FOOD NEEDS, YIELDS, &

MICRO-CLIMATE MAPBy Erin Forbes – Integrated Backyard Homesteading

Assessment & Insight• My homestead will be providing for our family of six people. The majority of our family eats a

vegetarian diet. We utilize eggs from our chickens and honey from our bees. Black beans, sweet potatoes, and spinach have a prominent role in our diet. The crops that I chose are based on food that we already enjoy. The servings per year are based on amounts that I consider ideal for our family.

• Our five-acre homestead provides sufficient space to accommodate over 60.75 garden beds (100 square foot each) that our family will need to grow the identified crops.

• This food to table plan, not only strives to meet the dietary needs of my family, it also utilizes minimal fossil fuels. As a result of this assessment, I recognize the importance of utilizing a plan for food self sufficiency that includes removing processed/frozen foods from our diet, to nourish my family and contribute to a healthier environment.

• While completing the assessment, I recognized that we currently do not grow enough to meet our needs throughout the year. Once the summer is over, we rely on industrial organic agriculture for spinach, tomatoes, peppers, and frozen berries and other crops. I am excited to design a plan for food self sufficiency that will meet our annual needs. Food preservation will play an important role in meeting our dietary needs and I look forward to learning to preserve the crops that we grow.

Grains & Protein Calorie CropsCrop Servin

gs per year

Pounds per year

# of 100 square foot beds

Potatoes 260 93 1

Corn 208 122 3

Oats 520 22 4

Crop Servings per year

Pounds per year

# of 100 square foot beds

Beans, Black

1,095 72 18

Chickpeas 208 18 5

Lentils 156 11.5 4

Vegetables Crop Servings per year Pounds per year # of 100

square foot beds

Spinach 1,095 93.6 2Sweet Potato 730 235.5 4Broccoli 208 67.1 2Onions 416 20 .25Peppers 210 36.2 2Cabbage 100 35.8 .50Carrots 728 260 2Peas 104 61.2 10Squash, winter 156 62.4 1Tomatoes 420 182.6 2

FruitsCrop * Servin

gs per year

Pounds per year

# of 100 square foot beds

Blackberries

1000 244 16

Raspberries*

700 171 11.4

Strawberries

800 133 1.25

Apples 156 56 1

Cantaloupe 208 80 1.5

• Calculations for raspberries are based on the data provided for blackberries (Conner, 2012).

Micro-Climate Areas Suitable for Growing Food

• With the majority of my homestead receiving full sun, the climate is suitable for growing the crops that we eat. Onions, tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, apples, and cantaloupe thrive in full sun. Since these crops also require consistent moisture, the location of our current garden on the north west side of our homestead is ideal. While this area receives approximately 8 hours of full sun, it is moist as a result of the neighboring wetland providing an ideal micro-climate for growing the majority of our crops.

• Although many crops, including peas, blueberries, potatoes, and carrots grow in partial shade, higher yield are produced when planted in areas that receive full sun. Therefore, these crops will be grown in areas identified as full sun.

• The North facing slope behind our house has well drained soil and is shady in the afternoon. The house provides protection from the summer winds coming in from the south. This micro-climate on an otherwise very sunny homestead, is a ideal spot for growing spinach.

Resources • “The Permaculture Handbook” by Peter Bane, 2012

• “A Plan for Food Self-Sufficiency” by Cindy Connor, 2012

• “Crop Profile: Blueberries in N.Y.S.” Cornell University, 2000

• “Best Vegetables to Grow in the Shade” Colleen Vanderlinden, 2011