The Dons' Organic Garden

DonTesla

Well-Known Member
lmao the roasted chicken sounds crazy too!
My guess is that somehow the aromatic compounds combine in special ways to produce these special smells. I actually got the pot roast smell to fade again by watering a more fruity juice (mainly cucumber) and giving the plant extra time to swing back ;)
Oh and I didn't foliar those smoothies, they were watered into the soil.. just as FYI, as I've no idea whether these substances would get absorbed via the leaves the same as via the roots (what do I know at ALL as a matter of a fact? lol)

Thanks for the pointers! No I haven't worked with guano, nor am I likely to, given the sourcing headaches here in Europe - firstly, to even find something (guano is going mainstream hereabouts too, but they don't sell pure anything, just ready mixes containing it along with a shitload of other dubious stuff I don't want in my soils. Oh and don't even think about asking how they sourced or processed it). And when you think you found something, the product declarations are horrifically vague, and you don't get information by asking either because it's a "business secret". :roll: Sorry about yet another rant on dumb-down consumerism lol

But that's the reason I'm on my current hellride trying to become independent from bought ingredients - and going through all sorts of learning experiences with badly thought through mixes and composts that aren't where I want them yet :dunce:
The quest continues :rolleyes:

Wow @ the MyDX, sure sounds like a nifty thing - even if the results are more approximative for now. Then we could really get going, and see, for example how a plant watered with a lavender juice modifies its composition... :blsmoke:
Cheers!
What part of EU are you in again, Cal?!
More reply to this later, on the road atm
 

calliandra

Well-Known Member
What part of EU are you in again, Cal?!
More reply to this later, on the road atm
I'm right splat in the middle of it in western Austria and yay we got snow cover today, which apparently sets up for the highest rate composting activity of all :D
You take care and stay safe out there!
 

DonTesla

Well-Known Member
I'm right splat in the middle of it in western Austria and yay we got snow cover today, which apparently sets up for the highest rate composting activity of all :D
You take care and stay safe out there!
Austria, nice! Home of the liberal government at least when it comes to internet privacy and hosting, from what I've heard anyway.. Any links on the snow being a catalyst to high rate composting!!
PS thanks for the well wishes and happy holidays to you and yours, from me and mine.

That goes to all our readers and contributors here, happy holidays and safe travels everyone! Here's to a bountiful 2018 too!!

Sincerely,

DonT et al!
 

calliandra

Well-Known Member
Austria, nice! Home of the liberal government at least when it comes to internet privacy and hosting, from what I've heard anyway.. Any links on the snow being a catalyst to high rate composting!!
PS thanks for the well wishes and happy holidays to you and yours, from me and mine.

That goes to all our readers and contributors here, happy holidays and safe travels everyone! Here's to a bountiful 2018 too!!

Sincerely,

DonT et al!
lol interesting association :D I have noo idea though!

Regarding wintertime decomposition, here's a study from 2014 that demonstrates this nicely:
Comparison of Seasonal Soil Microbial Process in Snow-Covered Temperate Ecosystems of Northern China
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0092985

Though I suspect this one from 1990 is the one Elaine Ingham was referencing when she talked about it during the course, given she's republished it on the website of her experimental farm:
Litter decomposition under snow cover in a balsam fir forest
https://www.environmentcelebration.com/litter-decomposition-snow-cover-balsam-fir-forest/
Closer to home for you too :mrgreen:

Cheers and a happy turning of the seasonal wheel to us all!:blsmoke:
 

ANC

Well-Known Member
I read how the hemp farmers drastically reduce fertilizer needs by retting the plants where they fall.
I am now retting all cut and harvested branches on the top of my pots to water through.
 
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DonTesla

Well-Known Member
Hey guys long time no chat. Anyways I've been working on you're guys ocean forma blend lol. Things are aweaoommmeeee hahah
Right on Rad!! Yeah its been a minute, eh, but we're glad you're enjoying that blend still. Tis quite the clean, mean recipe. Hope Michigan is treating ya well!! Are you going to go to the cup this year down there?
Either way, Merry Christmas from all the Dons'..
 

DonTesla

Well-Known Member
I read how the hemp farmers drastically reduce fertilizer needs by retting the plants where they fall.
I am now retting all cut and harvested branches on the top of my pots to water through.
Very nice, ANC. I know of a few edible landscapers / fruit tree property owners who do the same. The greens can attract pests sometimes, but I have really enjoyed using root balls and stems as a mulch in certain situations.. gives a really rustic look and costs nothing, so why not. Better than having bare soil for sure!!

In exploring the acreage this summer we found amazing biodiversity in areas where trees had fallen.. several types of mosses, fungus species, including fruiting bodies (mushrooms) all proliferated where the fall took place.. leaf mould, rotting wood, plus everything else that we can't see.. pretty amazing stuff for sure.

* * *

I was reading the links calliandra posted above and was then surfing and learned that Santas reindeer eat lichens.

In the FAR north, where they're aren't any trees (i.e. past the tree line), animals have to find something else to eat, and for much of the year the reindeer (called caribou in North America) subsist on the carpets of reindeer lichens that cover the ground in the tundra.

Happy Holidays Everyone!
Yes, lots of reindeer up here, not as much as moose where I am, we can see 5 on any given day, no problem, if driving..but much more than deer.. the coolest part was we saw about 20 reindeer all on the side of the highway all in one spot, eating fresh grass etc, just after Jasper.. there were well over a dozen cars pulled over to enjoy the show- I thought it was a check stop at first! haha thankfully it was just sight seeing going down..

I could only imagine the ones far up north, though, how intense their survival is, poor guys.. my girl is always feeling for the poor animals stuck outside all winter.. lichens must be a good source for them. Safe travels to all the animals too, watch out for vehicles!!

* * *
 

DonTesla

Well-Known Member
@DonTesla lol if u ever want free labour im saving up to go to canada always happy 2 help the cuse :weed:bongsmilie;):peace:
Wow man.. blessed to have such great support from so many angles, talk about unreal!! - you amazing brother.. Give me some notice for when you will be ready to come visit and we'll work out some accommodations for ya eh, on ya boy, Ja!

ps. just note that we're in our cold snap right now from coast to coast dang near, but that wont last for too much longer! Lots of fresh pow in the mountains though, for those unafraid of the ol' black diamonds!

**********
Haha @ANC, what a cute kitten man, big up for the rad pics!

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Wow.. is 2018 here at midnight already!? Holy smokes.. Blaze up your finest erb & usher in the new year, folks, its time to get a little healthier, wiser, wealthier and happier than ever so you can contribute to the max and do all the things you love a bit bigger and better than ever! Happy New Year, Everyone! Take control of the goals!
 

DonTesla

Well-Known Member
Culturesforhealth.com

Website for doing 100's of different types of DIY ferments for human health and the body.

Fermented spinach,
Moroccan spiced carrots,
Lacto fermented Garlic (which only requires a salt water brine and spices!)
Lacto fermened thai basil,
are a just a few examples that we'll be trying / incorporating next!!

ps. the Spinach only takes 2 to 3 days!!

& you can even ferment the stalks from Swiss chard so what a great way to improve your immune system while using up waste that would other wise not be consumed.

Happy New Year once again!!
 
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