Green Thumb?

Do you have a green thumb? If not, I know just the way to make use of your thumb regardless. Do not give up, stay with me a moment and read what I have to say. I want you to take some time, and do some hand watering of your yard. That's right I want you to forget the sprinkler and do some hand watering. Take a watering can or jug of water and hand water some plants in your yard. Take your hose and place that thumb of yours over the hose and hand water your lawn, shrubs and trees.

Why, you must be asking yourself? First of all for you to take notice of your own surroundings and the needs of your own yard and plants. Second to really look and see anything you would like to change about it. One thing is for sure, for myself I really needed to water more. This was to keep things from drying out and dying. This will also keep it from becoming fuel for a fire that could damage your home.

I Currently live in a area that I get my water from a public water source. We are currently in a stage 2 drought here. Watering with a sprinkler, you can water only once a week (or less), between 3-8 a.m. or 8-10 p.m. Your watering day is based on the last number of your address. No watering on weekends with sprinklers. (Hand Watering OK Anytime or Day) What better way to get started in getting to know, what needs to be done, than going outside to hand water your yard.

The Next Step: This could be a small baby step for you or a big leap of faith for you. Now that you have gotten used to doing some hand watering. You probably have noticed some improvement in your lawn, shrubs or trees. The next step for you is to prepare either a container or small plot at your home. Yes a area to plant something you can eat; or something that flowers and can enjoy. Pick up some garden seeds. Follow the planting instructions. Do some of the hand watering you have already gotten used to. Then let nature take its' course. You should be able to watch and enjoy, what you have put some of your time into. This can be very rewarding and become a new found joy for you.

The Second Step, "Repeat" :) Have fun, and be well on your way to having not only a great looking yard, but getting that Green Thumb you were looking for. Read about my first gardening experience.

Episode-705- An Interview with Travers Oliver of Backwoods Survival

From: July 19th, 2011 on  The Survival Podcast.  Disclaimers & Policies

Today we are joined by Travers Oliver, survival instructor for Backwoods Survival. Travers 16 years old with a great love for the outdoors and teaching others traditional and modern wilderness skills.

Today he joins us to discuss the importance of today’s youth experiencing the outdoors and learning bush-crafting / primitive techniques.

I also provide an update on the progress so far with the new AgriTrue standard. There isn’t much to see yet but a lot progress has been made thus far. I will need some assistance in talking to the existing community of growers to ensure the final product works for everyone.

Join me today as we discuss…

On AgriTrue
Why AgriTrue, why now
The basic over view of the new AgriTrue standard
The vision for AgriTrue
How a free market system can solve its own problems
Why Home Gardeners should be AgriTrue certified
Why disclosure is more important than a “standard”
Why all food production is meaningful
Then with Travers Oliver
The main goals of Backwoods Survival
How wilderness skills build confidence in daily life
The importance of teaching youth survival skills
How the internet has changed the way we learn
The items Travers feels should be part of wilderness EDC
The five wilderness skills every person should develop
What we can expect next from Backwoods Survival

Get Real--Get Prepared with Vickilynn Haycraft 07/16 by Preparedness Radio | Blog Talk Radio

Listen to internet radio with Preparedness Radio on Blog Talk Radio

Today’s Topic:Saturday, July 16, 2011.
6:00-7:00PM CT: Get Real–Get Prepared with Vickilynn Haycraft. Exploring preparedness from the grass roots up!

Today’s Topic: Container Gardening and Solar cooking. Vickilynn and special guest Brenda Berry discuss container gardening and solar cooking with plenty of how-tos and resources. Brenda gardens extensively, even though she is confined to a wheelchair. Brenda says you CAN do more than you think! Come and join us and find out how you CAN prepare, no matter what your obstacles or challenges.

The Garden : Sensible Survival

>>>>>>>>>>CLICK HERE TO GET SEEDS<<<<<<<<<

Obsessives: Seeds

I like collecting seeds myself; and love being able to grow all kinds of plants for flowers or food. Everyone should at least try to grow something.

Episode-591- Planning and Building the Suburban Homestead

From: January 20, 2011 on  The Survival Podcast.  Disclaimers & Policies

"When you hear the word homestead you typically think of open spaces, rural America and some acreage. For many American’s though it just isn’t currently an option. Many of us are bound to the city by employment, family obligations or other considerations.

Still I believe homesteading is for everyone and there are some real opportunities for suburban homesteaders who want to convert their homes from consumer to producer.

Of course there are challenges for the suburbanite with considerations such as excessive shade, available space, ordinances and retaining marketability of the home for resale.

The key to successful suburban homesteading is understanding your limitations but focusing on making the most of the unique advantages inherent to small landscapes such as ease of management and easy irrigation." - Jack Spirko

Join Me Today As We Discuss…

Define the overall goal of a homestead
Evaluate your limitations and landscape
Define your wants and needs
What do you like to eat
What is cheap and easy to buy
What is expensive to purchase
What is difficult to acquire organically or locally
Define areas by shade, sun, wind, usage, etc
Focus on the right types of crops
Heavy producers
Not readily available commercially
Perennials over annuals
Easy to store for long term usage
Require special care that can be automated
Considering livestock
Poultry is highly efficient for eggs
Rabbits are probably the best meat option
Utilize wildlife for livestock functions like manuring
Aquaculture and Aquaponics are excellent options
Extending your seasons and productivity
The greenhouse or cold frames are essentials
Using and channeling roof run off
Understanding and maximizing micro-climates
Use climbers and vertical spaces
Taking big techniques and downsizing them
Swales
Hugelkultur
Food Forests
Ponds

How to Start Seeds for Planting

>>>>>>>>>>CLICK HERE TO GET SEEDS<<<<<<<<<

Planting America:How To Plant a Tree (Feat. Rob Beideman)

Gardening; Old Stories and New Beginnings

     Gardening was introduced to me by my grandparents on my moms side of the family.  When I had lived in Stockbridge, MA, before the age of 5. I remember  my grandmother tending a flowerbed outside her home, and my grandfather taking me with him to garden on a plot somewhere else in town.  The "Gardening Bug" really did not hit me to many years later. I had moved with my family to California. I by this time was almost ready or had started in Jr. high school.
     My Grandmother and  Aunt Vic. had traveled all the way from the state of Massachusetts, on a bus to visit us. Sometime during the visit for a few days my grandmother spoke about (or seemed to have complained about) why the flowerbeds were empty, mostly dry dirt and weeds. As said before, this went on for many days (hint).
     One day upon returning from a shopping trip in town, my grandmother handed me a garden hoe. She asked me to undertake the job of  pulling up the weeds and to start chopping up the dirt, in a small flowerbed under the dining room window. This went on for at least what seemed about 3 hours. This was only maybe a 2 foot by 5 foot area. My grandmother wanted the soil to be very soft and dug deep. Later while I was loosening the soil up, my grandmother called me in for a snack and something to drink. While I sat and relaxed a bit she pulled out a couple of seed packs out on the table. She then instructed me on how she wanted them planted, and how to care for them. I then returned outside, I planted and watered the seeds into the flowerbed. I had planted marigolds and nasturtiums.  Many days had passed in what seemed like a eternity, while I watered and watched over the flowerbed. Later by then my grandmother and my aunt, had left California back home to Massachusetts, and still nothing had sprouted yet. I had just about loss any hope in anything coming out of that patch of ground.  Then one day I noticed some new sprigs of life, popping out from the ground I had planted the seeds in. Weeks later there were a great many flowers in bloom, and I could see where all that work had payed off. I now had a spark within me and a new love for growing things.
     Later on a weekend I had gotten to talk to my grandmother on the phone to tell her about the flowers and how great it was to grow stuff. Later in the month, I had gotten a letter from my grandmother and a gift of $10.00 (that was a good amount of money for me back then.)  I took my my gift and gotten some more garden seed and some bags steer manure (I am sure I also spent some of it on candy too). That summer I had turned my backyard into one huge garden. I had a lot of everything growing I was really happy about it. I had so much stuff I shared with my friends and neighbors on the street. That was a great summer.
     My grandmother that gave me the gift of gardening, has passed on. She was a great blessing in my life to have shared her own love of gardening.  As a adult I had done some research on my grandmother and her family. I learned of her family having a family crest, which I remember seeing on some plates in her home, and also a small one my mother had in the house. Upon researching the crest, it was given to my great or great great grandfather. This crest was given for feeding an entire town where he lived.  He did it by gardening / farming. In the country of Ireland, during a great potato famine  he planted all kinds of things. Potatoes were the main crop there, and many farmers there used to grow the same type of potatoes. One of the main types of potatoes were prone to a disease that either rotted or killed the plants. My great  or great-great grandfather had grown many different types of potatoes that did not get that disease that the others had gotten with their variety of potatoes. That is how he was able to take care of his family and his town during those dark days of a potato famine.
     You just never know what gardening can do for you, or for others. If your not already growing plants, try it, you may like it too.  Do it for fun, do it to save on your grocery bills, do it for health, do it to become part of your life and part of your preparedness skills. Gardening does have its rewards. Enjoy.

Thunderhawk001

Save Money With a Garden NBC Philadelphia

Here is the Link, to the Seed of the Month Club, the Site opens better with Internet Explorer.
So Cut and paste the link if you need to.  I'll post up a few Pics from gardening at home later.
>>>>>>>>>>CLICK HERE TO GET SEEDS<<<<<<<<<