Thursday, June 11, 2015

Edible Gardens and Yardscapes are IN!!!

Hi,

Welcome... T
he idea here is "DIY" Yardscapes with Edible Plants!! have some installed in your yard ... and heck all around the US even, why not! see some of the links below which will help you   get your edible plants at wholesale rates ,  I will continue to work on this blog to make it better and very informative. But there is Alot here already .. you will See ; ) 

Take Care Out There!!  .... I hope your visit here is a rewarding one and as Thanks for stopping by.... I am going to start listing freebie d'loads from my online "google drive" file folder at Google.... so please stop back for even more informative ebooks & links I ad to this page!

 Natural Herbal Cures.pdf
 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zsyT43Ti03nXyjJGp_j-xgLifuG9QRbZ/view?usp=sharing

Where-There-Is-No-Doctor.pdf
 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_bFyJNyj6ycqz0zUe5uNWT5aNbcecUBu/view?usp=sharing

Edible Wild Plants
Edible plants are frequently abundant and easy to identify.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LBEWWbSauoVAaONpMwoiHZoo6QJaDDP9/view?usp=sharing

HOME VEGETABLE GARDENING
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AlIx2jEpg59YkbfXMyX5UQAAC-yWvPY8/view?usp=sharing

 Buy It Wholesale--Free Food Now and Free Food Later.  
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1C-vtXvt2x7bgunpvtcWK_ealb36Z0qCt/view?usp=sharing

 What is a Rocket Stove
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NeG9miF-PNLNjSYZoBY4P4eqp6F-qKxq/view?usp=sharing

Garden Ebooks from eLibrary - Open Ebooks Directory - They have over 500 free eBooks in many catagories to choose from!

2 0 R e s i l i e n t R e s p o n s e s f o r T r o u b l e d T i m e s
http://www.energyconservationinfo.org/20responses.pdf 
 


Book Title -->  Building a Better World in your Backyard
What Is This Book About?

It’s purpose is to help the average person transform the world, one truly ecological act at a time. That means that instead of writing angry letters to politicians and protesting, you can do things in your everyday life to help the Earth. Paul Wheaton and Shawn Klassen-Koop offer easy-to-implement, simple solutions for anyone looking to reduce your energy/petroleum usage and clear toxins from your life. They briefly cover how to save money and make passive income so that you don’t have to participate in the rat race and commute to work (thereby polluting the environment). The theme of luxurious living is in the forefront of the book throughout reading it. So it is not a book about sacrifice in the name of environmentalism. The main goal of the book is to direct your current anger at how messed up we’ve made the world and put it towards doing simple practical things to lessen your carbon footprint and give yourself a better more fulfilled life.  
permies.com/wiki/112519f36/Building-World-Backyard-angry-bad

Printable Flyers , to help you or your neighbors, 
these are Share-right 1999-2000-2001, 
and as long as you are giving them away free, 
they may be copied and reprinted for distribution.

 Thanks to -->>  BETTER TIMES INFO

you can email me Mark Weaver at the contact info below
Please contact/email me -->  weavent@gmail.com

Edible Gardens and Yardscapes are IN!!!

Edible Landscaping Online the original since 1979
It's never too late to order from us! Less Care Plants Shipped Year 'Round

http://www.ediblelandscaping.com/sale.php

ORGANIC GARDENING
Learn how to use natural methods to grow the freshest food.

 http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening.aspx

Garden Ebooks from eLibrary - Open Ebooks Directory 




I Grew and Foraged 100% of My Food for an Entire Year!

For one year I grew and foraged 100% of my food. Every. Single. Bite. No grocery stores, no restaurants, not even a drink at a bar. Nature has been my garden, my pantry and my pharmacy. I lived in the city of Orlando, Florida in a 100 square foot tiny house. With no land of my own I turned front yards into gardens and shared the bounty of food with the homeowners. Over the year I grew over 100 different foods in my gardens, foraged over 200 foods from nature and I even grew and foraged my own medicine and vitamins too.

This project wasn’t just about growing and foraging all of my food though. It was about empowering others to take back power from Big Ag. I built gardens 15 Gardens for the People, planted over 200 Community Fruit Trees, sent out over 5,000 seed packs to help people grow their own organic, healthy food and I taught free gardening classes to the people in my community. 

Click the title or click on the link below for video.  --->>
I Grew and Foraged 100% of My Food for an Entire Year! - YouTube

 

Organic Gardening Tips




Learn About Organic Gardening And make Your Life Better Today. Proven Tips, Tools and Tactics To Start Your Own Organic Garden!


Please give a visit to Kathy © The Happy Ex Housewife From California to learn all her tips for recipes,canning,food dehydrating and gardening secrets! 

 

$5.6K a Month Gardening (Other People’s Yards)

  A Great Video Ive found to share ... Very smart guy. Happy, Healthy and Wise...This is an example of what can be done in many communities across the country.


 


A cheap and easy way to produce your own mouth-watering fruits and vegetables  
http://bit.ly/ugrowvid

without using pesticides and herbicides. Plus a way to control your food supply in the event of a sudden world economic or terrorist crisis. ---- I know this man wants to sell this Awesome gardening technique,,, BUT Please see this very informative video. Thanks!! http://bit.ly/ugrowvid




#1 Source for Greenhouses &Supplies on the net!'



It is time that we all became a little more self reliant? I think so. When we look at the fact that the mainstream idea of food production is becoming more and more out of touch with nature, it becomes clear that we need to begin thinking about growing our own food.

 ✰* ★✰╰☆╮✰★  ✰* ★✰╰☆╮✰★  ✰* ★✰╰☆╮✰★  ✰* ★✰╰☆╮✰★

Awesome the way he is basically saying "YOU are your Master!" Choices = Consequences ;)


WOW!  INTRODUCING "BACK TO EDEN" GARDENS
BACK TO EDEN shares the story of one man’s lifelong journey, walking with God and learning how to get back to the simple, productive methods of sustainable provision that were given to man in the garden of Eden. The organic growing system that has resulted from Paul Gautschi’s incredible experiences has garnered the interest of visitors from around the world. However, never until now have Paul’s methods been documented and shared like this!As a part of our mission to freely give and freely receive, the makers of BACK TO EDEN have agreed to stream the full feature film online for free.

http://backtoedenfilm.com
  ******** Thanks A Million For All You Do Paul **********



"It's all about the covering."






"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30
 Please Visit Back to Eden Film's Page and share it with your friends. 


Growing Food God’s Way is a book about Life:

  • A believer’s life;
  • A gardener’s life; and
  • A healthy, fulfilled life.
In short, what we all want to experience.
Its concept was born after David and Phyllis Devine visited Paul Gautschi’s garden and orchard in August of 2012. Three days later, David awoke early one morning with 13 chapter titles in his mind, wrote them down, & sent them to Paul to ask him to pray about doing a book. He humbly agreed, and David has been writing from then to now.
“Growing Food God’s Way is part biography, part health and wellness book, part gardening book, and partly a book about faith. No matter what the non-fiction literary world calls it, I desire it to be a true blessing to everyone who reads it.”
– David Devine, author

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Farmers' Markets


 
 
 
 
 
[ Find Farmers Markets ]
Farmers' markets are one of the oldest forms of direct marketing by small farmers. From the traditional "mercados" in the Peruvian Andes to the unique street markets in Asia, growers all over the world gather weekly to sell their produce directly to the public. In the last decade they have become a favorite marketing method for many farmers throughout the United States, and a weekly ritual for many shoppers.
In a farmers' market, a group of farmers sell their products once or twice a week at a designated public place like a park or parking lot. Some farmers' markets have live entertainment. Shopping at a farmers' market is a great way to meet local farmers and get fresh, flavorful produce. Use our map to find one near you!


PLEASE MEET  Vandana Shiva,
 Supporters of geoengineering have proposed radical ways to alter the planet. But opposition is growing to geoengineering. We interviewed the indian environmentalist, scientist, philosopher Vandana Shiva.
    
 
Vandana Shiva, originally a theoretical physicist, she now campaigns the world for heirloom seeds, organic farming and local food systems instead of the chemical- and oil-intensive large scale industrial farms that destroy the environment and wreck local economies. She also supports Hands off Mother Earth, a citizen-based organization that resists geoengineering .
THIS is a civilization ISSUE!!  --  Vandana Shiva  see her interview here -->
http://v.gd/civilizationISSUE  ----  interview by   NoGeoingegneria


☁ ☢ ☁  ====✈   ☁ ☢ ☁  ====✈   ☁ ☢ ☁  ====✈   ☁ ☢ ☁  ====✈
Learn more about  geoengineering  -->>  http://geoengineeringwatch.org/

 Get The Dope On Edible Yardscapes
Check Out Some Interesting Links Here-->

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> http://www.myspace.com/foodnotlawns http://www.foodnotlawns.com/foodnotlawns_dig_it.html http://www.fremontica.com/greengardening/edible.htm http://www.granadapermaculture.com/ http://www.foodnotlawns.com/ http://www.foodnotlawns.net/ - http://foodnotlawnskc.org/
San Diego, CA
http://www.sdfoodnotlawns.com/ Bisbee AZ http://www.foodnotlawnsbisbee.org/ St Pete FL http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/stpetefnl/
Montreal, Canada
www.tao.ca/~kev/ Arcata, CA http://culturechange.org/food_not_lawns.html
St Cloud, MN
www.localharvest.org/member/M5481

Urban Agroecoloy: 6,000 lbs of food on 1/10th acre - Urban Homestead - Urban Permaculture





Resource List

Websites:
http://foodnotbombs.com/ - This site and the one below were my "inspiration"
for wanting to get involved in getting the word out in Upstate SC(no chapter yet) http://www.foodnotlawns.net/ - Heather C. Flores website
http://groups.google.com/group/edibleyards -Local Google-Group(please join)


Our Vision: Inspiring communities to build sustainable food systems that are equitable and ecologically sound, creating a just world, one food-secure community at a time.
http://www.growingpower.org/index.htm
Natural & Organic Foods --> At Affordable Prices -- Click Here For Brands Like
Newman's Own Organics, Annie's, Seventh Generation, Bob's Red Mill, Pirate's Booty, and More
Hello there! :) We love seeing local gardeners helping out others! In fact, we love it so much that if you would ever like to order any plants, trees, or perennials from us at http://www.tnnursery.net, we’d be happy to make sure you pay NO shipping with the coupon code, SHIPONUS . We also offer beautiful wildflowers for sale if you’re interested! 

Wiki - Category:Solar cooker plans - Found On 10-31-09
http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Solar_cooker_plans
http://www.permaculturecairns.com/solaroven.html - Learn To Build A Solar Oven - Using the Suns energy rays to cook food, it has been said food tastes better. http://solarcooking.org/default.htm http://solarcooking.wikia.com/
http://solarcooking.wikia.com/Category:Solar_cooker_plans

http://transitionsouthcarolina.ning.com/ – Transition Upstate South Carolina http://www.foodcircle.org/ - for local food directory, farmers markets, 100-mile diet info, buying clubs, CSA info, etc. http://www.foodnotlawns.com/ www.wholefoodsmarket.com/ – Search this site for your LOCAL STORE!

http://www.clemson.edu/extension/horticulture/index.html - University of Clemson SC Extension – uses science-based knowledge to engage people to understand change, solve problems and make informed decisions. This site offers tons of information and publications to strengthen community, offers gardening tips and much more. www.cyndislist.com/sc.htm - Provides local information, as well as other physical features ... The 16th South Carolina, C.S.A.. Rosters, Letters, Photos, Battles, Stories, ...

http://www.clemson.edu/public/ag_services.html --Agricultural Services of Public Service Activites

http://www.clemson.edu/public/ifnl/projects_grants/ - Projects & Grants- STRONG COMMUNITIES - Building Dreams -Rural Capacity Building -Bullying Prevention ect....

www.clemson.edu/agsrvlb/interest.htm – SC Extension site for information about soil testing

www.scsu.edu/1890.aspx - SC-State Extension
www.clemson.edu/anderson - SC-State Extension – Anderson County www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/.../soils/hgic1652.html - SC-State Extension for soil testing info http://www.permaculture.org/nm/index.php/site/index - Permaculture Institute http://apps.caes.uga.edu/urbanag/CurrentPrograms.cfm - South Carolina Center for Urban Agriculture

www.communitygarden.org/connect/links.php - South Carolina Community Gardens
http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/perma.html - Introduction to permaculture http://www.seasidemulch.com/index.asp - South Carolina Organic -for compost, mulch and topsoil

http://geo.craigslist.org/iso/us/sc - Upstate on Craigslist - Buy and sell

http://www.sciway.net/shop/ - Buy and sell Upstate South Carolina products

www.farmequipmentforsale.com/ - Buy and sell farm and ranch products in the Upstate South Carolina

www.greatergreenvillemastergardener.org/ - Master Gardener’s of Greater Upstate South Carolina


www.instructables.com/.../Need-Free-Water%3F--Build-a-Rain-Barrel/ Learn to build a rainbarrel

http://www.ne-design.net/ - For rain barrels and other environmental and community resources.
http://www.pathtofreedom.com/ - Path to Freedom is a grassroots, family operated, viable urban homesteading project. The Urban Homestead - See how a family has steadily transformed their ordinary city lot in Pasadena, California, into an integral urban homestead.

http://www.cityfarmer.org/ - City Farmer's Urban Agriculture - Households can Grow Food says City Farmer ...

http://columbia.homeimprovementmag.com/listing/Habitat-for-Humanity-ReStor/24135 – Upstate South Carolina New and used building materials, appliances, etc. – shop or donate

http://www.solarcooking.org/plans/ - Plans for building many types of solar cookers

http://www.permacultureactivist.net/ - Magazine

http://www.permacultureactivist.net/booksvid/BooksnVid.htm - FREE Permaculture Audio

http://g
arden.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Perennial_Foods - Information on perennial foods

http://www.garden.org/ – National Gardening Association

http://www.garden.org/ediblelandscaping/ - National Gardening Association – Edible Landscaping 


http://localharvest.com -
The best organic food is what's grown closest to you. Use our website to find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area, where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and many other goodies. Want to support this great web site? Shop in our catalog for things you can't find locally! 

 Search by Keyword - Zip Code - City and State
http://eatwellguide.org  





http://gofoodsusa.com

http://localmatters.com

http://oeffa.org/search-geg.php  - The Good Earth Guide, available here as a searchable online database, is about making connections. Connecting consumers to local farms and associated businesses so that their dollars support wholesome food and farm-related products produced using ecologically supportive practices. Connecting farmers with other farmers to network with and develop business relationships that support a successful farming community. And, connecting businesses and farmers who are working to provide healthy, local food and farm-related products.

http://www.greenabilitymagazine.com/ - Local magazine providing tips on how to live “greener” every day. http://www.horizonherbs.com/ - Horizon Herbs, Native Medicinal Plants of the World, seeds, plants, supplies, books http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/ - Mountain Rose Herbs, seeds, bulk dried herbs and extracts, supplies http://www.arbico-organics.com/ - ARBICO Organics, beneficial insects, organic fertilizers, earth worms and worm factory, soil test kits
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Books:

·
The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight –by Thom Hartman

·The Transition Handbook – by Rob Hopkins online at
http://www.appropedia.org/The_Transition_Handbook
·
The Busy Person’s Guide to Preserving Food – by Janet Bachand Chadwick

·
Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting for Successful Gardening - by Louise Riotte

·
The Complete Book of Edible Landscaping: Home landscaping with food-bearing plants and resource-saving techniques - by Rosaland Creasy.

·
Compost the Natural Way to Make Food for Your Garden - by Kenneth Thompson

·
Cook Right 4 Your Type: The Practical Kitchen Companion to Eat Right 4 Your Type – by Peter J. D’Adamo

·
Designing and Maintaining Your Edible Landscape Naturally - by Robert Kourik

·
Earth User’s Guide to Permaculture – by Rosemary Morrow

·
Eating Fossil Fuels: Oil, Food and the Coming Crisis in Agriculture - by David Allen Pfeiffer

·
Eat Right 4 Your Type: The Individualized Diet Solution to Staying Healthy, Living Longer & Achieving Your Ideal Weight -By by Peter J. D'Adamo Achieving Your Ideal Weight - by Peter J. D’Adamo and Catherine Whitney

·
Edible Forest Garden – by Dave Jacke – 2 volumes

·
The Encyclopedia of Country Living: An Old Fashioned Recipe Book – by Carla Emery

·Food Not Lawns - by H.C. Flores

·
Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture - by Toby Hemenway

·
Gardening When it Counts: Growing Food in Hard Times – by Steve Solomon

·
Introduction to Permaculture - by Bill Mollison

·
Lasagna Gardening: A New Layering System for Bountiful Gardens: No Digging, No Tilling, No Weeding, No Kidding! – by Patricia Lanza

·
Not a Drop to Drink: America’s Water Crisis (and What You Can do) – by Ken Midkiff

·Perennial Vegetables: From Artichokes to Zuiki Taro, A Gardener’s Guide to Over 100 Delicious, Easy-to-Grow Edibles – by Eric Toensmeier

·Permaculture in a Nutshell - by Whiteshell

·Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability - by David Holmgren


The Transition Handbook: From Oil Dependency to Local Resilience (Transition Guides) by Rob Hopkins
· Preserving Food without Freezing or Canning: Traditional Techniques Using Salt, Oil, Sugar, Alcohol, Vinegar, Drying, Cold Storage, and Lactic Fermentation - by The Gardeners and Farmers of Centre Terre Vivante, Deborah Madison, and Eliot Coleman ·This Organic Life: Confessions of a Suburban Homesteader – by Joan Dye Gussow

·Weedless Gardening – by Lee Reich

Designed to help families and businesses prepare for and respond to most types of emergencies and disasters like earthquakes, floods, nuclear incidents, Terrorism, swine flu, CPR, etc. “IT’S A DISASTER!” is a unique customizable tool for government agencies, businesses, volunteer groups, nonprofits and others to help our nation prepare for the unexpected.


Medicinal Plants: Research, Resources, FAQs, Regional plant checklist















Plant Constituents Taken from a variety of sources, these are the known constituents for over 250 plant medicines Research Abstracts Abstracts from the last 10 years on 148 different genus of medicinal plants, and links to further information.


Distribution Maps 294 distribution maps of medicinal plants found in the western United States. Western State Flora Checklists. These are Acrobat and text files of checklists of some of the western states, with special emphasis on changes in taxonomic nomenclature important to field herbalists. Finished states are Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Bioregional Herb Resources: former students and friends that sell ethically wildcrafted or organically grown bulk herbs and tinctures, that are in practice, or that, in turn, have their OWN schools. We MUST avoid centralization of the herb industry...these are herbalists and sources of materials of use for the hundreds of regional herbalists and small manufacturers of botanical products around the United States...as well those that prefer LOCAL herbs. (6/05) The remarkably useful Medicinal Herb FAQ and Culinary Herb FAQ, maintained by Henriette Kress for the newsgroup alt.folklore.herbs.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Seeds: -------> http://www.localharvest.org/store/seeds.jsp -> We
work with a number of exceptional seed growers and farmers who offer nursery stock.
It's never too early to start planning
next year's garden! http://www.seedsofchange.com/All seeds are 100% ORGANIC – flower and veggies http://www.jungseed.com/ – Flowers and veggies http://www.starkbros.com/ - Fruits and veggies http://www.gurneys.com/Fruit trees, veggies, flowers http://www.superseeds.com/Flowers, veggies, herbshttp://www.tmseeds.com/Flowers and veggies http://www.missourinativeseed.com/Order MO native flower and grass seeds from this site http://www.seedsavers.org/
http://www.groworganic.com/browse_seeds.html   http://www.reneesgarden.com/ http://rareseeds.com/  http://prairietrading.com/ Permascape, Green Roof Systems, red worms

BUY SEEDS - BERRIES AND GRAPES TOO - HOW AND WHEN TO PLANT - 2014 ZONE MAP --------   This is some research I did on Fruit and Grape seeds too!!  Enjoyhttp://letfreedomfly.blogspot.com/2014/12/berries-berries-berries-and-grapes-too.html 


Video/DVDs:
Global Gardener

Miscellaneous:

(compost) – xxxxxxx

Soybean meal and where to find it in Upstate SC:
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/orglawn/msg0521450026775.html

TWIG – Think, Work, Imagine, Grow – Group working on urban agriculture projects


Click Here to get Your INFO-CD

Preparedness and Survival Links!

Mountain House Freeze-Dried Food The best food for long-term storage. 20 years shelf life! Backwoods Home Magazine Practical ideas for self-reliant living. Contains a wealth of information! Food and cooking tips, alternative energy, country living, gardening, building, preparedness show schedules, firearms, survival, on-line radio shows, home schooling and much more.
The Outdoor Store The Internet's premier source for the best camping and outdoor products available. Free ground shipping included! Hunt Fish Camp Wisconsin - Top 100 Survival Sites Survive Outdoors Providing information on confronting emergencies and survival in the outdoors.  Hunting News & Supply Reviews - Provides stories, reviews, tips, a large outfitters directory, and fresh headlines every day. Survival Acres - Your One Stop Shop for Storable Food & Supplies  Self Defense and Airsoft Products Self defense weapons including stun guns, pepper spray, airsoft air guns, tasers, animal repellents, home safety and other personal protection products. Self Defense Weapons We offer Butterfly knives, Animal Repellents, Spy & Surveillance equipment and other self-defense products. Wild Survival.Com Wilderness Survival Information. Water Purifiers - Leading Providers of reverse osmosis water filtration systems, purifiers, softeners, distillers and other water treatment equipments.

I want to foward A Speacial Thanks To Pioneer Preparedness home page for posting these links.



Self Sufficient Gardening - Fruit Trees and Winter Veggies, Permaculture Paradise!!! 


Preparing your garden for the first freeze
October 1, 2009

Our first freeze warning of the season means it's time to move your fruits and vegetables out of the garden--and indoors.

"Get it inside, peppers, eggplants, any zucchinis, or summer squashes. They need to be off the plants," says Judy Elliott, with Denver Urban Gardens, which has helped created more than 90 community gardens in metro Denver.

Also, remove herbs, like basil. And don't forget about tomatoes--even if they're still green.

"I would cut them off at the stem, not pluck them," says Elliott. She says that way you don't risk damaging the skin of the fruit and introduce contaminants. Then, let them ripen indoors in a single layer on newspaper in the sun.

As for the other produce, they won't ripen. You'll have to make use of them much sooner.

"Don't drag out those last couple of days, those 60-degree daytime temperatures, which we know are going to return. It is still in the 30s at night. The tomatoes, peppers, eggplants say, 'Please be good to me. Please take me inside. Use me before I freeze.'" says Elliott.

But if you don't have time, you can just throw a row cover or a sheet over your plants to extend their lives for a short time longer. But Elliott doesn't recommend it.

"It's only going to give you a few extra days, so your tomatoes may be alive tomorrow. But plants are so stressed out," she says. She says they're stressed from weather that's still too cold. Tomatoes prefer a growing temperature with lows in the 50s or 60s. Also, when the plants are stressed they're more prone to disease and pests.

Elliott says you can also cover your annuals and bring potted plants indoors. But she says covering your annuals will only give you a few more days of enjoying the plants, because they're lifespan lasts just one season.
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 A Must-See Home Transformation

by John Robb on July 5, 2012
It’s time to transform your home, but how do you do it?
How do you take a home that is a static “knicknack” and turn it into a dynamic asset — a resilient home that builds your health, wealth, and security?
The first step in most home transformations is to install a garden.
This becomes a problem if you live in a built up area and the only place large and sunny enough to put a garden is in your front yard.
Why?
There are still lots of people, many of whom are likely your neighbors, living in the past.  They still cling to the bankrupt idea that a home’s landscape needs to be as barren as a golf course to add value to a home.
In time, this opposition will fade.  In the meantime, one way around that opposition is to turn your front yard from a landscape and into a beautiful foodscape.  Here’s a great example: The Landry family used raised garden beds (other options include:  permaculture, fruit trees, etc.) to foodscape their yard in a dramatic way.
1) here’s the home when they started.  As you can see, it has a standard ornamental landscape.

2) the plot design (they used a simple computer program to do it) is turned into reality in the fall.

3) the finished garden is put into use during the spring.

4) the finished garden in use.

Here’s a video that provides a fast time series of the transformation.
It should be pretty clear that the effort dramatically increased the value of their home.  An increase in value that will continue to grow as the shift to the resilient economy continues.
So, while this specific solution may not be a solution for you (resilience comes in many forms), it is a great demonstration of what’s possible in a limited amount of front yard space.
What should he be building next?
On suggestion:  A Rainwater Irrigation System (I have a soup to nuts example of how to build one in our first report!).

Building Gardens for People In Apartments?

If you live in an apartment, is it possible to add food security?  Yes.
One of the ways to do this is to install an aquaponics — a combination of aquaculture and hydroponics — system.  Aquaponics systems allow you to grow food in a confined space and can be as small as a bookcase.
Unfortunately, these smaller installations don’t produce enough food to feed yourself (lots of micro-greens and an occasional fish).  To do more than that, you will need to micro-farm an allotment.  I’ll feature a great example of how great allotments can be in the near future.
The big benefit of a system like this?  It introduces both you and your kids (if you have any) to the process of growing food for yourself.  Not only is it a skill that will prove increasingly useful in the future, it’s a great introduction to how good fresh, wholesome food can be (on many levels).
The big problem with aquaponics is that it is relatively expensive, and difficult to do right.  Not only does it require a lot of gear and knowledge, it requires constant attention to ensure that it works correctly.
NOTE:  I’m currently working on a report that will dive into the HUGE opportunity space for resilient businesses.
One of the people working on a solution to this problem is Eric Maunudu of Oakland California.  Eric is a maker/micro farmer/entrepreneur that I’ve profiled before.  Here’s Eric in an excellent new video by the intrepid resilient reporter Kirsten Dirksen.

Your healthy, happy and resilient editor in chief,
 JOHN ROBB

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Most Popular Posts 4-29-15

growyourowngroceries.org

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Monsanto-Free Seed Companies

Note:  This list is an OM exclusive, as it is my personal and ongoing research it the list itself may not be repblished.  The rest of the article is under the standard Creative Commons copyright and is free to be used with credit and preferably a link back to the list.
Some background that’s important to understand when using this list-

The Safe Seed Pledge

“Agriculture and seeds provide the basis upon which our lives depend. We must protect this foundation as a safe and genetically stable source for future generations. For the benefit of all farmers, gardeners and consumers who want an alternative, we pledge that we do not knowingly buy or sell genetically engineered seeds or plants. The mechanical transfer of genetic material outside of natural reproductive methods and between genera, families or kingdoms poses great biological risks, as well as economic, political and cultural threats. We feel that genetically engineered varieties have been insufficiently tested prior to public release. More research and testing is necessary to further assess the potential risks of genetically engineered seeds. Further, we wish to support agricultural progress that leads to healthier soils, genetically diverse agricultural ecosystems and ultimately healthy people and communities.”

History of the Safe Seed Pledge

The Safe Seed Pledge was created in 1999 when High Mowing Organic Seeds guided a coalition of 9 other seed companies in drafting a statement about the signers’ stance on genetic engineering. Over 70 companies have signed the pledge, ranging from large seed companies to family-owned businesses such as ours.
In signing the Safe Seed Pledge we affirm our commitment to non-GMO (genetically modified organism) seed.  We feel that the regulatory framework for the introduction of genetically modified crop varieties is flawed, and that GMO seeds themselves present a threat to plants’ genetic diversity through their ability to pollinate non-GMO plants.

But then Monsanto comes along….

It’s not terribly easy to avoid them, which is why we’ve compiled the list below
In 2005, Monsanto purchased Semenis which was (and is) the world’s largest seed company and now they own thousands of conventional seed companies in addition to their GMO seed business.  Monsanto now owns 40% of the conventional seed market in the US and 20% of the worldwide market, including organics and heirlooms.  It’s not terribly easy to avoid them, which is why we’ve compiled the list below list with the help of readers and some experts from the field, both to help you navigate through things as well as encouragement for companies to take part in the boycott so that they may also qualify to have their names included.

The Monsanto-Free Seed Company List

Here they are, and please let us know of any companies we may have missed and we will add them to this list.  Names are in alphabetical order. Try to search for a company in your bioregion when possible.  Also, it never hurts to ask any company if they sell any Seminis seeds or seeds from Seminis’ partners. (Sites with asterisks* have the additional approval and endorsement by Farmwars.info and verification by recognized leaders in the battle)
USA:  

*Adaptive Seeds
All Good Things Organic (SW)
*Amishland Seeds
Annie’s Heirloom Seeds*The Ark Institute 
Backyard Beans and Grains Project
*Baker Creek Seed Co. (MW)
Beauty Beyond Belief (BBB Seeds)
*Botanical Interests
Bountiful Gardens
Crispy Farms
Diane’s Flower Seeds (she has veggies now, too)
*Family Farmer’s Seed Co-op
Farm Direct Seed (Hobb’s Family Farm)
*Fedco Seed Co.
Garden City Seeds
Gourmet Seed
*Grow Organic
Heirlooms Evermore Seeds
*Heirloom Seeds 
Heirloom Solutions
High Mowing Seeds
*Horizon Herbs
Hudson Valley Seed Library
Humbleseeds
Growing Crazy Acres
Ed Hume Seeds
Irish-Eyes
J.L Hudson 
Kitchen Garden Seeds
Knapp’s Fresh Vegies
 Kusa Seed Society
Lake Valley Seeds
*Landreth Seeds 
Larner Seeds 
*The Living Seed Company
*Livingston Seeds
Local Harvest
Moonlight Micro Farm
Mountain Rose Herbs 
*My Patriot Supply
Native Seeds  for the Arid Southwest
Natural Gardening Company
New Hope Seed Company
Nichol’s Garden Nursery
*Organica Seed 
Organic Sanctuary (SE)
Peace Seeds
Peaceful Valley Farm Supply
Prairie Road Garden

Renee’s Garden
Restoration Seeds
Sand Hill Preservation Center 
Sage Thymes 
*Seed for Security
Seeds Trust
*Select Seeds 
Siskiyou Seeds (NW)
*Southern Exposure
*Sow True (SE)
*Sustainable Seed Co
Tiny Seeds
Tomato Fest
Trees of Antiquity
Turtle Tree Seed
*Underwood Garden Seeds
*Uprising Seeds
*Victory Seeds
Vermont Wildflower Farm
White Harvest Seed

*Wild Garden Seeds 
Wildseed Farms
*Wood Prairie Farm (NE)
Canadian Seed Companies:
Annapolis Valley Heritage Seed Company
Brother Nature 
Cubit’s Organics
Full Circle Seeds
Greta’s Organic Garden
Heritage Harvest Seeds (ships to Canada only)
Hope Seeds
Incredible Seeds
Richters Herbs
Salt Spring Seeds
Seeds of Victoria
Solana Seeds
Stellar Seeds
Terra Edibles
The Cottage Gardener

Europe:
Garden Organic (UK)
Seed Site (Italy)
The Real Seed Catalogue (UK)
Another tool you can use to check up on a seed supplier is supplied by Monsanto’s Seminis themselves: http://www.seminis.com/global/us/products/Pages/Where-to-Buy.aspx

Monsanto and Seminis heirloom seed varieties to watch out for

First of all, Monsanto or anyone else can’t actually OWN these varieties of seed, but as developers of some of these varieties and as suppliers of them under many different companies it can be hard to tell who owns what.  It does not stand to reason that any crop of these varieties growing today or anytime in the future will be genetically modified in any way.  Some of these varieties can be found without any continuing connection to Monsanto or Seminis but it is important to be a little more cautious with these.
If you are the type of gardener who purchases vegetable seeds or seedlings be mindful the varieties you choose
If you are the type of gardener who purchases vegetable seeds or seedlings, including tomato plants from a local garden center, be mindful the varieties you choose. Conversely, you might be placing money into the hands of Monsanto Corporation. Below is the list of Seminis/Monsanto home-garden vegetable variations.  It’s usually best to buy directly from seed farmers and companies that you can trust, but here’s the list just in case.
Beans: Aliconte, Brio, Bronco, Cadillac, Ebro, Etna, Eureka, Festina, Gina, Goldmine, Goldenchild, Labrador, Lynx, Magnum, Matador, Spartacus, Storm, Strike, Stringless Blue Lake 7, Tapia, Tema
Broccoli: Coronado Crown, Major, Packman
Cabbage: Atlantis, Golden Acre, Headstart, Platinum Dynasty, Red Dynasty
Carrot: Bilbo, Envy, Forto, Juliana, Karina, Koroda PS, Royal Chantenay, Sweetness III
Cauliflower: Cheddar, Minuteman
Cucumber: Babylon, Cool Breeze Imp., Dasher II, Emporator, Eureka, Fanfare HG, Marketmore 76, Mathilde, Moctezuma, Orient Express II, Peal, Poinsett 76, Salad Bush, Sweet Slice, Sweet Success PS, Talladega
Eggplant: Black Beauty, Fairytale, Gretel, Hansel, Lavender Touch, Twinkle, White Lightening
Hot Pepper: Anaheim TMR 23, Ancho Saint Martin, Big Bomb, Big Chile brand of Sahuaro, Caribbean Red, Cayenne Large Red Thick, Chichen Itza, Chichimeca, Corcel, Garden Salsa SG, Habanero, Holy Mole brand of Salvatierro, Hungarian Yellow Wax Hot, Ixtapa X3R, Lapid, Mariachi brand of Rio de Oro, Mesilla, Milta, Mucho Nacho brand of Grande, Nainari, Serrano del Sol brand of Tuxtlas, Super Chile, Tam Vera Cruz
Lettuce: Braveheart, Conquistador
Melon: Early Dew, Sante Fe, Saturno
Onion: Candy, Cannonball, Century, Red Zeppelin, Savannah Sweet, Sierra Blanca, Sterling, Vision
Pumpkin: Applachian, Harvest Moon, Jamboree HG, Orange Smoothie, Phantom, Prize Winner, Rumbo, Snackface, Spirit, Spooktacular, Trickster
Spinach: Hellcat
Squash: Ambassador, Canesi, Clarita, Commander, Dixie, Early Butternut, Gold Rush, Grey Zucchini, Greyzini, Lolita, Papaya Pear, Peter Pan, Portofino, President, Richgreen Hybrid Zucchini, Storr’s Green, Sungreen, Sunny Delight, Taybelle PM
Sweet Corn: Devotion, Fantasia, Merit, Obession, Passion, Temptation
Sweet Pepper: Baron, Bell Boy, Big Bertha PS, Biscayne, Blushing Beauty, Bounty, California Wonder 300, Camelot, Capistrano, Cherry Pick, Chocolate Beauty, Corno Verde, Cubanelle W, Dumpling brand of Pritavit, Early Sunsation, Flexum, Fooled You brand of Dulce, Giant Marconi, Gypsy, Jumper, Key West, King Arthur, North Star, Orange Blaze, Pimiento Elite, Red Knight, Satsuma, Socrates, Super Heavyweight, Sweet Spot
Tomato: Amsterdam, Beefmaster, Betterboy, Big Beef, Burpee’s Big Boy, Caramba, Celebrity, Cupid, Early Girl, Granny Smith, Health Kick, Husky Cherry Red, Jetsetter brand of Jack, Lemon Boy, Margharita, Margo, Marmande VF PS, Marmara, Patio, Phoenix, Poseidon 43, Roma VF, Royesta, Sun Sugar, Super Marzano, Sweet Baby Girl, Tiffany, Tye-Dye, Viva Italia, Yaqui
Watermelon: Apollo, Charleston Grey, Crimson Glory, Crimson Sweet, Eureka, Jade Star, Mickylee, Olympia
Note: Not all of the veggie varieties in the above list are Monsanto/Seminis exclusives. Consequently if you spot some of these varieties in the catalog of an heirloom seed-seller,  just check with the seller to make sure the seeds were not purchased from  Seminis/Monsanto. But if you find these seeds on a rack at a big-box garden center, you have every right to suspect they were purchased from the evil empire.