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Psilocybeingzz


Registered: 12/15/02
Posts: 14,463
Loc: International waters
Last seen: 11 years, 2 months
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Farming the backyard (5 acres)
#5332947 - 02/23/06 08:23 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Changes. 
So a friend of mine has some land(4 maybe 5 acres) and we plan on growing veggies , herbs and even some mushrooms (moreals if I still have time)
My friend wants to grow Saffron(spelling) , he claims that Saffron its the worlds most expensive spice( is it??)
We are going to grow Saffron, Peppermint(even though its not worth tons of $$$) Moreals, and all sorts of medical herbs. ) ( I have lots of idea of what I would like to grow, but now I need to know how to grow these herbs, which should be simple enough.......but what would you pick???)
We plan on selling our stuff at the locals farmers market this year, and around town wherever we can........
WHAT WOULD YOU GROW?????? We are looking for plants with a high return, or al least some plants that wont cost more to grow then to sell.
We are going to do a bit of everything(most of which will be legit ) , and we dont plan to make lots especially the first summer, but its going to be alot of fun, we have been dreaming about something like this for year...I cant belive this summer its finally going to happen.
I'm gunna be a farmer
So we live in zone 9 , what would you grow here????? We want to make the best use of our space possible, its going to be hard work, but we are both willing to pour our blood sweat and tears into this. 
This is really important to me, I thank you for your time in advance
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Booby
Agent Mulder

Registered: 09/14/05
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Re: Farming the backyard (5 acres) [Re: Psilocybeingzz]
#5333049 - 02/23/06 08:54 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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I'm always surprised at how people make a living selling produce in a road side stand, but they do. I see cars parked along the road and people shopping at road side vegetable stores.
I stopped at one in the wilds of north Wisconsin and the guy sends his son on a 4 wheeler to pick the vegies fresh from the vine. Pumpkins, peppers string beans tomatoes might be good sellers. Picking beans can be a lot of work.
-------------------- Let it not be remembered That mycelium eats detritus and dies But that life in all it's glory Counts mycelium to be on it's side.
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Kerr
Who else would I be

Registered: 02/05/05
Posts: 1,611
Loc: My roots in the Koots
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Re: Farming the backyard (5 acres) [Re: Booby]
#5333263 - 02/23/06 09:48 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Well it seems my fellow British Columbian that we are in the same boat and just like you I cant believe it is actually happening, finally!! I myself have come into a piece of land in which I am farming this year. Mostly pepper products; tinctures, fresh and dried whole fruit, seeds, the whole nine. Also have thoughts on some Ashwagandha and some random veggies, ie: Peas and melons. Just two days ago I chose my garden site and cleared the large debris. I would guess it is the ball park of 1000sqft. The ground here is still frozen and we got a little dump of snow today, but I'm stoked, lots of work to be done.
Psilocybeingzz, what part of BC are you from, I am in Penticton.
Also if you can take some pics of your new farm, I will take some of mine. I wouldn't mind making a log about the whole process.
Are deer a major concern in your area like in mine? We had 10 up the hill from us today and my garden is surrounded by game trails. I have a good fence idea though.
How about water, in the Okanagan, the summer is dry and I will have to no doubt haul water, Im thinking underground water tubs with some drip lines may make things a tad easier.
Good luck and happy gardening 
PS: Just in case you dont already have this. Prisoner #1 made a great thread on companion planting http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/3872990#Post3872990
Edited by RyanKerr (02/23/06 09:52 PM)
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zee_werp
a fractalcreature


Registered: 03/24/03
Posts: 1,026
Loc: Aotearoa
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Re: Farming the backyard (5 acres) [Re: Kerr]
#5333962 - 02/24/06 02:41 AM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Brocolli, carrots, garlic (plant now), hot chillies, basil (you can make a lot of cash off basil, sell it freshly picked by the bunch), other herbs, spring onions, whatever.
It is true that saffron is the worlds most expensive spice, but for good reason - it has an extremely small yeild for the amount of space used. Like three little pubes of saffron per plant kind of thing. I've talked to a guy who tried to grow it commercially, he decided it wasn't worth his while unless he had a large bit of land to use for it (like larger than 5 acres)...although it could be worth a shot anyway, you'd probably still make a little bit off it, or at the very least it would be interesting.
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Psilopleix
Extended Symbol

Registered: 11/03/03
Posts: 455
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Re: Farming the backyard (5 acres) [Re: zee_werp]
#5334680 - 02/24/06 11:43 AM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Hey what a great opportunity! I would dedicate 1 acre to tomatoes. A second acre would have a companion planting of corn and watermelon. The third acre would have potatoes. And maybe some other companion plant, sunflowers perhaps? The fourth would be the blueberry/rasberry patch, yummm! The fifth and final would be an orchard. Peaches, apricots, pears and apples. Be sure to rotate the vegetable crops every year, and plant garlic anywhere and everywhere!
Now what would you do with 42 acres? 
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zee_werp
a fractalcreature


Registered: 03/24/03
Posts: 1,026
Loc: Aotearoa
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Re: Farming the backyard (5 acres) [Re: Psilopleix]
#5334933 - 02/24/06 01:36 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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1 acre seems a lot to dedicate to tomatoes, considering how easy it is for stuff to go wrong with them...insect problems, splitting, high water demand, etc...I mean tomatoes are great, but I don't think I'd want to grow that many of them without really know what I was doing. Don't most tomato growers of that scale use quite a few chems? I'd go for more diversity than just one or two types per acre...that way at least if you mess something up with one type of plant, you haven't lost a quarter or fifth of your whole annual crop.
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shriek
*********

Registered: 12/13/03
Posts: 3,274
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Re: Farming the backyard (5 acres) [Re: zee_werp]
#5334939 - 02/24/06 01:38 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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grow some fractal broccoli , there was a thread about it here i just read it. heh
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MxIndustry
Sheep


Registered: 01/24/05
Posts: 234
Loc: GTA
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Re: Farming the backyard (5 acres) [Re: shriek]
#5335041 - 02/24/06 02:08 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Tomatoes, cucumbers and peas are a good harvest. But do you think you will receive a serious profit?
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Psilocybeingzz


Registered: 12/15/02
Posts: 14,463
Loc: International waters
Last seen: 11 years, 2 months
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Re: Farming the backyard (5 acres) [Re: MxIndustry]
#5335269 - 02/24/06 03:29 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Thanks for all the replies  I am even more excited now.
RyanKerr, I would love to snap some pics, but dont let the images fool you, it will be a nice little farm, right now its just a patch of dirt beside an old run down house(300$ rent a month ) We plan on fixing the house a bit to. but lets make a couple of grow logs, just dont out do me to much
I am pretty sure that working the land(getting it ready for planting) will be the hardest part , as for companion planting, I was planning on doing that for sure, because A. I dont plan on using chems, and mono crops "need" chems, hence the problems with factory style farming these days , abd B. Some plants work really well together, I have read about mixing crops for years, but I will still read Pris's thread. He's a cool guy, and he knows what he's talking about 
Zeewerp, I will email you right away, I got your PM, it sounds nice, I cant wait to meet you.
This is one of my dreams, and its finally here, I know there will be some stuggle but I have land, and a best friend willing to work his ass off(well actually its his land, but lets call it OUR land )
I have to chek the soil composition, read up growing these herbs and veggies, and grab some free horse poo.
I live in a little town, and the sign entering the town says "expect horse on our roads" so free poo isnt a problem, I remember one summer getting 2 giant garbage bags for a myco project, but hey thats another story , a very nice bulk story, but I will share that another time.
I think I can check the soil specs at city hall, but I also plan on checking the soil myself, this is where things like hardpans etc, things I have only read about, become real. Looks like I am going to have to dig up my organic growing books etc.
I plan to keep this thread alive for quite some time, PLEASE add to it if you have something to say. I cant wait to start my grow log.
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faslimy
Dead Man

Registered: 04/04/04
Posts: 3,436
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Re: Farming the backyard (5 acres) [Re: Psilocybeingzz]
#5335529 - 02/24/06 05:08 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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5 acres of cannabis should be the reality
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zee_werp
a fractalcreature


Registered: 03/24/03
Posts: 1,026
Loc: Aotearoa
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Re: Farming the backyard (5 acres) [Re: faslimy]
#5335792 - 02/24/06 07:05 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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C'mon faslimy, get real! Don't you mean 2.5 acres of cannabis, 2.5 acres of cacti? :p
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Psilopleix
Extended Symbol

Registered: 11/03/03
Posts: 455
Loc: aridzone1
Last seen: 10 years, 11 months
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Re: Farming the backyard (5 acres) [Re: zee_werp]
#5335910 - 02/24/06 07:58 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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I've taken a stroll through the 1 acre organic tomato farm here in AZ. They attract alot of insects with flowers/herbs that increase the biodiversity and thats how they avoid harmful pesticides. Crop rotation keeps disease from building in the soils. A thick layer of mulch decreases evaporation. So IT is possible... and that is how your going to do it organically.
Also, keep in mind your not growing one crop a year. In actuality you can grow several crops a year adhering to the proper seasons. Pick the right varieties (quick maturing types), and you can really take advantage of this. Do alot of research of what will do well in your climate. If you know nothing about plants, buy a few books. You'll be thanking yourself at the end of the season. READ READ READ! 
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Booby
Agent Mulder

Registered: 09/14/05
Posts: 3,781
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Re: Farming the backyard (5 acres) [Re: Psilocybeingzz]
#5337133 - 02/25/06 04:09 AM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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I worked a spot of ground real good and threw in handfuls of fruit pits from an apricot tree and they germinated sporadically some the first spring some the next (I guess to allow for fire's or something) Anyway, I let them grow in that bed two years then pulled them trimming them roots and all and planted them in the rows. This could be one way of producing flowering bushes for sale on street corners in early spring
-------------------- Let it not be remembered That mycelium eats detritus and dies But that life in all it's glory Counts mycelium to be on it's side.
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eve69
--=..Did Adam and ...?=--


Registered: 04/30/03
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Re: Farming the backyard (5 acres) [Re: Psilocybeingzz]
#5340240 - 02/26/06 07:05 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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I've found that growing a big patch of Gotu Kola - Indian pennywort - Brahmi is easy and a good return if you have alot of eclectic health food stores in the area. People will buy fresh. They can also juice it with wheatgrass for a brain drink. You probably can't sell an acre of it though, so maybe also some fresh Panax Ginseng and Aswagandha root?
-------------------- ...or something
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cricket
Lord Cricket


Registered: 08/29/03
Posts: 960
Loc: in my house, in front of ...
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Re: Farming the backyard (5 acres) [Re: eve69]
#5340527 - 02/26/06 10:21 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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I have had great luck selling avaocado, orange, lemon and coffee trees. I start them indoors then move the containers out when it's warm enough. People will be tripping over eachother to get to them. The fruits are quite common but the trees they come from rarly make it to the market place, even though they do very well indoors. Keep them in containers, as they sell you will be opening space for cool season crops. This will allow you to use the same space two maybe three times a season.
I can also think of a few choice plants and trees could sell very well right here on the shroomery.
-------------------- I tried to leave my signature but it didn't work... By the way... Does anybody know how to get sharpie markers off of a computer screen?
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Anonymous
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Re: Farming the backyard (5 acres) [Re: Psilocybeingzz]
#5344113 - 02/27/06 03:02 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Grow lots of ginger! Stays ''fresh'' longer than most vegetables and it's relatively expensive considering how hard it is to grow
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Boom
just a tester

Registered: 06/16/04
Posts: 11,252
Loc: Cypress Creek
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Re: Farming the backyard (5 acres) [Re: Anonymous]
#5344311 - 02/27/06 06:38 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Just posting here so the viewing list of forums goes back to normal
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ChromeCrow
one ancient mutha



Registered: 02/21/02
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Re: Farming the backyard (5 acres) [Re: Boom]
#5348639 - 02/28/06 09:07 AM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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why not build a small pcv type greenhouse, and besides selling the fruits from the garden, you could sell plants/seedlings to the local at home farmers
-------------------- ISO: Orissa, Malabar, z strain
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Psilocybeingzz


Registered: 12/15/02
Posts: 14,463
Loc: International waters
Last seen: 11 years, 2 months
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Re: Farming the backyard (5 acres) [Re: ChromeCrow]
#5358130 - 03/02/06 04:04 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Update: 
My ideas so far:Basil, Catnip, Catgrass, Ginger,Some kind of strawberries if they are not to much trouble, I know that certain plants can be planted with them, which helps because they can be alot of work(pests etc etc) I am so sleep deprived, and I havent been looking in my favorite plant book for awhile, so my brain is a mess, but here are some other ideas, the problem is while the names are familar I am not sure that I will grow all of these , I know lots about some of these and remember little about others............
Borago officianalis - Borage Gingko biloba - Gingko Tree (this will be a hard one to grow I think, growing this one will be more of a fun experiment, we wont be devoting large ammounts of space to Ginko, its just for fun wink.gif Chamomile (maybe, maybe not I have to do more research, I know it wont be impossible to grow, but will it be worth devoting a sizable ammount of space) Fennel Feverfew Foxglove Goldenseal Lemon Balm Lemon Grass Cali Poppy Corn Poppy Valerian Thyme(to common to be worth my time?? wink.gif ) Lam joke I know. Uva Ursi/Bearberry Mentha piperita - Chocolate Mint (ever heard of this one it sounds alot less common then peppermint and I think the name will really `catch peoples eyes "mm chocolate mint" smile.gif Rose Hips Scutellaria laterifolia - Common Skullcap Scutellaria bacalensis - Baikal Scullcap (never heard of this one, but I am going to look into it) Silybum marianum - Milk Thistle Verbascum thapsus - Mullein
Add to that list various chinesse herbs that I cant think of right now, but I will look in my book and list them soon. Also, add oysters, and reshi mushrooms(and hopefully lionsmane, and`Shitake) grown indoors of course, and Morels outside this spring........if I still have time.
well those are some of the herbs I want to grow, now I just need to figure out if its possible, oh and we are doing a LARGE salvia grow biggrin.gif (yes Salvia D, not the common sage)
Veggies (a list of possible choices)will come next, maybe even a couple of fruits, but as for the herbs I have to figure out if I can actually grow these, and if it will be worth all of the work and money I am going to put in.
PLEASE OFFER some ADVICE, cause I will listen......I took out some books on growing and selling herbs yesterday, this project is what keeps me going when I wake up for work at 3:30am, daily. 
PLEASE offer some advice !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :guitar:
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Simisu
taken by gravity


Registered: 08/08/03
Posts: 5,435
Loc: Israeli in
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Re: Farming the backyard (5 acres) [Re: ChromeCrow]
#5358146 - 03/02/06 04:07 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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if had some space the first thing would be a herbs garden... tea herbs and even some salvia! oregano!
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