News

**Astrochik**

CourtDude Wrote:

Astrochik Wrote:
I'm trying to get a garden going that doesn't need replanting all the time

I could use one of those!

artichoke plants are huge

**Betty F. Crocker**

Astrochik Wrote:

I'm trying to get a garden going that doesn't need replanting all the time

The plants that can be grown as perennials very in any given area. Chard grows year-round for me here, to my surprise. Asparagus and strawberries are perennial. Then there are always trees and bushes that produce fruit.

If you have a local permaculture guild in your city or state, contact them and they should be able to help you with a list for your local hardiness zone, or at least some tried and true suggestions. They're really into creating "food forests" instead of simply "gardens"; "food forests" utilize perennials as much as possible.

**Betty F. Crocker**

CourtDude Wrote:

Astrochik Wrote:
I'm trying to get a garden going that doesn't need replanting all the time

I could use one of those!

Wow! You have an incredible amount of space, and beautiful space! And, your gardens look great - loved those lettuce and cauliflower planted around the tree. :)

If you're really interested in food gardens that don't have to be planted all the time, you could get a local permaculture expert to come out and consult on how to create more of a 'food forest' in your yard utilizing perennials that do not require re-planting every year.

Or, just read up on it yourself. :) You seem like a well-read guy, so I'd recommend: http://www.amazon.com/Permaculture-Desig...0908228015 (There are also free pdf versions available on the internets) This is the text book for the Permaculture Design Course, but it's so chocked full of good stuff that I learn something new every time I read it. It helps you think about how to create living systems for growing food rather than isolated elements. It's really cool stuff. If that book is overwhelming, there are other permaculture books by Bill Mollison out there, but I really like that one the best.

Heartflowers

**CourtDude**

Betty F. Crocker Wrote:

CourtDude Wrote:
Astrochik Wrote:
I'm trying to get a garden going that doesn't need replanting all the time

I could use one of those!

Wow! You have an incredible amount of space, and beautiful space! And, your gardens look great - loved those lettuce and cauliflower planted around the tree. :)

If you're really interested in food gardens that don't have to be planted all the time, you could get a local permaculture expert to come out and consult on how to create more of a 'food forest' in your yard utilizing perennials that do not require re-planting every year.

Or, just read up on it yourself. :) You seem like a well-read guy, so I'd recommend: http://www.amazon.com/Permaculture-Desig...0908228015 (There are also free pdf versions available on the internets) This is the text book for the Permaculture Design Course, but it's so chocked full of good stuff that I learn something new every time I read it. It helps you think about how to create living systems for growing food rather than isolated elements. It's really cool stuff. If that book is overwhelming, there are other permaculture books by Bill Mollison out there, but I really like that one the best.

Thank you, my wife and I shall both check it out!

We're serious about getting self sufficient for the long term; maybe we'll all survive some disaster or maybe we'll die.

If we die, it won't be for not otherwise being ready and sustainable. Heartflowers

**LoP Guest** lop guest User ID: 93152 04-29-2012 08:22 AM

I keep it simple. I plant taters in the spring, and I plant an elk in the fall. chuckle

**Betty F. Crocker**

CourtDude Wrote:

Betty F. Crocker Wrote:
CourtDude Wrote:
I could use one of those!

Wow! You have an incredible amount of space, and beautiful space! And, your gardens look great - loved those lettuce and cauliflower planted around the tree. :)

If you're really interested in food gardens that don't have to be planted all the time, you could get a local permaculture expert to come out and consult on how to create more of a 'food forest' in your yard utilizing perennials that do not require re-planting every year.

Or, just read up on it yourself. :) You seem like a well-read guy, so I'd recommend: http://www.amazon.com/Permaculture-Desig...0908228015 (There are also free pdf versions available on the internets) This is the text book for the Permaculture Design Course, but it's so chocked full of good stuff that I learn something new every time I read it. It helps you think about how to create living systems for growing food rather than isolated elements. It's really cool stuff. If that book is overwhelming, there are other permaculture books by Bill Mollison out there, but I really like that one the best.

Thank you, my wife and I shall both check it out!

We're serious about getting self sufficient for the long term; maybe we'll all survive some disaster or maybe we'll die.

If we die, it won't be for not otherwise being ready and sustainable.

Then you might consider taking a Permaculture Design Certification Course in your area. It's on the pricey side, but it was the best money I ever spent in my efforts to move toward self-sufficiency. They cover alll those off the grid topics.

It was also a life changing experience - kind of rewired my brain to think differently, to view things in an entirely different way. I really can't say enough good things about it. But, your Permaculture training is only as good as those who teach it, so research the instructors and travel for a good one (an intensive course) if necessary.

**CourtDude**

Betty F. Crocker Wrote:

CourtDude Wrote:
Betty F. Crocker Wrote:
Wow! You have an incredible amount of space, and beautiful space! And, your gardens look great - loved those lettuce and cauliflower planted around the tree. :)

If you're really interested in food gardens that don't have to be planted all the time, you could get a local permaculture expert to come out and consult on how to create more of a 'food forest' in your yard utilizing perennials that do not require re-planting every year.

Or, just read up on it yourself. :) You seem like a well-read guy, so I'd recommend: http://www.amazon.com/Permaculture-Desig...0908228015 (There are also free pdf versions available on the internets) This is the text book for the Permaculture Design Course, but it's so chocked full of good stuff that I learn something new every time I read it. It helps you think about how to create living systems for growing food rather than isolated elements. It's really cool stuff. If that book is overwhelming, there are other permaculture books by Bill Mollison out there, but I really like that one the best.

Thank you, my wife and I shall both check it out!

We're serious about getting self sufficient for the long term; maybe we'll all survive some disaster or maybe we'll die.

If we die, it won't be for not otherwise being ready and sustainable.

Then you might consider taking a Permaculture Design Certification Course in your area. It's on the pricey side, but it was the best money I ever spent in my efforts to move toward self-sufficiency. They cover alll those off the grid topics.

It was also a life changing experience - kind of rewired my brain to think differently, to view things in an entirely different way. I really can't say enough good things about it. But, your Permaculture training is only as good as those who teach it, so research the instructors and travel for a good one (an intensive course) if necessary.

Thank you again, Betty. We were discussing this morning see what classes and information were available at some of the local and one a few hundred miles away, green houses.

Have a great night.

I need to head up, get a shower and see about some sleep. Heartflowers

**Average Housewife**

Unfotunately, when the drought broke and came a gulley-washer, I lost a lot of corn and other seed planted stuff.

[Image: AFAF_4F9CE5DF.jpg]

Fortunately, I have tomatoes, squash, cucumbers in raised beds, so the inches of rain in one night thing didn't affect them as much..

[Image: 9F7F_4F9CE5DF.jpg]

But I have to confess, I am tending lawn for a summertime event here. Yes, it's wasteful, but I figure the way I am turning the unimproved land into edible lamb and beef, and the pond is being used to grow catfish and tilapia, etc...I can just keep improving the balance.

[Image: B8BD_4F9CE5DF.jpg]

This is just our first year. Give me time.

**Vegas**

Did You Plant Any Willy Peppers ?

Something new for the garden.....
Willy Peppers Will Bring Tears Of Joy -

... nature is very interesting ...

For all the keen gardeners out there
that have never seen a Willy Pepper before...
These are actual peppers from a garden. They really are called 'Willy Peppers'...

[Image: 25C7_4F9CE846.jpg]

By the way, the farmer says they can
grow up to 18" long!
Sort of brings tears to your eyes doesn't it?

**dim** lop guest User ID: 93459 04-29-2012 02:23 PM

you people need to learn about High Brix Gardening and learn how to make actively aerated compost tea

very simple:
you need a 5 gallon bucket
an aquarium airpump that produces 45 litres of air per minute
2 airstones
an awuairium heater set at 20 degrees C

fill the bucket to 3/4 full with rainwater or unchlorinated tap water (if you use tap water, make sure there is no chloramides in your tapwater ... if using the tapwater, let it rest in the bucket with the air bubbling for a few hours to remove the chlorine

add 2 heaped tablespoons of organic unsulphered black strap molasses (can be bought off ebay or from health stores)

8 cups of vermicompost (worm humus)... avail off ebay or from your nearest hydroponic store

8 cups of normal garden topsoil

1 cup of volcanic rock dust (available on ebay)

1 cup of alfala (avail off ebay)

1 cup of bat guano (composted bat shit)

let the whole lot bubble for between 36-48 hrs and apply to your veg and plants as a soil drench, but you have to use it ASAP once you have switched off the air supply

you can add loads of other ingredients such as fish hydrolosate, seaweed extract etc (search google) .... guys who grow medical cannabis are very familiar with this compost tea

here is a guy who has several world records for growing giant veg and who has mastered the art of brewing actively aerated compost tea

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL2mnf_rfjI

**Baiame**

the garden gre me a hole mess of pumpykins

[Image: E31F_4F9D33D9.jpg]

**Omega** · **Omega**Ex-Moderator User ID: 71574 04-29-2012 04:43 PM **Posts: 21,040**

Average Housewife Wrote:

Unfotunately, when the drought broke and came a gulley-washer, I lost a lot of corn and other seed planted stuff.

Fortunately, I have tomatoes, squash, cucumbers in raised beds, so the inches of rain in one night thing didn't affect them as much..

But I have to confess, I am tending lawn for a summertime event here. Yes, it's wasteful, but I figure the way I am turning the unimproved land into edible lamb and beef, and the pond is being used to grow catfish and tilapia, etc...I can just keep improving the balance.

This is just our first year. Give me time.

NICE spread!!!!

Keep the picts coming folks!!!!!

And Betty Crocker nice picts too; I am outside Austin in Bastrop County-great idea to plant your front yard as an example to your neighbors!!!!

Cheer

**LoP Guest** lop guest User ID: 89720 04-29-2012 04:48 PM

Planted 50 tomato plants yesterday. Will plant another 50 today. Then 50 more every day until I have 500 in the garden.

After that 1000 cucumbers will go in. All hydroponic. Gardening like this isn't for the faint of heart.

**Psychonaut** lop guest User ID: 85431 04-29-2012 05:28 PM

dim Wrote:

you people need to learn about High Brix Gardening and learn how to make actively aerated compost tea

very simple:
you need a 5 gallon bucket
an aquarium airpump that produces 45 litres of air per minute
2 airstones
an awuairium heater set at 20 degrees C

fill the bucket to 3/4 full with rainwater or unchlorinated tap water (if you use tap water, make sure there is no chloramides in your tapwater ... if using the tapwater, let it rest in the bucket with the air bubbling for a few hours to remove the chlorine

add 2 heaped tablespoons of organic unsulphered black strap molasses (can be bought off ebay or from health stores)

8 cups of vermicompost (worm humus)... avail off ebay or from your nearest hydroponic store

8 cups of normal garden topsoil

1 cup of volcanic rock dust (available on ebay)

1 cup of alfala (avail off ebay)

1 cup of bat guano (composted bat shit)

let the whole lot bubble for between 36-48 hrs and apply to your veg and plants as a soil drench, but you have to use it ASAP once you have switched off the air supply

you can add loads of other ingredients such as fish hydrolosate, seaweed extract etc (search google) .... guys who grow medical cannabis are very familiar with this compost tea

here is a guy who has several world records for growing giant veg and who has mastered the art of brewing actively aerated compost tea

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL2mnf_rfjI

Built this last week after considerable research....I'm using worm casting tea...For @ $30 or so you can brew tea that rivals $10K machines...

http://pittsburghpermaculture.org/wp-con...brewer.pdf

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Built several double dug raised beds this year in the personal garden and using a mix of the square foot / bio-intensive methods..All cool weather crops are in the beds under hoop houses after being sprouted indoors using the soil block method.....various lettuce, spinach, mustard, cauliflower, corn salad, carrots broccoli, onions, cabbage, kale, radishes, turnips, leeks, rutabaga, horseradish...etc..

Have 20 various maters ,40 various peppers, watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumbers, squashes, artichokes..etc.. still under the lights indoors..50% chance of last frost here is June 5th...

Grapes, blueberries, blackberries, apple and pear are looking good so far.

When everything is up and runnin' outside, I'll post some pics.

Great pics all....raising your own food rocks!

Cheer

**Average Housewife**

Omega Wrote:

And Betty Crocker nice picts too; I am outside Austin in Bastrop County-great idea to plant your front yard as an example to your neighbors!!!!

Example for the neighbors? Omega, my house is 3/4 mile off the road. No one sees my front yard. Is it even a front yard if it can't be seen from the road?

There are two gates and a cattle guard before you can even SEE the house, and by then, you're surrounded by a Fila and two ovcharkas.

So both the front and back yards are planted with grass and being pampered until my July event. Then, who knows. What could I plant that late, say August-ish?