Homesteaders

[Chicken girl 15]

As long as we are discussing good books, look at books by Eliot Coleman. I bought his books about greenhouses and winter growing, ' four season harvest' and 'the winter harvest'. I have perished some of his other books from the library and they are really good.
Also good are books by mike Oehler on earth shelter construction. I bought his book on earth shelter greenhouses.

I have been working out a design to combine is earth shelter ideas with a geodesic dome for a year round greenhouse in Minnesota. It will involve passive geothermal heat and perhaps active heat of needed. My current stumbling block is what to cover the greenhouse in that will last but isn't cost prohibitive. If anyone knows where I could get a large number of sliding glass doors for cheep or free let me know that would be the best possible solution (not for geodesic designs but for an earth sheltered greenhouse per Oehlers designs)

I'm not sure about the book or anything but if you look up "Earthship" it gives a lot of ideas for recycled building materials, including old tires. Almost anywhere that sells tires will have old ones sitting around and they will sell them super cheap or a lot of times give them away . They have to pay to dispose of them anyhow.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

I wonder if you ground up Marigolds to make a spray if that would help? 

I bet I would. Make a tea out of it. Also you could buy a cheap bag of tobacco and make a yea of that but since all tobacco is treated with some sort of chemicals I personally won't try that.

 

[KentuckyMom]

When you do the carrots do you thin them out at all? I have had mixed results with carrots (I think the weather plays a big role) but 2 years ago I had the best carrot crop I've ever had and it is because I thinned them. I had a couple carrots as big around as a soup can at the very top.

Last year I tried seed tape carrots and had zero luck. It was my first year in this new garden and I think the weeds just out competed them. I will try seed tape again I think but not exclusively. It was kind of expensive

There is a fellow gardener on BYC that makes "seed tape" for her carrot seeds out of toilet paper strips. The "glue" to hold them on was a paste made of flour and water, I think. I was going to try it last year but got in a hurry. I too have had mixed results with carrots because of the " to thin or not to thin" dilemma. The homemade seed tape sounded like a great idea to me. Now I just need to implement it...

 

[Chicken girl 15]

There is a fellow garrdener on BYC that makes "seed tape" for her carrot seeds out of toilet paper strips. The "glue" to hold them on was a paste made of flour and water, I think. I was going to try it last year but got in a hurry. I too have had mixed results with carrots because of the " to thin or not to thin" dilemma. The homemade seed tape sounded like a great idea to me. Now I just need to implement it...

that could be one of your winter projects for spring prep.

 

[KentuckyMom]

@Chicken girl 15
Sounds like a plan...

 

[rancher hicks]

I'm not sure about the book or anything but if you look up "Earthship" it gives a lot of ideas for recycled building materials, including old tires. Almost anywhere that sells tires will have old ones sitting around and they will sell them super cheap or a lot of times give them away . They have to pay to dispose of them anyhow.

I've got tires if you need some. I'm trying to figure out how to cut them in half. I would never pay for junk tires. Check for a local junk yard.

 

[rancher hicks]

Does anyone in the N.E. grow onions? DW says we use about 30 pounds a year. How many onions would I have to plant of the kind YOU plant to get that much? She likes medium sized onions.

What are your quantity planted to get 100 pounds of taters? What kind do you plant?

How many planted carrots for a two pound bag? What kinds have you planted. I'm going to put together a bed especially for carrots and see how it goes. I get some good compost.

What about sand? What kind do you buy for your garden? I reckon I can dump some in the runs and have it all worked in by spring and some just dumped in the compost of course.

I'm trying to figure out how much space to alot for the quantities we need.

Got some new books and a DVD from the library. I'll offer reviews later.

Thanks for your help

 

[Chicken girl 15]

Does anyone in the N.E. grow onions?  DW says we use about 30 pounds a year. How many onions would I have to plant of the kind YOU plant to get that much?  She likes medium sized onions. 

What are your quantity planted to get 100 pounds of taters? What kind do you plant?  

How many planted carrots for a two pound bag?  What kinds have you planted.  I'm going to put together a bed especially for carrots and see how it goes.  I get some good compost. 

What about sand?  What kind do you buy for your garden? I reckon I can dump some in the runs and have it all worked in by spring and some just dumped in the compost of course.  

I'm trying to figure out how much space to alot for the quantities we need.  

Got some new books and a DVD from the library. I'll offer reviews later. 

Thanks for your help

Look up square foot gardening . it can give you a breakdown of how much to plant and how often to plant so you have a steady supply.

 

[Beekissed]

Anyone here gardening with the Back to Eden method on their homestead? Trying it here for the first time and can't wait until spring to give it a good go.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

Went to a local seed store today so see if they carry the winter onions mentioned here. Got some at a bargain of $2 all bulbs were 50%off got some with the quarters collection in my car.
It's been pretty warm around here lately so I planted some of the onions in a raised bed, will see how they turn out in spring.

don't plant them too deep. I was told to simply throw them in some upturned soil and cover with mulch.