NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm a big fan of growing our own food, as much as is possible. Hmm, perhaps not such a big fan of the work involved, but it's somewhat enjoyable at times:) Here are some pics of the garden so far:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v711/sinuhue/Photos039.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v711/sinuhue/Photos040.jpg

From right to left, we've planted butternut squash and pumpkins, kidney beans, pinto beans(2 rows), lima beans, black beans, tomatoes (row and a half), broad beans, hot peppers, spinach, green onions/leeks, corn (4 abreast), carrots, peas, cucumbers, lettuce, bok choy, strawberries, and zucchini. We've also got a bin with parsley and cilantro. Of course, there is some ubiquitous rhubarb, and horseradish, which I can't really claim I had anything to do with...it just grows. In the right hand front corner of the garden is a crab apple tree. Further over we've planted some fruit trees...pear, apple, plum, cherry and apricot. All are doing well. Further out back we've got tonnes of raspberry bushes, and about 10 blueberry bushes.

These are the strawberries:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v711/sinuhue/Photos044.jpg

So? Do you garden? If so, what did you plant this year, and if you have pics to share...great!

I often find myself drafted into such efforts "just pretend your digging a trench" is what I hear allot :p

and no flowers?

So? Do you garden? If so, what did you plant this year, and if you have pics to share...great!

I have the most pwning wildlife pond in my garden. It looks nice and has loads of weird insects in it, i'll see if I can find a pic.

we used to have a bit of the garden set aside for me and my sister to do our own gardening in. i think it was to encourage us to like gardening so we'd help out with the whole garden. but i hated gardening back then. actually, now i'm an adult it does hold some attraction, probably since i have no green space of my own anymore, living i a city flat as i do. my mum grows a lot of her own herbs, and she always has a crop of Jersey Royals and asparagus every year. she has a strawberry patch too and she's grown everything from runner beans to spring onions. being a plant pathologist she has a great interest in gardening and growing.

I don't like gardening in of itself, but I have been intrigued by Garden Railroads.

click (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_railroad)

I often find myself drafted into such efforts "just pretend your digging a trench" is what I hear allot :p

and no flowers?

While you can eat some flowers, they aren't nearly as useful as food. So no, no flowers...except the lilac bushes at the end of the garden. And assorted apple/squash/etc blossoms.

-snip-

Your garden is about the size of the entire housing estate I live in. :eek:

I don't really do much gardening, just try to keep it tidy.

I see you're growing some swingsets, Nees. Low-maintenance to be sure, but you should have something edible there instead. Like me!

I have the most pwning wildlife pond in my garden. It looks nice and has loads of weird insects in it, i'll see if I can find a pic.

I'd love to build a nice pond...but it ain't gonna happen this year!

I see you're growing some swingsets, Nees. Low-maintenance to be sure, but you should have something edible there instead. Like me!

Hehehehehe, you make an excellent case!

i have a small garden as an "experiment" this year. i live in the woods in the desert so its hard to find a good spot thats sunny but not salty and close enough to the house to water every day.

i planted peas, which are producing now. green beans, just coming in. strawberries (fools errand), ripening now.

the stuff i really want isnt moving along very quickly. tomatoes, cucumbers, summer squash and muskmelons.

the lettuce was pretty much a failure.

the flowers are doing much better. mini roses, lilacs, snapdragons, stocks, geraniums, begonias, dianthus, are all blooming and growing nicely. (well not the lilacs as i bought them through the mail, but they are gowing well)

Your garden is about the size of the entire housing estate I live in. :eek:

I don't really do much gardening, just try to keep it tidy.

We have a bit over 3 acres. Mowing is a whole day deal.

We have a bit over 3 acres. Mowing is a whole day deal.

Then I've no doubt it's considerably bigger than my estate. My garden is perhaps 20 feet by 20.

*so jealous*!!!!!!!!!


I used to garden indoors and outdoors - legally and illegally ;)

Now that I am in my new home in the desert I only have a few plants indoors (all legal). Thinking of starting a window herb garden for tea and other cooking.

You have a beautiful yard Sinner.

Whilst I don't really garden myself, I do occasionally help my dad with his allotment (well, half an allotment). I have some pictures from a couple of months back, though they don't look quite as nice as yours Neesika.

http://img509.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00590ts8.jpg
http://img234.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00591zx0.jpg
http://img234.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00592cr5.jpg
http://img527.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00593fo6.jpg

Hmm, Spring in Manchester :)

Then I've no doubt it's considerably bigger than my estate. My garden is perhaps 20 feet by 20.

Quick! Get an allotment! Before they are destroyed!

:)

When I can though, I plan to make my little backyard into a mini getaway though. :)

Whilst I don't really garden myself, I do occasionally help my dad with his allotment (well, half an allotment). I have some pictures from a couple of months back, though they don't look quite as nice as yours Neesika.*snip*
Hmm, Spring in Manchester :)

Nice use of land...looks like a pretty tidy garden...whatcha got in there?

Nice use of land...looks like a pretty tidy garden...whatcha got in there?

All sorts. Of the top of my head (I'd have to ask my dad for everything). Potatoes, onions, garlic, tomatoes, chillies, courgettes, radishes, blackberries, and lots and lots of lettuce. So much lettuce he has been giving it away.

Although I'm not as diligent in my filial duties as he'd probably like, I do quite like it down there. Unfortunately I'm not great at gardening, I currently have a few, sad cayenne pepper plants and mint plants that I have managed to keep alive.

Though if I put my name down now, I might just get an allotment by the time I retire :D

Though if I put my name down now, I might just get an allotment by the time I retire :D

And aside from the obvious (an allotted piece of land) what is an allotment, how do you get one, and how much do you get?

And aside from the obvious (an allotted piece of land) what is an allotment, how do you get one, and how much do you get?

Basically, it is a parcel land "rented"* from the council, though I think that there are philanthropic organisations that run allotments too. I'm not sure if it a standard area is nation-wide, but what you see in the pictures is pretty much the whole deal in my dad's case (though there is a bit to the right where the potatoes are).

It seems like a great idea to me. But understandably in urban areas, such land is rare. And getting rarer. Which is a shame imo.

I hope I've expained everything ok. 'Tis friday night and I've had a few so might not be quite so lucid :)

Alternitively you can consult wiki. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allotment_%28gardening%29#Allotments_in_the_United_Kingdom


*rented in inverted commas because it is at such low rate per annum it is pretty much negligable, at the local allotments anys.

I don't like to touch dirt.

I don't like to touch dirt.

O....kay. I imagine a 'do you hunt and butcher the meat yourself' thread would elicit a poor response from you as well?

By the way...have we no farmboys/gals here?

O....kay. I imagine a 'do you hunt and butcher the meat yourself' thread would elicit a poor response from you as well?

By the way...have we no farmboys/gals here?

Yeah, touching dead animals carcasses would be pretty gross, too. Mostly I just have a really deeply-rooted phobia of worms because of a disturbing incident when I was a child, and they're in dirt, so that's that. And I'm an actor, so doing practical things is out of the question.

I don't like to touch dirt.

Me neither.

But then they do have gardening gloves.

Looking at that garden makes me want to know something about gardening. Might be useful after the collapse of civilization. But then I know it won't be. Around here, a garden requires artificial water which won't be sustainable. It requires various ingredients like fertilizer and pesticides that won't be manufacturable. And in the world of Mad Max a garden will just get destroyed anyway, by mean looking bikers in leather.

Looking at that garden makes me want to know something about gardening. Might be useful after the collapse of civilization. But then I know it won't be. Around here, a garden requires artificial water which won't be sustainable. It requires various ingredients like fertilizer and pesticides that won't be manufacturable.
Then you're looking at the wrong kinds of plants. As much as is possible, I've used 'heirloom' seeds in my garden. Native plants that are suited perfectly to this climate. Yes, I tend to pamper them overmuch, but most of the corn, squash and beans I've planted would do well with minimal, if ANY attention. The rhubarb and horseradish...well I don't do squat. It comes back, year after year, with no tending at all. Ditto with the raspberries...I want to plant some saskatoon berries for the same reason.

So look into it...the plants that grow in your area might seem odd to you, but there are bound to be some edible ones, and it IS a good skill to have.


And in the world of Mad Max a garden will just get destroyed anyway, by mean looking bikers in leather.
Well, yes, this is true.

O....kay. I imagine a 'do you hunt and butcher the meat yourself' thread would elicit a poor response from you as well?

By the way...have we no farmboys/gals here?

Yay ex-farmboy here. Just like Clarke Kent *nods*

Yeah, touching dead animals carcasses would be pretty gross, too. Mostly I just have a really deeply-rooted phobia of worms because of a disturbing incident when I was a child, and they're in dirt, so that's that. And I'm an actor, so doing practical things is out of the question.

Try cadavers :p They're surprisingly fun. Nothing like dissecting a penis to make you cringe

Yay ex-farmboy here. Just like Clarke Kent *nods*
Your folks' place? What did/do they grow/raise?

I used to tend my parents' vegetable gardens. We mostly grew tomatos, but that expanded out into zucchini, lettuce, some spices, potatos one year (they didn't work so well), peppers one year too... but since I moved out I don't really have a backyard.

That being said, I think I'm going to start my own spice garden. I figure spices aren't too hard to take care of and they'll usually grow in small pots. However, since I'm moving soon-ish I'm not going to start it right away.

And I'm an actor, so doing practical things is out of the question.

:p Oh COME ON!

Your folks' place? What did/do they grow/raise?

Yeah my Dads family (although he was the only one still in it in the end but had a break from it for a while to set up his caravan site) and most of my mums family are farmers. Dairy farmers mainly although none of my family are farmers anymore. They all gave it up a few years ago. Not much point in farming anymore. Too much work for too little money. They did grow some barley and wheat though as well though (thought i'd throw in something related to actual gardening lol)

Edit : Plus you end up smelling of manure no matter how much you shower :p

Then you're looking at the wrong kinds of plants. As much as is possible, I've used 'heirloom' seeds in my garden. Native plants that are suited perfectly to this climate. Yes, I tend to pamper them overmuch, but most of the corn, squash and beans I've planted would do well with minimal, if ANY attention. The rhubarb and horseradish...well I don't do squat. It comes back, year after year, with no tending at all. Ditto with the raspberries...I want to plant some saskatoon berries for the same reason.

So look into it...the plants that grow in your area might seem odd to you, but there are bound to be some edible ones, and it IS a good skill to have.

There are some edible ones, but berries? Corn? Beans? No. We got some blackberries. And Fennel. I mean let's face it, if native agriculture was so tasty in Southern California they wouldn't have eaten so much damn fish.

There are some edible ones, but berries? Corn? Beans? No. We got some blackberries. And Fennel. I mean let's face it, if native agriculture was so tasty in Southern California they wouldn't have eaten so much damn fish.

Oh come on, there is plenty that is native to Southern California. Buckwheat, sunflower, (fennel hehehehe), sage, mustard, wild artichokes, wild oats (good for sowing :D), cucumber gourd, etc.

But hey, you could always learn to fish too...that might help if in the post-apocalyptic world there is still sea-life.

I would garden, but the soil here where I live isn't exactly suited to this sort of thing, especially given the state of my backyard is one gigantic wash-off for the huge downpours that occur during this time of year, and during the rest of the year it tends to be partially frozen.

Now, if I had a greenhouse, it'd be a different story, but since I don't...

Then again, GT...if things look like they're going to go 'boom', you could always quickly make your way up here and be one of my many husbands. I'll go out and hunt, and you can tend our garden. I'll visit you on Tuesdays :P

Come on, we are living a constant battle to keep the jungle under control.

Deliberately reinforce the enemy? You must be joking.
[/exaggeration]

No. I, don't, but my wife occasionally gets into a strange mood and goes and plants something or other. This then either dies out immediately or needs some form of serious pest control to be applied after a couple of weeks.
But it's true...ike you need to actively work to keep anything growing in Brazil...

Oh green coconut, how I long for thee...and palm oil. You just can't get palm oil here.

I'm a big fan of growing our own food, as much as is possible. Hmm, perhaps not such a big fan of the work involved, but it's somewhat enjoyable at times:) [
So? Do you garden? If so, what did you plant this year, and if you have pics to share...great!

Come on, we are living a constant battle to keep the jungle under control.

Deliberately reinforce the enemy? You must be joking.
[/exaggeration]

No. I, don't, but my wife occasionally gets into a strange mood and goes and plants something or other. This then either dies out immediately or needs some form of serious pest control to be applied after a couple of weeks.

Oh come on, there is plenty that is native to Southern California. Buckwheat, sunflower, (fennel hehehehe), sage, mustard, wild artichokes, wild oats (good for sowing :D), cucumber gourd, etc.

Sage, yeah. But dude, that just doesn't compare with like, corn or grain of any kind.

The rest I dunno about, but it doesn't sound very good.

But hey, you could always learn to fish too...that might help if in the post-apocalyptic world there is still sea-life.

But I hate fish.

No, the only kind of food I really like is hormone-injected, artificially-flavored beef- and chicken-product. Mmmmmm!

...

You know how to hunt?

Since I was a kid. Deer, moose, elk. I can also snare rabbits and grouse, but beaver is terrible eating. I don't care what my elders have to say on that matter. (nothing against the other type of beaver, mind you) I can also build a smoke house and smoke/dry meat. I'm hoping to fiddle with sausage (chorizo) making maybe next year.

Then again, GT...if things look like they're going to go 'boom', you could always quickly make your way up here and be one of my many husbands. I'll go out and hunt, and you can tend our garden. I'll visit you on Tuesdays :P

...

You know how to hunt?

Since I was a kid. Deer, moose, elk. I can also snare rabbits and grouse, but beaver is terrible eating. I don't care what my elders have to say on that matter. (nothing against the other type of beaver, mind you) I can also build a smoke house and smoke/dry meat. I'm hoping to fiddle with sausage (chorizo) making maybe next year.

I refuse to let my hands type out a "fiddle with sausage" joke dammit.

Since I was a kid. Deer, moose, elk. I can also snare rabbits and grouse, but beaver is terrible eating. I don't care what my elders have to say on that matter. I can also build a smoke house and smoke/dry meat. I'm hoping to fiddle with sausage (chorizo) making maybe next year.
Neat. I wouldn't have thought you knew how to hunt, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised, given that you are ...what term do I use here? Native American? American Indian? Just your tribe name(which I don't know)?

Anyway, point is, I should have known better than to be surprised at you having such skills.

Neat. I wouldn't have thought you knew how to hunt, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised, given that you are ...what term do I use here? Native American? American Indian? Just your tribe name(which I don't know)? First Nations, Cree. Us Canuk Indians don't go by Native American generally.

Anyway, point is, I should have known better than to be surprised at you having such skills.Very few people my age know how to hunt, so I wouldn't expect you to assume that I know how. My community just tends to be more traditional than others...although traditionally, women didn't hunt, they just butchered the meat. Mostly I just can't stand the taste of domestic meat.

I refuse to let my hands type out a "fiddle with sausage" joke dammit.

That kind of fiddling would never wait until next year!

That kind of fiddling would never wait until next year!

Phew thanks for doing it for me......ermmm.....making the joke I mean

I would have liked to try hunting a bit more but the only kind available was the horses and dogs variety which i've never been a fan of both for the animal cruelty thing and the fact that i'm a poor horseback rider. My dad tried to get me to ride a racehorse once. Damn thing would have killed me and kept on running. How hard is it to hunt moose, etc?

First Nations, Cree. Us Canuk Indians don't go by Native American generally.
Righto. I'll keep that in mind.

Very few people my age know how to hunt, so I wouldn't expect you to assume that I know how. My community just tends to be more traditional than others...although traditionally, women didn't hunt, they just butchered the meat. Mostly I just can't stand the taste of domestic meat.
Well, I have had experience with Indian tribes in the past...out of curiosity I visited with some Cherokees a few years ago during our moving trip from Ohio to California, as I am part Cherokee myself. Every single member of the tribe knew how to hunt, fish, and do all sorts of neat stuff. They taught me a lot of it, too, though I'm pretty sure I remember very little, since I've never had the chance to practice the skills.

So? Do you garden? If so, what did you plant this year, and if you have pics to share...great!

I don't garden yet, but plan on trying my hand at it when I retire in two years, two months, zero days, and three and one half hours. (whose counting?)

The wife wants to grow more herbs than we are presently growing and I'd like to try my hand at vegetables. We also plan to plant some dwarf fruit trees, berry bushes, and possibly some nut trees. (pecans grow very well in Louisiana.)

P.S. There is nothing like a home grown, vine ripened tomato. Forget that crap that passes for a tomato in the grocery store. They are picked green and have no flavor. UGH!

How hard is it to hunt moose, etc?

Not so hard...but then again, game is pretty plentiful here. I'm a fair tracker, but if things were really scarce, I'd be taxed. I always have muscle with me to help bring the carcass out.

Shouldn't it be called farming if you're growing food? Where did you plant the beef?

Shouldn't it be called farming if you're growing food? Where did you plant the beef?

Between the chicken and the fish. :D

We grow some flowers on the side of my house and have a couple beds in the backyard. The only thing most people around us like growing Tomatoes.

Shouldn't it be called farming if you're growing food? Where did you plant the beef?

:D

Farming, I'd say is larger scale than what I've got. I wouldn't mind getting a cow actually, and slaughtering it at the end of the season...it'd keep the grass down a bit. We have this great little pen that used to be a dog kennel...I want to convert it into a chicken coop (the pen backs onto an old shed we could gut). But it would basically be for our own consumption, with a fair amount going to family etc. Perhaps it could be called farming, but...na. Some of my uncles farm, and I wouldn't compare this to that.

I'm trying to grow stuff, but an imp or elf stole one of my pepper plants...

Bonsai, and I would like to grow some herbs and spices for cooking. I grow peppers as well, provided the weather is not too rainy; this year should be a good year for them around here since it has been quite hot and dry.

With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And marigolds all in a row.

Don't be so contrary :D

With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And marigolds all in a row.

Don't be so contrary :D

I would but cockle shells is a cash crop.

:D

Farming, I'd say is larger scale than what I've got. I wouldn't mind getting a cow actually, and slaughtering it at the end of the season...it'd keep the grass down a bit. We have this great little pen that used to be a dog kennel...I want to convert it into a chicken coop (the pen backs onto an old shed we could gut). But it would basically be for our own consumption, with a fair amount going to family etc. Perhaps it could be called farming, but...na. Some of my uncles farm, and I wouldn't compare this to that.

Goats make good lawnmowers. I've seen quite a few people round about use them like that and you can always milk them (never tried goat meat but i'm guessing it ain't so good)

I gave up when I couldn't keep my herbs alive.

I do, and later on I'll post pictures. Of course, my garden is a LOT smaller than Neese's - I only have a patio container garden - but, this year we're growing:

Rhubarb
Tomatoes (two varieties)
Green Peppers
Red Peppers
Orange Peppers
Strawberries
Nasturtiums

...as well as a number of herbs, including:

Sweet Grass
Garlic Chives
Mustard
Soapwort
Rue
Wormwood
Lemon Verbena
Ginger Mint
Italian Parsley
Woodruff
Chamomile
Echinacea (two varieties)

...and finally, a lot of flowers, including:

Gazanias
Impatiens
Double Impatiens
Yarrow
Lilies
Campion
Minuet Speedwell
Bee Balm
Alyssum (white, purple, pink)
Daisies
Dianthus
Toad-Lily

Oh, and one poisonous plant as well:

Deadly Nightshade. We've been encouraging it and now it's a bit of a bush. S'beautiful.

Sure it's only a container garden, but we've got thirty container boxes on the go. And we grow a lot of perennials in those container boxes!

I do, and later on I'll post pictures. Of course, my garden is a LOT smaller than Neese's - I only have a patio container garden - but, this year we're growing:

Rhubarb
Tomatoes (two varieties)
Green Peppers
Red Peppers
Orange Peppers
Strawberries
Nasturtiums

...as well as a number of herbs, including:

Sweet Grass
Garlic Chives
Mustard
Soapwort
Rue
Wormwood
Lemon Verbena
Ginger Mint
Italian Parsley
Woodruff
Chamomile
Echinacea (two varieties)

...and finally, a lot of flowers, including:

Gazanias
Impatiens
Double Impatiens
Yarrow
Lilies
Campion
Minuet Speedwell
Bee Balm
Alyssum (white, purple, pink)
Daisies
Dianthus
Toad-Lily

Oh, and one poisonous plant as well:

Deadly Nightshade. We've been encouraging it and now it's a bit of a bush. S'beautiful.

Sure it's only a container garden, but we've got thirty container boxes on the go. And we grow a lot of perennials in those container boxes!

Definitely post pictures, please. I'd be interested to see how big etc. those containers are. It sounds like you have a huuuuge patio.
I'd be much more comfortable with such a container garden - I think a real garden would sound like a cool idea but would totally swamp my motivation and capability...

I don't like gardening in of itself, but I have been intrigued by Garden Railroads.

click (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_railroad)

How cute! Some people are REALLY into model trains, apparently.

I've just re-organized my room and realized my cacti died.. again. I don't think I'm very much suited for that gardening thing you speak of - plus I have no garden here that I'd be allowed to cultivate, either.

But I absolutely second the goat-as-lawnmower idea. I (} goats.

Definitely post pictures, please. I'd be interested to see how big etc. those containers are. It sounds like you have a huuuuge patio.
I'd be much more comfortable with such a container garden - I think a real garden would sound like a cool idea but would totally swamp my motivation and capability...

K, I just tried taking pics of it with my cel phone camera, but I guess I'll have to wait for a better angle of light later today 'cause everything washes out. :(

I've just re-organized my room and realized my cacti died.. again. I don't think I'm very much suited for that gardening thing you speak of - plus I have no garden here that I'd be allowed to cultivate, either.

But I absolutely second the goat-as-lawnmower idea. I (} goats.

Listen, I started as a crap gardener. Seriously. I haven't read any books, or studied anything...I listen to old wives tales for the most part, and find that they give the best advice. Oh, and little rhymes...like...cut thistles in May, they'll be back in a day, cut thistles in June, this is too soon, cut thistles in July and then they'll die. It really works. Thistles are the bane of my existence right now.

Point being, most people think they couldn't garden. I'm living proof that literally any idiot can.

The only thing stopping people really is the sad lack of space...but Dobb's container garden is a wicked idea as well. I have a friend with a tiny apartment who grow tomatoes and cucumbers all year round just in front of her patio window. Basil by the kitchen window. Very cool.

I've grown basil, mint, runner beans and rosemary.

;) I also live in NYC, so there's not much garden to the garden.

Goats make good lawnmowers. I've seen quite a few people round about use them like that and you can always milk them (never tried goat meat but i'm guessing it ain't so good)

Goat meat is actually pretty good...then again, I favour gamey-tasting meat. Now, what is TRULY divine is goat cheese. We have a neighbour with goats...they don't seem to make as much a mess as cows. They have a stronger body odour though...but not really unpleasant (to me).

Goat meat is actually pretty good...then again, I favour gamey-tasting meat. Now, what is TRULY divine is goat cheese. We have a neighbour with goats...they don't seem to make as much a mess as cows. They have a stronger body odour though...but not really unpleasant (to me).

I had a goat curry after I wrote that and I have to admit it is pretty good. Although to be honest a lot of the taste may have been lost with the spices and all but the texture was good which was my main worry when ordering it

I've had it in curry and roti. It's good.

I'm a fan of jerk chicken, Trini style.

But a good roast goat, with a pevre sauce (tomato, hot peppers, garlic, cilantro, onions, all pureed and spread over the cooked meat) is also amazing.

Goats make good lawnmowers. I've seen quite a few people round about use them like that and you can always milk them (never tried goat meat but i'm guessing it ain't so good)

I've had it in curry and roti. It's good.

I've grown basil, mint, runner beans and rosemary.

;) I also live in NYC, so there's not much garden to the garden.

http://images.canadiantire.ca/media/images/products/images/Decorative/HooksStakesBrackets/0600240_450_CC_2efab.jpg

Well, here's what I did: I went to Canadian Tire a couple of years back (that's like the pre-eminent hardware/homeware/automotive store chain up here, but I digress) and I bought five of these things (or something very much like it). Each of these can accomodate a wide rectangular planter box, so I picked up fifteen planter boxes, too. I set them up side by side, along the raised internal wall of the patio where they could juuuuust manage to get enough sunlight for a good part the day out of the shadow of our building. Then I realized I could lay another planter box in front of the plant stand and gain another few feet of garden space, so I got another five planter boxes. That brought me up to twenty.

The patio is enclosed by a raised brick wall that comes up about three feet high. the wall is about a foot deep, and is capped with aluminum panelling while a metal railing projects up by another eight inches or so. I took measurements and found four huge, insulated rectangular planterbokes to line the railing along the western gap (there's a lane that runs next to my unit), that's where I grow the Sweet Grass, Soapwort, Rue and Yarrow. Along the north railing I managed to fit another six, slightly smaller planters. For safety reasons, each of these planters is lashed to the railing with bungee cords. But now we have thirty planter boxes (and five or six large pots besides)!

At the height of the summer, I can hardly see my neighbours for the greenery. As it stands, we're already halfway there.

Point being, most people think they couldn't garden. I'm living proof that literally any idiot can.

The only thing stopping people really is the sad lack of space...

Nonono, you listen. I'll repeat: My cacti died. Because they dried out. My cacti. What's keeping me is not a lack of space, really, but a lack of brain and, more importantly, a lack of attention span. I love my cacti, and my limited cognitive capacity might even suffice for the random watering of a plant every two months, but I'll plain and simple forget about it.

You know, life for oneself is amazing if one's forgetful enough to think one discovers "new" clothes everytime one re-arranges the stacks, or to realize one once bought those delicious boxes of icecream sitting untouched in the freezer, or to be surprised at the amazing books one appaers to have bought some time ago.. but life is accordingly sucky for the objects one is responsible for, when one is forgetful enough to not manage to water a plant every two months.

Nonono, you listen. I'll repeat: My cacti died. Because they dried out. My cacti. What's keeping me is not a lack of space, really, but a lack of brain and, more importantly, a lack of attention span. I love my cacti, and my limited cognitive capacity might even suffice for the random watering of a plant every two months, but I'll plain and simple forget about it.

You know, life for oneself is amazing if one's forgetful enough to think one discovers "new" clothes everytime one re-arranges the stacks, or to realize one once bought those delicious boxes of icecream sitting untouched in the freezer, or to be surprised at the amazing books one appaers to have bought some time ago.. but life is accordingly sucky for the objects one is responsible for, when one is forgetful enough to not manage to water a plant every two months.

What you need is an asparagus fern. They thrive with inattentive owners. Hell, I've actively neglected the lil' motherfucker for six months at a time, and still it grows back. (It was a housewarming gift from a neighbour who didn't know we had green thumbs, and she gave it to us saying, "it's great! It'll never die!" - but I've grown to dislike it over the years. I'm forever having my eyes poked by it when I walk by, and when I prune it, I manage to get slivers).

Want an asparagus fern??

What you need is an asparagus fern. They thrive with inattentive owners. Hell, I've actively neglected the lil' motherfucker for six months at a time, and still it grows back. (It was a housewarming gift from a neighbour who didn't know we had green thumbs, and she gave it to us saying, "it's great! It'll never die!" - but I've grown to dislike it over the years. I'm forever having my eyes poked by it when I walk by, and when I prune it, I manage to get slivers).

Want an asparagus fern??

Yeah, I've become suspicious of sayings along the line of "it'll never die!" because, well, they do. Everybody says cacti never die. Oh heck they do. You say you neglected your monster for six months and it grew back? Well, I neglected mine for a year and they weren't even nearly dead yet, and still I somehow managed to kill them eventually. But hey, just for shits and giggles, I'll wiki that thing...

*returns* Wiki decided to spazz out on me, but google pic search gave plenty, and so.. yeah, why not. Hand it over. *reaches into monitor*

Yeah, I've become suspicious of sayings along the line of "it'll never die!" because, well, they do. Everybody says cacti never die. Oh heck they do. You say you neglected your monster for six months and it grew back? Well, I neglected mine for a year and they weren't even nearly dead yet, and still I somehow managed to kill them eventually. But hey, just for shits and giggles, I'll wiki that thing...

*returns* Wiki decided to spazz out on me, but google pic search gave plenty, and so.. yeah, why not. Hand it over. *reaches into monitor*

*passes it through*

And good riddance. Lil' bastard plant...

The really, really awful part is that 'cause it's tropical, and we're living in a northern temperate zone, we'd feel too guilty to just leave it sitting out in the hopes that someone would adopt it. This is also the reason why we have two spindly ficus trees in our living room, even though we just don't get anywhere near enough light to make them truly happy... we just can't bring ourselves to rid the place of these pain-in-the-ass plants!

*passes it through*

And good riddance. Lil' bastard plant...

The really, really awful part is that 'cause it's tropical, and we're living in a northern temperate zone, we'd feel too guilty to just leave it sitting out in the hopes that someone would adopt it. This is also the reason why we have two spindly ficus trees in our living room, even though we just don't get anywhere near enough light to make them truly happy... we just can't bring ourselves to rid the place of these pain-in-the-ass plants!


You have a heart for plants yet give on to me? You're s strange person, Sir Dobbs.. it might have fared better outside, but now it's MINE! *grabs and runs*

.. ask me again about it in a few months time, lest I forget it under my bed and it molds or something.

But I absolutely second the goat-as-lawnmower idea. I (} goats.You put goats into brackets?

http://images.canadiantire.ca/media/images/products/images/Decorative/HooksStakesBrackets/0600240_450_CC_2efab.jpg

Well, here's what I did: I went to Canadian Tire a couple of years back (that's like the pre-eminent hardware/homeware/automotive store chain up here, but I digress) and I bought five of these things (or something very much like it). Each of these can accomodate a wide rectangular planter box, so I picked up fifteen planter boxes, too. I set them up side by side, along the raised internal wall of the patio where they could juuuuust manage to get enough sunlight for a good part the day out of the shadow of our building. Then I realized I could lay another planter box in front of the plant stand and gain another few feet of garden space, so I got another five planter boxes. That brought me up to twenty.

The patio is enclosed by a raised brick wall that comes up about three feet high. the wall is about a foot deep, and is capped with aluminum panelling while a metal railing projects up by another eight inches or so. I took measurements and found four huge, insulated rectangular planterbokes to line the railing along the western gap (there's a lane that runs next to my unit), that's where I grow the Sweet Grass, Soapwort, and Yarrow. Along the north railing I managed to fit another six, slightly smaller planters. For safety reasons, each of these planters is lashed to the railing with bungee cords. But now we have thirty planter boxes (and five or six large pots besides)!

At the height of the summer, I can hardly see my neighbours for the greenery. As it stands, we're already halfway there.This sounds great! Esp. because I imagine it also ensures that you don't plant too much of any veggie and get swamped with squash or something.
I also really like the idea of planting flowers and grasses on top (even though I've never met anyone who would actually and voluntarily plant yarrow; I don't think you can even get seeds for that here, it's one of the most common "weeds").
Excellent ideas all around. =)

How big, approximately, is your patio?

Want an asparagus fern??:p
You have a heart for plants yet give on to me? You're s strange person, Sir Dobbs.. it might have fared better outside, but now it's MINE! *grabs and runs*

.. ask me again about it in a few months time, lest I forget it under my bed and it molds or something.Honey, you really don't want to let that one die, because when it does, all the little tiny needly leaves will fall off and will make the biggest mess in the history of plants.
They somtimes put that crap into bouquets where it invariably starts shedding and it's just awful to clean up afterwards because they'll get stuck in the tablecloth like crazy.

The really, really awful part is that 'cause it's tropical, and we're living in a northern temperate zone, we'd feel too guilty to just leave it sitting out in the hopes that someone would adopt it. This is also the reason why we have two spindly ficus trees in our living room, even though we just don't get anywhere near enough light to make them truly happy... we just can't bring ourselves to rid the place of these pain-in-the-ass plants!I close-to-tearfully donated my beloved, several years old Hibiscus who is all of a foot high (mainly because he's always living in way too small pots <<) and produces incredible flowers who are half as big as the whole plant to the office where I work at. He wasn't doing so great here recently and he actually has a sunny spot in the office, which he didn't have here, and he's already sprouting little green leaves all over. :)

I gave another huge Hibiscus to a friend last year, also because they had a sunny spot for it, and it's growing and blooming like mad.

So maybe you can find a good place for your plants, where they'll fare better and you'll still be rid of them?

But I absolutely second the goat-as-lawnmower idea. I (} goats.

my mom and dad had one when i was a kid to eat the Caltrop weed

You put goats into brackets?
Absolutely, a regular cup-shaped one for the butt and the curled one for the head plus horns. It keeps them where they're supposed to mow at and prevents them from runnning all over the place and runing the good spots. *nods*

Honey, you really don't want to let that one die, because when it does, all the little tiny needly leaves will fall off and will make the biggest mess in the history of plants.
They somtimes put that crap into bouquets where it invariably starts shedding and it's just awful to clean up afterwards because they'll get stuck in the tablecloth like crazy.
You make it sound like I wanted to let all the others die!

That, and I have a plain wooden floor, so I shan't care whether they shed stuff or not; it'll just get vacuumed off on Sundays with all the rest. And hey, that way, at least I'm sure it'll give me a fair warning when it's about to die. I rather like the idea.

That, and: A tablecloth? Hah, that's what you get for having such bourgeoise crap! ;P
So maybe you can find a good place for your plants, where they'll fare better and you'll still be rid of them?

Damn, that rules out me, so I won't be having an asparagus fern after all?

This sounds great! Esp. because I imagine it also ensures that you don't plant too much of any veggie and get swamped with squash or something.
I also really like the idea of planting flowers and grasses on top (even though I've never met anyone who would actually and voluntarily plant yarrow; I don't think you can even get seeds for that here, it's one of the most common "weeds").
Excellent ideas all around. =)

The Sweet Grass is particularly nice, it's aromatic in the breeze - especially when it dries out a bit. Thanks for the thumbs-up!

How big, approximately, is your patio?

Fifteen feet wide, eleven feet deep, give or take a few inches. The plant stands and planter boxes are each slightly less than three feet wide (so I was able to fit five plant stands along the north wall. Altogether, they stick out about two feet from the wall, so we still have ample room for patio furniture and a small barbeque.

So maybe you can find a good place for your plants, where they'll fare better and you'll still be rid of them?

Hopefully...!

Absolutely, a regular cup-shaped one for the butt and the curled one for the head plus horns. It keeps them where they're supposed to mow at and prevents them from runnning all over the place and runing the good spots. *nods*:p Good. Because in case you were trying to pass that off as a heart, I would have been forced to laugh at you.

That, and: A tablecloth? Hah, that's what you get for having such bourgeoise crap! ;P :D I *knew* you were going to harp about that. I was thinking back to my parents' house, where there were indeed tableclothes and where there were also bouquets with that fucking fern in them. And where there was also little Whereyouthinkyougoing having to clean up the mess.

Plus you can braid the dried sweetgrass, claim an aboriginal right to smudge in public places, and use it to hide the scent of the pot you'll actually be smoking ;)

Plus you can braid the dried sweetgrass, claim an aboriginal right to smudge in public places, and use it to hide the scent of the pot you'll actually be smoking ;)

Shhh, you. You'll give me away.

Actually, we do braid it dried - but we haven't done much else with it beyond stockpiling it. Along with all the dried herbs and our growing seed repository, there's more stockpiled plant by-produc around this place than I could easily shake a... a... tree-branch at!

When my parents had the big yard, we had an absolutely amazing garden...peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, corn, sunflowers, hot peppers, squash, zuchini, pumpkins...all so delicious and fresh. Our new yard is somewhat smaller, but my parents still grow some delightful things in the raised-bed garden they built. We could probably feed the neighborhood with the amount of lettuce we grow. Enough pepper plants to keep me happy throughout the summer and plenty of herbs.

As a college student, though, my ability to garden is temporarily limited, but once I graduate and get my own place, I will see about remedying that problem.

My wife and I just bought our first home in October, and I didnt get to this spring, but next spring I plan to plant a garden, even if just some strawberries...

Does anyone know if anything else besides strawberries comes back year after year??

My wife and I just bought our first home in October, and I didnt get to this spring, but next spring I plan to plant a garden, even if just some strawberries...

Does anyone know if anything else besides strawberries comes back year after year??

Our hardiest perennials: rhubarb, chives, campions, peppermint, rue, soapwort. Proactively reseeding annuals: summer savory, columbine, camomile, mustard, dill.

By "hardy" I mean they're tough enough survive winter in small pots. I should warn you that most of the plants above will spread ferociously unless you keep them cut back with extreme prejudice. The savory sprouts in its thousands from the freakin' patio stones.

Dobbs, get off my wavelength.

My wife and I just bought our first home in October, and I didnt get to this spring, but next spring I plan to plant a garden, even if just some strawberries...

Does anyone know if anything else besides strawberries comes back year after year??

Of the things I have growing in my garden,

Rhubarb
Sweet Grass
Garlic Chives
Rue
Wormwood
Ginger Mint
Echinacea
Lilies
Campion
Minuet Speedwell
Bee Balm
Toad-Lily

and

Deadly Nightshade

Are all perennials. And for those of you like me & are both living in a northern temperate zone and are constrained to growing in container boxes, here's a handy-dandy tip for making sure your temperamental perennials don't succumb to the harsh conditions of those pesky winter months:

Folded pizza boxes and/or styrofoam packing inserts make for excellent insulation. Even foam packing peanuts do a good job. See, snow really ought to be enough of an insulator, but the last few years have seen some shitty winters - late seasonal starts, not enough of the white stuff - and so I've taken to packing my outdoor plants in whatever useless crap keeps accumulating around the house.

Dobbs, get off my wavelength.

...It's 'cause we're both posting from the same room. You're just picking up my psychic emanations again, m'dear...

my flowerbed is filled with veggies, we grow peppers mostly. Inside I have a strawberry pot filled with different herbs. In the past I had grown cucumbers, and tomatoes but I was sick this spring and didn't get things done......so this year it's just the peppers.

my flowerbed is filled with veggies, we grow peppers mostly. Inside I have a strawberry pot filled with different herbs. In the past I had grown cucumbers, and tomatoes but I was sick this spring and didn't get things done......so this year it's just the peppers.

Peppers are great. So little effort, for so much return. Bell peppers?

Peppers are great. So little effort, for so much return. Bell peppers?

Bell Peppers, banana peppers, habeneros........

Bell Peppers, banana peppers, habeneros........

Niiiice. If you like salads, there's still loads of time to grow nasturtiums. Yum-yum...

I tried again this evening after dinner:

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j315/crashcow/NSG/patio01.jpg

xxxLooking eastward along the north railing, rhubarb and tomatoes totally out of focus at the back wall


http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j315/crashcow/NSG/patio02.jpg

Looking westward at juncture of the laneway and north railings


http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j315/crashcow/NSG/patio03.jpg

An old photo of the garden I'd forgotten - check out the intricate paint job on the patio furniture!xxxx
x
x

Fine, I'm an attention whore.

Bump.

Fine, I'm an attention whore.

Boy, unusually majestetic plants!


.. nah, for real, quite creative a way to arrange the whole thing - and kudos for postin the pics on here. Once Neesika recovered from her "severe weather" panic she'll surely appreciate them ;P *runs and hides*

I live in a townhouse so I don't have much space available for gardening. I do have some pots of herbs on the deck (basil, rosemary, oregano, sage, peppermint, catnip) for my cooking experiments (and for my cats), but that's about it. On the plus side, I have a greenbelt in back full of oak, pine, wild columbines, lupines and other trees, shrubs and wildflowers.

I live in a townhouse so I don't have much space available for gardening. I do have some pots of herbs on the deck (basil, rosemary, oregano, sage, peppermint, catnip) for my cooking experiments (and for my cats), but that's about it. On the plus side, I have a greenbelt in back full of oak, pine, wild columbines, lupines and other trees, shrubs and wildflowers.

Sounds lovely. I lived in a tiny apartment in a tower block for over a decade, so I had a real gardening itch that needed scratching after I'd moved into this place.