1 Feb 2010
Winter Update
Here’s the Winter update..in photos and video. So many plants to play around with!! Getting ready for Spring..by amending soil in current beds, creating more soil for future beds and selecting, starting and planting more seeds and seedlings!!! We’re also building swales on contour.. and putting in more nitrogen fixers.
oh..and.. I did a lady bug release last night..in the dome..go get em ladies!
- Building my first swale in the front yard..FOOD FOREST! The rain..comes out of the gutter to the right..and hits the swale.
- Instead of running straight down the hill..to the street..it fills the swale..especially the middle..then sinks in..keeping nutrients on the property and builds up a water “lens” underneath the fruit trees.
- One of the many simple techniques of Permaculture. I love SWALES! SO much WATER SAVED. We will be planting fruiting/nitrogen fixing plants on top of the swale very soon..
- Early in morning..7AM..still frozen
- Later in the morning..10AM..venting the tunnels
- Mixed heirloom romaine lettuces..Jericho, Paris Island, Freckles
- The brassica bed, still growing..but frozen in the morning.
- I love seeing the Kale’s freeze back..then warm up..greeting the sun!
- ….one hour later..unfrozen and happy!
- Mixed greens..still coming up..spinach, arugula, lettuce, tatsoi, bok choy, kale, chard, collard
- Garlic starting to show her aerial parts…so tasty..to even eat the leaves. It’s China Rose.
- Asian Pear..this one is Shinseiki
- Tunnel growing in a few beds..and building soil for future beds.
- Under Porch..microclimate..winter refuge..for succulents and other plants
- Red Wiggler..surfin..on the plastic hoop tunnel. Tons of them came out of the beds during the rains..to surf..it appears.
- Succulents..my sweet aloe. Goji seedlings wintering over in the little pots to the left.
- Inside..the Growing Dome
Have FUN..GROWING YOUR OWN FOOD!
