Beth Borchers

I am so excited to have found permies.com! What an amazing resource. I love learning and oh my gosh there is so much to learn here!
Until today I had never heard of wool pellets. Using every bit of an item is one of my core beliefs and this certainly fulfills that!
I've read everything from the links that you've shared here and I'm so looking forward to the possibility of trying them with soil blocks, as well as in soil but I don't have land yet so, it'll have to be soil blocks for now!
Last year I learned about using hemp bedding as fertilizer and used it for growing Market flowers! They were beautiful.
This is going to be fun 😍

Hi Ethan, I  am so pleased to be part of this organization. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Dave Bross wrote:Many mulberries will definitely take root and grow by just sticking a long cutting in the ground and being sure the soil is moist until it leafs out.  

I've used this little trick as a "gateway drug" to gardening.  Once someone sticks a stick in the ground and it grows they gain the confidence that they can do this.

This may be somewhat dependent on my soil (sand) and climate ( N. FL).  Many pro nurseries start their cuttings in sand with intermittent mist.

The gateway drug! Yes! Growing pretty much anything keeps me entranced with it all. I'm currently reading To Speak For The Trees, and my passion for nature and trees specifically, has been ignited in a new and powerful way.

Joshua States wrote:I have tried to get various cuttings and plant stock to root in water with little success. My father used to get anything to root by putting the end in a jar of water with eggshells. It would turn into a nasty green slimy concoction that smelled bad, but it worked for him. It never worked for me.
So hivemind, what can I do to get clippings of plants to root and transplant? Any suggestions or tries and true methods would be appreciated.

I can grow pretty much anything! It's just a knack I have... (except chive seeds 🫨) I have had the best luck rooting woody cuttings in vermiculite and filtered water. Keep it drippy wet. Recently I had two hoya cuttings. One rooted without issue and even has new leaves. The second one struggled for months with nary a burgeoning root bud. So I nicked the woody stem in a couple places with a sterile knife and within 2 wks I had a 1' root! Just put them both in a pot.

I have rooted lilacs, quince, and many house plants. Some will root in water but the woody stemmed cutting should be helped along by opening up areas on the stem. They may even benefit from being placed in a sealed (foodsafe bag- foodsafe because we don't want the plastic to kill the imprisoned plant with off gassing), as this holds in moisture, allowing the leaves to still receive moisture. Check often.

Even rooting hormone didn't work, but I don't see that it's too effective in general. Some cuttings need to lay out for the cut to callous over. It's best to Google some specific questions.

Right...time of year is critical! The plant must be in an active growth state. In other words don't expect a cutting to have the energy to put out new roots in fall when it's preparing to go dormant and definitely not in winter. Early spring to early summer is ideal.

Paul D'Souza wrote:
Please let me know if any of this is interesting.

Paul

I  am very interested in speaking with you. I currently live in a city in Ohio and my lease is up in June. I was just getting ready to post something of my own in community hoping to find a place to settle.

Would love to chat. I have business experience, some marketing, lots of growing and learning of regenerative methods. I have an entrepreneurial spirit a heart of gold and a willing attitude. I'm quite adopt at cooking and cooking healthy food to boot. I even have a YouTube channel.

At 67, I  am ready to be in a place where I can put down roots, have some security and people around me that have the same goals and desires.
You can reach out bethannborchersatgmaildotcom

Dave Bross wrote:For inside growing, going from the pic, you need to get the lights right down close, then run the lights 12 hrs minimum.

Use a potting soil with better drainage if you can, and if nothing else, and go easy on the watering until established. Damp but not soaked.

I also noticed how waterlogged these seedlings appear.  Forgot to mention it, so thanks 😊

Tiffaney Dex wrote:I jumped at reading this because I can't grow lettuce, either. The ones I buy are not grown very far from me and have a soft, mild taste  I plant the same varieties and they end up with a bitter taste. I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

Lettuce is best harvested often, removing outer leaves to allow the plant to continue to produce. Also it can bolt or become bitter when the temperatures are too hot

James Bridger wrote:Is there some magic or secret to growing lettuce that I don't know about?

My first question would be, why are you starting it inside? Lettuce likes cooler temperatures so as long as you have something to cover during colder spells, I would just do that.

I planted mine about 3 or so weeks ago and we had a cold snap here in Ohio. I just kept the plastic box covers on them and they survived just fine.

They are sitting on my porch.

I am starting a botanical products business and tallow skincare products are on the list. It is great for conditions like eczema and psoriasis.

Randy Bachman wrote:Bought our first homestead last fall. The previous owner had some Yellowbell growing. The one plant was well over 7 feet tall and filled with of yellow bell flowers. It just wouldnt quit. The bees brought me cookies to show their appreciation. Finally the flowers stopped and these long seed pods appeared en mass. I bagged them up (a whole shopping bag full). After drying all winter i carefully removed the little wing seeds. Almost a pickle jar’s worth. I am planting them everywhere on my 5 acre parcel. I do hope i have hundreds of these germinate. I also planted bell pepper and jalapeño seeds i got from store-bought produce just to see if they will grow. I am glad to know others do it too.

CONGRATULATIONS on your new homestead! Sounds lovely