The Garden of 2016

As it is the fourth week of the spring semester, I feel like it would be appropriate to reflect on the progress of 2016. This past year I have been particularly interested in growing vegetables, and developing the most efficient management system, as this is totally new to me.

I worked on a vegetable farm for a month out of the summer and took the vegetable production class at NC State during the fall, so what did I learn?

Photo timeline video of the 2016 garden, beginning in March when the land was purchased:

I have noticed that a management system that works for one person at one farm, may not be the most efficient for another grower on a different farm. The process that is growing a vegetable garden in a new place, may be a bit tricky to figure out, like....what about the weeds? How much is this going to cost? How do I replenish the soil with minimal inputs? How many hours do I want to invest in this project a week? How do I create a complete system, sort of like a self sustaining ecosystem, on this piece of land?

While I do not claim to have all the answers, I have learned much along the way. Looking through pictures of the garden of 2016, I have tried many different systems, and experienced both success and failure. But one of the better problems to have: when you think to yourself, how am I doing to preserve all of this food?!