So glad you said there’s more to learning than watching videos; reading is essential for deeper learning, and I’ve found - regardless of subject - I don’t really know or understand something, until I’ve put my own hands to it. Small recent example for me: We’re on hard clay; old, over exploited farmland. Watched a bunch of gardening/agricultural/geology videos, did some follow up reading/referencing. That was all good and fine, but until I went and hand turned/raked the four 4x40ft(approx) rows, there was a bunch I just couldn’t have known; depth consistency, moisture line, root depth, what work the cover crop of native/wild plants had done, etc. Anyway, long winded way of saying that study is not complete, until you get your hands dirty. 😅
Digging out and moving raised beds and moving them isn’t fun. I had meant to do it in October when it is cooler, but decided to get it over with and make the move in August when the summer heat was at its peak-never again! I learned my lesson the hard way. On the positive side, I hadn’t planned on planting in them until next February. I got a jump start and have parsnips, carrots, beets and turnips growing in them, and their new location is exceeding expectations thus far. My area of Alabama goes from one extreme to another with temperatures. In the summer, the heat gets well into the triple digits with the heat index applied. In the winter, single digit temperatures are common, zero degrees Fahrenheit less common, and it gets as cold as -4F. The extremes make gardening tricky. I like to get my tomato crop in before the summer heat is at its peak. Shade cloth helps, but sometimes too hot is too hot for the plants-and me. So, every year I gamble with getting the seedlings into the ground as early as possible, so they have time to produce before the summer heat is in its peak months. Harvesting the last tomatoes before the second week of July is great! Alabama is also known for its bugs, especially the pickle worm which can, and often does, destroy entire crops unless you take precautions-regular spraying with Spinosad or BT in the evenings. Fungus issues also require regular spraying. Fall and winter crops are much easier. They don’t flower before harvesting, so can be covered with bug netting. The netting also keeps my garden safe from cats, deer, and my chickens when they get out. Dang chickens will clear out a raised bed in hours if you let them.
I always do try to upcycle what I can. As we have gotten older - well into our 70s now - we are more willing to pay for some convenience. We splurged on 4 metal beds for our expanded veggie garden (on sale BOGO with free shipping.) I love them and don't expect to ever have to replace them. That said, I also have several colorful containers made from old picnic coolers that lost their lids and a few decommissioned wheelbarrows work great for lettuce once you drill a couple holes in the bottom. I even have a few radishes growing in 2 old plastic Tonka trucks. Love your stool, by the way. Glad to see that you suffered no ill effects from Helene.
First, it's good to see (and hear) you, Ben; considering your location and how hard-hit by Helene the Carolinas were, we had some concerns about whether you and yours are safe and sound: too many people aren't. Next, thank you *so much* for saying everything you've had to say in this video! It does take time, and it's my belief that the best gardeners will study, analyze, take notes, keep journals, have their soil tested regularly (which doesn't have to be every year, btw, but probably every three-to-five years, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac *unless some problem manifests itself which prompts the gardener to double-check soil conditions*.) As far as I know I'm the only gardener in my extended family but within the extended family we've had many people whose professions or vocations have required them to have phenomenally detailed understanding of those professions or vocations, and it's expected that the rest of us will approach things that way, too: learn, "assimilate," retain, recall, and understand the entire Rube Goldberg-esque-ness of whatever the subject is at a microscopic, microcosmic level; if you can't explain it to someone else so they can grasp it, then you don't know it well enough yourself. That said, I'm not there, yet. Two property owners before me were passionate gardeners who built fabulous soil and even managed to over-fertilize it (as the lab I sent the soil samples to for testing informed me, but they assumed I'd done it and gave me a scolding along with the test results) with regard to a few nutrients and despite the fact that it's mainly sand which holds on to just about *nothing,* it's still quite fertile. Sounds great, right? But the upshot of that is, I don't learn a lot from this soil. At the same time, of course, I'm not in any hurry to deplete the garden of any of its soil goodness. But...in some ways, it's been too easy, you know? And as to patience, isn't that the essence of gardening! Gardens are sometimes said to be "built," but I see them as organisms of their own, always evolving. Every growing season, my garden gets *something* it didn't have before. That might be a structure; it might be better and more nutritious mulch or compost. The garden teaches me to breathe with the Earth, and a growing season is only one breath. Much gardening love to you and yours from Northeast Ohio! 😊💚💚💚💚💚😊
Jeff from East Tennessee. I guess my biggest issue right now is how to do a big summer garden and have time for a fall garden. Today is October 1st. I have tons of summer plants still doing good. I am getting loads of peppers and a few little tomatoes. I am getting lots of okra. I few cucumbers. I could put a row of fall plants here and there!! I kinda want a place for cabbage and an area for broccoli. Maybe I am too picky. In the end, a small fall garden. I can do a big spring garden. I guess that’s my plan. Keep on going. Don’t stop. Plant and seed all the time!! Enjoy your garden. Thanks!!
I have 4 wood 4x8 beds. 3 metal 4x8 beds i bought for thirty something dollars from Amazon. One is as good as the others so far. The metal ones ended up being cheaper.
I am a cheap SOB. My favorite price is free, and if I can get something I need for basically no cost besides the cost of gas to drive to get it, then I'm in. My city has free compost available in the spring that is made from green waste that is collected. Is it the best quality, absolutely not. I know a lady who has horses and can I can get all the manure I want at no cost. I save seeds to what I can. I bought the variety of apple tree I wanted because my neighbor has one that will pollinate with it (saved me from having to buy a second tree). Bought a peach tree that I am planning to propagate a branch that needs to be pruned off to save money from not buying another tree. Got apricot pits and wild cherry pits from my brother in law who has had those trees on his property for 40 years of more. Have half a dozen of each sprouting now to plant out in the spring. They will take time to fruit, but only cost me what it will cost in water to keep them alive.
You are inspiring…thanks.
So glad you said there’s more to learning than watching videos; reading is essential for deeper learning, and I’ve found - regardless of subject - I don’t really know or understand something, until I’ve put my own hands to it.
Small recent example for me: We’re on hard clay; old, over exploited farmland. Watched a bunch of gardening/agricultural/geology videos, did some follow up reading/referencing. That was all good and fine, but until I went and hand turned/raked the four 4x40ft(approx) rows, there was a bunch I just couldn’t have known; depth consistency, moisture line, root depth, what work the cover crop of native/wild plants had done, etc.
Anyway, long winded way of saying that study is not complete, until you get your hands dirty. 😅
I love your honesty! Ive built 5 different chicken coops and I cant build them correctly either brother 😂
it is frustrating i mean it is a simple box but as long as it lasts i m happy.
@bradleynickell8285 me too. But chickens don't care as long as they are safe and dry.
My husband transformed a shed into a nice place for my chickens. So awesome. Love gardening and chickens
That's awesome
I've been watching for several months and just learned today you have chickens. Great video!
haha yeah ive done videos about them but seems like people dont want to see it. Yes we have 11 chickens as of right now.
@@sandybottomhomestead Very cool!
Glad to see that y’all are okay after all of this weather. Thanks for another great video 👍
Love your stool,
thank you
Digging out and moving raised beds and moving them isn’t fun. I had meant to do it in October when it is cooler, but decided to get it over with and make the move in August when the summer heat was at its peak-never again! I learned my lesson the hard way. On the positive side, I hadn’t planned on planting in them until next February. I got a jump start and have parsnips, carrots, beets and turnips growing in them, and their new location is exceeding expectations thus far.
My area of Alabama goes from one extreme to another with temperatures. In the summer, the heat gets well into the triple digits with the heat index applied. In the winter, single digit temperatures are common, zero degrees Fahrenheit less common, and it gets as cold as -4F. The extremes make gardening tricky. I like to get my tomato crop in before the summer heat is at its peak. Shade cloth helps, but sometimes too hot is too hot for the plants-and me. So, every year I gamble with getting the seedlings into the ground as early as possible, so they have time to produce before the summer heat is in its peak months. Harvesting the last tomatoes before the second week of July is great!
Alabama is also known for its bugs, especially the pickle worm which can, and often does, destroy entire crops unless you take precautions-regular spraying with Spinosad or BT in the evenings. Fungus issues also require regular spraying. Fall and winter crops are much easier. They don’t flower before harvesting, so can be covered with bug netting. The netting also keeps my garden safe from cats, deer, and my chickens when they get out. Dang chickens will clear out a raised bed in hours if you let them.
I always do try to upcycle what I can. As we have gotten older - well into our 70s now - we are more willing to pay for some convenience. We splurged on 4 metal beds for our expanded veggie garden (on sale BOGO with free shipping.) I love them and don't expect to ever have to replace them. That said, I also have several colorful containers made from old picnic coolers that lost their lids and a few decommissioned wheelbarrows work great for lettuce once you drill a couple holes in the bottom. I even have a few radishes growing in 2 old plastic Tonka trucks.
Love your stool, by the way.
Glad to see that you suffered no ill effects from Helene.
thank you. we only got 1 rain shower the whole time. not bad at all here.
First, it's good to see (and hear) you, Ben; considering your location and how hard-hit by Helene the Carolinas were, we had some concerns about whether you and yours are safe and sound: too many people aren't.
Next, thank you *so much* for saying everything you've had to say in this video!
It does take time, and it's my belief that the best gardeners will study, analyze, take notes, keep journals, have their soil tested regularly (which doesn't have to be every year, btw, but probably every three-to-five years, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac *unless some problem manifests itself which prompts the gardener to double-check soil conditions*.) As far as I know I'm the only gardener in my extended family but within the extended family we've had many people whose professions or vocations have required them to have phenomenally detailed understanding of those professions or vocations, and it's expected that the rest of us will approach things that way, too: learn, "assimilate," retain, recall, and understand the entire Rube Goldberg-esque-ness of whatever the subject is at a microscopic, microcosmic level; if you can't explain it to someone else so they can grasp it, then you don't know it well enough yourself.
That said, I'm not there, yet.
Two property owners before me were passionate gardeners who built fabulous soil and even managed to over-fertilize it (as the lab I sent the soil samples to for testing informed me, but they assumed I'd done it and gave me a scolding along with the test results) with regard to a few nutrients and despite the fact that it's mainly sand which holds on to just about *nothing,* it's still quite fertile. Sounds great, right? But the upshot of that is, I don't learn a lot from this soil.
At the same time, of course, I'm not in any hurry to deplete the garden of any of its soil goodness.
But...in some ways, it's been too easy, you know?
And as to patience, isn't that the essence of gardening!
Gardens are sometimes said to be "built," but I see them as organisms of their own, always evolving.
Every growing season, my garden gets *something* it didn't have before. That might be a structure; it might be better and more nutritious mulch or compost.
The garden teaches me to breathe with the Earth, and a growing season is only one breath.
Much gardening love to you and yours from Northeast Ohio! 😊💚💚💚💚💚😊
well said!
Jeff from East Tennessee. I guess my biggest issue right now is how to do a big summer garden and have time for a fall garden. Today is October 1st. I have tons of summer plants still doing good. I am getting loads of peppers and a few little tomatoes. I am getting lots of okra. I few cucumbers. I could put a row of fall plants here and there!! I kinda want a place for cabbage and an area for broccoli. Maybe I am too picky.
In the end, a small fall garden. I can do a big spring garden. I guess that’s my plan. Keep on going. Don’t stop. Plant and seed all the time!! Enjoy your garden. Thanks!!
SOunds like you are having an amazing year in your garden. I hope it keeps up.
Ive gone crazy now and have 4 different crops of corn all going well in pots , haha seperate because of cross polination. no chickens lol
I have 4 wood 4x8 beds. 3 metal 4x8 beds i bought for thirty something dollars from Amazon. One is as good as the others so far. The metal ones ended up being cheaper.
It depends on where you look. I find the ones that are advertised aren't over priced. I would imagine the quality is similar across the board
I am a cheap SOB. My favorite price is free, and if I can get something I need for basically no cost besides the cost of gas to drive to get it, then I'm in. My city has free compost available in the spring that is made from green waste that is collected. Is it the best quality, absolutely not. I know a lady who has horses and can I can get all the manure I want at no cost. I save seeds to what I can. I bought the variety of apple tree I wanted because my neighbor has one that will pollinate with it (saved me from having to buy a second tree). Bought a peach tree that I am planning to propagate a branch that needs to be pruned off to save money from not buying another tree. Got apricot pits and wild cherry pits from my brother in law who has had those trees on his property for 40 years of more. Have half a dozen of each sprouting now to plant out in the spring. They will take time to fruit, but only cost me what it will cost in water to keep them alive.
Trust me I like free too!