The wife wants a lemon tree, so we are looking at getting a greenhouse some time this year.  Should be able to grow one in the green house during the winter, or even by a sunny window in the house.

Looks and sounds pretty cool.  I would do mushrooms IF any one in my family liked them.  I'll eat them, but it's been a slow thing to get used to.

Hey Johhny and The Queen.

I've been looking into the construction of my new garden area.  There are all kinds of dips and low areas, plus when we get a lot of rain, the water flows down to a small creek.  I'm looking into how to construct berms and swales into the landscape to help me control this water flow and capture it into my garden.  Last year, when I went to set up the gardens on my new site, I tilled the soil for 4 beds, 4 ft by 6 ft.  Then I surrounded these areas with bricks, or some old ceder fence post which where laying around.  It looked nice and neat, with nice fluffy soil.  I also put cardboard down between the beds and covered it with wood chips.

Well, after I got this all set up, the water came and the mulch and fence post went with the water.  I even lost soil to erosion once the fence post drifted down.  The beds surrounded with bricks were fine, they seemed to divert the water, and hold the soil.  By mid July we usually don't get much for rain, and our temperatures get above 100, so I have to do a lot of watering.  I figure if I build some berms like the brick beds, and swales, I can divert the water into the swales around the garden, thus capturing the water.  This should mean less watering during our hot dry months and my garden beds will stay put.

Just an idea for a show.  Heres a good video.

Permaculture Water Harvesting Through Swales

Hey all, found this on some other site, figured I'd share it here.  Its got a list of companies that sell GMO seeds to home gardeners, companies like Parks Seeds, Burpee, and a lot of others.

http://www.garden-of-eatin.com/how-to-avoid-monsanto/   

Just think, any time you drink diet pop, you are drinking E. Coli poop.    Yuck.  I'm a diabetic and have to drink it if I want a pop.  Time to cut back more.

I started listening to podcast last spring, and guess what, yours was the first one I listened too.  I found TSP first, but couldn't find how to download the shows, wasn't looking good enough, but I followed Jacks link to you guys and really liked what I heard.  After listening to a few of newest episodes, I went back to the beginning and found you two to be really fun and laid back.  She needs to realize that you guys are exploring new things, new ideas and sharing it with us, your not the experts.

Some times, in the older shows, you get the feeling that you are kicking back talking with good friends.  Still feel that way today. 

Live in Kansas.  Should I start some like I start the seeds to get them to awaken? 

Nice work.

Well if its too early you could always build a cold frame or hoop using pvc that you cover the garden with for a bit.

I would like to plant some strawberries, but thus far, I've had really no luck.

It started off with my first garden a few years ago, I got a few strawberry plants from walmart and put them into pots.  I was a beginner gardener and lost all but 1 of the plants.  The next spring I transfered that one plant to a bed.  I've never gotten any more than a small handful of berries from it, and they are mostly dime sized berries.  Its also never produced any runners.

Two years ago I bought 25 berry root balls from Parks.  I also got one of their strawberry growing bags.  Filled the bags with compost and peat, watered and stuck in the starters.  They never grew, they just seamed dead.  Last year I bought some from the hardware store and still had no luck.  Tried to soak them in a bowl of water for a few hours before I planted thinking that might do the trick but still nothing.

Any tips or suggestions to make a better berry grower.

Just checked my broccoli and cabbage in those pots.  4 days and my broccoli sprouted.  Awesome starter pots.  I didn't have this much luck with the peat pots or pellets. 

I'm looking at ordering some raspberries, but I'm wondering how many plants give you a decent start?  I'm planning on planting them near a fence where I've found wild Elderberries growing.  I can't wait to see the Elderberries again, plan on seeing if I can tame a wild plant and increase its production.  That fence line also has wild mulberries growing, so it will be like the berry haven. 

I made some of these because of this thread.  Supper easy. Rolled mine around an empty pop can. Then I found a small clear plastic tub that had a clear lid, and stuck them in a window sill.  Its only been a few days, but it looks like a great damp environment for the seeds.

Thanks for the idea, saved me some money.

Well, I hope we're now past any more freak freezes!  Afterall, it's almost spring break; the college kids will be making their way down here soon, so it can't get cold, right? 

Its been pretty nice here this week, but I hope it cools back down soon.  Too early for spring, lol. 

I started earlier than ever this year.  Thursday I started my seeds for my broccoli and cabbage.  I'm up in Kansas, and our last frost date is in May.  I'm betting that they'd be fine since they are cool weather crops.  Another month and I start the potatoes and tomatoes.  Just have to get the new beds set up soon.

So only one plant in an entire straw bale?

I think you'd use normal planting spacing.  I watched a video where a guy planted 2 things in each bale, but then there's others that show more.  I would imagine you could get at least 2 tomato plants since they need a lot of room.