[kelly1376]

Love what you're doing here. I went back and read your log from last year and you really got it together. Efficient and productive. This is what you call living the dream. Not just weed but fruits, vegetables, livestock, awesome setup.

[MountZionCollec]

Originally Posted by FunkBomb

I use just composted horse poop in smart pots for my vegetables and they do extremely well. If there is a horse stable nearby and they have compost piles a lot of times they will be glad if you take it.

-Funk

Also a good idea. I missed an opportunity last year to acquire a few truck beds full of horse manure because I didn't jump on it. My employee/cousin rents from a lady with extra horse manure each year I need to make sure I take it this time. I would then compost it at my property for one season at least..how long do you compost the horse manure?

Each year I would love to be able to add 1/2" layer of compost/manure/bedding to slowly increase my organic matter over time. I added about that last year and it bumped up my organic matter by about 2%.

[MountZionCollec]

Originally Posted by kelly1376

Love what you're doing here. I went back and read your log from last year and you really got it together. Efficient and productive. This is what you call living the dream. Not just weed but fruits, vegetables, livestock, awesome setup.

Thanks, I feel like the farm is just now Coming together! There has been a steep learning curve for me. This is my 4th season growing commercially and living in the mountains. Finally Feeling in tune with it all.

[Chunkypigs]

Originally Posted by MountZionCollec

Also a good idea. I missed an opportunity last year to acquire a few truck beds full of horse manure because I didn't jump on it. My employee/cousin rents from a lady with extra horse manure each year I need to make sure I take it this time. I would then compost it at my property for one season at least..how long do you compost the horse manure?

Each year I would love to be able to add 1/2" layer of compost/manure/bedding to slowly increase my organic matter over time. I added about that last year and it bumped up my organic matter by about 2%.

I grew right in the pile last yer and it was fine even when fresh. I think when there is enough bedding mixed in it's like turbo charged strawbale gardening.

I top dress with it as well as roto till it in.

if you can barter top shelf for animal shit you will come out ahead and have happy folks delivering it I'll bet.

just a few hobby farmers will do you. try to get diversity though, horse, dairy, chickens, sheep, ducks, worms.

check around for local waste products from cheese making, brewing, tree trimming etc that can be composted or made into biochar.

[MountZionCollec]

Originally Posted by Chunkypigs

I grew right in the pile last yer and it was fine even when fresh. I think when there is enough bedding mixed in it's like turbo charged strawbale gardening.

I top dress with it as well as roto till it in.

if you can barter top shelf for animal shit you will come out ahead and have happy folks delivering it I'll bet.

just a few hobby farmers will do you. try to get diversity though, horse, dairy, chickens, sheep, ducks, worms.

check around for local waste products from cheese making, brewing, tree trimming etc that can be composted or made into biochar.

Thanks for the advice, I plan to keep expanding my farm, eventually doubling the amount of everything so all those ideas sound like great ways to cheaply and suistainably build up my soil, in combo with my Astera amendments.

[MountZionCollec]

Berry patch Just above a cannabis patch. This is where the hoophouse was located that collapsed last year before harvest. ~53 different tyypes of blackberries, rasberries and there hybrids will be in here.



on the end is the viny growing edible rose, then 14 of my 18 grapes.



60 fruit tree orchard located beneath my veggie growing area and just next to my best cannabis growing site. I was planning to have this orchard be 40% of my cannabis garden, but last sercond the county increased the setbacks from 30' to 75' so it was the perfect time to plant the orchard.

there is a chance the county will once again increase the setbacks once permanent regulations are in place. im hoping not.

[FunkBomb]

Here is a video on making compost quickly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmVNXY-fmko

-Funk

[MountZionCollec]

Originally Posted by FunkBomb

Here is a video on making compost quickly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmVNXY-fmko

-Funk

Nice video thanks, I like the strategy but I would not be able to mix it as often as he does that would get to be to much labor for how much I would want....you think it would still work, though much slower, if the whole compost is mixed less then he does it? He said he mixes it every 4-5 days until it's ready.

[MountZionCollec]

So I was inspected by code enforcement and given 10 days to make the needed adjustments to my cultivation site to meet all of there requests. I haven't yet been "approved" by the county but I am now moving beyond code onto getting my planning department approval and my sheriffs approval. Also need to schedule to pay my first 1/2 half of taxes for this year to my county which Is $9,000. Also need to pay my waterboard soon for $1000.

[MountZionCollec]

So we had 3 nights/mornings of ground frost in the past 10 days and it did some damage to some plants.

Lattarula Italian honey fig and Cordi Stella fig leaves were killed. They were low to the ground right in the frost zone. Tree base is still alive but I've decided to replace them as I only want the strongest. I'm replacing them with two kinda risky options but I both could work. Fig Tena and Deanna both bred in California and considered adapted and hardy across California. Same breeder of the excel fig I put in which handled the frost with zero problems. The only other fig that had some damage was the Nordland fig it was also very low to ground. Leaves not as damaged as the other two but very beat up.

The grapes had some damage as well but only within 5 inches from the ground everything above that and beneath the straw was fine.

Blackberries and rasberries no issues even though frost was covering them. Same with currants.

Only other tree that had issues were the Mullberries, and they were variety specific and height specific on the leaf damage. Again the ones that had issues were the shorter trees within 6-8" from the ground, I saw no damage above this height. The only fig I may need to end up replacing next year is the "Spanish black" which was the only one with more then 50% damage. Others who were totally in frost zone had some leaves handle it in the zone fine.

I'm also putting in 10 more grapes.