Search results

  1. RickF

    The start of my new fruit orchard!

    You're missing one Apple variety -- Gravenstein.. A variety I can't grow down here in So-Cal -- not cold enough.. We get them up in Oregon when we visit my mother -- yum! Also, you do know that many varieties of Blueberries can get 4-5 feet tall? We frequently pick them at various farms in...
  2. RickF

    Planting for chickens

    I just bought some cheap lentils over at the local Von's for a bit over $1/bag and am trying to sprout some of them.. I tried some old split peas we had -- soaked them in water for more than a day and they were a much softer and the birds loved them for a while.. I think they're getting tired of...
  3. RickF

    uh oh....ginormous potato sprouts!! What to do?

    I've planted a few potatoes over the years and have never had any issues with planting a spud that was shriveled up with long spouts.. I think the potato's using it's own energy (saved up internally) to get those sprouts going hence the shrinkage.. Anyway, I've never had any bad side effects...
  4. RickF

    The start of my new fruit orchard!

    Have you heard of Backyard Orchard Culture? If not, Google it.. It's a great way to pack a LOT of trees into a small space.. I've only used the process for one planter -- in our front yard.. In a 6 foot round planter, I've got 3 citrus trees growing together in a 4 foot circle -- two lemons and...
  5. RickF

    My recycled Green House

    Is it safe to assume you're on the east half of Canada? Just curious! Looks mighty cold!
  6. RickF

    Drying herbs...

    Why not just grow it indoors during the winter (for those of you that have winter)..? Seems like it would be just as happy -- particularly if it gets some light while you're awake -- perhaps a small grow bulb would be sufficient.. At least with it indoors it's less likely to have the dog use it...
  7. RickF

    Galangal report

    You'll have to let us know about the Galangal.. I've made Tom Ka Gai soup (thai soup made with coconut milk, chicken, lemon grass, galangal & ginger among others) and it's my favorite but I can't get Galangal around here.. How do you harvest it -- dig a hole and chop a root off?
  8. RickF

    More News ON The Organic Sales "Front".

    Corn Syrup = Corn Sugar? :smack The more I read labels, the more I see stuff like corn syrup in them -- things like Yoplait yogurt! Why does it need all that crap in it? Perhaps it's only 45% yogurt and the rest are additives... As for Milk, my kids and I drive about 30 minutes into...
  9. RickF

    vermiponics, aquaponics

    One good source, if you don't mind, that I stumbled upon last fall was the site below : http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/magazine.html I was able to download a magazine issue or two for free at the time -- it's a great magazine that covers the ins-n-outs of the hobby.. They've also got some...
  10. RickF

    What Are You Planting Today, This Week, This Month?

    By the way.. I was down at the pier the other day (daughter had a dental appt) and was reading an issue of Southern magazine which had an article on tomato's (hierloom?).. They had some varieties to suggest many going back to the 1800's so they claim.. Anyone tried any of these varieties? 1)...
  11. RickF

    Kitchen garden tour. TOUR DAY!! 9-3. Bring it!! I am ready.

    At the height of your fence, I'm assuming the chickens can fly/jump over it? I'm 99% sure mine would (orpingtons, auracana's) -- mostly the auracana's.
  12. RickF

    Kitchen garden tour. TOUR DAY!! 9-3. Bring it!! I am ready.

    Just getting around to checking this thread out (had been avoiding it I guess til now).. I love the photos! Our garden is.. uhh.. a blank slate of sorts particularly now that chickens roam freely.. I like the idea of an enclosed waist high fence to keep animals out -- unfortunately it would not...
  13. RickF

    Where can I get rabbit wire?

    I could have sworn I saw something like that with rectangle holes either at the local Lowe's or OSH (Orchard Supply Hardware) sometime within the past 6 months but I could be wrong.. A quick google search for (hardware cloth rectangle 1/2 1") gets the following : These guys claim to make it ...
  14. RickF

    What Are You Planting Today, This Week, This Month?

    If you could email me a copy please, that would be great Please make it the original file so it's not shrunk.. Thanks much!!
  15. RickF

    Chicken Eggs...To Clean or Not To Clean

    Yup.. I'd rather not guess either how old store eggs might be.. I am enjoying the lack of need to buy eggs though!
  16. RickF

    Chickens and Cold Weather

    Luckily here in the LA area it does not get cold enough for probably any chicken species.. Ours of course are unheated at night and haven't had any issues to speak of related to the whether.. They even like wandering the yard when its raining!
  17. RickF

    Questions on planting & care of Broccoli...

    Oh I have.. Our family is eaten about 50% of the broccoli seen in those plants now.. In fact my wife gave a large piece away to an visiting nurse that was over today (my wife had a recent hip replacement)..
  18. RickF

    What Are You Planting Today, This Week, This Month?

    Hey desert.. I don't suppose you've got a full-sized version of that picture do you? That looks like it would make a great desktop background for my computer at work -- (I might as well day dream while I'm at work!) If you do, I'd love to get one! That's some scenery you don't see every day...
  19. RickF

    Big Mama tomatoes

    I grew some roma's in the backyard of a house we now rent out .. We had perhaps 10-12 plants.. Oh .. my .. gosh.. I've never had that MANY tomato's at one time!! We ended up making them into tomato sauce using that kitchen tool that removes the seeds/skin.. It was a great adventure and we had...
  20. RickF

    Questions on planting & care of Broccoli...

    I don't think it's too late for you up there.. You've got a few months.. If you can buy ones already growing that would save you some time -- perhaps a months worth of growing if they're more or less the size we got ours at from the local Armstrong store. I suspect that once you hit May things...
Top