~SUSTAINABLE LIVING FOR CHALLENGING TIMES

[sumisu]

Merry CHRISTmas back to you.

If I were you, I would add two raised beds a year using anything free that you can get your hands on. For instance, there was a neighbor with a pile of patio pavers in her yard. I asked her what her intentions were with the pavers and she told me I could have them as she was trying to get rid of them. I was lucky. I used the pavers for this small L-shaped raised bed.


PATIO PAVER RAISED BED


ROCKS COLLECTED OVER THE YEARS DURING WALKS

I had some cinder block raised beds, but I removed the blocks to make a foundation each of my seven rain barrels.

As I recall, you have much more room than me, so you probably mound the soil into beds to better capture the sun rays. Many farmers do it this way. In fact, the protesters from the late 1960s into the 1970s used that method to save money. [I once knew a guy who spent five years in New Hampshire on a commune.]

I thought the world would have had Peak Oil by 2008, but that did not occur due to the fracking revolution, which I believe will collapse due to debt problems. The latter might happen soon with a steep decline in oil prices. So I continue to squeeze every area of my land into food-producing homes.

Yes, during this journey, I made many changes to my city property. The former grass lawns are long gone.

Your recommendation of chickens is still on the table and I might implement it by next year. An eight by eight green house will come first.

My free seedling program of hot and sweet peppers plus tomatoes are available to ten new gardeners from the last five years. There might be an eleventh this spring; working on my mailman to plant a garden. I also divide herbs and bee attracting perennial plants for anyone who wants them.



TOMATO SEEDLINGS


I have some interesting videos that I cannot seem to post.

Happy New Year too!