Spring Garden 2022 Part 1

 

     This spring I had some time and I replanted some of my cannas, also planted some beans, onions, spiderwort, sweet potatoes. My mom gave me some ginger, and I bought a basil plant from the grocery store.

The Cane Method for Planting Canes Part 2

 

     Last winter I threw down several canes of Napier grass, known as Elephant grass or Black grass. They were extra, prunings from some bushes in the front yard that were about to experience frost. I fed most of the leaves to the rabbits and then buried the canes here in the back yard abutting my neighbors fence.

     I had to do something with all that bare sand. Prior to laying down the canes I had torn out quite a bit of orange honeysuckle, which is a beautiful plant but it had also been trying to take over my yard. And it is not as desirable as a rabbit forage as they don't seem to like it. (They will eat it if they have nothing else.) The work had caused many small mounds and pits in the sand.

     So I laid down the canes as detailed here, and basically did nothing else. I think I may have shot water at the buried canes once with the hose. It has rained a few times since then, and here are the canes three months later. I think five or 6 patches of black grass has come up, and there are several places where the canes have become uncovered thanks to rain washing the sand back into place. For the amount of work that I put into planting the canes and caring for them, I have to say the Cane Method is very successful.

March and April Planting Guide

 

The Ducks Enclosure Part 1

      Spent a great deal of time cleaning up the backyard. A lot of things have going on, the least of which being that the neighbors cut down one of my trees and jacked up my privacy hedge. So I ended up cleaning the weeds out of the back yard and removing most things that are inedible. 

     Anecdotally have been learning a lot about the other small animals that people enjoy having around, and have decided that ducks might be a great place to start. After the rabbits of course. I had wanted rats but not a whole lot of support or at least polite smiling from my friends and family. But learned that ducks can eat a lot of things that chickens can't, like bugs, caterpillars, water hyacinths and cat food. Supposedly they are very much omnivorous and can clean up leftovers like dogs can. Not really sure about all of that but have confirmed that even baby ducks like water hyacinth.

     I can't say that any one research point has given me good information about ducks. I listened to a bunch of podcasts and videos made by people who are doing their best to raise ducks given what little is out there. It's known that they eat fish plants and bugs. It's known that ducklings grow very quickly and if they are niacin deficient then they develop angel wing. Not a whole lot else is out there.

      Speaking of duck diet, I now am wondering how feasible it would be to breed cockroaches or palmetto bugs to feed them to ducks. Those things will eat anything .

     This is the cleared area in my backyard, some elephant grass as a mulch, and two tubs for the ducks to swim in. 

New Side Yard Garden

     After the neighbors put in their new plastic fence, I learned that I had a few more feet on that side of the yard. That would have been helpful to know before they cut down one of my while I was at work. 

     It took a lot of digging to remove the African Honeysuckle from that part of the yard. Months later I am still finding sprouts from buried canes that need to be ripped out.

     These gingers, taro, and the new moringa tree have all survived the winter and are well on their way to providing an excellent shade hedge.

     This picture was taken in December not long after the plants were put into the ground.
 

Planned Communities - Trophy Houses

     One of the things I have been noticing as I am driving around West Florida during the daytime is that there are a lot of communities that work hard to make themselves look better than other communities. There are matching houses with impersonal manicured yards and easements with florida friendly landscaping. Which are merely the same 10 plants, nonnatives, planted over and over again. 

     These communities look nice. Clean. Many have nicely sized sidewalks and golf courses to enjoy when the weather is nice. Some have tennis courts and pools, which are never being used even when the weather is good for it, which is most of the time. 

     They have their looks, but it can come with the downside. For example, one of the residents in one of these (nongated) communities told me that they have a prohibition against trick or treating. Of all the things to prohibit. And I am sure that all that lawn maintenance and manicuring must cost.

     As nice as these places are, I fear that they are disconnected from the Real Florida happening all around. I mean, say you are retiring to anywhere in the United States with a low cost of living, and you value things like golf courses, mowed lawns, and community pools. What the heck is the point of being in Florida if you are going to come here, cut down all the native trees, destroy habitat for native animals, and cover the entire neighborhood in fertilizer and pesticide? Why not live in the more energy efficient condominiums that often still have golf courses and pools attached?

     Meanwhile down the street, there are little houses tucked into bayous and overgrown yards requiring no additional chemicals. Huge native oak trees shade the homes and cars, providing habitat for animals and lowering air conditioning bills for the homes.

Bill Mollison's Videos

      I have permie in my heart. Here are some of the classic permaculture videos from one of the creators of permaculture, straight from vhs to you.

     I'm not going to lie, I have created no content for this post, but I created it because I don't want to lose these wisdom filled videos.

Bill Mollison's Videos

The cane method for planting canes

 

     According to one expert, barely covering the stalks of bamboo and other grasses will be enough to successfully propagate this black grass. Only time will tell.

January Planting Schedule

     The extension service IFAS says that January is a great time to plant Irish potatoes. Who knew?

Stromanthe

 

     I have to learn more about this plant. It's rather the most beautiful ginger ever or not really a ginger at all. I'm not sure if it's edible or if no one has ever tried to eat it. For all I know, it could be the world's most underused super food.

     This beauty is living at the Nature Coast Botanical Gardens.