We decided to make our fence with metal T-posts, even though we prefer the look/eco factor of cedar posts. Every time we find a local supplier, they can't provide us with posts long enough to make a fence tall enough to keep out the deer. Or they can, but it will be several months of waiting. The t-posts should last long enough to justify the "where on the planet did these come from??" factor... I hope. We are at least going to buy the materials from a local business, instead of Lowes or Home Depot, even though it will cost a little more.
The number one thing that I'm worried about right now is how to keep our dogs within this fence, but also keep them out of the veggie beds. We will have to put up additional little fences around the beds. Part of the fenced-in area will be wooded, I'm hoping the dogs learn to poop in the woods and not anywhere near our food. But between the fence and the dogs, our predator problems should be zero. I'm hoping to get about ten chickens as soon as it warms up a bit, and we figure out how to get the chicken coop out to the field (maybe the tractor front loader can carry it somehow?).
This TED talk is about an ecological way to raise fish for human consumption. It talks about a system in Spain, which is great inspiration and encouragement for how we plan on raising our own fish (and all of our other livestock). The fish taste amazing, the local wildlife are thriving, there are zero inputs into the system, and the only outputs are delicious fish and clean water (which drains into the Atlantic).
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Snow, snow, snow...
For those of you who are wondering why we are digging a bunch of holes in the ground, watch THIS video!
The snow pretty much killed any chance of the winter crops from producing any more, but I think the onions will be fine since they are underground?? The main problem with all the snow was that the neighbors couldn't see that the field wasn't a blank field any more, and they rode their ATVs around in it. Guess we better put up a fence.
If you look at this picture of the blueberries, you can see the big difference between the north side (snow hasn't melted) and the south side of the plants. We are thinking of putting thermal mass on the north side (rocks?) to absorb sunlight and let off the heat during the night. Ramsey in Winston-Salem says his yard is almost 5 degrees warmer than the surrounding lots because he has so much thermal mass set up.
We are planing on planting a bamboo plant soon. It is both edible and can be used for building. It is not the kind that spreads terribly quickly, but we do want it to be a whole grove one day... it's very useful to have quick-growing plants around.
Another quick growing tree to look into is the Empress Tree...
The snow pretty much killed any chance of the winter crops from producing any more, but I think the onions will be fine since they are underground?? The main problem with all the snow was that the neighbors couldn't see that the field wasn't a blank field any more, and they rode their ATVs around in it. Guess we better put up a fence.
If you look at this picture of the blueberries, you can see the big difference between the north side (snow hasn't melted) and the south side of the plants. We are thinking of putting thermal mass on the north side (rocks?) to absorb sunlight and let off the heat during the night. Ramsey in Winston-Salem says his yard is almost 5 degrees warmer than the surrounding lots because he has so much thermal mass set up.
We are planing on planting a bamboo plant soon. It is both edible and can be used for building. It is not the kind that spreads terribly quickly, but we do want it to be a whole grove one day... it's very useful to have quick-growing plants around.
Another quick growing tree to look into is the Empress Tree...
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Thanksgiving planting
This Thanksgiving, the whole family was together again. We had the most amazing feast and the best pies my mom has ever made. We also used the opportunity to get some planting done- 12 plants in 2 afternoons!
2 bush cherry
3 service berry
1 kentucky coffee (nitrogen fixer, not real coffee)
2 asian pear
4 blueberry
The cherry, service berry, and blueberry were all planted the same way, with varying levels of different amendments. The ground is cleared with the rogue hoe, then the dirt is broken up with a pick-axe in a large circle around and under the plant. New dirt is mounded around the plant as it sits on top of the ground. Add wet newspaper and mulch on top, and you're done! The pears required holes 3 feet wide and 3 feet deep. Frankie, Jonathon, Quinten and Ash dug them by hand, because there really isn't any room to bring the tractor in anymore.
Cherry:
Preparing the ground for blueberry:
Finished blueberries:
Kentucky coffee:
Very deep holes for the pear trees:
Sheet mulching the service berries:
It's finally starting to look like a forest!!
The blackberries from last week are now in the ground and looking good. The elderberries are in the background:
Snow Peas doing well, and finally tall enough to latch onto the trellis.
We are still gathering greens as needed from the veggie patch:
Everything is looking really frosty in the mornings. A good long frosty winter is actually essential for some fruit trees to develop properly:
Ash, my mom and I are going to Europe tomorrow and will be back on December 8th. See you then!!! If any of you see my brothers or my dad, remind them to feed the animals.
2 bush cherry
3 service berry
1 kentucky coffee (nitrogen fixer, not real coffee)
2 asian pear
4 blueberry
The cherry, service berry, and blueberry were all planted the same way, with varying levels of different amendments. The ground is cleared with the rogue hoe, then the dirt is broken up with a pick-axe in a large circle around and under the plant. New dirt is mounded around the plant as it sits on top of the ground. Add wet newspaper and mulch on top, and you're done! The pears required holes 3 feet wide and 3 feet deep. Frankie, Jonathon, Quinten and Ash dug them by hand, because there really isn't any room to bring the tractor in anymore.
Cherry:
Preparing the ground for blueberry:
Finished blueberries:
Kentucky coffee:
Very deep holes for the pear trees:
Sheet mulching the service berries:
It's finally starting to look like a forest!!
The blackberries from last week are now in the ground and looking good. The elderberries are in the background:
Snow Peas doing well, and finally tall enough to latch onto the trellis.
We are still gathering greens as needed from the veggie patch:
Everything is looking really frosty in the mornings. A good long frosty winter is actually essential for some fruit trees to develop properly:
Ash, my mom and I are going to Europe tomorrow and will be back on December 8th. See you then!!! If any of you see my brothers or my dad, remind them to feed the animals.
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