forest gardening
SPRINGING INTO ACTION
Yesterday was my first day back in action after my wisdom teeth were removed. The teeth were taken out on Monday and yesterday was Wednesday, so I don’t consider that too bad of a recovery time. Praise God for His healing power!
Anyway, Brenda and I had a boatload of things to do in the forest garden at The Vicarage yesterday. It involved two trips to Tractor Supply for: a chick tub (the chicks arrive on Friday), shavings for the chick tub, some waterless dog shampoo and two apple trees.
Then it was off to Walmart for: small tomato stakes, toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies, dog food and household items. We are finishing our stock up for the tariff troubles.
When we got home Brenda made lunch while I brought the supplies into the house. After lunch before going back to Tractor Supply to get the apple trees ( they wouldn’t fit on the first run), I staked up our baby tomatoes.
after bringing the apple trees home, Brenda and I got to work on the raised beds. I went to Belletetes hardware to pick up a grommet maker for our bed covers and some screws to hold it in place.
While Brenda worked on the grommets. I planted one of the apple trees and fed the chickens.
We got one bed half done and the covers cut for all the raised beds before we began to run out of steam and light. It was a good day!
MINISTRY AND PERMACULTURE
EARTH CARE, PEOPLE CARE AND FAIR SHARE
THE FOREST GARDENING BEGINS 2025
I have now met with our Vicarage gardening team either in person or on line. We have started peppers and tomatoes in pots. This week we will start the broccoli in pots to get it started before we put it out under the covered beds we are getting ready.
Here is a video I watched on planting the broccoli.
Next come the early greens and the peas.
Oh! I also received our Jerusalem artichoke bulbs.
and the Belgian endive seeds.
HOW WE’RE GONNA DO IT PT. 1
FEBRUARY 1, 2025: TIME TO START THE GARDEN
Well as I said in yesterday’s video, Spring is almost here!
Of course it will be months before the tulips and daffodils poke their heads up through the ground. Like wise it will still be months before I can turn the ground in the garden beds and put the cold crops into the ground.
One thing I know though is that months go fast. So this week I will plan out the garden.
It won’t be that intricate, but you get the idea. Also this week I will be purchasing some of the plants I will be starting from seed or root. I have a whole space I set aside in the fall for Jerusalem artichoke.
I can’t wait to get started!
FOREST GARDEN: JAPANESE KNOTWEED
I believe that part of gardening is looking at the landscape you have around you and figuring out how that works into your garden plan. My garden just happens to be filled with lots of invasive things. On the surface that would seem to be a drawback, but as I think through it all there are lots of advantages that the invasive species bring.
One of the species I deal with is Japanese knotweed.
It grows fast and takes over. I do cut it back every year and I have often thought about getting rid of it altogether, but the birds and the rabbits love to nest in the dense foliage. There are always an abundance of nests wedged into the close growing bamboo-like stalks. In the winter it attracts hosts of sparrows who use it to hide from predators during the day and night. This year our rabbits have built their warren in the heart of the knotweed jungle.
This beautiful fellow has been hunting on our property all this week.
This winter I am trying to learn more about forest gardening and the plants I already have in the forest as I lay my garden plan for the Spring. Here is something I have learned about knotweed.
I think I will keep the Knotweed.
DRY
One of the reasons that the leaves here in New England were so brilliant this year was because we have been cool and dry. We are currently in a level 3 drought here in Winchendon MA which means we are in critical drought. We are also in a severe fire threat. With 518 fires in the state having burned 1500 acres so far, outdoor burning of yard waste has been banned through January 15th here in MA.
That means here in the forest garden my growing pile of brush is not going anywhere at the moment. It’s Ok. I am still putting plastic on the windows inside just now. I don’t really have time for a fire in the fire pit.
WINTER IS COMING
Forgive the Game Of Thrones reference please. Today was the first day of daylight savings time. Two days ago it was 75 degrees here and we had enjoyed two more days of Indian Summer in Massachusetts. This morning the dogs were up at 2 A.M. and it was down in the 20’s when I took them out for a walk.
I got a lot done last month towards the winterizing of The Vicarage and the forest gardens, but there is much more to do before the true winter settles in.
There are still cellar windows to be covered in bubble wrap. It’s a new thing I am trying in the cellar to see if it improves the insulation in the dead of winter. This came as a suggestion from my sister who uses it on certain portions of her apartment in the Netherlands. The plastic at the cellar doors also needs to be hung. It was a big help last year with the winter wind.
Most of the leaves are gone now. Just the Norwegian Maples still hang onto their leaves. They light up the forest garden in the early mornings making the light almost magical. I still have some garden areas to prepare for next Spring. I am planning on planting a stand of Jerusalem artichoke out by the grape vines.
And I have plans for a pumpkin patch next year. So there is some cutting and dirt turning to do before the ground seriously freezes. I also have a few more rocks to move into place around the picket fence area before they freeze together in the winter storms.
It was a beautiful fall. Now it is time to get ready for the holidays and the New Year.
Notes From the Vicarage 