Water Management with Hand Tools

I need this since I don't see me being able to rent big equipment.

Tour of water management on human scale Pt 1

And Part 2

Keyline Design

Link to access to P. A. Yoeman's out-of-print book:

The Keyline Plan

Agricultural Library

Out of print books available for those who respect the Library and Copyright rules.

Once you have clicked on and read the rules linked above and have determined to comply with them, continue on to the link to the library. Please respect their rule.

The Man Who...

...Planted Trees.

Link to Video


The above is for the love of the land and inspiration in planting.

The below is for the love of humanity.

The Happy Prince

The Selfish Giant



And a Snow Queen I want to check out later when I have some time.

The Snow Queen (Original Russian 1957 version with Kirsten Dunst, Mickey Roonie, and Kathleen Turner doing voices.)

Keyhole Gardens

Not at all what I expected.

But I'm looking for ideas on what to do on the SW side of my house. These may be it, or at least part of the plan.

Keyhole Gardens

Oh, Oh, Oh Oregano

It really likes to Grow, Grow Grow!
Even inside during winter!!!

I must find uses for this loverly Oregano.

But first, it's benefits!

10 Natural Health Benefits

Then an easy wikihow to make oregano olive oil!

How to Make Oregano Olive Oil

Now two dressings:

My Grandma's Greek Dressing Recipe

Balsamic Vinegar and Olive Oil Dressing

Oh, Oh, Oh.
It's late and I've gotta go
But I can't wait till tomorrow
When I can get up and cook with OREGANO.

Edibles for the Shade.

Thought this link would be great.

Edibles You Can Grow in the Shade

A Couple of Permaculture Links.

First, a big active forum.

Permies Forums

Next, a place to buy fruit trees and shrubs, in my Ohio, presumably in my growing zone.

Sandusky Valley Nursery

I am particularly interested in their goumi shrub and the hardy nanking dwarf cherry.

Pruning Peach Trees

I wanted to be able to find this video again for when I get ready to prune my young peach trees here.

How to Prune Young Peach Trees

Canning Peaches

We have beautiful volunteer peach trees in our yard. We have an abundance of peaches every year at about this time. Last year we canned countless quarts. This year we don't have the time or patience. But I was looking at a couple other things to do.

Peach Conserve

and

Peach Butter

Midwest Plant Guilds

Here is a download for a book on Midwest Plant Guilds.

Plant Guilds

I got the link to the above down load from here:
Midwest Permaculture

Too Many Zucchini

We have too many Zucchini and other summer squash. Then I went on vacation and now we have too many giant Zucchini.

Overgrown Zucchini and Spinach Soup

Zucchini Casserole/Quiche

Plastic Bottle Green House

I want to be able to find this again. I might need it in the future.

Plastic Bottle Green House Build Guide.


Here's another Green House design

Growing Potatoes

Haven't grown any yet.

Not sure when I'll start.

But I liked this video and wanted to make sure I could find it again.

How to Plant and Grow Potatoes

Permaculture

It is an interesting topic

Wiki Definition

Some books about it.

Goodreads list of best Permaculture Books

 Here are a few on this list

Sepp Holzer's Permaculture

How to Grow More Vegetables .....  on less land than you can imagine.

Introduction to Permaculture

Permaculture: A Designers' Manuel



There are many more, like over 50. But I can't link them all. Simply don't have the time. But at least this is a start.

One Straw revolution is on the list. I link that elsewhere on the blog. So are a bunch of Tom Brown books. I have some of those left over from my home school days.

Had to add this one since if I get a book on permaculture, it would probably be this one:
Gaia's Garden (amazon)

Fermentation Fest

I never knew such a thing existed.

It was started by these folks:

The Wormfarm Institute

They hold the Fermentation Fest every year.

I may or may not make it to one. It makes it a lot easier since my brother happens to live nearby.

But whether or not I make it, I'm interested in buying a couple of books that I learned about while discovering this place.

The Art of Fermentation

And

Wild Fermentation

I'm interested in growing food and hopefully grow enough to preserve some for later.

Wild Blackberries

I have them on my land. I want to learn how to take care of them since they have volunteered so cheerfully to live and thrive without any help.

Here is an article from Mother Earth News on Blackberries.

Enjoy Fresh Blackberries

A Couple of Backyard Aquaponics Bookmarks...

... For my own future reference.

This idea of a floating salad bar is so crazy, it just might work.

Since I'm looking at buying a large section of a grain bin as a pool and perhaps later as an aquaponics tank, I thought this thread utilizing a huge water tank and filtration system might be helpful for later.

Speaking of swimming pools, here is a thread talking about converting a pool into an aquaponics system that you can still swim in. It has other links to other interesting things within the thread.

Hypertufa for Beginners

I've actually considered making hypertufa containers for a while now. I have Portland cement, perlite, and peat moss in my garage waiting for me. I've just been too busy to get involved in a project. I have a couple books with recipes and sculpture ideas. Now I've found a couple wonderful videos that have great visuals for me that might push me over the edge to get me started on an actual project.

But first a garden site that features one of the videos.

Hypertufa; What it is and how to use it to make a planter

And here are the two videos:

Hypertufa: How to make a planter

And

Hypertufa tips

I may make a hypertufa birdbath yet.

Concrete Garden Mushroom Videos

I don't know whether I will make one of these or not.
But I like how she does step by step, and if I ever do concrete yard or garden projects, this one would be a great starter project to learn how to work with concrete.

Concrete Garden Mushrooms Part 1

Concrete Garden Mushrooms Part 2

Carved Concrete Birdbath

Continuing my concrete excursion, here is a youtube of a guy building and sculpting a birdbath.

DIY Carved Concrete Birdbath

Ferrocement Educational Forum

I was looking up different aquaponics systems on their forum when I ran across one member's post concerning the construction of his ferrocement system. I'd never heard of ferrocement but was immediately intrigued. Poking around on the internet, looking up ferrocement, I found another forum that I'm providing a link for.

Ferrocement Educational Forum

This looks so interesting to me as a building medium, not just for aquaponics, but also for other garden structures.

Freebie:
Basics and other stuff concerning ferrocement

Another Freebie:
Ferrocement House Construction

Garden Barrel

Here is a very interesting combination vertical gardening, vermicomposting system using a barrel.

Half-Pint Homestead Garden Barrel Construction

Bell Siphon

A very good explanation and demonstration of a bell siphon, including diagrams.

OSPE: Sustainable Food - Building an Aquaponics Automated Bell Siphon

An Aussie Aquaponics Forum

You can get there from the IBC link. But I wanted a more direct route from here.

Back Yard Aquaponics Forum

I'm particularly interested in Nat's Blue Barrel System.

The IBC's are coolio. But the blue barrels look like a better 'starter'  system for total newbies. If I were to ever actually 'do' aquaponics, I'd probably have to start with the blue barrels.

Fish Tank Aquaponics

We have a small fish tank that I was thinking of experimenting with. I may or may not. But I still find this youtube video to be very interesting.

Indoor Aquaponic System

Squash Links

I'm wanting to plant squash today. I've already planted pumpkin, butternut, and spaghetti squash. I bought a few more packets of seeds of both summer and winter squash and would like to get them into the ground today or tomorrow.

Squash Growing Guide

How to Grow Superb Summer Squash

All About Growing Winter Squash

Another Aquaponics Link (IBC)

This one is called:

IBCofAquaponics

Link to AquaponicsHQ

This has been recommended as a helpful website for those interested in aquaponics.

AquaponicsHQ

Malamalama story on Aquaponics

I'm including this because they have a link to instructions for building automatic bell siphons which seem to be very important to aquaponic systems.

Aquaponic systems Grow Food Sustainably

Desk Top Aquaponics

This guy goes step by step. Even though I don't plan to build a desktop, indoor system, I appreciate how patient he is to thoroughly explain things.

Aquaponics system: Desktop

Link to Trellis Ideas

Seed Savers Exchange have a post about trellises. Since I'm just starting to work with trellises, I'm open for new ideas on different types of trellises.

Which Trellis is the Best Trellis?

Simple Strawberry hydroponics system (hydroponics 4)

Here is a home spun hydroponics system for strawberries.

Mini-Hydroponic Strawberry Farm

Dutch Buckets (hydroponic 3)

This looks interesting. And it includes a link on how to make the nutrient solution.

Dutch Bucket Hydroponics-How It works and How to Make Your Own Buckets

Hanging Window Garden (hydroponics 2)

I've seen this before but am not sure that I've linked it. It's a major, low tech, do-it-yourself hydroponics garden.

Hanging Bottle Wall Garden

An Apartment Garden (hydroponics 1)

I don't live in an apartment. I live in a house with a yard where I try to garden.

But this doesn't keep me from appreciating the innovative people who are apartment bound who wish that they could do more to feed themselves.

I also have had a fascination with hydroponics.

This is why I want to share:

Britta Riley: A garden in my apartment

Ancient Wheat

Here is a link to the:

Heritage Grain Conservancy

I'm very interested in this right now because I'm reading this book:

Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight