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To: nw_arizona_granny

While reading through your suggestions, I was wondering if you have had any success with indoor gardening. I don’t have much in the way of space outside. And the space I do have is in an area that anyone else could reach. Have you ever grown vegetables indoors with success? I’m extrememly interested in this if you have.

Otherwise, I have been stockpiling since the new millenium. I just rotate everything each month when I get groceries.

Another thing that I didn’t notice that was on the list of items to acquire is bathroom usage items. If the power goes out, that means that toilets won’t flush without dumping water into them. So instead of wasting good water that may be used for drinking or cooking, I have stocked up on ethylene (???) bags and 5 gal buckets....I even went as far as to buy a toilet seat to sit on top of the bucket. Then you’re just dealing with disposing of the bags.


5,441 posted on 03/23/2009 7:37:34 AM PDT by Atom Smasher
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To: Atom Smasher

Welcome to the thread! I hope you find good information here.

Are you able to create a greenhouse for your plants? There are several posts mentioning greenhouse construction and placement. Granny has done quite a bit of research on it.

I’m glad to see new readers/posters. It sounds like you are really prepared. Great suggestions.


5,445 posted on 03/23/2009 8:49:43 AM PDT by TenthAmendmentChampion (Be prepared for tough times. FReepmail me to learn about our survival thread!)
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To: Atom Smasher; nw_arizona_granny

>>>I was wondering if you have had any success with indoor gardening.<<<

While I have not tried it, I have seen two very impressive indoor gardens. In one case they had a large double window in a spare bedroom on the South side of their home. They lined the ceiling, floor and walls with mylar reflective sheeting. The pots were covered with aluminum foil (bright side out). The objective is to have light bounce back and forth until it actually hits and is absorbed by the plants.

The other was set up the same way, except they had supplemental lighting since they only had a single window.

Both said that you want to keep your plants at least 6” from the walls so light can bounce around them. Both used shelves to maximize plant space.

Both were growing tomatoes, lettuce, oriental vegetables and herbs. One had a trellis along the back wall with cucumbers and had 6 plastic pails with potatoes, trays growing onions and garlic too.

Both said placement was important to be sure that they fully utilized the light that was available.

Both had very narrow walkways.

So, it can be done... Even on a smaller scale than that.


5,451 posted on 03/23/2009 11:48:52 AM PDT by DelaWhere ("Without power over our own food, any notion of democracy is empty." - Frances Moore Lappe)
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To: Atom Smasher

Have you ever grown vegetables indoors with success? I’m extremely interested in this if you have.<<<

Welcome to the thread, we are glad you found it.

It is good that you are prepared, for what and when is not as important, for life always gives us emergencies that we need to be prepared for.

My idea of indoor growing, is a solar greenhouse attached to the home, covering a door into it and with windows into the greenhouse, for you can draw off the solar passive heat and add to the warmth of the house.

If you want to grow in pots, in the home, then use a good potting mixture and a sunny window and go for it.

My family calls me a junk collector, I call them flower pots, they will be if I can put a hole in it.

I have grown cherry tomatoes indoors, and had 6’ plants in a gallon pot.

Peppers, Swiss Chard, lettuce, oriental greens, onions, spinach and Luffa.

All but the Luffa produced and the Luffa was so lovely, that I would grow it again.

The peppers and tomatoes get a firm shake every day to pollinate them, cukes, squash and luffa will need to have the pollen put in the right place.

a 6 inch feather works for pollinating them, so does a paint brush.

Think of it as a loving project and it works.

I am not sure how beans would work, but would be willing to attempt the Yard long bean, as it did well in the greenhouse and will keep producing from the same bloom spike, if you pinch off the end of the bean and don’t pull the flower stem off.

That bean trick I discovered, as I used to have strong finger nails and was pinching the beans off, instead of pulling as most folks do.Did you read the part about burying the root of a regular store onion, with about a quarter inch of onion on it and that it will grow new onions? Yes, it is true, we have several on this thread doing it, regular and green onions work.

I have for years grown onion sets, or seeds just for the green leaves to pinch off and use in food.

So take a look at your windows, hanging plants and floor setters will work.

You can also use grow lights, but I have never done so.

My best growing is a room with a window to the east and to the north, that are only a foot or two from the corner, they were large and caused a 8 x 8’ growing area to do well.

Greens do well in dishpans, the larger plants want at least a gallon pot or larger.

I used Pro-Mix or the bagged potting mix from Walmart, as I did not have compost to use and my soil is a dead soil.


5,460 posted on 03/23/2009 1:57:23 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny ( http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2181392/posts?page=1 [Survival,food,garden,crafts,and more)
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