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Re: New with introduction and questions on starting seeds

In a message dated 98-02-07 17:58:42 EST, you write:

<< If my current soil is not adequate, what is ther that I can add to it
 that I can find in the forest? We have a neighbour with a stables who
 has offered free horse manure. Other than that, we have some
 decomposing trees, some of  >>
Great, sounds wonderful to me! (I'm jealous, she says staring out the window
at an acre of red clay mud!)  One suggestion would be to grow some green
manure crops, as space allows. Since you are doing subsistence farming
basically, feeding your soil is awfully important. Dont forget to innoculate
your peas and beans it will significanly improve your yield. Mycrorhyzae fungi
(sp? awful as usual!) may also be a good addition. You might want to look up
the newsgroup rec.gardens.edible for lots of good people with advice and
experience. Sounds like you have a great start! Have you considered a root
cellar? I think you would be able to use one. Garden Way Bulletins have the
plans for a build your own free standing one, doesnt look too difficult, as
long as you dont mind digging holes. I imagine you could modify it to any size
you want, and the nice thing about it is that it can double as an emergency
shelter (I am assuming you dont have many twisters there, but you never know
whats coming next!) Pinetree Garden seeds has them, they are only about $3
each bulletin (which is actually a small concise booklet) If you dont have
Pinetrees catalog,, I suggest you give them a call and get one. They have
excellent seed prices and great quality, and other stuff that is priced real
well. www.superseeds.com or 207-926-3400 and the catalog is free. Just a
thought for you-If you have room, have you considered some herbs and other
things such as Indian and baby blue or pink corn, and baby pumpkins and
gourds>you may have a market there and be able to sell them this fall,
especially if theres a farmers market or craft show you could get to. It might
give you some extra cash, potentially a couple of hundred dollars especially
if you are "crafty" and can make up arrangements things like gourd birdhouses
and luffa sponges, which can sell for about $5 each around here.I plan to
plant the ornamental corns in whatever area I can spare, let pole beans climb
up them for dry beans for winter eating and interlpant it with the
pumpkins.(the 3 sisters go commercial for the 90's! hehe) It will be an
impenetrable mess, but I wont have to go into it until I am ready to harvest,
and even the corn stalks can be bundled and sold, or chopped up for the
compost pile or laid down as soil cover over winter. Just my .02, and let me
send my best wishes your way....sounds like an adventure, albeit a little bit
of a scary one!
LauraA
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