O.K I just came from reading their last post on their website, and I am just amazed at how well organized and planted everything is, what I mean is that everytime they take pictures, all their beds are planted with something, no spots are bare looking at all. I understand that I don't have as much growing beds as they do but I am wondering how they are able to achieve this?
I have 3 raise beds right now with the hopes of building at least 3 more beds, one of them has onions, the other 2 have still some veggies but they are about only half full, since I had to pick some stuff already, like the lettuces or the kolrabi or the chinese kale and the bock choi, so there are a lot of spots where I have not replanted because I am waiting for the warmer weather to be able to plant all the warm weather crops. Another thing is, with the weather we've had the cold spells, veggies have taken longer to produce than normal, so my peas for example are still small in the ground and the warmer weather is comming so I am wondering if they will even produce at all or if I'll just have to take them out to plant the squashes instead.
I want to be able to get better at maximizing my space and plant as much as possible in the raise beds that I have but I am wondering how you can achieve having all the beds completely full of veggies, any ideas?
Also if you look at their lettuce patch, it just looks like they have a carpet full of lettuce, I am wondering whether they just drop all the seeds in the raise beds, do they thin at all, boy I wish they would write a book or even show a video on how they plant their stuff.
This message was edited Feb 28, 2010 7:31 PM
How in the world do the Dervaes do it?
They live in CA for starts. I think it gets hot but not very cold where they are. I bet the Dervaes learned all their tricks out of necessity by trial and error.
I like to start seedlings in community pots and then if I can't plant them directly, I can separate them into their own 3 1/2" pot. These are ready to go when there's a vacancy somewhere. It's like having my own inventory of nursery plants because they'll hold quite awhile in that size pot. I keep them in trays under a tree so they're easy to water and the little pots don't burn up. In winter, I keep them in the sun against the S side of the house or in the greenhouse. Right now I've got some cabbages, onions, herbs, and lettuce that were all extras that could be planted. The greenhouse is loading up with tomatoes, peppers, marigolds, zinnias and some other odds and ends. I always waste some seed for extra plants and can usually find homes for them if I ask around.
I've learned to start new summer squash and cukes every 3 weeks because the squash vine borers and heat will take them out in the summer. Even if something doesn't get used, it can make compost. I think sometimes we just need to push the limits for spacing and seasons. If plants have the right level of light, temp, food and water they'll make a crop. It takes a lot more fertilizer when things are crowded.
Another good trick is to use the shade of tall plants to extend the season of stuff like lettuce that can't take the heat. A lettuce or pak choi doesn't take much space and can do very well in surprising places. One of the best cukes I ever had was a volunteer that ran under a rosebush and climbed it.
I think one of the important things in intensive gardening is to always keep seedlings ready to go into any empty spots. It requires a lot of planning to do that, and I think a lot of experience with the ground you're in. And a lot of work. It becomes the job.
Twiggy and paracelsus, I think you are right, I am always concerned that I don't have enough space for plants but today I just decided to go ahead and started more seeds, even though I just don't know where to place them just yet, I started some red chard seeds, I figure I can just pop them wherever I see an empty space.
Twiggy I have 3 very nice cabbages the seeds you gave me in one of my raise beds they are looking so good that I am just going to leave them in place and just plant the tomatoes around them. I also went ahead and planted the carrots that you gave me as well, they look like good ones.
Who are the Dervaes? Do you have a link to their site? This sounds like interesting reading!
Stephanie just goggle them on you tube and you are in for a treat.
I'm not organized enough to plan things out for max production. I just plant more seeds than I think I'll need and while it might be wasteful of the seeds, they're usually the cheap OP kind that I can save myself.
Another thing this crazy weather has taught me is that it's good to plant a few seeds now and some more in a couple weeks. If I can just make myself stick to it. That way you can dodge some bad weather with replacements and not be overloaded with something ready all at the same time. It's also a good way to try out different varieties of the same thing instead of having all your hopes on something that doesn't work. I've just learned all this the hard way.
I admire what the Dervaes have accomplished but it's a multifaceted business, they're focused and there are lots of them. Lots of you on this forum started learning from scratch and every success is a big deal that deserves respect. I bet lots of you would have the envy of many that don't have any dirt at all or know where to start if they did.
I am in the same boat, I am lucky sometimes if I get sometime to catch up with my plantings, I usually have to do it when my little girl goes to sleep in the afternoon, otherwise she is all over my seeds and it just frustrates me. They do this for living and also as a main source of their food. Hopefuly if I get enough produce this summer I'll start canning etc... never done it before so I am looking forward to it.
I started some flower seeds yesterday as well, I figure I can just place this anywhere in my garden and this way I can attract some beneficial insects.
Twiggy do you usually let all your seeds sit in peroxide water for a day or so before planting? I got some really nice Jasmine seeds from a trade that I am desperately trying to start but I decided to place them in some peroxide water solution before planting in pots, they just look like hard seeds so I thought this would give them a better start.
II am not familiar with Jasmine seeds per se, but if they are hard seed coats you can nick them with clippers or cuticle scissors to barely expose the white part inside. You can also file them with a file or sandpaper or scrape them on the sidewalk - lol. Just something to expose the inside of the seed a bit. It helps speed germination...
Thank you Kelly I might try that if this method does not work, I am thinking of living them in the peroxide water for 2 days or so and see what happens.
I'm not familiar with Jasmine seeds either. The soaking speeds up things a bit. Like Kelly said, nicking or otherwise damaging the hard seed coats lets moisture in so they get started. It's called scarifying. Okra and Canna are hard as rocks and they sprout in a couple days without scarifying when soaked in peroxide water. I soak beans and peas for about 4-6 hours. It isn't necessary but I always feel better when they get up and growing. For small seeds I just saturate the soil with it.
It's not a vine; it's an herbaceous perennial plant. It does sting, especially the older parts of the plant. A lot of people say it's a good treatement for plants. I've never tried it.
Yes, and oh phooey. I googled, and found the plant. There's a vine here, rather delicate thing, that stings like mad. I've been thinking it is nettle. Camera's busy at the moment, so no photo.
And if I had volunteer gardeners, plus four full time adults working, I could have a yard like that, too!
Yes, it is a little daunting to think someone is growing all this stuff while working a regular job and doing it alone, like most gardeners do. Then you find out that this IS his job, that and the blog and discussion group, and the whole family does it, and they have volunteer helpers. Kind of reminds me of Fukuoka, who also had a team of unpaid workers (who lived in an unheated shack). Still, it does inspire me to do more with food-growing in my yard.
I would love to volunteer for the Dervaes, imagine all the knowledge that they could provide, that to me is worth more than $, expecially when you are pretty new at gardening.
I have also seen some of the Fukuoka videos very inspiring.
The Dervaes definitely have the advantage of season and the focus and energy of multiple workers. I doubt many - or maybe any - of us could duplicate this in our own situations.
But I still watch and rewatch those videos. So much of it inspires me -- the guy started from an ordinary city lot, and on his own, when his kids were probably too young to be that helpful and when folks thought he was crazy -- and look what he has grown it into over a lot of years. It also makes me think of stretching my horizons -- maybe a solar cooker? maybe starting more of my own seeds, maybe more intensive in spots, maybe trying some edible flowers or a new watering technique. I like that they are always expanding and then sharing what they know.
As for the amount that family can produce, I will never get to 6000 pounds, gardining on my own, half-time in a too-shady lot - but If I can do 1% -- yes, just ONE PERCENT -- of their yield this year, it will be an accomplishment for me. Surely I can do that?? And if I could, that would be 60 pounds of produce and I would be thrilled
Carminator, I haven't done this myself but are you aware of http://www.wwoofusa.org/
I just discovered the existence of this organization a few days ago and don't plan on "woofing" myself-- but this organization's purpose is to put organic farms and volunteers together. Check it out. Maybe there is one near where you are, or maybe this will be of interest to someone else.
If I end up doing any volunteering, I'll probably do it through a local gardening club which maintains a few gardens around the area, or by volunteering at our local food bank. They have a community garden that helps provide fresh stuff to the food bank (good for them, huh!! I think that's wonderful). Minimum security prisoners provide a lot of the labor over there, but they still need volunteers.
But first, I need to get my own garden going!