27 replies to this topic

[CatsAndBats]

So our own @alderLogs pointed out that I'm about to hit 4k posts, so here it is. Hope that you enjoy!

 

I have been gardening since I was 8yrs old. So that means I've been doing it for 142 years now. 

 

These are just some preliminary photos, there will be plenty more, barring disaster.

 

A couple of important notes, I am an heirloom gardener, I use only organic products and/or homemade solutions, and I try to maximize whatever I can find. This is my first time using the straw bale method, which I learned about from @psybearknot in mycochat (see, we don't just play meme war in there).

 

The strawberry box/patch is comprised of 3 heirlooms, 25+ plants a piece. Designed to bloom all summer. I've been deadheading them and the closest ones in the picture are brand new, because they are replacements for the first 25.

 

great vendor for live plants, here's the description:

http://www.starkbros...lant-collection

 

 

Now the tomatoes shown are a variety that I grow every year, cherokee purples, I just transplanted them into the straw and will transplant all of my tomatoes in this week.

 

 

These are flowers (I have an entire cut flower box that is not pictured yet):

 

Here's the 'bunny' garden, a gorgeous little bunny hangs out there, he/she nestles in the lavender and eats clover and flowers, I hope to get a picture of the animal, as it in there almost daily:

 

 

 

There will be plenty more. The spring rains delayed a lot of the transplanting. Thanks for stopping by! Please feel free to ask me any questions!

Edited by catattack, 25 May 2016 - 02:31 PM.

[sillyrabbitcubiesR4us]

Yay! I'm glad we get to see your work. I was just thinking yesterday that it would be nice to see what you were talking about. I always picture different things when people say they grow things. lol Looking great! Can't wait to see more updates and glad to be subscribed.

[Il19z8rn4li1]

Epic. I'm putting my tomatoes in today.


Love those strawbales. One year I'll try them

[Alder Logs]

I want the bunny pic, pulease!

[CatsAndBats]

Epic. I'm putting my tomatoes in today.


Love those strawbales. One year I'll try them

 

Just makes sense monetarily, I can get them for $5 a pop, support a local farm in doing so and I've inoculated one of them with a King Stroph slurry. Plus as you well know, I get free dirt next year!

[CatsAndBats]

I want the bunny pic, pulease!

I'm working on it. it's becomes elusive the minute I go for a camera.

[CatsAndBats]

 

Just more flowers. The zinnias and cosmos are the aforementioned cut flowers, the red powder is DMT cayenne, to keep the squirrels from digging around. 

[Il19z8rn4li1]

really nice cosmos and zinnias.

 

I always forget about doing some of those for annuals... SOB lol.

 

My flower garden is a good 9 years of lacking in it, UNTIL TODAY!!!

Got some of my plants in today from my order a few months back.

Edited by Il19z8rn4li1, 25 May 2016 - 03:55 PM.

[CatsAndBats]

really nice cosmos and zinnias.

 

I always forget about doing some of those for annuals... SOB lol.

 

My flower garden is a good 9 years of lacking in it, UNTIL TODAY!!!

Got some of my plants in today from my order a few months back.

 

 

Thanks! It's all about the genetics..  ;)

[PsyBearknot]

Support local farms!

Love it cat. I need to get out and get more pics of my bales. (Gotta stop working 60 hr work weeks)

[CatsAndBats]

Support local farms!

Love it cat. I need to get out and get more pics of my bales. (Gotta stop working 60 hr work weeks)

 

I was wondering when you'd stop by! Must be all that 60+ hours of work! Thanks buddy. I'll update today.

[CatsAndBats]

took a picture from above, will take another at harvest time for the tomatoes ~2 months

 

 

[Il19z8rn4li1]

Legit

[PsyBearknot]

took a picture from above, will take another at harvest time for the tomatoes ~2 months
 
 
aerial.jpg

Nice looking there Cat. I love the middle section for your pots and misc supplies.

That's gonna be a jungle soon!

[CatsAndBats]

 

took a picture from above, will take another at harvest time for the tomatoes ~2 months
 
 
aerial.jpg

Nice looking there Cat. I love the middle section for your pots and misc supplies.

That's gonna be a jungle soon!

 

Thanks! God willing. The tomato plants have purple leaves, which is ​usually  a phosphorus deficiency, so I hit it with fish bone meal and some magnesium (it aids in phosphorus uptake), so I'll report back soon. If it doesn't correct the problem, I'll do a slurry of the straw and test the Ph and add lime or an acid accordingly. 

[CatsAndBats]

So the "bunny" (rabbit) had an actual bunny. I've named it waldo (so now I can't eat it). Where's waldo?

 

 

 

 

@alder, this 'bun' is for you! haha!

Edited by catattack, 03 June 2016 - 01:14 PM.

[sillyrabbitcubiesR4us]

I love the aerial photo, can't wait to see the next version of it.

I'm in love with rabbits. I want one so bad, but not the responsibility of it, plus I don't like the idea of caged animals. I'm sure it's nice to have returning animals every day in your own yard. :)

[CatsAndBats]

Well, the straw bales' performance is lacklustre at best, a waste of time at worst. I will post pictures later, if I don't combust in the heat. ;)

 

Here's a spider dispatching a junebug. The bug was still alive during this photo, and just an empty shell the next day.

 

 

 

Edited by catattack, 06 July 2016 - 06:32 AM.

[PsyBearknot]

I've had mixed results with my bales. The acorn and butternut squash LOVE it but most everything else does not so much. I still think that the issue is goths bales composting correctly at the begenning and a steady soaking water plan. They seem a little heavy on the water bill.

[CatsAndBats]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FLOWERS! The sunflowers are 6' tall.

 

 

The balloon flowers are for @numeric/ROT:

 

 

I have better shots of the thumbnails, I'll upload later when I update the tomatoes..

Edited by catattack, 15 July 2016 - 01:04 PM.