(This blog is really more for me- I am a consummate list maker.)
This will be an ongoing blog detailing our goals and dreams, both large and small for Gillis gardens.
Trust me, there are a lot. So here it goes-
Production kitchen for boiling sap and making canned goods, tinctures and oils (because Maine just passed FOOD SOVEREIGNTY!)
On that note – just finishing the shed project would be cool – we still have a whole butt load of things to do there and we’ve been to busy outside to deal with inside projects.
Tool shed/garage for bigger tools – because ohmygod they are every where.
Outdoor wood stove and shed for heating the shed – this is actually a short term goal that we hope to get done soon but with everything going on in the veggie garden and trying to get the chicks outside, the shed project has taken a waybackburner.
Hoop house- we already own all the supplies, but its a lot windier around our new place and our old method of keeping it on the ground wont work anymore…
Greenhouse – specifically made from old windows that we can find for free – we’ve had great luck actually. A lot of people seem to be replacing windows this year.
Walipinis/hybrid geothermal greenhouses- for growing more tropical varieties of foods. They grow oranges in the midwest with these types of greenhouses. (also, hopefully, using re-purposed windows)
Raised garden beds- ugh for so many reasons. We have poor dirt quality, we hate weeding… but to do all our gardening in them would be not frugal.
Clear out the back acreage so we can expand our crop sizes – this should be happening either this winter or next. We want to hire the right company so we can trust them to leave the maples, apples and other marked trees.
Upick berries, veggies and flowers- this is a long term goal. The closest Upick strawberries are almost 50 miles away… we’d like to offer as many Upick products as possible to be paid for by the pound.
Apples pears peaches- any fruit we can grow really – also very long term goals.
Co-op based meat farm featuring pigs and poultry… also another long term goal, but not 15 years like the trees.
Honey bees – because holy honey is expensive- close to $45/gallon for the good stuff. Like second only to maple syrup which is close to $60/gallon for the good grade. We’re currently planting perennials so that we can have early and late season food for them.
Goats -for milk and for pure awesomeness. Seriously, I just want to own them. We’ve decided to get Nigerian Dwarf Goats so we can make icecream out of their milk which has a high sugar content.
Mini milking cow! – I’ve been doing a lot of research on cows and mini cows are actually heirloom breeds that originated in places like Scotland. We are all about preserving heritage animals here at Gillis Gardens, so a mini curly brown cow family will fit right in!
ALL THE CHICKENS – no seriously, MrGillis has no idea how many chickens I plan on having. Especially if Buttercup the buff Polish we got is actually a rooster. We will have the cutest little mutt chickens ever.
This is not the end, just a mini break so that I can say I managed to publish a blog.
Until next time, have a wicked good day!
Gillis Gardens, LLC 