Self Sufficiency update!

xerces · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 11:48 am Post subject: Self Sufficiency update!

First, let me take a moment to express my utmost condolences to the victims of the massive earthquake in China.

So in any case, much has happened over the last couple of weeks in the garden. All of the crops are coming up rather nicely.

http://backtowilderness.blogspot.com

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Ludi · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 12:19 pm Post subject: Re: Self Sufficiency update!

Very cute little gardens! Smile

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xerces · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 2:43 pm Post subject: Re: Self Sufficiency update!

I'm trying to do a bio-intensive gardening approach with one bed this year. We'll see how it goes.
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JPL · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 5:09 pm Post subject: Re: Self Sufficiency update!

Don35 · Heavy Crude Joined: Feb 07, 2006 Posts: 143

Congrats. Terribly fun to do!
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Heineken · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 8:31 pm Post subject: Re: Self Sufficiency update!

What you're doing is worthwhile, xerces. Well-done.

A long, long road to self-sufficiency remains, though.
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PeakOiler · Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 8:11 am Post subject: Re: Self Sufficiency update!

Here's my update:

As some of y'all know, when I harvest anything, I weigh the produce on a cheap electronic scale (accurate to +/- 2 grams) and enter the amounts in the spreadsheet which then calculates the calories harvested. As it's still early in the season, most of the produce is on it's way. There are dozens of green tomatoes in the garden right now, as well as a bunch of other stuff. I will post the updated spreadsheet as time goes by, perhaps once a month.
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mommy22 · Heavy Crude Joined: Jul 22, 2005 Posts: 270

Wow! Those of you living in the south have a big advantage over us in the north. I just got everything in the garden last night (several hours of dryness between the showers). Ican't wait tosee my first little green tomatoes! I counted what I put in my patch, and I have 25 different varieties of items...hard to beleive one can put so much in a relatively small space (thank you square foot gardening!).
One thing I will say...this year, I didn't really bother with trying certain items, due to failure over the last 4 years with those items.
So, 100% of my garden is stuff I know grows well in my garden, and (hopefully!) 0% of what a certain species of green bug does not devore in a few hours. For me, I cannot grow anything in the cruciferous family. I've tried it all over the past dseveral years, and so large spaces went unproductive every year, after whatever crop there was, was eaten up by hungry bugs, then I never saw the bugs again!
I guess I did grow knowledge those years, though. Part of self-sufficiency, I guess!

Ludi · Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 11:13 am Post subject: Re: Self Sufficiency update!

mommy22, that's just what we need to do - try things until we find what we can grow well. Smile

I've not had good luck with broccoli, or eggplant. Strawberries have been a bust also.
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"...powerdown so soft and fluffy you'll think you're living in a pillow." - jboogy

Heineken · Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 7:17 am Post subject: Re: Self Sufficiency update!

Ludi is so right. My experience has been the same: more failures than successes. I've become quite ruthless in ripping out plants and projects that show those oh-so-familiar signs of failure. The key is then to emphasize the things that work. For example, I've had great success with strawberries (I'm eating some right now), so I may add more raised strawberry beds.

You just keep experimenting. For me the new thing this year is grapes, and they're doing well! The failure is paw paws, which I've more or less given up on. They just don't grow despite all proper care.
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"Actually, humans died out long ago."
---Abused, abandoned hunting dog

"Things have entered a stage where the only change that is possible is for things to get worse."
---Me and my brother

RedStateGreen · Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 12:11 pm Post subject: Re: Self Sufficiency update!

PeakOiler wins the Gardening GeekOut award for ultimate edible geekiness. Laughing

I love it!
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PeakOiler · Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 10:29 pm Post subject: Re: Self Sufficiency update!

PeakOiler · Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 7:12 pm Post subject: Re: Self Sufficiency update!

Just an update:

The garden includes about six giant sunflower plants that are now about 5 and a half feet tall. Five more inches and they will be as tall as I am! I hope they blossom soon. Sunflower seeds are a favorite of mine.
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PeakOiler · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 7:35 pm Post subject: Re: Self Sufficiency update!

Got home from work after a grueling commute from a massive traffic jam on I-35 in Austin/Round Rock. So to recover from the road rage at drivers that have no brains, I spent some time in the garden picking some more stuff. Here's the update:

Edit: My goal is 5% of my annual caloric needs from just the garden & trees. I'm still experimenting on what grows best in this environment.

Edit: Two of the six sunflower plants are now over 6 ft tall! How high will they grow? I guess I'll find out...
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Loki · Expert Joined: Apr 08, 2006 Posts: 1298 Location: Cascadia