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Web Site Sows Support for White House Farmer (New Position)
Wisconsin State Journal ^ | January 29, 2009 | ML Johnson

Posted on 01/29/2009 1:58:59 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin

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To: Arrowhead1952

I heard Obama was replacing the rose garden with a watermelon patch.


41 posted on 01/29/2009 6:35:31 PM PST by o_zarkman44 (Since when is paying more, but getting less, considered Patriotic?)
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To: gardengirl
Snow?! Yuck! It snowed here last week—about 3-4 inches. It was gone—mostly—the next day. That was plenty and more than enough winter for me! That was our ten year annual snow. :)

That's about what is packed down on our driveways and sidewalks that we couldn't scrape up from the storm we had yesterday.

We're into feet on the lawns.

42 posted on 01/29/2009 6:36:46 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: o_zarkman44
"But if that $200k is for real, there is a chance. But somehow I just can’t believe it to be true. Veggies are not that profitable."

That figure is simply not possible ... unless you're growing something illegal.

43 posted on 01/29/2009 6:47:35 PM PST by JustaDumbBlonde (America: Home of the Free Because of the Brave)
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To: metmom

We’re into feet on the lawns.**

No thanks! :)


44 posted on 01/29/2009 7:11:33 PM PST by gardengirl
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To: JustaDumbBlonde

Heard and seconded! 200,000 per acre? BWAHAHA


45 posted on 01/29/2009 7:14:21 PM PST by gardengirl
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To: JustaDumbBlonde

I agree. something very illegal.......coca, opium, don’t think even weed would bring that much for an acre.......but then again maybe.


46 posted on 01/29/2009 7:23:03 PM PST by o_zarkman44 (Since when is paying more, but getting less, considered Patriotic?)
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To: o_zarkman44; gardengirl
There are certainly legal crops that can be very lucrative. We have an acquaintance that claims to have cleared $16k/acre on 3 acres of strawberries. I called and talked to one of the agricultural gurus at LSU and he confirmed to me that you can, on a good year, harvest 1,500 to 2,000 flats of strawberries on an acre of land. Last year, Louisiana-grown strawberries sold for $22/flat here. After calculating input costs and labor, it is entirely probable that the acquaintance was being truthful.

This year we are probably going to try some strawberries, but no more than an acre and probably more like 1/4 acre. Reliable labor is nearly non-existent around here so we don't want to get into a situation that we can't handle by ourselves, if necessary.

Gardengirl, yesterday we ventured into Lowe's for some plumbing supplies and they had just received a beautiful shipment of fruit plants. In fact, they were still boxed and waiting to be put out on display. We dug in and got 4 blueberry bushes, 2 Thompson seedless grapes and 2 raspberries. I also got a new fig variety at the Ag show 2 weeks ago. I really can't wait to get these set out, and if you have any information that wouldn't take long to share, I'm all ears!

47 posted on 01/29/2009 9:04:10 PM PST by JustaDumbBlonde (America: Home of the Free Because of the Brave)
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To: DouglasKC

This is the kind of garden Obama REALLY wants to grow:
<<<Yeah, you’re probably right!


48 posted on 01/29/2009 9:07:18 PM PST by Freedom56v2
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To: Diana in Wisconsin; Gabz

Those are the red cowboy boots I aspire to have someday. I love a flash of color plus there’s nothing like a pair of shi...well you know, kickers. Brings out my South Dakota heritage.

I was wearing my brown pair of cheapie Target cowboy boots today and about slipped on my backside. Not great shoveling gear (no traction, whatsoever) but I wanted to get the walk done to go, where else, Target. Kiddo needed a new sleeping bag for his first five day retreat away from home on the 9th. Got a great deal on a Coleman sleeping bag at 50% off. He was happy. Told me it looked more “adultish” (huh?) than his former bright-colored sleeping bag.

This talk about 200k per acre is insane. Guess it fits in with the 0’s porkulus plan. I’m still noodling around ideas about how to make 200k on my land...BWHAHA!

Seriously though, you two are a wonderful source of inspiration and I want to thank you both for your great responses on other threads. You’re great!


49 posted on 01/29/2009 9:12:11 PM PST by mplsconservative
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
My nominees:
50 posted on 01/29/2009 9:21:13 PM PST by keepitreal (Obama brings change: an international crisis (terrorism) within 6 months)
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To: JustaDumbBlonde

I wanted to buy a few blue berry bushes last year. Just for personal consumption of course.
Strawberries are tempermental. Every year you need to plow up about 1/3 of your patch and rotate the patch. I had a small patch but the berries were not too big and the squirrels got most of them so I mowed it off.
Growing the berries is one thing. But you have to have somewhere to sell them before they are ready. They don’t have a very long shelf life.


51 posted on 01/29/2009 9:22:31 PM PST by o_zarkman44 (Since when is paying more, but getting less, considered Patriotic?)
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To: o_zarkman44
I heard Obama was replacing the rose garden with a watermelon patch.

Well, we now have a pig sty inside the WH, so what different is a watermelon patch outside? I grew up on a farm in central Texas and gardens were our main source of food all year. I agree with several other FReepers' comments.

If this happens, everyone will think we are doing this to be part of the Hussein adoring idiots. I've had gardens every year I had enough room to grow plants. I even had tomatoes growing in pots on the patio at the condo we lived in for several years.

52 posted on 01/30/2009 4:40:08 AM PST by Arrowhead1952 (Dissent is patriotic - Hussein is not and will never be my president.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

You are so right. I’ll never forget the scene: walked into a room and my daughter was holding a phillips head screwdriver in one hand and a flat head screwdriver in the other hand and she was giving her late twenties, Masters Degree boyfriend instructions in how to use screwdrivers.

That boy couldn’t do anything, even paint. Relationship didn’t last.


53 posted on 01/30/2009 5:10:20 AM PST by Roses0508
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To: o_zarkman44

Tobacco is the crop I’m thinking of; gives you quite a return on each acre, though I don’t know the exact figures.

In high school (1970’s) a friend’s Dad gave each of the kids a 5 acre plot to grow what they wanted. Lin always planted tobacco. She had a new sports car each year once we could drive and her college fund was completely up to snuff before we graduated.

http://www.ryomagazine.com/july/review.htm


54 posted on 01/30/2009 5:44:12 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: mplsconservative; Gabz

“Seriously though, you two are a wonderful source of inspiration and I want to thank you both for your great responses on other threads. You’re great!”

Thanks! I can’t imagine living any other way. I’d like to see more people get closer to the land...while the LibTards still let us actually OWN any. Grrrrr!


55 posted on 01/30/2009 5:47:04 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: keepitreal

I loved that show. Those Harry Winston jewels were to die for! :)


56 posted on 01/30/2009 5:47:47 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: JustaDumbBlonde

If you can grow them down by you, Red Lake Currant bushes are nice. A very pretty red jewel-like berry (plentiful!) that makes great jellies and juice. You do need some sugar, though. They’re not sweet like blueberries and strawberries.

I prefer to buy pick-your-own on the strawberries. Harvesting them IS back-breaking work. I had a patch at one time; to me, it’s more work than it’s worth, though the strawberry ‘towers’ that I sell seem to be pretty good.

Blueberries need an acidic soil, so make sure you’re amending with the right stuff. Soil Sulfur has gone waaaay up in price because sulfur is an offshoot of the oil industry. Sound icky, I know, LOL!

So, you’ll have some expensive blueberries on your hands. You could try Miracle Grow Miracid. That would be a bit cheaper.

Also invest in netting because the SECOND they’re ripe, the birds and critters will be all over those blueberries.


57 posted on 01/30/2009 5:54:13 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: JustaDumbBlonde

You’re right—my thinking is too linear, I guess. I’m still thinking row crops/corn, soy beans, etc. Strawberries can do well, but like any gardening endeavor, weather, disease and season dependent. Plus you’ve got to have irrigation, a spray program, someone to pick, etc. They’re not the strawberry patches we grew up with for sure.

Glad you found some fruits and berries. Can’t remember where you are, but I hope they do well. Blueberries like acid soil but are otherwise fairly easy to grow. Don’t know about seedless grapes, except that I love to eat them. They won’t live here—muscadines only for us. Raspberries are my favorite, esp black ones. They won’t do here either—too hot and humid. :( Figs—no problem. They just need plenty of sunshine, limey soil, and lots of water. Once it gets going, you can take cuttings—we did ours last month—and make lots more. :) Lowes gets a lot of stuff, but you have to be careful—it’s not always the best plant for the area.

Go online and check your county extension site—they should have all sorts of info pamphlets specific to your area. Have fun!!


58 posted on 01/30/2009 6:22:40 AM PST by gardengirl
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

With all the tobbacco laws and heightening taxes I don’t know if that isa good crop or not given the current politics.
I think raising tobbacco is an opening for the government to come to your home to tax your crop.
Now if you grow it illegally you may succeed in the black market. But keep in mind the eye in the sky can identify all things cultivated.


59 posted on 01/30/2009 8:20:49 AM PST by o_zarkman44 (Since when is paying more, but getting less, considered Patriotic?)
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To: Gabz

Thanks for the ping..


60 posted on 02/02/2009 11:12:57 AM PST by nw_arizona_granny (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1990507/posts?page=7451 [Survival,food,garden,crafts,and more)
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