ILLUSTRATION: KEITH WARD A bed of 25 strawberry plants can produce 30 pounds of tangy, delightful berries each year! The first fruits of the summer, homegrown strawberries are a thousand times tastier than the hard, flavorless supermarket options. Strawberries are cold-hardy and adaptable, making them one of the…

1 / 2 Among their potential uses on your homestead, winter grains can be a homegrown source of soil-improving mulch. ILLUSTRATION: KEITH WARD 2 / 2 Nothing is more comforting than a warm bowl of homegrown, whole grain oatmeal — top it with fresh berries and cream for a…

1 / 2 Among their potential uses on your homestead, winter grains can be a homegrown source of soil-improving mulch. ILLUSTRATION: KEITH WARD 2 / 2 Nothing is more comforting than a warm bowl of homegrown, whole grain oatmeal — top it with fresh berries and cream for a…

 Linda in her home grain garden. Linda Simon, RD, was a retired personal chef, registered dietitian, and recipe developer. She passed away in 2012 and is remembered for her love of food, cooking and gardening. At a recent organic and local food conference, I learned about small grain growing…

1 / 2 Jerusalem artichoke strains vary by skin color, root shape and maturation time. Shown here, from left to right, are ‘Red Fuseau,’ ‘Stampede,’ ‘White Fuseau,’ ‘Red Rover’ and a flowering Helianthus tuberosus plant. ILLUSTRATION: KEITH WARD 2 / 2 Fry sliced Jerusalem artichokes as you would…

1 / 2 If you enjoy gardening you’ll enjoy growing winter squash in its many diverse types. Shown here, from left to right, are buttercup, delicata, ‘Red Kuri’ buttercup, butternut and dumpling squash. ILLUSTRATION: KEITH WARD 2 / 2 Old-fashioned squash pies laced with cinnamon and ginger will…

1 / 2 Topsoil and other soil amendments are sold by weight or volume. For this garden plan, use 40-pound bags, which cover a 2-by-3-foot space and provide ample room for the roots of most vegetables. KEITH WARD 2 / 2 Bag gardening couldn’t be easier! Simply set…

1 / 2 Topsoil and other soil amendments are sold by weight or volume. For this garden plan, use 40-pound bags, which cover a 2-by-3-foot space and provide ample room for the roots of most vegetables. KEITH WARD 2 / 2 Bag gardening couldn’t be easier! Simply set…

1 / 2 Growing peppers will color your garden with dazzling, eye-catching fruit. Shown here, from left, are ‘Sante Fe’ (yellow), pimento (dark red), ‘Marconi’ (bright green with a blush of red), ‘Apple’ (mid-range red), poblano (deep green), ‘Jimmy Nardello’ (bright red) and cayenne (orange red). ILLUSTRATION: KEITH…

The following is an excerpt from Homegrown Whole Grains by Sara Pitzer (Storey, 2009). The excerpt is from Chapter 8: Rice. Undoubtedly, rice is the most important grain in the world. Billions of people depend on it for sustenance. Growing it in the backyard, though, is challenging — but…