Gardening is something I have never done on a scale that amounted to much. Growing up in the city, I believed that fruits and vegetables grew in the supermarket. I wonder how many kids today believe the same thing.
However, as we have transitioned to a fully plant-based diet, having access to a ready supply of nutritious options is going to be huge for us. We have limited organic options near us so growing our own is critical.
So this weekend, we finally committed to getting it going. We remembered seeing a documentary last fall about a guy named Paul Gautschi in Sequim Washington who is the envy of all of the gardeners around him. He had limited water from his well so he had to get creative with his gardening plans. Despite this limited resource, he grows the most amazing produce. It's all organic - and it's the most abundant and beautiful yield I've ever seen. You can watch the documentary, Back to Eden, free online and I highly recommend it. Just scroll to the bottom of the page at the link I provided where the authors provide free streaming.
The basic premise is that a good garden is all about 'the covering'. Paul's recommendation is to watch creation and follow it. By doing so, he suggests leaving the ground alone and just add to it, in the same way nature does. He suggests a good organic compost followed by wood chips. The wood chips are to be comprised of about 90% needles, branches and leaves that have gone through a chipper or tub grinder. He is not suggesting that you use bark, shavings or sawdust. Given that actual wood chips are an organic material, you can be assured that they have not been dyed, treated or processed with additives or chemicals. He recommends finding a tree trimmer in your neighborhood and offering a dumping site in your yard.
We plan to implement his practices and we are hoping for the best. The fence posts are up and the fencing should be completed by this weekend. At that point, we plan to pick up our compost layer (organic chicken manure mixed with straw) and covering (wood chips). I am sourcing the wood chips now so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a good supply.
We are hoping to be planting by the end of the month. Again, given our location, timing will vary on what can be planted when but it will be fun to experiment and see what we can do. I've got rhubarb coming out my ears without intervention so if all else fails, we know we can become rhubarbites!
I'll take pictures along the way so you can see our progress and learn from our mistakes. In the meantime, we are open to ideas, suggestions and hearing your gardening stories. Let us hear from you!
Jan
Jan-check out our blog if you haven't already....theadventurebite.com for our progress. If you have any questions feel free to message me. Central Oregon is challenging but you can make it happen. I would highly suggest a growlight setup to get starts up and going. Pickup a cheap 4' shop light at homedepot for $20-30 and build or buy a shelf for it. Jiffy pellets are a waste of money. Get the reusable plastic cells with watering tray and cover instead and basic potting mix. My mom said there is a place called the Central Oregon Seed Exchange...here:http://seedexchange.weebly.com
ReplyDeleteStart your tomatoes, eggplant and peppers NOW! They take FOREVER and you have to have a good start for any chance in central oregon. All your greens and herbs will do excellent there, make sure to get them in full sun in the spring/fall and provide shade cloth and mulch in the summer heat.
Watch what kind/quantity of wood chips you use....it can raise the acidity of your soil too high. A good soil test can be done through your extension office usually under $10.
Give your long season plants (squash, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, etc) more than adequate spacing. Then fill in with greens, herbs, radishes, beets, etc.
Sow carrot seeds with radishes and keep consistently moist for the first week especially in the heat. If your germination is poor burlap can be laid over the plot and then pulled up (haven't tried this yet).
Create manure tea and utilize as much natural fertilizer/compost as possible....but realize that a monthly dose of general fertilizer can go A LONG way to having a successful garden. Much better to have a strong garden that can withstand pests then getting to the end of your season and having to dose with pesticides or lose your whole crop.
Frost cloth is expensive and rips....use old sheets instead from yard sales. If you are really needing to give protection a stand of christmas lights can actually provide a bit of extra heat under covers.
We tried rows this year in a section of the garden and I hate it. Use 3-4' wide beds with paths.
Gotta run for now but write if you have any questions!
hugs :)
Hi Dani! How good to hear from you! I will definitely come check out your blog again. I really appreciate all of your suggestions. We are excited to see how all of this comes together. We are building a green house in tangent with the garden so we'll have a place for our starters, etc. As with all projects I seem to start, I have BIG ideas at first and then once the actual work starts, I have to re-assess my plans. Stay tuned because it sounds like you will be a great resource for us! Here's to happy gardening!
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