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Post by richardw on Jan 22, 2013 0:15:11 GMT -5
Just curious Richard ... how much land do you have to play around with? It seems endless, for a backyard I mean. I have 3000 m 2 (about 3/4 acre), which sometimes seems a lot, especially when I have to mow the damn lawn, and sometimes seems very little. The total size of our place is 5.2 hectares (about 12 acres)where most of the area is for a mob of super fine Merino sheep but there another smaller block that i plan to at some stage extend the seed growing into another paddock which is about 2 acres,need invest in machinery to do that as at the moment its all done by hand.
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Post by steev on Jan 22, 2013 1:56:07 GMT -5
Really, the trick is to get rid of the lawn and just garden. There's obligation or pleasure; You're going to die; wouldn't you rather enjoy your remaining life?
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Post by steev on Jan 22, 2013 2:05:24 GMT -5
Why are you growing Merino sheep, richardw? Pleasure, profit, or what? Just curious, as i have 10 acres I currently can't use and am looking at potential critters that might be useful.
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Post by synergy on Jan 22, 2013 9:18:54 GMT -5
Out of curiousity Richardw, what is the length of your winter dormant season?
I am thinking about trying to germinate goji again from seeds from dried organic fruits I got from the health food store. It worked last year only to have my blunderings kill they off as seedlings .
This year I have one grow lamp to help keep the seedlings going until it is warm enough to put them put in coldframes so maybe I will have a little more success . I hope .
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Post by 12540dumont on Jan 22, 2013 11:43:40 GMT -5
Richard, if you get that Merino spun into yarn, can I buy some? My sheep have long gone from the freezer to the table and I miss the little bleeters.
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Post by richardw on Jan 22, 2013 12:08:47 GMT -5
Really, the trick is to get rid of the lawn and just garden. There's obligation or pleasure; You're going to die; wouldn't you rather enjoy your remaining life? My oldest son mows the 1/3 acre lawn,so the longer he lives at home the longer i don't have to do it
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Post by circumspice on Jan 22, 2013 12:20:12 GMT -5
I researched Goji berries fairly extensively before I got my plants & one bit of info that stood out was that if you are located near any of the old sections of the transcontinental railway lines, you can probably find a patch of Goji berries near abandoned stations. It was noted that they were brought in by Chinese laborers & many times the plants naturalized all along the construction route. It might be worthwhile to make some forays around such places if you are looking for some additional plants to use for breeding stock. Naturally, I'm nowhere near any type of railway line, transcontinental or otherwise.
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Post by richardw on Jan 22, 2013 12:34:32 GMT -5
Out of curiousity Richardw, what is the length of your winter dormant season? Been an island country stuck in the middle of the Pacific we tend to get wild fluctuations in weather mostly in winter and spring,depending on the weather systems at the time means that one day air could moving down from the tropical north and its over 20Cdeg in the middle of winter,next day we could have air off Antarctica and could be snowing so each year can be completely different.But must winters there's about 6 -7 week period where there's next to no growth and a month either side slow growth. I am thinking about trying to germinate goji again from seeds from dried organic fruits I got from the health food store. It worked last year only to have my blunderings kill they off as seedlings . This year I have one grow lamp to help keep the seedlings going until it is warm enough to put them put in coldframes so maybe I will have a little more success . I hope . I think you are better to buy seed because Chinese plant breeders are bringing out new strains all the time,i brought my seed from here - www.sandmountainherbs.com/wolfberry_chinese.html
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Post by richardw on Jan 22, 2013 12:51:51 GMT -5
Richard, if you get that Merino spun into yarn, can I buy some? My sheep have long gone from the freezer to the table and I miss the little bleeters. Yer i suppose there wouldn't be many merino's in the US is there?I hand shear (blades) my sheep myself as ive been a full time shearer most of my life but only shear pet sheep these days.My wool is sold through NZ Merino and goes to auction in Australia,its a shame that i cant find a market separate market for it as the wool is 100% chemical free Buy some??...i dont know??..suppose it can be done
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Post by richardw on Jan 22, 2013 12:57:01 GMT -5
I researched Goji berries fairly extensively before I got my plants & one bit of info that stood out was that if you are located near any of the old sections of the transcontinental railway lines, you can probably find a patch of Goji berries near abandoned stations. It was noted that they were brought in by Chinese laborers & many times the plants naturalized all along the construction route. It might be worthwhile to make some forays around such places if you are looking for some additional plants to use for breeding stock. Naturally, I'm nowhere near any type of railway line, transcontinental or otherwise. Thats a good thought,the Chinese did come here after the Australian gold rush of the mid 1800's,so i wonder if there could be any growing in and around old camp sites
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