[KimC]

Hello everyone! I live in the suburbs on a small lot with an even smaller north-facing back yard that is limited by a lot of hardscape (neighbors are very close). For five years I have been learning to grow as much of my own food as possible and have tried to maximize the area by building mini raised beds along the front edge of the flower beds that run the full length of the fence on three sides of the back yard. Planted 10 fruit trees at the end of 2017/beginning of 2018. Several are three- or four-in-one grafted varieties (multiple cherries on one, multiple types of apples on another, a variety of stone fruits on yet another, etc.), to hopefully have more variety and also different things to harvest and eat throughout the year. Several provided a decent real harvest this year for the first time, others are finally just getting started with meager offerings. I’m looking forward to next year. So grateful for what God blessed me with in 2022!

I also use several Greenstalk vertical planters, one 100-gallon trough, two 30-inch large, round planters, and several 15-gallon containers. Never enough space to grow all I’d like, but thankfully, in this area of the Central Valley in California, many grow year-round. A lot of things that are seasonal for other parts of the country have become perennial, or at least multi-season, for me. I have jammed perennials and multi-season plants into every conceivable space (including converting an old three-tiered fountain to growing space, and hanging strawberry plants because there’s no room on the ground to grow them (when I tried that, snails and slugs ravaged them continually).

Last year I got four bantam Cochin hens for eggs. One or more of them have gone broody on me a lot this year, which has been disappointing due to the decrease of egg production. I might be able to have two more, but would definitely be maxed out at six bantams total, space-wise. Earlier this year I also got Japanese jumbo Coturnix quail for eggs (including a few males in case I need to raise meat in the future, but that has been quite the odyssey). Really grateful to have their eggs as the bantams have been so broody. I really like the quail eggs. I call them one-bite wonders. Great taste and creamy texture. Plus, I was told that by volume, the nutritional value of one jumbo quail egg is equivalent to two chicken eggs.

My biggest challenges are squirrels who damage or pilfer anything/everything possible (unless I pick it early to ripen inside and not on the vine/tree), and the summer heat, which this year has been quite miserable (it peaked at 108.5 yesterday and 107.4 today). The early and often on-again/off-again ups and downs in the temperatures here this year have set the garden back in so many ways. I expect this may be an ongoing issue with the grand solar minimum and everything else that’s happening with strange weather. Several things that did really well last year, or at least better, have either not done well at all this time around, or have been marginal at best.

Is anyone else here growing in/on such a small space? Am I in the right place with this group, or is there a better one for my kind of set-up? I’d enjoy trading tips, tricks, work-arounds and things learned with those who are interested.

God bless,

Kim

[KimC]

If I’m remembering correctly, I believe the smaller greenhouse Danny and Wanda think is ideal is from Remington Solar (hope I’m recalling the name correctly; please confirm that with them). It has roll-up sides and I think comes in at least two sizes. They put one near their cabin.

[KimC]

I’ve been following Deep South for many years too. Wish I had the space for a high tunnel as we get geo-engineered skies regularly. I’ve had more issues with plants of all kinds this year than so far in the five-plus years I’ve been a suburban, small-backyard gardener trying to learn how to grow/raise as much of my own food as possible. The heat has been over the top since spring and many things have suffered greatly or not done well at all because of it. I think whatever is settling down from the sky is also affecting everything. Hope things continue to go well for you.

[KimC]

Hello from Central California. Very happy that Deep South is here and helping get this site up, running and off the ground. Blessings to you all.

[KimC]

You are most welcome. It is very beautiful. Fall is my favorite as well.

[KimC]

I was born and raised in WV through my mid-teens till the family moved west. I miss it sometimes, especially when the leaves are turning in fall, and in spring after the snow melts. Happy to see you all here. To join a state, select Communities in your left side bar list. When it loads the groups, look for the “All Types” menu button and click there to pull down the options. State groups are there. Once you find your state and click on it, you can select to join. Hope this helps.

[KimC]

Thanks for the input. Very interesting about the negative ions. I’m not very scientific and won’t pretend to understand what all that means, but it’s great feedback. If you have a link where we can read about it and learn, please post it. I’ll be interested to know your results. Unfortunately, I don’t have a pot large enough to boil two liters at once. Guess I should be watching for sales and get one. I definitely have had plenty of instances where it would have been helpful to try this out and clear the sky over my location at various times in the past. No doubt there will be need for it in the future as well.

Curtis Stone is an interesting person. The topics he’s been discussing recently have become far more interesting (at least to me), as he’s referencing God, the Bible and other related things that I’ve never heard him talk about before. Even though he’s been awake (and not woke) for quite a long time in some ways, he definitely is “waking up” even more than I suspect he ever thought he would years ago, which is definitely a good thing.

Thanks for your comment. Please do let us know your results when you try it out.

Blessings,

Kim

[KimC]

My pleasure. Blessings!

[KimC]

You are welcome. Blessings!

[KimC]

Correction: I looked it up and Curtis Stone’s subscription site is FromTheField.TV (not FromTheFarm). It appears you can do a free trial, so if anyone has the time or inclination and is more curious and wants to check out what he has to say about the vinegar, or ask him or his team, please post their response and any additional or new info in this thread. Thanks!

[KimC]

Nothing was said about that, that I recall.

[KimC]

If he said where he got the idea, I didn’t catch it. Because of censorship, he only leaves his YT live streams up for a short time, so I don’t have access to a replay, and I’m not a member of his separate paid subscription site where he posts all his content. I think it’s called FromTheFarm.TV (but not 100% certain that’s the correct name).

Yes, he said this method is for the purpose of clearing the sky after they spray in the atmosphere. Based on what he showed, it actually worked and he literally had clear, sunny sky opened up over his location and it was obvious where the clear sky was because the rest was still clouded/socked in all around the hole punched above his head where the sun was shining through. If I understood him correctly, it lasted till they sprayed the sky again. He suggested that placing the bowls of boiled vinegar in multiple locations all over his property would open up an even wider area in the sky. Really interesting.