The Benefits of a Satellite Garden

Last year we experimented with satellite gardens in the backyards of a few of our shareholders. Initially the main reason for this was to conserve our growing space for the more complicated and labor intensive crops. However, the benefits of this experiment proved to offer much more than just extra cultivated ground. After a site survey and bed prep we planted the seeds of four different varieties of winter squash. Winter squash is a sprawling plant that grows best in a mulched environment. With the addition of some timely watering the plants were left to do their thing. The four varieties of w. squash that we offered last year were grown in four separate locations.
By isolating individual varieties of squash we were able to save "clean" seed for future planting. This isolation is necessary for retaining genetic purity. Most seed saving requires isolation and/or protection of some sort. With your help we hope to expand our seed saving in the future.

Besides the practical benefits of the satellite gardens, those folks that offered up the space and nurtured these crops became directly involved in producing food for themselves and others. Now, we all spent time together in the main garden here on the Little River and we all had a hand in on what was produced last year. But growing a crop in your own backyard really takes things up a few notches. For one, the possibility of a crop failure is ever looming, so the pressure of getting the crop to the table was shared by more of us than just one of us. The anxiety related with producing for others is the price paid for the feeling of accomplishment once the crop matures and is ready for distribution.
The one comment held in common by last years satellite gardeners was that the squash grown on their land was the best squash they've ever tasted.
Not surprising!
If you have some garden space and would like to be involved in this part of our project let us know.