Jennifer Reinhart

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since Jun 20, 2023
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Recent posts by Jennifer Reinhart

Hi!  Here in central texas, mulberries can be found native and naturalized, the red/white varieties.  There is one in Boerne that is HUGE, like oak tree huge, full of berries, it is amazing.  But, I digress.  I bought a red mulberry (not sure if it was standard red or the Texas red variety).  It will come up as volunteers all over the place, which I've been able to dig up and plant elsewhere, grow in pots to sell/give away, etc.  I am an herbalist, it's uses are that the whole plant can be used, root to leaf for a variety of reasons, also the bark can be used I believe as an anti-parasitic.  I use the leaves like blackberry leaves.  

This year I was successful at pruning at the right time (February here), and it produced more fruit, smaller and lower branches made it much easier to harvest.  Here, it usually fruits twice, sometimes thrice a year.  

Some fun anecdotes--it's hard to kill once established in the right place!  The oldest one did die back 4 years ago with an extremely low temp freeze for this area, and it grew back.

I planted a volunteer opposite my oldest red, and it turned into a white variety.  I'm not sure how this is happening, but I have several volunteers I've cultivated all over my yard, and it seems that I have two whites and several reds.  Could this be coincidence with birds bringing white seeds into my yard?  I have no idea.

The other fun discovery is that when I pruned back in Feb. I used the cuttings to make an arch for a rose vine.  It was poorly connected at the arch so that part came down in a thunderstorm with freak high winds, but I noticed at the base the mulberry is leafing out. So much fun!

I have also made brown paper from old mulberry bark that I had lying around, and look forward to trying green bark next pruning.  From what I've heard from a tree guy here---the paper mulberry fruit wasn't his fave and he's bummed he got the wrong variety!

As you can tell, I'm a huge fan of Mulberry, and other self-seeding fruits!!
2 months ago
Not sure if this has been shared, but I ran across it...  

1 year ago
This book looks amazing!  Is it suitable for all growing regions, like Texas?
1 year ago
Hello!  Need some help deciding on insulation for my new baby....
I had someone local use native cedar/juniper boards-siding build me a shed that I am converting to an office/work building.  

He put up a tyvek barrier, at first we weren't doing this, then somewhere it got added in.  Now I think I should remove it before I do the interior walls.
Any thoughts, will it trap moisture behind it on the 2x4 pine joists?  I live in Austin, and mold is a thing.*

Now, I'm considering insulation/interior walls...considering mold/cost/natural non-toxic materials.
I'm looking at rockwool--but to get it without the brown paper--means I'm buying it at r-30 for attics.  I'm still shopping around, but it seems harder to find (not in bulk).

I can source a local lime plaster for flooring, would this work for walls as well?  I don't want drywall as it molds.  Checking into forever board--mag oxide--but have read mixed reviews here and am guessing it's expensive.  

Also considering something like straw covered with something natural--but then fire hazards right?  What if I soaked the straw with borax?  Then used a wall covering like burlap, wood siding, or just cloth...how to make it less of a fire hazard....

The other consideration are rats--ugh--I need to seal up all cracks due to the tree rats, but will this mess with ventilation in the roof? I see the buildings he usually builds are built to breathe with large openings, and I'm wondering if I seal it up, it will trap moisture and cause problems....

Thinking I need to seal up and then insulate the metal roof for warmth in the winter time....in summer also...although I did have him install ventilation windows that can open to release the heat...it's super hot in there right now.

As far as climate control--I may do a box a/c or just a fan; winter could install a rocket stove when I figure out how to build one...lol...until then, hoping to get some insulation that is efficient, cost effective, and non toxic/doesn't mold.

Any thoughts/help appreciated.  Thanks!

2 years ago
Thank you!!  I had originally wanted to do this (years ago when I first first got started)...but went the container route....since I have an old garden bed that needs revitalizing, this seems like a great place to start.  We're in a drought here though...how moist does this need to be?
2 years ago
Hi!  I keep killing my worms, here in Texas, either the winter or hot summer seem to kill them--I neglect them truth be told.  So how many worms should I buy to get restarted?  I bought a small amount locally but they wouldn't get going.  I have them in a homemade off ground system that seemed to work really well...not so sure about drainage now.  Thanks!
2 years ago
Hi Paul,  

7 years later...what type of covering did you use for your dome, how did it hold up over time?  Thank you!!!
2 years ago