Randy Simmons

Thank you for your post.  I am attempting a grex this year for the first time.  It will contain Exserted Tiger and Exserted Orange as well as two F1 hybrids.  Glad to know I'm on the right track.

For tomatoes:
Exserted Tiger
Exserted Orange
Start S F1
Moravsky Div
Czech Stupice

Peppers
Hot Korean chili peppers

Okra
Sultani
Jing
Ultracross
Motherland
Kandahar Pendhi

Lettuce
Landrace from EFN

Mustard
Beni Houshi mizuna

Squash
Early Bulam
Butterfish
Canadian crookneck
North circle squash from EFN

Rhubarb
Dunfy rhubarb from EFN

Got some various early Russian determinates but we had septoria here last year and am afraid to plant them

As someone who relocated to South Dakota 26 years ago I would say John Weiland's explanation is the closest to the truth.  People here don't Google permaculture because they don't know what it is and aren't interested.  On the bright side, in my case, we live in a small town (160 according to the census) that most don't know exists.  As long as what I do isn't a danger to someone else, no one really cares what I do on my property.  Closer to "town" and I would have neighbors telling me I can't plant catalpa trees because they make seed pods, I need a white picket fence around my garden, etc.

Some people are not reachable. Some people however, are more open. Some will gladly try without much incentive, others will need to see more success before trying. I personally don't plan on actively "converting" people, but I believe that if I end up making a lot of good stuff with my place, I will inspire others, and some will actively try to mimic and get into permaculture, forget about the toxic agriculture etc. It's not about turning a blind eye, it's about choosing your battle. I won't try to convince a proponent of toxic agriculture, because either that person won't try anything else, or can't. My time is much better spent talking with people much more open with the idea. I'm not sure if I'm clear with what I mean here.

What I think is nice with permies, is that it seems more focused on doing things instead of being angry at bad guys. Yes, a lot of s*%t happen just so we can all have SUVs, full wallmart and brand new phone every year, but personally, I prefer to focus on trying to depend less and less on that. Talk to people who are in the same mindset, and also try to talk about solutions to people who are open about trying new stuff.

In the end, I think it's essential to grow that eco-bubble. Show that it works. Help others who want to do something about it. Maybe find some other people who share your beliefs, and then start making a few, incremental, small changes. And then build on that, little by little. Maybe it can be teaching to younger generations. Maybe high-schoolers won't care, but as far as I know, kindergarten kids are much more open, and show them good agricultural practice, teaching them about ecosystem etc will plant a seed in a few of them. Then a few decades later, a few of thoses will become some kind of Sepp Holzer or Geoff Lawton or...

Some are set in their ways, most are apathetic, and some may be receptive.  Doing what you believe in and showing others a different way might grab the few who might be receptive or lead to like minded people.  I see people people a few years younger who are now buying land and seem receptive to more natural and less destructive ways so I think there is still hope.  I'm late to this game but I came here because I am inspired by the people here and not necessarily by anger.

Some recommend soaking the seeds.  When I propagate them I use a file or sandpaper to grind through the outer layer.

In starting my own honey locust trees, I've found them to be fairly resilient.  I've had small ones that I've cut off grown new plants.  It sounds like you have a large number of them, so if you transplant extras you will probably have enough survivors to suit your purposes.

Trace Oswald wrote:I can tell you how I germinate mine with a near 100% success rate.  Gather seeds in the fall and keep them in the freezer for a week or so, and then move them to the refrigerator.  In the spring when I'm ready to plant them, I heat a pan of water to boiling.  As soon as it's boiling, I shut the heat off and throw in a handful of seeds.  Doesn't really matter how many as long as you don't fill the pot halfway or something :)  Leave the seeds in the water overnight.  The next day, whichever ones are swollen, and it's very noticeable, are ready for planting.  Any that aren't swollen, take them out and dry them, and then repeat again that night.  Next day, plant the swollen ones again, and throw the rest out in your compost or somewhere.  You may find a few of them the next spring, but generally if they don't swell after two boiling water episodes, they aren't viable.

Yes, forgot to mention I collect my pods (I also do Northern Catalpa) either in the fall and let them dry out until winter, or collect them from the tree in the early spring.

Hello,

To add on to the original post, my first (modestly) successful okra crop was last summer.  I had 9 plants and saved a pod each from the best 2 plants.  For this spring I now have enough room for 32 plants.  I want to plant seeds from what I saved, plus a few plants each of 3 other varieties.  Assuming I save more pods from more plants, will I be able to maintain any diversity with this number of plants?  I plan on planting them close together and not separating seeds when I package them in the fall.

Your post speaks for me as well.  After decades of not having a garden I finally was able to start one about five and half years ago.  We didn't have a lot of extra money so I direct seeded and didn't use any chemicals.  I felt bad because those around me tilled twice a year and used chemicals in their gardens but I kept going because I loved it.  Then I discovered Joseph Lofthouse on a different forum and then his collaborator William Schlagel when I googled Joseph's landrace projects.  That landed me here and to all of the other people on this site and their vast knowledge and wisdom.  This last fall and now winter I read these forums as much as I can so I can prepare for Spring.

Another tip for making sure they germinate is to use a file or sandpaper to break through the hard outer layer of the seeds.  File or sand one small area of the seed until you can see the light tan inner layer.