Posted on 02/27/2021 7:15:47 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
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Went back out to my property with 3 bags of potting soil, a shovel, a handful of seed packets, and a desire to plant something.
There was a huge ice storm and tons of broken tree limbs everywhere.
I found 2 oak trees which were 4 feet apart with a lot of limbs n branches on the ground.
I move all the limbs into a circle, about
40 feer in diameter, surrounding the 2 trees.
My property has a grazing lease for cattle and they watched in what passes as amusement for a cow as I shoveled pile sof half dried cow pies and walked them over to the area beneath the trees.
I smushed the cow patties apart with the shovel shovel put the potting soil on top of the manure.
Took about 8 packs of different kinds if seeds, poured them into a gas station to-go coffee cup...shook em up...then spread them across the little garden plot.
Tomorrow I am getting more bags of soil and shoveling more cowpies...then spreading some herb seeds.
The branches are meant to deter the cows ajd hopefully keep the plentiful deer from eating the newly sprouted plants before I come back to town in May.
The branches are very thick and 6 feet high. The deer can hop over it but they have easier options considering there is a deer feeder nearby.
This is part experimentbw8thbhalf of the seeds being found last week in my dad’s garage in Florida.....somenas old as 1989-1991.
We shall see.
Wonder what new invasive plants you’ve just planted in Texas, LOL! Way to endear yourself to the natives, Dude!
If it was Bluebonnet seed, you’re in the clear. ;)
And what’s more fun than messin’ with cow chips? We have an annual contest up here in Wisconsin:
Also, candy that looks like cow pies is very popular, as is our Mustard Museum:
https://store.mustardmuseum.com/product/326/made-in-wisconsin
Then things went down hill. The leaves started wilting and turning yellow. I had been diligent about testing the soil for moisture. What am I doing wrong?
Then it hit me, healthy plant above, healthy plant below. So to get at the root of the problem, I thought about the my raised bed of about 10 inches and determined the roots were getting into the soil below and that was the problem.
Tilling a raised bed is a delicate procedure. You want to try to keep the soil inside.Trying to till the ground under an existing raised bed is going to be a mess.
(As an aside if you decide to do a raised garden till and prep the ground beneath before adding the soil above.)
My solution is hugelkultur. You take rotten wood, grass clippings, compost, straw and soil and build mounds. The roots of my plants will be raised above that soiled soil below.
The upper terrace, where you enjoy the evening breezes and a cocktail and look out across the Mediterranean at North Africa!
The lower terrace, the potted pepper place!
8ndont think sone tomato, sunflower, watwrmelon and dill seeds are going to change the ecosystem to much
Oh...and Kudzu....I planted a metric shit of kudzu.
Just checking in.
Bought some extravagant Zinnia seeds today at the grocery ... that’s all I’m doing so far LOL!
Brilliant solution. Thanks for sharing as I’m sure you’ve helped someone here!
I have 14 raised beds, 4’x8’ filled with composted mule manure, homemade compost and virgin soil from our pasture. It’s good stuff!
Beau tills the beds for me every 3-4 years; I always top everything off with straw during the growing season and over winter - that stuff breaks down and adds to the soil, as well. I just have him do the top few inches; it really doesn’t need any more that that and I don’t want to disturb the earthworms in there, either.
We have a small rototiller made by STIHL that even I can manage and lift in and out of the beds. We have another HUGE one that I call ‘Darth Vader.’ I don’t mess with him! ;)
Quite a number of Zinnia-Heads here - I always grow them. Such a cheerful flower. :)
Ah, the Zinnia!
So much beauty from so little effort!
When Spring is here for sure I’ll be dashing haphazard into a little gardening- like I do every year. Oh, I’m also watching all the Green Acres shows, would like to find some BLT sandwich seeds...
Say, did anyone try that upside down clothes container as a semi-greenhouse for greens trick that was on here last fall?
I bought the container and a bag of soil but never did anything.
If it worked for someone I can shame myself into doing it next year.
Thanks for the thread!
Ahh, the heavenly aroma of coffee.
A lot can be grown in small spaces. There are some books devoted to gardening in small space. Postage Stamp Gardening is one of them and has lots of useful informaton.
“Say, did anyone try that upside down clothes container as a semi-greenhouse for greens trick that was on here last fall?”
I did! I had greens growing in my (unheated) greenhouse until December 23rd this year using that idea!
I moved a bunch of lettuces and spinach that I had growing indoors out there, today. It was 82 in the greenhouse, and I closed up and covered up everything this afternoon when the temps started to drop. It’s 25 degrees out there right now (I have a remote thermometer hooked up to the greenhouse that I can read in the kitchen) BUT all of the plants are protected by that additional layer of the upside-down storage tub, SO if the cold air doesn’t TOUCH them, they should make it.
This is an experiment for me on the flip-side of growing greens in there into the Fall/Winter.
I’ll report back. I took pictures to post tomorrow. :)
P.S. I’m in Zone 4/5, SW corner of Wisconsin.
It’s possible for a person to grow all their (approximately 322 Lbs.)vegetarian food in 200 sq. ft growing area with a 6 month growing period.
Plant that same area with winter wheat and/or winter rye, and you will have enough to make a loaf of bread every week and a half.
Increase that area to 300 sq. ft. and you’ll be able to have a loaf of bread every week, and about 160 lbs of extra produce to share with a neighbor, or sell at the farmers market.
I have a very small Hamilton Beach that I picked up on sale at walmart to do quick jobs like onions and stuff. I really like it, but it doesn’t hold much-not much more than 1 cup liquid.
I had to re-arrange the kitchen space to make room for the Ninja-waiting, waiting, waiting...LOL
FROZEN MOCHA JOE--uses up leftover morning coffee.
>
Blender smooth cup chilled brewed strong black coffee, cup
low-fat dark chocolate frozen yogurt, 2 tb ea caramel/chocolate
syrups, 10 ice cubes.
SERVE in tall glasses garnished w/ whipped cream.
sounds good. I sometimes have a small amount of coffee left over. I usually give it to the compost pile. I’m not found of cold coffee. I have however added to my slimfast morning shake.
I researching a recipe for doughnuts and home made bread to try out the new pressure/air fryer combo.
I watched a video of a lady canning butter yesterday. She claims it keeps for 5 years. Might try to do a batch to see.
I had a lemon that had ripened enough, so I pulled it off the tree and made some of that syrup that you posted. So far, I’ve only used it to drink by adding club soda on ice.
Mmmmmmm....a refreshing lemon beverage cant be beat.
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