Hello All,
Hopefully you will be seeing more of me on this forum. While I have been following other
permaculture Guru's this site seems to fit me from what I've seen.
A bit of background. About 3 years ago I got the bug to get out of Los Angeles. I started looking into homesteading etc. This brought me to
Permaculture and getting in to more serious
gardening.
Today I find myself on 20 acres that are off the grid entirely. I live with me Wife (D) in a motor home for now and have yet to punch a well for
water. We have only been here for 4 months. The site is in the Southern Sierra Nevada's. Zone 8 (as best as I can tell this early). We have a very short growing season and the winters get pretty chilly 20's? We had snow in early June this year. I have 3 seasonal brooks on the property that
should be able to be used to hydrate the
land given a bit of time and work on my part. Ponds and swales are in the plans but nothing as of yet. Perhaps hydro is in the future. Our annual rain fall is around 12 in. So I'll need to take advantage of brooks and run off from future barns and the house.
On the property my only internet is from my cell phone so please accept my apologies in advance for stupid looking typos that my cell auto corrects. They tend to get through and are an embarrassment to me but that is the reality of it for now.
It is VERY windy here so I have started to grow
Black locust for N2, wind break, and
wood posts. I have Siberian
pea going as well. On my list of wants is Sun Chokes for the hens we have (we have 12 laying hens and a Rooster) as well as wind protection for tender plants. If any body has some they want to trade for seed that I have I'd be interested. The property has sporadic conifers (pines), and tons of scrub oaks. The soil while I have yet to do a soil test is quite sandy and rocky. How ever there are areas of clay that I hope to use for a Rocket mass heating and stone
oven. Raised beds are in my future (to much rock). I believe it to be alkaline. BUT! Under the oaks is a wonderful dark soil that I believe to be acidic. Early potting tests and a real small veggie garden are showing good results.
Well I guess this gives you some idea of what I am about. I look forward to interacting with you and sharing my triumphs and failures too. Wish me luck in this in devour... I hope to draw on your knowledge from time to time. Perhaps I can help you out as well. This is a great community to interact with and I'm looking forward to what the coming years will bring.
Best Regards,
Jim L./ Windthot
