Even the most conservative estimates suggest that approximately thirty percent of marketable vegetable produce is lost each year due to poor handling and storage in the period following harvest. On a global scale this represents a significant quantity of food, enough to support very large populations such as China or India’s. In line with a general emphasis on sustainability, organic vegetable production should be dedicated to minimizing waste and inefficiencies associated with inadequate storage procedures. Anyone who’s old enough might recall extreme shortages of fresh fruit and vegetables in Britain during the Second World War. Some popular historians attribute this to the breakdown of agriculture caused by labor and equipment...

Towards the end of last summer, I harvested a bumper crop of organically grown peas. They were extraordinary in taste and quality. For several weeks I gathered them before dawn then packed them inside raw calico bags which stacked neatly inside the crisper section of my old twin door refrigerator. I offered them to relatives, friends, and neighbors.  Apparently there was no shortage of families who appreciated receiving small packages of freshly harvested garden peas. After my initial distributions I received a polite telephone request from a local restaurant. One of their patrons mentioned my crop of peas and the chef was hoping to obtain some for his special minestrone. No problem, I agreed. The following day’s sunrise caught me unprepared....

I have a dear old friend, Thomas, who raises organic vegetables in timber barrels. Several decades ago, well-used barrels were frequently discarded from the larger vineyards and distilleries or sold to gardening enthusiasts for a modest sum. Nowadays, the use of wooden barrels is greatly diminished as inexpensive alcoholic beverages are increasingly stored in stainless steel kegs. Consequently, the few wooden barrels currently available have become sought after items. They’re typically sold by outdoor design centers and antique dealers for upmarket prices. My friend recalls two men offering several thousand dollars for his collection of barrels. It was Easter Sunday and they were offering cash, he explains. They had their truck with them...

Developing then pursuing a well considered plan is the best approach for achieving a satisfactory outcome. Expectation needs matching against ability and opportunity, even for low key activities such as organic vegetable gardening. The first stage of planning considers each expectation commencing with the broadest brush. What can be achieved? The most restrictive expectations are based on measurement. A certain volume, or weight each week, then a combined target for the end of the season. Commercial organic growers must operate within such narrow economies but can be challenged by uncooperative weather cycles and unpredictable events. Recreational gardeners can set a more flexible course, one that aims to include both functional and pleasurable...

When I commenced my apprenticeship, there was a strict emphasis on vegetables, fruit, and ornamental trees. Despite my early enthusiasm for flowers, shrubs, and lawns, I was advised to concentrate on the vegetables. I still recall the words of the Head Gardener at the time. “Learn to grow a decent vegetable and you’ll have earned the respect of your trade”. Very outdated I suppose, but wait, there’s more. On the third Saturday of each month a formal dinner was held. We were given the weekend’s leave but the Friday beforehand was dedicated to finishing touches on the grounds in addition to a selective harvesting of seasonal produce. We literally filled the kitchens with an assortment of our best vegetables. They were carefully...