tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420957879376754270.post1524119618939672164..comments2023-11-03T08:56:03.162-04:00Comments on Grow the Change: Goals for 2009Freija and Beringian Fritillaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11591614320106389316noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420957879376754270.post-49680367765184348922009-01-09T12:59:00.000-05:002009-01-09T12:59:00.000-05:00Bishops, glad to year you had good success with am...Bishops, glad to year you had good success with amaranth and quinoa. They are great grains. We would like to grow them for ourselves, as well as for animal feed, since they are 14-16% protein. And pretty easy to harvest by hand.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the blogging encouragement!<BR/><BR/>redclay, thank you for the offer of help. We have yet to put the real pencil to paper on our design. There are of course, all kinds of "antique" treadmills to look at online, mostly made of wood. And there are contemporary Amish treadmills, made mostly from welded metal.<BR/><BR/>We really appreciate the offer, and yes, safety is an important issue with a piece of equipment like this. I'll pass your offer to Mr. Fritillary...Freija and Beringian Fritillaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11591614320106389316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420957879376754270.post-2410510320369053512009-01-07T20:48:00.000-05:002009-01-07T20:48:00.000-05:00I'm a little bit late on this comment but I just t...I'm a little bit late on this comment but I just thought about it last night...in regards to your Pilgrim-electrical power system. Do you have plans that are the basis of your design or are you building from scratch? I ask because I pay my bills with a desk job being a structural analyst. As part of the job I also work with some high power modeling software. I may be of some assistance to you if you ever ask yourself the question "Will this be strong enough to not break and otherwise be dangerous." If you end up needing some assistance, just post your question.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420957879376754270.post-84773608767782511712009-01-06T14:25:00.000-05:002009-01-06T14:25:00.000-05:00Sounds like you have things well planned out for n...Sounds like you have things well planned out for next year! Seed saving of any variety is always the way to go for self sustainability and I agree that in 2009 we must stick close to our friends and neighbors and family in order to survive the crisis that we face, 2009 will be the year to prepare.<BR/><BR/>We too are going to grow a number of accessions of wheat, spelt, hull less oats, quino and amaranth. We had very good luck with quinoa and amaranth last year but didn't produce nearly enough for our tastes as that makes up the majority of my breakfast (suplimented with homegrown eggs).<BR/><BR/>Keep up the good work on the blog, I really appreciate reading your posts!Bishops Homegrownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420957879376754270.post-84079678523485379072009-01-05T13:24:00.000-05:002009-01-05T13:24:00.000-05:00Trapper Creek, thank you, same to you. I was sorr...Trapper Creek, thank you, same to you. I was sorry to see about your greenhouses. It's things like that that encourage us to innovate, especially with climate change on our doorstep. And yes, here's to a good growing season in 2009!<BR/><BR/>Caroline, I'm really happy you enjoy this blog. All the best in 2009.<BR/><BR/>redclay, we have experimented with leaving some root crops in the ground over winter, but it is a bit of a gamble in our climate. Last winter we had so much snow the ground never froze, so the carrots and parsnips did quite well until mid-April when we dug them out. But this year we have had the freeze-thaw see-saw and the ground is a block of ice in most places. <BR/><BR/>But seeing as we have a nice cool fall and spring, we can store root crops and squash, etc, in a cold room for 6-7 months! That's why storage qualities are so important for our variety and seed selection.<BR/><BR/>Seed saving for biennials is actually quite easy. I found out that carrots and parsnips are plentiful seed producers, and ended up with enough seed to plant an acre from 6-8 plants! But in your climate, you are right, you could probably just transplant a few of each root into a corner of the garden. You may be able to let them overwinter in the ground, depending on your climate. Onions would do well with this treatment also.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for all of your thoughtful comments as well. Have a happy and healthy 2009.<BR/><BR/>Susy, our dogs and cats are not nearly as photogenic as your crew! Love the new year's party dog on your blog.<BR/><BR/>I love looking forward to the new season, a happy New Year to you as well. Wishing you success in your ever expanding food-garden.<BR/><BR/>El, ambitious but do-able, that is a great compliment! It has taken me a few years to get both the ambition and the know-how on the same level. Or at least chasing each other's tail: my ambition grows so my know-how chases after it, then as my knowledge grows, my goals and dreams chase even further ahead. It is a very different and rewarding "hampster wheel" than the money-career race.<BR/><BR/>Yes, for us, the livestock and the garden go hand in hand, and growing our own feed and fodder crops is the piece that makes our homestead sustainable for our situation.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the well wishes, all the best back to you and yours.Freija and Beringian Fritillaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11591614320106389316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420957879376754270.post-58013067371703900982009-01-03T09:35:00.000-05:002009-01-03T09:35:00.000-05:00Well I do look forward to learning more about your...Well I do look forward to learning more about your adventures, Freija. Your plans sound ambitious but do-able (is that a contradiction?). Gardening is such a bigger question mark than animal husbandry, at least in my experience, but I think it makes boatloads of sense for you two to do lots of forage and feed crops.<BR/><BR/>Happiest of new years to you two.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420957879376754270.post-87443560488842092742009-01-02T16:22:00.000-05:002009-01-02T16:22:00.000-05:00Love the cat & dog photo. Sounds like you hav...Love the cat & dog photo. <BR/><BR/>Sounds like you have your goals all nailed down. I still need to sit down and figure mine out, I haven't had time yet. <BR/><BR/>Here's to a happy and successful New Year!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420957879376754270.post-79667235805077728582009-01-02T14:59:00.000-05:002009-01-02T14:59:00.000-05:00I like your idea of pulling up and storing beets t...I like your idea of pulling up and storing beets that perform well to take seed from them the following year. It's probably a necessity for you where your soil freezes but for me it would be a great convenience. I could store the few that I like over the winter and replant them in an "out of the way" corner of the garden out of the way and let them grow seed the second year! Thanks for the tip!<BR/><BR/>I wish you much success this year. Please continue to post. I enjoy reading about your experiences.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420957879376754270.post-70507898835526694872009-01-02T13:58:00.000-05:002009-01-02T13:58:00.000-05:00I discovered your blog not so long ago and really ...I discovered your blog not so long ago and really enjoy reading and learning about your homesteading. I wish you a good year and success with your goals!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420957879376754270.post-53511146000716702802009-01-02T13:48:00.000-05:002009-01-02T13:48:00.000-05:00Those sound like great goals, here's to a sunny, l...Those sound like great goals, here's to a sunny, long enough and productive growing season!Throwback at Trapper Creekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12418370592659531735noreply@blogger.com