Earth Gardens: Edible-Medicinal-Wild Habitats (Permaculture Network)

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Comment by Brian Kerkvliet on December 30, 2009 at 12:37pm

Why wait to get started? There is lots that you can do this time of the year to soothe your growing ambitions till the weather warms up a bit. I have been growing sunflower sprouts from seeds that I harvested last fall. Tasty in a salad or on a sandwich! This year I am doing more plant propagation. I gathered cuttings and am attempting to root them. I am most excited with the Kiwi twigs that are leafing out all over, showing that they are also eagerly awaiting spring.
I would like to see included with the next seed swap a cutting swap of useful shrubs, vines, bushes and trees.
I am attempting to propagate several different varieties of grapes, currents, goose berries, blueberries, kiwis, figs, sea-buckthorn, gumi, autumn olive, ginkgo, plum, almond, tea, and a few more that I can't remember. The buds are all swelling in anticipation of breaking dormancy with the returning of the light. Anyone else have unique varieties of medicinal, edible or other purposeful woody plant stock that they want to try and propagate? We can still take dormant wood cuttings and give it a try.

Comment by Ron Snyder and Cathy Taggett on December 30, 2009 at 10:18am

Hi Heather,
The Circle of Trees is looking a bit wet and wild at this time of year, and that's how it should be. We'll get new Mason Bee boxes up soon, renew the deer fencing, begin laying out the plans for the rain water catchment system, and planning to build the wood fired earth oven for bread baking. All of our gardens are raised beds, as we live on glacial moraine with very little soil. The largest bed is 125' X 25', and we may
build a couple of new ones. Sometimes it seems like there is so much to do, it will never get done, but thanks to the longer daylight hours at just the right time, it does get done. We too, are looking forward to getting the starts going, perhaps as early as February.

Ron and Cathy

Comment by Heather K on December 23, 2009 at 4:11pm

Hey Farmer Dave, I give thanks your growing passions are envisioning the fertile dreams of tomorrows nourishment! Now you can get started writing up all those plant labels ahead of time! I also just put in my first phone call for seeds. And I had to touch the earth on the solstice...I went outside and planted all the bulbs & garlic I was behind on getting in the ground...thank goodness the ground was still not frozen, and that my greens & leeks under 3 covers of poly-cloth & plastic, were still were preserved unfrozen! Oh, and my dream of a greenhouse still lives on, along with the 'humanure-shelter” and the graywater catchment wetland! I've written more with resources at blog
“Fertile Soil & Seeding Winter Dreams”
http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/fertile-soil-amp-s...

Let us welcome earth-dreams awakening fertile fragrant nourishing living creations.

I see the beauty everywhere I turn breathing deep in fresh winter's air
and hearing the flutter of bird wings & songs
as I rise in the morning to walk through the garden.

Comment by David Pike on December 23, 2009 at 12:20pm

Hey Growers,

Since the Solstice I've come down with a terrible case of 'grow fever'. Its earlier than ever this year, not even January and I am stricken. I got online the other day and spent about $50 on heirloom seeds - which are now growing inside my brain. I'm designing cold frames, greenhouses, garden layouts, soil mixes, pea and bean trellises...when I close my eyes I see tomato plants 10' tall. I've already planted 3 beds of garlic, if I plant anymore I won't have any garden space left for everything else. I'm envious of those with indoor grow - ops, not because of the product but because they have winter gardens to play in. I think I need to move nearer to the equator. Anyone else coming down with this yet, or am I just getting way too far ahead of the season?

Happy Solstice,

D

Comment by Deanna Lloyd on December 6, 2009 at 10:02pm

A HUGE thanks to everyone who came to the Squalicum High School Garden Workparty yesterday! We moved 15 yards of compost, created beautiful garden beds and mulched the perennials that were donated by the 350 project. There was much enthusiasm as community members, teachers and students worked along side each other. Our next school garden workparty will be early in the new year....I'll keep everyone posted!

Comment by David Pike on December 6, 2009 at 12:58pm

There are many, and you won't have a problem connecting with them, they will draw you like magnets. I haven't been to Maui in many years, but spent the Winter on the Big Island 2 years back and found some great Permaculture farms. Check out the posting boards at natural grocery stores for a start. I'm sorry I missed the gardening yesterday, I am recovering from being ill. Make sure you eat an atemoya for me. Smuggle me some back?

Comment by Deanna Lloyd on December 6, 2009 at 12:46pm

I am heading to Hawaii (the island of Maui) in a couple of days for our friends wedding. I wanted to make it a multi-purpose trip and visit some permaculture farms/homesteads as I know Hawaii is a hot spot (excuse the pun) for it. Does anyone have any suggestions of permaculture places to visit on that island? I'll be sure to photo document if anyone is interested. Thanks!

Comment by Heather K on December 1, 2009 at 11:28am

Black Currants, Gooseberries, & Blueberries are some favorite edible perennial shrubs to plant as part of the understory in an edible forest garden.

This fall 09, Travis Linds has a source of 3 year old blueberry plants and 1.5 year old black currants (Ben Alders?) ,available at a extremely low price using lifedollars. (Lifedollars another type of currancy - not a currant). I am glad we Do Not use our transition site for selling things, but I brought home some of these plants and the exchange using lifedollars as a member of fourthcornerexchange.com, was just to good to miss passing this on to gardener friends.

It is very late for planting, but there is still time to slip some plants in before the ground freezes, remember to water in with some kelp water. They are located in Samish neighborhood
For further info, go to Travis's discussion on WT at:
http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/transitionsamishneighborhood/forum/topics/planting-blueberry-plants-in

Below is a cross-post of what Travis wrote on his fourthcorner exchange page:

"Black currants are super healthy and super good. They have a wonderfully stong, unique flavor. I like to blend them up in my smoothies for a healthy shake. Add the berries to cereal or porrige, make jams or jellies or eat plain. They are all over a super berry..... I am a big black currant fan :) They can also be used to make a natural dye. Their deep, dark purple color is amazing.
Black currants have a very high content in antioxidants and vitamins. In particular, they're very rich in Vitamin C. Black currants also contain several rare nutrients, like GLA ( Gamma Linoleic Acid, a very rare Omega-6 essential fatty acid) and MAOI (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors), and may therefore be used in therapies against depression. A recent study....found black currants to be the "no 1 fruit for the complete range of nutraceuticals as compared to the 20 most popular fruits - including pomegranate. Black currants are very rich in many phytonutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, essential fatty acids and minerals They have been shown to have twice the potassium of bananas, four times the vitamin C of oranges, and twice the antioxidants of blueberries.
Black currants contain anthocyanins, which are compounds naturally found in berries. They are very potent antioxidants and are responsible for the color of blackcurrants. Around 300 different types of anthocyanins have been discovered.
Anthocyanins inhibit the enzymes Cyclo-oxygenase 1 and 2, and reduce inflammation and the effects of arthritis in the body. The effect is similar to aspirin or ibuprofen, so many middle-aged and old people are choosing the healthier blackcurrant juice over these drugs.
The fruit juice of black currant contains proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins and a polysaccharide-rich substance, cassis polysaccharide (CAPS), and has macrophage-stimulating activity. Its interleukin (IL)-1beta-inducing activity is very high, compared with other fruit juices. CAPS was found to consist of mannose, galactose, xylose, rhamnose, xylose, arabinose, and glucose. This substance has been proven to be very toxic against tumor cells, so studies are being performed to determine the anti-cancer properties of black currants
In addition, black currant seed oil contains 47% linoleic (18:2n6),14% alpha-linolenic (18:3n3), 12% gamma-linolenic (18:3n6), and 2.7% stearidonic (18:4n3) acids. Of these, gamma-linoleic is rarely found in any other natural resource, and both alpha and gamma-linoleic are essential fatty acids, which means our body cannot produce them on its own."

Someday there will be seperate discussion posted on alternative currancy using lifedollars through the nationwide fourthcornerexchange.com. But for now you can either google the fourthcornerexchange.com site for more info, or join in the WT discussion on what Cindy posted as a forum at -
http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/forum/topics/local-currency-and-regional

Comment by Heather K on November 10, 2009 at 3:39am

"Growing Children in School Gardens - Forum"
Information recently posted at a Transition Whatcom forum/discussion - at
"'Growing Children In School Gardens'- Forum"

http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/forum/topics/growing-children-in-school

And also an informative discussion post
by Deanna on the 'Whatcom County School Gardens Collective'

http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/group/localfoodsecurityeventsplanningteam/forum/topics/growing-children-and-gardens

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Roosevelt School Garden Work-Party -
. . . Event - Nov 21st, 2009 10am-1pm

Volunteer Needed to Help Create the School Garden.
Come help sheet mulch. A fence will also be built composed of recycled fish netting. Bring gloves and a shovel and if you happen to have a pickup, that would be tremendously helpful!

For more event information & to RSVP go to Event page on TW -
http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/roosevelt-school-garden

( Roosevelt School webpage: http://wwwroo.bham.wednet.edu/RooseveltGarden.htm )

Comment by Kate Clark on October 30, 2009 at 1:57pm

That's wonderful! I worked with her at the SBDC and we got to be friends. She is a sweetheart- I like that there's more to her than meets the eye (like a wonderful dry sense of humor). Please tell her I said hello. She is a gardener, if memory serves me....

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