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Post by Latitude33 on Dec 22, 2020 20:20:44 GMT -5
Given this past year of shortages, stay at home orders and social distancing what changes do you foresee making for next season?
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Post by binnylou on Dec 22, 2020 21:44:33 GMT -5
I think I need to plant more flowers. My soul needs the flowers. My fat will keep me alive for a while.
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Dec 22, 2020 22:22:07 GMT -5
This is going to be a test year. If I can't get everything planted that I want to, w/o ending up with consistent back aches, I'm either going to create high raised beds throughout the garden, or plant ground covers. And that decision will also contribute to whether I stay here, although the political situation has a lot to do that. I've already investigated conditions and costs to move to Canada, especially if an insurrection is instituted b/c of political manipulations. And like binnylou, my soul needs flowers, lots and lots of flowers.
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Post by desertwoman on Dec 22, 2020 22:55:05 GMT -5
Yup- food for the soul. More flowers.
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Post by Wheelgarden on Dec 22, 2020 23:45:55 GMT -5
I think I need to plant more flowers. Me too! Quote of the Day, binnylou!
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Post by Mumsey on Dec 23, 2020 4:25:28 GMT -5
Planning per usual. The jury is out on farmers market with Dad, I'm leaning toward not doing it. I am planning to start more seedlings and sell them. Did quite well with that in the past. I have tons of flowers, in fact should remove some to make more room for food!
Not doing community garden either, once is enough for me. Drives me crazy to see the ill kept boxes and the rules/conditions not being enforced. I'm afraid I would end up being the manager over time, the handwriting was on the wall. Nope. Not happening.
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Post by emmsmommy on Dec 23, 2020 6:14:56 GMT -5
I still need to calculate my total yield for this year and map out the beds for next year. There will be two new 4x4 beds but otherwise I'm just planning to make due with what I have already built. The big greenhouse didn't happen, so I've already reinforced the 8-flat capacity small greenhouse and will purchase some greenhouse plastic for it and the coldframe (which still needs to be relocated). I plan to start with a few new-to-me crops like onions from seed, spinach and kale and likely throw in some mixed lettuce as well. I hope to get an earlier start on my peppers too and I think I'll soon be mourning the loss of the sweet pepper I brought inside as I think the second invasion of aphids was just too much for it. SpringRain🕊️, I too am hoping to make it through the year without backaches or pulled muscles. I am seeing the difference therapy is making and plan to continue the exercises after my sessions are finished. So many things were left undone because of back issues last year and not wanting to repeat that. Mumsey, I had also planned to start seedlings to sell this year but not sure I'll have the space to do so. I do however have an entire bed full of chives and garlic chives I planted from seed with plans to sell and the mint cuttings too. Of course I don't know if I will advertise and set up to sell nearby or just try selling them online locally. That all depends on the pandemic. binnylou, I too have enough fat to sustain me and will be adding more flowers to the mix as well!
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Post by James on Dec 23, 2020 11:15:08 GMT -5
Perhaps I will plant one tomato plant again next spring. Then there are the perennials, asparagus, Pie plant , grapes, and the fruit trees.
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Post by gardendmpls on Dec 23, 2020 23:09:49 GMT -5
Going to see what use I can make of the space gained putting up the fence. May have a lot more trellises and have ordered flower seeds to brighten things up. If I can, will make a cottage garden in front. May add another rose bush or two. Will be putting in an asparagus bed and maybe some more berry bushes. No onions as not space effective. Also may put more into my plant sale that pays for extras.
Plan to find a better way to share extra produce with the community. Also plan to find a teenager who will help with the work.
If I can, will hire an arborist to evaluate the large male mulberry tree. It either needs trimming of the bottom branches that are beginning to block light or may need to be taken down. Keep losing branches in the windstorms. It is a very old tree with a huge diameter, but it does have a huge root that runs the length of the yard (makes a nice seat for the grandkids) and might hold it up in a big storm. On the other hand, if it is weak, it could do a lot of damage if it fell.
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Post by binnylou on Dec 23, 2020 23:28:54 GMT -5
if it is weak, it could do a lot of damage if it fell. When we had two old oaks taken down, this was my main concern. I loved those huge old trees. But, if one of them had come down on the house, it would have taken out more than half of our roof plus damage to the house structure. It was a tough day when they came down.
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Post by gardendmpls on Dec 24, 2020 0:00:05 GMT -5
Last big windstorm (remains of a hurricane) took down a lot of trees in the area. One huge tree took down half of the front of a house around the corner plus the front yard and sidewalk, and it's not rebuilt yet. The city sent around trucks along with special equipment for picking up and loading the logs that filled the streets for weeks after that one.
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Dec 24, 2020 14:40:08 GMT -5
gardendmpls, in my father's area, the very good and diversified Senior Center accepts breads from local suppliers; I don't know if they accept produce as well. It's a possibility, and something to think about though. The VA has programs in different areas for food distributions to Vets. If that interests you, let me know and I'll get the info for you. I learned about the program through its e-mail newsletters. I did read a good article on how other centers are opening up to create food distribution sources for needy military families, especially the older ones long out of service and into retirement. As to mulberries, I kept mine b/c my father liked mulberry pie, but since he's now gone, I've been cutting them down. They grow too quickly, are very invasive, and can be dangerous. One in my yard sent off a branch that leaned and leaned until one day it came down, fortunately not on anyone. But the remaining branch is now a hazard as well. These are such aggressive trees; I've found only 2 ways to kill them, when they're smaller: bark strip them, down to below the soil line, and grow morning glories on them. But this can only be done with the smaller ones. I hope your arborist offers some good, workable solutions. Falling branches are such a hazard. A large one split off from the neighbor's massive cottonwood during a windstorm and just missed my garage by several feet. If it had hit the garage, I'm sure everything in it would have been demolished. This area has extensive trees planted in berms several years ago. They're old enough now to become unstable, and periodically during windstorms they come down, sometimes on neighboring homes.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Dec 24, 2020 14:51:08 GMT -5
This is going to be a test year. If I can't get everything planted that I want to, w/o ending up with consistent back aches, I'm either going to create high raised beds throughout the garden, or plant ground covers. I am at that point....I now have 10 raised beds and will probably add 2 or 3 more, like 2' x 4' or 5', probably 3' high. This size I can sit in my chair and weed all around it easily. I have had up to 20 pots but hope to cut back on them and have these extra raised beds. I do have a few spots where I use ground cover.
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Post by tom 🕊 on Dec 24, 2020 16:10:14 GMT -5
I don't know if they accept produce as well The local soup kitchen will not accept produce.
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Post by gardendmpls on Dec 24, 2020 16:34:59 GMT -5
SpringRain🕊️ , We have a lot of excellent food pantries in the area. I was thinking more in line with people who would appreciate organically grown food, but have to take what is there. I have given eggs in the neighborhood to some of my daughter's friends. I let them know they are doing me a favor by taking my extras. The mulberry is a male tree, so no invasive offspring. There are female trees in the area. Their fruit is preferred by birds so they don't eat my berries. It is a beautiful tree and I think if the lower branches were cut, more light would go underneath in the morning and evening. I could increase my garden area a bit. It does make good shade for sitting near the chicken coop talking, and my hammock is there, also. Just want to make sure it is safe.
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