Please allow me to pick your brain...

17 years ago

I am passionate about sustainability, organic gardening and especially appreciate edibles. I am a young (25yo,) currently single mother. I struggle with money and really just want a home with a GARDEN! I want to grow organic food, prepare meals and feed them to people. (There is a question here...bear with me...) I've heard of a restaurant/garden in the San Juan Islands. It sounds like a dream. I dream of the simplicity of fresh, flavorful fruits and vegetables. I want to share my knowledge and my food with others. I need a JOB I feel devoted to. I don't want to "farm" one vegetable on dozens of acres. I want to tend the Garden of Eden. I am a "do-it-yourselfer" at heart. I have virtually no capital for a business and just don't know what to do. But one thing's for sure. I am tired of letting another Spring go by with no soil to call my own, no dirt to sink my feet into. I want my son to grow up with his own bare feet in the soil. I want him to know where his food comes from. I know I have a green thumb. I don't have a horticulture degree and I definately don't know it all. But I CAN grow anything. The word "harvest" brings tears to my eyes, I love it that much.

Here's my question: What should I do? Your thoughts will be greatly appreciated.

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Comments (2)

pnbrown
17 years ago
Find somebody with land sitting about doing nothing, and get to it. I don't know about where you are now, but in the northeast there are lots of such opportunities.

If someone will let you squat on their land, find a part-time job for cash, and spend the rest of your time in the dirt. On 30 hours a week, one can work a very large garden without expensive equipment, by the way. I use nothing but handtools to do about 2500 sq ft of gardens and I don't put anything close to that amount of time. So don't waste any money you don't have on power equipment; no doubt you can get somebody local to rotovate the ground the first time for little money or barter.

If you have access to more fields, buy a scythe and cut the tall grass. Hand-cut long grass makes spectacular mulch and compost. Two to three times the garden area in grassland will suffice, after a few years, to fertilize without need for animal manures.

If you're willing to do what it takes, you'll get there.

Good luck
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
17 years ago
At the very least, look into the P-patch organization sponsored by the City of Seattle. This is a nationaly recognized program of community gardens that utilize unwanted chunks of real estate throughout King county. For a very nominal fee, you can have your own chunk of garden to grow what you want how you want, harvest your own fresh fruits and vegetables and teach your son the joys of the soil and gardening. You may also want to investigate the possibility of house sharing if you are not able to swing a home and garden of your own - there are many seniors in the area that would be happy for some companionship and help around the place in exchange for providing a home and garden for you and your child to enjoy. Several social agencies can hook you up with likely candidates.

Your dream is not unattainable but it does take a certain determination and attitude and no doubt more than a few sacrifices to be able to pull it off. Making your living from the land in an organic and sustainable way is possible and in the PNW perhaps more so than in many other parts of the country. Check out the Herbfarm in Woodinville for a high quality restaurant that bases its menu on seasonal, fresh grown produce that it grows itself. Boutique restaurants in this area that prefer using organically grown, unique produce are more common than you think and they are always looking for additional sources. I won't provide you a how-to guide to achieve your dream as I don't presume to know what restrictions you have in your life but your goal is not out of reach if you apply yourself and have the single-mindedness and determination to make it happen.

Here is a link that might be useful: Seattle p-patches
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Please allow me to pick your brain...

Comments (2)

pnbrown

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

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