Edible Estates. Someone had the same idea as me.

[SSimon]

Originally Posted by PriuStorm

Godiva,
I'm digging this topic, too... and love the other ideas coming in also, like the hanging baskets (though I wonder if our sun here in CA is too intense for that, i.e. frying the roots if hanging in the sun all day long).

I don't think that was the family because I don't recognize any of the pictures. Also, I think I discovered this site like 3-4 years ago, and by that time, the garden had already evolved a few years. I'll keep looking for it... the pics of the 8 foot high tomato plants were stunning.

No black containers for you, then. Maybe try white and use a mulch???

[Godiva]

Burning roots in hanging baskets or pots isn't an issue, even in moss baskets as long as they're properly watered. The dirt is a good insulator. You should invest in those gel pellets you amend soil with to retain moisture. Really helpful in hanging baskets. Also in pots if you water infrequently.

I'm really bad with the watering. That's why I have drip irrigation on timers. Otherwise I'll forget to water and I'll do a sloppy job as I don't have the patience to stand there and do a good job of watering. I find using either drippers or misters for hanging baskets does the job. You just have to figure out how long and how often to set the timers. You can turn them off when it rains. And you can program them for summer and winter. I usually just turn everything off from Halloween to Memorial Day and let the rain take care of everything.

[PriuStorm]

I remembered! And it wasn't Los Angeles, but rather Pasadena. I'm getting to that age where it takes a bit sometimes to remember how I stumbled upon things, and I suddenly recalled that I had stumbled upon the site while searching for a way to make self-watering containers. I think the chat about containers got me thinking about that today... funny how memory works.

Anyway, it's Path To Freedom. You can read all about their transition here, everything from converting the garden, to going solar, bio-fuels, etc. I particularly also like the journal which was done a little differently when I frequented the site previously. But this shows their progress through the years, with photos as they go, both of the garden and of the harvest (6000lbs on 1/10th of an acre!)

This snapshot from 2006 captures what we've chatted about here... an edible front garden, hanging containers, climbers on trellises, as well as beautiful beds.

How they find time for such a fantastic historical account of their journey as well as do it is amazing and inspirational.

[Godiva]

Wow. They've got chickens, goats and ducks! And if they produce honey they have hives. There are four adults in that household. So between them all, that's how things are taken care of. *I* certainly wouldn't keep track of everything they are, but they're making a point on sustainability.

They've really made nice use of the backyard with raised beds. I could have gone that route. I have the space. But I opted to have a series of "rooms" done with brick patios and kept the plantings minimal on the perimeter. The brick is in sand so it could always be pulled up. But not by me. I wanted something that wouldn't be too labor intensive for when I retire. And I'm still trying to get it to that point.

I'm sure they make the time to chronicle their progress in the evening when it too dark to garden.

I don't do near as much as they do, but I see I do some of what is on their list. I'll never make biodiesel or have goats. And sorry, won't be vegetarian. But I expect I'll be canning again soon. Probably by next summer. Didn't plant enough this year. I'm eating it as it ripens or trading it with my parents.

BTW my apple fell off my tree. I took it to my parents' house and shared it with them. It was delicious. Scarlett Sentinel.

Thanks for that site. I've bookmarked it. Imagine if even 25% of homes did even a quarter of what that family does.

[hyo silver]

Originally Posted by PriuStorm

...How they find time for such a fantastic historical account of their journey as well as do it is amazing and inspirational.

Yes, it should give all us city dwellers hope that we won't starve, and the impetus to make an effort.

Originally Posted by Godiva

...Imagine if even 25% of homes did even a quarter of what that family does.

People really shouldn't worry whether their efforts are significant. They are, even when not multiplied by several billion.

[Godiva]

Here's something I found from following some links: Newspaper pots. Starting seedling has been a bane of mine. I've reused the plastic pony pack trays but have not been that successful. Now I can make my own biodegradeable pots out of newspaper. When it's time to plant, just stick the whole thing in the ground.

Pot 1

Pot 2

Pot 3 (I don't like this one so much because it involves flour paste)

No need for expensive wooden molds.

[bac]

Originally Posted by Godiva

Here's something I found from following some links: Newspaper pots. Starting seedling has been a bane of mine. I've reused the plastic pony pack trays but have not been that successful. Now I can make my own biodegradeable pots out of newspaper. When it's time to plant, just stick the whole thing in the ground.

Pot 1

Pot 2

Wow ..... digging those 2! ThanX for the links!

... Brad

[PriuStorm]

Originally Posted by Godiva

Here's something I found from following some links: Newspaper pots. Starting seedling has been a bane of mine. I've reused the plastic pony pack trays but have not been that successful. Now I can make my own biodegradeable pots out of newspaper. When it's time to plant, just stick the whole thing in the ground.

Pot 1

Pot 2

Pot 3 (I don't like this one so much because it involves flour paste)

No need for expensive wooden molds.

Good suggestion! I wonder if on Pot 3 you could omit the paste by just doing two carefully placed 1/2 snips on the strip of newspaper. Probably the newspaper would have to be doubled up to keep it from wanting to rip apart as it gets wet.

[Godiva]

I'm wondering on pot 3 if you could just form it around a metal food can, twist the bottom and them smash it flat to hold. Folding origami seedling boxes seems time consuming, but they look like they'd hold better.

[DaveinOlyWA]

folding them is time consuming, but only the first few you do... my mom (who was of asian decent) could fold up anything in less than a minute. with practice, one could crank out a bundle in no time....cutting up newspaper into squares would be time consuming without one of those paper cleaver type cutters you see in schools.