Jennifer Whitaker

That makes me think of another question then. If I want eggs AND chicks do I just pick one box and not collect from it and one of them will hatch them all out? Will the other boxes continue to fill or will the chickens decide that must not be a safe spot since the eggs keep disappearing and start laying elsewhere?

Hi Victoria! This will be my first year having chickens since I was a kid!

This is wonderful! I have to confess when I first clicked on the link, I was thinking he had created the season "spring" while it's still winter. LOL Guess I am ready to get back to the growing season!

Enjoyed the pictures, thanks!

Just IMHO plants are happier and healthier if they grow in the ground. Although vertical planting is a great idea for those in areas that they are limited, I think the best for us come out of the ground. I can't imagine people abandoning that, but that's just me. 5 acres could be large enough to sustain a few animals too or be an orchard. It doesn't have to just be staple crops that we turn to.

I have planted several of my raised beds directly onto the grass. I use the lasagne method and it worked great for me! If I'm lazy I just put down the newspaper, cover it with my mixture of soil and compost, mulch with straw and start planting. Works every time and no weeds. Sometimes I get grass that pokes up around the edges but it's always easy to pull up, especially if it has just rained.

Katrina,

There are lots of books on container gardening and there are plants that don't need much direct sun. If I remember I think beets and beans are some. Maybe Kale... Trying to remember but I would first identify which ones need less light and then seek out how to grow them in containers. As far as keeping the water from dripping down on your neighbors below, I suggest using those clay pots designed for you to pour the water into and it disperses the water slowly. Either that or use those planters that you water the bottom and it never leaves except thru the plant.

Love the website idea!

Never mind. I see that my display name does show my name. I thought it would show my login.

BTW, Hi Michael! Welcome to Permies!

Christopher de Vidal, the aquaponics set ups with mosquito fish will clear out a population pretty fast too. This is the company I follow a lot and they have had an interesting experience with it. http://www.friendlyaquaponics.com/no-more-malaria/ I know aquaponics is not considered totally permaculture but it works pretty well and is better for the environment than conventional means.

Very true! Since it's for work I can't let them go unanswered for days at a time but certainly they can wait another hour...

Yes I need to do this too. Choose a period of each day that I put everything down and get out there. Perhaps in the morning before I even start looking at emails since that seems to be where I get sucked in. I don't have a large enough property to need all morning. Well actually I shouldn't say that, what I really mean is that we are probably moving some time this summer so there is only but so much I should really do, ie probably not the best time to start new beds! Not to worry though. Still plenty to do!