Guru's Garden - Traveling the World in Search of Peppers

Just starting this glog now so it's one less thing to do in a few months when I'm knee deep in compost and getting things in the ground.
 
Not much to report at the moment. Strains yet to be determined, but I'll probably end up growing too many like always...lol
 
 
Only thing that's going on right now is a clean back patio and the chickens doing their part turning over my compost pile on the daily. Intersted in seeing how the soil microbes appreciate the added chicken poop!
 

 

 
Hope everyone has had a decent winter so far and here's to happy germination!
 

 
 
 
EDIT UPDATE: This glog has turned into an ongoing overwintering, greenhouse and soil building how-to!

 

[Pepper-Guru]

I take it you don't have deer invading your garden space?  What invaders do you intend to keep out with the fencing?  Good luck PG! 

Oh, we have deer but the fence is more to keep the chickens out of the garden. They are brutal. 
 
This was early fall last year, when they started really getting crazy. 
 

 
 

 
 
They are great allies to have for the compost pile, not so much for the garden and delicate root zones...
 

Nice to see your staying busy. Nice pic of the collard.

 
Still got a lot of work ahead of me. No    till its done! 

So who's going in the giant cloth bags this year?

Not sure...but lots of stuff 

 

[Bence]

Rich, what kind of mulch are you using? Here in Hungary basically all you can get is pine bark mulch...

 

[Pepper-Guru]

I use a mix of everything. What ever I can get my hands on really. Whenever I see a pile, I grab it. When I see someone chipping brush piles, I ask them to drop it off at my place. I've heard that a predominately pine mulch should be cooked for a year on account of the acidity, but I haven't had enough pine to test that out yet.

 

[Cayennemist]

Have you ever done any research on the RCW stuff? Seem like it would be right up your alley.
 
I have heard that RCW and mycilium together produce epic organic grows. something like this

 

[Roguejim]

It's my understanding that wood from conifers makes poor RCW.

 

[Pepper-Guru]

Have you ever done any research on the RCW stuff? Seem like it would be right up your alley.
 
I have heard that RCW and mycilium together produce epic organic grows. something like this

Yeah, that's what I usually go for in the past with in ground plots using mulch. I caught that video when he first uploaded it That guy has some good permaculture stuff going on that I like. I've never inoculated with mycelium before on my plots where I use mulch, because there's already so much of it! Once swipe of the hand in this pile and plot reveals massive white colonies of fungi! As for the rock dust, that's something I like to use in my containers whenever I can get my hands on it, but generally in my in ground plots, there is already so much of it as well that I've never seen myself adding any. 
 
I look at the RCW thing as most growers should; Trying to replicate what happens in a forest. Any and all types of wood chips in a nice mix is always best. We are trying to mimic branch tips and leaves falling to the forest floor and composting. Building SOIL!  

It's my understanding that wood from conifers makes poor RCW.

As I said, when ever you lower ph too much, you're going to have issues. I've seen people cook the pine mulch piles for a year and use them, but again I'm not big on the mono culture thing so a good MIX of wood types is where its at for this guy  
Not only that, but conifers also act as an antifungal, so ya don't want too much of that!  

Its all about the humus baby! Feed the SOIL

 

[Jamison]

Plants are looking outstanding thus far Rich!  I love the diversity of the drying rack/shade net.  Always is cool when you can use one thing for multiple reasons!!  I'm really looking forward to seeing some giants from you.

 

[Bence]

It's my understanding that wood from conifers makes poor RCW.

 
 
Yup, that's why. Guess I have to go to the forestry, or buy from some private source...
 
Then hopefully I can use my mycorrhizae to inoculate the soil...

 

[Weed]

 I've never inoculated with mycelium before on my plots where I use mulch, because there's already so much of it! Once swipe of the hand in this pile and plot reveals massive white colonies of fungi!

 
Ya innoculating the outdoors with nature just seems dumb?
 
I dont even worry what kind of wood to use as mulch. Something is going to eat it when it gets to the bottom of the layer regardless of whatever properties it used to have.
 
I have to re-up on wood chips this year. The garden ate most of the 6" layer up in the first 2 years. It's almost bare in some spots.

 

[sicman]

dig the jam,tell the drummer very classy fills.
 
beautiful chickens. buff orphington and some kind of game?
 
best of luck with the grow "not that you need it."

 

[Pepper-Guru]

Score!

 

[sicman]

there we go. was this one of them free piles you find? 

 

[Pepper-Guru]

Sho iz! And it's full o' white webby goodness
 

 

[sicman]

my "neighbours" have a 15 foot tall 45 round pile of tree limbs/compost material.. its insane! they wont burn anything,they are old hippies.
 
theres a whole eco system going on in this thing

 

[Pulpiteer]

Finally got around to backing you guys on kickstarter.  I'm hoping stuff gets here before I move in mid-June, but if it doesn't it'll still get forwarded.  I'm a sucker for independent music - so best of luck to you guys.  You destroyed your kickstarter goal - so that's awesome.  I read about all those extra freebies - wondering if any fatalii seeds are part of it    Anyway, congrats on meeting your kickstarter goal.
 
 

 
 
I look at the RCW thing as most growers should; Trying to replicate what happens in a forest. Any and all types of wood chips in a nice mix is always best. We are trying to mimic branch tips and leaves falling to the forest floor and composting. Building SOIL!  
As I said, when ever you lower ph too much, you're going to have issues. I've seen people cook the pine mulch piles for a year and use them, but again I'm not big on the mono culture thing so a good MIX of wood types is where its at for this guy
 

 
The idea of replicating the forest was one that helped make the whole thing click for me.  It also opens up the need to observe constantly and see opportunities to learn constantly.  I'm relatively new at the permaculture thing, but I've found it a powerful way of thinking about things. 

 

[JJJessee]

Nice score indeed!
 
I started  movin' on a little 4-5yd pile back last winter when it was still frozen on top some days.
Looks to be 3-5  years old- has a lot a web in it. I'm mostly planted out now so, I'm ready to back up the truck again for mulch.
 
 
Good idea scouting the back roads.
My daughter lives in No VA and we needed some mulch for her new garden and I found fairly fresh pile, easy access, right on the ROW, bound to be 50yds  in that puppy. We haven't even put a dent in it.

 

[millworkman]

Mmmmmmm that pile looks great Rich. I've got a bit of the same going on.

 

[Pepper-Guru]

Finally got around to backing you guys on kickstarter.  I'm hoping stuff gets here before I move in mid-June, but if it doesn't it'll still get forwarded.  I'm a sucker for independent music - so best of luck to you guys.  You destroyed your kickstarter goal - so that's awesome.  I read about all those extra freebies - wondering if any fatalii seeds are part of it    Anyway, congrats on meeting your kickstarter goal.
 
 
 
The idea of replicating the forest was one that helped make the whole thing click for me.  It also opens up the need to observe constantly and see opportunities to learn constantly.  I'm relatively new at the permaculture thing, but I've found it a powerful way of thinking about things. 

You sir, are awesome! Got your pledge! Thanks for supporting us! I'll see to it that some fatalii seeds get in your box of goodies along with the album! Yeah we sure did destroy our goal, and I'm super stoked about that. It ends at 9pm est tonight! The mixes coming back from our mix guy are really rockin hard, so I'm very excited to hear the end result as I'm sure everyone else is! And yes we should get the packages out early June, but if something happens just let me know and I'll make sure you are covered. Enjoy the album man! 
 
here's the ks link: http://bit.ly/VotiVKS

 

[Devv]

Looking at the fence:
 
To make the wire tight you really need concreted deadmans in the corners. I make them out of 5-7" diameter posts 2' in the ground. The Tee posts will bend if you make the wire tight. Of course tight has many meanings
 
I like my fence to play a tune
 
Be aware, the chickens can fly over the fence if they so desire; they're determined critters.
 
Like the music clip!
 
And the mulch, cool deal. Here the county has a huge, I mean huge pile. I scored 24 yds. last fall, and will load up again this fall as well.
 
Keep it green!

 

[Pepper-Guru]

Looking at the fence:
 
To make the wire tight you really need concreted deadmans in the corners. I make them out of 5-7" diameter posts 2' in the ground. The Tee posts will bend if you make the wire tight. Of course tight has many meanings
 
I like my fence to play a tune
 
Be aware, the chickens can fly over the fence if they so desire; they're determined critters.
 
Like the music clip!
 
And the mulch, cool deal. Here the county has a huge, I mean huge pile. I scored 24 yds. last fall, and will load up again this fall as well.
 
Keep it green!

YEP! Thank you. I actually just set 4 corner posts today and made a fence puller. Corner posts are 4x6 and Im using 4x4 posts as the angle braces. Will the uneven ground still be an issue (top vs bottom tightness) once i really get cranking on the fence? Also, do I need to brace all 4 corner posts? Its roughly a 35x25 ft pull.Thanks for your help.