It’s never too early to start planning for the new year. Part of the planning may include finding out what foods will grace the kitchen table. Whether there is an intent to garden and harvest home grown food or not,eating local, fresh food can be easier with a plan.

Many vegetable gardeners, especially those new to the craft, start too late in the year which can be detrimental to food production with Oregon’s short hot season. Planters are unlikely to be able to grow great watermelons if planting is left until June.

Waiting to decide to grow food until the weather heats up costs more. By planning a garden over the winter and starting plants from seed, instead of buying plants starts from a nursery, one can gain valuable growing time, save money, and grow healthier plants.

Request catalogs from local seed companies such as Territorial Seeds, Nichols Garden Nursery, or Wild Garden Seed. A wider selection of heirloom varieties can be found in catalogs from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds and Seed Saver Exchange, but be sure to look for varieties that can withstand our cool summers.

Planning a garden in the winter allows plants to take advantage of the entire growing season. Gardeners in the Northwest are fortunate to be able to grow something almost year round. By planning early, one can often grow two or even three crops in the same spot and maximize a small growing space. For example, peas can be planted in early February, followed by tomatoes in May, and overwintering onions in October.

There are many options for those without space or time for a garden. For those who want to garden, but lack the space, look for plots in a local community garden. Plot rental usually costs around $50 for a year.

For those without a green thumb, consider a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscription. For about $400 a season ($20 a week) CSA “shareholders” pick up a box weekly filled with produce from their local farm. There are several CSAs in the Salem area, including Minto Island Growers, Your Hometown Harvests, Denisons and Whistling Frog Farm.

CSA subscriptions tend to sell out quickly, so to reserve a share of the local bounty, one must get in early.

So, if anyone's New Year’s resolution is to eat more local, fresh food, now is the time to start planning.

Jayme is a sometimes farmer with Your Hometown Harvests, and a

sometimes political operative. She spends as much time as possible

working in her community garden plot and pouring over seed catalogs.

You can eat fresh produce from the farm by visiting the Monmouth

Farmers' Market, or subscribing to the YHH CSA.