Jen Fulkerson

I have this raised bed that has been sitting around for a while, I threw it together with some pretty crummy wood. It was lined with weed cloth, and since it sat out in the sun just deteriorated. I have a bunch of flowers I want to grow, so I decided to use it. I added one more layer and crummy wood. I lined it with some old curtains I made years ago. The material is 100%cotton if memory serves, and it's doubled. I made sure it allows water to drain. I know It will decompose, but it works for now, and won't end up in the dump.

The general suggestion is 6 to 12 inches tall. I like the take the slips from the sides when they have 3 or 4 sets of true leaves. The side shoots often already have roots. Lots of people root the slips in water, but I think it's easier to just plant them in the place I want them to grow. That being said this year I got a very early start, so I have planted some slips in small pots until it's warm enough to plant outside. Time will tell if this is a good idea, or bad.
Good luck, and keep trying, you will find what works for you .

I'm definitely not an expert, I have only been growing sweet potatoes a couple of years. I have found it easiest for me to plant the sweet potato in a shallow pot. This is very easy, and produces lot of slips . I'm actually getting slips from the same sweet potato I used last year.  
I wanted to share slips, and didn't know the name of the sweet potato I started last year, so I started one in the house with a heat mat to get an early start. It's working great.
My daughter bought a couple of sweet potatoes to eat, and they were sitting on the table not far from the grow light. They are growing slips. It makes me wonder if the soil and watering isn't necessary.
You will see the pictures and say wow huge! difference, why is she even questioning the process? Keep in mind the one in the soil were on a heat mat, and have been planted for 6 or 8 weeks??? The volunteers haven't been on the table that long, so not fair comparing them.
One thing is for sure I will have plenty of sweet potato slips.

I got a clumping bamboo on clearance a few years ago. Not only has it not taken over, it took quite a while to establish. I'm pretty sure I wasn't watering it enough. I haven't used any of the bamboo yet. I'm a little afraid to. It's finally growing well , so maybe I'll cut a pole or two.

Thanks everyone, your kind words are appreciated.
Ann the red, are actually a dark orange, it looks red in the light. are nasturtiums I think that one is Alaska. Normally they die back in the winter, and regrow come spring. This winter was so mild they didn't die, so I'm quite thrilled with how many blooms, and how tall they are. the blue are borage, self seeded, and colorful ones are Linaria Fairy bouquet from botanical interest seeds.
Thanks

Today was just one of those days. It wasn't bad, nothing happened, no one was rude, or angry. I was unhappy, and it was all on me. I just struggled through the day trying not to infect others with my mood. After work I was exhausted. ate food that wasn't really good for me, watched YouTube, and continued to be unhappy. I remembered I needed to pot up some tomato seedlings, and feed the chickens (they had food in the gravity feeder, but I didn't give them there fermented grains this morning) Out I went. I took care of the chickens first. Then I watered the veggies garden and I noticed lots of peas. I stood in the dusk, eating peas surrounded by peace and beauty. To some it may sound silly, but for me it was a little perfect moment. It wasn't hot, or cold, it was quite. I wasn't getting bit by mosquitoes ( that in itself is a miracle) just eating garden candy (peas) enjoying the beauty, finding joy in the moment. I found my balance.
To often especially nowadays it's easy to focus on the bad, and forget to enjoy the little moments. I just wanted to share my moment with people I know will understand.
You may think the permaculture forum was a strange place to post this, I often struggle with what forums to post in, but when I think of permaculture I think of finding balance, so that seem to be the perfect place.
I hope you you find joy in little moments.

this is year 2 for me. It did grow last year, but it wasn't very impressive. I thought I did something wrong, but maybe it's my climate, I live in zone 9B Northern California.

I love pansies partly for their adorable faces, and part because my grandmother loved and always grew them, so they bring lovely memories.
I grow them every year. I have had them reseed themselves a couple of times. I have tried to grow them from seed I got them to sprout and grow an inch or two and then they stall and don't do much. This year I'm going to start them in late July under shade cloth. I think I have been starting them to late? I'm determined to figure it out.

It's a hugel beet that I add good stuff to, and keep weeded, so that makes sense.

I removed the raspberries from my bed.  I managed to get a few with some nice roots, so I planted them in a pot. They may or may not grow, but I don't loose anything by trying.
When I pulled one of the little raspberry plants it had a long root with lots of shoots.  So I'm worried I may end up with this bed being taken over by raspberry . This is not what I intended, but we love raspberries, so what ever will be will be. Time will tell.