Growing Resilience One Onion at a Time: After securing a grant to expand our community food- and medicinal herb-growing efforts, the Resilient Roots Grower Collective is digging in—literally—to build resilience one carrot at a time. We are starting a journey of regenerative growing, local food security, and the relentless pursuit of climate adaptation, all while embracing the messiness of grant money and dirty hands.
No doubt, much of the knowledge imparted in this series "Victorian Farm" you have already gained, but it's a great program and still may yield some tips and inspiration. Best to you, Margi.
Thank you, for the link. I watched the series awhile ago, and think about it often, actually. They did a great job of recreating the Victorian rural life.
Across our six gardens, it's overwhelmingly muscle power, Rick. Most of the gardens are typical home gardens that have expanded to increase production, so lots of small beds designed for hand tending. A few may change that as they expand again, but no-one except me has machinery. My garden is the outlier. We moved our house site after the fire so I started the garden again, and went for a typical market garden layout — long beds, with paths between. I tilled (petrol driven, walk behind rotary hoe) to break the clay pan, once, and have been no-dig since, building up from that base. We still use a ride on mower (petrol again) to mow the green swards between bed groups ... mostly so we can see the snakes and avoid stepping on them. I know in time, mowing won't be possible (petrol will be scarce or gone), and am working to change the plant mix in those swards to be naturally lower growing, but it'll take time. Our irrigation is a solar pump from a large dam. Otherwise, it's all hand tools—a broadfork (handmade), various hoes (also hand made), rakes, trowels, and lots of graft. With the grant we'll be purchasing an Earthway seeder, but that's people powered, too.
Thanks Magda! We're getting to 20m poly tunnels, an Earthway seeder (we'd love a Jang, but budget won't stretch) insect netting, and row covers. As we look towards our winter growing season, I am BEYOND excited, as I am sure you can fully understand. 🧡
No doubt, much of the knowledge imparted in this series "Victorian Farm" you have already gained, but it's a great program and still may yield some tips and inspiration. Best to you, Margi.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1372211/
Thank you, for the link. I watched the series awhile ago, and think about it often, actually. They did a great job of recreating the Victorian rural life.
Congrats on the funding! Just curious do you use any machinery (using fuel) or is it all muscle-powered?
Across our six gardens, it's overwhelmingly muscle power, Rick. Most of the gardens are typical home gardens that have expanded to increase production, so lots of small beds designed for hand tending. A few may change that as they expand again, but no-one except me has machinery. My garden is the outlier. We moved our house site after the fire so I started the garden again, and went for a typical market garden layout — long beds, with paths between. I tilled (petrol driven, walk behind rotary hoe) to break the clay pan, once, and have been no-dig since, building up from that base. We still use a ride on mower (petrol again) to mow the green swards between bed groups ... mostly so we can see the snakes and avoid stepping on them. I know in time, mowing won't be possible (petrol will be scarce or gone), and am working to change the plant mix in those swards to be naturally lower growing, but it'll take time. Our irrigation is a solar pump from a large dam. Otherwise, it's all hand tools—a broadfork (handmade), various hoes (also hand made), rakes, trowels, and lots of graft. With the grant we'll be purchasing an Earthway seeder, but that's people powered, too.
Thanks for your time, and detailed response. Wishing you continued success!
Congratulations on the funding. I can't wait to read how this goes.
Thanks Magda! We're getting to 20m poly tunnels, an Earthway seeder (we'd love a Jang, but budget won't stretch) insect netting, and row covers. As we look towards our winter growing season, I am BEYOND excited, as I am sure you can fully understand. 🧡
I completely understand and I'm so excited for you!!! Jangs are beautiful but in a long term commitment unattainable way lol.
The poly tunnel is going to come in clutch. Happy growing ☺️🌿