Welcome to the Bacwoodz Garden

I have always loved gardening and grew up in a gardening family. My parents composted and grew a big vegetable garden every year. As I grew up and got my own place - which happened to have blueberries and peach trees, I began planting and growing my own food. I have since moved several times - but with each move created a vegetable garden and have progressed with learning how to can and preserve my own food. I have always gardened organically and am not always good at weeding and keeping a neat looking patch - but we have yet to have a year where we get a good amount of homegrown food.

Now that I am living in south central PA, where there are many small farms and local farmers markets - I have taken to eating as local as possible. I have met some really neat people who have introduced me to raw milk, organic, free-range meats and eggs and "veggies so fresh they almost dance!" - from Spoutwood Farm CSA. With each endeavor, I have learned more than I knew last year.

I wanted to write this blog to specifically follow our local eating and home grown efforts. With only a 1/4 acre lot I am constantly wishing for more growing space - and would love to have chickens and maybe a milking goat. However, in working with what I have I am finding that each year I learn new skills and become a little more self-sufficient.

I am also participating in Urban Dark Days Challenge 08-09. With the exception of coffee, bananas, pineapple and avocados - which I don't think I can live without - I plan to make most of our meals with local ingredients. Should be a fun challenge!