Moving Towards a More Sustainable Life Through Backyard Farming

   Our journey towards sustainable living began simply enough. I love a good tomato. That is what caused me to dig my first hole. Through the years, I witnessed the joy that my mother and grandmother found in gardening and I gladly enjoyed the fruits of their labors. I readily accepted the vegetables that they offered at the end of every visit. But, they were always gone long before the next visit. So, one spring I decided to grow tomatoes. I quickly discovered the satisfaction of growing my own vegetables. Under the mentor ship of my mother and grandmother, I began to learn and experiment with raised bed gardening which would bring the highest yield while reducing the amount of unpleasant tasks, such as tilling and weeding, and reducing or alleviating the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

It wasn't long before we established our own small flock of backyard chickens. We didn't know anyone else raising chickens. So, we made quite a few mistakes and unnecessary expenditures. But, our mistakes have resulted in gain for others. We have learned how to make tending a small flock of backyard chickens very easy and affordable. We have also enjoyed the relationship that has developed between us and these lovely ladies who regularly provide us with such wonderful protein.

Although our backyard farm has been in place for several years, I still have not gotten over the thrill of gathering beautiful eggs daily, making a yummy salad or stir fry from just picked vegetables, or making an omelet from all of these ingredients. I cannot put into words how satisfying it is to be able to go through a complete day only eating off of our land.

When moving towards a more sustainable lifestyle, it is important to remember that you don't have to do it all at one time. One small step quickly led to the realization that I could do even more. My mind frequently goes back to what my mother says when I ask her if she thinks that I can grow a certain vegetable. She says, "I don't know. Put in the dirt and see what happens. If it doesn't work out, you're only out a couple of dollars." She always points out to me that even though she has gardened for over 50 years, every season she always learns something new. There is always a new method to try. I have found that aspect of gardening and farming has been one of the most pleasurable. I remain in awe of the results because I have never be able to have it mastered. Every year, every season has it own unique challenges and victories https://www.agrifarming.in/. I get to participate in the miracle of life, but I don't control it. I believe that you also will find that you can do more than you ever thought possible, sooner than you ever thought possible.

With the proper equipment and soil, you can grow all of your own produce on your deck or in your yard in a raised bed garden. If you would like fresh eggs daily, good resources are available to assist you in acquiring your flock of hens and providing food and housing for them. Within a month, you also can begin to develop your own backyard farm dramatically increasing your sustainable lifestyle.

Donna is moving towards a more sustainable life through backyard farming. After hearing frequent visitors express their desire to do the same, she now finds great satisfaction in helping others move in that direction through raised bed gardening and backyard chickens. She encourages others to simply take the first step.

Worm farming has many benefits to the home gardener. The benefits worms have to the soil is well known and this is a vital part in building soil up over time. We don't usually consider the work worms do in the ground but we do see the benefits through highly fertile soil and structure capable of supporting the growth of plants.

In the ground worms feed on decaying leaves, dead insects, grass, weeds and many types of naturally occurring organic matter. When we look at farming worms we are copying what nature does while concentrating the amount of organic matter available in a defined area. These worms turn raw waste into quality and fertile soil conditioner for many aspects of the home garden.

Some of the many benefits of incorporating a Worm Farm in you Home Compost and Recycling routine:

As a top dressing for your Lawn

Top dressing your lawn is usually done is Spring or Autumn to level out hollow patches and to encourage a deeper rooting lawn. A lawn sand can be purchased from most gardening centres by the bag or trailer load. Most lawns would only require half a dozen bags to fill hollows and a light covering over the lawn.

Vermicast (Worm poo) can replace up to half the quantity of lawn sand adding a conditioning mix to the dressing. This also adds worm capsules to your lawn which can assist in populating it with worms to assist in aerating and eliminating thick matting of grass roots.

As a feed and conditioner for your vegetable garden

Worm poo is perfect for your home vegetable garden. Traditional compost is ideal for adding to a garden bed when preparing it for seasonal planting. Vermicast, however, can be used as a supplemental feed and conditioning during the growth cycle of your vegetable plants.

There are several ways to apply it to a garden bed. Mixing in water and applying with a watering can is common. I prefer to spread it dry at the base of vegetable seedlings and semi mature plants. This method ensures any capsules or young worms still in the Vermicast remain to hatch and add more life to the carrier soil.

Increasing worms in your garden and lawn

As your worm population grows from the natural breeding cycle, you find you have an excess of worms. These worms can be added to your garden or lawn or can be sold or given away to family or friends. If adding them to your garden or lawn you will need to gradually introduce them to changes in temperature from within the worm box compared to the external air or ground temperature.

Seed raising and potting mixes

Vermicast is used in many commercially available potting mixtures. You can make your own potting mix using Worm poo as a base or add it for extra nutrients to plain commercially available mixtures.

Installing Landscape Sod

Site conditions: Choose the right sod for your region, a variety that will survive through the winter and summer months. An additional few inches will be added to your landscape, as sod pieces carry about one to two inches of soil along with the grass blades. When purchasing your sod, check to see if sod pieces will have any problems growing in your existing soil.

Soil amendments: You may need to apply soil amendments to your landscape before laying sod. The best pH for laying sod ranges from 6.0 to 7.0. Fertilizer and soil amendments such as limestone should be adequately mixed with the first six inches of soil. Top soil also needs to be added at a six inch depth, as the soils tend to settle around five inches.

Grading and drainage: You do not want any sitting water in the landscape area you are installing sod. The ground needs to be properly graded to allow sufficient percolation. Slopes should be graded appropriately to direct any water flow away from sidewalks, house foundation, and lower lying areas in your landscape. The final graded surface should be smoothed and rolled over, creating an even surface for proper installation.

Sod Installation: Your landscape should be weeded before any new sod installation. Be careful to remove all weeds especially those with seeds after laying down sod. The best time of year to install sod includes late summer to early fall. Try not to install sod during the heat of summer, otherwise monitor the sod pieces for any wilted or scorched blades. Make sure the sod pieces are vibrant and healthy. If you cannot install sod after delivery, unroll the stacks in a partially shaded location and make sure they are kept moist throughout warm temperatures. Ideally, the sod should be delivered and installed within a twenty-four hour period. Prepared soil should be flat and moderately moist before final installation. Rows of sod can be placed edge to edge and staggered from each seam line, similar to laying down a brick pattern. After installation, sod should be watered and allowed to dry. Once sod is dry, sod pieces should be compressed insuring roots adhere well with the soil.

Want an amazing lawn? Lay sod! With these easy-to-follow tips, your new lawn will be the talk of the neighborhood in no time.

It has been said millions of times before: success begins with good preparation. Our philosophy for laying sod is no different, and if you want to succeed in having a beautiful lawn, you have to prepare accordingly. First, pick your sod. Second, prepare your base. Third, begin planting your new lawn! It's as easy as 1-2-3.

The choice is ultimately yours, but St. Augustine grass is usually recommended for its resilience and climate adaptability. Here are some quick and easy tips to help you plan your new lawn.

Measure your planned lawn with a tape measure. Include these measurements in a sketch of the lawn area including length, width, and any unusual features and/or grades. Next, you need to get your yard ready for sod delivery and installation https://sodgreen.com/. You can achieve this by removing rocks, clay lumps, and any other debris present. You will also need to level your planned lawn area; this can be achieved by using a rake or equivalent yard tool. Some lawns may require more extensive work. In that case, consider hiring a professional landscaper to finish preparing your lawn for sod installation.

The perfect base for St. Augustine grass is sand and organic soil mixture. A lush and uniform lawn is more resistant to normal wear and tear than marked lawns, so make sure to thoroughly mix your base and spread it evenly over your planned lawn area.

Lay your base evenly over the area. It is okay to lay it thick because next you are going to level it with a rake.

Once level, begin laying your sod in a pattern resembling bricks, especially when using lush turfs such as St. Augustine grass. This pattern is called the "Bond." Each row of sod is called a "course." Your finished lawn's pattern should resemble a brick wall upon completion.

Caring for your lawn is easy.

St. Augustine grass performs best when mowed between 2-4 inches depending on the cultivar. For optimum performance, fertilize your lawn with 2-3 lbs. of nitrogen (N) per square foot each year depending on location, health of lawn, cultivar and soil type, and many other factors.

Maybe you've just moved into a new house, and you want to make your lawn beautiful, or maybe you've owned your home for years and want to give your property a facelift. Whatever your reason, a beautiful lawn can add value to your property and provide enjoyment for years to come. Lawn installation can seem like a daunting task, but with a little forethought, you can install a beautiful lawn that won't be a pain to maintain.

First, there are two different processes for installing a lawn-seed and sod. Seeding a lawn means that you spread grass seed over your existing soil. While this may sound like an option that will save money in the short term, your lawn will be susceptible to weed growth and erosion. The grass will also take time to grow, so your lawn will not be beautiful right away. Putting down a layer of sod with grass already growing on it. The sod method of lawn installation, while it can be more expensive, saves time as the grass is already green and growing. You can purchase sod grass in sheets, squares or rolls. Whichever method you choose, take the time to plan out your lawn before you begin purchasing supplies.

Once you have decided which method you will use. do some research on types of grass that flourish in your area so that you find a grass that suits the soil, sun exposure, and rainfall of your area. Local grasses are a hardy and beautiful option because they are already suited to the climate in your area. Now that you have chosen a method of lawn installation and a type of grass, you need to measure the area where you want to install the lawn. The measurements of your new lawn will determine how much sod or grass seed you will need. After you have planned out your new lawn, the installation process can begin.

If you are using the seed method of lawn installation, you must first you must prepare the ground for your new lawn by pulling out weeds and removing rocks. You can rent a rotary tiller from your local hardware store or tractor supply. Use the rotary tiller to turn the soil for your new lawn. You can also pre-fertilize your lawn using compost or other fertilizers. You can spread the seeds by hand, but your new lawn will be more even if you use a seed spreader. Make sure and water the grass seeds as much as possible after seeding.

If you are using the sod method, you need to buy the appropriate square footage of sod from a sod farm or a lawn and garden store. When looking for sod, there are several things to keep in mind. First, make sure the sod has moist roots and doesn't fall apart easily. Second, the sod shold have only green grass. Once it is installed, water your sod as much as you would grass seeds. Whichever method you choose, lawn installation doesn't have to be too complicated. With a little planning, you can create a beautiful lawn.