Marshall - Food Needs and Yield Analysis

1. FOOD NEEDS AND YIELDS
BY
KASEY MARSHALL

2. ASSESSMENT
• WHILE LOOKING AT WHAT WE EAT I THINK WE ACTUALLY HAVE
UNDERESTIMATED THE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. THIS IS BECAUSE I RESTRICTED
MYSELF TO USING THE CHART PROVIDED IN THE ASSIGNED READING. WE EAT A
LARGE DIVERSITY OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES NOT PRESENT ON THE CHART
AND THAT IS NOT REFLECTED IN OUR ANALYSIS. THIS WAS ALSO THE BIGGEST
CHALLENGE FOR MYSELF.
• I THINK THAT THE AMOUNT OF FOOD WE CONSUME IS MANAGEABLE TO GROW
AS WE HAVE A LARGE AREA TO WORK WITH. THE BIG CHALLENGE WILL BE TO
DESIGN THE GARDEN AS FUNCTIONAL LANDSCAPING WHERE POSSIBLE AND
ONLY DEDICATE GREEN HOUSE SPACE TO SPECIES THAT ACTUALLY REQUIRE IT.
• THE ABOVE IS ACTUALLY THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY AS WE HAVE THIS BLANK
SLATE IT GIVES US THE CHANGE TO DESIGN FOR FUNCTION AND EFFICIENCY AT
THE SAME TIME

3. Crop Servings/year Pounnds/year Number of 100
square foot beds
VEGTABLES
Carrots 520 186 1
Corn 104 61 1.5
Cucumbers 364 83 1.5
Potatoes, Sweet 156 50 1
Potatoes, Irish 156 56 1
Tomatoes 364 158 2
Peppers 156 27 .5
Snaps Beans 104 24 1
Onions 364 18 .25
Garlic 333 3 .1

4. Crop Servings/year Pounnds/year Number of 100
square foot beds
FRUITS
Watermelon 156 58 1
Strawberries 624 104 1
Blackberries 260 63 4
Cherries 208 62 4
Apples 364 130 3
Cantaloupe 208 80 1.5
GRAINS
Barley 104 4 .5
Oats 104 4 1
Rice 104 4 .25

5. Crop Servings/year Pounnds/year Number of 100
square foot beds
LEGUMES
Kidney Beans 156 12 3
Black Beans 156 10 3
Chickpeas 104 9 3
LIVESTOCK
Chickens, eggs 728 Approx. 2 eggs daily Approx. 4 chickens
Beef 208 78 pounds Approx.1/4th th 350
pound steer
Swine 208 78 pounds Approx. 1 seven
month old swine

6. DEVELOPEMENT
• AS SPACE IS NOT AN ISSUE THE ABILITY TO GROW THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF
CROPS IS NOT MY MAJOR CONCERN. MY MAJOR CONCERN IS MOVING FROM A
CONSUMER TO A PRODUCER IS; SCHEDULING AND HARVESTING.
• - “BY HARVESTING, WE TURN THE WHEEL OF ENERGY TRANSFORMATION” BANE,
PG 32
• FOR ME THIS IS A KEY POINT IN PRINCIPLE 3 AS WE WANT OUR GARDEN TO NOT
ONLY SUSTAIN US, BUT ALSO TO HAVE THE EXCESS SUPPLEMENT THE FEEDING
OF LIVESTOCK BEING RAISED. SURPLUS YIELD IS FED TO A GOAT WHO IN TURN
PRODUCES MANURE WHICH IS TURN IS PUT INTO THE COMPOST AND AGAIN
BACK INTO THE GARDEN.

7. DEVELOPEMENT
• - “THERE ARE LIMITS TO OUR CAPABILITIES.” BANE, PG 37
• WHEN DESCRIBING PRINCIPLE 9 THIS SENTENCE STOOD OUT AT ME. WHY?
BECAUSE GROWING CROPS IS THE AREA OF MY FARM WHERE I HAVE THE LEAST
CONFIEDENCE. I AM REMINDED THAT WHILE I CAN DO SOMETHING, I WOULD BE
BETTER SERVED BY STQRTING SMALL AND WORKING MY WAY UP.
• I THINK THIS APPROACH IS SOUND. THE FIRST YEAR ON OUR PROPERTY I PLAN I
TO PLANT THE FRUIT AND NUT TREES AND BERRY BUSHES WHILE ALSO PREPPING
THE SOIL IN THE MAIN PLANTING AREAS. BECAUSE WE WILL BE MOVING IN AFTER
PRIME PLANTING SEASON FOR MANY SPECIES OR GARDEN AND THEREFORE OUR
YIELD WILL BE A FRACTION OF THE SIZE, BUT WILL OFFER COUNTLESS LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES ON A SMALL SCALE.

8. SUMMARY
• I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE ON THE LIVESTOCK END OF WHAT WE INTEND
OUR HOMESTEAD TO BE ABOUT, BUT GROWING CROPS SCARES ME. IT IS A
CHALLENGE I ACCEPT AND RELISH LEARNING ABOUT.
• I FOUND THE POWERPOINT ON SOIL ANALYSIS VERY INTERESTING AS I FEEL IF
THE SOIL IS MORE NUTRIENT RICH THEN THE PRODUCE WILL BE AS WELL
• I LOOK FORWARD TO DESIGNING A SPACE THAT IS FUNCTION, EFFICIENT YET
WELCOMING. WHERE THE CROPS THRIVE AND YIELDS EXCEED EXPECTATIONS
• I UNDERSTAND WHILE MY FINAL SITE PLANE OR MASTER DESIGN CAN BE
COMPLETED UPFRONT THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION TO COMPLETION WILL BE
YEARS IN THE MAKING. I LOOK FORWARD TO WATCHING THE PLANS GROW AND
BLOSSOM.