Food needs and Yields Micro-climates

Charles Gould

Food needs summary • We have 2 people that call our land home. We both enjoy fruits and

veggies as well as beef, chicken and eggs for proteins. Along with homemade butter and fresh milk.• One of the things that I noticed doing this is that we consume very

little grains or legumes. • It is also interesting on page 32 and 33 of “Plan for food self

sufficiency” that “Cornish Cross chicks raised for 8 weeks typically finish as 4 pound broilers” I found that to be a fairly fast growth.

Crop Servings per year Pounds per year Number of 100sq. Ft beds

Snap Beans 52 11.81 .75

Broccoli 104 33.54 1

Carrots 52 18.57 .25

Corn 156 91.76 2

Cucumbers 104 23.63 .50

Lettuce 52 7.87 .15

Onions (plain and cooked with other stuff)

312 15.14 .20

Shelled Peas 26 15.29 1.5

Irish Potatoes 260 92.85 1

Tomatoes (fresh and made into sauce)

312 135.65 1.75

Crop Servings per year Pounds per year Number of 100sq. Ft beds

Corn, Flour 104 4.33 .25

Oats 260 10.83 2

Rye, Cereal 52 2.16 .50

Kidney Beans 104 8.06 2

Beef 520 1040 (1 good beef cow) Roughly 2- 2.5 acres

Fava Beans 156 9.23 1.8

Apples 208 74.28 2.5

Blackberries (fresh and jam)

312 76.09 5

Pears 260 76.47 1.10

Strawberries (fresh and jam)

520 86.6 .75

Watermelon 208 77.03 1.5

Micro- climate map.

The best micro climate area on my property to grow my vegetable and grains would be on the northeast end. It gets full sun for sun loving crops like corn tomatoes and cucumbers. The only areas that get any full shade are from my large apple trees. I have placed my bee hives under one of my apple trees as they help the apple tree and the tree helps keep the hives in some shade so they do not over heat. On the southeast edge of the map where the soil is wet is also a tree line and on the other side of the tree is where my blackberries grow naturally also close to my bee hives so they are thriving.

I have also placed my cow pasture between my barn and the north east property line as they will get full sun and an apple tree hangs over the fence for natural food and shade for cattle to keep cool.My strawberries and watermelons would grow well directly in front of my home as they would have sun all day long. As for my wet soil climate I would plant Asian pears in the soil because of all fruit trees it is the most tolerant to wet soil. (source: http://homeguides.sfgate.com/fruit-trees-tolerate-moist-soil-24199.html Author Bridget Kelly ) the trees would also create a wind break from the northeast winds in the winter.