Dana Martin

Thank you for sharing! I would love to convince some of these farmers. When my father or father-in-law talk about weeds I will say 'a $20 rose is also a weed in your precious $7 a bushel corn field.'

I wish i could make it this year. It hurts me to miss another one. Hopefully next year!!

paul wheaton wrote:

Someday I am going to make it over to Wheaton labs!!

We did have an exhibit of xeriscaping in Fargo. But they decided to destroy that and put an addition to the water plant instead.... But i do like the idea of Xeriscaping though.

Deb Rebel wrote:

Dana Martin wrote:

Nicole Alderman wrote:

Another thing that that should be mentioned is how it is living with a spouse that is a few levels behind you. They want all the lawn mowed with a gas mower. You have to restrain them from dousing bindweed with roundup. They put everything in plastic trashbags ("oh look, meat scraps we can't eat, guess I'll put them in the trash." But, when you put something that decomposes into a trashbag that doesn't decompose, it can't make it back to the earth). They don't care about driving to and from town everyday to pick up a few more things. They pull weeds that aren't harmful and fill an environmental nitch (fireweed, wall lettuce). They want to spray bleach and antkiller all around the house to keep ants and weeds away...even though we have ducks foraging there...

It just shows how those upper Wheaton Eco Scale people really are amazing to have attained those higher levels!

How can we work with these spouses??? My spouse grew up around a manicured lawn. They literally trimmed the grass around the outer buildings and house with hand shears!!  She just can't get passed the idea of not having a big expanse for a lawn. I have asked her to come to a PDC and that went over like a fart in church. Can anyone give me any ideas?

We made the rule. He can mow anything he wants but the garden area and front yard are mine. I put little fences around the trees and a few other things and that thus leaves me in charge of those areas as he refuses to move everything and put it back. I haven't ever needed to bale the front lawn but it's gotten a bit long at times....  Around the garden, you better leave my lambs quarters and dandelions ALONE those are my salad greens. I have custody of all the nasty house and yard and garden chemicals too.

Try pitching xeriscaping to her instead of a lawn. That sometimes works. You just sneak a food forest into the plan.

paul wheaton wrote:If anybody wants a 20% kickback for this kickstarter, please let me know.  I will send you a link so you can get 20%.

Go infect some more brains Paul! Lets DOMINATE THIS WORLD!!!

Travis Johnson wrote:The best place for me to buy seed is the Soil and Water Conservation District of my county. They buy in bulk and being a non-profit organization do not pass to much overhead onto those that buy it, they want people to cover there bare soil. But they also make a blend of grass mixtures that is a nice cross between cover crop and nitrogen fixing and ideally suited for my area.

Even if your local county does not directly sell seed mixtures, they can probably tell you the best place to buy it as well as what works well in your location. This was what they were created for 75 years ago!

I tried to go to my conservation district and look at their seed. And they had a wonderful selection! I started to do a little research on the seed company and they ended up being own by Monsanto. UGH! I think i will keep on shopping.

This is a total shock! I am totally speechless! I didn't know he was sick. God Speed Toby! Thank you for all you have done. F@#! Cancer

Tyler Ludens wrote:

Dana Martin wrote:She just can't get passed the idea of not having a big expanse for a lawn.

Does she want to maintain the lawn herself, or does she ask you to do it?  If she does it herself, then try to negotiate on spaces for your plantings, and a space for her lawn.  If she expects you to maintain the lawn, then I think you have some grounds for drawing a line - a line around a smallish lawn.  A very well maintained little lawn can be a beautiful thing in a yard, I often wish we had one.  I like little circular lawns - they are easy to mow and irrigate.

She has only mowed twice since we started our homestead around 8 years ago. So maybe we can agree on some part of zone 1 being lawn?.?

Nicole Alderman wrote:

Another thing that that should be mentioned is how it is living with a spouse that is a few levels behind you. They want all the lawn mowed with a gas mower. You have to restrain them from dousing bindweed with roundup. They put everything in plastic trashbags ("oh look, meat scraps we can't eat, guess I'll put them in the trash." But, when you put something that decomposes into a trashbag that doesn't decompose, it can't make it back to the earth). They don't care about driving to and from town everyday to pick up a few more things. They pull weeds that aren't harmful and fill an environmental nitch (fireweed, wall lettuce). They want to spray bleach and antkiller all around the house to keep ants and weeds away...even though we have ducks foraging there...

It just shows how those upper Wheaton Eco Scale people really are amazing to have attained those higher levels!

How can we work with these spouses??? My spouse grew up around a manicured lawn. They literally trimmed the grass around the outer buildings and house with hand shears!!  She just can't get passed the idea of not having a big expanse for a lawn. I have asked her to come to a PDC and that went over like a fart in church. Can anyone give me any ideas?

I feel like i have lost a great friend that i have never had the pleasure to meet. I will try to make him proud!