money, ensures freshness FEW CANADIANS appreciate what an enormous economic force backyard food production has become in this country. A recent Gallup survey. con- ducted by the National Garden Association in 1985, found that 40 per cent of all the households had backyard gardens in 1984. My family has been practising what we call suburban home- steading for 10 years. All 12 mon- ths of the year we reap the rewards of our efforts toward energy con- servation, resources recycling, food production and food process- ing, Throughout the year, we enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables, which are supplemented by frozen homegrown peas, broccoli, and green.and wax beans; root cellar- stored carrots, beets and parsnips: and many kinds of processed foods, including pickles and sau- erkraut. By canning, freezing and root cellaring, we come close to produc- ing an entire year’s supply of most of these vegetables. Saving money is a major objec- tive, but having the freshest vegetables possible on the table, every sionth of the year, is our primary interest. What makes this food-production effort special is that this is all done on an average 8O x 150 foot suburban property with a backyard garden of about §,000 square feet — 400 square feet of which are dedicated to fruits and berries — and each of us has a full-time job. It is possible for a family to develop a very productive garden system over a five-year period, By JEFF BALL Caontributay Wrier spreading the development work out so it never becomes over- whelming. Beginning with a small, simple garden in the first year, most of the time is devoted to learning some planning and management concepts that enable the garderer to figure out just how much food to grow, and whether there is enough space and time to produce all or otost of his own vegetables and fruits at home. in the second year, the garden is expanded to produce all the fresh vegetables needed by the family during the growing season, with a little left over Co freeze. The length of the growing season affects how much will be needed to can or freeze. One of the seerets is to extend the growing setson as long as EATXURY RENOVATIONS BATH ROOMS and KITCHENS —— al us = s Estimates ~ 987-3055 possible, reducing the need tor canning and freezing and thus ex- tending the period of time you can eat fresh vegetabies picked directly from the garden. The third stage of the plan in- corporates intensive vrowing tech- niques and season-extending tech- niques such as cold frames and tunnels. In this stage, productivity of the garden is increased as every bit of space ix used more efficient- Iv. In the fourth year, it is possible to grow food year round, by using a solar grow frame, a solar greenhouse, or a sun space in the home. Winter crops will be sup- plumented by vegetables stored or put up from the outdoor garden. In the fifth and final stage, the truly dedicated self-sufficient food producer can get into caising small stock such as chickens, rabbits, bees and fish. Of course, a gardener need not go as far as chickens and bees, stopping in- stead at the desired level of garden development. y-<*" Showroom 153 W. 3rd A great opportunity to own fine quality home furnishings at great reductions. Our entire gallery stock is on sale. Bedroom, Dining room & occasional tables, sofas, love seats, chairs, soit wb T, * “THOMASVILLE GALLERY it Hours: Mon.Sat. 95, Fri. 99 4240 Manor St., Burnaby Bt a Nm ye 435-5566 29 - Friday, July 17, 1987 - North Shore News * custom shelving and drawers © mirror closet doors ° wire storage ™~ systems © wall bed CANADIAN 1093 Marine Dr. N.V. OSET. 986-4263 = YOUR ASSETS! eee INSTALL AN RW. AUTOMATIC SECURITY GATE Are you concerned about the present security of your property? It so. we have the complete secunty gate or door system tor property access Will sultalmost any existing or new opening Includes a full range of electronic access controls and satety devices Contact us fot hee estimates R.W. Security Gate & Door Systems Unit 260 - 14500 River Road Richmond, B.C. VéV 1L4 (604) 273-9811 RW. SECURITY GATE & DOOR SYSTEMS __ v THE FLEA BUDGET 380-3735 PROFESSIONAL PEST SERVICES Ltd.