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Bees
Jan 29, 2011 0:09:15 GMT -5
Post by synergy on Jan 29, 2011 0:09:15 GMT -5
I am wondering if it might have something to do with the rising GMO tree and grain crops and heaven knows what else that has been introduced intentionally or otherwise, rampant toxins and petrochemicals employed in agricultural production . At least in small holdings like my own little suburban farm, there are no big agricultural enterprises around, maybe it is such places where we can best ensure some safeguarding of our pollinators. I honestly seem to see the small individual gardeners having the opportunity to be leaders in preserving our own future. i don't exactly know why but the more I learn the more I feel the individual people like the ones here on this forum are the Davids standing up to Goliath . Preserving bees and pockets of their habitat , heirloom seeds, whatever, i almost feel that gardeners are becoming warriors fighting to save lives where industries seek profit above all else.
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Post by synergy on Jan 28, 2011 23:54:19 GMT -5
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Post by synergy on Jan 28, 2011 1:44:44 GMT -5
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Post by synergy on Jan 25, 2011 19:05:36 GMT -5
I would think cookies and eggs and the like would be a great tip too.
I recently got this great load of blueberry bushes from a grower who had planted his fields and had stock left to disperse 3 year old 3 foot high bushes for $2 in gallon pots. I got a bunch for myself and two distant friends whom are horse breeders and participate in barter and seed exchange etc. But I also offered to pick up some for my neighbours and nearby friends , all of who have acreages and not one was interested in them at that price , picked up and delivered to them free as i saw as being neighbourly. These were all nice people , bright and evidently not concerned about growing anything edible. It just astounds me. I mean so little investment of time, money or energy needed for fresh berries annually and they are not interested in any? sigh.
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Post by synergy on Jan 24, 2011 19:18:31 GMT -5
That is true, I have never in my life heard of a food bank proposing to get people shipped off to a farm to work a day to help in exchange for donations and the fact we work hard, outside year round is why we are not lining up at the food bank. How appreciative do you think anyone is if they have neither paying for the food nor done the work ever? It is one thing for families to need a helping hand but when you need help to get a crop in before a storm or you take a loss or have unexpected expenses, none of them are going to be there helping you out and that just seems very wrong.
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Post by synergy on Jan 24, 2011 18:51:19 GMT -5
I am pretty sure I did some things wrong, for one thing I mixed up different highbushes and they are all different parts of the season, will they still cross pollinate?
I am almost thinking I need more midseason ones to pollinate the others ? I really have no idea what I am doing , sigh. I guess if i find poor setting of fruit in a few years I will need to do something more, graft branches or buy more varieties ?
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Post by synergy on Jan 24, 2011 3:40:37 GMT -5
Joseph, maybe you can offer an extra crop to a Gleaners Society or other charity or church and get a tax credit?
I wonder what kind of tax breaks religions get themselves ?
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Post by synergy on Jan 24, 2011 1:56:16 GMT -5
I wonder if you dehydrate some for baking in muffins and for pancakes if they will be better suited? Mostly after fresh consumption we freeze them and make smoothies. Over 50 bushes should produce as many berries as our family eats! We do eat a lot of blueberries, but I imagine we will lose some to wildlife (deer, birds) and our horses will no doubt reach and chew on some , so we should still have enough I hope .
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Post by synergy on Jan 22, 2011 0:56:52 GMT -5
I would like to get some Mulberry seeds of different varieties for winter 2011 to start planting if anyone has any.
I saved and froze Hawthorne if any one would like to trade .
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Post by synergy on Jan 22, 2011 0:46:45 GMT -5
Are you juice fasting for two months ? Or selectively fasting certains sets of days throughout the year?
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Post by synergy on Jan 22, 2011 0:36:32 GMT -5
Wow I can't believe I am the first to mention blueberries?
I have been planting blueberry bushes as of winter 2011: 11 Duke (early, 4 - 6 ft) 5 Bluecrop (midseason, 4 - 6 ft) 22 Brigitta (late, 6 ft - 7 ft) , 5 Elliot (very late . 5 - 6 ft) , 15 Chippewa (early, 4 ft) 5 North Country (early mid season , 2 ft, hardy to minus 40 c) 5 North Sky (2 ft, hardy ) 5 St. Cloud (3 ft, hardy ) 4 Blue Gold 4 Blue North
I started with a few in my kitchen garden, then interplanted them on a bank dividing the barnyard from the pasture and now I am using them in hedgerows to make a dividing corridor between paddocks.
Now to get other kinds of fruiting bushes : )
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Post by synergy on Jan 22, 2011 0:20:19 GMT -5
Coastal British Columbia, Canada zone 7 I have had a culinary bay laurel I nursed for years indoors as a small sapling that has now grown outdoors 15 years to being 12 feet high . It has survived minus 20 c with no setbacks.
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Post by synergy on Jan 18, 2011 21:29:22 GMT -5
I burst out laughing at 'eggs box' I should have seen it coming , he he he Thanks , that was lightest part of my day.
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Post by synergy on Jan 16, 2011 13:34:44 GMT -5
Interesting and here I have run across this delicacy a few times every year with complete disregard and they sell it for $200 euro a tin?
And they are quiet too : )
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Post by synergy on Jan 15, 2011 21:26:52 GMT -5
Garnetmoth, I read that exact same thing about possibly attracting honey bees with the right set up and environment. I was thinking even if I can't harvest the honey the first year and I thought well the plans are free, I have some materials and my thought was to simply make two at once since it is rather easy to duplicate each task at the moment and produce two or maybe even three hives since we could take one to set up on a small remote island destination we frequent as well.
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