Mixieer56 wrote: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.