The Remnant Online

Health => Gardening => Topic started by: JimB on August 16, 2013, 10:04:42 AM

Title: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: JimB on August 16, 2013, 10:04:42 AM
Have you never planted a garden but are thinking about it? Well I want to encourage you to seriously consider planting one next year. Until this year I had never planted a garden but with everyone talking here at TRO in this gardening area it made me want to try it so I did. I believe the Lord wanted to encourage me because I have been very blessed this year with my small garden.

I had a few small trials at the beginning. I broke grass sod with a rototiller. That is much harder work than most people (who don't garden) realize. I even had 2 consecutive thunderstorms try push my very young corn stalks down. I had to support them with doweling and string. It was a learning process. But here are just some of the results.

(http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff335/jtburgess02/2013%20Garden/2013-08-13201858_zps5ad52e2d.jpg) (http://s537.photobucket.com/user/jtburgess02/media/2013%20Garden/2013-08-13201858_zps5ad52e2d.jpg.html)

(http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff335/jtburgess02/2013%20Garden/2013-08-06184952_zpsc43253c8.jpg) (http://s537.photobucket.com/user/jtburgess02/media/2013%20Garden/2013-08-06184952_zpsc43253c8.jpg.html)

(http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff335/jtburgess02/2013%20Garden/CAM00211_zps5c5fc5b2.jpg) (http://s537.photobucket.com/user/jtburgess02/media/2013%20Garden/CAM00211_zps5c5fc5b2.jpg.html)

(http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff335/jtburgess02/2013%20Garden/CAM00221_zps26fbb53a.jpg) (http://s537.photobucket.com/user/jtburgess02/media/2013%20Garden/CAM00221_zps26fbb53a.jpg.html)

(http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff335/jtburgess02/2013%20Garden/2013-08-13201750_zps4d13212f.jpg) (http://s537.photobucket.com/user/jtburgess02/media/2013%20Garden/2013-08-13201750_zps4d13212f.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Dorine on August 16, 2013, 10:07:34 AM
Excellent. It is such a rewarding experience to grow a garden.

Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Vicki on August 16, 2013, 11:10:21 AM
Wonderful! Gardening is a challenge, but worth the effort.

What is the speckled squash?

Watching bees on sunflowers is one of my favorite summer pastimes.  :)
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Vicki on August 16, 2013, 11:15:33 AM
Oh, dear. I just read the watermelon topic and found out that is not a squash. I have never seen a melon like that before.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Mimi on August 16, 2013, 02:47:24 PM
I think Mark said it is a moon and stars variety. It is new to me. Have never before seen one.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: JimB on August 23, 2013, 04:41:58 PM
Just another pic.

(http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff335/jtburgess02/2013%20Garden/CAM00265_zps1070c797.jpg) (http://s537.photobucket.com/user/jtburgess02/media/2013%20Garden/CAM00265_zps1070c797.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Mimi on August 23, 2013, 05:28:42 PM
 ;D You are a blest man! Am so proud of you and the efforts you have put into your first garden. You have a beautiful harvest!
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: JimB on August 23, 2013, 06:08:21 PM
The Lord is good! I can not complain. I've had a very good harvest.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Richard Myers on August 23, 2013, 07:09:03 PM
I don't see one green tomato, Jim!  :)  And, none appear to be overripe!  God has given you discernment!  Now, what are you going to do with at least 33 ripe and ready to eat delicious tomatoes?  I ate my third one today.  The heirlooms are taking a long time!!

Thanks for sharing your gardening experience. Others will be encouraged to do the same!
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: JimB on August 24, 2013, 02:16:14 PM
Yesterday I spoke to someone who knows more than I do and I think they may get canned. There are more there than 33 and a lot more on the way. However, I had to go count them in the picture before I understood how you came to that number :)

I honestly didn't think they'd make it this far. I started them by seed indoors and they grew so fast they fell over and didn't look very healthy (to me anyway). I thought I was wasting my time putting them outside a few weeks later but here they are!

Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: colporteur on August 24, 2013, 02:43:24 PM
Jim;

Canning tomatoes is very easy and enjoyable. I think they are the easiest item to can in the garden. Some use a hot water bath and some a pressure cooker. The pressure cooker is faster and you tend to get fewer jars that do not seal however it puts pressure on the jars and you get more broken jars if they are older. I have used both  methods with very good success canning hundreds of quarts of my favorite food. I often  use a T. of lemon juice and  a t. of salt but neither is necessary unless you have a very low acid tomato. 50 lbs. of tomatoes will give you about 22 quarts of produce. They will keep for up to 50 years or more although I have heard that they lose vitamin C after 5 years. The world's most successful tomato grower grew enough tomatoes on one plant to can 110 quarts. How's that for production ? He did it organically too and with an heirloom.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Richard Myers on August 24, 2013, 08:31:42 PM
And we all are waiting to find out......which heirloom might that have been?
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Ed Sutton on August 25, 2013, 12:14:49 AM
Type of Heirloom Tomato = 10% success + save only best seed from it = 10% improvement next season.

Use of Charles Wilber methods = 80 % success

type of tomato variety    http://www.tomatodirt.com/better-boy-tomato.html   (http://www.tomatodirt.com/better-boy-tomato.html)

basic general terms of methodology much less than the book details.   

1.     http://home.comcast.net/~pobrien48/Tomatoes_World_Record.htm   (http://home.comcast.net/~pobrien48/Tomatoes_World_Record.htm)

2.     http://home.comcast.net/~pobrien48/Tomatoes_World_Record.htm   (http://home.comcast.net/~pobrien48/Tomatoes_World_Record.htm)

3.       http://lubbockonline.com/stories/061899/ent_061899113.shtml   (http://lubbockonline.com/stories/061899/ent_061899113.shtml)

4.  Colorado for high altitude growers 
     http://www.ediblecommunities.com/frontrange/pages/issues/spring09/lastBite.pdf   (http://www.ediblecommunities.com/frontrange/pages/issues/spring09/lastBite.pdf)

Homepage for ediblecommunities  ( there's a SantaFe link .   ;D   )       Would give continual contact links to new growers, and chefs, and gardening folks to interest in a journey to the transplanted original Garden of Eden < IE >:Heaven via Bibles studies-conversion-becoming part of the Remnant Movement of Prophecy-going to that Eden when Jesus conducts His Garden tour in the once on Earth now transplanted Eden - Earth's giant Tree of Life is there, 7 days after the Second Coming.  Invitation only -   Gardening at it's finest - evangelism of fellow gardeners, automatic friends for eternity.

 http://www.ediblecommunities.com/content/   (http://www.ediblecommunities.com/content/)

general tomato growing stuff - tomatoville forum   
  http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=28198&page=5   (http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=28198&page=5)


Eden from earth is now in Heaven - Tree of Life - in Heaven  Revelation 2:7 ;  Revelation 22:2 ; Revelation 22:14
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Ed Sutton on August 25, 2013, 12:57:38 AM
  http://www.tomatodirt.com/index.html  (http://www.tomatodirt.com/index.html)

  http://www.tomatodirt.com/purple-haze-tomato.html    (http://www.tomatodirt.com/purple-haze-tomato.html)

  http://www.selectedplants.com/   (http://www.selectedplants.com/)
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Richard Myers on August 25, 2013, 10:20:00 AM
We did not have to wait long! Thanks, Ed!  We will make sure that we learn to grow that variety and have extra seeds on hand for when they are needed.  From the link Ed provided:

"Better Boy is one of the most trusted tomato varieties in terms of disease resistance and reliability. Plus it’s widely adaptable, meaning it produces well in nearly any climate. And it’s one of best tasting slicing tomatoes available. But probably most of all, it’s known to be an incredibly prolific performer in the home garden. Champion home gardener Charles H. Wilber grew Better Boys to win the 1987 Guinness Book of World Records for the largest amount of tomatoes per plant – 342 pounds of fruit from just one Better Boy plant!"
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Ed Sutton on August 25, 2013, 01:32:41 PM
If there are any highly vigorous vines that are invasive weeds where you are, try chopping them up minus their seeds or reproductive roots or nodes, and composting them in a covered composting container, their strong growth chemistry might carry through into the finished compost .     

Charles Wilbur uses kudzu in his compost, also he never let's his compost get rained on till it goes in the ground, he stores it in covered trash cans, for up to 3 yrs with little if any loss of fertility.

He says after trial and error, chicken manure spikes growth but then declines when the tomatoes need it most, so he uses cow manure.   He says cow manure is slower than chicken manure and not quite as hot so it starts slower but continues longer.   Therefore cow manure is almost all grass, so adding lots of grass clipping to the compost and bagging grass clipping and wetting them to semi cook in the bag before use, might be a workable substitute.

The problem with manures = feedlot antibiotics, banned substances being used, hormones fed to the animals, diseases, composting might not degrade and compost.

( another Charles Wilbur tip)  Grow rye and hairy vetch as a cover crop, mow, till under before preparing soil for tomatoes, alternate planting clover and soybeans between tomato rows to fix nitrogen.

Add garden worms to the prepared soil too.  Mulch with 4 inch thick sections of bale of hay or straw, do NOT hoe tomatoes, you cut side roots that grow out 48+ inches from each side of the plant, water the ground not the plant, use well, river, lake water, NOT tap water.  Chlorine stresses the tomatoes a lot.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHetN7UIdBk   (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHetN7UIdBk)

Then there's always the Mittleider mix of minerals added to store bought 8-8-8 or 10-10-10 or 12-12-12 fertilizer and kept in a tight plastic bucket.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb1LEAEr1rE   (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb1LEAEr1rE)

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj7vVgRb6ds  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj7vVgRb6ds)

  http://vimeo.com/channels/74204/7249279   (http://vimeo.com/channels/74204/7249279)

  https://aiki.pbworks.com/w/page/1594755/special%20Mittleider%20fertilizer%20mix     (https://aiki.pbworks.com/w/page/1594755/special%20Mittleider%20fertilizer%20mix)
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Mark W on August 29, 2013, 06:23:51 AM
JimB, I have to at least say that for a gardening newbie that even ventured to start his own mater plants, your efforts are impressive. Most don't venture out that far the first year and as well don't experience as good of success. God indeed is blessing your efforts. Keep up the good work.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: JimB on August 29, 2013, 06:19:50 PM
Thanks for the encouragement Mark! Funny that you bring this topic current tonight. I just got back inside from harvesting over double the last amount with a lot more on the way. Although I was hoping for a good crop I had no idea it would be this good. However, with that said. I'll have to be more careful next year. This year I let the plants grow too far before I could contain them so I've lost probably about 10% because the plants got heavy and a lot of the fruit is/was sitting on the ground. :( 

However Mark, I have yet to harvest my only 2 melons because I keep looking for the "dead" thing up near where the melon attaches to the vine and it either doesn't have one or it isn't coming close to shriveling up yet and melons just keep getting bigger. I hope I haven't waited too long. I'll check again in a couple of days.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Mark W on August 30, 2013, 11:14:05 AM
Look for the little curls that are used to grab a hold of things to keep the vines in place. They will be at the first leaf node up and down the vine from the stem. See if the pic in the link will help. God bless.
http://pinterest.com/pin/231442868323232074/ (http://pinterest.com/pin/231442868323232074/)
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Richard Myers on March 14, 2014, 10:49:25 PM
If you are thinking about it, now is the time to do something!  :)  In the Northern hemisphere, it is time to start planting or preparing to plant the summer or spring garden. I set out my tomatoes this week. Well....a few. We are past the average last frost date. And. we have had an early spring.  I put out 14 plants of different heirloom varieties. Am prepared to put up a hoophouse to protect them in case bad weather comes along. It would take about 30 minutes to put it up.

If you have not started gardening, now is a good time to do it. There are a lot of helpful friends here to encourage you! And, God will bless you and  your family.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Wally on March 15, 2014, 03:06:42 AM
With 2 1/2 feet of snow on the ground, I don't think I'm going to plant anything for awhile.  ;D

Up here in the more frigid regions of the US, most people delay any planting until mid-May, although Spinach, Kale, Chard, and other cold-tolerant plants can be started as soon as "mud season" is over, typically mid-April to early May.  This year, it may take a bit longer, since colder than normal (due to global warming  ::) ) conditions are forecast to continue through the end of the month.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Richard Myers on March 15, 2014, 07:17:12 AM
Yes, we understand global warming has not happened in most of the United States.  I am trying to help warm things up for you. Will be trying to create some co2 for you and my plants. But, it is time to start some seeds indoors even in the frigid Northeast. 
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: JimB on June 22, 2014, 06:41:26 PM
I go away for about 9 nine days to find that my kale has quadrupled in size. I guess I'm gonna have plenty for salads and maybe juicing. When I left the leaves were a little less than than the palm of your hand in size and I come home to this. I'm not complaining. Just amazed at how much growth can take place in a week.

(http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/ss316/TROPhotobucket/20140622_191646_zps8b80ee14.jpg)
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Mimi on June 22, 2014, 06:48:46 PM
 :)  They are beautiful!
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Marelis on October 07, 2014, 04:35:11 AM
Loved seeing your garden photos, Jim.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Marelis on October 07, 2014, 04:41:09 AM
I had the pleasure of visiting an elderly man with wonderful vegetable gardens last summer. Everything was huge. I'd never seen anything like his waist high spinach and pepper bushes. Crazy big. His secret.....crushed granite. He'd been a traditional gardener with average results for years. But thought the soil needed something extra. Added the crushed granite a few years ago and something magical happened.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: JimB on June 16, 2015, 08:07:56 PM
Well I didn't have anyone to tell me I couldn't or shouldn't do this and it only took me about 30 minutes if it ends up failing. Here is what happened. This year I planted 8 rows of corn in 2 sections of 4 on different ends of my garden. However, 1 section of 4 rows didn't do very well at all. I was thinking about just pulling them and planting something else. I figure they are going to die one way or the other so tonight I transplanted 20 corn plants from one side of the garden to the other. LOL  They were only 8 to 10 inches high and I didn't disturb hardly any roots. I'll let ya know if my experiment works. Even if only 1/2 survive that will be another 2 dozen ears of corn I would have lost.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: colporteur on June 17, 2015, 06:25:33 AM

 JimB;

 Your success rate may depend on conditions that stress the corn like wind and heat. You can mound the dirt up a bit higher around the plant than it was in. That will help keep them from blowing over due to roots not holding yet. Corn likes lots of sun and heat (when it is established) and it like a lot of water but not water logged. It also likes nitrogen as it is technically a grass.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Richard Myers on June 17, 2015, 08:21:55 AM
Experience is a good teacher. Let us know how it works out. Any idea why it was not doing well in that location? Same variety as the other corn?
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: JimB on June 17, 2015, 09:46:57 AM
Well here is the short story. I purchased heirloom seeds from a local guy. Hoping that if it tastes good I'd have seeds for next year. Neither patch of corn did exceptionally well but one was significantly better. I want to blame myself for maybe accidently planting them too deep. Which is a possibility. Maybe the seeds weren't as viable also? I'm not sure.

I suppose soil could be a cause but this is a small plot of land about 20 x 30 and last year I planted green beans with no problems where the corn is (was) this year. I'm not sure. Time will tell I guess.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: colporteur on June 17, 2015, 09:53:00 AM

 I have never heard of heirloom sweet corn. That's a first. Heirloom maze is common but it is not sweet. It is more or less used for tortillas and such.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: JimB on June 17, 2015, 11:42:59 AM
Cp,  I'm still very new at gardening. You could very well be correct about no heirloom sweetcorn. I'll need to go back and read the packaging but that is what I thought when I was reading the description when I purchased them.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: colporteur on June 17, 2015, 12:17:34 PM
Cp,  I'm still very new at gardening. You could very well be correct about no heirloom sweetcorn. I'll need to go back and read the packaging but that is what I thought when I was reading the description when I purchased them.

My guess is that it is organic, but..... I could be wrong. New things do come on the market from time to time.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: JimB on July 26, 2015, 11:44:47 AM
Experience is a good teacher. Let us know how it works out.

Well you be the judge on my little experiment. None of them died and all seem to be doing well. I'm starting to see some silk show up. I'm looking forward to freezing this stuff for winter. You can click on image to enlarge

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/438/20005009996_863837da04_k.jpg)
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Ed Sutton on July 26, 2015, 09:24:07 PM
Heirloom sweetcorn

Would old varieties of sweetcorn qualify ?

Decided to do a quick Google search to find out.

  http://www.victoryseeds.com/corn.html   (http://www.victoryseeds.com/corn.html)

  http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/heirloom-corn-varieties-zewz1307zpit.aspx   (http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/heirloom-corn-varieties-zewz1307zpit.aspx)

  http://www.myfarmlife.com/farmstead/the-best-varieties-of-heirloom-corn/   (http://www.myfarmlife.com/farmstead/the-best-varieties-of-heirloom-corn/)

  http://blog.seedsavers.org/blog/preventing-gmo-contamination-in-your-open-pollinated-corn   (http://blog.seedsavers.org/blog/preventing-gmo-contamination-in-your-open-pollinated-corn)

 http://www.burpee.com/heirloom-seeds-and-plants/heirloom-corn/   (http://www.burpee.com/heirloom-seeds-and-plants/heirloom-corn/)

   http://www.rareseeds.com/store/vegetables/corn/   (http://www.rareseeds.com/store/vegetables/corn/)

  http://sustainableseedco.com/sweet-corn/  (http://sustainableseedco.com/sweet-corn/)

What's heirloom sweetcorn without heirloom beans ?  Especially frozen sweet corn cooked in Jan-Feb with a big pot of leather britches beans made from one of the "greasy bean" varieties .

 http://www.heirlooms.org/apps/search?q=greasy+beans    (http://www.heirlooms.org/apps/search?q=greasy+beans)

  http://www.heirlooms.org/greasy-beans.html   (http://www.heirlooms.org/greasy-beans.html)

   http://restoringtheroost.blogspot.com/2015/01/more-on-shuck-beans-stringing-drying.html    (http://restoringtheroost.blogspot.com/2015/01/more-on-shuck-beans-stringing-drying.html)

Greasy beans are beans that the pod looks greased on the vine and they don't have strings.  Thus suitable in WNC (home ) for leather britches beans.    ( harvested washed, strung on a six foot or longer strong thread, hung up to dry, unshelled pod and all, dusted off, unstrung, washed,  seasoned and cooked till tender - later in the winter, or next spring / summer along with plenty of fresh sweet corn, fresh ripe tomatoes, new potatoes. )

Stringed bean varieties, the pods get too tough upon maturity, and the pods split when drying if strung, the beans spill out, so stringless pods are best for threading up like christmas popcorn, using a needle and strong thread.    Calling them shuck beans means you broke the pods in pieces leaving the beans in the pods.

Leather Britches beans have a concentrated full organic down home old time flavor, and they can and should be pressure cooked - regular stove top is too slow.   HUNGRY just thinking about them. 

Try heirloom blanched frozen sweet corn - quick cooked this winter with a big pot of leather britches or "leather breeches" and if I was mistaken about the strings in the beans, well it's been approx 40 years since I had em back home, so if I am wrong spit strings, and dig in for a second helping.  Please pass the sweet corn.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Richard Myers on July 27, 2015, 06:27:39 AM
God is surely blessing you, Jim.  What a beautiful stand of corn! You have water and nitrogen for your corn.  What are you using for fertilizer? 
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: JimB on July 27, 2015, 09:11:41 AM
God is surely blessing you, Jim.  What a beautiful stand of corn! You have water and nitrogen for your corn.  What are you using for fertilizer?

That He is! We've had no shortage of water this summer so far. The only time I've dragged out the garden hose was when I first planted the seeds. As for fertizlizer, I have not used any.

All the people that sell sweet corn near me have already started putting thiers out for sale so I'm a little behind I guess. Maybe because I didn't use fertilizer? There is another stand of corn that you can't see in that picutre on the other side of the fence that is about twice as large and about 3 weeks behind. I wanted to see which variety was going to taste better but so they didn't cross pollinate I planted them about 3 weeks apart. Time will tell.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Richard Myers on July 27, 2015, 11:44:55 AM
You have nitrogen rich soil. Again, God has blessed you!!
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: JimB on September 16, 2016, 07:22:53 PM
It's a little late in the year to encourage people to start a garden but when I saw this. I wanted to share.

Next to the Bible, nature is to be our great lessonbook. But there is no virtue in deifying nature, for this is exalting the thing made above the great Master Builder who designed the work, and who every hour keeps it operating according to His appointment. As we sow the seed and cultivate the plant, we are to remember that God created the seed, and He gives it to the earth. By His divine power He cares for that seed. It is by His appointment that the seed in dying gives its life to the blade and to the ear which contains in itself other seeds to be treasured and again put into the earth to yield their harvest. We may also study how the co-operation of man acts a part. The human agent has his part to act, his work to do. This is one of the lessons which nature teaches, and we shall see in it a solemn, a beautiful work.  {6T 185.3}
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Marelis on January 29, 2019, 04:09:17 AM
Everyone ought to have at least one living plant to care for or in their environment. Even people in high rise apartments. Plants lift our spirits and even the unbelieving are encouraged to wonder about the secret and source of life. What greater joy than physical contact with nature. Touching it, observing, smelling, tasting it. Gardening is a beautiful pastime. I converse audibly with the Creator in my garden. I should try to figure out how to share some photos.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Richard Myers on January 30, 2019, 05:46:27 AM
Amen, Sister Marelis! What a blessing it is to see the seeds germinate and the trees grow and produce an abundant harvest! Or even just one or two plants of kale in a pot!  I still remember the day when a young boy I learned that the peach that I picked off of our tree could produce another tree that would produce hundreds of peaches. All from the one little seed within my peach!! And, how much would it cost? Nothing, but some effort on my part to plant the seed.

Many will say, but you need to prepare the ground, fertilize, and water the seed. Yes, that is the better way, but you know what? There are seeds that produce plants and trees that I have never planted, watered, fertilized, or weeded. I have quite a few pecan trees that the squirrels planted, God watered, and I only have to fight off the squirrels to get a few! What an amazing thought!!!

Today, we have seed companies that produce seeds that produce plants that have no seeds.  :(    That is not the ways of God. He gave us plants that produce seeds after their kind. God's ways are not the ways of the world. I think that God put it into all little children to be impressed with the germination of seeds and the growth of plants and trees. But, we need to take advantage of that by taking the little ones into the garden and help them care for the plants. There are many spiritual lessons for them to learn as the garden grows.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Richard Myers on July 21, 2019, 10:17:28 AM
If you are thinking about doing a garden, think about protecting your plants from critters. Not just bugs, but deer, turkeys, racoons, rabbits, etc. Last week a friend who I had given a peach tree to, told me the one peach that she was looking forward to eating in a day or two, was seen being eaten by a squirrel!   Imagine a squirrel eating a peach!  I watched one eating a mandarine he stole from my neighbors tree.  I have contended with gray squirrels for my pecans for years, but a mandarine?

And last night I caught a racoon in my garden. They usually just go after the  cat's food, but they like something in the garden. I have not yet discovered why he was there. I imagine he is waiting for something to ripen, like I am. It will be a race to see who gets the reward of my labor!!

Netting and fencing are an expense that can save our food from the critters who seem to be guided by an unkind angel. But, God is more powerful and He is active in providing for all of our needs!
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Richard Myers on July 21, 2019, 10:32:06 AM
Maybe you don't have room for a garden?  Then pray about moving to the country where you can have a garden, especially if you have children. It will be a blessing as God opens the door for you to do so.

 The time is fast coming when the controlling power of the labor unions will be very oppressive. Again and again the Lord has instructed that our people are to take their families away from the cities, into the country, where they can raise their own provisions; for in the future the problem of buying and selling will be a very serious one. We should now begin to heed the instruction given us over and over again: Get out of the cities into rural districts, where the houses are not crowded closely together, and where you will be free from the interference of enemies.--Letter 5, 1904.   

    These cities are filled with wickedness of every kind,--with strikes and murders and suicides. Satan is in them, controlling men in their work of destruction. Under his influence they kill for the sake of killing, and this they will do more and more. . . . 
 
     If we place ourselves under objectionable influences, can we expect God to work a miracle to undo the results of our wrong course? --No, indeed. Get out of the cities as soon as possible, and purchase a little piece of land, where you can have a garden, where your children can watch the flowers growing, and learn from them lessons of simplicity and purity.--General Conference Bulletin, March 30, 1903.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Richard Myers on July 21, 2019, 01:26:03 PM
If you have not thought about a garden, read a little on the light given to us regarding a garden.

 When the power invested in kings is allied to goodness, it is because the one in responsibility is under the divine dictation. When power is allied with wickedness, it is allied to Satanic agencies, and it will work to destroy those who are the Lord's property. The Protestant world have set up an idol sabbath in the place where God's Sabbath should be, and they are treading in the footsteps of the Papacy. For this reason I see the necessity of the people of God moving out of the cities into retired country [places,] where they may cultivate the land and raise their own produce. Thus they may bring their children up with simple, healthful habits. I see the necessity of making haste to get all things ready for the crisis.--Letter 90, 1897. 

Can't do a garden? Pray for God help you do a garden. You will in His time be blessed.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Richard Myers on April 11, 2020, 07:44:40 AM
Have a favorite tree? Want to copy it. Try air propagating it.

Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Richard Myers on March 20, 2021, 06:04:04 AM
Thinking about doing a garden? Why should we take time to do it? One good reason is that the end is rushing upon us. The time will soon come when we cannot buy or sell. Then, how shall we eat if we cannot buy food? Will God rain it down from heaven? Maybe for some, but for others who neglect to walk in the light God has given, I doubt it. Today is the time to prepare for what is soon to come. It will be too late to learn how to grow food. There have been times when because I did not understand the needs of a particular plant that my efforts failed. I was not then dependent upon my efforts that I might eat. Soon we shall have to be successful at growing our own food if we want to eat.

There are other good reasons to have a garden also. Share with our readers some of those reasons.

If you have not thought about a garden, read a little on the light given to us regarding a garden.

 For this reason I see the necessity of the people of God moving out of the cities into retired country [places,] where they may cultivate the land and raise their own produce. Thus they may bring their children up with simple, healthful habits. I see the necessity of making haste to get all things ready for the crisis.--Letter 90, 1897. 
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Dorine on March 20, 2021, 07:20:22 AM
I can't resist an opportunity to talk about gardening.
I can't imagine life without a garden. It is in my DNA. Yet I feel I have so much more to learn. Just when I think I have figured out what is best for certain plants the weather plays a trick and destroys my confidence in what I thought I had learned. This then leaves me very thankful that I am not yet dependent totally upon my garden. My daughter's and I seem to say each year..."well there's always next year"

The benefits I experience:
I know there are many more benefits but these are some that come to mind.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Lena on March 22, 2021, 04:13:10 PM
My mother always had a garden so it just seems natural to garden.  Unfortunately wasn't considering gardening when buying my place in the 70's.  It is on a rock ridge with some clay over the rock.  Have been trying raised beds for a few years but was given incorrect advice about what to fill them with.  Some years things seem better but don't really do better.  I keep trying.  When the time comes that I have to feed myself God will have to work a miracle.  And I will definitely know that it is a miracle from God.  The whole adventure of growing a garden is worth it.

There is no food better than that fresh out of the garden. 
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: rahab on March 22, 2021, 07:05:05 PM
As soon as spring arrives all thinking revolves around gardening. Even if one lives in the city they can always have a herb garden.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Marelis on March 30, 2021, 04:49:24 AM
When the time comes that I have to feed myself God will have to work a miracle.  And I will definitely know that it is a miracle from God.  The whole adventure of growing a garden is worth it.

There is no food better than that fresh out of the garden.
Your post made me smile, Lena. Gardening is a continual learning experience. Every garden is unique in terms of all the factors that come into play...the soil, light/shade/dark, climate, insects. I love gardening and experimenting....which means plenty of failures.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Marelis on March 30, 2021, 05:37:25 AM
There are other good reasons to have a garden also. Share with our readers some of those reasons.

If you have not thought about a garden, read a little on the light given to us regarding a garden.

 For this reason I see the necessity of the people of God moving out of the cities into retired country [places,] where they may cultivate the land and raise their own produce. Thus they may bring their children up with simple, healthful habits. I see the necessity of making haste to get all things ready for the crisis.--Letter 90, 1897. 
Yes, we do well to grow as much of our own food as possible, Br Myers, and to rather urgently acquire some gardening skills if need be. One of my little pleasures in life is to become more creative as a gardener with what I have on hand, including cardboard boxes, used plastic milk bottles from work etc with the aim to be able to grow food pretty much anywhere and hardly spend a penny.

Reasons for having a garden? Apart it providing food to eat, having a garden is great for learning to be creative and resourceful, to problem-solve as well as to develop patience and observational skills. Gardening provides me with daily opportunities to have a deeper appreciation for our Creator and a sense of wonder as I discover new things. And how everything works together in a garden at both a macro and a micro level.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Dorine on March 30, 2021, 06:03:43 AM
My daughters and I went to the seashore last week to gather seaweed. It was the perfect mix of every type of seaweed and we are excited thinking about how happy our garden soil will be and how much more nourishing our veggies will be.  It was quite the exercise for me at my age, walking on rocky stones and carrying heavy buckets. Then after filling the van we were invaded with flea beetles that were jumping all over. Nothing comes easy but the rewards are priceless. Does anyone here live near the sea where you can pick up seaweed that has washed ashore after a storm? The benefits are numberless.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Marelis on March 30, 2021, 06:10:42 AM
My daughters and I went to the seashore last week to gather seaweed. It was the perfect mix of every type of seaweed and we are excited thinking about how happy our garden soil will be and how much more nourishing our veggies will be.  It was quite the exercise for me at my age, walking on rocky stones and carrying heavy buckets. Then after filling the van we were invaded with flea beetles that were jumping all over. Nothing comes easy but the rewards are priceless. Does anyone here live near the sea where you can pick up seaweed that has washed ashore after a storm? The benefits are numberless.
I was very excited for you with a load of seaweed until you mentioned the jumping flea beetles! If I lived near the sea I'd be gathering seaweed. I use lots of seaweed concentrate. Your garden will thank you for all that seaweed.
Title: Re: Thinking about doing a Garden?
Post by: Dorine on March 30, 2021, 11:59:17 AM
 ;D  Marelis we are still shooing them out of the van but the worst of them are gone now that the seaweed is removed. Actually I don't know the correct name for them. They really are not a beetle. They look something like a flying ant but also jump. Whatever they are they are not welcome. At least they don't bite.

Years that we don't have seaweed from the shore we use kelp meal which is good and also the seaweed concentrate as you mentioned. One year the only seaweed that came ashore looked like cassette tape. We were delighted to get it. After all it was seaweed but it took 3 years for it to break down. A couple of years ago we found some seaweed that had already started to break down. When we started picking it up to put in our buckets it smelled like a decomposing corps. It was horrible. My son-in-law had to throw out a good pair of shoes. The rest of us had rubber boots on. We won't do that again. My grandson kept gagging. What a gardener won't go through for their garden.