Mike's Update

[MikeM]

Long time, no chat... my bad! Good to see that this board is just a friendly and chatty a place as it ever was. (I confess I'm just not very good at tracking forum systems...)

I do have some excuse, though: it is now early Summer, so lots of weeding to keep up with; just finishing the last transplantings of chiles, tomatoes; trying to get more beds cleared for Beets, Chard, Brassicas,... sowing second batches of Beans, and a late attempt at some Squashes. Add to that 3 months dedicated to some consulting work in Cape Town that took a big chunk out of my Spring preparation time, but was good for our bank balance.

I wrote a little blog post about breeding projects I'm keen on: mikro2nd.net/blog/planb/research/2010/12/02/Plant-Breeding-Ideas.html. I'd welcome ideas, input from all you experts.

Seed that I've received from various kind HG denizens (thank you all!): various Chiles (Early Jal, Goliath, Purple Jal, NuMex Pinata, Lemon Drop, Amarillo from Barcelona, Tabasco) got planted out a couple of days ago; they're still tiny, but hopefully adequately protected against the dreaded cutworms. Hunter pole beans (first batch) are flowering, setting first pods.

Happily we're getting reasonably good rain (16mm in the early hours of this morning, mostly in a 10 or 15 minute "burstcloud"). This Summer's theme is "Recovery" - from the drought (assuming it is really over) of the past 3 years; rebuilding seed stocks, so for most of the Chiles I only have 2 to 4 plants of each and I'll have to resort to bagging flowers to ensure isolation. Tomatoes have taken quite a hammering; seed is showing signs of poor vigour as its getting a bit old now.

Tiny Potato plants (German Butter) from TPS seem to be doing nicely. Keep fingers crossed!

I'll try and post more regularly again... promise!

[mnjrutherford]

I've been waiting to hear from you! I figured your silence was due to impending summerness! ;D

I'm still putting together my seeds packets to send out.. I could make a snail look like a formula race car, honestly! Anyway, we are working on some peanuts here and I was wondering if you might like to try a few. We've been growing them out for a couple of years and selecting for size. This year we are selecting for both pea size and for the number of peas per pod, looking to have a greater ratio of peas per pod. These have up to 3 per pod.

I can't spare but a few, but I was thinking that it might be up your alley.

[bunkie]

hey mike! great to see you posting! hoping the drought is over for you. will check out your blog!

[MikeM]

Thanks to all for the kind words!

Yes, we're optimistic (what else is there to be?) that the drought MAY be over... but... a couple of months of decent rain doesn't convince me.

The bottom line is that we're - all of us, worldwide - in a new climate regime. Meaning we don't know what the hell to expect, and can't possibly predict beyond saying "Expect a greater number of severe weather events."

That, I think, is the central most challenging aspect of global climate change. Where 10 years ago I knew what dates to plant squashes or maize in order to avoid pests, now we're seeing variations of up to 6 weeks in either direction. All the more important for us to work on exchanging seed of varieties that are adapted to different climates than our "normal" one and breeding varieties that can better cope - along with us - with the uncertainties. (Hint: there is no "normal" anymore - and, in any case, "climate" is little more than a mathematical figment of the imagination.)

Folks, the work you all are doing here is more important than ever! That it takes place in such an atmosphere of cameraderie, generosity and friendship is a gift beyond price.

[Joseph Lofthouse]

Dec 8, 2010 10:41:40 GMT -5 MikeM said:

(Hint: there is no "normal" anymore -

I guess I am fortunate to live in an area in which we have never had "normal". Some years are wetter, some are drier, sometimes pests arrive with the hatu winds and sometimes they don't. Sometimes we have snow cover all winter, sometimes we don't.

And it's always been that way for as long as anyone here can remember. One of my neighbors used to plant sweet corn the first of March... 4 years in 5 it would die from frost.... But that one year when it didn't freeze he had the earliest corn in the valley.

[wildseed57]

Hi Mike , your gardening project sound quite interesting, I grow a lot of the wilder peppers although, I might have something that would work for you, I have a large stock of Big yellow and Bi colored tomato seeds that I restock every year from the best varieties that I have, they are starting to slowly blend with each other now, but the ones I get off my vines are 1 to 2 pounds that are very sweet with fruity notes. I can also offer you some grey ghost pumpkin seeds that did very well for me, along with some asian yard long noodle beans if you are interested. One place you might want to chech out is Bakers Creek Heirloom seeds Jere the owner travels alot and I know he has shipped seeds to Afganastan, He is a pretty good person and has been known to hand deliver seeds to people that live in other contries. If nothing else you could order his catalog just to look at what he has it would give you a idea of some of what you are looking for like the big carrot, he has two that might be just what you are looking for one is called Jaune Obtuse Du Doubs and another which is a African one called Muscade, both are big orange carrots. I can offer some Amaranth seeds along with some mixed Okra varieties that are used mainly for the pods although i do have one that the leaves are used like spinach, but I would rather use the leaves and flowers in salads than cook them. I also Have some Long Asian eggplant seeds if you would like any. I can send off any that you might like next month if you are interested.
George W.

[mnjrutherford]

Dec 8, 2010 10:41:40 GMT -5 MikeM said:

(Hint: there is no "normal" anymore -

When I was 8 years old, I stood in my father's garage at gathering twilight starring out into the vast and contemplating "normal". At that time, "normal" was the most desirable attainment I could imagine.

Now, 43 years later, I realize that "normal" is not only unattainable (for me at least), it is about the least desirable thing imaginable. What if I turned out to be Sarah Palin?!?!

[grunt]

Jo: You think that's "normal"?

[mnjrutherford]

Dec 9, 2010 16:11:51 GMT -5 grunt said:

Jo: You think that's "normal"?

Yes, I think Sarah Palin is very normal. BUT, my definition of normal would be mainstream, or average, or "in agreement with the majority". In this case "normal" is the antithesis of "wise". I don't think highly of the vast majority of my fellow earth cadets.

If it all falls to pieces tomorrow,
who will eat and who will starve to death? I think the average person, like Sarah, will take the "every man for himself" approach to survival. I believe, sadly, that there are more people with that mentality than there are with the mentality of share and share alike. Kill/maim/destroy versus nurture/heal/grow. I base this opinion on the condition of the world around me. It doesn't feel very good to think like this, but I do believe it allows me to be better prepared for whatever the future brings and I also believe it makes be a better wife and mother. Perhaps even a better daughter as well.

[grunt]

I agree. Think friendly thoughts, but keep the gun loaded.

[mnjrutherford]

Now those are some words to live by! Especially during deer season. ;o)