In this guide, we will cover the practical strategies I use to structure my main crop garden. We will discuss exactly where to place specific plants, how to manage pests and slopes, and why you might want to stop growing certain vegetables altogether.
Spring is the time to look at what is left on the shelves and evaluate how much we actually consumed. Did we grow enough? Did we can too much? Today, I am taking you through our winter pantry audit and sharing the biggest lessons we are applying to next year’s garden plan.
If there is one theme for the 2026 garden at Little Mountain Ranch, it is restraint. (Okay, attempted restraint. We all know how hard it is to say no to just one more variety of squash!)
There is a lot of work that goes into building a pantry—from growing the food and preserving it to learning how to shop in bulk. However, the most critical part of managing a pantry happens right now, just before the new gardening season begins.
When I first envisioned building a forest garden on our property, I pictured a space that could mostly care for itself—fruit trees, berries, herbs, and medicinal plants all layered together like a natural ecosystem. And while that vision has come to life in many ways, I’m now several years in, and it’s time to take a closer look at what’s working… and what needs to change.
