M Kreiger

greg mosser wrote:as far as i know the thuja genus doesn’t harbor cedar apple rust or other diseases that might affect your forest garden.

however, i’m a big fan of ginkgo and all other things being equal, that’s probably what i’d go with.

That is the main information I was wandering, thank you. Did a little research on roots, and since thuja has surface roots, it might make a good companion plant with ginkgo, whose root system works well with sidewalks and stone work.

So if you plant the like 2 columnar ginkgo closer to the run-off driveway/sidewalk source with the thuja to create a screen. My third companion i am considering is a purple red bud as a hydrocarbon filter and pretty accent. Combined with the garden giant mushrooms I think I’ve designed my first filter fedge. You can cut back the thuja after the ginkgo grows in.

Maybe sunflowers and raspberries with a fire circle for burning them at end of year and just and hanging out? Any suggestions to improve  the design guild are welcome.

My alternative to thuja is a columnar ginkgo but I was wondering if thuja spreads rust or any other disease into my food forest? It would be filtering run-off at the top of the hill with garden giant mushrooms before it reaches the rest of the food production.

Thanks for the feedback

Carla Burke wrote:

Rick Myers wrote:When I first saw this, my thoughts were it was about using the water for an aquaponics type set up where it is run through grow beds and filtered by the plants before being returned to the duck's pool. Has anyone tried this yet?

That's exactly what I'm talking about

Now that I look at it, someone correct me if I’m wrong - the problem with this design is you are running the water backwards so-to-speak. The water from the ducks is what will need to be filtered to not kill the fish. There is also a parasite bluegills get from birds, not sure if othe fish get them. People on backyard chickens said the problem with permanent set ups is the waste deteriorated the system too quickly and most went back to kiddie pools and chase the ducks away from their backyard ponds. Except if you have an acre “pond.” I decided to settle for building a little deck with a kiddie pool in the center or just arranging Gravel around it until it looks pretty. Still deciding how to dump it, maybe a lever system

If you already had a system for dealing with the duck waste, then the dumping the fish waste should only be a small addition from what i’ve Been told.

Other ideas I had for a permanent duck pond instillation was to use a maciating pump from an rv with the above style set up or using a toilet flush siphon and manually flushing the pond like a toilet tank (the top one not bottom)

Been searching for the best solution for small backyard ducks, and I've decided on large kiddie pools mounted to something like a dump trailer next to a compost bin that drains into a raised bed or two. I couldn't find anything that will last longer, and for the price, I think its cheapest to build a round deck to hide the kiddie pool that to keep rebuilding a duck pond, and both will be pretty in the end. Most people seem to say the ducks will muck anything else up too fast, but you can just dump the kiddie pool over and over again anywhere you want it.

I really want to see how you do the indoor aquaponics.  I found  some research papers on raising catfish, prawn and crayfish in a recirculating system but in separate tanks. The tanks were cleaner because each animal eats a different size of food so will clean the other's mess. I'm going to try vermiponics first. Yellow bullhead sounded like a good starter fish but I couldn't find anyone to supply it.

We're putting up a chain link around the property and I'm wordering if people have any suggestions or creative ways to trellis without destroying my fence over time. I was thinking of using aircraft wire strung through drilled wood posts, but I thought maybe there are other things, too, I may not have thought of that take advantage of the steel post system. Or even misting, watering systems etc, for chain link fences. thanks

I asked once and they wouldn’t let me. I had good luck with healthy plants but I get my deliveries in 24 hours or less. Burpee has been packaged the best so far with Stark Bro’s close behind. From all reports I’ve seen gurney will replace but they will make you wait until next spring to prove it’s dead. Haven’t had any to request yet. Sign up for the mailist and wait for the coupons. I haven’t bought anything without 50% off.

Tried to get some photos from above

Thanks for the info. Gurneys nursery is only a few miles away so I thought I’d start with their varieties. I think all ribes have to be lab tested before importing to Ohio as I’ve noticed I can get most varieties but most nurseries only deliver one or two varieties to Ohio. Anyways, I got a few to try.

I have 490 feet of fence line and a huge shaded  hugel bed to plant. About 300’ is shade or part shade. I have some plums, pears and brambles to plant the line and am adding ribes , persimmon and asparagus After planting I will add strawberries, miners lettuce and sorrel.

I keep saying I will post pics but they’re mostly on my wife’s phone

Never tasted any of them but was going to order 3-4 cultivars of each to test on my site and wondering which varieties taste best fresh or for smoothies? Also which ones will sell best? Or crosses like jostaberry I know there are more out there.

Has anyone done taste tests? Thanks!