Why would I want to be a subsistence farmer?

https://spectra.video/w/34Xr8yHkGVEH4H4rTqN92f

#gardening #growyourownfood #permaculture #solarpunk

Oooooh... My buddy just dumped a load of manure (composted manure, that is) next to the #CommunityGarden! I have some flowers started (including Hopi Black-Dye sunflowers), which I'll donate to the cause. I'll probably spend most of my time on the home-plot... And given how much interest there is in the garden from folks in town, I'll probably end up sharing my plot there with someone (like another neighbor) -- which is fine. We can take turns watering!

#SolarPunkSunday #GrowYourOwn #GrowYourOwnFood

I've been growing tomatoes in buckets for years now (though I focus on growing my favorite -- Sun Gold cherry tomatoes. Big ones are too tricky).

Yes, You Can Grow Great Tomatoes in a 5-Gallon Bucket – Here’s How

By Tyler Schuster, April 11, 2026

Short on space but still want delicious summer flavor? Growing tomatoes in a 5-gallon bucket can make your patio garden dreams come true!

"No garden bed, no problem. A standard 5-gallon bucket and the right setup is enough to grow productive tomatoes through the full season—on a patio, a balcony, or anywhere with a few hours of sun."

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/tomato/grow-tomatoes-in-a-5-gallon-bucket

#SolarPunkSunday #GrowYourOwn
#GYO #GrowYourOwnFood #MaineGardens #Gardening

#UMaineCooperativeExtension - Bulletin #2077, #Potato Facts: Growing Potatoes in the #HomeGarden

"Potatoes and #Maine have a long tradition together. Potatoes have always been a popular crop in home gardens, especially since they can be stored for use during the long Maine winter.

Potatoes can be grown in all parts of Maine in home gardens, but they need more attention and care than most vegetables. If you do a good job controlling insects and diseases, you’ll improve potato yields, and also protect Maine’s commercial potato industry."

Learn more:
https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/2077e/

#SolarPunkSunday #GrowYourOwn
#GYO #GrowYourOwnFood #MaineGardens #Gardening

When to Plant #Potatoes in #Maine: Best Times and Tips for #Gardeners

By Larry Meyers - March 8, 2026

"From personal experience, choosing the right variety and soil type can make or break your harvest. I’ve found that late April to early May, depending on your zone, hits the sweet spot. If you’re in Zone 4, aim for around April 30, while Zone 5 growers can plant around April 15. The soil warms up nicely by then, making it ideal for planting."

Read more:
https://evergreenseeds.com/when-to-plant-potatoes-in-maine/

#SolarPunkSunday #GrowYourOwn #GYO #GrowYourOwnFood #MaineGardens #Gardening

#Online - Produce #SharingTables: An Approach to #GardenGrown #FoodAccess

April 7 @ 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm
Free – $15

"This event is hosted by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

This webinar will explore #WaldoCounty Bounty’s Give and Take program, a stigma-free model for sharing surplus #GardenProduce through community drop-off sites. Participants will learn how the program operates, how new sites are selected, and how to start a #GiveAndTake site in their own community. Developed during the COVID-19 pandemic to address farm losses and food insecurity in rural Waldo County, #Maine, where nearly 6,000 residents face #FoodInsecurity, the program connects local #gardeners, #farmers, and #neighbors to expand access to healthy, local food.

Speakers: Viña Lindley, UMaine Extension Horticulture Professional and Mattie John Bamman, Waldo County Bounty Communications Coordinator"

FMI and to register:
https://www.mofga.org/event-calendar/produce-sharing-tables-an-approach-to-garden-grown-food-access/

#SolarPunkSunday #SharingFood #MainersHelpingMainers #UMaineCooperativeExtension #NeighborsHelpingNeighbors #BuildingComunity #GrowYourOwnFood #FeedingNeighbors #GYO #FarmToTable #LocalFarms #LocalFood #OnlineWorkshops