D Brennan

We just went to the open house for this property and it was was begging to be purchased by a permaculture family!  We hemmed and hawed about it ourselves but concluded we don't want to move our young only child away from her neighborhood friends to an area that's less walkable.  But it sure seems like a gem!  Word from the realtor is that the seller is very motivated and would probably talk low offers.

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/220-Plainfield-Pike_Scituate_RI_02857_M35362-24146?cid=soc_shares_fs_ldp

Anyone know of some good nurseries in the Northeast USA (ideally southern New England) that would have some less conventional perennial veggies, trees, and shrubs?  Things like Goumi, skirret, etc?

Ones I’ve shopped at piecemeal or intend to soon …
Logees
The Farmers Daughter
Briggs
Garden in the Woods / Nasami Farm
Wildwood Nursery
Butterfly Effect Farm
Homegrown


Any other good options?

Good idea.  We have some raised beds planned, including one with a keyhole design that puts the compost right in the middle of the garden, but we probably need a second dedicated area for the chicken bedding, since food scraps will probably fill the one in the bed.  I’ll add a note to utilize the old compost space for garden waste and chicken bedding.

Good point!  We want to screen some buildings from view in that corner, but maybe we can do that with lower evergreens.  The eastern red cedar gets about 35 feet, so a shortie compared to many other evergreen trees 😊

I am designing a food forest / garden / education area to reuse an old concrete pool that will be demolished, filled, and graded next year.  We have a lot of freedom in designing the blank slate - from grading to planting - and have been asked to provide a sketch of our “dream space”.  I’d love any feedback people have on the attached design.  Any obvious gotchas? Location is southern New England, site is at the top of a steep hill with a large concrete building backing the space to the north.

Wonder if DE would help - I’ll do some research, thanks!

And what can I do about it organically…

I’ll be rotating melons out of this spot next year (and probably the following year also) but meanwhile… who is eating my seedlings and what can be done about it?  Pictures attached.  I don’t see any critters on there.  Location is northern Rhode Island, USA.

I've just gotten my Logan Labs soil report back.  From what I can understand, I'm dealing with high Phosphorous and low Magnesium and Potassium.  I live in southern New England, with acidic, high-iron soils, but apparently the top 6 inches of my raised beds come back as slightly alkaline.  Interesting.  I'm very happy with the OM numbers, also.

My game plan based on these results would be...
1) Balance the high Phosphorous by adding high-carbon mulches layered with plenty of Nitrogen - I'm thinking my quail bedding, and maybe the neighbor's chicken bedding.
2) Interplant or mulch with Magnesium and Potassium accumulators that DON'T accumulate a lot of Phosphorous - I'm thinking Alfalfa, Dandelion, Yarrow.  (Nettle seems like an awesome choice for compost teas, but I'm not sure it's a good fit in a yard often full of young children playing.)

Anything else I should do or consider?  Soil Report is attached.

I’m in Rhode Island, building my suburban lot into a permaculture mini-farm!  Would be interested in connecting with local folks.

Good to know!