Lessons after a year

     Let's start with the neglect of people, including neglect I was doing all these years. Mowing the lawn and allowing the clippings to just sit on the lawn, caused a lot of damage over the years. The thatch level was overwhelming the lawn. Dethatching the front lawn, was a three day process, and it could probably be done again. Still have the back yard to accomplish, but this has taught me the destructive force of neglect in maintenance. 

    That being said dethatching came with a benefit, the dead grass comes to us as carbon. So not only does it allow the soil breathe and water to get into the lawn, the thatch aids with composting. Which removing thatch allows for the composting to be more welcomed when it is applied. 

    So now we move into composting. The grass can be bagged and should be from what I have been learning. That bagged grass can then be used as nitrogen for the compost bin or dried and used as the carbon either way it is the best thing grass can do. 

    Some of the plants like the Celosia came back around some Penta that I planted. It actually encouraged the Penta and vice versa. The prior penta didn't come back but not sure if I pulled them up or not. I suppose I need to leave them in and see if they recover by may or something. 

    Learned that tomato plants should be pruned and that the sucker stalk can be used to propagate the plant. Along with the Rosemary and the comfrey propagation. 

    The soil where I put the garden has improved, but since I have not done composting yet and just started the decomposition for my compost bins. I expect the soil to massively improve after I start feeding the soil. 

    Will have some great foundations when the farm is obtained.

Importance in Building

    Water path collections and pathways to plants. Try to keep soul compacting to a minimum.

 

    These two options are important. You will want to maximize water, while minimizing soil compaction from traffic.  So build these two at the same time, as well as having a plan on where and how plants will be done.

Winter Death

     Didn't winter proof the plants and lost some. Even in Florida it gets cold enough to think about winterizing plants. I did pick up some air pots for indoor plants and a light system for it. Going to move some of the plants inside. 

    So far I am going to try some ginger inside. See how it does. Then a clove of garlic in the same pot and compare to the outside garlic. In some air pots I have some Rosemary and strawberry situated to grow. Will look at doing a peppermint as well.

    I want to get to the farm but until then I can start some projects at the current resident. Some Vermiculture. Started a bin and will see how it works. I started to keep a notebook for notes and tracking. So this should help the process in the log run. 

    I did find out too that dried ginger to me at least packs a little more immediate heat. Some things to try. Still need a food dehydrator.