And another Lurker steps into the light

Hello all!

I have been listening to Paul’s podcasts, reading some of Paul’s articles and a few discussions on permies.com, but this is my first post.

This year I started my first garden – a 4’ x 8’ raised bed – which has not done very well. During my gardening research I discovered a term called “permaculture” which I initially brushed off. Then ran into it again, found Geoff Lawton videos, Paul’s articles and podcasts and now I’m hooked and hungry for more. I am still pretty low on Paul’s eco scale and still incredibly new to permaculture or even just gardening. But permaculture is the prick of truth and breath of fresh air that I desperately needed and I want to learn more and do more.

I am 31 years old. I currently live in Florida, but come from Wisconsin. I am involved with Civil Engineering and frequently have to deal with various “departments of making you sad” as Paul puts it and I try to make them happy. But I’d rather not talk too much of that since I am still entrenched in the corporate world.

And I just wanted to introduce myself and say hello.

Welcome to the forums.

There are quite a few Floridians here, so you should be able to learn some of the local solutions.

That sandy soil needs a lot of organic matter to help hold the nutrients.
And many plants do better with some afternoon shade (or shade cloth).
Some crops do best with 2 plantings; one real early, and the next as the summer temps ease up later.

Good luck.

Hi Travis, you got here just in time for fall planting.

In my opinion fall and winter make the best gardens here in the South.

Here are some things that are perfect for planting right now:

All Greens, Mustard, BoK Choi, Baby Choi, Tat Soi, leaf lettuces, spinach....
Carrots
Radishes
Turnips
Beets
Onions
You might get some english peas to do well all winter - I am just a tad too far north so I have to plant mine in January. But -- I might just try a fall planting this year anyway
And I'll be planting garlic and elephant garlic last of Sept/first of Oct.

Everyone in snow country talks about resting in the winter -- that is when we are just getting started!