Resilience
It was not given to you by your parents,
it was loaned to you by your children.
We do not inherit the Earth from our
Ancestors,
We borrow it from our Children.
Earth Day is Friday April 22, 2022.
The above quote is from an ancient Native American Proverb. And who knows better how to care for this great blue orb than those who lived in harmony with it for millenniums. They held the Earth, the animals, the Sun, the wind, and the waters as sacred entities, equal to themselves.
They worshiped Mother Earth as the hands of the Creator.
The Original Environmentalists.
This Open Thread, hopefully, will spark a desire to learn more about caring for this land in a more fundamental way. A return to the land as a provider of sustenance in a way that is sustainable and prolific.
This is about Organic Gardening.
Why organic?
Two reasons stand out as the most pressing, the unsustainability of petroleum based fertilizers and the politicization of fertilizer production worldwide. Arable soils worldwide are becoming depleted and dead of all healthy microorganisms due to the sole use of artificial soil amendments in the form of nitrogen, phosphate, and potash extracted largely from fossil fuel materials or mines. Both phosphates and potash over time leave salt residue that destroys the soil life permanently.
The recent Special Military Operation in the Ukraine has resulted in a halt in production and supply of fertilizers from Ukraine and a foolish sanction of Russian supplies, the two countries that supply 80% of the worlds fertilizers.
This comes at a most crucial spring planting time across all time zones and extending from 55 Degrees north to 20 degrees south, a sizable chunk of the earths land mass and billions of people. Major world organizations are predicting major shortages of food are likely as early as next spring (2023)
Rampant inflation due to manipulations of the dollar supply (or whatever reason blows your dress up) is crushing the food budget of the poor and seriously affecting world GDP. Add to this the sharp decrease in worldwide food production spells serious food shortages and potential riots, violence, and mass starvation, and not just in the third world.
The toilet paper debacle of early 2020 was just a harbinger of what could come sooner than we may think. Inflation is not going away, and apparently, neither is war.
How does one prepare for something like this?
Learning how to grow your own food is one way to prepare.
Now I hate the term "Prepper". It brings up imaginings of hoarders or some cultlike behavior way out in the backcountry. But we are all preppers in some fashion or other. If you have a savings account at your local credit union, you are preparing for some emergency or saving for something. You're a prepper. If you check the fluid levels in your car, you're a prepper. If your wife does all the cooking but leaves the bar-b-que to you, you are actually learning to prepare your own food, even if it is a 2 lb steak. You are a prepper.
So lets just go ahead and use prepper in our discussions here.
We're all friends here, right?
Now I realize it is kinda late in the season to be starting a garden from scratch for some of us, (looking at you Lookout) tomatoes are in the ground in Alabamy.
But for those of us up here in the more northern latitudes (45 degrees N)and still looking at snow coming down, we still have time to pick as sunny a spot we can and set to forming a rough outline of a garden. Whether tilling up your existing soil or bringing in a load of 3 or 4-way soil for raised beds, you've still got time.
IIRC, Student of Earth has in a past post described using hay bales as raised beds with great success. I think she even had a couple of short videos to share.
I started my journey with a smallish 14' x 22' raised bed lined with concrete blocks in my suburban back yard.
Sun exposure is most important.
Another solution is a local community garden. Some allow individual plots for you to work on your own.
The size of your starter garden not as important as is the learning process itself.
Don't over do it if it's your first time.
Until the next installment, here is some homework: Study the USDA Hardiness Zone Map and determine what zone you are in, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/planting-zones/usda-planting-zone-map.htm.
Comments
Good morning earthling
Your subject matter is very timely, given that it is planting season and 'growing your own' is a
positive reaction to the big ag food model inherent in the world.
I had a late start developing vegetable growing skills. Just started when semi-retiring a few years
ago. It has been a steep learning curve for me. But I agree with your attitude of getting started
and learning thru the process.
This year am trying to start more seedlings, rather than just potted starts. I find good soil and
lots of sun help achieve reasonable results. Both of which are in short supply on our plot.
The raised bed approach seems to work better. Although the critters such as rabbits, deer and
woodchucks must be held at bay using fencing. And the bugs, beetles, mites and such can
wreak havoc as well. Then there is the issue of watering...
But after all is said and done, having bunches of fresh, canned, pickled, fermented and frozen produce is a somewhat spiritual enhancement. Good eating too!
Thank-you for posting this open thread today!
question everything
@QMS
Good morning to you also, QMS.
Like you, I began this journey in earnest when I retired in 2004. I had dabbled with it before, when I was working my career as a fitter but just didn't have the time needed to prepare and work a proper garden.
It didn't take long to outgrow my little patch in the back yard before I was expanding along the fence line and even planting potatoes in the 8 x 8 compost pile.
When I started planting in the front yard earthling2 put her foot down and told me to get some acreage somewhere.
So now we are building a little 3.2 acre farm the next county over.
Bugs and pests are a problem here too, but hopefully this community OT will help with some "best practices" suggestions.
Stay tuned for some quest posters and more ideas throughout the growing season.
Thanks for your interest.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
Have to step away
for a couple of hours (dental appointment) but will return to continue hosting.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
Good luck at the dentist
I am so thankful that my time in the chair is OVER! Dawg knows that I spent enough time in one over the decades trying to save the inevitable because of trauma to the nerves. Hopefully it was just something routine? I fought the shot beginning with the 1st one. Mom had to make 2 hour appointments because the 1st hour was getting me to open my mouth. I think I had the worst dentist in the world. And cruelest. Shudder at the memories.
Thanks for hosting the OT. Nice of you to step up.
The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the dedicated communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction, true and false, no longer exists.
~Hannah Arendt
Yeah, routine
Earthling2 has the same dread. She is a mess two days beforehand. And that is just for a cleaning.
I read some where redheads have a lower pain threshold. Could explain it. You?
I, fortunately, have a high pain threshold.
And I have a really good dentist.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
I think red heads have a harder time getting numb
and maybe that has something to do with a lower pain tolerance. It’s just something I’ve heard from my red headed friends. My problem with getting numb was that my face was broken twice and it was hard for my dentist to hit the nerves. I would get up to 8 shots and still the tooth would not get numb, but after the first one that went through scar tissue the gums at least were. But boy the next day…owie. My boss could never understand why I needed 2 days off for dental work. Like I said I’m just glad it’s all over for me now. I could tell you stories…but for the last 6 they were surgically removed because they were fused to the bone.
The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the dedicated communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction, true and false, no longer exists.
~Hannah Arendt
What a pleasure to see your OT.
A timely topic much appreciated.
Thanks Pluto
Gonna try to keep this up. Hope you tag along.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
A late good morning...
Had a chilly but enjoyable walk around trade day. Had to cover those tomatoes last night.
I had a friend that took pride in having the first tomatoes of the season. As he planted, he set a gallon milk jug of water beside every plant, then put up his cages to which he had wrapped clear plastic taller than the cage itself and placed it over the plant and jug. He left the top open during the day, but at night he took the excess plastic sticking above the cage an stuffed it down inside the cage making like a sealed greenhouse. The jug of water acted like a thermal buffer, absorbing heat during the day and releasing heat at night. Now that's way too much trouble to me. I prefer eating with the season, and as my SO says, there's not a decent tomato till after the 4th of July (though we harvest June tomatoes...it's the heat I think). So to make the short story long, we had to use a row cover over the small tomato plants last night and will have to again tonight, but then headed to the 80's late this week.
Gardening isn't just about prepping for me. I really get a kick out of planting seeds, seeing plants emerge and grow, some of which fruit and make food. It's fun. It is a lot like playing music at a jam versus a gig. I do it for fun not the pay. Much like making music, gardening is a hobby which can pay for itself.
Happy gardening everyone! Thanks for the OT.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Hi Lookout
The jugs of water are a great idea. I used a 55 gal. drum of water in my little greenhouse and it worked really well. I even had trays of seedlings on top and around it. Kept the whole green house from frosting even in temps down in the teens.
Bodies of water has a great moderating effect. The ancient Mexico City inhabitants used extensive canals to surround their row crops to keep them warm even in the 7000 elevation winters.
Have been conversing with another member here about an island in the Columbia River where I stumbled across an avocado tree fruiting away at 45° north lat. The water apparently moderates enough to allow it to thrive.
I too garden largely as hobby. But also to try to inspire my kids and grandkids with a sense that they too can grow great tasting food and sustain themselves should the need arise.
It is also an investment into the future when I'm gone.
I've planted many trees as a result of some quote I read here at C99:
.
It's one of the reasons I love this site.
Thanks for the post.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
Row cover...
wouldn't have been able to do our CSA farm without it. Too far north. We can get freezing nights all the way to july 4th!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Gardening
this might be the year to plant a modern Victory one, sccording to the chart we're an 8b but I think altitude might make an adjustment necessary
pulled in two loads of horse manure and straw/shavings to roll into the boxes
which some need a rebuild finally getting
much needed rain through the week snow higher up
from the amount of blooms the gravenstein is Back
several years ago had to cut it back hard
rots gotta go took one tree all the way to the ground
rotholes through the roots
sad
feeding the doves chicken food eight or so swoop in and
munchtwice a day
crows(ravens) raid the compost
need a pellet rifle these squab be Fat
Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .
Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .
If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march
Hey ya TBU
Haven't seen you for awhile. Since that last meetup in Portland. Hope everything is good with you.
An yeah, wood don't last long for raised beds. Ironically, it's a good sign. It means your soil is healthy and alive.
I have used the "tighty-whitey" soil test where you bury a pair of all cotton underwear for 90 days then dig them up and they should be completely rotted away with only the elastic remaining.
It will show how healthy your soil is.
It works.
I've got snow on the 1000' hills all around me, although the temps are in the high 40s in daytime and 30s at night.
Thanks for stopping by.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
About the
only use I can see for tighty whiteys
Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .
Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .
If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march
I know
I had to search around for all cotton ones. Had to buy a package of three.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
3 tests in the package!
Teheh
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Whoa she should buy a lottery ticket
The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the dedicated communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction, true and false, no longer exists.
~Hannah Arendt
Wow
Amazing video. Glad to see she's ok.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
Sitting here
in the dentist office waiting to go in for a cleaning and checkup.
What a great way to pass the time waiting.
Anybody got any dentist jokes?
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
A dentist made a joke about me.
He had to turn almost upside down, and other contortions, to yank an upper wisdom tooth.
When he got done, he said, "If anybody ever calls you a Big Mouth, you tell 'em I said they are a liar."
I am a red head. So hard to get my mouth deadened, dentists have said, "I can't help you." I have a very high tolerance for pain, have had several drillings and pulls without any deadening. My red headed Dad and brother have had the same experience. We 3 red heads don't need no pain killers!
Not sure about red heads and pain tolerance, but it is well known in the dentistry world we are very difficult to deaden for dental purposes.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
I'm a dishwater blond
so I can't relate. But I have to have Novocain for anything more than cleaning.
I will confess though, I used to keep a little vial of cocaine in case I or someone close got a toothache on the weekend.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
In between 8a and 8b. Water wars.
I always thought I was in 9a or so, but that was the other place in south county. Today I relearned my zones, thanks earthling1. Thanks for hosting OT.
I didn't plant seeds this year, because water is more scarce, and my landlord might sell the place yet. I don't know. I will miss the yardlong beans and the scallop squash this summer, could never grow extra to preserve but the fresh stuff was great. I liked watching the patch develop over the three years I had it. I totally carried all that water myself. (flex) lol I say again "maybe next year" 'cause I don't feel like giving up yet.
It's still not too late to plant this year in fact, been a frosty rainy April almost like "normal" which seems weird now. That zone map updated 2015, I think a new one is due soon, slightly more extreme. The polar ice caps are melting faster than predicted. yee haw Yeah I'm delusional, the cost of water is not going down ever again, it can only go up. I can't even mount a dilemna, much less ride the horns of one. Faker.
...
Another salvo in the California war against fish,
Fishery groups plan to sue PG&E over Potter Valley plant and related Scott, Cape Horn dams
Their big idea was called The Two-Basin Solution, why does it make me think of dead Palestinians? "Forget about it Jake, it's Chinatown."
---
This next law is a new one, I voted for it in 2014 I think? LOL
Sonoma County unveils first-ever proposed well water fees under pioneering California groundwater law
WTF!? I did not vote for that! Oh well hey, we're law pioneers! Law suits as far as the eye can see from here on out. If only I could afford to see one.
I am laughing right now, and I would be dancing on the deck but can't see through all the chairs everywhere they keep moving around so fast. This is as Rockefeller as it gets,
US, California see a rising tally of lonely deaths on the streets
Democrats and Republicans alike believe they are not making war on us poors. Okay, now I give up. Have a great day and try again tomorrow.
Thanks
for the piece on the dams and lawsuit. Will keep a close eye on it as we have a couple of aging dams above us on the Cowlitz River that they're trying to decide what to do with. One of them, Mayfield, needs replacing badly. Maybe we can get it removed permanently through a suit like you describe.
Regarding the water well fees, I had a 6 acre ranch down in Bouquet Canyon just west of Palmdale where the county tried to legislate meters be installed, but a powerful pushback from rural residents halted it. Sounds like they have come up with "fees" as a workaround to take control of the water supply.
Colorado has legislated rainwater as belonging to the state, preventing homeowners from using rain barrels to collect water.
I'm waiting for someone to sue the state to keep state rain water off of their house and property.
The homeless problem is a crime in the richest country in the world.
The Russian and Chinese government have begun using this problem to slap our government leaders upside one street and down the other, but they know no shame. and have no soul.
Thanks for a great post.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
Van Arsdale
and that flood plain/valley used to be a lumber mill
since reclaimed and growing Sustainably mucho Mota!
one problem they run into are the naturally high levels of mercury that have settled on resevoir floor over the years
let that water go so goes the merc
downstream to the sea and everything in between
eel river valley could become a superfund site
???
Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .
Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .
If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march
Good afternoon, earthling1 and all the others.
Our garden is coming up great. There will be canning at the house come harvest time.
We are staying organic.
I wonder about hay season, and whether or not the cost of fertilizer will discourage hay growers. What will unfertilized hay do to beef production? Glad I am out of the horse and cattle business, and the farming days are over. A garden is all I can manage.
Great essay, and thanks for the ot.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Thanks for helping
kick off my first OT. I feel good that there is interest in home gardening. It may become a necessity if Bidens War continues.
The price and availability of fertilizer is only going to worsen as most of it comes from Russia and Ukraine. And those other countries that produce it are hoarding it now for their own domestic use.
World food production could be the next threat to humanity.
Knowing the bare basics of growing food cannot hurt anyone.
Have a great day.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
what happened
Why is there only one post for April 19th?
??
not sure what you meant to say in your inquiry
The temporary post this AM by EL was a
just-in-case nobody else did. Is that what you
are referring to?
thanks
question everything
I panicked
head a bad stressful day yesterday and thought caucus99 was shutting down or something. Sorry about my freak out. Im embarrassed. Guess I got here earlier then usual.Been having panic attacks lately.Going to The Guardian doesn't help my frazzled sanity. At least you know I value this site. I also got freaked out reading The Dose here yesterday. Fishtroller was out and about. Can't hanfle her. Once agin my apologies.
No worries friend
sorry about the mix-ups. We have been attempting to fill the Tuesday open thread since
can't stop signals bowed-out. We seem to have developed a work-around where other
members are willing to pitch-in. It is better for the regular hosts to not double-up so
much. Can understand your frazzled mind. Pretty much 'on the ropes' here as well.
Hope you can find a way to get thru the present madness.
Good luck
question everything
Grow Local Food
Yeah!
I very much enjoyed the OT and comments. I have not written anything for a very long time. Try to read but know I miss a lot. Student of Earth is growing in hay bales?!?! Good on ya Mate! (I only watch Acorn these days.)
So . . . did you know that Texas is 49th out of all 50 states for growing local food? Which means they don't. Serious thing looking at the crisis of the past few years.
In my heart I want my garden to provide enough for my family and to share. It might get to that this year as it is looking like a good hay bale gardening year. However, it is my daughter who is achieving this first. Last Spring, we had 8 broody chickens sitting on nests. We thought we might get 50 chicks! Alas, only 5. But my daughter and husband thought, hey let's incubate some of these eggs. Then they bought eggs to incubate and even bought chicks. We have about 120 chickens (2/3 hens and 1/3 roosters) now.
They started laying about a month ago. The daughter has gathered as many as 45 in one day. But this isn't farming for her. They are pets. She sits with them and they climb on her. These are beautiful eggs as she chose the breeds for multi-colored eggs. Starting a few weeks ago, we take them to our neighbors on Saturday and they take them to church on Sunday. A congregation with mid to low-income families. It's an easy solution for us. No grand plan to save the world here, but I think it is a good thing.
A very cold winter here in North Central Texas. Cold cold cold winds from the north have set us back a month. The good thing is that we had far more fruit blossoms than ever before. The very cold winds are a jet stream climate thing of course. I am interested to see how this thing will play out into the summer.
I was going to put in a picture of my garden, but thought this might be more fun. This is a 5 AM selfie with two cats, a dog, and a goat.
Cheers!
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
Aaawww, man!
Great selfie! Love the baby goat!
Somebody gave me 10 or so chickens, one rooster.
I should have questioned why I had to take a rooster, and that one, in particular.
Well, he crowed all night long, night after night. I passed my gift along to someone who sold eggs.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Yes . . . roosters are LOUD . . .
Plus here we have 15 guineas and 5 turkeys. OMG. It is so loud here sometimes I have to take my hearing aids out!
Glad to hear you expect a good harvest!
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
Good to hear from you Marilyn
We haven't talked in a while. Looks like you're doing well.
Not sure it was SOE who provided the hay bale material a couple of years ago. But I'm sure she will be along shortly to confirm or deny.
Anyway, there were pictures and everything with numbers an arrows on the back explainin'.........oh wait, maybe that Alice's Restaurant. There were photos.
Thanks for checkin' in an giving me a lift.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
I have friends who tried hay bales, found it to be so easy,
they do it all the time now. We may try it.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Very nice to see you are doing a gardening OT!
Remember Cucuzza? That was my best crop last year. This year they are coming up volunteer in a spot next to the chicken yard. I just put a little fence around them. The most fun crop though was Congo Watermelon. Large, sweet, and prolific here. The only successful watermelon variety as well.
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
Love that Picure!
and Welcome Back!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Great start to a regular discussion on resilience gardening
Been chasing neighbor's pigs off the dryland and trying to block their entry. It takes a longtime for desert soil to recover from major disruptions. The bunch grass and natural flora has finally become the majority of plants after 20 years.
I have not successfully tried hay bale plots. Problem is livestock and the profile of a full bale of hay it too tempting to eat. I never got past the compost phase on the ones I tried. Some fool kept forgetting to close the gate secure enough. The Ruth Stout method Lookout has references many times has been very successful at improving soil. A flake of hay on the ground is a low enough profile not to look like tasty treat.
Mhagle wrote about the subject several times in my Open Threads prior to 2019 and did a few stand alone diaries.
Here are three of the diaries she put together. Unfortunately they are old enough the photo links are not functioning, but the content is great.
Hay Bale Gardening
Round Bale Gardening, June 1 2017
Round Bale Gardening Phase Two
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Thank you SOE
Apparently my memory does not serve me that well. But I did remember reading it here. Kudos to Marilyn for the hay bale affair.
Yes, I'm using the Ruth Stout method, only using Fall leaves instead of hay. I hope it drains ok. We'll see.
Thanks for stopping in and clearing that up.
I stand corrected.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
Photos must be on one of my servers and maybe got deleted . . .
Thanks for remembering! It is true that it is the only way I have had garden success with 28 years of trying. I went back to it for good by purchasing 8 round bales fall of 2020. Also last year, we were able to purchase an old wire square baler, rake, and mower. The better half, who rebuilds old tractors for fun, was able to repair and rake and mower, so we got 100 bales from mid-summer to end. Great for chickens and goats and I got 31 for this year's garden. So now it is sustainable. It looks like the square bales will work better as well.
Sorry you have to chase the neighbor's pigs!
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
Thank you earthling,
for your contribution to earth's and human's resilience. I very much enjoy hearing about yours and others experience in realising both.