tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post7804707541577309749..comments2024-02-10T18:50:01.193+10:00Comments on Gully Grove: How does your garden grow?Chris http://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-81881392614740971452014-03-14T22:36:53.518+10:002014-03-14T22:36:53.518+10:00Yes, that is it. The cultivate geraniums don't...Yes, that is it. The cultivate geraniums don't live in cold weather even though we do have a native wild geranium. I have a rose scented one that is absolutely divine! And I had a bay rum scented one that died but the scent was definitely like a mans after shave cologne. <br />There are a few others that I have tested in the farmers market-the scents are always wonderful but I could only buy so many so naturally gravitated to the rose one.<br /><br />Our purslane grows into carpets in one season in the places we allow it to. It reminds me very much of the ice plants that California grows on hillsides to prevent erosion and landslides-very thick when left on its own. <br />As to the chickens, I'd have to check the timing on the larvae-its muddy now that its thawing out so the chickens would not like it there. Timing is tricky for us!linda marthahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14201901762476827737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-28431814724896826982014-03-14T15:15:01.242+10:002014-03-14T15:15:01.242+10:00Permaculture is an excellent place to start interp...Permaculture is an excellent place to start interpreting the landscape, but I've found it needs a lot of tweaking in my garden. I don't think permaculture is flawed, it's just written as general advice which requires the gardener to interpret according to their site. Needless to say, this gardener is still learning what works here, lol.<br /><br />I like what Sepp says, and I do notice improvements with each growing season. But it takes a lot more inputs than can be managed by a couple of people. Once up and running though, it looks after itself with minimal maintenance. That's what I'm hoping for!Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-57771456197046918542014-03-14T15:02:53.025+10:002014-03-14T15:02:53.025+10:00Is that because your pelargonium wouldn't surv...Is that because your pelargonium wouldn't survive the below freezing temperatures? You're doing well to keep them in pots if that's the case. They're definitely something worth having. They smell so divine, natures own fragrance with no artificial anything.<br /><br />Mine is the lemon scented, do you have any other scented varieties? I always thought "apple" sounded interesting.<br /><br />As for purslane, it does survive very dry conditions, but it doesn't seem to cover the soil. There are lots of gaps. But I'm actually propagating the purslane because I want to be able to eat it - I'm going to set up its own area which will be known as the purslane patch, lol.<br /><br />The Amish advice is pretty spot-on, only you'd have to have them penned around the plums for a couple of seasons. Pests tend to lay their eggs on the ground, so when the larvae emerge, the chickens eat them before they ascend the tree. To break the breading cycle, they'd need to be there at least two growing seasons - or when the pest larvae are expected to emerge.<br /><br />Or at least that's the theory behind it. ;)Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-49064245386135253352014-03-14T12:18:55.732+10:002014-03-14T12:18:55.732+10:00This has been my permaculture experience in a nuts...This has been my permaculture experience in a nutshell! I've planted a lot of edible trees and bushes along with recommended ground covers but have had many discouraging problems. And you're right about there being a lot of other projects to do. If I could focus on one thing and one thing only I could have a successful one thing! Ah well, live and learn. Happily Sepp Holzer says it takes several years to get a new ecosystem thriving. I take heart in that to not give up. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-65804879891698881992014-03-14T00:23:41.332+10:002014-03-14T00:23:41.332+10:00Very interesting lesson. I have contemplated groun...Very interesting lesson. I have contemplated ground cover for our trees-I actually planted comfrey under our plums a few years ago yet it seems we have some sort of bug that sucks our plums dry. I was reading in that Amish newsletter that a sure way to take care of any insect infestation is to pen chickens around the tree. Not sure I want to do that either. <br />Do you think that your purslane might make a good ground cover? Also, I have to say that I am envious that your pelogorium would make a ground cover! I grow my scented ones in pots which is fine but how wonderful for you to be able to utilize them in other ways!linda marthahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14201901762476827737noreply@blogger.com