guildfordcycads

Morning. We are looking into expanding our vegetable garden area this spring and summer for either next year or this coming fall.

In the past, we’ve accomplished this cheap and dirty- made raised terraces with whatever we can find around the property and dumped pure compost. Cheap and easy from the dump. High nitrogen consumers first year. Wait.

We’ve gotta get something going for rotation purposes right? I figure it’s time. This will be the 3rd summer. I am contemplating daikon radish and possibly sunflowers. However, not sure what to do once these plants are established.

I know the sunnies can affect the soil and other plant growth. Do I rip them at the end of their season? Do I pull the daikon when they’re done? We generally attempt no-till with established rows and top dressing.

Also, looking to bring in amended soil for the new terraces ON TOP of the soil breakers. Any advice would be wonderful as this would be new to me.

Zone 8. A steep hill. Rocky soil- teaming with life just harsh. It’s a crystal mine! Former “dog kennel” (enough time has passed.) Also down hill from a natural spring seep area. Tilling the bottom first is NOT an option. Well-water. Southeast facing. All the wildlife.

Alright, so whenever I hear about “permaculture” I always hear about swales and polycultures and food forests and so on and so on. It’s not like I have any problem with all of this (I think a career in this sort of design might be fun), it’s just that I was wondering if permaculture was just a method to design food forests or if there’s anything else. It seems like YouTube and other online media focus on either food forests for large-scale areas and teensy-weensy little flower gardens for suburban backyards.

Hi All,

As the title states. Does anyone of good resources, tips/tricks or advice about retro fitting swales to an existing orchard? I’ll leave the details out so the advice can be used by many. Two main things: sloped hill and the fruit trees are scattered around the place.

Obviously marking the contour lines and see which trees are on line with each other and who is not. As a helping guide as to where to place the swales.

But still, one has roots to content with, hopefully not to damage them too much.

Does anyone have experience with this?

Thanks!

Hello, I moved into a new property 1.25 acres mainly cabbage palms, pine trees, and oak trees. Im also right next to a canal. I was wondering if you guys had any ideas/input for my food forest plans. I’m currently reading “Create your own Florida Food Forest” by David the Good. So first off

Recommendations for killing the grass in the area? I was thinking just using the cardboard from all of my moving boxes to kill the grass and start planting.

I bought nitrogen fixing plant cuttings so I can start building up the soil once they grow. I have some fruit plants that I’m bringing from home.

What do you guys think for plants/fruits near the water? I have purple elephant ears that im going to plant near the water to utilize for cuttings as well.

Anyone have experience in the area? I’m north of Lake Okeechobee. Thanks Thank you!

Hello. I’m looking for a low impact solution to a spider mite infestation that is putting a hurting on my prickly pear cactus. Is there some little beetle or something that feeds on stringy little sacks of red 40?

Hi all!

Looking to get into permaculture this year and am looking for some solid book recommendations. Thoughts?

For reference, I am west of the Rocky Mountains (by a fair distance) in British Columbia, hardiness 6a/7b