Three Duaghters Farm & Darwin's Lair

[darwinslair]

Well, I have posted a couple of times and I might as well introduce us.

We live in the middle of Lake Minnetonka, just outside of the Twin Cities Minnesota.  I grew up in the country and we grew almost all of our own vegetables in a .5 acre garden that surrounded our home in the woods.  The meat we ate came mostly from local farms as well as milk and eggs.  Once I left home for school that part of my family disapeared.  My parents moved to a larger home closer to the cities and although they gardened, it was never to that extent again.  I moved from place to place before settling down with my wife Patti here and started a family.  Patti and I own a custom art and graphic design/marketing company called Darwin's Lari (www.darwinslair.com) and our dream is to move up to the Bayfield Peninsula of Wisconsin and start a self-sufficient farm.  (Three Daughters Farm) I garden as extensivley as I can, and we provide most of our food by our own hands, be it gardening, gathering, fishing or hunting.  Other than bienials that I do not yet bother to try to take to seed we save our own seeds and maintain our own varieties of vegetables while also experimenting with other sustainable crops.  End of the world scenarios do not frighten me too much as I think I can deal with most things I do not need a blast door for, or high-end medical care.  The area we would like to move to is mosty self-reliant people to begin with, they all speak english, and are fairly well armed and independant (and I know a lot of them).  The climate, with Lake Superior on both sides of the peninsula, is much like northern Iowa and a wider variety of crops are viable there than they are here, even though it is 160 miles north of me.  Our three daughters are the inspiration for the name of our dream (now our backyard) and the logo my wife designed. 

Tom Kleffman

[Kitteh]

As the middle of three daughters, I suddenly like you very very much.  *smiles*  There's something about sisters that makes me all sentimental and weepy. 

My sisters and I each grow "three sisters" gardens, as well as our parents in order to feel close to one another.  My older sister is the corn, my younger sister is the squash.  Me, I'm the beans.  It's a fun play on my disabilities because without my cane, I tend to crawl on everything and everyone--but I've been assured that I provide much needed nourishment.  *grins*  Are your daughters like the three sisters?

I'm gonna have to replace the corn with sunflowers next year, sadly.  I apologized to my big sister. 

[darwinslair]

You know, in the 3 sister's garden you cannot replace corn with sunflowers.

I am not being bossy, but sunflowers kill beans.  You can grow them next to them, but dont let the root systems or stalks touch each other.

Wont hurt the sunflowers, but if you like the climbing beans, well, space them away on your corn or trellises.

The kids are 6, 4 and 2.  they like the garden, but not too into more than the eating so far.  They do help with seeding the tomato and pepper plants late winter though.

Tom Kleffman

[Kitteh]

Which is why I was planning on switching from pole beans to bush beans.  *smiles*  But corn is definitely not an option for me anymore.  Thanks for the help, though.  Always appreciate it.

And today the last of the squash gave way to mildew, after a heroic fight with the vine borers.  Looks like I can't three sisters it anymore, and that makes me sad.  I've had a three sisters garden every place I've lived!  But I'd like to stay organic if possible, and that just doesn't seem to be an option with squash and corn.   My older sister offered to plant twice as many for me.  I love my sisters.

Gardening was very important to us, growing up.  Our mother encouraged it by never shouting at us when we made mistakes, but lovingly correcting us, and praising us effusively when we did well.   It's become such a bonding thing, and so associated with happiness for us, that we garden over the phone with one another so that we can still get some of our "sister" time. 

One of my sisters lives in military quarters and regularly sneaks vegetables in beds that are supposed to be purely ornamental.  When I lived in apartments, I found container squash, corn, and beans so that I could grow them symbolically on my balcony.  My little sister works fifty hour weeks and has an infant, and she still has huge vegetable gardens.

Even if they just eat now, trust me, teaching them to garden together will keep them close.  My mom is still stunned by how committed we are.  She's also a little stunned by how close we are. 

[darwinslair]

"corn is not an option anymore"

Why?  change in location?  unfavorable climate?  allergies?  weak soil?

There are so many types that unless you have had to move to container gardening and do not want to plug your containers with one of the few varieties you can grow in pots you can grow the stuff darn near anywhere with the right heirloom varieties.

We have a cold weather type that matures in 55 days (grew in my backyard this year, Bear Island Flint) and for the mountain regions there is Painted Mountain.  If it is a matter of logistics, a lot of us are willing to advise.  If you just dont want too.....

Well that is different <smile>

Take care
Tom

[Kitteh]

I moved, and now the only area I can grow it in isn't sunny enough and is way too damp.  Do you know of any "moisture tolerant" heirloom types?  I haven't found any. I live right by a swamp, and the roots are just rotting.  That's probably why my squashes all have mildew as well.  Oh well, it's good for growing Taro--you can grow those just fine in zone eight if you dig them up in the fall and store them through the winter rather than leaving them in the ground.  And I like Poi.  It's been awesome for my cucumbers and tomatoes.  The stuff that is supposed to store well?  Not so much, with the exception of the Taro.  This is why I'm thinking potatoes next year.  The logistics of making bins just seems easier.  But if you have any moisture tolerant starch suggestions, I'm definitely willing to hear 'em.

I like my new place, in spite of all of this--and even though my rows of lemon balm, lemongrass, and catnip aren't doing much for the mosquitoes.  I think that's a great sign.  And when I did live in "Corn Friendly" environments, I was always complaining that it was too dry.  I think I'll be fine.  *smiles*