Sustainable Garden

This begins week 2 of our sustainable permaculture efforts using back to eden gardening. We have learned a few lessons, and a seeing some results. A little over a week ago we transplanted some seedlings and also planted some seeds into the garden.

Also, the warm weather has brought out our fruit trees.

A Fence In Eden

When we transplanted our corn the leaves were roughly a foot tall. The day after we planted them, they were an inch tall. Some critter – be it domestic or wild – enjoyed a buffet in our garden.

The peas took a good trimming as well. So, it was off to the races to put up a fence. I know, I know… how can you say “Back to Eden” and then put up a fence. Well – it is all mental. If this first attempt at the garden completely fails, it will be hard to keep going.

So – for whatever it is worth – success first, ample plants for us and nature second.

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We put up a fence using half inch by half inch hardware cloth. This is a tad excessive, but there is a reason. Primarily, we had most of the material we needed already available, including the T-Posts. Second, we have used the hexagonal “chicken wire” in the past… and our chickens broke through it (bit, rather).

That did not really make us feel good that chicken wire was anything more than a deterrent. We would rather have something that would stand up to a rabbit or opossum trying to nibble or scratch at it. Yes, the price is excessive, but it mattered to us.

Should you be considering hardware cloth for your fencing, 1 inch by 2 inches welded wire fencing should be more than adequate, and less expensive than what we used.

The Garden

So far it does not appear that we have lost anything. However, the artichoke did not take so well to the transplant. We should have done a better job hardening them off before planting them outside. But, they are surviving, and time will tell. Otherwise, of the transplanted varieties all are doing well, even those that were attacked their first night out.

An exception are the sunflowers – 3 out of 4 are gone – eaten away. We will be pampering the last one in hopes of success. Of the seeds that were planted in the garden, all but the potatoes are showing germination.

The Orchard

Well, 4 trees may not constitute and orchard – but it is what we have. We purchased our trees from Star Bros, http://www.starkbros.com/, and we do recommend them. We have 1 cherry and 3 apple trees. The cherry is self pollinating, while 2 of the apples trees are as well, and they in turn also can pollinate the last apple tree.

All are doing well, except for the tips of their center leaders, which seem to have been damaged from the cold – we will be pruning these promptly.

What Is Next?

We will continue on as planned. We still need to find time to do some more wood chipping and finish out the garden, as well as lay down chips to start other areas for future plantings. So far, we do not intend to change anything.

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