Garden as Sacred Space | Nature - Beauty - Sanctuary 4 Simple Steps to Grow a Hundred Pounds of Potatoes in a Barrel Container gardening isn't only for savvy urban gardeners and folks with limited space to grow, it can also be for folks who want to maximize their yields in a controlled environment. Not only does growing potatoes in a barrel reduce the amount of weeding and exposure to pests and fungi, you don't even have to risk shovel-damage to the tender potatoes by digging them out of the ground when they're done, just tip the container over! After extensive research to plan my own potatoes-in-a-barrel, I've boiled all of the recommendations down to 4 simple steps to a winning potato harvest. 1. You'll need to pick out a container such as a 50-gallon trash barrel or one of those half whiskey barrel planters. Good drainage is critical for the cultivation of healthy potatoes so you'll want to cut or drill a series of large drainage holes in the bottom and bottom sides of your container. 2. Fill in the bottom of your container with about 6 inches of loose planting mix and compost. 3. 4.
Growing plants from cuttings - National Backyard Living There are two kinds of cuttings that can be taken to propagate plants. One is softwood and the other is hardwood. Most plants grow easier from one type than the other. If you can’t find any information about which is better for the plant you are trying to clone, you might try a few cuttings of both. Softwood cuttings are taken from the soft, new, green growth at the tips of a plant. Hardwood cuttings are pieces of the plant that are older and woodier. With hardwood cuttings, it is often good to remove your cutting from the parent plant by pulling it away at the join. Dip the end of your cutting in hormone powder to encourage roots to form and press the cut end gently, but firmly into a moistened, sterile medium. Keep your cuttings in good light, but away from direct sunshine and don’t let the soil or medium dry out. Always take many more cuttings than you need since it is likely that a fair percentage will fail to root.
Gardening Take Two We’re approaching our last frost date here in south eastern Idaho, and that means we can finally start thinking about our vegetable garden. Who remembers when I wrote about our gardening plans last year? I told y’all about how my parents kept an incredible garden using the Jacob Mittleider method. You can read that post and view the pictures right here. In short, the Mittleider method combines the best features of soil-based gardening and hydroponic gardening, but without hydroponic expense! The method is based on maximum utilization of space, time, and resources. I’ve received a lot of questions during the past year on how Square Foot Gardening compares and I really couldn’t say. Here are the garden plans I drew up last year. Last year we built 14 grow boxes; 8 inches deep, 4 feet wide, and 8 feet long. Dr. 50% blowsand 50% peat moss75% fine saw dust 25% fine sand50% perlite 50% peat moss or saw dust50% fine saw dust 50% styrofoam pellets Here’s our to-do list:
Creative Organic Gardening - Permaculture gardens (permanent culture) is an approach to everyday life that integrates plants, animals, landscape, structures; people who purposely design all the facets of their lives to enhance environmental sustainability within a permanent, sustainable agricultural and cultural system - a diverse, complex eco-system, where the all of the elements interact in mutually beneficial ways to produce a whole which is greater than the sum of its parts. The art of designing garden areas that are modeled on the relationships found in natural ecologies. Permanent is from the Latin "permanens" - to remain to the end, to persist throughout. Culture is from the Latin "cultura" - meaning the cultivation of land, or the intellect. It is a philosophy, an ethic of caring for the earth and working with, not against nature with an attitude of thoughtful observation, an action-meditation - rather than undirected and thoughtless labor. Permaculture is sustainable land use design. Planting a Permaculture Garden 1. 2. 3. 4.
Make your landscaping butterfly-friendly There is something magical about butterflies as they flit from flower to flower in the garden. These winged beauties are not only stunning to watch but they also serve an important role as pollinators, spreading pollen from flower to flower, leading to fertilization and ultimately seed production. The activities of butterflies and other pollinators, like hummingbirds and bees, help to ensure that various plant species multiply and persist. By growing certain combinations of plants and providing the right setting, you can attract butterflies and other welcome pollinators to your garden. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Below is a partial list of both host and nectar plants to attract and feed butterflies. Herbs Fennel – Both the green and bronze are hosts for Black Swallowtails. Parsley – A host for Black Swallowtails. Basil – Provides nectar. Dill – Is both a host plant and a source of nectar. Annuals Cosmos – A nectar source for the Painted Lady. Hollyhock – A nectar source for the American Painted Lady.
Homemade Household Cleaners Homemade Household Cleaners There is a lot of reasons why making your own household cleaners is a good idea. I have read a lot of information on the dangers of common store bought cleaners. The list of dangers seems to encompass everything from breathing toxic fumes, the harmful effects of the cleaners on your skin to some cleaners being carcinogenic. Aside from the health concerns there is also a financial consideration. You can make many of your own household cleaners utilizing some very basic and common ingredients. There are some household cleaners that are basic simple recipes. If you are wondering what this list of “basic ingredients” are, I will show you: Baking Soda Vinegar Rubbing Alcohol Washing Soda (can be found near laundry detergent in most stores) Borax (also near the laundry section) Mild Dish Detergent How do you use these ingredient to clean you house, you may be wondering? Floor Cleaners Homemade Floor Cleaner 1 cup white vinegar 1 gallon warm water Wood Floor Cleaner 2T vinegar
Potatoes What are we doing in the garden right now? A whole lot of stuff, but let's consider the humble potato. We only grow fingerling types for Manresa. They are tastier and more useful for the chef. I buy my seed potatoes from Ronniger's in Colorado. When the potatoes arrive, I cut up the larger ones (I know they tell you not to, but hear me out here). All the tubers get put in a single layer in seedling trays (open at the bottom for air flow). I like to grow potatoes in 15 gallon pots. First, we disinfect our stash of used pots with a mixture of one part bleach to 10 parts water. We then place only 4 inches of potting soil into the bottom of each pot. Once the soil is in the pots, we simply push five tubers into each one, about two inches under. The pots are then placed in our large unheated hoophouse and watered well. These gorgeous Purple Peruvians were photographed freshly pulled last spring here at the farm.
Indoor Water Gardens - Martha Stewart Home & Garden As anyone who has snorkeled can attest, the cool aquamarine light underwater casts an enchanted glow on everything in its domain. Perhaps this explains the allure of water gardens. Small freshwater gardens are fun to create and simple to care for. Those that can remain entirely submerged in water, such as anubias and parrot's feather (Myriophyllum), are known as true aquatics. When choosing plants, keep in mind that some will need twelve hours or more of bright light daily. Rinse gravel thoroughly to remove dust, which can cloud the water, and salt, which can damage roots and leaves. A few plants, such as black taro (Colocasia) and bamboo plant (Calamus), may be sold potted in plastic containers. After a few weeks, begin fertilizing the plants with tablets made specifically for water gardens.