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Post by ottawagardener on Dec 3, 2008 21:59:11 GMT -5
...but we just filled in our pond. The neighbours were worried that our children would drown or something. Anyhow, the idea intrigues me and I can't wait to learn throught other's experiences for the time in the distant future when I'll have more space than ideas...
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Post by Alan on Dec 7, 2008 20:11:47 GMT -5
I'm getting ready to try this and what I am calling Aqua-Char on the small scale in the new worm house, if all goes well I plan to expand in a pretty decent sized way. Starting out I'll be using the pretty basic used fish tank, pump, tray, pot of vermicompost set up. Rice will probably be the first crop. I'll keep you updated. I hope others here will become interested in these methods as I do believe to some extent that the future of sustainable agriculture in many areas will depend on these methods. Hopefully some experienced growers will join soon and give us a helping hand.
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Post by hiven on Dec 9, 2008 16:59:39 GMT -5
I wish to learn more about water gardening too. I am planning to dig a pond next year to attract wild live and will probably sow some lotus seeds (sow indoor), water cress and (perhaps) water chestnut too.
Telsing, what will you be growing in your pond ?
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Post by ottawagardener on Dec 9, 2008 19:45:08 GMT -5
It's a bog garden now Hiven as I had to fill it in so that the girls could play outside by themselves without anyone worrying about their safety (I say this with subtle sarcasm because much of my childhood I lived near and played in creeks, ponds, and heck, the ocean (raised on Van. Island and Fraiser Valley - yeah, Ottawa... lots of winter). Anyhoo... I plan on trying cattails at the moment.
Telsing.
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Post by johno on Dec 10, 2008 13:32:23 GMT -5
When I was a kid, the highlight of winter was walking on frozen ponds. We'd see how far out we could get before the ice cracked. Ponds haven't frozen often around here in the last several years that I know of, at least not thick enough to walk on. Back then a hard freeze meant two or three inches of ice at the edge of a pond... We were well aware of the danger, our parents warned us and we knew about the kids who had drowned; the temptation was just too great. Remember that if you have kids near ponds...
I have a small pond in the center of my garden made from an old 8' satellite dish. It's about two feet deep in the middle. There's a water lilly and goldfish in it, and frogs and toads reproduce there come spring. The goldfish eat all the mosquito larvae! Last year there was even a snake living there for a few weeks - I think I pestered it enough so it decided to move on. I grow a variety of flowering plants around it to encourage beneficials, and it works. If there were small children in the "neighborhodd" (lol), I'd put a fence around it.
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Post by Alan on Dec 14, 2008 21:26:38 GMT -5
When I was a kid we used to dare one another over who would and could go the furthest out onto the ice, the only time I ever fell through was luckily in a shallow section of blue river, about waist deep, but still no fun at all.
Anyhow, the fist of the fish will probably go in either at the end of this week or at the begining of next week, should be interesting to say the least!
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Post by hiven on Dec 17, 2008 8:17:49 GMT -5
Telsing, Cattails sounds a nice plant and they keep coming back each year plus I heard that they are edible ( the pollen). When the girls are big enough you can have your real pond without any second though  . I grew up in a very protected family but that did not stop me being naughty during my childhood, being drawn twice (once in a river and once in a deep well ) don't ask how... Fell from a big tree (I climbed up very well but can't climb down  )... |
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Post by canadamike on Dec 17, 2008 12:08:07 GMT -5
The pollen ''heads'' are considered a veggie while they are firm, before they open. Apparently they taste like corn. I picked up some on the farm but forgot them in the trunk this summer. The base of the plant is also said to be edible, a bit like palm hearts.
I never had any, the pollution around here in the river took care of my adventurous ideas...
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Post by ottawagardener on Dec 17, 2008 14:32:38 GMT -5
Apparently the pollen can be harvested to use as flower too... sounds like a useful plant.
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Post by grungy on Dec 17, 2008 15:54:16 GMT -5
And the peeled stems are also eaten and were known once as Indian or Cossack Asparagus.
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Post by Alan on Dec 17, 2008 15:54:16 GMT -5
The tubers are edible but paletable is another story all together, quite possibly the most disgusting "food" I have ever tried.
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Post by stevil on Dec 17, 2008 16:27:28 GMT -5
I've never tried the tubers, but the spring shoots are one of the best wild foods I've tasted and easy to harvest if you have a patch near you. Just yank them up and peel off the coarse outer leaves and you're ready to go. Peeled Typha spring shoots www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1191Typha stir-fry... www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1192I know where I'm heading if there's ever a food shortage... One of the big mysteries for me is that Typha never seems to have been used for food in Europe, whereas this plant supported almost all the needs of whole communities in North America - food (tubers, greens, flour), medicine, fiber etc. |
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Post by ottawagardener on Dec 17, 2008 17:21:32 GMT -5
Stephen - hey there! Wow this is exciting seeing people's faces. It wasn't easy finding on of my mug as I am usually the one behind the camera. You will note that I am 'holding' the camera this time as well.
I prefer to eat shoots, leaves and seeds unless the plant is easily divided.
Telsing.
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Post by plantsnobin on Dec 17, 2008 17:56:31 GMT -5
 This is in my unheated greenhouse. I used railroad ties/sleepers I think they are called in England, stacked about 4 high for the sides. The lining is plain old black plastic, 6 mil thick. There are plants and goldfish and trapdoor snails in there that live happily together with no further input from me. The water stays crystal clear with no filters or oxygenation of any sort. I don't remember what all plants I have in there, but probably a few edibles if I really looked into it. In the outside pond I have Sagitaria, haven't tried eating that yet. Alan, I have plenty of that if you would like some for your system. Karen |
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Post by hiven on Dec 18, 2008 4:51:55 GMT -5
Plantsnobin, You got lovely looking water cresses, they are yummy in salad . Be aware if you using railroad sleepers, it said to be chemically pretreated and it may leach toxic substance (but I forget exactly what ...?). The Water cress is well known to absob most thing from the environtment where it grow (including the toxic substance) . I grow my water cresses in big pots (no holes) and once in a while I top it up with some water. Water cresses that grow in dry up soil taste bitter! Telsing, you can add some water cresses at the edge of your bog garden...? |
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