Prepping for Spring: A Glimpse into Our Ranch Garden
This week on the ranch, we’ve been keeping ourselves inside as much as possible, avoiding the cold outdoors. With another chilly week on the horizon, we’ve limited our time outside to only the essential tasks—mainly the everyday chores that can’t be avoided. But even though we’ve stayed inside, we’ve been busy preparing for spring and looking forward to what’s next.
For the past few years, we’ve been growing a personal garden here on the ranch. Some years, our harvest has been more successful than others, but we’re learning with every season. Like any new endeavor, it takes time to figure out what works best for us—and we’re excited to try again this year.
We start by choosing the plants we love to eat. Green beans are a staple for us, especially since they’re Trevor’s favorite. We also enjoy broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and carrots. Broccoli and cauliflower haven’t been as successful for us in the past, but we’re determined to make it work this year. We’ll be adding peppers to the garden, too—April really loves them, so it only makes sense to plant a few. Onions and potatoes are always on the list as well.
We’ve also got some fruit growing around the ranch. April has taken the lead on our blackberry, raspberry, and blueberry plants, which have all been thriving. There are a few apple trees scattered around the property, with some of the sweetest fruit growing in the woods. We even have a cherry plum tree—though it’s become a bit overgrown, and it doesn’t produce as much fruit as it once did. April discovered it a few years ago hidden away, and we’ve always considered it a little gem. This year, we’re hoping to add strawberries to our fruit patch.
The best part about the fruit plants is that they tend to take care of themselves. We don’t have to replant them every year. April makes sure to toss any inedible berries onto the ground to encourage new growth and expand the patch naturally, allowing us to grow as much as we need.
As for the vegetables, we’ll likely start our seeds this weekend. That way, once the frost has passed, we can plant our seedlings in the raised garden beds or our larger garden plot. We’re looking forward to expanding our garden this year and having a more sustainable food source. Of course, our biggest concern is the cattle—who we’re pretty sure would love to munch on our salad greens if we don’t keep an eye on them!
Savor, flourish, and enjoy the ride—just don’t forget to close the gate!
Trevor Moller, April Johnson
And the team at Stock and Steeds