Carl wrote:Hello everyone and a big thank you for these rewarding returns!
I do not have a great experience for the moment and it is conventional (mocultant even! Arf the horror
). A 15m2 outdoor vegetable garden followed by a 12m2 greenhouse all over a period of 4mXNUMX ...
Indeed, for having seen the 38 first videos of Didier, the most consistent work seems to be potted planting and transplanting ... I put aside the crops which, although they take time, represent the moments more pleasant.
The land in question is not very close to my home, but not far either (<10mn by car). However, this means that in winter it will be difficult for me to go on weekdays.
My reasonable estimate:
- 30 / 45mn on Tuesdays and Thursdays from April to October
- 4h per weekend from April to October
- 2h per weekend from November to March
This land of 900m2 is not fenced and I found there rabbit droppings. So I will not be able to do without a wire mesh.
At the sight of your advice, I think therefore to close 500m2 and to use that half to begin. The rest remains grassed and mowed from time to time.
Concerning the type of soil, the proximity of the land with the sea (about 200m) made me believe in a very sandy soil. But when it was still wet, I could make a pudding with that did not break directly. Without being able to make a pretzel for as much (clayey). So I think it's pretty silty.
Here is what it looks like, once dry:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVOY0ZcBEvwAnd here is the ground in question:
In images, in pictures :
Or in video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_i-ycf3FcM
Hello Carl and welcome in phenoculture.
I have just read your messages and questions. I can tell you about my experience, although starting from a situation
different from yours: retired couple, living 8 at 10 months of the year in Morbihan at 4 kms of the ocean.500m2 about cultivable in two zones. 2000 liters of roof water recovery. Land quite heavy although close to the sea, a lot of wind, little rain in spring and summer especially this year 2017.
I started to spread 30 cms of hay and brf on two bands of 10x1,20m and one of 5x6m in October 2016, then two bands of 15x1,20m in March 2017.Sout total about 100m2.
I am satisfied with the results helped by the advice and videos of Didier accompanied by the forumyou know now.
I confirm here that it is better to increase in power gradually. While in retirement, I have other activities. As you write it the seedlings in buckets - which have given well - require a little time and care from seeds bought this year.
Transplanting also because the competitors are very numerous and insatiable: moles, robins, thrushes, slugs, snails, voles, mice, and other undetermined species.
In spite of this, and without ever setting traps - a little ferramol - I harvested courgettes, cucumbers, tomatoes, green beans, yellow raspberries, strawberries, beets, mesclum, rockets, 2. Flowers have been transplanted everywhere to have this new approach accepted by madame
On the other hand, the beans sown in November, the peas, potatoes, were victims of various predators.
I take this first year as experimental and observation.
I will soon spread about 100 m2 of hay and cover the old vegetable gardens whose hay disappears little by little.
This is one testimony among others, may it be useful to you.