Today I made / bought / learnt (for a post oil world) 4

[rangerone314]

Today I sheetmulched a small 30sqFt rectangle in the vine area, behind my hops vines, which basically finishes off sheetmulching in that area. Friday will see spot-weeding and re-mulching of the long southeastern hedge area (consisting of rose bushes & evergreens), mainly clumps of grass.

I also mapped out the southern side of the property from one property marker to the other with flags, in anticipation of the 110 holly trees arriving early March.

I wish you would come and dig up 100 of my Holly trees. What are you going to use yours for?

As a double-rowed evergreen thorny hedge in shady areas and in the understory. Curiously there are already a few hollies in where I need them.

Should work great for that. Be aware birds spread Holly seeds very well. Expect them to start popping up around your property.

Yes... I figure they do, since there are random odd small holly trees in the woods where there are no berry bearing trees near by. One of the reasons I'm getting them is that birds like the seeds and they are not preferred by deer to eat. I prefer a healthy bird population around my property.

[JimG]

Sheet mulching, eh? I work for a huge electronics company where we fill
a dumpster full of recycled cardboard in 3 days. It's a dumpster the
size of a small house. Massive. If I take off the tape and remove
the copper staples I could have acres of this stuff for free. The waste
is truly overwhelming. But in Seattle wouldn't this be a slimy mess
in, say, 3 months? I want garden, not slime beds!

[pstarr]

Sheet mulching, eh? I work for a huge electronics company where we fill
a dumpster full of recycled cardboard in 3 days. It's a dumpster the
size of a small house. Massive. If I take off the tape and remove
the copper staples I could have acres of this stuff for free. The waste
is truly overwhelming. But in Seattle wouldn't this be a slimy mess
in, say, 3 months? I want garden, not slime beds!

Copper is good. Will keep the slugs away. Slimy mess is good also. It's mulch, the earthworms (and slugs ) will love it.

[careinke]

Sheet mulching, eh? I work for a huge electronics company where we fill
a dumpster full of recycled cardboard in 3 days. It's a dumpster the
size of a small house. Massive. If I take off the tape and remove
the copper staples I could have acres of this stuff for free. The waste
is truly overwhelming. But in Seattle wouldn't this be a slimy mess
in, say, 3 months? I want garden, not slime beds!

Copper is good. Will keep the slugs away. Slimy mess is good also. It's mulch, the earthworms (and slugs ) will love it.

I use cardboard all the time to start new beds off. Make sure you pull the tape off, then cover with about 5-6 inches of mulch. I used straw last year, this year I am going to try wood chips on some of the beds.

You can lay the cardboard right on top of the grass. Make sure there are no spaces for the grass to grow up through.. In your case with access to LOTS of cardboard, I would at least double layer it. Thew cardboard will eventually be eaten by the worms.

To stay on topic: started tomato's (determinant and indeterminate), broccoli (two kinds), cauliflower, vine peas, onions, Basil, cabbage, and calendula in the green house. Planted two peach trees, and a plum tree which bring me to over 30 Fruit trees. Planted three different types of blueberries.

Tomorrow it's back to making beehives, three more to finish before the bees arrive.

[pstarr]

Planted three different types of blueberries.

Blueberries are interesting.I planted 30 one year ago, a mix of northern and southern high bush. Each seems to have its own personality. Some grew all winter, others went completely dormant. Now one variety has been trying it damndest to fruit the last month or more. I didn't realize how aggressively the five bushes were sending out flowers. By the time I had gotten to them, their were small fruits and the branches looked as if the had a hair cut--the leaves had fallen off. It is important to remove flowers and berries the first few years to strengthen the plant. They need to be watered almost constantly.

[Pops]

Been working a lot on my new business. The last two months have been very good and I've finally got to the break-even point after 15 months. My goal is for this to give our family a second income sufficient to cover our basic expenses should anything happen to my husband's income.

That's awesome Red.

Finding the time, energy, spare cash, inspiration and courage to be independent is huge. Multiple incomes is right up there on my list!

Congrats.

[RedStateGreen]

Yes... I figure they do, since there are random odd small holly trees in the woods where there are no berry bearing trees near by. One of the reasons I'm getting them is that birds like the seeds and they are not preferred by deer to eat. I prefer a healthy bird population around my property.

Plus they're edible in a pinch

[RedStateGreen]

Been working a lot on my new business. The last two months have been very good and I've finally got to the break-even point after 15 months. My goal is for this to give our family a second income sufficient to cover our basic expenses should anything happen to my husband's income.

That's awesome Red.

Finding the time, energy, spare cash, inspiration and courage to be independent is huge. Multiple incomes is right up there on my list!

Congrats.

Thanks Pops, that means a lot to me.

[PrestonSturges]

Yes... I figure they do, since there are random odd small holly trees in the woods where there are no berry bearing trees near by. One of the reasons I'm getting them is that birds like the seeds and they are not preferred by deer to eat. I prefer a healthy bird population around my property.

Plus they're edible in a pinch

I have a yaupon holly that is becoming a very striking small landscape tree. I have not yet tried to make yaupon tea, but yaupon leaves for tea were a trade item in colonial times.

[rangerone314]

Been working a lot on my new business. The last two months have been very good and I've finally got to the break-even point after 15 months. My goal is for this to give our family a second income sufficient to cover our basic expenses should anything happen to my husband's income.

That's awesome Red.

Finding the time, energy, spare cash, inspiration and courage to be independent is huge. Multiple incomes is right up there on my list!

Congrats.

Thanks Pops, that means a lot to me.

Sweet! Normally I pride myself on herbal lore, but I still have gaps in my knowledge... I might have to get myself one or two... (I am still going to get tea trees though that can take Zone 7) Might have to experiment.

[careinke]

Yes... I figure they do, since there are random odd small holly trees in the woods where there are no berry bearing trees near by. One of the reasons I'm getting them is that birds like the seeds and they are not preferred by deer to eat. I prefer a healthy bird population around my property.

Plus they're edible in a pinch

Well mine are definitely American Holly, I had no idea there were so many kinds. Now I have to go make some tea out of the leaves. Thanks!

[rangerone314]

Yes... I figure they do, since there are random odd small holly trees in the woods where there are no berry bearing trees near by. One of the reasons I'm getting them is that birds like the seeds and they are not preferred by deer to eat. I prefer a healthy bird population around my property.

Plus they're edible in a pinch

Well mine are definitely American Holly, I had no idea there were so many kinds. Now I have to go make some tea out of the leaves. Thanks!

I believe the Ilex opaca was one of the species that didn't have any caffeine.

[careinke]

Plus they're edible in a pinch

Well mine are definitely American Holly, I had no idea there were so many kinds. Now I have to go make some tea out of the leaves. Thanks!

I believe the Ilex opaca was one of the species that didn't have any caffeine.

That's OK, I have two tea bushes and plan to get more for my caffeine fix. I grow other "teas" too including Chamomile, Black Berry, and seven kinds of mint. I even have a coffee bush, but no beans yet.

[SeaGypsy]

Holly contains DMT also, non effective without MAO inhibitors but a mix of passionflower with holly tea can put an extra sparkle on your morning.

[PrestonSturges]

http://news.ufl.edu/2009/06/25/yaupon-drink/

One caveat — before making yaupon holly tea it’s critical to obtain the correct plant, Putz says. There are numerous U.S. holly species, many of them not safe for consumption.

[rangerone314]

Started the understory hedge by planting 2 holly trees at the farthest property point in the west of my property.

[RedStateGreen]

http://news.ufl.edu/2009/06/25/yaupon-drink/

One caveat — before making yaupon holly tea it’s critical to obtain the correct plant, Putz says. There are numerous U.S. holly species, many of them not safe for consumption.

Yes, sort of. Yaupon has the name "vomitoria" for a reason. The hollies are all drinkable as far as I know, but you NEED to know how to prepare each sort ... thus the video I linked to.

[rangerone314]

http://news.ufl.edu/2009/06/25/yaupon-drink/

One caveat — before making yaupon holly tea it’s critical to obtain the correct plant, Putz says. There are numerous U.S. holly species, many of them not safe for consumption.

Yes, sort of. Yaupon has the name "vomitoria" for a reason. The hollies are all drinkable as far as I know, but you NEED to know how to prepare each sort ... thus the video I linked to.

From my research, the "vomitoria" name was a misnomer, because of purification rituals Native Americans used Yaupon in, of which it was only one of several ingredient in an emetic cocktail. Consumed in any reasonable amount, I don't think it will make you vomit. After I've bought some and tried it, I'll post my results.

I HAVE an idea on how to use it. The 3 tea trees I'm ordering are cold hardy for teas and I will place them on the southwest slope to block northern wind... I was thinking of planting Yaupon around them, since Yaupon does not get as tall as tea and would shield them yet a bit more where the tea is exposed.

[careinke]

Started a post and beam woodshed, with two posts planted four more to go. Attacked a Laural forest and made a little headway. I have to burn it, because if you bury the dam stuff it sprouts.

[rangerone314]

Started a post and beam woodshed, with two posts planted four more to go. Attacked a Laural forest and made a little headway. I have to burn it, because if you bury the dam stuff it sprouts.

Mountain laurel? Have to be careful if you ever have goats around there. (toxic to them and so are azaleas)