Many of you are likely participating in our 2024 study group collaboration with our neighbor, the Spikenard Honeybee Sanctuary, in which we are working our way through Steiner’s Agriculture Course (GA327, 1924).
Resources:
There are lots of resources available that Georgie Donovan has assembled for you:
A question Stewart. Im considerig using soil blocking as a method of seedling propagationany ideas you have?/ My little 1500sqft section in Mamaku New Zealand is going to be somewhere I can retire to and grow a few veg for the neighbors and myself.
Hi Mark, soil blocks work. I personally found them to be too much work. They're not easy to make (takes strength) and because of the air gap between blocks, they're hard to keep from drying out before transplanting. I prefer open flats. The roots intermingle. Cut the roots 72hrs before you want to transplant (without removing any plants from the tray) to help them In my experience, plants grown in an open flat with intermingling roots perform worlds better than those grown in isolation. I think of open flats as a kind of "kindergarten" socializing the plants, and teaching them to share. Plants grown in isolation are like children raised without friends (so to speak). But if you have time, strength, and are attentive, soil blocks can work very well. Some people swear by them!
I have heard of 'socializing seedlings'. Nataile wrote in her post about it and I thought that it is something new to me. I grew raindorest seeds in the open slat but I wasn't aware back rhen. I am more willing now to keep an open mind and think about the influences.
If you were growing on a very small scale, consider looking at John Jeavons and his grow biointensive approach. You can grow all the food you need for an individual in less than 2,000 sq ft. And that's a complete diet for an entire year in such a small area. He is a similar flats to start things
A question Stewart. Im considerig using soil blocking as a method of seedling propagationany ideas you have?/ My little 1500sqft section in Mamaku New Zealand is going to be somewhere I can retire to and grow a few veg for the neighbors and myself.
Hi Mark, soil blocks work. I personally found them to be too much work. They're not easy to make (takes strength) and because of the air gap between blocks, they're hard to keep from drying out before transplanting. I prefer open flats. The roots intermingle. Cut the roots 72hrs before you want to transplant (without removing any plants from the tray) to help them In my experience, plants grown in an open flat with intermingling roots perform worlds better than those grown in isolation. I think of open flats as a kind of "kindergarten" socializing the plants, and teaching them to share. Plants grown in isolation are like children raised without friends (so to speak). But if you have time, strength, and are attentive, soil blocks can work very well. Some people swear by them!
Can I comment?
Go for it!
I have heard of 'socializing seedlings'. Nataile wrote in her post about it and I thought that it is something new to me. I grew raindorest seeds in the open slat but I wasn't aware back rhen. I am more willing now to keep an open mind and think about the influences.
If you were growing on a very small scale, consider looking at John Jeavons and his grow biointensive approach. You can grow all the food you need for an individual in less than 2,000 sq ft. And that's a complete diet for an entire year in such a small area. He is a similar flats to start things
I'll make my goal to grow enough to eat
March 13. Click on "Sign up Now" button above for full info.
When is the next sessionn?