The past little while, Mike has been digging up sod in the back yard to build some more raised beds for our garden.  We've planted lots of stuff in the yard over the past year.  Let me bore you with the details:

• Grapes (four kinds)
• Red raspberries
• Black raspberries (my favorite)
• Thorn-less blackberries
• Blueberries (early, middle & late)
• Currants
• Lingonberries (like cranberries, but Swedish)
• More strawberries
• More pumpkin/gourd/cucumber/watermelon room

I'm really hoping that these additional raised beds (since we live on bedrock) will be a significant help to our food production.  With all we grew in 64 square feet last year, I don't see why not.  My mom used to grow tomatoes right next to her rented trailer space in college.  I've got strawberries growing beside the chimney right now, and they're my best ones.  Don't let a small space deceive you.  Proper management and water collected from the window AC can do wonders.

I once saw a bumper sticker that said "Food Not Lawns" and I thought it had a really good message.  What does my yard do for me?  Do I roll around on it staring longingly into the dandelions?  Not so much.  Our yard is the place Mike spends 1 1/2 hours every week or so beating back the forces of fescue.  Since Mike and I live a block from a playground, we have no plans for a swingset for the Little Pumpkin.  We did add a fire ring for entertaining, because life never has enough weenie roasts. 

As food prices increase and we face a major life change here at the Blackberry Bungalow, I think more and more about how we can be independent of the grocery store.  Those home-canned tomatoes and the frozen pumpkin sure are wonderful.  If only we could fit a cow back there. . . so, think of this and follow the link in the above photo.  What does your yard mean to you--could it be your freedom?