Seeding it Forward 2014 / Growing the Future Year Zero
I selected the most superior seeds for sending to people in Seeding it Forward 2014. The smaller and darker sunflower seeds are cappuccino colored sunflowers (different colors than standard sunflowers) the big white and stripped seeds are Russian mammoth variety.
I bury the seeds with 1-3 inches soil, then I water them deeply, then I make a pile of worm castings and dolomite lime (Calcium + Magnesium) and azomite rock dust, optionally cover the piles with dead leaves for further protection from hungry squirrds ...
Growing in raised beds made of concrete slabs is a great idea, and for growing on your patio, containers/planters (use light easy draining organic soil) is easiest especially since they fun to reposition them as you wish.
" Soak em from 4-12 hours in bottled water (no chlorine) it will trigger germination. If you want outside activity today, maybe dig a some small holes where you want sunflower, and bury a few seeds (soaked or non-soaked) in each hole, covering them up with piles of dirt , and then cover the piles of dirt with a layer of dead leaves/hay/wood chips/grass.. The seedlings will survive for sure once they have two sets of leaves...the sunnier the better for quick sprouting (south facing).. The best organic fertilizer is organic worm castings for enriching in the seed's soil surroundings. No other fertilizer needed (compost / casting tea doesn't hurt obviously)." = My response to a question regarding soaking the seeds.
I Jump-start the germination/sprouting process by pre-soaking the seeds in a cup of distilled water (no chlorine) for 12-24 hrs, in a warm south facing sunny window. To maximize the protected growth of your seedlings, sow your seeds in pots/containers/planters that are raised off the ground (on table or balcony or patio) with a layer of leaves/grass clipping/hay. Choose the size , material, and type for your containers, I prefer lightweight woven fabric bags & standard plastic planters (empty milk/juice gallon jugs work fine (w/cut off top) with holes punched in bottom). Green walls & concrete raised beds work great, but aren't movable.
**Anytime you plant/sow seeds, drench the seedbed's soil with a good watering. Repeat this daily or as needed for the week after you sowed the seeds, as this is the critical period for seed sprouting success. So Make sure the soil of the seedbed stays moist and sunny/warm until you see the first leaves in 3-7 days. Water, Heat and Light(sunlight or CFL Fluorescent light) are the main keys to spark the tiny seed babies from slumber to spring into life as sprouts & seedlings. For the rest of season, Deeply Water the garden soil from 1-4 times a week or as needed...
Decide upon the desired forms and functions of your garden landscape. Then research for your favorite plant varieties to manifest your desired garden landscape. Include walking stones in big garden plots for ergonomic garden layout, My personal preference is to Sow organic open-pollinated heirloom seeds in well draining organic soil (50% Soil mixed with 30% chunky perlite & 20% organic worm castings, amended with azomite & pellets of dolomitic lime). Kelp meal and alfalfa meal are good organic fertilizers if you plan to harvest & eat your garden's organic produce. No chemicals needed besides water, just natural organic materials and a trowel / shovel.
Problems with insect Pests?
Here's a good organic child-safe all-purpose pest-spray: Steep a mixture of the following ingredients: clean water, squirt of dr. Bronners soap (or dish detergent), mashed garlic + onions + mà shed habeneros (and other hot peppers) + lemon paste + minced mint leaves...optionally add in to steeping pot - worm castings and organic tobacco (not child safe). Steep mixture outside for 2-4 days (stirring occasionally). Finally then use a fine filters to remove all solid particulates from your newly homemade organic anti-pest liquid concentrate! Pour into the concentrate lemon juice, a tablespoon of peppermint oil, some mineral oil, and tsp of castille soap like dr bronners (at whole foods). Then shake fully to homogenize your liquid solution of Anti-Bug Concentrate.
To dilute the mixture for sensitive young plants, Split the liquid between two spray bottles and fill up the rest of the spray bottle with water. Always shake before using. When using, spray directly on unwanted insect invaders, apply the infected areas of plants and spray the undersides of leaves, wiping down stems, tops and bottoms of leaves, and potentially spray the soil surrounding the stem. Another option for IPM (integrated pest management) is to hook up a garden hose with a sprayer jet to use water jet power to dislodge from your plants organisms like aphids/mites/thrips/caterpillars/slugs/rollypollys/stinkbugs. Plant companion plants that attract beneficial insects, like cleome, basil, sunflowers, marigolds, clover, and dill - to see the appearance of beneficial insects like praying mantises, Spiders, ladybugs, honeybees, butterflies, parasitic wasps, and bumblebees.
Hemp can replace oil based plastics with biodegradable eco-plastics, papers, packagings, polymers, fuels, ship sails, ropes, textile fibers, clothing fabrics, animal bedding, building materials, hempcrete, hemp-board...hemp Foods like seed oil, complete protein powder, hemp milk/butter, seedcake, whole seeds, and many other edible hemp seed esculents!
Hemp will be a trillion dollar crop in the near future!
Http://www.slideshare.net/omnispo/hemp-is-a-trillion-dollar-crop
I bury the seeds with 1-3 inches soil, then I water them deeply, then I make a pile of worm castings and dolomite lime (Calcium + Magnesium) and azomite rock dust, optionally cover the piles with dead leaves for further protection from hungry squirrds ...
Growing in raised beds made of concrete slabs is a great idea, and for growing on your patio, containers/planters (use light easy draining organic soil) is easiest especially since they fun to reposition them as you wish.
" Soak em from 4-12 hours in bottled water (no chlorine) it will trigger germination. If you want outside activity today, maybe dig a some small holes where you want sunflower, and bury a few seeds (soaked or non-soaked) in each hole, covering them up with piles of dirt , and then cover the piles of dirt with a layer of dead leaves/hay/wood chips/grass.. The seedlings will survive for sure once they have two sets of leaves...the sunnier the better for quick sprouting (south facing).. The best organic fertilizer is organic worm castings for enriching in the seed's soil surroundings. No other fertilizer needed (compost / casting tea doesn't hurt obviously)." = My response to a question regarding soaking the seeds.
I Jump-start the germination/sprouting process by pre-soaking the seeds in a cup of distilled water (no chlorine) for 12-24 hrs, in a warm south facing sunny window. To maximize the protected growth of your seedlings, sow your seeds in pots/containers/planters that are raised off the ground (on table or balcony or patio) with a layer of leaves/grass clipping/hay. Choose the size , material, and type for your containers, I prefer lightweight woven fabric bags & standard plastic planters (empty milk/juice gallon jugs work fine (w/cut off top) with holes punched in bottom). Green walls & concrete raised beds work great, but aren't movable.
**Anytime you plant/sow seeds, drench the seedbed's soil with a good watering. Repeat this daily or as needed for the week after you sowed the seeds, as this is the critical period for seed sprouting success. So Make sure the soil of the seedbed stays moist and sunny/warm until you see the first leaves in 3-7 days. Water, Heat and Light(sunlight or CFL Fluorescent light) are the main keys to spark the tiny seed babies from slumber to spring into life as sprouts & seedlings. For the rest of season, Deeply Water the garden soil from 1-4 times a week or as needed...
Decide upon the desired forms and functions of your garden landscape. Then research for your favorite plant varieties to manifest your desired garden landscape. Include walking stones in big garden plots for ergonomic garden layout, My personal preference is to Sow organic open-pollinated heirloom seeds in well draining organic soil (50% Soil mixed with 30% chunky perlite & 20% organic worm castings, amended with azomite & pellets of dolomitic lime). Kelp meal and alfalfa meal are good organic fertilizers if you plan to harvest & eat your garden's organic produce. No chemicals needed besides water, just natural organic materials and a trowel / shovel.
Problems with insect Pests?
Here's a good organic child-safe all-purpose pest-spray: Steep a mixture of the following ingredients: clean water, squirt of dr. Bronners soap (or dish detergent), mashed garlic + onions + mà shed habeneros (and other hot peppers) + lemon paste + minced mint leaves...optionally add in to steeping pot - worm castings and organic tobacco (not child safe). Steep mixture outside for 2-4 days (stirring occasionally). Finally then use a fine filters to remove all solid particulates from your newly homemade organic anti-pest liquid concentrate! Pour into the concentrate lemon juice, a tablespoon of peppermint oil, some mineral oil, and tsp of castille soap like dr bronners (at whole foods). Then shake fully to homogenize your liquid solution of Anti-Bug Concentrate.
To dilute the mixture for sensitive young plants, Split the liquid between two spray bottles and fill up the rest of the spray bottle with water. Always shake before using. When using, spray directly on unwanted insect invaders, apply the infected areas of plants and spray the undersides of leaves, wiping down stems, tops and bottoms of leaves, and potentially spray the soil surrounding the stem. Another option for IPM (integrated pest management) is to hook up a garden hose with a sprayer jet to use water jet power to dislodge from your plants organisms like aphids/mites/thrips/caterpillars/slugs/rollypollys/stinkbugs. Plant companion plants that attract beneficial insects, like cleome, basil, sunflowers, marigolds, clover, and dill - to see the appearance of beneficial insects like praying mantises, Spiders, ladybugs, honeybees, butterflies, parasitic wasps, and bumblebees.
Hemp can replace oil based plastics with biodegradable eco-plastics, papers, packagings, polymers, fuels, ship sails, ropes, textile fibers, clothing fabrics, animal bedding, building materials, hempcrete, hemp-board...hemp Foods like seed oil, complete protein powder, hemp milk/butter, seedcake, whole seeds, and many other edible hemp seed esculents!
Hemp will be a trillion dollar crop in the near future!
Http://www.slideshare.net/omnispo/hemp-is-a-trillion-dollar-crop
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