Anyone living off the land?

[newbie32]

The banana tree was waist high. The chickens jump! I saw them do it.

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I will test the water like you said. I do something really naughty for the chickens. I turn on the hose and wait until there is a nice little puddle of water created before turning it off. It creates a little oasis for them until the water evaporates. I do this almost every day. usually the water stays a little while before it disappears. BUT I only do that in one spot in the yard. I know its a waste of water but they LOVE IT!

I have never once seen a worm out here. Do I need to have them for my garden? I was also thinking that perhaps the lack of bees might be a problem.

 

[pattersonml]

Nature takes care of pollination for every environment, birds and ladybugs, butterflies and wasps (yes, wasps do assist in pollination) so you don't need to worry about the bees and no there are no worms out there in so much as earthworms go, but there are other forms of annelids out there which will nutrient supplement the soil, another thing I forgot to mention is you might need to find out about the nitrogen levels of the soil. The best place to find out is from hangers outs at the local co-op or barn and feed store, pick their brains they have been there for a while and can help you learn from their mistakes. For the banana tree, if they are hopping up, and yes they do, I have a frazzled top knot roo that will jump for blueberries and blackberries out of my hand. For the banana tree, it might be more beneficial to create an inverted funnel with chicken wire starting at the base and going up protecting the leaves and foliage of the plant from the jumpers. This will allow them to fertilize the base of it without attacking the hedgery above them.

 

[AlohaChickens80]

I applaud all of you guys and your sustainable efforts... We do what we can which includes reducing a LOT of packaged food, I make a lot from scratch now. I am starting a compost pile now and we will finally be getting chickens in two weeks. We have a Tiny[ yard, only 400 square feet and we are using it to free range our chickens. I would like to start some gardening but we really don't have too much room so I am going to have get creative with gardening.

I cannot wait until we move and we can get some more land, ideally I would LOVE to be more sustainable (solar/wind powered too!) and grow fruit, veggies, and chickens for meat and eggs and I would love, love, love to have a milk goat.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

I applaud all of you guys and your sustainable efforts... We do what we can which includes reducing a LOT of packaged food, I make a lot from scratch now. I am starting a compost pile now and we will finally be getting chickens in two weeks. We have a Tiny[ yard, only 400 square feet and we are using it to free range our chickens. I would like to start some gardening but we really don't have too much room so I am going to have get creative with gardening.

I cannot wait until we move and we can get some more land, ideally I would LOVE to be more sustainable (solar/wind powered too!) and grow fruit, veggies, and chickens for meat and eggs and I would love, love, love to have a milk goat.

Look up vertical gardening! There are lots of fruits and veggies that can be grown in containers too, just watch out your chickens will eat just about anything!!!

 

[newbie32]

Container gardening is good-just read my mistakes so your chickens don't eat them!!!!

Also, I have seen beautiful front yard veggie gardens that look AMAZING!!! I have not done that here-I am renting. In fact I am glad I didn't because the landlord just informed me he is selling the house!!!

Anyways, yes there are many things you can do. CONGRADULATIONS on your first chickens!!!!!! They are so much fun and they have personalities-as you will soon see.

 

[AlohaChickens80]

I think I can squeeze two smallish raised beds in my back yard, and I am thinking about turning my front flower bed into a veggie garden. We have awesome weather and free water, so as long as I don't kill everything with my black thumb I will be good.

My husband is pretty good about "indulging my crazy" as I call it... I get something in my mind and I HAVE to do it! We shall see how much I spend while trying to live sustainably!

I did finally get my compost officially started today, after talking about it for ages!

 

[newbie32]

I think I can squeeze two smallish raised beds in my back yard, and I am thinking about turning my front flower bed into a veggie garden. We have awesome weather and free water, so as long as I don't kill everything with my black thumb I will be good.

My husband is pretty good about "indulging my crazy" as I call it... I get something in my mind and I HAVE to do it! We shall see how much I spend while trying to live sustainably!

I did finally get my compost officially started today, after talking about it for ages!

Your black thumb cant be any worse than mine-I have killed a cactus and an aloe plant!!!

I never did my own compost-one day, one day!

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

I work in a greenhouse and have always had a sense on how to grow things. The best advice I can give anyone is just pay attention to the plants. I have heard MANY people remark on how great it would be if plants could tell us what they need........my answer is, THEY DO! If you are attentive (I'm talking 10 min a day) you plants will let you know if they have had too much or not enough water! Other than that just feed them once a month or so, and they will pay you back for the TLC!!!

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

Your black thumb cant be any worse than mine-I have killed a cactus and an aloe plant!!!

I never did my own compost-one day, one day!

Cactus and aloe can actually be fairly easy to kill, over-water, so don't sweat it!!!

 

[newbie32]

I forgot to water the cactus and it died so I over watered the aloe!!!! feed them? like as in fertilizer?