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The Bearded Farmer
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Posts: 105
Joined: Sat Oct 02, 2010 8:23 am
Location: Laureldale, PA zone 6/7

Sunny Suburbia Garden! Beard's 2012 Log... UPDATED 6/26/2012

Just wanted to show off my reconstructed garden. It has changed a lot from previous years and I think its better than ever.

EVERYTHING with the exception of the little tool shed was recycled. I didn't buy anything besides nails to put it all together!

The 2012 Garden....
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0198.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0197.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0200.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0204.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0203.jpg[/img]
Closer view of the Rain Barrel setup
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0201.jpg[/img]
Closer view of the coldframe
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0199.jpg[/img]
Closer view of the 2 stage compost
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0202.jpg[/img]

The 2011 garden in its prime...
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/HPIM1950.jpg[/img]
Last edited by The Bearded Farmer on Tue Jun 26, 2012 8:51 pm, edited 6 times in total.
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gixxerific
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Whats up with the barrels? You should use them as catchments from your gutter to save rainwater.
Flatlander_MB
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The Bearded Farmer wrote:
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0199.jpg[/img]
I really like your re-use of materials.

What do you grown in your mini-greenhouse?
DeborahL
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Location: Coastal Southern California

This is really impressive ! I hope your community has some kind of Green Living award-you'd definitely win !
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The Bearded Farmer
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Joined: Sat Oct 02, 2010 8:23 am
Location: Laureldale, PA zone 6/7

gixxerific wrote:Whats up with the barrels? You should use them as catchments from your gutter to save rainwater.
HAHA... Those barrels are a rainbarrel setup!!! They are conected by PVC to the hose bib in front!!

The greenhouse will be getting filled with lettuce and spinach this weekend!
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SPierce
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That looks awesome :D Wish I had the ability to set up some rain barrels!
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The Bearded Farmer
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Location: Laureldale, PA zone 6/7

3/21/12 updates....

Seedlings started 3/10. Packman Broccoli, Chocolate Cherry Tomato, Cherokee Purple Tomato, Stevia, Shasta Daisy, California Wonder Peppers.
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0206.jpg[/img]

First bed seeded with Scarlet Nantes Carrot and Stutgaurd Onions and some green onoin in the corner.
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0208.jpg[/img]
Onion sets starting to pop!
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0210.jpg[/img]

Chives and Apple Mint pushing back out for spring!
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0211.jpg[/img]

ButterCrunch Lettuce and 2 kinds of spinach coming up in the coldframe..
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0213.jpg[/img]

Sugar Snaps seeded in three rows in this larger bed on 3/17. Roughly 100 plants in here!
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0214.jpg[/img]

Ozark Strawberries coming back up for the season
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0220.jpg[/img]

Irish Cobbler and Red Norland Potatos seeded in the barrels on 3/17.
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0221.jpg[/img]

A quick pick of the garden pond for good measure..
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0216.jpg[/img]
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paigej
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Beautiful set up! I'm jealous of everything, especially your pond!
SOB
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The Bearded Farmer wrote:HAHA... Those barrels are a rainbarrel setup!!! They are conected by PVC to the hose bib in front!!
Sorry, I'm missing it too...where/how does the water get into the barrels?
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KeriFord
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Wow! that looks so fantastic! *taking notes*

I'm showing the pictures of the rain barrels and mini-green house to my hubby and asking for that. :)
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The Bearded Farmer
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Location: Laureldale, PA zone 6/7

I didnt have the rain barrels hooked up to the spout yet in the pic because it was to cold. I divert the spout when it stops freezing.

If anyone is local to Reading PA and wants to build a coldframe I have some windows you could have!
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The Bearded Farmer
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Location: Laureldale, PA zone 6/7

UPDATE!!!

3/31/12

Planted my Packman Broccoli transplants in the garden!
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0228.jpg[/img]

My little helper hand tilling the soil for me...
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0227.jpg[/img]

4/6/12
Nice Apple Mint and the chives getting their first flower!
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0246.jpg[/img]

Strawberries looking good and rain barrels full already!
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0247.jpg[/img]

Put hay down around the broccoli today and put the posts in the ground for the pea fence. Peas are growing in biodegradable pots right now.
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0248.jpg[/img]

Onion sets looking great and the carrots in front slowly coming along
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0249.jpg[/img]

Potatos...
Red Norland
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0251.jpg[/img]

Irish Cobbler
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0252.jpg[/img]
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The Bearded Farmer
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Posts: 105
Joined: Sat Oct 02, 2010 8:23 am
Location: Laureldale, PA zone 6/7

The potatos are almost ready to hill!!! This weather is great, its only april. I might be able to get a second planting this year.
Pics of the potatoes and pics of the new blueberry bed coming this afternoon.
mhannum
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Wow, that is an impressive garden!

I really like the recycled materials and the wide variety of plants you're growing - there's something for everyone there.
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The Bearded Farmer
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Location: Laureldale, PA zone 6/7

UPDATE 5/22/12

Potatos coming along nicely! They are about 60 days old at this point with potatos about the size of golf balls!
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0297.jpg[/img]

The new herb bed looking good with...
Apple Mint
Chocolate mint
Stevia
Tyme
Parsley
Green Onion
Chives
and soon to go in Sweet Basil and Sage
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0296.jpg[/img]

Packman Broccoli going well... Winter Melon going in this bed this weekend!
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0291.jpg[/img]

Spinach and butterhead lettuce in the coldframe
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0292.jpg[/img]

Scarlett Nantes Carrots, stuttgaurd onions, and California Wonder Peppers
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0290.jpg[/img]

More to come tomorrow!
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The Bearded Farmer
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Joined: Sat Oct 02, 2010 8:23 am
Location: Laureldale, PA zone 6/7

Huge Update this week!!

I took on the task of mulching in between my beds and weeding everything. This is easily my best year so far!

On to the pics!!

Full view of my urban farm...
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0309.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0310.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0308.jpg[/img]

Purple and green varieties of bush beans and some bicolor corn in my front bed.
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0304.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0305.jpg[/img]

More corn in the backyard!
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0313.jpg[/img]

Packman Broccoli..
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0301.jpg[/img]
Almost ready to harvest!!
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0302.jpg[/img]

Black cherry and cherokee purple tomatos along with some ozark strawberries.
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0299.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0300.jpg[/img]

Onions and Scarlett Nantes Carrots. There are also 3 California Wonder Bell peppers hidinf in back.
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0298.jpg[/img]

Potted Horseradish
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0311.jpg[/img]

Compost almost done!
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0312.jpg[/img]

Finally put the overflow on the rainbarrels!
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0303.jpg[/img]

And updated pics of the pond for good measure..
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0307.jpg[/img]
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rainbowgardener
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Looking good! I do think for our own health and the health of the environment, it is really important for all us urban types to be "farming" our little bits of land, or even apartment building roof tops.

Every vegetable you eat from your garden was NOT trucked 2000 miles to get to you!

In the Victory Gardens era of WW II, most of what Americans ate was produced in the cities and the farm produce was sent to the soldiers overseas.
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The Bearded Farmer
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Location: Laureldale, PA zone 6/7

I would love to have more land but at this point it really isnt realistic finacially yet. But I do enjoy some of the challenges of farming in suburbia. Obviously not everything is done and I do plan on making the majority of my 1/8th acre edible.

I just picked up 2 rasberry bushes yesterday for $1 at one of my local nurseries! and got 2 blueberry bushes from a friend! I will be planting those up against the house on small trellises I believe.

Also mulched the herb be this morning too!
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farmerlon
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Great looking garden !!! :D
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The Bearded Farmer
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Location: Laureldale, PA zone 6/7

So we have another update !!Picked up a whole bunch of fruit plants to add to the farm!

Got this nice little Dwarf Nectarine Tree for $5!
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0321.jpg[/img]

The rasberries and blackberries.
2 varieties of rasberry on the left and 2 varieties of blackberry on the right. I will have to build a trellis for these.
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0314.jpg[/img]

I also picked up 2 grape vines and 2 blueberry bushes that are not pictured

Got my first wheelbarrow full of compost for the season! So I threw it on the corn, beans, and tomatos.
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0316.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0318.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0319.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0320.jpg[/img]

Thats all for now!
cwayland
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Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2012 9:32 am
Location: Charlotte, NC

Your set up looks great! I also have a little helper like yours. She loves to help harvest but won't eat a darn thing out of the garden! I am hoping this changes once the tomatoes come in.
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The Bearded Farmer
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Posts: 105
Joined: Sat Oct 02, 2010 8:23 am
Location: Laureldale, PA zone 6/7

Harvest Update!! 6/26/12

Our harvest today! About a pound of velour beans and some broccoli side shoots....
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0325.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0324.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0326.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0329.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0332.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0334.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0335.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0340.jpg[/img]

The new Catawaba grape trellis.
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0327.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0328.jpg[/img]

EarliBlue and Blue Gold Blueberries
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0330.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0331.jpg[/img]

The Herbs and backyard corn..
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0340.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0339.jpg[/img]

A view of the property!
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0337.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0338.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/alf00amf/SAM_0333.jpg[/img]

I also decided on a name for my garden! Sunny Suburbia Garden!!
Northernfox
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Location: Fort Saskatchewan Alberta

That is great to see! I love urban gardening. I am trying to do the same in my "cozy" back yard. You gave me some ideas I may have to steal including the rain barrel idea!

Looked good! Thanks for sharing


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