Jan. 1, 2011 - Starting Seeds

by Lander Michaels
(Beaufort SC)

Lander Michael's Garden starts today!

Very Inspiring keep up the good work and keep us posted! Do you have any pictures to add there always fun.
Farmer Dave

I live on 7/8 of an acre in zone 8b SC and building a permaculture homestead. I am using Cedar boxes in the front yard (because I live in town, I do not think full on farm would have gone over to well), 1/2 of back yard rows, and other half chicken coop/free range space. I have 5 laying hens and am very happy that I found someone selling certified organic chicken feed up the road for double the price of regular feed. Now here on the east coast that is a blessing. Last year I looked into buying feed and having it shipped in 65.00 to 75.00 for 50Lbs. So now my girls are happy, eggs are superb, and we are no longer adding to the big picture problem in that seed department. I use the deep layer method of composting in the coop Oct./April, its wonderful. In the other 5 months it's to hot. This spring we are buying 4 bunnies and let them free range in the front yard some to eat the grass around the boxes and all sorts of treats that I planted today preparing for March 1st. when I go to get them. I planted red hard wheat,flax,oats,barley,and alfalfa all organic, just waiting for the bunnies arrival. I know a old russian man who has told me how to slowly add all of these green grass into the rabbits diet. Under the rabbit hutches I will be setting up vermicomposting bins, that's right straight into the red worm bins. They say this is the way to go. If you have never uses rabbit compost, start now. I also planted in pots today. Just some test plants using last years seeds. Tomatoes - Beefsteak, roma, and Cherry Sugar Sweetie. Bell peppers - green/red and green/cali orange. I want to see if this is a better time to start growing those 2 plants in SC. I do not like to direct sow many seeds here in SC because we have really bad storms, one good storm and your little 1-30 day plant is gone. Grains,squash,cucumbers,watermelons,gourds,pumpkins, and zucchini are all I will direct sow, I also plant spare backups in pots. I do think that the country is in a bad place and everyone should know how to grow food, have permaculture skills, and know how to wild forage/hunt. I am starting this spring going to the local public middle school and teaching the children/teachers how to organic garden right on school grounds for this very reason.