90 Days or Less - We Grow 3 Sisters & More December 12 2021

Crops we grow in our short, more or less 90-day growing season in the mountains of Montana

(Organic Seed Preferred When Available)

THREE SISTERS - Corn, squash, and beans are time-proven companion plants that thrive together.

1. The Alpine Varietal that we developed from Painted Mountain Corn, always "knee high by the fourth of July"
   
2. Black Coco dry beans
   
3. Spaghetti Squash, the only storeable winter squash that has a chance
   

 PROVIDER BUSH GREEN BEANS 

1. Cold soil germination
2. Bush plant resists wind and storm damage
3. Robust growth and extremely prolific production

 DETROIT BEETS

(One box of many)

1. Cold soil germination
2. Robust growth in widely varied poor soil types
3. Flavorful, tender, round roots - dependable, tried and true

RUSSET & RED POTATOES

These always do well - we use our own left-over stored potatoes from the previous year for seed or we buy from local, certified, organic sources. If you could observe how Big Ag GMO potatoes are grown you would never eat another commercial potato. Also Purple Viking is very good if you can find it. 

We are not a fan of Yukon Gold. To limit disease, always plant separately from other crops and in plots where potatoes have not been recently grown.

GOLD BALL TURNIPS

Plant for fall crop to avoid boring insects. Akin to rutabaga and stores well.

We generally avoid the cruciferous family because they attract insects. Some years we make 5, 10 or 15 gallons of sauerkraut and get the cabbage from friends who have a local organic farm.

ZUCCHINI

The Provider Green Beans and Zucchinis in particular are great producers. They keep going. The more you pick the more they produce. Eight ball zucchini grow multiples at the same time.  

Zucchini Squashes generally thrive. The most prolific are Jackpot, Eight Ball and Black OP. Of course we prefer open pollinated but there is nothing inherently wrong with F1 hybrids. If you save hybrids for seed, they don’t necessarily breed true. You might get something different. The squash family easily cross-breeds. Some years we get spectacular crosses that we could never replicate again. This is an area where I relax and have some some fun and indulge some joie de vivre.

Zucchinis can reach huge size if you let them run on for seed. Otherwise keep them picked as they are best eaten when smaller.

I personally like the big striped Costada Romanesco, the name being expansively evocative of the sunny Italian countryside. 

Click here for a little flavor: https://youtu.be/8WNZWWTTtzw

It reminds me of the fruits of Western Civilization that are our heritage and birthright - that must be passed on to the next generation lest they be lost in the annals of history.

My Final Observations:

Seeds are priceless in times of tyranny.

Grounded in our common heritage, keep stocking quality seed that is proven to produce in your local AO. 

Stay frosty, but keep on the sunny side. 

New Ordnance
26 November 2021
Somewhere in the Mountains of the Free State of Montana

 

P.S. Imagine a world free from the parasites of society. Coming soon: "How To Live Free on the Sunny Side of Life - in the Face of Tyranny"

 

 

The Portable TDY (Temporary Duty) Garden for Nutrient-Dense Super Greens April 14 2019

Yeah, I know you’re stuck TDY in a city or suburb and it’s planting time.
What are you going to do?

The early spring snow squalls come and go and it’s past time to “get out of Dodge.”

There are wars and rumors of war – even civil war and you are stuck for a while.

Here is a cheap, down and dirty trick you might want to take a look at. I figure what I have here will  add 3 to 4 weeks on each side of the growing season. That’s like skipping down one or two climate regions to the south.It also offers crop protection from errant clouds of radioactive fallout that might come your way and from the over-spray of zealous poison purveyors, with Roundup or their favorite flavor of glyphosate, out to attack any dandelion that dares to poke it’s yellow head above that unblemished expanse of green lawn.

Click here to read more:
https://theatomictrekker.com/blog.html

Seed Storage December 22 2014

THE BIG THREE SEED STORAGE FACTORS:

There is much debate and conflicting “expert” opinion on optimum seed storage conditions. In this article we are sharing the keys to our family’s secret to successful seed storage.

Shucking December 10 2014

How to shuck Painted Mountain Corn with an old-fashioned husking peg:

FAQ May 02 2014

Will Painted Mountain Corn grow in my area? Can I eat it on the cob like sweet corn? Can I make corn flour? Find answers to your questions and much more in the answers to Frequently Asked Questions, brought to you from the Rocky Mountain Corn family. more>>

12 Tips for Planting March 11 2013

12 Tips for Planting Painted Mountain Corn in the Northern Rockies

Dear Friends,
Please let me reiterate that Painted Mountain Corn originated in the inter-mountain American West and was developed to thrive in the northern Rockies where no other corn would grow. It has a rich and robust gene pool that is distinctly different from the mono-cropped lowland and coastal corn varieties My comments apply to our experience here in the mountains of Montana. Your experience may be different if you live in other areas. Other varieties of corn may be more suitable for other locations. YMMV...more>>