Jeanne Wallace

Moses Taylor wrote:I came here looking for a conservative type of people mainly Christan... There's just not a lot of that here, I'm hoping to find somewhere there is homesteaders together that are really conservative and Christian...

There are definitely some conservatives and Christians here on permies.com, but not sure how many in the singles forum. From personal experience, I'd suggest Farmer's Only dating site as a space to find singles who are into homesteading and match what you are looking for! Good luck!

We gave our 12 copies away at Homeschool Co-op. Lots of excited home-schooling families eager to use the book as part of their children's education!
My 30 yr old daughter was so inspired, she developed a Summer Camp curriculum based on the book (for kids 8-14).

Sick

Sick

aaawwww (hope all are well)

LIME PRIME!!!   Over the past 8 yrs, I have used this (in 2 different properties) for mold, including in a bathroom. Worked wonderfully, long-term! Yep: Halted it 100%. Inexpensive, zero VOCs, doesn't require endangering yourself or spreading spores throughout the house. Folks above who gathered that ALKALINITY would work, I believe are correct, based on how this product works. I think it would be possible to make a home-made version, but I've not yet done so.

https://shop-earthpaint.net/products/lime-prime

"Lime Prime is America's best (AND SAFEST) paint after flooding and preventing moldy surfaces. This low odor, mineral based, zero-voc product dries fast and is the best way to let surfaces dry out safely. Whether you're doing Disaster Relief, remodelling a musty basement, repairing flood damage, protecting wood frame construction, or simply want to coat your walls and protect your family, Lime Prime is the best way to go.

Lou Manfredini showed Lime Prime to Kathie Lee and Hoda on the TODAY SHOW a while back and we couldn't be more proud. As a family business, the health and well being of your friends and loved ones is our number one priority. If we wouldn't use it in our homes, we don't sell it! Thanks to NBC for spreading the word!

Recommended for: Drywall, Concrete and Wood. Recommended Spread Rate: 250-300 sq ft / gal.

ZERO VOC LIME PRIME - Covers mold stains and resists deterioration by mold.

We have taken a 10,000 year old technology and engineered it to be safely applied directly over high moisture content, Mold and Mildew stained surfaces.  This product uses the power of lime to penetrate and saturate the porous cell structure of wood, drywall and concrete matrix. Lime Prime has endured the test of time in all regions of the USA and works naturally to keep coated surfaces clean. We've seen exposed areas stay clean for well over 7 years. Enclosed areas like wall cavities remain effective indefinitely.

This is not a latex paint loaded with excessive chemical biocides and called a mold killing paint. Nor is it a basic Lime Wash. It is an Earth derived advanced inorganic mineral technology. Lime Prime is engineered for use where conventional coatings fall short and health concerns are primary."

Task

Questions:
 How much space can the suggested plant(s) take up, both vertically and in width?
 How deep is the soil in this mini-bed?
 Do cars park adjacent (where petro-fuel exhaust might rule out edible choices)?
 What is the budget?
 Do you want the plant(s) to have a specific purpose for you or your neighborhood (edible, medicinal, dye, ornamental)?

I might not suggest an insectary plant as we might not wish to draw bees/wasps near doorway where folks who might be fearful are traipsing.

I might not suggest a vining plant—though it is SO SO tempting—simply because landlord or street maintenance folks may assume the plant is invasive or unsightly and remove it.

I'd be tempted to stack a few plant "layers" rather than a single choice:
1. A handful of bulbs: narcissus (double white) or tulips to provide a cheery harbinger of early spring. Be sure to choose a fragrant variety! These will bloom longer being out of direct sunlight. Did you know tulip flower petals are edible? NB: narcissus are NOT edible.
2. Keeping on the flower theme, a low carpet of perennial Silene vulgaris (sculpit, Bladder Campion), with its lovely balloon blossoms (and yummy greens early spring and again in fall). Drought tolerant when established, tolerates a bit of shade.
3. Something a bit taller for the heat of summer when the sculpit dies back, maybe hollyhocks (if not oversized), somewhat edible (many parts of the plant) but pick the spent blossoms for dye! https://www.grandprismaticseed.com/dye-plants/double-black-hollyhock has details on using this for dye. It does ok in part shade; does need watered...an excuse for you to visit & admire it with watering can in hand.

To get started, you might find folks here on permies have seeds to share or barter!
And once your plants are established, you could collect the seeds of #2 and #3 to share with passersby in the neighborhood to build community.

Perhaps we should put forth a DEFINITION of what is the difference between soil and dirt?  {And this might also be an educational point in the video...}

Are we not speaking here of the difference between inert dirt and LIVING Soil?

If this is the case, then a soil test will likely be wholly inadequate to the task. And, if true that it's not the "mineral" content of dirt that is a requisite factor, but rather the abudance of soil-based organisms essential for the uptake of those minerals, then we want instead a way to show that there is a paucity of living biology in the dirt on which one's GAMCOD plot is begun.

A microscope would be awesome here, but far outside the budget of most peeps and intimidating too!  I like the idea, presented above by Jim Fry:

"But for me, the number one first thing I do is to simply look at what is growing in and on a particular soil, ~Naturally. Before it is "molested" by humans. The type of plants and their vitality and color and abundance tell me a quite eloquent story before I ever walk in that place, space."

Bask

TASTE!

I started gardening because, in the 1990, I was grieving the loss of flavor in store-bought produce, tastes (and textures) I remembered eating from the garden we had growing up on the farm.
I wasn't willing to continue eating produce that had lost its true/real FLAVOR.
So I ripped up the lawn and had at it, and my taste buds were amply rewarded!
Every year since, I've added more and more items to my "Grow It Myself" list: fruits, berries, nuts, tea, 50+ perennial veggies, medicine, fodder, fiber...