hay or straw bales, make these as long as desired.  When it warms up during the summer, the bales are opened and spread as mulch along the plants.

LARGE GREEN HOUSE MADE WITH CATTLE PANELS

*we made a large 26' by 60' green house using 2 panels joined end to end with staples on a high center wooden beam, supported, by tall cedar posts. ( We used 10 sets of 2 panels to make it 60 feet long).  The panels were also supported and stapled in the center, with more wooden beams, on both sides and then stapled them to large cedar posts laid along the ground.  We covered it with fiberglass and boarded up the ends.  Using a good quality 3/4 plywood the wood was cut to the shape of the arches and the edge of the panel stapled to the plywood.  Framed in a door and made a screen door to fit.  We had this greenhouse for many years until one of our renters tore it down.  Sorry it was about 20 years ago, I don't have a photograph so I tried to do a sketch for you. 

During the winter my Angora Rabbits were moved into the greenhouse.  They helped heat the structure.  Heavy mil plastic was wrapped around the support beams and stretched across the top from side to side to form a green house with-in a green house.  A heat lamp was hung inside the inner green house and plants were grown all winter.  The rabbit droppings were spread through out the green house and tilled in at spring time.  We built this when only fiberglass was available.  I would not recommend using it because it did not hold up in the wind.  The corrugated plastic you can buy now at home improvement stores is my choice for green houses or sun rooms.

Nope, cattle panels are NOT just for COWS.

What have you used cattle panels for?

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CRICKET SONG FARM

Kick off your boots, sit a spell and read about the adventures on our little

organic vegetable farm.

for information about our attached sun room made from large windows

Arugula/Rocket

Arugula or rocket, as it is sometimes called, is a spicy, peppery green used in salads.  It is generally eaten fresh, but some recipes call for it to be slightly wilted.  It is a green that few people ask for at market, however I do have several people who come faithfully each week for their arugula.  The taste reminds me of the watercress we used to gather from the creek when I was a kid, however it is more pundgent.  It is growing in popularity especially in the fancy resturants.  We grow arugula in the green house for early spring and late fall harvests.  This winter was very mild compared to most years and we picked arugula all winter except for January.  It does very well in the greenhouse environment.  Often greens grown in the green house will get "slimmy", but arugula grows in an upright position that allows  enough air flow around the leaves so it won't rot.

Arugula already going to seed in the greenhouse in late March

I allow the fall Arugula in the greenhouse to go to seed and it is one of the first plants to break ground in the spring.  Green house grown arugula is lighter in color and larger leafed than the out door grown arugula.  It is a little milder also.  I prefer it grown this way.

COMPANION PLANTING:   a few years back I had problems with the flea beetles eating my lettuce.  I raise a large variety of lettuces for market and my CSA shares and was quite concerned about the damage the beetles were causing.  In one of my mesclen plantings I noticed the lettuce was undisturbed and the arugula planted with it was full of holes.  After closer inspection of all the greens I discovered that the beetles prefered the spicy greens (arugula, mustard, mache etc.) to the lettuse.  Now I plant large patches of arugula next to the lettuce beds to attract the flea bettles.  The flea beetles are usually a problem in the early spring and then they lay their eggs to over winter and hatch the following spring.  I read that if you would keep the weeds and debry out of your garden you won't have to much trouble with them.  Well, we pull every weed by hand instead of using chemical sprays and we mulch heavily to conserve water so I guess we will just have to feed them arugula through the spring.


Give this green a try you just may like it----or maybe not------


ARUGULA and FIG SALAD

4 cups arugula
8 fresh figs      (Sarah has yummy figs at the Ansestor Square Market)
1/4 c. grated Parmesan Cheese
4 tbs. toasted pinenuts
2 tbs. honey
2 tbs. balsamic vinegar

Toss washed, dried and torn arugula, figs, cheese, and pinenuts in a bowl.  Whisk honey and vinegar together.  Pour over salad before serving.






ARUGULA PESTO SAUCE

3c. arugula, packed----wash and dry well
1/3c. pinenuts toasted
1/2c. fresh grated Parmesan Cheese
1/2 tsp. salt
1 large clove garlic chopped
3 tbs. olive oil

Add all ingredients except olive oil into a food processor.  Chop until fine.  Add oil in a slow, steady stream while blending.  Blend until smooth.  This will keep in a fridge for a week.  Add hot water if it is to thick.







BACON AND ARUGULA SALAD

washed, dried, torn Arugula
1 lb. bacon chopped
2 large eggs--from our hens of course
1/4c. cider vinegar
2 tbs. honey
dash of paprika, salt & pepper
1/4c. milk
1/2 stick unsalted butter

Cook bacon until crisp.  Set aside.  In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, vinegar, honey, paprika, salt and pepper.  Warm milk in a large saucepan.  Remove from heat add butter.  When butter is melted add 1/2 of the warm milk to the egg mixture.  Whisking constantly; pour this mixture into the remaining pan of milk.  Cook over medium-low heat.  Do not over-heat the eggs will curdle.  Pour over torn arugula.  Add bacon on top.  Serve immediately.






CORN, ESCAROLE AND ARUGULA SALAD

3 tbs. Balsamic vinegar
freshly ground pepper and sea salt
3 tbs. extra virgin olive oil
1 small garlic clove minced
6 cups trimmed escarole or curly endive
2 cups arugula
fresh uncooked corn

Wash greens, spin or pat dry.  Tear into pieces.  In a large salad bowl whisk vinegar, salt and pepper.  Add olive oil in a thin stream whisking constantly.  Whisk in minced garlic.
Using a very sharp knife cut kernels from the corn.  Stir kernels into the vinaigrette.  Add greens and toss until the leaves are coated with the dressing.  Plate the salad.  Scoop corn kernels left on the bottom of the bowl onto the top of each salad serving.

Green House

Our weather is unpredictible and subject to frost every month of the year.  This past summer I only had 3 weeks without frost and a green house really comes in handy.  My neighbor Bob Bang created a line of greenhouses that hold up to our 100 mile w-i-n-d-s (I don't even like to say the word out loud so I spell it) our crazy -40 below winters and the hot sunny days we get during the summer.  It is double layered with a fan that blows air inbetween the 2 layers of plastic. I can grow almost year round.  We picked chard and aragula over Christmas and will be planting broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower the end of February.  Having a green house is the only way I can grow tomatoes.  I am hoping to get several more so I can offer a bigger variety to my CSA customers.