Old Ways New Again - Homestead Gardening Gaining In Popularity

    What is a Homesteader? In the old days, it meant someone striking out into the wilderness to carve out a new place to live. And while the wilderness has mostly been settled in 2022, the idea of homesteading is alive and well. In fact, homesteading has a new incarnation that is simply said “a renewed interest in being self-sufficient.” Modern homesteaders are trying to grow, restore, harvest, gather and become more self-reliant. This rebirth of desire for self-sufficiency and learning the arts of agriculture and hands-on crafts is a lovely tip of the hat to the folks who came before us.
   We were excited to attend a “Sowers & Growers” gathering in Cassia this week at the garden of Annette and Brian Codding. About 30 folks gathered, covered dishes and lawn chairs in hand, to meet, greet, and eat with others of like minds. This was their second meeting this summer.
   There are a wide variety of interest levels and skill levels in the group, and that’s what is so great. While one person knows how to raise and turn rabbits into delicious sandwiches for dinner, another knows how to make rich garden soil and yet another can tell you about a hand pump or how to weld. The group was eager to talk, learn, and of course, enjoy a delicious covered dish.
   Dinner included crustless spinach egg quiche, pickled vegetables, rice and zucchini with bacon and onion, cornbread in an iron skillet, deviled eggs from happy farmyard hens that only know free-range living, and on and on. There was way too much food to try everything. After an hour or so of eating and chatting, everyone headed to the Codding’s garden to see how they make top soil from compost, to hear a lesson on raised bed gardening from Wendy Walker, to enjoy looking at the squash, tomatoes, purple hull beans, zinnias, marigolds, herbs, corn, sunflowers, figs, and so much more. Annette talked about a few ideas regarding cover crops, weeding solutions, and learning to garden “Eden Style”.
   Codding said if she could encourage just one thing it would be for everyone to watch “Back to Eden,” a free film on Youtube about gardening. She says that if you watch it you will be inspired to plant a few rows of something this August. Start small and just have fun, growing anything on your own. How could it hurt to grow just a little food for your family? With food prices going up and supplies being a little unpredictable, you might have something good to enjoy or share with your neighbors.
   Speaking of sharing knowledge, Eli Reed of Umatilla was able to demonstrate pruning blackberries properly and talked a little about propagation of trees like mulberries from cuttings. Eli has been growing a wide variety of tropical plants for a couple of years and also does some beekeeping. Everyone in the group had a little to share, from the youngest to the oldest, there was plenty to learn. Folks shared tips on everything from dealing with wildlife to pest control.
   Sowers & Growers, as the group has been named, now has a Facebook page for people to join as a private group. To get admitted you have to answer three easy questions. Then you are able to read posts and ask a question from folks who might be able to help you get connected or started on your modern homestead journey.
   Whether you want to make soap, milk a goat, raise a chicken, grow patio tomatoes, or just enjoy new friends, you might give Sowers & Growers a look. Their next meeting will be at the Cassia Community Club in August. The date is to be announced on the Facebook page.
   The concept of growing enough food to get to the next season in your own yard makes sense, especially in Florida where we enjoy an 11-month growing season.
   Once again, my thanks for the beautiful garden pictures you all share; keep them coming. Please send us pictures of your blooming plants and garden projects to hollynewby1@aol.com or mail them to P.O. Box 1099, Umatilla, FL 32784. We love to share the fun in the garden with others. Keep growing…