Reply #2: I'm also interested in this topic.

[bvar22]

Almost anything can be frozen, dried, or canned, or so I've been told.

We planted the standard range of common veggies and melons last year.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=246x5729


We froze beans and tomato sauce last year, and are looking at canning and drying this season.
A small greenhouse is being planned to extend our growing season.
We would like to eat from the garden all year.

We planted broccoli and cauliflower in early March.
The broccoli survived (thrived) through several mid-20s overnight freezes. We will plant earlier next year, and may try for a late crop this year.
The onions and garlic grew throughout the Winter.


We will harvest some peaches, apples, and strawberries this year.
We added 2 more Peach trees, a fig tree, several different grapes, blueberries, and raspberries this Spring. Blackberries grow wild.
Ultimately, we would like to have fruit juices, preserves, and dried fruit year round.

We would like to plant some type of grain (other than corn) to make bread and cereals, but haven't done the research yet.

If you are planning for survival, avoid "Hybrid" seeds or plants. Hybrids often do not produce a good 2nd generation.
Opt for "heirlooms" to protect your seed stock.

Hybrid seeds, on the other hand, are bred for qualities such as longevity or disease resistance. To get these characteristics, the plants have been bred to two parent varieties. The seeds are often sterile, or if they do germinate, the plants aren't identical to the parents. "Hybrid seeds have become the cause celebre for the large seed companies around the world because they are far more profitable," says Judyth McLeod, author of several gardening books. "They can be made to a secret recipe just like Coca-Cola. And they're a non-renewable resource needing to be repurchased every year."

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-94775459.html

More on hybrid vs heirloom
http://www.vegetablegardeningguru.com/heirlooms-vs-hybrids.html
We still plant some hybrids, but are moving toward heirloom.




You may want to consider honey bees.
Honey has a long shelf life, and the bees are great for the fruits and veggies.
We have fallen in love with our bees.


This should be an interesting topic.