At home food production

This summer I want to grow a garden. I want to grow:

Tomatoes
Potatoes
Carrots
Squash
Onions
Herbs
Cucumber
Spinach
Peas
Possibly berries

I also want to look into buying more meat and poultry from local farms, as well as buying grains and beans in bulk. Darren and I have even talked about buying grain and grinding it down for flour. I am also curious to learn more about soaking grains. I feel so illiterate when it comes to grains. I have just recently started making my own bread, pizza dough and french bread.

I am a very novice gardener, but I don't think it will be a total disaster if I do my homework this winter. I also want to learn how to store and preserve this food for the coming year. I am asking for canning equipment for Christmas.

I am also trying to be more aware of how much waste we produce and how much energy we consume. I really believe God gave us this earth for our us to use and be nourished from. Their is a lot of beauty in it. I don't think he gave it to us so we could constantly exploit it and abuse it. In that spirit these are some things I want to work on making:

fabric napkins
laundry detergent
deodorant

I am also trying to unplug things that are normally always plugged in :)

These have been some awesome websites that I have learned so much from lately:

http://www.keeperofthehome.org/ especially this post: http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2010/08/preserving-summers-bounty-recipes-and-tutorials-to-keep-you-busy-until-thanksgiving.html

http://www.simplebites.net/ especially this post: http://www.simplebites.net/eat-well-spend-less-homemade-substitutes-for-grocery-staples/

http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/ (her archives are a wealth of info!!!)

http://www.foodinjars.com/

http://nchfp.uga.edu/ National Center for Home Food Preservation

http://www.westonaprice.org/

http://www.azurestandard.com/ I am interested in buying some items in bulk from them

I also want these books:

The Backyard Homestead

Nourishing Traditions - I don't know how I have never heard about this book until recently. I guess you find out more in the areas where you do your research. I was browsing through a friend's copy today and was totally drawn in. I know it will teach me so much!