912 Project Buffalo

1. 912 Project Buffalo • GARDENING 101

2. Benefits of a Vegetable Garden • Fresh quality vegetables • Organic vegetables • Promotes exercise • Increases appreciation for food • Saves money • A supplement to food supply in” hard times”

3. Size of Garden Sole Food Source • One acre per person-43,560 square FT • 6,500 square FT feed 2-1/7th acre • 646 square FT-family of 4-1/67th acre • 4x4= 16 square FT-24 beds-384 for 1 Beds produce the most crops • SFG-one 4x4 SFG box-16 square feet salad for 1 every day growing season • SFG-one 4x4 SFG box-enough nightly vegetables for 1 -each adult use 3 boxes

4. Needed Garden Tools Tractor if possible -Beds Rot tiller if possible-Beds • Fencing • Watering tools • Compost tumbler-optional • Cart

5. Hand Tools • Hoes, Pick, forks, rakes, shovels, • spade, mattock • Garden hand tools-trowel

6. Must Haves • Heavy duty gloves for digging • Compost, manure-mixed with soil • Black plastic, hay, or mulch for cover-weeds • Seeds, plants

7. Benefits of Raised Beds • Control over the soil texture and ingredients-manure-compost • Easier to control weeds- plastic mulch, wood chips • Soil is loosened allowing for optimum growth • Only water the bed

8. Keeping Beds Intact Wood, railroad tiles, stone structure, or free form earth

9. Double Digging-Beds Dig over the ground to a depth of about two spades deep- twice as deep as the “normal” garden of one spade depth http://www.aselfsufficientlife.com/double-digging-you-know-it-makes-sense.html

10. How to Double Dig-Beds • Mark out the area you wish to use • Dig it one Spade deep and throw the soil to the side • Start at one end using a spade or fork and dig over the trench a fork depth deep, turning it, breaking up the soil and evening out as you go

11. Double Digging-Deep Bed- Advantages • Much higher yields for the same space • Soil is aerated and allows better moisture retention • Higher earthworm activity • The soil is very loose and makes adding organic matter much simpler • Helps to find and eliminate large rocks and deep rooting woods for a clearer bed

12. How to Double Dig Continued • DO NOT stand on already forked soil • Add a layer of compost and or manure to the trench • Fill in the trench with one spade of compost or manure to every three spades of the soil dug out http://www.aselfsufficientlife.com/double-digging-you-know-it-makes-sense.html

13. Easier Each Year • Double Dig a plot once every five years • The soil will improve each year • The soil will be so loose to such a great depth –can be forked over each year in a few minutes

14. Making Most of Space-Think Up • For limited space use canes, trellises, hanging baskets • Dwarf Cherry tomatoes-hanging baskets • Cucumbers, beans, on trellises against walls, fences training vegetables with string wires • Tie tomato plants over canes, trellises

15. Compost Compost Bin Compost Mound Compost Tumbler Compost Container SFG

16. Compost Compost is organic material (plant matter) that has been decomposed and recycled as a rich organic fertilizer and soil amendment • Mixing yard and household organic material in a pile or bin provide conditions that encourage decomposition • Decomposition process -fueled by millions of microscopic organisms (bacteria, fungi) and Invertebrates (insects and earthworms) inside compost pile

17. Composting History • An ancient practice, composting is mentioned in the Bible several times • Marcus Cato, farmer and scientist who lived in Rome 2,000 years ago Cato viewed compost as the fundamental soil enhancer, essential for maintaining fertile and productive agricultural land • By the 19th century in America, most farmers and agricultural writers knew about composting

18. Compost Mixed with Soil • Improves soil structure, texture, aeration, and water retention • Clay soils are lightened, and sandy soils retain water better • Contributes to erosion control, soil fertility, proper pH balance, and healthy root development in plants

19. Speed of Decomposition Depends on these factors: • Carbon to nitrogen ratio of the material • Amount of Surface Area exposed • Aeration, or oxygen in the pile • Moisture • Temperatures reached in compost pile • Outside Temperatures

20. Proper Carbon to Nitrogen RatioRaises Temperature to 130-140% 3 Browns to 1 Green: Browns*-dry Carbon-rich • Wood chips, straw, branches, leaves Greens*-wet Nitrogen-rich • Grass clippings, egg shells, carrot tops, fruit peels, coffee grinds

21. Ideal Aeration Turning compost pile adds oxygen: Newly added material supports aerobic decomposition • Pitchfork, shovel, or an “aerator” often Chopping, shredding, mowing- breaking up material encourages microorganisms to: • Digest more material • Multiply more quickly • Generate more heat

22. Ideal Moisture Content Microorganisms can only use organic molecules if they are dissolved in water: • Good moisture content 40-60% reduces odor • Poor moisture content below 40% the microbial activity slows down or is dormant add fruit or small amount water • Moisture content 60%+nutrients leached out, decomposition slows, odor occurs from an aerobic decomposition

23. Ideal Temperature Microorganisms generate heat as they decompose organic material: • Good composting temperatures between 90 and 140F • Temperatures higher than 140F inhibit the activity • Wind and warmed air supports composting • Process slows during the winter months in cold climates

24. Ready Soil should be very dark Not sure if it is ready: • Place a small amount in a plastic bag and smell before sealing • Place in a draw for a few days-open and the smell of contents should be the same The "squeeze test“ • Squeezing a handful of compost should feel like a well wrung sponge • A pile that is too wet can be turned mixed, brown dry materials added

25. Weed Cover Grass Clippings Leaves Mulch- wood chips Hay Clover Cardboard Black Plastic Tarp

26. Importance of Fencing Keeps out animals: • Around the circumference of garden: Beds • Around individual plants, groups of plants, over an entire Bed:SFG

27. Fencing: Types and Size • Seven to eight feet fences-stop deer • Chicken wire fence(5 ft)-may need double height or added net at top • Chicken wire one inch holes-small enough to stop all types of animals • Heavy duty fencing give permanence-more costly, more difficult to change Black PVC-coated, 20-gauge Galvanized Wire

28. Putting Up Fencing • Measure perimeter of garden • Gate to access your garden • Treated local lumber yard posts 4x4x12 • Mark locations for the posts or poles • Dig out holes (can fill with concrete) or and slam in your posts • Fasten securely with staples or hook nails

29. Posts • Set posts- steel T post are driven into the ground or wooden post may need a post hole digger-Wear gloves • Dig a trench in line with the posts along the perimeter. Bury bottom of wire under ground surface • Attach wire to a post firmly then unroll the amount of wire needed to go just around the first corner-Wear gloves

30. Attaching Fencing • Pull hard on the roll and wrap it around the first corner post, staple with one or two into the post to hold it –Wear gloves • Then stretch and fasten it to the posts in line on that side as you go • You may need to take the first staples out to take up the slack

31. Keeping Animals Out • High fence, electrified fence • Noisemakers–tin plates, • Predator urine-Coyote,man,human hair • Energetic dog run, Motion devices • Scare Crow • Bar soap box ‘Irish Spring’ hung/slivers • Vegetation taste or smell bad Daffodils unpalatable-smell of garlic, onion (Alliums) and marigolds to border garden. Hot pepper, sulphur and eggs mixtures sprayed onto the plants or around the garden

32. Rotation • A vegetable planting system arranged in a sequence to improve soil health and produce high quality and yield from year to year  Roland E. Roberts, Extension Vegetable Specialist from the Texas Agricultural Extension Service

33. Reasons to Rotate Crops • Disease Prevention: Disease organisms build up causing crop failure • Insect Control: Helps reduce insect damage • Nutrient Balance: Different families of plants require different nutrients. Rotation keeps soil from being depleted and target soil needs • Nutrient Enhancement: Some plants enhance the soil- free organic soil conditioning

34. Principles of Crop Rotation • Divide garden into at least four sections for rotating plants • Plant a different plant family in each section every year • Systematic rotating- every section receives each plant family

35. Successful Crop Rotation • Potatoes and tomatoes are same family, susceptible same diseases –early blight, separate them –beds, tall plants-don’t follow in crop rotation • Lettuce, cucumbers, melons, and squash—placed anywhere there is space • Legumes add nitrogen to the soil- follow by nitrogen-loving leafy crops- good soil • Root crops break up the soil, followed by legumes needing loose soil texture

36. 4 Groups • Group 1: Plants grown for Leaves or Flowers- Salad greens, Broccoli, Cabbage, Spinach, Brussels Sprouts • Group 2: Plants grown forFruits-Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Squash, Corn, Cucumber, Potatoes • Group 3: Plants grown forRoots- Carrots, Turnips, Onions, Beets • Group 4:Legumes that Feed the Soil-Beans, Peas, Peanuts, Cover crops (alfalfa or clover) Vegetable Garden: Crop Rotation Made Easy By: Julie Day

37. Crop Rotation Plan Vegetable Garden: Crop Rotation Made Easy By: Julie Day

38. Rotation: Texas Agricultural Extension • Draw a circle to represent your garden. Divide circle into wedges, like pieces of pie, representing each vegetable family • Label sections with numbers, begin at the top and go clockwise filling in sections with vegetable families for 1st year • Second year, rotate crops from section 1 to section 2. Each crop should be rotated clockwise to the next section Roland E. Roberts, Extension Vegetable Specialist from the Texas Agricultural Extension Service

39. Square Foot Gardening (SFG)Mel Bartholomew info@squarefootgardening.com

40. What Is SFG? 100% harvest-20% space • Removes the hard work • Tabletop gardens, railing boxes • Saves space-never walk on soil • Plant anywhere-locate in separate locations-near home

41. Benefits of SFG • Perfect soil first year-grow on any soil • Eliminating rows • Few weeds-vegetables close • 4x4 (8 or 12 feet) box- 1x6 or 2x6 wood, vinyl, bottom material • ¾ inch plywood underneath-shade, bad weather,events,gifts

42. Needed Material • Four- 4 foot 2x 6 inch boards, 1 to 2 inch pine lumber 4 ft long- 6- 4 foot lath boards • Weed cloth placed underneath frame • Mel’s Mix-plastic sheet to mix • Wood screws, power drill, plastic ties • Chicken wire top wire cage and under open box • Seeds, scissor for thinning, and pencil for holes Move Plywood bottom-4x4 boxes-3/4 inch plywood and drainage holes-1 per square ft and corners Can be built with bricks, cement blocks, prefab stones, or rocks

43. SFG Methods • 3 foot isles • Grid-square foot-16 spaces-SFG advise how many seeds to plant in each • Cut-no pulling for thinning out • Mix vegetables-stagger times-abundance too much crop at ripened at one time

44. Vertical Frame- Space Savers • Think UP saves space • Nylon netting hung on vertical frame • Vine planting-climbing-bend plants • Heavy plants (squash, melons, tomatoes) brace frame

45. Soil Mixture: Mel’s Mix-SFG • 1/3 Pete Moss • 1/3 Vermiticulite • 1/3 Blended Compost Purchase soil mixture 3.9 /4.0 cubic feet-farm store-on line Mix on thick plastic sheeting Mix and fold soils on plastic-spray lightly keep dust down Depth of soil SFG 6 inches except for root crops using 12 inches

46. Quick Compost -SFG Turn often: Everyday produce in 2 weeks Every week produce in 3 months • Mix-add as many different plant based ingredients as possible • Mash chop everything into small pieces • Moisten • Keep turning pile toward center

47. Location and Size-SFG • Near garden, water source, shady, good drainage • Near kitchen convenient to add to pile or binMake pile no smaller than 3' x 3' x 3‘ The perfect size: • Sufficient to "cook" your waste and transform it into compost • Not so large that it will become unmanageable and hard to turn

48. Ingredients Size Moisture Mixing Yes No Once growing Animal Parts Plants Manmade with Made from plant synthetic parts 3x3x3 to4x4x4 ft smaller or larger Moist Too dry or too wet As often as you can Never SFG Tips For Composting

49. SFG- List of Compost Ingredients Yes-Each item under 20% of total volume • Straw, hay, leaves, grass clippings-dried, old sod, spoiled produce, veg & fruit peels, newspaper shredded, egg shells crushed, stable or poultry manure, tea bags Limited-Each item under 10% of total volume • Corn cobs, shredded twigs, shredded bark, pine needles, hedge trimmings, wood shavings, sawdust, coffee grounds, peanut shells No- 0% • Diseased –pest laden material, meat or bones, grease, whole eggs, seeds and fruit pits, cat or dog manure, bakery products, dairy products, plate scrapings or kitchen scraps

50. What to Plant Non-Hybrid seeds –Survival packages Heirloom varieties-pest and disease resistant. Use seed suppliers in the region -less Choice Hybrid seeds-Cheaper and more choice • Large seed packages reduce costs • Growing season-location • Multiple plantings • Take off leaves • Fill you up “hard times” • Nutritious value • What family will eat