Growing an organic garden

[RawTruth]

Also, once you get it going, the Square Garden method is such a small amount of work, it's absolutely amazing. No weeding. Way less time a week than it takes to get in the car and drive to the store, let alone do the actual shopping. But ... you gotta do what's right for you. For me, the convenience of walking into my backyard to "shop" and knowing exactly how organic it is and ... the pennies it takes to eat on, all make it worth it.

[JustMe]

Thanks Raw Truth for letting me know about the update. I'm a little discouraged when I found that out, but I think i will get the video now. Thanks again!!

[rawpriestess]

Dear Cherie,

When you get up here, call me 360-458-4446, and you can come out to our place, and get some starts.

We have purple garlic, elephant garlic, white onions, red onions, yellow onions, 3 kinds of strawberrries, 4 cherries, 2 hazelnuts, 3 almonds, 4 apples, 6 kinds of grapes, 4 kinds of tomatoes, hundreds of squash, zucchini, crook neck hubbard, etc., cucumbers, red peppers, yellow peppers, jalepenos, dragon thai peppers, kiwi, raspberries, blackberries, huckleberries, logen berries, cranberries, lettuce, cabbage, celery, mustard, arugula, wild mountain lettuce, horsetail, camomile, tarragon, basil, oregano (3 kinds) mint, chocolate mint, parsley, cilantro, rosemary, marjorum, and of course night shade, although you wouldn't want to eat that.

Anyway, this is all I can think of at the moment, because we haven't planted this year, this is what grown naturally here, from the seeds that planted themselves last year.

When we plant we have even more goodies.

Also, there are hundreds of natural and wild plants that grow around us because we have a meadow, and forest and lake, so we even have mushrooms, and fungus, and flowers and all that to eat too.

[RawTruth]

What do you DO with all the that bounty? Do you sell it, dehydrate, have a really large family? Wow.

[Autumn]

Rawpriestess,
What area of the country (or what country) do you live in that you can grow almonds? Hubby said they wouldn't grow here (Alabama). I would love to add them to our gardens.

It killed me to spend so much money the past 2 weeks at the produce/farmer's stand. I can't wait until everything is up and ready again.

[rawpriestess]

Hi,

I am in Washington state.

It is temperate here, not alot of hot, not alot of cold.

Usually varies between 40 to 80 degrees throughout the year.

We live on a lake, so the air is always damp.

But I think the real reason we can grow anything, is that my hubby is a High Druid Priest, and the plants love his energy,

Well, everyone loves his energy, he sits outside to meditate, and eagles, ospray, otters, dear, elk, mink, chipmunks, finches, peacocks, and pretty much every critter that lives here will be sitting either on him or within a couple of feet of him within seconds.

It is truly amazing.

But he talks to the plants every day, and uses NO pesticides or fertilizers of any kind, he does plant crystals (that he mined himself in the mountains near us) under each plant when he plants the seeds, or the starts, and he used raised beds with stone, and he places pyramids made of stone in the four corners of the gardens, and they just grow.

And we have heard, and know ourselves, that they are the very best tasting food on the planet.

[Rawkinlocs]

Well, everyone loves his energy, he sits outside to meditate, and eagles, ospray, otters, dear, elk, mink, chipmunks, finches, peacocks, and pretty much every critter that lives here will be sitting either on him or within a couple of feet of him within seconds.

WHOA!! Are you serious?? That is DEEP!

[Autumn]

Please forgive my ignorance, but your husband is a priest? How can that be? I didn't think priests were allowed to marry?

I am amazed, but not shocked about all the critters flocking to him. My husband's aunt was that way. Everyone in the family said the animals talked to her and she to them. Wild animals (like squirrels and chipmunks) would follow her into her house and just "hang out". I always thought that people who had this rapport with animals were truly special indeed.

We don't use any pesticides or anything else. I never saw the point in starting one's own garden if they were going to treat it with the same poisons as they do to the produce in the supermarket.

[rawpriestess]

Raw truth, we eat it or dehydrate it or we have Raw feasts and invite tons of people, we actually have a High Priest/ess school, so there is plenty of people around to eat.

Rawkinloks, YES, I am serious, this happens, I probably should take a picture, but they "feel" me and leave.

His name is Dragggon, so I call him Dragggon Doolittle, lol

YES, he is a High Druid Priest, we are not married by law, only by heart and soul. We both have lots of letters and such before and after our names.

He is a tender, gentle kind spirit, and although he eats meat the animals love him and so do the plants.

He is my one true love of my life.

************ UPDATE *****************

As my dear beloved was reading over my shoulder, he asked me to type this for him.

Druid clergy can marry.

The Druids are way ahead of their times, and do not chastize their religious leaders by denying them the pleasures of life.

And as for the creatures of nature that come to me, it is something that has always happened, as many of them are either sick or wounded and need my special attention. Even though they are totally wild, they will allow me to comfort and help them.

Not, saying that I haven't been bit before, but this is a very rare occasion, and was always with an animal who was terribly frightened by humans and hurt by them.

I saved a baby possum last year, we nursed her until she was old enough to live in the forest, she was 3 weeks old when we found her in the garden, our dog had scared her mother away the night before, it is a miracle that she even survived the night. Eyes weren't even opened, such a beautiful creature.

I saved a cougar from hunters, by letting her stay in our fenced yard, until they went away, she left shortly there after going the way I suggested to her, in my mind.

And as far as talking with the plants, I talk to them, human, animals the same I am an Earth Steward, and a Karma Facilitator and all Earth things need the same energy and attention, there is no difference in you, me, the deer, the birds, the grasses. We are all of this Earth.

And Alissa, keep up the good work of helping all of these people in their new lifestyle, even as a non-raw foodist, myself, I see the good you are doing, for Christine and all of these people.

(and Yes, there are even some of your recipes this carnivor, warrior, meat eater enjoys.)

[rawpriestess]

Rawkinloks,

You don't have to take any class, just come out to visit, get some starts, and we'll talk your ear off, if you're wanting to know about gardening.

It is soooo much easier having gardening friends, you just come over with baskets, and take as much home as you can carry, trust me there is always more. and more and more.

blessings,
Christine/rawpreistess

[VeganVixen]

too cool rp !!!!

I grow my plants (everything) in pots,urns or windowboxes-we have a ton of them-and my plants seem happy with the arrangment

although we live on a huge (79 acres) peice of land and have a big gaited garden -I will be moving soon and want to be able to take my plants with me-right now I have tomato plants , zuchinni, 4 heirloom varieties of tomatos,basi;cilntro,thyme,chamomile,spearmint,spi nach,parsley(italian and curled) and chives-and more will come soon!!! I havent planted the corn yet -but will soon,I love baby corn.....yum!!!

[sweetgoddess]

ok, Dragggon, just so you know, I think you are one very beautiful soul.

Christine, your lakehouse, gardens, and surrounding area sound absolutely divine. Can I please come live there? oh please? I will change my name to Morgan or Morgana .... ;)

[Autumn]

Thanks Rawpriestess and Dragggon for the taking the time to explain to me. I learn something new every single day (more if I pay attention!) I am very happy for the two of you- you sound like you have an incredible bond.

[VeganVixen]

Thanks Rawpriestess and Dragggon for the taking the time to explain to me. I learn something new every single day (more if I pay attention!) I am very happy for the two of you- you sound like you have an incredible bond.

you said it perfectly

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hi Rawkinlocs,

Check out Heirloom seeds. They are extremely inexpensive and you only have to buy them once as you can use your own seeds after that.

<>< Helen of Tennessee

"Heirlooms are always open-pollinated varieties. This means that if the seeds produced from the plant are properly saved, they will produce the same variety year after year. This cannot be done with hybrids, which are a cross between two separate varieties, as the seed produced from those plants will either be sterile, or start to revert back to the parent plants."

"Remember those tomatoes your Grandmother grew, or the ones that the farmer down the road used to sell at his roadside stand? With the advent of hybrid seeds, the older open-pollinated varieties are getting harder to find. While the hybrids have many advantages (disease resistance, greater productivity, more uniform fruit, etc.) they just can't match the heirlooms for taste."

"Most gardeners agree that heirloom varieties should be at least 50 years old."

http://www.heirloomseeds.com/

I'm hoping to start my organic/heirloom garden, this year. We just had someone design our landscape, but I'm not happy where they drew in my raised garden beds (I'm doing square foot gardening). One of my boxes would be in the shade for at least 1/2 of the day. Same with part of the second square. So my DH and I have to make some changes, then we have to submit them to our home association for approval, then I can begin! It's going to be a while, a late start, but I'm going to do it!!!!

There is also an organic soil farm 1/2 hour from us, so I going to be able to get organic soil and organic fertilizer for my gardens - Yeah!!!! I tried making compost before and after one whole summer I think I produced a pail full. It takes a LOT of food/grasses/leaves/organic manner to produce a teeny, tiny bit of compost!

<>< Helen of Tennessee