GARDENING 2025!

[poltiregist]

Worx WG430 13 Amp Electric Leaf Mulcher​

Is what I use to grind up the leaves. And no it doesn't grind up medium & larger sticks & I'm sure it doesn't do acorns. But as I'm dumping the leaves in the top I generally see & throw sticks to the side. It's a very simple machine & uses a weed eater line to cut up the leaves. When the line wears out it takes about 3 to 5 minutes to change it out. And it does a pretty good job I am NOT interested in buying an expensive machine to sit there 11 months out of the year.

The one thing I didn't like about it the first year was that you couldn't fit a full size garbage can under the frame. The 2nd year I got smart & put the leaf bag on the frame & then set the top back on. One warning though, you condense those leaves enough that if you fill the bag you can't pick it up without the bag ripping (too much weight). The title above is what it's listed on Amazon as. Be sure to read the negs, like always.

This post inspired me to order a wood chipper today . It is not one of those big expensive ones , but wanted one that would chip at least twigs as I mulch up leaves . My plan is to put the mulch on the garden and also use it in starting a mushroom bed . I ain't worried about the leaves in my yard , I actually don't have a yard or even own a lawn mower , but have a cabin in a wooded site on a very steep slope , I leave my leaves at the cabin vicinity for soil erosion and flood purposes from heavy rains sending water down the slope . I plan to go to a different spot to gather leaves and twigs to mulch and bring back to the homestead . The ticks get bad where I plan to go get the leaves during the summer so I want to get that done before spring . Last summer I was working in the tick infested area and counted 77 ticks on me, before I simply stopped counting . The reason for those ticks though , is because of the deep leaves there .

 

[RJ2019]

..This count?

..but, Srsly, only grow it to make 'Canna-butter', as 'Deep-Pain Balm'.. Pinky-Promise.. Stuff is Awesome for that..

Overall, This is how I personally feel about the Importance of the need to Learn and Practice LTGardening:

Yep.. ..But, indeed, the 'Reality' is harsher than people Think..

We, at least, Constantly grow our own 'Countertop Herbs' (Mint, Basil, Green Onion, etc, etc) and Have 'proven out' the Soil-quality, here by growing from 'just scraps'.. Tomatoes, Potatoes, Romaine, Celery, Cantaloupes one time, Strawberries, 'bucket Carrots', etc, but..

..Just don't have the 'Space' (nor are we in Our 'BOL', currently ) to yield 'Enough to be anything Serious', but.. Know-how is there (at least for raised-beds / 'Poly-Barrel growing') and Do have some 'Greenhouse-understructure' materials stashed in One of our 'caches' (up in NorCal, tho..) and Pumps / Hoses / fittings / drip-line, etc, etc.. But.. Yah - 'Long term Gardening' eludes us, for the moment, still...

..But, IF we can manage to 'Survive the die-off / First Year'.. I think we'll make it thru, one way / another.. Do have "Plans B, C and D", but.. As-always... We shall see..

jd

I thought there was a separate thread for 'what you grow'
I hope you got some good winter grow lights for em. Not that I would know AAAAANNYYYYYYTHING bout growin *that* stuff'
Post up some pix of windowsill/countertop herbs... I gotz sweet taters n houseplants in mine and also bags of apricot and donut peaches that haven't germinated.

 

[Peanut]

“What are your plans for the coming year in your garden?"

Since you asked… I gave it some thought. I’m thinking I’ll plant Sunflowers. Why? They’re easy grow, and when they no longer point towards the sun… it’s time to run for the hills.

Edit: Forgive the NPR link, but it came up first in a search looking for info about such things and it’s good info, for those interested in such phenomena….
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo...-why-sunflowers-turn-to-follow-the-sun-solved

Sunflowers are fairly easy to grow. But in my experience... the hard part is keeping your harvest. Birds robbed me blind! When they were ready to harvest I was busy with cattle for a couple weeks. I ended up with only a handful of seed.

Talked with neighbors about it... they have the same issue. The consensus was to plant a lot, a half acre at least, more than the birds can take. The single row I planted was just a feast ready for the taking.

I had bees at the time, lost a lot of bees to birds also.