All posts in the topic How to start a self sustaining garden... (Short link)
Summary
- There are 3 posts — by 3 authors — in this topic.
- Latest post made by Jack Rowe at May 09 04:49 UTC
RE: Posting about gypsum, potassium, phosphates, etc...
...I am not sure what is available around here. Ground granite is available at
some farm stores. It is considereda great soil nutrient. That would be my best
guess in this area, go to farm suppliers and find out what kind of crushed rock
is available. I know gypsum is mined south of Santa Fe...
Personally my recommendation is be very careful, as too much of any good thing
can sometimes be worse than "not enough". Any given soil has its own level of
"life force", depending on where it is, and how well it has been taken care of.
We just need to communicate on that level, and [in my opinion] offer a prayer.
Those plants, sometimes in a "not so subtle way", will tell you what they need.
All the chemical formulas scientists have been experimenting with do not
replace common sense, though.
Go with plants that can easilyadapt to your surroundings and water sources. Be
careful to look close at available water, and follow advice of others with
generations of experience in these areas. Local Natives, and others that have
worked in these areas can offer us lots of insight.
Irrigation seems to be the key for big gardenshere, yet water rights are being
challenged right now by developers with money and high priced lawyers to help
them. We have to be careful, and protect local water rights, by converting as
much fertilebottom land to gardening as possible. Cows can graze in prairie
areas offering a source for water. Bottom lands are a great resource for local
fruit, nuts, seeds, greens, etc.
I know it's fun, but keeping more golf courses out of the area protects needed
water for gardens. ...not trying to "step on" someone Else's vision here, just
being realistic. With lots of available land now being used to support ethanol,
I say leave Phoenix where it is - with 200+ golf courses in area, and great
farm lands being "gobbled up" by developers as we speak. Short-term profits on
land do not replace long-term needs, like fresh local food.
I know in the animal and plant kingdoms there is a natural harmony existing,
that is greatly compromised by human intervention. When we look at the way
Nature intended, we start to realize how we can intervene without destroying
the Natural Flow of things... or some refuse to acknowledge, and go on with
their polluting ways... once again, Who are we to judge? We do have to account
for others' actions though, and make amends - both personal, in the area we
live, with the people we share our resources, and those that we cannot account
for.
For better or worse, I am committing a better part of myself to help others -
whether that means setting a good example,community action or other means. A
self - sustaining garden is a good start. Extra harvest to sell and help feed
others keeps it economically feasible.
Use seedsand plants from Heirloom varieties,as much as possible, asseeds from
personal growth can be used season after season. Many conventional seeds have
been genetically tampered with, so you have to go back to themyear after year,
buying from those sources. Seeds harvested from Heirloomplants in your own back
yard have started to adapt to your local resources, and will Naturally
genetically adapt to their surroundings. Make sure you harvest from plants
"gone to seed", and keep these seedssaved for next year's cycle. Share extras
with your neighbors, and this way we can support Local Heirlooms being created.
Following Moon cycles, finding out proper times to start plants, has helped
many. Yet be realistic - get as many plants in as possible, when you can, as
this is important right now. Iknow some plants, like tomatoes, grow better from
starts. If heirlooms are not available, just get what you can. Something is
always better than nothing.
Good luck, and always thank the Clouds when they share moisture with us. Even
physicists have determined water is a "living thing". Natural water from the
sky is almost always the best, most nourishing source for plants... and it
replenishes our aquifers.
...And thank you all, for making a conscious decision to grow food.
Dennis Knicely
Has anyone mentioned sheet mulch yet? Arguably the single best thing you
can do for your soil. The decomposing organic matter will tend to buffer
ph imbalances in the soil as well as slightly acidifying. It will hold
moisture in the soil and make the soil a hospitable place for worms,
bacteria and fungi, changing it from dead dirt into a diverse living
community.
First thought, if you haven't sheet mulched, do it this fall. If you
have problems growing plants after the following spring, then may be a
time to consider more esoteric treatments of the soil. But my bet is, if
you simply sheet mulch you will see a quantum improvement.
Dennis Knicely wrote:
> RE: Posting about gypsum, potassium, phosphates, etc...
>
> ...I am not sure what is available around here. Ground granite is available
at some farm stores. It is considereda great soil nutrient. That would be my
best guess in this area, go to farm suppliers and find out what kind of crushed
rock is available. I know gypsum is mined south of Santa Fe...
>
> Personally my recommendation is be very careful, as too much of any good
thing can sometimes be worse than "not enough". Any given soil has its own
level of "life force", depending on where it is, and how well it has been taken
care of. We just need to communicate on that level, and [in my opinion] offer a
prayer. Those plants, sometimes in a "not so subtle way", will tell you what
they need. All the chemical formulas scientists have been experimenting with do
not replace common sense, though.
>
> Go with plants that can easilyadapt to your surroundings and water sources.
Be careful to look close at available water, and follow advice of others with
generations of experience in these areas. Local Natives, and others that have
worked in these areas can offer us lots of insight.
>
> Irrigation seems to be the key for big gardenshere, yet water rights are
being challenged right now by developers with money and high priced lawyers to
help them. We have to be careful, and protect local water rights, by converting
as much fertilebottom land to gardening as possible. Cows can graze in prairie
areas offering a source for water. Bottom lands are a great resource for local
fruit, nuts, seeds, greens, etc.
>
> I know it's fun, but keeping more golf courses out of the area protects
needed water for gardens. ...not trying to "step on" someone Else's vision
here, just being realistic. With lots of available land now being used to
support ethanol, I say leave Phoenix where it is - with 200+ golf courses in
area, and great farm lands being "gobbled up" by developers as we speak.
Short-term profits on land do not replace long-term needs, like fresh local
food.
>
> I know in the animal and plant kingdoms there is a natural harmony existing,
that is greatly compromised by human intervention. When we look at the way
Nature intended, we start to realize how we can intervene without destroying
the Natural Flow of things... or some refuse to acknowledge, and go on with
their polluting ways... once again, Who are we to judge? We do have to account
for others' actions though, and make amends - both personal, in the area we
live, with the people we share our resources, and those that we cannot account
for.
>
> For better or worse, I am committing a better part of myself to help others -
whether that means setting a good example,community action or other means. A
self - sustaining garden is a good start. Extra harvest to sell and help feed
others keeps it economically feasible.
>
> Use seedsand plants from Heirloom varieties,as much as possible, asseeds from
personal growth can be used season after season. Many conventional seeds have
been genetically tampered with, so you have to go back to themyear after year,
buying from those sources. Seeds harvested from Heirloomplants in your own back
yard have started to adapt to your local resources, and will Naturally
genetically adapt to their surroundings. Make sure you harvest from plants
"gone to seed", and keep these seedssaved for next year's cycle. Share extras
with your neighbors, and this way we can support Local Heirlooms being created.
>
> Following Moon cycles, finding out proper times to start plants, has helped
many. Yet be realistic - get as many plants in as possible, when you can, as
this is important right now. Iknow some plants, like tomatoes, grow better from
starts. If heirlooms are not available, just get what you can. Something is
always better than nothing.
>
> Good luck, and always thank the Clouds when they share moisture with us. Even
physicists have determined water is a "living thing". Natural water from the
sky is almost always the best, most nourishing source for plants... and it
replenishes our aquifers.
Sheet mulching/sheet composting works great: saves work (let the worms turn the
stuff), gets double-duty out of organic materials (mulch and compost), feeds
earthworms and also returns more nitrogen to the soil since in piles a lot is
lost to the atmosphere during composting. It's the way Nature does it.
Saves backs, too... you might still want to add some sources of calcium and
phosphorous unless a lot of animal manures are going into your mix. Soils
aren't what they used to be (geez most Southwest soils aren't WHERE they used
to be, probably about half in the Gulf of Mexico and half in Kansas)...