Well, I suppose if Gunner can post on economics, I can post on gardening. If we're really heading into the next Great Depression, gardening might soon become more than a hobby for a lot of folks. So... let's jump in and get dirty!
First of all - it's Fall! I'm originally from South Florida (zone 10!) so this is the time I would be planting if I was still there.
Now that I'm in TN, however, I'm learning to work with the seasons, the clay, and the variety of different fruits and veggies that thrive here.
This last week I've been taking advantage of the leaves to "sheet compost" some new planting beds in my backyard. In order to do this, you lay down some newsprint and/or cardboard, then stack leaves, hay and other compostable material on top of it. This is also called "Lasagna Gardening." Basically, the idea is to kill the weeds and improve the soil at the same time.
This is my first attempt. I like the idea of killing crabgrass and re-using cardboard that would normally be disposed of. I just wish I could find a source of more free "green" compost, like chicken manure, rabbit droppings, grass clippings, rotten fruit, etc. Leaves are easy to find, but the "active" ingredient of nitrogen-rich material is a taller order. Anyone have any ideas?
And please... share any suggestions, gardening tips, etc., as we head into Winter! I'd love to know more about your garden.
Happy planning.
-DG
Our mission is to be a useful resource for the city of Smyrna, TN and surrounding areas.
10 comments:
My family has been planning on building a compost bin this year. We kept putting it off all summer, and now it's the time of year I wish I had a better compost pile to work with. There you'd have a place for your grass clippings, leaves, and fruit and veggie waste and would work well with your "lasagna gardening" tip.
I agree more of us need to start looking at some "old fashioned" ways to feed ourselves and our neighbors during these difficult times. At least something extra to can or freeze and put away.
We did put in rain barrel this year. It's been nice having a little free water to water the plants, and we plan on adding another one next spring.
One thing you can do is sew clover or cowpeas. These crops fix nitrogen in the soil. It's a little late, but probably not to late to do it now, particularly the clover. Both are terrific green manures.
A compost bin is great. I have two in the backyard right now. One is full of rotten straw, leaves, food scraps, etc., and the other one is waiting to be filled with leaves I rake from the yard. I've also added some redworms to it from my indoor worm-composting bin and they seem to be breeding happily. Good luck with your composting. There's a lot of material around this time of year to throw in! As for the rain barrel, I had one at my old house and it worked wonderfully. I made it out of a trash can with screening over the top. Saved us some water and I think the plants do better with rain water rather than city water. My house here doesn't have gutters, but once I figure out how to install some, I'll definitely make another rain barrel.
And as for green crops - do you till them under in spring? I currently don't have much bare ground from last year. I've simply been raking leaves over bare areas and covering them, but the nitrogen-fixing sounds like a good idea. Also, lacking a tiller, I tend to smother and compost everything rather than springing for a rental.
Yes, you till them under in spring. It might be something to consider next year, but you want to sow about 4 weeks before frost. If more people take up gardening in your neighborhood due to our economic situation, it can be well worth splitting the rental. I used to do that with my neighbors before I bought a tiller.
Okay - the "green manure" idea. Makes sense to keep organic matter on the surface until planting again.
And splitting rent sounds like a great idea. The price to get a tiller was killing me. I considered buying one outright but that was also a tough chunk of change to hand away.
Now I need to find a neighbor who wants a garden.
It's more than just keeping organic matter on the surface. It prevents erosion, in addition to capturing nitrogen from the atmosphere via friendly bacteria that live on the root nodes. When you till it under, you're adding biomass to the soil, which keeps soil from getting compacted and aids drainage.
A couple of us on my street have tillers now, and we just let our other neighbor borrow ours rather than renting. She did invest in an old Ro-ho, which does a fine job with cultivation, besides just being cool. I've been known to borrow that from her a time or two.
Our economic woes are far from over, imho. I would be surprised if you don't find some neighbors interested by spring.
Very cool - thank you for the info. I've planted beans in succession with other crops for their nitrogen-fixing ability. Here, however, there are quite a few plants I couldn't grow in South Florida.
Are you near the Smyrna Library by any chance? I live behind the downtown a couple of blocks from there.
It would be fun to have a gardener meet-up day at some point. Perhaps a seed/bulb/cutting swap. I've got some Sunchokes I can trade. Currently, I'd love to get my hands on some blueberry, fig and grape cuttings as well as any herbs I can add to my little kitchen garden behind the back door.
And you're right about the economy. Things are getting ugly quick.
Yeah, I think I just figured out who you are. Ha! I did not realize you had a garden. We're sort of neighbors, so you do have neighbors who garden. I'll refrain from identifying you online. LOL
I'm hoping to order some blueberry bushes soon myself. My dad had blueberries until a couple of years ago, and I really miss them. He has a sour cherry tree now, but I don't like cherries, even though they are lovely to look at. They look tasty, I just can't bring myself to eat them.
Also, I know where to get grape cuttings if you want some. I have a few options on varieties. One, I'm pretty sure is a Concord. Another has been grown by my inlaws for as long as anyone can remember, but nobody remembers what they are called. I'm almost positive it's an heirloom variety, as it was grown by my dh's late grandmother. Cuttings have been passed around the family for a long time. The other is one my neighbor is growing, but she doesn't remember what variety she bought. I'm not sure about the healh of that one. You'd probably be better off getting one of the other two I mentioned. They are very old vines, both of them, and healthy. As for herbs, I have quite a few. We'll talk.
Oh! I just remembered how you can add some nitrogen to your "lasagna." Charcoal. Make a slurry of some charcoal (not the matchlight kind) and pour over your bed before you put down the cardboard. I know some folks who are doing this, even watering indoor plants with a little charcoal dissolved in the water. They're very impressed with the results.
Cool deal with the charcoal. I've been burning my branches occasionally to add to my garden - I've put some in the beds so far. I'll add more now.
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