I have been playing with plants for as long as I can remember. I misunderstood what they needed. One thing, they take time to grow (unless it is Kudzoo) They like their roots to be in one place long enough to do something. I would dig up and replant daily...then wondered why my plants did not grow...I didn't understand about proper watering and drainage and nutrition. I didn't know nothin.
But the Lord is there to ask questions of and once I became his I started to do some searching and found alot of things to open my eyes. What we live with today for the most part is NOT good farming. Only those that run sustainable farms using natural time tested methods, grow good food and animals that are good for US to consume. Since the advent of the fast food restaurants, we have feedlot production of animals that are just sick, nasty meat entering our food chain. We have Chinese imports that poison our pets, GMO that makes the once healthy corn, wheat and soy , to become poison to the human body. We vaccinate with toxins and fetal cells, mercury, aluminum , formaldehyde and crud and then bemoan the rise in cancers, heart disease and diabetes among just a few things. The only safe way to eat is organically, letting food ripen naturally and eating it when it does on a daily basis, no pesticides or chemical fertilizers . But with soil that has been built up in a normal sustainable way to nourish plants and animals and us. Well Organic can be a rip off too. How do we know for sure that the food is organic as they claim? Hard to know for sure unless you grow it yourself. Then you know what is in it. Because of continuing health problems I now garden in raised beds...I am talking 2 ft or higher. Easier to maintain and harvest and for me to inspect daily. Easier to grow densely planted crops in a smaller space because the soil is super rich.
1. start with a site. Unless you are growing root crops or variegated leaved plants, then a little shade is not going to hurt. Then construct the bed. I like Patricia Lanza's method of Lasagna Gardening. Layering the raw materials and letting the earth worms turn it into black gold. So after the walls are constructed to your size needed...then you need to fill it... start with cardboard, or VERY thick layers of newspapers (like several inches) and very wet... soak it good. If the bed will be deep like over two feet, then do a layer of gravel or rocks to fill in the bottom 6" or so. then start to layer brown and green vegetable material. Grass clipping, straw, peat moss, egg shells, wood ash, chopped up leaves, spent soil, compost, dead grass...etc. Until your bed is filled. Then a final layer of a natural compost. Plant into this and water well... it will be converted to wonderful rich dirt by the organisms in the soil and the earth worms... iron phosphate keeps out snails and slugs, DE (diatomaceous earth) will add minerals and help deter and even kill some insect invaders without hurting the good. Natural mineral additives (Azomite) Liquid fish emulsion for the fertilizing. This is my first year of trying neem oil and sal soap mixture as a natural organic insecticide. My biggest nemesis has been squash bugs and stink bugs...just different versions of the same nasty critter. No bird likes them...at least none in my area. Spiders will take them...but not enough spiders in the world to take care of my hoard.
this was early spring and things were just getting started
You can see the water tank in the upper left. 300 gallons for this summer.
the milk jugs have holes punched in the sides facing the plants...this is NOT slow watering...but rather a fast way to get water to the roots nearest them.
My first little green house and my constant companion...the rat who follows me...
you will be surprised at how fast these grow and fill in.
the oriental look
By changing the fabric and the doll I get pajamas. 