Mary Hyde

Hi Kane,

I'm in zone 6a in southern Missouri.
My turnips are still producing leaves in late May, and the kale in partial shade is doing great. My cut and come lettuce is still good, but radishes (we eat the young leaves as a cooked green) are bolting, as are most if the brassicas, and the spinach has mostly shut down. I'll probably pull those soon, and try planting swiss chard. I've had success with mustard greens making it through the hot summers, and try to plant beets and kale under their leaves.

I'm afraid I didn't plant any collards, so no info available there.

Hope this information is helpful.
Mary Hyde

I'm a little late to this post, but hope everyone is doing as well as possible, especially Paul and team.  Just a couple of pennies to throw into the discussion (aka my two cents worth.)

Regarding Pearl's information on baking soda: I had CV symptoms in late February-early March, with chills for a couple days, and feeling like my lungs had lots of mucus. Baking soda is my go-to to help break-up excess mucus, so I took that (about 1/2 tsp or so with LOTS of tea.) Slept more than usual for about a week, and felt drug-out for another week, but then I was fine.

I didn't know that CV was acid loving, but raising your pH does help with most illnesses. My mom, who was a nurse and nurse-anesthetist for more than 40 years, told me some time back that they would give baking soda, in very small amount, to patients who had acidosis of the blood as part of their treatment. In the anatomy course I taught (homeschooler for 3 kids, all 12 grades), your kidneys filter Blood and Lymph to produce urine, so your blood/lymph, as source fluids, will be of a higher pH if your urine pH tests alkaline. Different systems in the body retain differing amount of Hydrogen. The body works toward homeostasis, so if you're only taking small amounts, any Excess will be processed and excreted.

Totally agree with Jay: not everything works for everyone. Our biochemistry(s) are each unique, like our personalities. :) If something resonates with you, do your research (for safety's sake), then try a tiny amount and see how your body reacts to it. If you get a resounding "NO", back off and try something else. And listen to your Self...you are wiser than you could possibly know.

Hang in there, folks. We're hopefully almost through this.
~Mary

Hi Harmony,

Regarding the lead arsenate and whether you should be concerned, maybe.

According to wikipedia, "Lead arsenate was widely used in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, US, England, France, North Africa, and many other areas, principally against the codling moth. It was used mainly on apples, but also on other fruit trees, garden crops, turfgrasses, and against mosquitoes." It was discovered that it built-up in produce, so was eventually replaced with...DDT!

If you think there is a chance of lead and arsenic, have the soil from several areas tested.

Traditionally, if serious soil contamination was detected, you'd have to scrape off the top 6+" of soil, take it to the landfill, then replace it with 'new' soil. Fortunately, there is a better way if you are growing organically (or better, the permie way). You can 'lock up' the lead in the soil using phosphorus. You can read about it at http://urban-homesteading.org/remediating-lead-in-the-soil. If arsenic is the problem, check at https://soilsmatter.wordpress.com/2018/02/15/how-does-biochar-work-to-improve-or-even-decontaminate-soil .

I'm hoping this information is completely unnecessary for your farm. Good luck and good growing!

~Mary

Hi Bryan,

My son and I are also in the Denver area. We wish you much good luck with your new land, and those wonderful permie plans!

If I was sure we were staying in the area, I'd volunteer some labor to you.  Sadly, we are currently in a transient state, since our land purchase down near Falcon fell through. Having to fall back, lick my wounds and regroup at this point. I'm thinking a road trip to my birthplace and the comfort of family might help speed up the healing process. And then, we'll take the next step...

Elle and Miles sound like area experts, and what a wonderful resource for everyone who lives around here! So generous with your knowledge. Based on my past experience in GA, I recommend planting ANYTHING you think might survive this region, and your land specifically...and seed-saving the daylights out of the toughest survivors!

May you have amazing growth!
Mary

Hello (AGAIN),

I posted my FIRST introduction on this site in 2017, fully intending to interact with all you wonderful people. But then LIFE stepped in and those plans were out the window for a while.

But I'm back...finally.

Quick review: I have been 'playing' with permaculture concepts in my yard in Marietta GA for years. As I mentioned in my previous post, I started having dreams about "The Land" in 2005 (and still to this day.) I spent the year of 2018 preparing my house for sale. [BTW, it's on the market now if anyone knows a buyer. ] And I am planning to move before May 2019 to look for my land on the Colorado High Plains near the Yoder/Rush area.

I am so grateful for you like-minded folks who understand having dreams of Land, permaculture and taking care of the Earth. I'm still hoping for a group of friends with whom I can talk, laugh, dream and share my crazy ideas. Y'know, a support group for permies! And any help finding my Land would be welcomed/appreciated too.

Love and Peace,
Mary

Hi Kc,
     Congrats on your growing sucesses - are you using micro-climes or particularly hardy species of plants? I have recently bought (and skimmed but not yet read) Sepp Holzer's book, and it looks like his climate is somewhat like Colorado.

     I am just at the beginning of looking for land in Colorado (as I noted in my Introduction msg, I've been dreaming about a piece of land), so this is more of a fact-finding message at this point. In fact, I'm such a 'noob' about this that I'm not even sure what questions to ask. I am concerned about lack of water and way too much government oversight/regulations/nose-in-my-business. Obviously I need to do some research into water regulations in CO. Any other legal areas you might suggest i look at?  I'm a Nebraskan by birth, so I am familiar with lots of snow, arctic winds, baking summer heat, T-storms/hail/tornadoes. But I've also been living in the South for 30+ years, so I expect I'm going to have to grow some thicker skin to cope with CO winters.

    My son and I are attempting to coordinate our schedules to come up to CO in early-mid February 2017. In part, this will be to see if I can 'recognize' the land from my dreams. Once we have a better idea of what we're doing schedule-wise, I'd love to arrange to come look at your property, if you'd be OK with that. I'm intrigued by what you're doing, and also by your very positive mindset toward it. And I LOVE the fact you are putting together a permie community in your area!

Much thanks,
Mary Hyde


   

Thank you for the kind welcome, Miles. I am just starting to peruse the Rockies forum.

Now I just need to 'get my footing' with navigation on this site...

Hello!
My name is Mary Hyde and I am new to Permies! Much thanks to Paul et al for hosting/shepherding this site. I am currently living near Marietta, GA, where I am self-studying permaculture and 'playing' with the concepts in my own yard. (I <3 hugels and swales!)

Back in 2005, I started having dreams about a piece of property I was being drawn to somewhere, which I referred to as "The Land". The dreams continue on and off to this day, and I have narrowed the location of "The Land" to Colorado. (I know, it's a big state, but I've got it narrowed down from 48 states to one, so...Yay me!)

I am looking 1st) for folks who don't look at me oddly when I talk about permaculture and taking care of the Earth; 2nd) don't look at me oddly and with deep concern when I talk about having dreams of Land and having a Dream to one day BE on that Land; and Finally) just a group of friends with whom I can talk, laugh, dream and share openly and freely, without judgement or condemnation. Bonus: any help finding and acquiring the exact piece of Land that God/Gaia/my Higher Self has in mind for me would be most welcome too.

So, thanks much for listening/reading! I look forward to getting to know some of you!

Love and Peace from my soul to yours,
Mary