Rachell Koenig

It's now September 11th, and all the fruits that were on my Hall's hardy almond tree have either ripened and fallen off, or have been eaten like peaches by my neighbor!  I can not convince him that it is an almond tree.  They are like firm peaches, I have even eaten a few myself.  Is this because I have 3 peach trees also?  My tree was loaded, and I refused to prune... sadly almost all the branches snapped.  But I'm betting that it will be fine after I just chainsaw prune it.  I plan to collect some of the pits off the ground and see what can be done with them.  So far I have cracked one open and it was exactly like a peach pit... which I like.  But I know everyone will want to know if you can make them taste like almonds from the store.  I'll do one more update when I learn more.  

I have a Hall's Hardy Almond. I think I've had it for 5 years now, and it is completely loaded with almonds this year. As it is only May right now, I'm excited to see how this turns out! If I can remember to, I'd like to give you guys an update on taste and ease of cracking. I'm in south-east Missouri, we're a zone 6. This tree grew fast and healthy. That might be because of burying deceased pets, and taking my compost out to it. I also watered it with a "weed compost tea" on occasion. It also has lots of mulch around it. We use to mulch with grass cut with a scythe, but this year, we got a hold some wood chips for our trees. I really love this tree, I will be a bit disappointed if we cannot eat these. So I will be trying every method possible. The internet says harvest time will be between July and October? LOL! That's a big time span. I'm betting on October. See you then!

Here is the list of extra seeds I have..


Bird house gourds
Bushel gourds (I try to keep my gourds from cross pollenating, but i'm not making any promises)
yarrow
Parsley
catnip
mammoth sunflower (the real one)
burdock
mustard greens Southern giant

I might need to mention a few ways to smother grass out. Laying down anything.. lots of mulch, or plastic, or even old carpet. Then picking it up a season later. Then plant in it. I dont know if its better to plant right then, or let the cover crops pop up first. Either way... DO NOT till or hoe this area! You'll bring up new grasses from under, to the top where they'll sprout. Do not, do not, do not do this.
One more thing to think about is how very beneficial it is to leave roots when you can, to rot in the soil. Smothering does this

I would smother out the grass in whatever way you like.. a season or more BEFORE you'll be actually planting in that area. When I do this, the "weeds" that come up are things that make good ground covers, like Dead Nettle, and chick weed. Then you can pull what grasses come up after them (if any). But I wouldn't drop them anywhere except the compost pile.
About the white clover.. it seems like a great cover crop to me. I've never seen it smother anything out that I need, but yes it does grow everywhere

This is an awesome thread! I have wanted to save seed from my carrots, but I havent because I learned that carrots cross pollinate with queen anne's lace. We have plenty of that for beneficial insects.
Now I'll bring in some of my carrot tops! The celery picture was very inspiring! I started my tomatoes indoors too early this year, and have been having to prune them back. I took the prunings, and stuck the bottom ends in water. They've sprouted lots of roots. So I assume a person could bring in a cutting in fall.. grow it to a good height, and be taking prunings from it to make lots of plants for the next year. That would be a good way to keep things from cross pollinating. I've heard that peppers can be grown from cuttings too.
I WILL STOP THROWING TOPS OR ROOTS OUT TO MY PIGS, AND PLANT THEM INDOORS OR OUTSIDE!

Richard Delvers wrote:Compressed air isn't very efficient. It just seems that way because the cost is hidden in your power bill.

If you are getting your air from a compressor that is supplied by a fossil fired boiler, then the efficiency is really terrible. If your air comes from a wind driven compressor, or the compressor receives electricity from a solar powered system, then you are really doing something.

If not, you, and the world would be better off driving a light weight, high efficiency internal combustion engine powered car.

Rune

Didn't you watch all the videos? $2.00 of your electric bill.

When I apply coconut oil to my hair.. its in a very very small amount, unless I plan on washing it again after an hour or so.

I just used baking soda to wash and then vinegar to rinse, and my hair feels great (soft). I don't want to do it every day.. but I just had to wash it. I'm still going to try to wash my hair way less.
p.s. My vinegar was a mix of stuff .. so its not strait vinegar...

Wow thanks! good information! ty