Julie Rushton

Shes a major green thumb and I still gotta get her in this group. But she’s crushing egg shells to make it in a powder, for calcium in her soil. She wants to know if anyone does this or knows more details. She said “hey take a picture of this and share it in your smart Gardner friends community” so I think I’m in the right place lmao. 🤣

New comment 14h ago

Julie Rushton

5 likes • 1d

They will take a while for bioavailability of calcium to occur and it’s good to plan for the future. The microorganisms will do their work and eventually break them down so the plants can benefit. I wouldn’t be counting on it for this year though. Like the best things in life a good garden takes time I feel. If they are going direct into the ground I imagine you will need a fair bit. If you want a healthy nutritious soil you can’t beat homemade compost and if you crush your eggshells into that it may speed up the process with the heat that produces. That way you don’t have to disturb the soil by digging anything in and you can top dress with the compost. Leaving a happy healthy soil ecosystem with lots of food for the microorganisms.

Julie Rushton

1 like • 16h

@Jim Flach chickens are great to have around, that is great advice.

Jim Flach

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1d •

Spring Oasis Build

And the Growing Begins

I am patiently watching my soil temp in the hoop house; well maybe not so patiently. With the little heater in there. I was able to keep the ground temp at 46F through the 10F (-12C) weather. The temps will hit 60F (15C) by Monday, truly only a tease but I will pull some mulch back on the planting rows about 6" wide by 24' long making 4 rows in our test bed. With some luck, the soil will near 50 F (10C) so I can plant some daikon radishes on Monday as well as spread some cardboard and mulch to expand another bed. Why daikon radishes you say. I will discuss daikon radish in another post so as not to make this post to long. One of the key principals in working with nature when gardening is to always keep your soil cover 365 days a year. Hopefully the attached with prompt some thought. Let's discuss in the chat what you do, is this a new concept or a concept you have used for years? https://www.skool.com/oasis-builders-8012/classroom/54fca587?md=55dfe6ad8c86485dac7a226e0b468266

New comment 1d ago

Julie Rushton

1 like • 1d

@Jim Flach totally agree, the microorganisms get starved out of overworked soils because of erosion and depletion of organic matter. The soil structure then breaks down and becomes lifeless.

Julie Rushton

1 like • 1d

@Jim Flach bless them I love soil organisms

Jim Flach

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1d •

Spring Oasis Build

The Impact of Rain

Let's take the damage of rain one step further. https://www.skool.com/oasis-builders-8012/classroom/54fca587?md=67b89ff3634d45cdbce1af032e54173c

New comment 1d ago

Julie Rushton

1 like • 1d

Thanks Jim this is great information 👍

Jim Flach

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3d •

Steps in Permaculture

Seed Selections 1

I think I know the answer, although would like to be sure we move together with a shared understanding. What are your thoughts on genetically modified organisms. Would you use GM seed?

Poll

7 members have voted

New comment 3d ago

Julie Rushton

0 likes • 3d

Hope this doesn’t sound like a rant. It’s something I am passionate about. I am not judging what’s come before, only being an observer of the ecosystem. In my opinion the more we tune to our natural ecosystem and let nature do what it’s best at, the easier life will become and our food will be giving back to us with healthy nutritional food born from thriving soil teaming with life. We copy nature in a stripped back clinical way with artificial fertilisers, GM crops and tilling, when our role in the ecosystem has historically been to thin out overgrowth and clear areas for the grazers, who then fertilise the ground ready for the next succession. I like using perennial vegetables where possible as they need less resources still. Undisturbed ground is more stable, has more life and holds more nutrients for our food. I feel everyone here already knows this if not mentally then on a soul level. It does no harm to remind ourselves every so often.

Julie Rushton

1 like • 3d

My pleasure, we are nature. Platforms like this feel like coming home. Thank you 🙏

Jim Flach

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3d •

Steps in Permaculture

Milestone: 50+ members

This is our founding community. Our community includes first season gardeners, longtime growers, food forest builders, raised bed builders, herb growers, homesteaders, and preparedness planners. Our shared engagement brings small lessons we can use right away. Those lessons stack over time to build ready, resilient families. Our community has a CALM rhythm: C: We look for Clarity A: We take Action on what we observe L: We nurture Living Systems, walking alongside nature M: We Monitor outcomes and adjust accordingly We keep one simple focus, take one small step, review weekly, adjust gently, and keep moving steady forward.

Poll

7 members have voted

New comment 3d ago

Julie Rushton

1 like • 3d

Perfect 👍

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