tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636358068441886242.post4715359738028626072..comments2024-01-03T17:26:32.872-08:00Comments on Our Subsistence Pattern: What is a Weed?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636358068441886242.post-63109802122417401972011-12-07T08:42:06.106-08:002011-12-07T08:42:06.106-08:00Among the finest that you realize that you truly m...Among the finest that you realize that you truly made a excellent examination about it particular subject. This site really is <br />comprised of an excellent useful connection which will afflicted me with a a lot of knowledge about this kind of change lives <a href="http://forex1.eu/" rel="nofollow">forex en ligne</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636358068441886242.post-40453878983421299272010-08-11T11:19:21.528-07:002010-08-11T11:19:21.528-07:00Kimberly - Thank you! That was a very interesting ...Kimberly - Thank you! That was a very interesting video on propagation. It looks like he also has a blog at -<br /><br />http://trevorskitchengarden.ie/<br /><br />I look forward to trying this with my own cabbage and maybe kale soon.Mr. H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04576034751522467377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636358068441886242.post-25985357570811524602010-08-11T09:38:34.311-07:002010-08-11T09:38:34.311-07:00I just found this You Tube that you might enjoy ab...I just found this You Tube that you might enjoy about propagating cabbage plants. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHQP8kEabbU <br /><br />His cabbage plants don't look like cabbage but maybe its because they've already gone to seed. ?<br /><br />You might already do this.Kimberlynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636358068441886242.post-33704709182196708892010-08-09T06:05:34.697-07:002010-08-09T06:05:34.697-07:00Robin - I have that Ruth Stout book and need to pu...Robin - I have that Ruth Stout book and need to pull it out and read it again soon. The whole anti-rotation idea is very interesting. Every time I walk by a patch of weeds or wild edibles that has been thriving in the same spot for years I think about it.:)<br /><br />I'm glad you stopped by and good luck wih all of your "weeds." :)Mr. H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04576034751522467377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636358068441886242.post-18528858322522873012010-08-08T13:47:28.318-07:002010-08-08T13:47:28.318-07:00I recently read some anti-crop rotation info in a ...I recently read some anti-crop rotation info in a Ruth Stout book. Very thought-provoking.<br /><br />I have encouraged many plants to become weeds in my chaotic happy crazy garden. <br />Cilantro, parsley, sorrel, arugula, chard, leeks, daisies, violets.<br /><br />I don't come by your blog as often as I might like, but I always learn a lot. Great blog!Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15511451294300128120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636358068441886242.post-30878331171210128822010-08-07T15:43:20.341-07:002010-08-07T15:43:20.341-07:00Hi ML - The winter tunnels are great and help to k...Hi ML - The winter tunnels are great and help to keep us in greens all year. I'll be planting our winter spinach in the next week or so followed by turnip greens in September to grow under those covered rows.Mr. H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04576034751522467377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636358068441886242.post-30697230085381904172010-08-07T08:33:22.076-07:002010-08-07T08:33:22.076-07:00Very inspiring lifestyle. Especially like the wint...Very inspiring lifestyle. Especially like the winter tunnels.Emellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05496836882791302363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636358068441886242.post-76901739092526355972010-08-06T18:34:09.770-07:002010-08-06T18:34:09.770-07:00Diane - Yes permaculture, and with any luck we wil...Diane - Yes permaculture, and with any luck we will both continue to garden in the same places for many years because our soil is good and our diseases and pests are few. <br /><br />Chickens have ruined our compost pile as well, they eat all the best composting ingredients...what can a person do.:)<br /><br />So, yes I do think it would be a great idea to cover your peppers and eggplants. With any luck your first few frosts will be light and the plants will continue to thrive. Both peppers and eggplants can handle a very light frost much better than tomatoes once they are established so I say go for it. Your other option would be to carefully dig up and pot up a few of your favorites and keep them in a frost free environment. <br /><br />Miss M - Between you and Roasted Garlicious I might just have to use landscape fabric instead of plastic in the future. The thing is that I already have a roll of black plastic that was given to me years ago and I have never used...so I will have to take that into consideration as well. <br /><br />Don't let the pictures fool you, the gardens don't look quite as nice in person. Thanks so much for your kind comments.:)Mr. H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04576034751522467377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636358068441886242.post-66169551208005846942010-08-06T10:56:00.313-07:002010-08-06T10:56:00.313-07:00Another excellent post, filled with wonderful and ...Another excellent post, filled with wonderful and useful information ! Enjoyed the videos very much but you, sir, are my real inspiration. Your garden, lifestyle and philosophy are awe-inspiring. :)<br /><br />I, like RoastedGarlicious, tend to gravitate towards landscape fabric instead of plastic.miss mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08779663826025791655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636358068441886242.post-8894945337449207042010-08-06T07:07:53.453-07:002010-08-06T07:07:53.453-07:00Mike that was absolutely one of the very best post...Mike that was absolutely one of the very best posts I've read!!! Great job! <br /><br />I don't know what it is, but I never tire of looking at gardens. And you guys have one of the most beautiful. Weeds and all! As I'm in my jungle where I can't find isles anymore either, I just keep telling myself that it's called "permaculture". I have to purposefully leave some weeds (not the crab grass) to do their work. I know I should leave and even eat the lambs quarter but it becomes a like tree here. I hate to say I pull them up. But like you, anything that's pulled or has bugs or is not edible, I feed to the chickens. My compost pile is near extinction, because the chickens get most everything now.<br /><br />I know how you can get that spent hay and straw! You guessed it....a couple milk goats!!! But you are right....Templeton (my beloved rats) loves to burrow in it and I don't think I'll ever catch (I mean kill) all of them. So I think we peacefully will exist....I let him live and eat my celery roots! Dang that rat!!! He has however done a splendid job at turning the manure pile!!! <br /><br />Say Mr H, do you think if I put up hoops and plastic over my bed of peppers & eggplants I can harvest them into the winter or at best late fall? I'll have to give that a try.Diane@Peaceful Acreshttp://butterfliesandbumblebees.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636358068441886242.post-35213745800544582732010-08-06T07:05:15.374-07:002010-08-06T07:05:15.374-07:00Meemsync - There are quite a few people that I hav...Meemsync - There are quite a few people that I have read about who have a lot of luck growing their potatoes in buckets. Hopefully it will work out really well for you. It will be interesting to hear your thoughts on the results.<br /><br />Laura - If you were standing in my garden you would probably have a headache from answering all my questions about your own garden.:)<br /><br />I'm glad you enjoyed the videos as she obviously has a pretty good understanding of her own little ecosystem...as much as anyone really can. All I know is that before we had chickens all I ever used on the gardens was composted plant debris and it worked out really well for us and still does. So I really found her thoughts on using these weeds as a way to nourish her plants encouraging.<br /><br />I am tossing around the idea of trying the red mulch on a few tomato plants next year as I have seen how well it works for you. Gosh, this gardening year still has a ways to go and here I am all excited about the next.:) Glad you enjoyed the videos.<br /><br />Heiko - You are so right, I think each of us can use some kernels of information from fellow gardeners/farmers to our benefit but on the whole we have such different environments that we will never be able to fully copy the success of others. I do think that many people fail to understand this.<br /><br />The point you make is a very important one as every garden, even the one down the street from me has it's own challenges. If I were to try and apply the way I garden to your terraced garden and much different environment it would probably not work out very well. <br /><br />I really appreciate your thoughts on this.:)Mr. H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04576034751522467377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636358068441886242.post-33867873252109376212010-08-06T04:47:41.460-07:002010-08-06T04:47:41.460-07:00Really interesting those 2 videos. I picked up pa...Really interesting those 2 videos. I picked up particularly on the mimicking of the natural environment. The thing is that, no matter how many garden books you read or films like this you watch, your individual situation is always going to be different.<br /><br />The trouble of course is applying this to my situation. Our terraces are too narrow to have alternative rows, but on the other hand of course I have to mow the vertical bits and I leave what comes off there on the flat bits, So I suppose that should help some.<br /><br />Food for thought anyway, still looking for the best system. If I'd mimick the natural system, I'd be in an oak and sweet chestnut forest within a couple of years!Heikohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17999245793961798308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636358068441886242.post-62504169897897741542010-08-05T20:04:11.860-07:002010-08-05T20:04:11.860-07:00Where to start... First, your garden is beautiful ...Where to start... First, your garden is beautiful and if I were there you would find me just standing in it and admiring it. I sincerely think a high performing food production garden is living art. <br /><br />Second, the videos are excellent and resonate for me because so much of what she is speaking to are things that I have found to be true in my own garden - even though my living mulch method is one of raised beds closely planted and green manures combined with traditional compost applications. The concept of recycled fertility is critical in the biodiversity methods of John Jeavon's and many others. <br /><br />Third, I use plastic mulch on the beds that I plant tomatoes, peppers and squashes - or I plant them in containers (black ones even!) and grow them where they are likely to get light reflection or passive solar collection (greenhouse) to further enhance the warming process. That is critical for my cool maritime climate.<br /><br />Thoroughly enjoyed the post and video links. Thank you!kitsapFGhttp://www.modernvictorygarden.com/apps/blog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636358068441886242.post-19726137436428328252010-08-05T19:16:33.554-07:002010-08-05T19:16:33.554-07:00The potatoes I grew this year were Red potatoes, Y...The potatoes I grew this year were Red potatoes, Yukon Gold and White potatoes. The potatoes were pretty small in size. I am going to try to plant them in buckets next year instead of in the ground.meemsnychttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10584936035577822444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636358068441886242.post-56579261834458641002010-08-05T17:58:50.273-07:002010-08-05T17:58:50.273-07:00Roasted Garlicious - I hate the idea of using plas...Roasted Garlicious - I hate the idea of using plastic in the garden as well but I love my peppers. The goal will of coarse be to re-use it for a number of years which means I will have to be very careful not to rip it up. Some of the plastic I use for our row covers is 5 years old and still usable.<br /><br />Perhaps a show about the adventures of my wife and I could be played late in the evening to help people who suffer from insomnia fall asleep quickly.:)<br /><br />Faith - I knew I wasn't the only one trying to cultivate weeds.:) Good for her, I have never seen white fireweed before, I bet it is very pretty. I will have to keep an eye out but as far as I know we only have the reddish colored fireweed growing around here. I just looked it up in Wikipedia and it sounds like a plant I need to learn more about. <br /><br />From Wikipedia - "The young shoots were often collected in the spring by Native American people and mixed with other greens. They are best when young and tender; as the plant matures the leaves become tough and somewhat bitter. The southeast Native Americans use the stems in the stage. They are peeled and eaten raw. When properly prepared soon after picking they are a good source of vitamin C and pro-vitamin A. The Dena'ina add fireweed to their dogs' food. Fireweed is also a medicine of the Upper Inlet Dena'ina, who treat pus-filled boils or cuts by placing a piece of the raw stem on the afflicted area. This is said to draw the pus out of the cut or boil and prevents a cut with pus in it from healing over too quickly.<br /><br />The root can be roasted after scraping off the outside, but often tastes bitter. To mitigate this, the root is collected before the plant flowers and the brown thread in the middle removed.<br /><br />In Alaska, candies, syrups, jellies, and even ice cream are made from fireweed. Monofloral honey made primarily from fireweed nectar has a distinctive, spiced flavor.<br /><br />In Russia, its leaves were often used as tea substitute and were even exported, known in Western Europe as Kapor tea. Fireweed leaves can undergo fermentation, much like real tea. Today, Kapor tea is still occasionally consumed though not commercially important."Mr. H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04576034751522467377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636358068441886242.post-81973515007133417892010-08-05T12:31:34.927-07:002010-08-05T12:31:34.927-07:00Hi Mr H. Your garden looks great! One of my frie...Hi Mr H. Your garden looks great! One of my friends is trying to cultivate weeds in her garden. She is having a hard time getting them to grow. We are actually going to dig up some white fireweed and bring it home to plant.Faithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13445590769325999127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636358068441886242.post-81556137538519058562010-08-05T08:55:48.561-07:002010-08-05T08:55:48.561-07:00I doubt there much i could add to either your grea...I doubt there much i could add to either your great post or all the comments!! i'm not a fan of black plastic because it's plastic...but i will use landscape fabric if need be...i've been using the same roll for 5 yrs now... i like the documentary idea.. or even a weekly show!! our televisions are lacking in quality garden programs ;) get to it will ya!!!Roasted Garlicioushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07556028794687730410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636358068441886242.post-41577472265280619012010-08-05T08:50:32.449-07:002010-08-05T08:50:32.449-07:00Carole - Grass clipping are wonderful, we use them...Carole - Grass clipping are wonderful, we use them to mulch many of our potted plants and it really makes a huge difference on how often we need to water them. <br /><br />I forgot to grow mizuna this year...hmm. But yes, chard is another plant that does a good job of re-seeding itself. Chickweed and Lambs quarters (also called "fat hen") were often used in the old days to feed chickens, how great that you are able to harvest the wild greens for your flock...bet you have some pretty happy healthy birds.:)Mr. H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04576034751522467377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636358068441886242.post-74905671189455258772010-08-05T08:49:46.393-07:002010-08-05T08:49:46.393-07:00Vrtlarica - Arugula is a great plant to use for se...Vrtlarica - Arugula is a great plant to use for self seeding purposes. The funny part is that the arugula in my garden that self seeds always outperforms the ones that I plant...interesting how that works. I hate using plastic in the garden but I am definitely going to use it to help warm my peppers next year.<br /><br />Elizabeth - You will love having the square foot garden beds and I am looking forward to seeing what you grow in them...how fun.<br /><br />Banana trees, now that is almost beyond my comprehension up here in Idaho.:) Lucky you.<br /><br />Mavis - You know what would really work out well is if I could charge admission for the opportunity to weed the garden, now that would really be something.:) Believe me we do not need any more weirdos where I live as there are already more than enough.<br /><br />Good job on stockpiling the food. I have an article for you to read when you get a chance. Oh, and while you have been stockpiling beef Micki has been loading up with coffee as we think the price will be going up...we now have a years supply. I can live without meat but not coffee.:) Here is the link - http://www.cdapress.com/columns/cliff_ha<br /><br />rris/article_c726921d-9305-5216-b4be-4e<br /><br />1331ea62f7.html<br /><br />This guy (Cliff Harris) has been extremely accurate with his long term weather forecasts.<br /><br />The Hand - Thanks for the great article on mulching.:) I really do love the way you use it in your gardens. This fall we are going to collect every pile of leaves that we can for our gardens even if I have to rake them out of the neighbors yards myself.:) I think leaves are one of the best sources of mulch and compost out there...I especially like using our maple leaves.<br /><br />E - Thanks, with any luck we will have a decent harvest this year and as I continue to learn more, even better ones in the future. Thanks for visiting.:)<br /><br />Emma - You know, using the black plastic bags is a great idea and might work well for my eggplants...I'll have to remember that for next year. <br /><br />Stefaneener - I'm glad that you enjoyed the videos, she really is a pretty cool lady and seems very intelligent in regards to understanding the soil and the needs of her plants.<br /><br />We have almost solved our vole issues by allowing the chickens access to the outskirts of our gardens. They freak the voles out with all their scratching and other noises. The one place where the chickens do not have access is where we still have the occasional vole issue. But yes, mowing or not we are literally surrounded by thousands of voles and they used to be an absolute nightmare in the gardens.<br /><br />It was my understanding that in the fall she goes through and cuts down all of the remaining crop residue. In the spring they go through with a machine that actually makes the rows for them and also (I think) lays down the plastic. I do not know how they remove the old plastic though. perhaps the same machine that puts it down also removes it...not sure.<br /><br />Mrs. Mac - Here is something you might be interested in. I was reading the other day that if you plant your beans or peas in the same spot every year they will do better than if you rotate them to a new spot. This is the opposite of what I have been doing and have read about in other garden books. That said, I have noticed that my runner beans that are always planted in the exact same spot year after year always perform extremely well for us. Something to think about I guess. Unfortunately I can not remember where I read that.<br /><br />Ruralrose - We do have pussy willows growing in our area, perhaps I need a few on the outskirts of the garden too. Mallow is a pretty incredible plant. Not only can you eat the young leaves, use it to build your soil, but the mucilaginous properties of the roots make an excellent sore throat remedy.Mr. H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04576034751522467377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636358068441886242.post-91523034036435788332010-08-05T00:44:04.310-07:002010-08-05T00:44:04.310-07:00I really enjoyed this post - I've become a bit...I really enjoyed this post - I've become a bit obsessed by mulch over the last year. I have been mulching heavily with grass clippings....and now as I harvest crops like Broad Beans from my raised beds I'm cutting the plants off, lying them on the soil, and then covering with more mulch to keep the soil well covered. I do have to keep lifting it back onto the beds, as the Blackbirds just love raking it off to get at insects!<br /><br />I also agree wholeheartedly about the weeds. I try to gather a large bucketful of greens every day for my hens....and quite often this is largely composed of weeds (chickweed and goosegrass figure largely here) harvested from my neighbours gardens.<br /><br />I'm also encouraging self-seeding and have benefited from self-sown Mizuna and Chard this year....currently have more Mizuna and Chard going to seed. Like you say free plants! Over the winter I plan to grow them on in the polytunnel along with some green manure like Rye to feed the hens on.<br /><br />Looking forward to watching the videos later on.Carole McGivernhttp://rustic-life.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636358068441886242.post-91496124860470594752010-08-04T23:36:36.666-07:002010-08-04T23:36:36.666-07:00Exceptional post - you really do know the sweet sp...Exceptional post - you really do know the sweet spot! Loved the bit about the mallow as it grows like grass here. I keep my peppers in pots too, would be silly not to now that we know. You are leading the way for us all. Loved how you talked about problem solving being what you like about gardening last post, gave me much thought. Do you have a pussy willow? They really attract the bees in the spring. PeaceRuth Trowbridgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02504906924681540699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636358068441886242.post-2737998993828608522010-08-04T22:37:45.808-07:002010-08-04T22:37:45.808-07:00Very nice presentation Mr. H. We're still wor...Very nice presentation Mr. H. We're still working on getting the soil better enriched so this gives me another avenue to help it along. I noticed my bush beans are much larger in the row I applied hay mulch .. same with my pepper plants. You know how I feel about the VOLES!!! Dagnabit!Mrs. Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06644129213141875138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636358068441886242.post-75170751557938379812010-08-04T21:33:29.253-07:002010-08-04T21:33:29.253-07:00Those were terrific videos. Thanks for showing the...Those were terrific videos. Thanks for showing them to us. Your constant interrogating of your system is really enlightening. I can only wish I had a full time farm to try this system on -- it looks pretty impressive.<br /><br />Do you think you'd have vole issues with a lot of mowing? <br /><br />What do they do with the black plastic after the season? How do the crop residues get tilled in to (if I listened correctly) switch growing/living mulch rows each year?<br /><br />One of the reasons I love to garden is the endless list of questions it generates. Keeps me young.Stefaneenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08422241601075022500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636358068441886242.post-81683128277208997372010-08-04T21:31:03.163-07:002010-08-04T21:31:03.163-07:00I have a black plastic mulch (recycled from compos...I have a black plastic mulch (recycled from compost bags) under my watermelons in the greenhouse this summer, and it really seems to be keeping them happy :)Emmahttp://coopette.com/blog/do-you-grow-unusual-ediblesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7636358068441886242.post-47008405087224332572010-08-04T20:53:50.585-07:002010-08-04T20:53:50.585-07:00Your garden fills me with the greenest of envy!
i...Your garden fills me with the greenest of envy!<br /><br />i hope you enjoy the fruits (and veggies) of your labor for many seasons.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773644656773334421noreply@blogger.com