What have you done for garden prep so far?

Doomsday Prepper Forums

Help Support Doomsday Prepper Forums:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
In Florida (many years ago), we had drought issues. Then, we went to desalinization. Hasn't been an issue since. That's why I'm still so puzzled they haven't done so. There are all kinds of examples of how well this works and resolves the issue.
 
the green's wont let them sue ed stop dam sued to stop wind mills power sues to stop solar because of solar frieng the bird and so on
 
Last edited:
In Florida (many years ago), we had drought issues. Then, we went to desalinization. Hasn't been an issue since. That's why I'm still so puzzled they haven't done so. There are all kinds of examples of how well this works and resolves the issue.
I don't think its been cost effective, but with no other options that cost is comming down quickly.
 
That's just it, haven't been any other real options.
Same dilemma we had here.
 
i planted some onion bulbs yesterday bout it for my gardening venture so far!
Now is a good time to plant potatoes too. What part of my are you in ken? I lived in Louisville a long time ago. Any flooding near you, or golf ball sized hail?
 
So far I have everything planted in except my cucumbers. green beans and okra. We had some rain this evening and will start back up tomorrow in the evening time so hoping to get my wire up for the green beans and get everything left planted in before the rains start again which is supposed to last for a few days and get several inches. Started a 'new' part of the garden but it has been found to be low so have to make trenches about 1 1/2 ft down, pile dirt on top of my 4ft rows and till in again (which is mainly clay). Seeds grow in clay pretty well once you can get them established. Since it is mainly alkaline in that area, I am using leaves and pine needles in the wall way and between the rows. Makes a great till under once the season is done and I will have to add in extra fertilizer for those rows to get it up to neutral. It is a slow process right now. . . My back and shoulders are not as young as they used to be. Able to start getting mulch in May this year so will have plenty to compose once next year comes about to raise it up along with the cleaning out of barns and kitchen scrapes to add in. This year has just been delayed with all the cold and rain and right now dealing with a sick MIL who is 92 now. . . having to do some extra chores at her house and now meals for her. She has lost 5lbs that she really doesn't have to lose. Just isn't hungry, but if I cook and send it over she eats. . .so will continue to do this. I just found out Easter weekend, I will be a Nana for the first time! Which means she will be a great Granny in November
 
So far I have everything planted in except my cucumbers. green beans and okra. We had some rain this evening and will start back up tomorrow in the evening time so hoping to get my wire up for the green beans and get everything left planted in before the rains start again which is supposed to last for a few days and get several inches. Started a 'new' part of the garden but it has been found to be low so have to make trenches about 1 1/2 ft down, pile dirt on top of my 4ft rows and till in again (which is mainly clay). Seeds grow in clay pretty well once you can get them established. Since it is mainly alkaline in that area, I am using leaves and pine needles in the wall way and between the rows. Makes a great till under once the season is done and I will have to add in extra fertilizer for those rows to get it up to neutral. It is a slow process right now. . . My back and shoulders are not as young as they used to be. Able to start getting mulch in May this year so will have plenty to compose once next year comes about to raise it up along with the cleaning out of barns and kitchen scrapes to add in. This year has just been delayed with all the cold and rain and right now dealing with a sick MIL who is 92 now. . . having to do some extra chores at her house and now meals for her. She has lost 5lbs that she really doesn't have to lose. Just isn't hungry, but if I cook and send it over she eats. . .so will continue to do this. I just found out Easter weekend, I will be a Nana for the first time! Which means she will be a great Granny in November
Wow, 92, your hubby has great genes! I had a grandmother that made it to 96, but everyone else in the family died early. Lifestyle choices can make a big difference, but genes are the lottery!
I try to put as much mulch as I can between rows each year now. Helps with both weeds and water retention, and fertilizes next years crop. I didn't know Texas had clay too. This red clay we have here is almost as tough as a terra cotta pot. I'm slowly getting it in shape in the garden area.
 
We tend to have what is known around here as gumbo mud. . . which is the black clay. The older part of the garden has been worked for years now so it doesn't take that long to get it done. But the newer, well that is another story. Today I was able to dig one more raised bed, tilled and planted 4 more rows, along with getting all my cages put around the tomatoes and peppers and put up my fencing for the pole beans and cucumbers to climb on. Had to call it quits early cause we had a couple places we had to go today and then to the BYC get together this evening. Got three donkeys sold and 2 goats. Have to deliver them tomorrow. Guy said he has been searching for tame donkeys, but so far has only seen ones that you couldn't get close to or ones that were in really bad shape. He is getting ours for his grandkids and he liked the idea that they are ride able for them.
 
We tend to have what is known around here as gumbo mud. . . which is the black clay. The older part of the garden has been worked for years now so it doesn't take that long to get it done. But the newer, well that is another story. Today I was able to dig one more raised bed, tilled and planted 4 more rows, along with getting all my cages put around the tomatoes and peppers and put up my fencing for the pole beans and cucumbers to climb on. Had to call it quits early cause we had a couple places we had to go today and then to the BYC get together this evening. Got three donkeys sold and 2 goats. Have to deliver them tomorrow. Guy said he has been searching for tame donkeys, but so far has only seen ones that you couldn't get close to or ones that were in really bad shape. He is getting ours for his grandkids and he liked the idea that they are ride able for them.
I talk to people that spend hundreds on stuff to add to the clay, and yes that works, but just by adding leaves every year it mixes well in it and becomes productive. I'm lucky to have woods in the back of the property. I mow it in winter, letting the mower spray the ground up leaves into rows, which get picked up for both the garden and greenhouse. My problem was I started a garden in about four different places. Each year I moved it to a new spot, so the soil never got good. I finally found permanent locations for both, and with three years of working in organic stuff, it's getting workable. I did cheat in the greenhouse and bought a bunch of bags of cheap topsoil to till in to get started with, but add leaves both in winter to till in and in summer to use as ground cover between rows.
Oh, on a side note, I had said I had planted asparagus three times with no success on an earlier post. Well yesterday I was weeding and mulching, and in the corner of the greenhouse I have asparagus shoots! Yeah! I actually weeded a couple before I realized what they were, oops. :).
I still need to plant some pole beans along the back fence of the garden, but that's it till the weeds start. I had several tomatoe plants and pole beans that sprouted in the greenhouse from last years crop, so have been transplanting those outside along with the seeds. I don't even know why I'm planting beans, as I have about five cases of them from last year. Guess I'll have some to share. I've never tried saving dry beans from the garden before, mayby will try that this year too.
I hope you're not as sore as I am from yesterday's work! It's a good sore though.
I don't believe I remember you having mentioned donkeys before. They are cute, but since you can't milk or eat them, I've never considered them before. (Kidding, we'll sort of). We must have had a donkey salesman come thru this area as every pasture around suddenly has a donkey or two in it. I have heard they are good for scaring away coyotes, and we have a lot of those around now. My two outside dogs are my security system now. There pretty tough when they work as a team, at least on little predators. They'd probably run from something as large as they are:confused:.
 
Donkeys are great animals to have around the farm. Yes,they are good protectors, but in my opinion, the best is their poop! It's great for the garden and can be added in directly, no compost needed as the seeds they ingest do not sprout like cow manure.
 
Just finished weeding the greenhouse, (for the first time this season). Got most of it mulched with leaves, but will finish soon. At least most of it is growing now.
image.jpg
image.jpg
image.jpg
 
The outside garden is doing pretty good too. Just am still keeping my fingers crossed about a last frost possibility.
image.jpg
 
I buried all but the tips of my potatoes today, probably the last time I'll bury them. If I can keep the voles at bay I should be able to stash a good amount in the cellar. I also finished mulching the greenhouse with a good bed of leaves. I also cut a whole bunch of chives that are in the dehydrator right now. I love the onioney smell in the house right now. Chives are one of my favorite things on a baked potatoe. I did pretty good today, but even on slack days I try to do at least something on the gardening. Even if I only weed for ten minutes, at least I'm constantly working in the right direction. I'm really hoping to get a good apple crop this year as I have only one jar of apples left in the pantry.
 
How do you keep apples, and how long do they generally keep?
Will be a while for me, but hoping to plant some this year, so won't fruit for a few years.
 
How do you keep apples, and how long do they generally keep?
Will be a while for me, but hoping to plant some this year, so won't fruit for a few years.
If kept cool and dark you can get around three months max. The best way is peel, core and slice and can them. Canned can go three yrs or better. I've had a few trees produce in the 2nd year, but most do well after four or five. I didn't see any apples in fla., but there's tons of hybrid types out there that are designed for different climates. I'm far from an expert, but have read that most apples like a cold winter to produce well. I miss some of the citrus, and one of my favorites was a Japanese plumb. When those things are fully ripe the flavor was amazing. My advice is go to the ag dept and see what does well in your area before planting. I'm into plants that are suited for the area and require minimal maint. If you're really good and spend a lot of time on them you can get a plant to do well almost anywhere, but who has time for that?
 
How do you keep apples, and how long do they generally keep?
Will be a while for me, but hoping to plant some this year, so won't fruit for a few years.
I bought a dwarf variety from home depot. . .heat resistant Sent over from Israel. Cant remember the name as that was 14 years ago, but they have done very well
 

Latest posts

Back
Top