tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post3514760742121495626..comments2023-10-21T16:38:35.007-05:00Comments on Thoughts from Frank and Fern: Planning the Garden & Changing the Way We EatFrank and Fernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-7043763378735972542015-01-30T21:46:38.930-06:002015-01-30T21:46:38.930-06:00We are also hoping this year will be different, SF...We are also hoping this year will be different, SFG. In gardening, canning, and in life long eating habits. Thank you for sharing.<br /><br />FernFrank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-46251939541921466932015-01-30T21:45:01.799-06:002015-01-30T21:45:01.799-06:00Potatoes may eventually come back on the menu, Kar...Potatoes may eventually come back on the menu, Karin. But not until we have reached our goal in weight loss. There are many other vegetables, like cowpeas, that pack a lot of nutrients and carbohydrates that we will add back into our diet first. We'll just have to wait and see about potatoes. Thank you very much for sharing.<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-46725895843205236562015-01-28T17:40:07.651-06:002015-01-28T17:40:07.651-06:00We use the cattle panels for trellises also. Love ...We use the cattle panels for trellises also. Love them. I hoping for us to be able to change our ways of eating too. Last years garden wasn't very good and we didn't really have much to can. This year will be different. I hope.small farm girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01485314092236803411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-52661694549048546102015-01-28T17:31:42.484-06:002015-01-28T17:31:42.484-06:00As you are planning for future nutrition requireme...As you are planning for future nutrition requirements, including how many carbs you need, don't forget that an off-grid lifestyle burns many more calories. Those living an agrarian life anytime before machinery and electricity required close to 4000 calories a day to do what they needed to do. Maybe potatoes will be back on the menu!Karinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-71017212804652246902015-01-28T10:45:50.725-06:002015-01-28T10:45:50.725-06:00Will your heat map work off of 12 volts, Fiona? We...Will your heat map work off of 12 volts, Fiona? We have always tried to stay with sustainable practices if we have to function off grid for an extended period of time. Your idea of a rocket stove to heat a greenhouse is very interesting. Our plans include having 50 gallon water barrels as the 'legs' of our greenhouse tables. As the water is heated by the sun during the day, it will help keep the greenhouse warm at night in the winter as the heat of the water dissipates. It will also help keep the greenhouse cooler in the summer, even though we will not be growing many things in there then. That is the theory, anyway. It will be a very interesting experiment when we get to that project. The list is long, and we're not sure when we will get it built. Thank you for sharing.<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-76195279764191909782015-01-28T10:39:04.979-06:002015-01-28T10:39:04.979-06:00We started reading about aquaponics a long time ag...We started reading about aquaponics a long time ago, but have always preferred to use the land we lived on. We do have plans for a greenhouse which will increase our ability to grow all kinds of vegetables in the winter. Thank you very much for the link and for the comment.<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-58145763480789326052015-01-28T10:35:31.376-06:002015-01-28T10:35:31.376-06:00I'm glad I'm not the only one that scribbl...I'm glad I'm not the only one that scribbles all over things, M.E. (-: It's interesting to see how folks do things differently. I am always able to learn something. Thank you for your kind words and for sharing.<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-14423220781160677182015-01-28T10:25:54.114-06:002015-01-28T10:25:54.114-06:00That's too bad, Tweshooz. It sounds like you n...That's too bad, Tweshooz. It sounds like you need a greenhouse. <br /><br />FernFrank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-36160699538395264792015-01-27T13:50:02.599-06:002015-01-27T13:50:02.599-06:00Warm weather veggies do not do well here. Less th...Warm weather veggies do not do well here. Less than 60 day growing season and it rarely gets over 80 degrees during the day and the mid 40's at night. Tomatoes need 55 degrees at night to set fruit. (drat). Root crops do OK here, but we love squash but just cannot grow any decent winter squash at all. Tewshoozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02564577459982968771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-23033009781849023722015-01-27T12:14:55.706-06:002015-01-27T12:14:55.706-06:00Great Plans! We start as many seedlings as limite...Great Plans! We start as many seedlings as limited space allows and last year we invested in a heat mat. It made a tremendous difference in germination speed and seedling vigor. We are now designing a greenhouse with a rocket stove system in it to heat the seedlings from below without electricity but that will be in the future. I think planning is a crucial as seed quality, getting that good start and planting things where they will do the best. Happy planning!Fionahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05348495575211204989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-68227024835370652612015-01-27T10:01:44.480-06:002015-01-27T10:01:44.480-06:00You might want to research "Aquaponics" ...You might want to research "Aquaponics" a closed system with fish and plants in a balanced garden. Since the systems have to be covered, they are less impacted by the weather, and a small system will grow all the veggies you need, without the bugs and weeding, and with good design, no bending. https://www.aquaponics.com/ has a lot of info, although I prefer the "Flood and Drain" method for a small 2 person systemAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-57544154934261799832015-01-27T08:53:08.454-06:002015-01-27T08:53:08.454-06:00I laughed when I saw the notebook with scribbles a...I laughed when I saw the notebook with scribbles and markers as it looks familiar! Drives Mtn Man nuts! Figuring all this out is part of being successful. I have found t hat direct seeding of ground vegs works better here. I tried some root seedlings in pots last year with no success!! I will be doing some squash and tomato seedlings this year as they did pretty well. As always great write...ttylM.E. Mastersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00430739166948213915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-89190323773389460422015-01-27T08:42:57.650-06:002015-01-27T08:42:57.650-06:00I grew nasturtiums one year and put them in among ...I grew nasturtiums one year and put them in among the squash. But the squash soon out grew and over shadowed the little nasturtium plants. We grow marigolds and zinnias every year in the garden to help deter bugs, they just don't deter all of them. <br /><br />This year when I plant the cabbage and broccoli, I'm going to plant them in a very haphazard manner interplanted with onions and basil to see if I can impact some of the insects. Between planting differently, importing some green lace wings and hand picking the cabbage worms for the chickens, I really hope to have a good crop this year. Thank you for sharing.<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-53403664732045519082015-01-27T08:37:22.979-06:002015-01-27T08:37:22.979-06:00If I didn't keep the garden maps from year to ...If I didn't keep the garden maps from year to year, Tewshooz, there is no way I would be able to remember where everything was. One thing I need to add to my notes are which insect pests show up and how I dealt with them. Some things I have tried were successful and some weren't. I even go back and reread some of the blog posts sometimes. Putting all of the companion plant information together just saves time. That way I don't have to get out several books and look everything up again and again.<br /><br />We are leaving off the potatoes because of the carbohydrate content. There are so many other things we can grow that will fit the bill. Is it too cold for squash where you are? That's too bad. They store so well and are full of good nutrition. Thank you for sharing.<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-88097166192010608342015-01-26T21:13:29.514-06:002015-01-26T21:13:29.514-06:00I haven't tried it personally, but I read that...I haven't tried it personally, but I read that nasturtium plants will attract aphids. The aphids will go to the nasturtium rather then the plant you want to harvest. Hope this helps. SJ in Vancouver BC CanadAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-50700388896702688782015-01-26T19:45:41.577-06:002015-01-26T19:45:41.577-06:00Wow, you guys are organized. Wish we could grow w...Wow, you guys are organized. Wish we could grow winter squash, but we can grow onions and potatoes like nobody's business! Potatoes are full of nutrients and only about 100 calories each. (smallish) but that is plain without cheese and sour cream, ha ha. We can and dehydrate ours in addition to eating fresh. Wish we could grow all the veggies you can. (sigh).<br />Tewshoozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02564577459982968771noreply@blogger.com