bubba29 Hatfield

Ok, so I think I have completed my biggest hugelkulture bed to date. I did it all by hand. It is probably 30 feet long by 4 feet wide. I started by laying some fallen timber down on the grass. It was probably 3 feet wide when done. Then I laid down garden waste on top of that. The wood was pretty much covered. Then I put down a thick layer of fresh horse manure. After that, a layer of this fall's fallen leaves. Then I finished it off with a thinner layer of aged horse manure. All this was free to me so I have only fuel cost associated in the transport of the manure. I hope to plant potatoes and squashes in this bed.

My question is come spring can I plant directly in the manure or I do I need to put a good layer of soil down? The pile hasn't settled at all and is probably a bit over 3 feet high now.

interesting interview

http://vimeo.com/30951062

In my ongoing quest to grow less grass and more food my wife gave me permission to plant along the edge of the forest in our backyard.  i live in northern ohio and animals in my area are ground hogs, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, and occassionally deer.  i am mostly concerned with ground hogs and rabbits. 

my question is what can i plant along this tree line that i would not have to protect with fencing?  the area would get very good afternoon sun. the soil is is sandy but i will top it with some good compost.  what plants could these critters care less about but could bare some good fruit?

I have a volunteer pumpkin coming up in a pot.  That's what you get with composting I guess.  I have read these plants do not transplant well.  It won't survive in this small pot.  I really don't have any room in any veggie gardens.  Any advice on moving this plant to hopefully get some fruit this fall?  I have no experience with pumpkins and live in Ohio.

Nancy Sutton wrote:
Thought I'd just read this...
http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/growing-sweet-potatoes-zm0z11zsto.aspx

excellent article...thx nancy.  if she can grow them in canada, i can grow them in ohio.  look forward to trying this next year. 
i think i've settled on vardaman for 2 reasons.  1)  i am growing these in flower beds and this is a bush variety  2) they have a shorter growing season than most varieties which will help in my climate.

some of you should look up robb wolf and his work. 
http://robbwolf.com/2011/07/07/back-from-the-beyond-updates-and-musings/
he is doing a lot to change the way people eat and is also advocating permaculture.  bet he could learn a lot here and many here may learn a lot from his writing and lecturing on more traditional diets.

Dave:

do you ever mix fat with carbs to blunt the blood glucose levels after eating?  do you take any insulin?  at what point in your life did you discover you were insulin resistant?  how do you think you became insulin resistant?

Dave Bennett wrote:
I completely agree with you Bubba.  I have been advocating a diet since I left college in the 70's that has more emphasis on protein and fats and less so on carbs.  Carbs are still a big percentage that should be adjusted by physical activity.  Carbs should not be consumed in large quantities ever but more should be taken after strenuous exercise.  I was a weight lifter for decades until a spinal injury from an auto accident.  I did have to stop using weights because of the multiple cervical fusions but the ratios of proteins/fats/carbs did not change much.  I just ate much less food because I did not need those extra calories.  I studied nutritional healing therapy in college. 

Wow, you were way ahead of the curve.  I am curious how general nutritional advice has changed from what you learned in college 30+ years ago.

loved fathead and feel it is required viewing for all family practice physicians.  i have shunned processed foods for the last 5 years and i can say it is the best choice i've ever made.  i easily maintain leanness and muscle despite only exercising once or twice a week.  i don't starve myself either, i eat more fat than most anyone.  i have only had one sickness that required missed work in the last 5 years.  i am medication free and have been for a LONG time. 

people need to take this stuff very seriously.  the standard dietary recommendations of the last 30 years have done nothing but make our people sicker and fatter. 

the wife has given me permission to plant sweet potato in the garden beds.  yay, i am moving closer to a more edible yard.  anyways, i was looking for a fast maturing variety for my relatively short growing season in ohio.  anyone with experience in this have recommendations?