I really appreciate all of the input on the blight and other problems. The comments did get me thinking about how I want to plan for my future gardening endeavors, especially after my permaculture meeting last night.
I have just downloaded google earth. I am going to pull up a picture of my land and bring it in to the copy store to have it printed on a large sheet of oaktag. (I’m assuming this can be done) Then I am going to add the footprint of my house, driveway, kid’s play area, shed, fences and permanent plantings; all of the things that can’t be moved will be plotted. With two hole at the top, I can add rings and some plastic overlays. I can then use a marker to add changes as they come to me. The benefit is that I can try things out, accounting for slope, wind, water flow and so on. We are doing these plot plans as a group so I will have help as I need it. I think this kind of planning tool will really help plan for future beds, trees and bushes. Plus it will be a lovely way for Bruce and me to spend a cold winter night.
For now, I’m trying to enjoy the garden as it is. In spite of the heat and dry weather, many things are doing well. I think I am going to have a banner year for root vegetables and winter squash, not so good for the broccoli and cauliflower although I have not given up the fight. I have 48 new starts in the greenhouse, If I get them in the ground in 2 weeks, use some floating row covers at the end of the season and get a little cooperation from nature, I may get a harvest yet. I have replanted string beans too. My potatoes are not as large as I had hoped but they look healthy. I haven’t found any critter damage at all from the ones I’ve dug. Another two weeks of growth and they should be ready to pull.
We had a decent honey harvest this week. We’ll extract today. Thank goodness! I have no honey left and I miss it terribly. I refuse to purchase cheap honey in the market. It’s sometimes shipped from China and cut with corn syrup. This keeps both price and quality low and makes it impossible for local producers to compete.
July 28, 2010 at 11:34 am
Google Earth should show the existing buildings, etc. It’s a great idea for future planning.
When our oldest son took a course in surveying his final project was our lot – just under 10 acres. He plotted the house, other buildings, stone walls, landscape trees & bushes, garden spots, etc.
Also noted elevations, wetlands, christmas tree plantings and general forest area with any special trees or features noted such as a mature hops vine, a holly tree and a single mountain laurel bush.
We added notations of dates planted & names. We were also able to compute approximately where the tree shadows would be in 5 and 10 years for better garden planning. It was overlaid with plastic sheeting cut to size so we could plan future use and using erasable markers could easily change the plans.
I’m sure you will find it invaluable in planning your homestead use both now and in the future.
July 28, 2010 at 12:41 pm
don’t forget to plot the path of the sun and prevailing winds. You might KNOW these, but to have it on the paper makes you stop and think.
I think that’s a great idea, and I may do something similar. we have lots of property maps, but not picture maps. The google earth image of our place is three years old, so it has none of our out buildings.