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Comment by Idaho Spud on January 20, 2015 at 1:39pm

I harvested my Ginger Roots today.  It looks like I only got immature ones.  I would have let them die back naturally after they matured, but I wanted my shower back, as I'm tired of washing myself out of the sink.

I put them in the bathtub so I could control the temperature, humidity, and light/dark times.  I used such a large pot that I couldn't move it out when I wanted to shower.

The leaves quickly got brown edges.  Don't know why.  Here is the leaves as of several months ago, and my harvest.  The light colored roots are immature from what I've read.  I'll find-out how immature when I eat them I guess.  They are milder than the mature ones.  The dark one is the original root I planted.

Comment by Barbara Livingston on January 20, 2015 at 1:28pm

Spud, ditto for me on the water getting too hot for fish. I'm trying to adhere to permaculture principles and have everything I do or plant serve more than one purpose - for now rain barrels will have to simply serve as a way of harvesting water.  I also wondered about the size of the duck pond, but when the guy wrote they spend hours in it I guess they are happy. With our heat here I imagine I would have to change the water daily, and then some. 

Kathy, yes, busy day. Stood out in middle of yard watching men install gutter system wondering if I was doing the right thing as money in my savings account would probably make me feel more secure. However, it's a good feeling knowing I'm doing something to help the environment, and being able to water all my edible landscape will make me feel terrific. :) 

I love lilacs, and being from upstate NY I remember the lovely smell of them. Just too hot for them here though. Instead I'm growing Jasmine, close but no cigar. 

Comment by Idaho Spud on January 20, 2015 at 1:27pm

Thanks for the layering reminders Kathy and Joan.

Comment by Idaho Spud on January 20, 2015 at 1:14pm

It was fun watching the ducks.  I didn't think they would like such a small pond as much as they do.

I've been reading "Grow Fruit Naturally" by Lee Reich, that I got from the library a few days ago.

Barbara, I keep my rain barrels covered like you've been doing until it rains, and no trouble with mosquitoes so far.   Daniel's mosquito fish look like a good idea, except my water gets too hot for them.  Insulating the barrels might work.  

Comment by Barbara Livingston on January 20, 2015 at 12:37pm

Kathy, I EVEN want to think about mosquito larvae, however, I know I must. This my first time to have rain barrels. Heck, my first time for everything it seems. So, I would welcome any and all information on them. I've tried to be very careful and not have any standing water, but I know the barrels will probably be an open invitation to them. 

I've read about the pellets you can put in them, although others say don't do it as they are toxic. One person recommended a couple drops of Dawn ... As I mentioned previously, I'm going to put a mesh over the top of each barrel. Since I haven't bought it yet I imagine no matter how fine the mesh, a mosquito will probably still fit through it. It was my intent to keep the solid cover on them until there is a chance of rain. 

Oooops! gutter people arrived 2 hours early!

Comment by Daniel W on January 20, 2015 at 11:47am

mosquito fish

Comment by Daniel W on January 20, 2015 at 11:42am

Kathy, it would be great if we were neighbors.  I start lilacs the same way, but have few people to give them to.  We could trade.

Barbara, I think the rain barrel is a great idea.  I have one but let it deteriorate.  Repairing it so I can use rainwater for plants instead of the high iron / high mineral well water.  Nice to hear about your gardening.  It's not bad here - chilly and rainy, but there are yard and garden chores for me, more than I can do.

Comment by k.h. ky on January 20, 2015 at 11:17am

Barbara, busy day for you. Do you have a problem with mosquito larvae in the rain barrels? I haven't been able to prevent them. Any suggestions or ideas? Anyone?

Comment by Barbara Livingston on January 20, 2015 at 10:18am

Morning Everyone - I'm enjoying my morning coffee while reading all the many posts.  Just love the idea of starting new plants from cast-offs and 'found items'. You make it sound sooooo easy to start new things. 

Should be in the high 70's today ... I've busily planted a nectarine tree, three blackberry bushes, two raspberry, and have two goji bushes yet to be planted. A friend gave me a plum tree and fig cuttings. Have a $20 hole dug and plum should be in the ground by end of day! Tonight I begin starting seeds for transplanting on March 1st.

Daniel, thanks for the info on Lee Reich. I was able to get his book on pruning from library. I had conflict and pruning seminar I had planned to attend was a no go. Book is helping me prune new plantings and those I planted last year. :) 

I'm determined 2015 will be the year I live my life Green!  Gutter installation scheduled for today and I'm excited. After attending seminar on rain harvesting and making my own rain barrel, I decided to purchase remaining needed barrels from local source - 50 gallon barrels originally used to ship black olives. They are taller and so have a smaller footprint, have two-piece tops with screw on rim, which should make it easier to clean out. I'm going to remove solid piece and put a screen on it and then screw on rim. I can completely cover during long  periods of no rain. They are black, I'm going to scrub, sand, prime and then paint a color to match my house siding.  My plants will love instead of chlorinated water. I will slowly begin repair work of adding dirt around perimeter of house to repair the dips and holes created by runoff. 

I'm getting bunnies!  Bought a cute little hutch, put it together in 45F windy weather as I was excited.  Now to decide which ones to get.  I laughed and laughed at the video of the ducks. Made me want to get them too. :) Debated over chickens and finally decided bunny poop the best for me and my space. I can let bunnies out to play in yard, should be interesting to see how my little dog relates to them. Biggest issue will be keeping them cool during hot months. I just may wind up having bunnies in my laundry room on really hot days. I found some Coolaroo material on Amazon and am going to make a frame of pvc pipe to surround their hutch. It is suppose to reduce heat and UV rays by 90%. We'll see. 

I have two plants to move before the gutter people arrive, so must get busy.  Plant on!  Hang on my friends in colder areas, Spring is coming! 

Comment by k.h. ky on January 20, 2015 at 10:16am

I overdo the starts too. But giving away small starts is easy enough. Even in this small area. I start new lilacs every year. I just dig up a tiny piece from the shoots. I already have six on this place and have given away more than l remember.
It's just one of those things l really like to do!

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