tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665807378090241608.post6593975587378626446..comments2024-03-16T11:25:03.475-07:00Comments on Chickadee Gardens: Building our Garden: Lessons LearnedChickadee Gardenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698323800314994028noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665807378090241608.post-26566519746697973932016-08-18T11:28:15.167-07:002016-08-18T11:28:15.167-07:00Thanks, Jennifer! I hope you can come back and han...Thanks, Jennifer! I hope you can come back and hang out with me in Saint Helens again soon - summer here is, as you know, lovely. Chickadee Gardenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00698323800314994028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665807378090241608.post-645009654289104382016-08-18T11:27:38.101-07:002016-08-18T11:27:38.101-07:00Oh, isn't it? And I agree, Denise, that just k...Oh, isn't it? And I agree, Denise, that just keeping momentum up is key when you have this much to deal with. Just keep moving and collapse when I'm 87. Chickadee Gardenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00698323800314994028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665807378090241608.post-36276042501446310062016-08-18T11:26:54.874-07:002016-08-18T11:26:54.874-07:00I hope so, Casa. Oh, the brush pile analogies - th...I hope so, Casa. Oh, the brush pile analogies - that's David all the way :) Chickadee Gardenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00698323800314994028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665807378090241608.post-58694795103979180462016-08-18T11:26:18.355-07:002016-08-18T11:26:18.355-07:00Aah, well me too, actually, Ricki. We will never l...Aah, well me too, actually, Ricki. We will never learn but who cares?? :)Chickadee Gardenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00698323800314994028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665807378090241608.post-50909616883605792862016-08-08T07:42:32.626-07:002016-08-08T07:42:32.626-07:00Oooh, thanks, T! That makes a lot of sense, actua...Oooh, thanks, T! That makes a lot of sense, actually!hibiki miyazakinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665807378090241608.post-4806973975321452842016-08-02T17:16:35.233-07:002016-08-02T17:16:35.233-07:00Despite the lessons learned, I am in awe of the wo...Despite the lessons learned, I am in awe of the work that has been done. The berm is especially impressive in person. A beautiful work in progress. Rainy Day Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06139202327960366363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665807378090241608.post-71792580756977415562016-07-30T13:25:28.228-07:002016-07-30T13:25:28.228-07:00That is the most magical phrase, "purchased 2...That is the most magical phrase, "purchased 2 acres of land"! I know the big refuse piles would drive me crazy too, and dead trees, but nothing sounds irreversible, and I'd be just as itchy to get going. I think this is the way to go, rather than hanging back and possibly lose momentum, because that's a lot of land! Denisehttp://agrowingobsession.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665807378090241608.post-46349352294201438662016-07-29T19:31:59.966-07:002016-07-29T19:31:59.966-07:00I think you've done an amazing job and are wis...I think you've done an amazing job and are wiser for it. A lot of soils are sandy so that might not be that big of an issue. Your car comparisons for the brush piles was pretty funny. :o)Casa Mariposahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16647089868277238456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665807378090241608.post-51170277995451350242016-07-29T16:43:12.355-07:002016-07-29T16:43:12.355-07:00I was thinking the same thing! Raccoons are known...I was thinking the same thing! Raccoons are known for being dexterous and they can and will reach through fencing if their arm will fit, grab a chicken and eat it piece by piece through the wire holes. Chickens are generally not that bright and in a panic will run along the edges where they can get nabbed. I would recommend using 1/2" hardware cloth at least around the bottom 3 feet of the run area and outward at least a foot in an "L" shape to prevent digging under. Can't wait to see what chooks you get! Gina Cardozahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03590933638186506858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665807378090241608.post-51978769281448416282016-07-29T15:32:25.150-07:002016-07-29T15:32:25.150-07:00Good lessons, all. My nibbling approach saves me f...Good lessons, all. My nibbling approach saves me from big mistakes but also denies me big results. The thing I can not seem to avoid is planting things way too close together. After several years, that tendency is starting to catch up to me.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08843132106213356234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665807378090241608.post-42481494964149336052016-07-29T13:17:17.258-07:002016-07-29T13:17:17.258-07:00Oh, Danger - David has thick skin, no worries! You...Oh, Danger - David has thick skin, no worries! You're certainly not the first to say that, either. Chickadee Gardenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00698323800314994028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665807378090241608.post-59796824444787947542016-07-29T13:16:00.142-07:002016-07-29T13:16:00.142-07:00Indeed! Experiments is the key word. Thanks for th...Indeed! Experiments is the key word. Thanks for the encouragement...more changes to come! Chickadee Gardenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00698323800314994028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665807378090241608.post-55823918584079874902016-07-29T13:14:20.053-07:002016-07-29T13:14:20.053-07:00Aw, thanks Hibiki!
As far as the sand, adding sa...Aw, thanks Hibiki! <br /><br />As far as the sand, adding sand to clay soil essentially creates cement - it's about soil structure which is about particles and their size. Here's a passage from Linda Chalker-Scott at WSU about it - she explains it better than I can:<br /><br />"Soil texture is determined by particle size, which ranges from microscopic clay flakes to more rounded silt particles to sand grains. While undisturbed sandy soils are well aerated and well drained, they are nutrient poor since sand and silt cannot bind mineral nutrients. In contrast, clay soils do bind mineral nutrients but have poor drainage and aeration. Thus, a soil with both sandy and clay characteristics <br />should be optimal for plant root health. So it's easyto see how the practice of adding sand to clay soils has evolved.<br /> <br />The problems occur when sand and clay are mixed in incorrect proportions. An ideal soil has 50% pore space (with the remainder consisting of minerals and organic matter). The pore spaces in a clay soil are all small, while those in a sandy soil are all large. When one mixes a sandy and a clay soil together, the large pore spaces of the sandy soil are filled with the smaller clay particles. This results in a heavier, denser soil with less total pore space than either the <br />sandy or the clay soil alone. (A good analogy is the manufacture of concrete, which entails mixing sand with cement - a fine particle substance. The results are obvious.) A soil must consist of nearly 50% sand by total volume before it takes on the characteristics of a sandy soil. For most sites, it would be prohibitively expensive to remove half the existing soil and add an equal volume of sand and then till it to the necessary 18-24". Mineral amendments of large particle size, such as perlite, may provide some benefit but can also be costly depending on the size of the site. (Reducing this task to amending only the planting hole is a recipe for <br />plant failure and perhaps will be addressed in a separate column.)"<br /><br />I hope that's helpful! Chickadee Gardenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00698323800314994028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665807378090241608.post-57477362888252917452016-07-29T12:51:46.796-07:002016-07-29T12:51:46.796-07:00Yes! I will take you up on that sometime. And I ho...Yes! I will take you up on that sometime. And I hope David doesn't hate me now...danger gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09227500551609537140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665807378090241608.post-75063840323327892312016-07-29T12:26:49.461-07:002016-07-29T12:26:49.461-07:00Not mistakes--learning experiments! You've ma...Not mistakes--learning experiments! You've made impressive progress. Looking forward to seeing what happens next. Hoover Boohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03083294821646284424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665807378090241608.post-36695784911208276802016-07-29T11:57:20.787-07:002016-07-29T11:57:20.787-07:00it's always amazing to see what HUGE accomplis...it's always amazing to see what HUGE accomplishments you guys have made so far. And yes, i don't think you would need a year to figure out what the existing landscape was telling you because you're a professional! <br /><br />I have a question about the sand in the former labyrinth area...how might that hurt the plants?hibiki miyazakihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11121586486530658197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665807378090241608.post-1932070868962803122016-07-29T08:15:00.770-07:002016-07-29T08:15:00.770-07:00Thank you! Our village is very small right now but...Thank you! Our village is very small right now but we hope to increase the chicken population by about 400% very soon. Chickadee Gardenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00698323800314994028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665807378090241608.post-60080979986582812902016-07-29T08:14:24.738-07:002016-07-29T08:14:24.738-07:00Good point, Kris. Sometimes it IS the best thing t...Good point, Kris. Sometimes it IS the best thing to do - hire a designer. Some of my friends are garden designers and believe me, they are worth every penny (Anna...are you listening?? :) )<br /><br />But you are doing what makes you happy and have a beautiful garden to boot. I think we all move plants (a lot?) as it is part of the wonderful process of creation.Chickadee Gardenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00698323800314994028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665807378090241608.post-17281566321982765172016-07-29T08:12:26.548-07:002016-07-29T08:12:26.548-07:00Get to work! Get to work! Chickadee Gardenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00698323800314994028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665807378090241608.post-32561869944787637022016-07-29T08:12:07.261-07:002016-07-29T08:12:07.261-07:00Well-said, Janneke. Indeed. That's how I learn...Well-said, Janneke. Indeed. That's how I learn myself and when customers at the nursery ask for my advice, it's nearly always based on my personal experience. Chickadee Gardenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00698323800314994028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665807378090241608.post-26770212340167175372016-07-29T08:11:02.493-07:002016-07-29T08:11:02.493-07:00It is a process, indeed. I keep reminding myself o...It is a process, indeed. I keep reminding myself of that and having fun along the way! Chickadee Gardenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00698323800314994028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665807378090241608.post-22686903854346932722016-07-29T08:10:35.044-07:002016-07-29T08:10:35.044-07:00Advice taken, thank you Alison! Advice taken, thank you Alison! Chickadee Gardenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00698323800314994028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665807378090241608.post-47747435449803575852016-07-29T08:09:25.546-07:002016-07-29T08:09:25.546-07:00Aaah Danger, you bring up many fine points. Especi...Aaah Danger, you bring up many fine points. Especially about color :)<br /><br />Regarding the roto-tiller. There are indeed two or more schools of thought on this. Preserving soil structure is by far the best method. I did that with the sheet-mulching and it worked fairly well for my first attempt. This was too large of an area to reasonably do that right now, plus the tilling method is often used in meadow-making which is essentially what a lot of this "blank" area will become. The soil is disturbed, yes, but the idea is that the seeds or plants of what I want will have a fighting chance against the grass roots and eventually be able to take over. It's the grass that is the issue here. That's the short of it, there is a longer more boring explanation I'll save for the next time I see you if you are interested. <br /><br />No sin committed by you, just another way of accomplishing the same goal. The soil will heal if it's taken care of like you will and have certainly done. Chickadee Gardenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00698323800314994028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665807378090241608.post-12669595222349925252016-07-28T22:35:45.924-07:002016-07-28T22:35:45.924-07:00Sorry David, I am a huge fan of all things green b...Sorry David, I am a huge fan of all things green but that green? Well it really needs to be tamed by a vine or three. And the chickens will love the extra jungle-like effect. Trust me.<br /><br />Tamara...I am surprised by your use of, and desire to use more of, the roto-tiller. I thought popular sentiment was that by roto-tilling you were destroying the soil structure...to be avoided at all costs! I say this because we did just that, after the sod was removed from our front garden we roto-tilled, and since learning better I thought we committed a major gardening sin?danger gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09227500551609537140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-665807378090241608.post-27470611053650937982016-07-28T19:49:54.003-07:002016-07-28T19:49:54.003-07:00Great villageGreat villagePengobatan Hipertensihttp://pengobatanhipertensi.comnoreply@blogger.com