bce1
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Post by bce1 on Feb 26, 2018 11:37:32 GMT 10
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Post by SA Hunter on Feb 26, 2018 12:21:54 GMT 10
I noticed how rich the soil was - nice loam - mine is all sandy and it's been 3 years of trying to build it up to something decent. It's slowly working, but still a way to go.
Great article too - my green thumb is getting itchy!
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Post by spinifex on Feb 26, 2018 19:42:18 GMT 10
I've worked in commercial horticulture and have produced a lot of my own food from garden over last 15 years (a few pics of my patch on this site somewhere).
This article is a bit misleading. Yes you can plant multi-variety gardens in a day for sure ... but that does not mean you can sit back and navel gaze until harvest! Or that the yields of each type will be any good. And only if the soil (as SAHunter points out) is in decent condition in first place.
If it were really like this ... why the blazes did so many millions die in the Irish potato famines? All they had to do was spend a day planting out a non-potato garden full of carrots, beans and whatnot and they'd have all been fine. Of course ... it just doesn't work like that.
Best to assume that to get a garden looking like the one in the pictures in the article a bit of time and effort is required. And as I get reminded even after all these years ... failure is always an option.
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dirtdiva
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Post by dirtdiva on Jul 16, 2020 4:58:13 GMT 10
I've worked in commercial horticulture and have produced a lot of my own food from garden over last 15 years (a few pics of my patch on this site somewhere). This article is a bit misleading. Yes you can plant multi-variety gardens in a day for sure ... but that does not mean you can sit back and navel gaze until harvest! Or that the yields of each type will be any good. And only if the soil (as SAHunter points out) is in decent condition in first place. If it were really like this ... why the blazes did so many millions die in the Irish potato famines? All they had to do was spend a day planting out a non-potato garden full of carrots, beans and whatnot and they'd have all been fine. Of course ... it just doesn't work like that. Best to assume that to get a garden looking like the one in the pictures in the article a bit of time and effort is required. And as I get reminded even after all these years ... failure is always an option. In 50 years I have never had a garden that at the least 1 crop wasn't lost to something. Usually more than 1. That is just the way gardening goes. |
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bug
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Post by bug on Jul 16, 2020 11:06:37 GMT 10
I've only seen one fully self sufficient garden. They had a full acre of vegetables plus an orchard plus livestock. That's a fulltime job to manage.
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spatial
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Post by spatial on Jul 16, 2020 13:11:44 GMT 10
I've worked in commercial horticulture and have produced a lot of my own food from garden over last 15 years (a few pics of my patch on this site somewhere)...... In 50 years I have never had a garden that at the least 1 crop wasn't lost to something. Usually more than 1. That is just the way gardening goes.Yip, wife is an avid gardener and has horticultural qualifications. Our soil is very poor so most of veg in raised beds and pots that have had compost brought in. It is an endless fight against the bugs and takes years to get them to a stable level or rid the area of snails. It might be cheaper in the long run to just buy the veg. Our herb garden is going very well. Yip, wife is an avid gardener and has horticultural qualifications. Our soil is very poor so most of veg in raised beds and pots that have had compost brought in. It is an endless fight against the bugs and takes years to get them to a stable level or rid the area of snails. It might be cheaper in the long run to just buy the veg. Our herb garden is going very well. |
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bug
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Post by bug on Jul 16, 2020 16:59:19 GMT 10
Yep. You don't do it for the money. You do it because you want your own food. Between the birds and snails, we always lose something.
With chooks you might be able to lower your overall bill, but generally not with veggies. Especially if you count what else you could have done with that time (paid work, doing repairs instead of paying someone etc.)
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Post by spinifex on Jul 16, 2020 17:40:52 GMT 10
Growing fresh herbs really pays if you use a lot (which we do). And fresh berries. Also a lot of specialty varieties can be very expensive/unattainable in regional areas.
Mainly ... I want to know exactly what chemicals are put on my food and that proper withholding period is being observed. Its a food safety thing.
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spatial
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Post by spatial on Jul 16, 2020 17:57:08 GMT 10
Growing fresh herbs really pays if you use a lot (which we do). And fresh berries. Also a lot of specialty varieties can be very expensive/unattainable in regional areas. Mainly ... I want to know exactly what chemicals are put on my food and that proper withholding period is being observed. Its a food safety thing. Yip quality is a good enough excuse to do a veg garden. There is the prepping aspect as well. If economy tumbles costs will sky-rocket or one will have no income Rural Aus veg is very bad |
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dirtdiva
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Post by dirtdiva on Jul 16, 2020 20:45:31 GMT 10
Growing fresh herbs really pays if you use a lot (which we do). And fresh berries. Also a lot of specialty varieties can be very expensive/unattainable in regional areas. Mainly ... I want to know exactly what chemicals are put on my food and that proper withholding period is being observed. Its a food safety thing. I'm in agreement with you spinifex. I have already survived one bout with cancer many years ago and it is not fun . I want to know what is being sprayed on my food and when. I also grow a lot of herbs for teas and medicinal uses which for me pays because buying herbs is expensive in the US. Between what little I buy, what I grow and preserve myself and what we hunt and forage we manage to keep the pantry full without the chemicals. But not 100% self sufficient. That is a pipe dream. |
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Post by SA Hunter on Jul 16, 2020 20:51:54 GMT 10
But not 100% self sufficient. That is a pipe dream.
DD, this is a great goal to strive for, and one I would love to achieve.
Keep working at it, you never know, it might just happen before you least expect it.
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dirtdiva
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Post by dirtdiva on Jul 16, 2020 20:56:39 GMT 10
In 50 years I have never had a garden that at the least 1 crop wasn't lost to something. Usually more than 1. That is just the way gardening goes.Yip, wife is an avid gardener and has horticultural qualifications. Our soil is very poor so most of veg in raised beds and pots that have had compost brought in. It is an endless fight against the bugs and takes years to get them to a stable level or rid the area of snails. It might be cheaper in the long run to just buy the veg. Our herb garden is going very well. Yip, wife is an avid gardener and has horticultural qualifications. Our soil is very poor so most of veg in raised beds and pots that have had compost brought in. It is an endless fight against the bugs and takes years to get them to a stable level or rid the area of snails. It might be cheaper in the long run to just buy the veg. Our herb garden is going very well. I finally got rid of (greatly reduced ) my snail population with ducks! Those things (ducks)are voracious eaters. But then you have to worry about protecting the ducks  |
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Post by spinifex on Jul 20, 2020 17:11:22 GMT 10
Beer traps work for snails. Might have to protect them from husband though?
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dirtdiva
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Post by dirtdiva on Jul 20, 2020 21:40:37 GMT 10
Beer traps work for snails. Might have to protect them from husband though? Doesn't work for me Lol I have a big dog in the yard that loves beer! I blame it on my husband It is his bird dog. |
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Jul 7, 2024 11:02:41 GMT 10
Jul 7, 2024 11:02:41 GMT 10
