Callandra Caufield

Shoot - I clearly didn't do a good search on the site before posting, sorry! I see there are lots of other threads on this topic, I'll have a peek.

Hi All,

We've just finished installing 7 new raised beds...when I discovered my partner had used wood that has been treated with "Micronized Copper Azole". I don't want to sound dramatic, but I am feeling a touch devastated. I have worked so hard to create a diverse and chemical-free soil food web...only to discover we are using wood with a FUNGICIDE. He thought it was fine as the hardware store told him it was 'fine for veggie beds'. I did a bit of hunting, it appears the copper leeching is minimal. It doesn't contain arsenic - which was the issue with old treated wood. But it does contain a compound called 'azole' that I can't find much about. Can anyone offer advice on how serious this mistake might be?

Thanks!

Aaron McKinley wrote:So worth the investment so far?  Good to hear.  They are the more reasonable and economical choice next to Lawton's one, for me at least.

Yes, absolutely. I would not want to pay $2k for an online course - but at $700, the value is really there. Plus if you are Canadian - the time zones might work out a bit better.

Aaron McKinley wrote:Yeah those two guys seem to have it going on. Is the course quality?  All the theory is there? Good delivery?

It's my first PDC, but yes, I believe all of the theory is there.  They've brought in a variety of teachers to address different topics - we've heard from different practitioners on Permaculture gardening, rainwater harvesting/water management, soil - we're about halfway through now. The back-end course management system is really easy to navigate, and there are lots and lots of extra materials to draw from if you want to dig further into a topic.

I'm taking the Verge Permaculture online PDC (it's under $1000 CAD). It's a brand new course - a response to the current climate. There are lots of elements of the course I am really enjoying, but I will likely want to take some in-person courses in the future. There has been an opportunity to ask questions - but with a large online delivery, there isn't an opportunity for back and forth discussion (which is how I learn best).  I am also missing lots of the hands-on application elements. If your intention is to really get the theory down, it's a great option. I will need to add on some hands-on in the field learning to round out the experience ( which I always suspected would be the case).  

We built a large cold frame this year to grow our tomatoes. We're zone 2/3, and in a windy area, so the protected space was necessary, and we had a successful crop. I've picked all of the fruit now ( snow in the forecast this week). I have two questions:

1. I've read about crop rotation, but we really don't have another place to grow tomatoes. Is there anything amendments I can add this fall to help prevent disease and add nutrients? I was planning on adding some ground eggshells, compost, a good layer of leaves, and a layer of organic straw.

2. I've got 12 picked tomato plants, what's the best way to use this organic material? I'm hesitant to use it as green mulch in the tomato bed, I don't want to spread any disease.

Thank-you!  

We've got a bit of a flea beetle infestation.  It's enough that my arugula & kale seedlings arent even making it past their first leaves. Beet greens are covered in holes, as are sunflowers, rhubarb & horseradish ( they can have those leaves). Lettuce seedlings I just planted are already hopping. Next year I'll be sure to do crop rotation, & I'll likely use row covers next year too. Is there anything I can do this year? I've heard a few mentions of ditamaceous earth, but I'd like to get some thoughts here first. Thank-you.

So an update ... we had a huge blizzard, and it dropped to -11c. Adding the extra straw kept our hoop house right around 0c. The seedlings out there still aren't thriving- but it's been hovering around 3c all week, so I'll just be patient.

I do have lots of straw, that's a great suggestion and I will likely give it a shot.