I just made this post in the announcement thread, I fucking love talking gardening.
“I
live in an area that supports a lifestyle of self sufficiency and has encouraged that over generations. Here’s a few places to start, plus I’m willing to answer any questions I can.
So if you’re interested in self sufficiency you really should look into composting and permaculture.
I live in an area and have a pretty big garden which I provide my own amendments for (we have heavy clay soil) and that will be one of the most vital things.
A good compost, compost tea, and nutrient rich dirt can really help along your food, especially if you don’t have access to a fertilizer.
My advice is to have a hot pile, practice hugelkultur, *and* learn to bury biodegradable food scraps in your farming/planting area (NOT pots.. that’s a bad idea).
I’m not sure where you live, but if you’re still in an area that has a long/particularly harsh winter you really do NEED to look into container gardening. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to do so anyways, jic you need to pick up and move. If you live in the USDA zone 4-5 and “above” (4, 3, 2, 1 etc) you’ll have issues planting in the ground regardless of how warm it gets as the ground needs to thaw and in perpetually cold areas it just won’t that enough or it’ll won’t heat up enough to grow staples. Container gardening may be a boon for you bc if you need to get up and go you can bring your plants with you if you have a truck with a covered bed you can use.
For just “general” information: find an almanac you trust. I use
This one, just plug in your zip code, town, or area. I’m not sure if it has info for outside the USA, but you can see why it’d be useful. It tells you what seeds to start when, if direct sow is better, and gives you general info on each crop.
You have good common sense so you know you don’t need to spend an arm and a leg, but like any “hobby” people will sell you anything. Don’t start your seeds in trays,and don’t really worry about warming mats unless you live in a legitimately cold and drafty home- buy solo cups. I can send you pictures of my starts, some were 2-3 foot tall (I grow from seed and start the majority of my stuff in February, planting them in May) using red solo cups. Take a pin and poke holes in them, the more you transplant (from seed tray to small pot, small pot to big pot, big pot to ground) the more your plants adjust/go through shock and they hate it. The solo cups are small enough that it doesn’t drown them but big enough for a good 2-3 mos early growth.
Your set up is VITAL, but again it doesn’t have to be expensive. I use
This greenhouse and it does me fine. I use it to harden my plants and to get them early season sun and to harden them off bc I use grow lights. I just mounted
These lights in a cabinet I wasn’t using and lined it with pee pads to absorb extra moisture and can grow just about anything I want. I keep a little fridge thermometer in there and with the lights, the warm soil, and the enclosed space I can keep it above 80° regularly. If it gets too cool/too hot/humid etc just prop open your cabinet door.
If you want more info or specific info let me know. I will legitimately talk about this shit until I annoy people and I have a wealth of knowledge myself, and also am surrounded by people that have a combined..I’d say well over a combined 100 years of experience plus their family and friends”
I’m currently growing 14 tomato plants (3 varieties), 6 varieties of peppers, 3 watermelon plants, 2 zucchini, all kinds of green beans, already harvested half my Yukon gold potatoes (planted 2 lbs have got 5 almost 6 so far!), tomatillos, cucumbers, 2 luffa gourd plants and a few jack o lanterns.
Let’s fuckin goooooo boys. Let’s talk makin your own salsa.
