Things never seem to slow down, and there always seems to be something else that needs to be completed. The work is never done and a part of me is thankful for that. I am reminded of 1Thessalonians 4:11-12 which states:
11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.
I am certainly not feeling as though I am lacking; rather I am feeling quite blessed and well provided for.
Tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, and compost are the things that are happening here. A small update on the popular tomato planting idea from Pintrest and Facebook that we have been exploring. I must say that I am very dissatisfied with this method of planting and will certainly not be using it again in the future. I won’t say that this experiment was a complete waste of time, as I haven’t started harvesting much yet, but certainly the resources could have been used in a better way. Pest, pest, pests is the biggest complaint that I have had and still have. With the density of the foliage and the difficulty in pruning pest have wonderful cover and concealment making them difficult to control and certainly allowing them to inflict far more damage than they should have been able. That being said the plants have shown amazing resilience producing in spite of several heavy a damaging pest infestations.
The plants are also still bearing quite well, but there have been many fruits blemished by worms. Another issue that has presented itself has been blossom end rot. The common response to this is to add calcium, but it most likely represents a watering issue. Sporadic watering can also cause the dreaded blossom end rot, and can be combated through the use of heavy mulch layers to aid in stabilizing soil moisture. The issue here is applying mulch or compost is problematic due to the cage and the intertwined nature of the plant growth. All of this is very simply avoided by planting in more traditional beds or rows. I do suggest inter-cropping and planting of support species to aid in pest control and disease resistance. In the future we will most likely utilize a Jean Pain style of planting modified with permaculture principles of support plants, on contour beds, and inter-cropping.
Speaking of a Jean Pain style of planting; our plantation of tomatoes using his methods are starting to develop some new growth and I look forward to updating on its progression in future posts. As for now you will see that that plants are still quite small relative to those planted much earlier in the season but are doing quite well despite the recent high heat and dryness.
We have a large raised bed in our zone 1 that we use for many different kitchen garden items, currently it is being used for growing bell pepper, oregano, luffa gourds, and a volunteer cucumber. Since applying a heavy layer of compost and mulch it has been performing exceptionally. We have harvested many peppers and I look forward to getting luffa sponges to use in our kitchen and perhaps even have a few to share.
Our potatoes have done quite well this year; after blooming they grew with no issues. Due to the thick layer of mulch, to encourage more tubers, the CPB (Colorado Potato Beatle) larvae and adults have been no issue. The leaves are beginning to wilt and turn brown indicating that the time for harvest is near. I can’t wait to have fresh potatoes to eat and can up for the winter. Lord willing, we will be able to collect some true potato seed and start working with landrace potatoes like Sepp Holzer.
Lastly, we have our brushwood compost pile to work on. It is still in its initial stage and is not due to be separated and piled for composting for another nine days, but I am excited about the possibilities that this will hold for our small permaculture farm. After testing this pile out and taking some notes of our own we intend to continue clearing brushwood in 2.5 acre blocks per year and using the larger piles to provide all of the heat and hot water that our barn will need. Hopefully, we will learn to employ the method well enough that we could also provide all of the hot water we need for our home and perhaps even provide heat for our home as well. Creation is magnificent and all of the fascinating possibilities that The Lord has built in never ceases to amaze me. It is no wonder that Jesus said:
25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Lord willing, I hope to write more in the future as well as present other well written articles from my daily reading. Please come back when you have a moment to spare and check out what’s new. Until next time, Adieu.
Carolina Permaculture 