tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post1224494206064360313..comments2024-03-28T15:55:53.792+10:00Comments on down to earth: Enriching the soilUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-90212346159508619282008-03-17T05:34:00.000+10:002008-03-17T05:34:00.000+10:00Hi Patrick, we buy in about 10 bales of organic mu...Hi Patrick, we buy in about 10 bales of organic mulch hay each year. Apart from that we make the most of our lawn clippings - we harvest clippings, we don't see it as mowing anymore. In summer we have to cut the grass almost every week. This forms the basis of our compost. We add comfrey, potato peelings, some citrus peels, old soil from pots, shredded newspaper, old hens' nests and green waste from the garden. We also have another, faster, method where we add grass clippings and shredded paper to the chook run and add kitchen scraps, garden waste etc to that. The chooks turn it over and it's ready in a couple of months.<BR/>The aquaponics only went a couple of weeks ago. I sold it to one of the readers here. We won't have to make up for its loss as the soil garden is able to supply us with most of our needs.<BR/><BR/>Good luck with your move, Mary!Rhonda Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00175785349529109084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-41241040802006596232008-03-16T23:33:00.000+10:002008-03-16T23:33:00.000+10:00I am getting gardening fever! However, our house ...I am getting gardening fever! However, our house is going on the market in a couple of months. Maybe next year :0) You and your wonderful blog have inspired me to move to the country so that we can have a garden, chickens, and room to play. I will keep you posted on our progress!<BR/>Mary in TexasThe Stricklandshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01198140618043896988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-65237923095192572602008-03-16T23:26:00.000+10:002008-03-16T23:26:00.000+10:00Very good post Rhonda. I love seeing how others pr...Very good post Rhonda. I love seeing how others prepare their gardens in the spring/fall. I had a couple of questions for you. Are you able to produce enough compost for your entire garden right their on site? We haven't yet gotten to that point yet, but definitely supplement with our own. Also, with the unfortunate loss of the Aquaponics earlier in the year, have you increased any part of the soil garden this year to make up for it? Maybe planters where the Aqua garden used to be? <BR/>Thanks for the good info. <BR/>P~P~https://www.blogger.com/profile/13403847624491620709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-67269036901341662152008-03-16T21:27:00.000+10:002008-03-16T21:27:00.000+10:00Yes growing your own food is indeed the best! We h...Yes growing your own food is indeed the best! We have a very short growing season but continue to make it work. My husband stopped farming a few years back but we still have the results of his composting over the years. Our only issues are not to grow too much of any one thing!Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03597944446324222665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-14700946101098344652008-03-16T16:18:00.000+10:002008-03-16T16:18:00.000+10:00You are so right that home-grown vegies are far su...You are so right that home-grown vegies are far superior. As you know, I grow as much as my small suburban garden, and the needs of my children for play space etc, will allow.<BR/><BR/>My biggest problem is not lack of nourishment in the soil, but lack of water. I am finding our extreme heat and almost complete lack of rain extremely frustrating. <BR/><BR/>KateAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-69617555714440885692008-03-16T14:34:00.000+10:002008-03-16T14:34:00.000+10:00Your garden looks great! I hope you don't mind, b...Your garden looks great! I hope you don't mind, but I've tagged you. Just look at my blog.<BR/><BR/>http://homemaking4jesus.blogspot.com/2008/03/i-have-been-tagged.html<BR/><BR/>It really is fun!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-45356528934681588432008-03-16T09:39:00.000+10:002008-03-16T09:39:00.000+10:00green grass! what a lovely thought. eventually our...green grass! what a lovely thought. eventually our snow will melt here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-22064921409271595792008-03-16T09:05:00.000+10:002008-03-16T09:05:00.000+10:00Pepper plant lasting more than one season - someth...Pepper plant lasting more than one season - something I've never thought about, but I guess that's what comes from growing them in a cold climate where you have to nurse them through the summer. <BR/><BR/>Hopefully I should have an easier time as I'm in a slightly warmer climate now but it's still amazing to think of them lasting more than a seasondNDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00531819276422542672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-45759163866228932642008-03-16T08:24:00.000+10:002008-03-16T08:24:00.000+10:00Hi Kristina. Now that we're growing for most of th...Hi Kristina. Now that we're growing for most of the year I don't do as much preserving as I once did, but I do preserve things that change flavour or combine things. With peppers I usually wait until they ripen, when they're red I grill them and peel off the blackened skin. Then cut into strips, place in a jar and cover with olive oil. Often I put in a chilli - with seeds - for spicy peppers, or thyme if I want a more subtle flavour. Never garlic. These are not processed but will keep in the fridge for about three or four weeks. They're delicious added to salads, sandwiches or to a cheese board.<BR/>When I have a lot of capsicums (peppers) at one time, I stuff them with spicy rice and vegetable mix, then top with cheese and bake. Delicious!<BR/><BR/>Hi Quinne, teaching your daughter to garden is one of the most precious gifts. Please tell Miss M I said hello.<BR/><BR/>Leanne, vegetable plants usually bolt to seed when the temperature is too warm. This could be caused either by warm air temperature or the compost still decomposing and creating its own heat. Check your seed packs and make sure you plant when the temp is right.<BR/>Pumpkin is ready to be picked when the vine that's attached to the pumkpin withers, goes brown and wrinkly. Cut the pumpkin off with about three of four inches of vine still attached. and carry the pumpkin underneath, not by the vine 'handle'. Leave it under cover to ripen and dry properly. If the vine falls off, get a plain white candle or a beeswax candle and drop melted wax over the opening. You can do this if there are any cuts on the pumpkin too. However, when you treat a pumpkin like this it should be the next pumpkin you eat.<BR/><BR/>Happy gardening, ladies. :- )Rhonda Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00175785349529109084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-64302224958667754342008-03-16T08:03:00.000+10:002008-03-16T08:03:00.000+10:00Thanks for post!A question. Last autumn I put orga...Thanks for post!<BR/><BR/>A question. Last autumn I put organic compost that we brought in by the truck load. But all my seedlings, bolted then went to seed. I asked at nursery & she said too much compost.<BR/><BR/>Any thoughts for me? I didn't get a good winter crop at all.<BR/><BR/>Oh and another question - any tips on how to tell when to pick pumpkinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-12161266254207440852008-03-16T07:53:00.000+10:002008-03-16T07:53:00.000+10:00Hi Rhonda Jean :) I enjoyed this! And it's true ab...Hi Rhonda Jean :) I enjoyed this! And it's true about enjoying what your land and hands have worked to grow. Miss M is six, and she is already in love with the process. <BR/>From the seeds to the harvest bucket and then to the table - what fun! Love, QQuinnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14446233534591572279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-17428423349120983552008-03-16T07:10:00.000+10:002008-03-16T07:10:00.000+10:00Isn't it wonderful to know where your food came fr...Isn't it wonderful to know where your food came from and that it was produced naturally with plenty of hard work and love -- and no chemicals?! Good luck with your garden! Do you ever preserve your peppers? I like to slice mine into strips, place them on a baking sheet, freeze them, and then bag them up for later use. Just wondering if you have any other ideas. Thanks so much! Have a good day!<BR/><BR/>KristinaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com