Winter greens

[GloriaH]

ml, I bet that the snow is a good insulater. I'm going to try this this winter for sure. I've already started saving my jugs.

 

[Anna-Mossity]

Quote:
I still haven't gotten a new camera, so I don't have pictures yet, but... I too am very unhandy with a hammer and nails, so I built a coop (or chicken hut) out of pvc and chicken wire. It was a weekend project, although I keep making additions. If you are interested I'll gladly give you more details, and borrow a camera so everyoe can see what I'm talking about. It started out as just a cube, with an opening in the top, and has since been retrofitted with a door, and a pitched roof. The same design could be used for a green house.

 

[picklespickles]

some great ideas.

 

[ml]

Quote:
Well, someone is bound to be as confused as I am. It looks to me like a bunch of frozen jugs sitting in the snow, and the assortment of jugs in the next image looks like pre-cutting the tops off.

Can you explain please?

It is a idea that some one use to grow seeds during the winter with out a green house. It works well. You dont need snow to do this. I tried in frist time winter of 2005 and shocked to see how well it worked.

here is a link to winter sowing

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/wtrsow/

The plants dont need to be harden off and that part I loved. I mostly use it for my heirloom tomato seeds and flower seeds each year.

It will work wonders for those that dont have money for a green house and alot less work or expense.

The Lady who came up with the concept belive in it so much she will give away seeds for you to try it. Need to do some digging to find that info for folks. Here is the link to Winter sowing and Trudi's offer.

http://wintersown.org/

Did alot of research on this before trying it and was suprized the biggest thing folks said they had way to many plants from it. So think you can grow what ever you like to try for your peeps.

Some grow Mangel beets for their peeps too.

http://www.seedsofchange.com/garden_center/product_details.asp?item_no=PS10620

here is a link on Mangel beet seeds.

Not sure if that coveres your ? or not.

According to Trudi any time after 12/23 it is winter and you can sow. I like to wait till around 2/8, cause takes a bit to find non frozen potting soil bags. I have a few bags now saved up for this winter and way to many packs of flower seeds and my tomato seeds ready to go.

It is a great way to beat the winter dole drums here.

ML

 

[greginshasta]

ML - this is awesome. Thank you! Actually, this post should be made part of the learning center - far too important to be lost.

My wife works in a hospital lab and brings home large plastic jugs that reagents come in. Previously we cut the tops off and used them as mini-greenhouses over seed starts in the spring to protect from frost. Should be perfect for this project too.

 

[GloriaH]

I think we have some good ideas going here. Anna, If you would like to get some pictures we would love to see what you have done. We are still in the 60's here in Middle Tennessee. We are dipping down at night and are having a few cold days. I may cut the bottom off a few jugs and put them on the south side of the house. That way I can open the caps during the warmer days.

 

[LindaN]

ml, I love winter sowing, too!

Further up this thread, I think I wrote about saving the orange juice and milk containers for growing greens for my chickens. I got the idea from winter sowing; it doesn't have to be used just outside.

Of course, the coolest part of winter sowing is that it does work outside during a time of year when gardeners in the north are usually unable to practice our craft. It's nice to know that we are growing things all year round.

This year, I'm trying to grow greens for eating over the winter using raised beds, frost protection row cover, and a cold frame. So far, so good.

I have to fight the chickens off as I tend to these greens, though!

 

[patandchickens]

Another way to get fresh greens to feed during winter is to collect 'wild' (or yard) stuff. Yes, even in winter! If you live somewhere with reliable snow cover, dig thru it in areas where you remember a lot of plant growth in the fall. If you live somewhere less, um, Canadian

and don't have reliable snow cover, just find a field or roadside or other tall weedy meadowy area. Part the tall dead grasses with your hands to rummage around closer to ground level, you will probably find green growing stuff to pick. I sometimes 'treat' my horses this way in winter (from outside of their pastures, since they've already 'treated' themselves to all of the winter greens IN the pastures <g>). I see no reason I won't be able to do the same for the chickens.

If the only greens you can find are grasses, you might want to chop them up so's not to cause impaction problems, but my experience is that there's often broadleafed weeds down there too, which should be just fine fed whole.

Oh, and another place I get things growing in all but the WORST dead of our Ontario winter is right along the house and barn foundations, so that's another place to rummage for green weeds.

Plus there's always produce that the grocery stores are going to discard.

Pat

 

[ml]

thougth good time to look at this again for every one.

ML

 

[GloriaH]

Good idea! I get lettuce from friends who own a restaurant. I hope to have a cold fram up in a little while. I also put alfalfa pellets in the blender and grind them up really well. I add this to their layer mash.