I needed this today - I am doing a slow section of my work (book editing) and was hating it ... when you said, "Slow slow work" in a tone that gave it honor. WHEW - brain reset - THANK YOU. One of my best mid-sized multi heads sunflowers went down in last night's storm - FORTUNATELY ONE and only one - head is developed enough I think I will get seeds to keep that plant line going next year. Best to all who are reading this - stay safe and embrace the brain reset when needed.
I'm south of you in Maryland, zone 7a - though my avg first frost is ~Oct 13th - probably similar to you. One thing I'm trying this year as I pull later potatoes out (August/early September) is to sow quick, frost sensitive cover crops like buckwheat behind just by broadcasting. Plan will be to sow garlic into the dead cover crop sometime after first frost. Trying to reenergize the soil and microbiology a bit after the disturbance associated with digging potatoes. I have some other patterns for potatoes that come out a bit earlier, but I'm trying to work in a few more cover crops to supplement the other added fertility from compost/duck waste water. Anyway, cheers, and thanks for the videos - always look forward to your "field updates." I find the whole concept of growing on leased/shared land with no irrigation incredibly compelling!
Hiya. Wise words there. I broadcasted clover seeds after potato harvest (after the first decent rain) but would have been wiser to choose something like you that dies before garlic goes in. My idea was that if I cut it before garlic greens come up it will provide N for garlic growth and after they should get on well once both greening out in the spring. Might be a real stupid idea tho. Also, could you give me/us some more info about how are you using duck waste water? Cheers
@@raczjozsef6941Hey there! I have 14 ducks and they have a few different tubs for water (just some stock tanks of various sizes, about 120 gallons in total). I empty them every day during the spring/summer/fall, mostly by hand, using two 10 liter watering cans. I use the water directly for many different crops - though not on any leafy greens that are to be eaten raw (e.g. spinach, lettuce, mizuna). The one tub has a drain to an open trench system (on contour for a bit, then dump downhill, then back to on contour) where the water can flow through and be held in spots for a bit - to sort of flood irrigate some beds and some fruit trees - nothing terribly sophisticated. Since I'm emptying daily, the duck water is nutrient charged, but not excessively, so I've never seen any signs of overnutrification/fertilizer burn. I've even used the water to water in cover crop seeds (rather than pulling more water from the well) without any issues. Also, I think your cover crop idea is smart; might just be a bit more effort in the spring to clip the clover, but the clover top growth would be a nice mulch. Pros/cons to all the different cover crops; I want to learn more about using blends based on time of year...just to have an even higher amount of diversity for the microbial life! Best of luck with everything!
Next year, we're going to grow potatoes with straw only. I'm adamant on that. The garden soil is mostly cow manure, with some horse and chicken manure mixed in. Richest soil I've ever grown anything in. But there's just no way I'm turning any of it to mound up spuds. I'm into no-dig, and I'm always happy to explain that that just won't change. That friendly field is a completely different story. It's coming along. Your helpers put good energy into the soil.
Hi all. Re. loss of one big sunflower head and subsequent loss of seeds from one plant: this happened to us in July during a mega hailstorm in north Italy, - hail stones as big as tennis balls, (and some with the shape of flowers, bizarrely). Not sure of the variety, but our decapitated sunflowers went on to produce smaller lateral flower heads on the remaining stalk (similar size to sun-chokes) so maybe all will not be lost - at least for the bees, and it's heartening to see what these plants can do when nature forces them to adapt (can't say the same for the young trees that suffered severe damage to the bark).
I'm only beginning to tend to a bigger field with also no irrigation where I grew garlic and potatoes for the last season. I played around with some green manure sowing but I am curious how do you manage sowings with no regular watering?
We have had an abundant rainfall this season so it hasn't been a lack of rain, almost too much water... On drier years we bring water containers and watering cans to initially soak in the seedings and lightly mulch, that seems to be whats needed...
I has even stronger problems with my potatoes... record soggy here in Sweden, so I expected the seed potatoes to rot. They didnt, and the foliage was fine. However, they still did not produce a single potato lol. Record levels of non-harvest...
That is really tough. I suspect you most likely had a pretty intense vole population involved in things. I wonder if setting up really positive snake habitat right at the beginning of the season would help next year. Nice flat stones in the sun propped up with smaller stones underneath to make a little room so snakes can be above or below, and right near your planting area. They may naturally come but if they are around and supported they can often deal with voles pretty thoroughly...
I needed this today - I am doing a slow section of my work (book editing) and was hating it ... when you said, "Slow slow work" in a tone that gave it honor. WHEW - brain reset - THANK YOU. One of my best mid-sized multi heads sunflowers went down in last night's storm - FORTUNATELY ONE and only one - head is developed enough I think I will get seeds to keep that plant line going next year. Best to all who are reading this - stay safe and embrace the brain reset when needed.
so glad things lined up at the right time! :)
I'm south of you in Maryland, zone 7a - though my avg first frost is ~Oct 13th - probably similar to you. One thing I'm trying this year as I pull later potatoes out (August/early September) is to sow quick, frost sensitive cover crops like buckwheat behind just by broadcasting. Plan will be to sow garlic into the dead cover crop sometime after first frost. Trying to reenergize the soil and microbiology a bit after the disturbance associated with digging potatoes. I have some other patterns for potatoes that come out a bit earlier, but I'm trying to work in a few more cover crops to supplement the other added fertility from compost/duck waste water. Anyway, cheers, and thanks for the videos - always look forward to your "field updates." I find the whole concept of growing on leased/shared land with no irrigation incredibly compelling!
Hiya. Wise words there. I broadcasted clover seeds after potato harvest (after the first decent rain) but would have been wiser to choose something like you that dies before garlic goes in. My idea was that if I cut it before garlic greens come up it will provide N for garlic growth and after they should get on well once both greening out in the spring. Might be a real stupid idea tho.
Also, could you give me/us some more info about how are you using duck waste water? Cheers
@@raczjozsef6941Hey there! I have 14 ducks and they have a few different tubs for water (just some stock tanks of various sizes, about 120 gallons in total). I empty them every day during the spring/summer/fall, mostly by hand, using two 10 liter watering cans. I use the water directly for many different crops - though not on any leafy greens that are to be eaten raw (e.g. spinach, lettuce, mizuna). The one tub has a drain to an open trench system (on contour for a bit, then dump downhill, then back to on contour) where the water can flow through and be held in spots for a bit - to sort of flood irrigate some beds and some fruit trees - nothing terribly sophisticated. Since I'm emptying daily, the duck water is nutrient charged, but not excessively, so I've never seen any signs of overnutrification/fertilizer burn. I've even used the water to water in cover crop seeds (rather than pulling more water from the well) without any issues. Also, I think your cover crop idea is smart; might just be a bit more effort in the spring to clip the clover, but the clover top growth would be a nice mulch. Pros/cons to all the different cover crops; I want to learn more about using blends based on time of year...just to have an even higher amount of diversity for the microbial life! Best of luck with everything!
Sunflowers are so lovely. I didn’t plant any this year, but I was blessed with a volunteer. I loved seeing it in my garden.
Next year, we're going to grow potatoes with straw only. I'm adamant on that. The garden soil is mostly cow manure, with some horse and chicken manure mixed in. Richest soil I've ever grown anything in. But there's just no way I'm turning any of it to mound up spuds. I'm into no-dig, and I'm always happy to explain that that just won't change. That friendly field is a completely different story. It's coming along. Your helpers put good energy into the soil.
You were featured on our recent Must See Homesteads Bonus visit on raised beds!
Fun, thanks!
Wow. Love the bird habitat. The gold ameranth. Beautiful. Great tips on specific areas of the field (wet, lower fertility ect).
Congrats on the baby- I expect a good October harvest overall.
Thank you kindly :)
Hi all. Re. loss of one big sunflower head and subsequent loss of seeds from one plant: this happened to us in July during a mega hailstorm in north Italy, - hail stones as big as tennis balls, (and some with the shape of flowers, bizarrely). Not sure of the variety, but our decapitated sunflowers went on to produce smaller lateral flower heads on the remaining stalk (similar size to sun-chokes) so maybe all will not be lost - at least for the bees, and it's heartening to see what these plants can do when nature forces them to adapt (can't say the same for the young trees that suffered severe damage to the bark).
Lovely video as always, Sean (Or Shawn?)!
Always a must watch, love getting notified of a new video. Thanks!
Looks fantastic.
Love to see the full-sized Waltham Butternut Squash!
Awesome vid finally got notice like every body else. Very enjoyable and relaxing and food for all. Cheers
CONGRATULATIONS!
Baby! congrats!
Thanks kindly :)
amazin sunflowers
Camassia might be an option for the wetter end
Congratulations!
Love your videos! Keep up the amazing work!
I'm only beginning to tend to a bigger field with also no irrigation where I grew garlic and potatoes for the last season. I played around with some green manure sowing but I am curious how do you manage sowings with no regular watering?
We have had an abundant rainfall this season so it hasn't been a lack of rain, almost too much water... On drier years we bring water containers and watering cans to initially soak in the seedings and lightly mulch, that seems to be whats needed...
Cheers man. Very helpful and reassuring that I won't need to run up and down the field with cans for the whole germination period.
Do you soak your bean seeds before you direct seed them?
I like to do that when I can remember to do so!
This Chelsea woman person is just mesmerizing... ⚡✨ the constant smile, energy and everything. Like a farming fairy with awesome pants 🤠
Chelsea is a wonderful person, we appreciate her!
Nearly every potato I grew was either eaten up, or had a few bites taken out of it. 🤥
Nice ending! Bumblebee TV!
I has even stronger problems with my potatoes... record soggy here in Sweden, so I expected the seed potatoes to rot. They didnt, and the foliage was fine. However, they still did not produce a single potato lol. Record levels of non-harvest...
@@SimonHaestoe I don't know much about growing potatoes, so I can't imagine what caused that. Someone probably does!
That is really tough. I suspect you most likely had a pretty intense vole population involved in things. I wonder if setting up really positive snake habitat right at the beginning of the season would help next year. Nice flat stones in the sun propped up with smaller stones underneath to make a little room so snakes can be above or below, and right near your planting area. They may naturally come but if they are around and supported they can often deal with voles pretty thoroughly...
@@edibleacres thanks for the tip! I could also try containers, I think. I'm putting garlic in the same bed soon; I hope the voles don't like it!
Its still summer