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[Leslie <cayadopi AT yahoo.com>]

Sand, and when after it rains for a while, the sand gets a hard crust on top, 
almost cement like.  But when you add water, it is easy to dig it back up as 
the water softens it quickly.  I'm currently working in manure.
 
I scavanged an old food crate from a packing house, about  4' x 4' x 4-5' 
high.  I'm thinking I might be able to compost in that if I shorten the sides 
a bit.  There are some air strips on the sides between the boards.  And there 
are a lot more of them for the taking.  I was hoping I could use the wood 
sides to make a chicken coop, but I really don't think so.
 
I just came back from a neighbor and need to run back over there.  On my way 
back home, I spotted plastic covers that I suspected was a veggie garden.  
Yep, and the sell their organic produce, and still have produce growing.  The 
lady told me to come back in a little while and talk to her husband, since it 
is his project.  They had chickens and guineas there too - great little 
burglar alarms they are... LOL - what a racket !  I did ask her about the 
plastic, she said they use them for frost.  It wasn't clear, but opaque.  
They are growing quite a bit, and I hope he'll share some tips.

--- On Thu, 12/11/08, Lynn Wigglesworth <lynnw1366 AT hotmail.com> wrote:

From: Lynn Wigglesworth <lynnw1366 AT hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Homestead] Preparation for WTSHTF questions
To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
Date: Thursday, December 11, 2008, 2:27 PM

>PLOW
>I'm currently using a gas engined rotor tiller, which I know is >not

>sustainable in worst case scenario, but it was a b-day gift >from dad.

 I know nothing about desert gardening; what kind of soil do you have? When 
I start a new garden bed here, I rototill for the first couple of years. I 
have heavy clay, and tilling in tons of organic matter makes the beds 
workable faster. In a sandy soil, a tiller isn't necessary at all...you can

incorporate organic matter by hand.

After tilling for a couple of years, I double dig and incorporate more 
organic matter at least 2 shovels deep. I know, people say that the worms 
will do that for me, but I can't wait that long.  After double digging, I 
continue to  add organic matter as mulch or cover crop, and use a broadfork 
to loosen the soil, a la Elliot Coleman. Once you've double dug a bed,
it's 
easy to work and very productive.

Lynn Wigglesworth
Tioga Co. PA 

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>From cayadopi AT yahoo.com  Thu Dec 11 17:43:51 2008
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From: Leslie <cayadopi AT yahoo.com>
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Well, that is yet to be determined... I have seen the tunnels in desert 
gardening things, but I do not yet know the real purpose... LOL... and 
plastic isn't "sustainable"...
 
I just found out the neighbor down the road is using it at the moment to 
protect against frost.  Looked like spinach, lettuce, and califlower was in 
the part that I could see.  
 


--- On Thu, 12/11/08, Lynn Wigglesworth <lynnw1366 AT hotmail.com> wrote:

From: Lynn Wigglesworth <lynnw1366 AT hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Homestead] Preparation for WTSHTF questions
To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
Date: Thursday, December 11, 2008, 2:35 PM

>PLASTIC COVERED TUNNELS
I've seen pictures over what appears to be cement mesh wire. Bev told me 
that plastic in the heat has a rather short shelf. It probably also has a 
short life in high wind. It also costs $ to >replace.

Why do you want plastic tunnels? What is their purpose for you?

Lynn Wigglesworth 

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>From lynnw1366 AT hotmail.com  Thu Dec 11 18:02:07 2008
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>Well, that is yet to be determined... I have seen the tunnels in desert
>gardening things, but I do not yet know the real >purpose... LOL... and
>plastic isn't "sustainable"...

That's my point. Instead of saying "ohhh...do I need this?", it's better to
start doing it with the minimum equipment, then decide that you need to
solve a specific problem. If your crops are hurt by frost then you look into
setting up tunnels. Many green crops aren't hurt by light frosts I don't
know how cold it gets there, but my kale was fine until the temperatures
went into the teens. And you don't need plastic; old sheets, towels,
blankets, etc work well.

Since you have a rototiller, I'd use that until you decide that you either
need something bigger or don't need any power equipment to prepare the soil.
Make sure you need something before you spend money on it.

Lynn Wigglesworth
Tioga Co. PA