Gophermans Little Farm

Discussion in 'Off Grid Living' started by Gopherman, Jun 7, 2014.


  1. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    Made Video the other day that, hopefully, will inspire people to become more food independent!
    Food prices are soaring, food portions are shrinking, food quality is declining, GMO Foods are making their way into human food chain.
    Its not that hard!
    If I can do it, you can do it.
    I used a flip camera to do this video so please excuse the quality.

     
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2014
  2. tacmotusn

    tacmotusn RIP 1/13/21

    Loved the video. If you don't mind me asking, what area of the country are you in (basically I am interested in the agricultural growing number based on weather). Historical dates of last and first frost averages also.
     
    Mindgrinder likes this.
  3. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    Mobile Al. Zone 8B Weeds are a hassle because everything wants to grow here. I just put 7 big trash bags full of sawdust down and need about 25 more. It controls the weeds and is awesome for the soil. After three years of doing this the soil will be Black.
     
    Mindgrinder and tacmotusn like this.
  4. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    G-man, do you turn the sawdust in, or just spread it on the surface? The local sawmill makes piles of it (obviously) but I don't have a tiller in the shed. Yet, anyway.
     
    Mindgrinder likes this.
  5. tacmotusn

    tacmotusn RIP 1/13/21

    I saved your video to a file folder I have for useful survival stuff. Also forwarded it to another member of my tribe. I learned a few things I had no clue about, and I am working on the Guerilla gardening thing as well. But, with 20 acres of my own I can sow plenty of property lines with useful stuff as well. Your soil is probably much better than mine, but I am aware of how beneficial soil amendments can be. I really do need to get back to it with the rabbits, chickens and gardening. Thanks for the friendly kick in the butt.
     
    Mindgrinder likes this.
  6. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    leave it on top, when you till next year it will compost into the soil, do it again every year and after 3 years you soil will be black and fertile.
    As to good soil I have red clay and sand, pretty much the worst soil you can have. I tilled about 150lbs of 13/13/13 and about 15 wheel barrels full of Rabbit poop in as we were working it and that's all.
    I have heard that if you want world record sized veggies add Rock Dust to your soil, haven't tried it for myself but I trust the source completely.
    good luck

    Plant fruit trees about 20 feet apart all over the place and when they form a canopy start planting shade friendly ones, then start planting fruiting vines and then let them grow, Don't clean up around them let the fallen limbs do what they do and it will grow on its own, soon you wont even need to fertilize them.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 7, 2014
  7. Motomom34

    Motomom34 Monkey+++

    That is the greatest video. [clp] I need to watch again with a notebook handy.

    Couple Q's-
    what did you dust your potatoes with? The video broke-up.
    passion fruit tea. Just leaves of passion fruit & mint?
     
    Mindgrinder likes this.
  8. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    Sevin Dust works immediately. I also spray a mixture of 1/2 cup antiseptic mouthwash, dishsoap and two tablespoons of Malathion to 2 gallons of water on green veggies like kale. Supposedly the antiseptic kills nematodes and the soap helps the stuff stick ( Isaw those questions coming) ;0 It kills most pest if you do it once a week, the sevin dust is effective on those persistent little suckers that just won't go away.
    We harvested the squash and zuch. again yesterday and got over 10 lbs!!!
    WOOOHOOO!!!
    The leaves and flowers if you want to add them, However if you use the flowers they wont fruit. It's actually incredible how mellow you get after a cup. We planted a 3" pot of chocalate mint last year and it took over about 60 square feet of lawn. We dried it and mixed it 50/50 then boiled it with our favorite teabag. 1 tbs if its just the Passion leaves per person, and 2 if you mix it with another tea.
    I was out in the sun all day yesterday, had a cup when I got home, WOW!
    Can't wait for the Papayas to get big enough, gonna mix it half and half then I get the Cancer fighting properties and well what an awesome blend of Herbal tea!
    On a side note Papaya Leaf extract is proven to increase the Red Bloodcell count immensely and increases platelets in the blood as well, awesome news for people who are anemic.

    The Garden is only 6 weeks old.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 7, 2014
  9. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    Diatomaceous Earth, Sevin Dust, and plenty of poop. Yeah, I never knew about sawdust, or I forgot. I would reckon I will try it, but might stay clear of the pine sawdust at first. Gonna play with some solar powered hydroponics setup next year maybe. The weather up here in the NE is getting crazy.

    That's a serious looking bunny factory, man. [woot]
     
    Mindgrinder likes this.
  10. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    65 and still got three litters on the way.
    We canned them last year and just used the last jar a week ago. Thanks.
     
    Mindgrinder likes this.
  11. Mindgrinder

    Mindgrinder Karma Pirate Ninja|RIP 12-25-2017

    @Gopherman - Total Garden Win and excellent, well thought out set-up.

    I watched the video 2x just trying to think of something to suggest but you have almost everything covered! I couldn't tell if you covered the base of the new trees with sawdust/wood chips....some rock dust at the base of them new trees might gett'em to pop fruit sooner....
    I bet costs you next to nothin' to feed them chickens and rabbit with garden scraps and trimmings...

    The only thing I can think of that you might want to add is Goji berries.
    You got the space and clearly the patience to wait'em out a few years for fruit...

    Shanghai Express Goji Berry Seeds for Organic Growing - West Coast Seeds

    "
    Shanghai Express
    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    Goji berries have had lots of media attention in recent years, and are thought to be a "superfood." They are certainly rich in nutrients, being packed with vitamins and minerals as well as amino acids and essential fatty acids. Five carotenoids are found in Goji berries: beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, lutein, lycopene, and cryptoxanthin. All of these are reputed to contribute to overall health and disease resistance in humans. Even the leaves of the Goji plant are edible and nutritious!

    In its third year of growth, a Goji plant can produce over 6½ lbs of fruit. Shanghai Express is a wonderful variety of Lycium barbarum that grows well in northern latitudes. Plants are extremely cold hardy to -20°C (-4°F), but should be mulched if extreme weather is expected. The berries can be frozen or dried - drying seems to maintain the best flavour.
    "

    Again, good job man!

    Grinder
     
  12. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    Thanks Brother,
    I have heard of them. I'm actually looking for Guyabana Seeds (Soursop) next, check out the stats on that stuff on google. I will definitely order some Goji seed and get them started as well!
    Actually I covered the base with hay and rabbit poo.
    It's funny to hear anyone tell me I have patience LOL, my wife and kids would beg to differ that point, although I have found that I truly love this farm thing, Who'd a thunk it? foosed
     
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  13. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    Do you have any seeds?
     
  14. -06

    -06 Monkey+++

    Been eating squash/onions/beets for two weeks. Just had zucchini bread with more fresh veggies today. Fresh garden peas are a delicacy. Tomatoes will start ripening next week. The Romas are full sized also. Just tickled with the little beds. Have climbing beans planted between the corn which is planted every eight inches on the north side of the beds. The corn is about 3-4 ft high so by the time it is getting ripe the beans will catch up. Thanks for the video--very nice.
     
    Georgia_Boy and Gopherman like this.
  15. Georgia_Boy

    Georgia_Boy Monkey+++

    Great thread, terrific video. For a relatively new "farmer" you are light years ahead of folks that have been doing this for years. I believe the chicken & rabbit poop together with your tea recipe are the ingredients of your success.
    GB
     
    Gopherman likes this.
  16. Mindgrinder

    Mindgrinder Karma Pirate Ninja|RIP 12-25-2017

  17. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

  18. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    When we started our little adventure a year ago, I wanted to make sure whatever I did was going to have long term benefits for our ultimate survival. Along the way and watching countless Videos on You tube and then cross referencing online, I found a lot of extremely useful info.
    Most of what we grow here is a super food, extremely high in vitamins, minerals and most are good for preventing health problems. In the US, if there's no money in it, or you can't pay off the FDA your info won't get out. In other countries they have been using herbs like Papaya, Passion, and Guyabano leaf extracts for centuries, in fact, its even in some of the FDA approved drugs there selling now!! But there no money in telling you to grow it yourself!
    Beans and Rice will keep you alive but I can imagine it would get old real quick!
    I found that certain plants are being used for a variety of medicinal cure's for cancer and even stress.
    They are mostly tropical, so that pesents challenges to keep them alive, That why I built a greenhouse. I have listed a few links below that I found to be amazing, For those who are interested



    Interesting article on Guyabano

    Guyabano fruit acknowledged as a miracle cure for cancer - NaturalNews.com#

    and Here's one on Passion fruit Leaves.
    PASSION FRUIT — AN ORGANIC CURE FOR CANCER | Philippine Observers
    and last but not least I looked up Goji Berries
    GOJI BERRY: Uses, Benefits, Side-effects, Dosage?
     
    Last edited: Jun 9, 2014
  19. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    Just a little update, Its raining today so pics will have to be this weekend.
    So far have harvested approx. 150 lbs of Collards, Mustard Greens, Kale and Turnip Greens,
    Roughly 50 lbs. of Turnips, 75 lbs of squash and Zucchini, 140 tomatoes and those Pepper plants have bushed out and are producing sweet peppers and Cayenne as well as over 60 Jalapeno's peppers, Their just getting started producing but we made a boatload of pepper jelly last weekend and canned over 60 quarts of Greens and Rabbit meat.
    Thanks to all who commented pics coming soon.
     
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