tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post1758513886322037370..comments2024-03-28T14:37:45.575-04:00Comments on 5 Acres & A Dream: "The Lawn Has Got To Go"Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-19709583412565980742014-05-04T19:40:16.067-04:002014-05-04T19:40:16.067-04:00Have you seen the Back to Eden video on Vimeo wher...Have you seen the Back to Eden video on Vimeo where the guy in WA uses a method of heavy mulching to keep from watering and weeds etc for his orchard and garden?<br /><br />I'm seeing a Front Yard Garden in the works here. :)The Stay @ Home-Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06102175625149771801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-33915641036541536232014-04-28T20:34:40.589-04:002014-04-28T20:34:40.589-04:00I just have a small yard, but have slowly been get...I just have a small yard, but have slowly been getting rid of the lawn. This weekend I finished extending the veggie patch, and just have beds and paths there. It looks so clean - just like a potager! africanaussiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16660727599623626163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-61833933494482018172014-04-28T16:44:20.286-04:002014-04-28T16:44:20.286-04:00Hi Leigh! What an interesting post! I also enjoyed...Hi Leigh! What an interesting post! I also enjoyed reading all of the comments! It's amazing to see how many people are really interested in growing a garden and raising animals! We learn so much from each other, even though every homestead is different. I didn't know we could grow almond trees here in the South! That's awesome! Where did you order yours? I want to order some at the right time. Thanks for sharing this awesome post! Blessings from Bama!Felecia Cofieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13454535396468307243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-37333025030046131592014-04-28T10:58:45.801-04:002014-04-28T10:58:45.801-04:00Stephanie, you probably already know to do this, b...Stephanie, you probably already know to do this, but just make sure you can get to the septic tank in case you need to. :)Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-61515775958008815262014-04-28T08:46:06.132-04:002014-04-28T08:46:06.132-04:00Leigh, I think that is a great plan! We are going...Leigh, I think that is a great plan! We are going to do more as we get more established here. One area I think we will have to do raised beds, or at least build UP is the patch right in front of the house. We can't dig down because of the septic tank. But I can make beds and plant edible plants, and make it a beautiful place over time :)<br /><br />http://caffeinatedhomestead.weebly.com/blog.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-49198897410333040332014-04-27T22:42:55.576-04:002014-04-27T22:42:55.576-04:00Matt, thank you for the link to your new blog. I&#...Matt, thank you for the link to your new blog. I'll look forward to reading your posts. I find blogging a great way to document what we're doing, especially for ourselves!<br /><br />Hopefully this will be the tractor for us. It will be a relief to have the proper equipment for the job. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-63192192366204006172014-04-27T22:24:47.308-04:002014-04-27T22:24:47.308-04:00Hi Liegh,
Glad you found the garden tractor websi...Hi Liegh,<br /><br />Glad you found the garden tractor website interesting. My wife and I do have a blog (just started so no post as of yet) First post will be this week sometime. http://thebeginninghomesteader.wordpress.com/ <br /><br />As to the tractor, I wish you the best of luck. Look for one that runs and doesn't smoke. Preference would be to find one that already has all the attachments with it. I found mine through craigs list for $600Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00812482742192803506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-1389193877445569642014-04-27T22:09:11.810-04:002014-04-27T22:09:11.810-04:00Mom at home, I love the wild flower idea! Some sta...Mom at home, I love the wild flower idea! Some states are doing that along highway. Looks great and there is so little maintenance. <br /><br />Velva, I'd have to say our lawn is mostly non-fertilized weeds, LOL<br /><br />Nancy, the cherries, the ones I'm referring to are sand cherries ( Prunus besseyi). They have a very wide growing range so should do well in your area. They are a wild bush cherry, but don't produce very meaty nor sweet fruit. I use mine in a mixed fruit jelly which is very tasty!<br /><br />Kev, great idea about peach trees. We have two in our front yard and would like to plant more. <br /><br />Yes, I did know about the daylilies. About the only thing I've done with them is color for salads. After my violet jelly success, I think I need to see if they'll make orange if steeped in hot water. Daylily jelly sounds pretty good, doesn't it:<br /><br />Chris, great ideas. We did learn how potatoes loosen the soil in the garden. We have a pretty big front yard so it's a lot of ground to cover!<br /><br />Bill, that's a really good idea. I'm always trying to think of ways to shrink our "lawn." The portable fence idea is a good one too.<br /><br />Michelle, that's though, but at least you have your own fiber producing lawn mowers!<br /><br />Bettina, I couldn't agree more! It takes one of our next door neighbors over 3 hours to mow his place on a riding lawn mower. And the neighbor on the other side of him uses his leaf blower in autumn<br />for 5 straight hours of leaf blowing! I used to worry about our rooster making noise, but not anymore, LOL<br /><br />Debbie, it's a shame about those neighborhood covenants. I know they don't want neglected yards, but it would be nice if some of them started to recognize sustainable landscaping. <br /><br />Thank you for doing a book review! I'm very grateful for that.<br /><br />Mark, that's quotable! Like you and Chris, we have some steep areas we need to consider. They are right by the road so we need something that won't get out of control. I agree it has to be productive!<br /><br />Andrea, hello and welcome! I was delighted to find your blog as well. I think working in phases is really the best idea. And sometimes it takes years to figure out if a thing will work or not! At least for me. :)<br /><br />Matt, hello and welcome to you too! Thank you for the link, and I have to say that that is exactly what we've been looking for! They are few and far between around here (working ones at reasonable prices that is), but Dan is going to go look at one next Tuesday. Hopefully I'll have a blog post with good news after that. :)<br /><br />I saw your G+ page but didn't find a blog. Sounds like you have lots of interesting things you could share on one. <br /><br />Su Ba, I have to agree that those lawn clippings do come in handy. Right now I'm collecting them as litter for the new chicken coop. <br /><br />Yes, our front yard has high visibility, unfortunately. Would love to change that or at least hide the house, LOL. I have to say that we actually have very few rocks. We almost wish we had some for stone walls (fences) but except for an occasional piece of quartz, rocks are pretty scarce. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-87966009278476830562014-04-27T19:31:30.404-04:002014-04-27T19:31:30.404-04:00The only use I have for lawns nowadays is for gras... The only use I have for lawns nowadays is for grass clippings. I'm a big user of them for mulch. I don't maintain a lawn myself but I do happily have neighbors that do. And they are happy to have me mow them. In my past life (before establishing a homestead farm) I always had a lawn. Never really thought about it because it simply was the thing that everyone did. When I first started my homestead I of course made a lawn around the house. Silly me. Nobody saw it except hubby and I. I eventually converted it to food gardens. <br /><br />Leigh, I can see that your lawn is quite visible to your neighbors. I'm supposing that whatever your solution will be, it's going to have to be eye appealing. And good luck with the rocks. I'm doing derocking right now and it ain't fun. Whatever you decide to do, rock removal or raised beds, it's going to be time consuming. Hey, wanna come over and practice on my rocks? If you work on it for about four weeks ,that should give you enough experience to tackle your own. ;) <br /><br />...Su Ba, www.kaufarmer.blogspot.comSu Bahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09125127467859054156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-14688575699690881162014-04-27T17:43:52.486-04:002014-04-27T17:43:52.486-04:00Hi Leigh,
I stumbled on your blog recently. My wi...Hi Leigh,<br /><br />I stumbled on your blog recently. My wife and I have enjoyed many of your posts. Thank you for sharing. I also recall a post where you were growing corn and working large areas with a rototiller. So I wanted to share something that I recently discovered. Inexpensive garden tractors. Not enough room for me to elaborate here, but I'll provide the link where I found the information: http://www.endtimesreport.com/garden_tractor_gardening.html There are three of these articles and I have found all of them very useful. Now, I have access to farm equipment but found that the small areas I needed to work on my homestead for growing vegis and grains to feet chickens are too small for even the smallest farm tractors I have. I've been using the information from these articles. Hope they are helpful to you.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />MattAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00812482742192803506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-21495007541541438372014-04-27T17:29:02.624-04:002014-04-27T17:29:02.624-04:00So glad I found your blog, I love it. The hubby an...So glad I found your blog, I love it. The hubby and I are in the process of trying to figure out how to transform our front yard. We are starting with one or two dwarf cherry bushes and then work raised beds around them. May have to happen in phases. :)Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-10481935607440291082014-04-27T12:41:01.811-04:002014-04-27T12:41:01.811-04:00Bravo, Leigh! My sentiments exactly! Why spend ti...Bravo, Leigh! My sentiments exactly! Why spend time and money for the privilege of doing a job you dislike, for a return that does not exist, with the purpose of upholding a principle with which you disagree? It's poor stewardship. I'm with you and am doing all I can to minimize my lawn mowing duties, too: We've expanded the gardens, and this year we're added a chicken yard, and putting some kind of (hopefully) productive ground cover our hard to mow banks. Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08343134852881572900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-81424379694208049852014-04-27T09:46:59.464-04:002014-04-27T09:46:59.464-04:00Hi, Leigh! I love this idea, I hate having to tend...Hi, Leigh! I love this idea, I hate having to tend a lawn. We've more than doubled our veg garden this year in the backyard, and added 3 fruit trees and a blueberry bush. I've informed my husband that I plan to completely take over the backyard with growing food, and he's starting to like the idea. We have a lawn service (friend of the family, good price) that cuts our front and (dwindling) back lawn. The neighbors are a complaining bunch and there's a neighborhood covenant requiring manicured front lawns (and forbidding chickens, much to my sorrow). But the back yard is mine to transform!<br /><br />PS, I owe you a book review! I'm procrastinating because I'm a terrible writer and I want to do it right! Perfectionism is such a curse - if I can't do it perfectly, I tend to put off doing it at all. But I'm slowly crafting the right words, I haven't forgotten!DebbieBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00508692845369401119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-84163355941706675342014-04-27T09:26:26.876-04:002014-04-27T09:26:26.876-04:00I'd much rather have a neighbour's front g...I'd much rather have a neighbour's front garden covered in wild flowers (aka weeds:) than having to listen to his mowing every saturday afternoon! though I have to admit that my garden wouldn't be every lawnlovers secret dream anyway (we don't have a lawn....unless you count the areas covered in thick ground elder:). our soil in front of the house is very poor, so food growing is out of the question. but plants such as berberis darwinii grow very well - at least they give flowers to the bees and later food for the birds! and I am sure mediterranean herbs would like the well-drained, gravelly soil as well.... <br />there's always something better to grow than lawn! Woolly Bitshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11961632742998726155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-47499523186552216232014-04-26T19:56:35.652-04:002014-04-26T19:56:35.652-04:00Sigh; my husband is one of those who LOVES lawns, ...Sigh; my husband is one of those who LOVES lawns, and I am one of those who thinks they are a total WASTE!Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01550786937196525098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-21437050654605613422014-04-26T18:18:34.066-04:002014-04-26T18:18:34.066-04:00I so agree with you and I so much want to break ou...I so agree with you and I so much want to break out of the lawnmowing trap. I've thought of using portable net fencing and grazing sheep on our lawn. I've also decided that as of this year about 1/2 of what I've been tending as part of our lawn I'm going to just leave alone and treat it like it's part of the woods. We stole it from nature, so now I'm letting nature take it back.<br />Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01640663629610290592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-25859895316153326632014-04-26T17:45:24.868-04:002014-04-26T17:45:24.868-04:00I agree that a garden is far better than a lawn. T...I agree that a garden is far better than a lawn. The latter also takes up a lot cost to run and maintain mowing equipment. Having said that, lawn is also perfect ground cover until that long awaited garden can be put in. <br /><br />On our slopes its particularly grueling to mow, but grass does hold the soil in place too - so its worth keeping. We have plans to put in gardens to replace the lawn, but its a very slow process. <br /><br />I love your rugosa roses. I have one plant and its as tough as old boots! They make effective green hedging/fencing when you have more than one plant, like me.<br /><br />To make an easier go of tilling, you could try planting a tuber/root crop first. Potato, sweet potato, jerusalem artichokes. Anything that will grow quickly and out compete the grass basically. Instead of preparing the area by tilling, you merely dig into holes a half-metre or metre apart, then mulch. Once the tubers break up the soil for you, then you harvest.<br /><br />To keep it looking nice for the neighbours, I would chip the leftover stalks and lay them on the soil again. After a winter fallow period, the soil should be better for planting in. The tubers growing did all the work.<br /><br />I've found when we don't have a lot of money or time to commit to a project ourselves, we can generally find a plant that will do the job for us over a season or two. While it seems like a long time, it can takes us that long just to physically and financially get to doing it ourselves.<br /><br />But you're doing well, and I think your front yard looks beautiful (and the house). :)Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-11522982110369768482014-04-26T17:26:24.988-04:002014-04-26T17:26:24.988-04:00Great plan! The front of our place is about the wa...Great plan! The front of our place is about the warmest part as it get the sun all day. Once I've finished doing building works I'll plant some peach trees to make the most of the warmth other wise that space is wasted and like you said you end up keeping it just to please the neighbours. <br />As for your day lilies did you know they're edible? I haven't tried it yet but I might this year as we've got loads of them as well.Kev Alvitihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992625860900617194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-14128698828975888302014-04-26T14:36:50.013-04:002014-04-26T14:36:50.013-04:00I meant to ask about your cherry bushes? Do they ...I meant to ask about your cherry bushes? Do they produce cherries that you can use and how do you use them? Will they grow in zone 5? I have a dwarf sweet cherry tree but always looking for more fruit options. Thanks. Nancy <br />Cozy Thyme Cottagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03933769393226611441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-14623223905033750462014-04-26T14:25:41.074-04:002014-04-26T14:25:41.074-04:00I agree about having less lawns and maybe if food ...I agree about having less lawns and maybe if food prices continue to go up more people will consider this. I love reading blogs of people that do this. We only do our back yard because of age (74) and energy but wish we could do more!! Go for it!! Nancy Cozy Thyme Cottagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03933769393226611441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-11055200959882852052014-04-26T13:46:05.125-04:002014-04-26T13:46:05.125-04:00I agree. A lot of a front lawn with nothing but fe...I agree. A lot of a front lawn with nothing but fertilized grass can be put to better use. Rock on!<br /><br />VelvaVelvahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16034246333318823700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-7407100006788309782014-04-26T11:39:39.211-04:002014-04-26T11:39:39.211-04:00I live in a small city. One lot close to my daugh...I live in a small city. One lot close to my daughter's home is very large. I guess they hate mowing too so they plant native wild flowers by seed every year in the open side yard. It is so colorful and in the fall they mow it down. I love driving by that place and seeing black eyed susans and other Missouri native wild flowers all mixed together.Mom at homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00142674421000226910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-37032271783059687062014-04-26T11:32:39.550-04:002014-04-26T11:32:39.550-04:00John on a bike, hello! We were commenting about th...John on a bike, hello! We were commenting about the same time so I missed you in my previous answer to folks. Firstly welcome and thank you for commenting!<br /><br />I definitely plan to use pigs in the future for tilling. The front yard, probably not: 1) because it isn't fenced. :) 2) because there are some things I don't want rooted up such as my perennial herb beds, comfrey, and fruit trees. Like you, it will be pasture areas. I like that they worked in organic matter for you. Dan worries about whether we'd have enough to feed them. I don't see that you have a blog(?). Would love to know more details about what you fed them.Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-48813867170310867672014-04-26T11:29:08.930-04:002014-04-26T11:29:08.930-04:00Barb, LOL. Sheep have traditionally been used as l...Barb, LOL. Sheep have traditionally been used as lawn mowers! Of course to do that, we'd have to fence the front yard. It's the old one thing leads to another. <br /><br />I am gradually planting bushes and trees as money allows. I planted hedges of sand cherries, rugosa roses, and red raspberries, although the raspberries don't seen to do well. Varieties of <i>Vaccinium</i> species do grow around here, although I think they call them blueberries. I already harvest plenty of blueberries, so I honestly hadn't considered huckleberries. Our blueberries are deciduous, however, so evergreen is definitely good. <br /><br /><br />Mama Pea, yes, I use our bagged cuttings as well, mostly for litter in the chicken coop (I worry about weed seeds too much to use it as mulch.) <br /><br />Lynda, funny how our perspectives change, isn't it? You'll definitely enjoy those extra garden beds!<br /><br />Renee, I feel for you with that HOA. Seems like folks who get in a position of authority automatically lose all common sense and intelligence!<br /><br />Nina, heavy shade is a problem, isn't it. I reckon that's where forest gardening comes in. We have a couple of recreational areas picked out too, but all in the back yard and out of sight from neighbors and passers by. :)<br /><br />Cassandra, yes, you can plant an almond tree! I also live in zone 7 and plants an "All-in-one" almond variety. Gorgeous pink flowers in the spring and yes, almonds!<br /><br />Thewovenspoke, that's the bad thing about lawns. About 7 years ago we were under a severe drought and had water restrictions in place. Folks still insisted on watering their lawns! That annoyed me to no end, LOL<br /><br />Quinn, I hear you on that one. We have a lot of trees too, and it's hard to take them down. I always plant two or three replacements for each one downed!<br /><br />Most of our cleared land is toward the front, by the road, so that's really where we need to do our planting. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-26269310766850544922014-04-26T11:28:02.237-04:002014-04-26T11:28:02.237-04:00How about pigs to dig up that lawn? They would do...How about pigs to dig up that lawn? They would do it happily, and it would give the neighborhood something to watch. I intentionally had 2 pigs dig up a portion of our pasture this winter, and they worked in lots of organic material (old hay & leaves) into the soil as they went. And I get to sell them for more than I paid. Quite a bargain!John on a bikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16963887288838593000noreply@blogger.com