We have a fake cranberry here called high bush cranberry, that likes the bog edge. There is not water in the wetlands around here enough for regular cranberries - the bog country of central Wisconsin is more appropriate. Otherwise yes, inside and outside the fence will be as diverse as I can make it, though I will have to wait for 2025 when the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) payment structure is reset, and I can take more land out without penalty. I will experiment a bit with electroculture. Congrats on the chicks!
How bizarre it is that the government penalizes farmers who want to farm efficiently and sustainably! Frankly, I am looking forward to climate change because I always wanted to grow date palm trees in Oregon. I get tired of only being able to grow Douglas Fir and Red Cedar.
Joel Salatin's book, Everything I Want to do is Illegal is worth a read. Like so much in our society, those who should be held up for emulation are treated like criminals.
Love your chronicles. Am in suburban West London, UK. Just started growing vegetables and herbs in a greenhouse and patio tubs. Steep learning curve. Hope your orchard comes to fruition with minimal hassle.
Yay! Spring is here, if only that snow would melt! Can't wait to see how your garden grows.
We finally had two days of 80 degree weather here. Today, it's back down to low 70s, which is more "normal" for our micro-climate, and still preferable to the 40s and 50s we've had since November 1st! Ron set up a shade cloth tent over our main bed of deep greens so the sun can filter in but the deer can't get to the plants. When we came back from our Arizona trip, there were several big clusters of large Russian Kale and Rainbow Chard leaves! Made a yummy sauté last night.😋 If I could grow cherries and cauliflower, I'd be in food heaven, haha!
The garden I am building is only a mile away from where we live. No plans for a chicken coop yet. But should I move to the 80 the garden would be on the other side of the homestead site, close to the one acre spring fed pond.
10,000 years of compost! You got my attention.
The sand hills are so low around here because they have eroded into the waterways making bogs. I'm going to reverse the process on a very small scale.
Ancient bogs = ancient human remains
We will see. Though likely nothing left but stone tools.
You need to get some cranberries for the edges of that bog. The medicine and astringency is worth even a few plants.
Can you devote a patch of orchard to experimental use?
I've long thought monoculture is what drives hordes of pests. You're already planning diversity, but maybe take a corner and really mix it up?
Also...the potential for Electroculture. Play with it!
I'm so excited for what I see,William!!
I've grand plans ,in my head, for an entire community center . I once drew sketches.
You're living the dream!
( ps...I plunged! Got my first chicks after much research:six Australorps and two spare Americaunas )
We have a fake cranberry here called high bush cranberry, that likes the bog edge. There is not water in the wetlands around here enough for regular cranberries - the bog country of central Wisconsin is more appropriate. Otherwise yes, inside and outside the fence will be as diverse as I can make it, though I will have to wait for 2025 when the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) payment structure is reset, and I can take more land out without penalty. I will experiment a bit with electroculture. Congrats on the chicks!
Wow...you're on top of things!
Thank you. 😊
I need to get my order into Stark's .
Thank you for sharing. I take heart in what you're creating.
How bizarre it is that the government penalizes farmers who want to farm efficiently and sustainably! Frankly, I am looking forward to climate change because I always wanted to grow date palm trees in Oregon. I get tired of only being able to grow Douglas Fir and Red Cedar.
Joel Salatin's book, Everything I Want to do is Illegal is worth a read. Like so much in our society, those who should be held up for emulation are treated like criminals.
Thanks WHD. Wonderful to see your project from the start.
Love your chronicles. Am in suburban West London, UK. Just started growing vegetables and herbs in a greenhouse and patio tubs. Steep learning curve. Hope your orchard comes to fruition with minimal hassle.
Great post and photos, Hunter! I'm happy for you that you're getting out to do this big orchard project!
And I just turned over some turf grass for the first bed at the garden.
Yay! Spring is here, if only that snow would melt! Can't wait to see how your garden grows.
We finally had two days of 80 degree weather here. Today, it's back down to low 70s, which is more "normal" for our micro-climate, and still preferable to the 40s and 50s we've had since November 1st! Ron set up a shade cloth tent over our main bed of deep greens so the sun can filter in but the deer can't get to the plants. When we came back from our Arizona trip, there were several big clusters of large Russian Kale and Rainbow Chard leaves! Made a yummy sauté last night.😋 If I could grow cherries and cauliflower, I'd be in food heaven, haha!
Where’s the garden and chicken coop going to be? Natural fertilizer
The garden I am building is only a mile away from where we live. No plans for a chicken coop yet. But should I move to the 80 the garden would be on the other side of the homestead site, close to the one acre spring fed pond.
Aspens on the perimeter? Going to be a beautiful 80 acres. Canning by day, guitar by fire at night. A good life.
Almost all paper birch trees on the woods edge. And yes, a beautiful 80 acres. Some canning, some homebrew....