Denise Cares

I just learned of this Korean Fertilizer called JADAM and the method of making it from watching this video:   https://www.youtube.com/live/0NBCwln7skg
It seems pretty simple.  I read the posts above which seem to require complicated methods and ingredients that are hard to find.  Also I didn't understand a lot of it, hopefully this will help someone else who didn't understand.

Hi Everyone, Hope someone still visits this thread even if started 10 yrs ago, there's still lots of good info shared in it!  Here's a nice video I found that explains how making a mound (i.e. a hugule) grows more crops than any other method.  Helpful to understand the "science" going on with nature's principles.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxdWFQ05h5A
P.S. Overlook the parts where the picture shows flat or raised beds while the narrator is telling about the correct way to grow! :)

Dan Allen wrote:I grow it and use it as a rice substitute. I nixtamalize with wood ash and rinse, then use as Cooked rice, or Masa substitute. Can be mixed with corn Masa as well. More antioxidants than blueberries! The nixtamalization neutralizes antinutrients and increases the nutrient profile, as well destroys fungal pathogens, aflatoxins.

Can anyone please describe the way to use wood ash with the sorghum to "nixtamalize" properly? Any particular kind of wood ash?  Do you use water, dry ash or how is this done?  How long does the process take before the rinse?  Thank you.

Having a little space to visit in the winter is like taking a mini vacation to a tropical place. Entering inside o a cold winter day gives such a boost to the soul - feeling the warm, moist air and the earthy smell of something green growing.  How neat that you were able to overwinter pepper plants too.  .  

Nancy Reading wrote:Jen, I love the details you have put into your greenhouse - so cute! Well done!

The pulley shelf is awesome! What a great idea for using space up high.

Tell us about the flowers around the people door? Bought or made? They look really cheerful and I can imagine loads of places would be brightened year round by a few flowers like that.

I agree, the pulley shelf is a fabulous idea for accomodating plants as they grow tall!

Jen Fulkerson wrote:Of course now I have a bunch of metal flower stems with a couple of leaves on them.  I can't throw them away, that would be waist full. I've been wanting to make plant markers. I was thinking it might be cute to  use the stems to hold the markers.  
Unfortunately there's been a lot of unexpected things pop up, so the markers have to wait.

That's a perfect use for them Jen! Just use them without any further fuss.  You can mark where you planted seeds and put the seed pack right over the stem.

Jen, that is the cutest, really the cutest little greenhouse I've ever seen! For not being a carpenter, you did an amazing job! It is just so CUTE!!  Can you tell I really like your little greenhouse?? :) :)  

Found similar looking pictures of the brown-black round bumps on oak leaves/branches and this explanation: Looks like scale. I picked them off and sprayed with horticultural oil.  https://www.reddit.com/r/gardening/comments/1ccevqt/what_are_these_red_spotted_bumps_on_my_apple_tree/

Hi Everyone, I just discovered these tiny black round bugs/bumps on my healthy apple tree just like the first picture posted 9 yrs ago.  I typed into search for what it was and this Permies post came up first.  I'm not seeing an ID on it or that anyone gave a specific response to what it is.  I squished a couple of them with my bare hands and they do squish like a bug with a hard shell of some kind. They're firmly attached to the tree but do not seem to leave any scar or wound on the bark where they are attached.  I wonder if it's some kind of helpful insect that is in its egg casing??  Hope someone reads this so many years later from the original post!

Great tips and suggestions Matt. I have an older Excalibur dehydrator 9 tray which holds a lot so I tend not to run it unless full. It is noisy and no doubt adds to my electric bill here in california where everything is overpriced to begin with.  I have found an alternate way of drying soaked (sprouted) grains and seeds by spreading them out on cookie sheets or trays about 1/2 in thick. I set up cooling racks (which I find at thrift store) so they sit a bit high off the woostove (about 1-2 inches is ideal). Then I place the trays with seeds on them. If the temp of the stove is too hot, I sometimes move the trays to the mantle above the stove. The only downside is that some dust or ash will collect over time on the mantle, so removing the trays when I need to clean out the stove ashes is good practice.  A fireplace mantle can be useful for drying all sorts of small things - like wet socks, hats, mittens.  The fireplace is brick & masonry cement and I managed to insert small nails into tiny cracks here and there under the mantle where it meets the masonry.  From these nails I've hung string with herbs fastened and even chili peppers to dry. It's my "country bumpkin" decor but it works!