Dagostinia's Agriculture Department is working towards a goal of  producing all the crops necessary to completely feed the population.  To meet this goal, the Agriculture Department currently manages 1340sf of crop and livestock space.  As the department grows, more crop space will be allocated and more livestock will be added.

The Agriculture Department is taking into account the area outside of our borders!  Within the larger community that Dagostinia is located in are dozens of fruit bearing trees and bushes.  Many of these are in public space or overhang public space.  Some owners have given permission to picking whatever can be carried.  A map is being produced containing locations and types of public produce for gleaning.

The Agriculture Department is now collecting and distributing seeds to Dagostinians!  Under the name Garden Village Seed Company (GVSC), packets of seeds will be collected, cleaned, and stored for the next planting season.  For 2012, GVSC stored peas, beans, tomatoes, peppers, pumpkins and others.  All plants marked in the agriculture table are those that were saved over.  These seeds will continue to be coddled in Dagostinia's unique environment until only the best crops are grown.  With our mix of soil, water, natural amendments, and micro-climate we hope to create our own strains of plants that are hardy and plentiful.

2014 Report - This year was a dismal season but expected. Old seeds were used to try to clear out the supply and see what could grow. Crops were poorly tended, harvesting was lax but we learned what parts of the garden were permaculture worthy and what parts needed improvement. Raspberries continued to be the high point with blueberries improving. The apple harvest was also a new record.

2013 Report - The 2013 Agricultural season was more relaxed than previous years.  Key crops were grown but there was less variety than usual.  Plums were so overabundant that branches broke and methods of preservation were explored.  Pruning was successful, fruit leathers were less so.  Crop value declined from the year prior but this is in keeping with the efforts that were put in.

2012 Report - The Dagostinian Agriculture Department finds it's perfect stride more and more each year.  This last year was the best yet.  Raspberries, Plums and Tomatoes continue to be flagship crops.  Most crops that prefer more tropical climes still do not do well.  A projected greenhouse may promote peppers to grow.  Value of crops was double the year before.  This furthers the self-sufficiency that Dagostinia promotes.

The chicken flock was completely replaced except for the duck hen who transitioned into the new flock just fine.

2011 Report - 2011 was a fairly good year for crops.  Many of them did well with a few exceptions.  Brassicas continue to be an issue.  Potatoes failed due to being planted in too hot of an area.  The raised strawberry bed was improved and three new beds were added.  Aged horse manure was added in many of the beds.

There was one chicken casualty early in the year and the drake was eaten.  Flock at the end of the year is 4.

2010 Report - This year was not very conducive to gardening.  A late spring caused premature failure of many crops.

• • Garlic from cloves was harvested

  • Onions from sets were harvested

  • Early spinach was a success

  • New strawberry plantings in an elevated bed were successful

  • Raspberries were plentiful as always

  • Tomatillos were hothoused and harvested in abundance

  • Early Lettuce was abundant

  • Early peas were a success, later ones were not

  • Field corn was successful

  • Favas were successful

  • Spaghetti and Oranghetti squash were harvested

  • Blueberry bushes were planted and harvested

  • Apple trees bore fruit

  • Peppers started well and then failed

  • Tomatoes started well but only yielded a handful of fruit

  • Early brassicas failed, a second more successful crop was planted in August

  • Plum trees failed

  • Potatoes failed

  • Most beans failed

Chicken flock was replaced due to aging.  New flock is 4 chickens, 1 duck, 1 drake.  Flock was replaced in July, laying started in September.  Eggs average 3 per day.