Grow my own

kat1 (Moderator) says on May 1, 2008, 08:06:

that's the way to do it

vicshere says on May 1, 2008, 08:45:

what you growing lowell

listo

Frank Rizzo says on May 1, 2008, 08:52:

Hi Lowell.....could you outline the steps your using to convert your roof??? Is your current roof concrete construction (re-enforced wih rebar..usually 8-10 cm thick)??

Is is covered with that grey water proof stuff...(like foil covered tar paper?

I'd love to hear the steps you take in this...i've got some ideas and am working on a similar project..

darkangel305 says on May 1, 2008, 10:10:

also the pictures

Lowell says on May 1, 2008, 11:27:

For now I'll be growing vegtables and flowers. Later I'll be planting dwarf trees and vines.

Frank, I've put together a file on the construction. I don't do well with posting here. I'll Pm it to you. It's brick, rebar and concrete.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

Frank Rizzo says on May 1, 2008, 11:35:

cool....Lowell...i'd like to compare notes...on how you eventually do the construction...if you're going to be gardening there...i'm sure your getting rid of the grey tar/tinfoil paper....and doing enchape....that tin / tar paper will begin leaking if not....

Also...Lowell...there are some websites..that they grow any vine UPSIDE DOWN...like the tomatoes, zuccini (sp?), squash....everything...that really helps with bugs and not having to build a support structure for them to grow...and not falling on the ground and rotting...

Lowell says on May 1, 2008, 11:50:

That sounds great. I want to look at the sites. Sent Pm's to you and da.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

lampltr says on May 1, 2008, 14:21:

Hey Lowell, you are on the right track with all the global bull regarding food prices...I see some major issues on the horizon, can imagine the riots! Add a few more poppies to your collection, this will help filter your air quality in the house jeje...take care homie!

nueva york bombero says on May 1, 2008, 14:38:

I'm surprised nobody's asked you how the buds are growing.....(herb).

Frank Rizzo says on May 1, 2008, 15:04:

Hi Lowell...sent you a PM back...i'm looking for sites now on the terrace gardening...

rumronrum says on May 2, 2008, 03:16:

Awesome! Any photos?

Thanks,

RumRonRum

Atrevido says on May 2, 2008, 04:45:

If you use gallanaza be sure to mix it into the soil and let it decompose a month before planting otherwise it can burn.

kat1 (Moderator) says on May 2, 2008, 05:03:

Apart from the fruits and begetables our farm is providing, my mum also have chikens and milk and she sells them, also she is experimenting with new things, she planted some watermelon seeds and this is what she got



she is also doing zapote, lettuce and maiz

Desideria (Moderator) says on May 2, 2008, 05:39:

The tiny backyard of my Cali house is all paved perhaps I ought to remove the cement and plant zucchini instead? And the roofs.....yes, definitely there's a possibility. I can grow cold-weather varities in Finland on the farm (I already have some apple trees and currant bushes) and tropical fruit and veggies in Cali) the problem is how could I possibly be in both places at the same time?

"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." —Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Frank Rizzo says on May 2, 2008, 09:20:

upside down gardeniing..

http://www.seedsofknowledge.com/tomato2.html

kat1 (Moderator) says on May 2, 2008, 11:12:

well desi you have to decided...Zuchcini or apples and blackcurrants

My advice grow grapes, and we can start our own production of Chardonnay ;))

dwmte7 says on May 2, 2008, 12:45:

what exactly are you growing, lowell?

dwmte

lpdiver says on May 2, 2008, 15:01:

Most of our posters seem to be in the city. I plan on being slightly outside the city and living off the grid as much as possible. Anyone out there doing this at the moment?

t

"cook some rice!"

Desideria (Moderator) says on May 2, 2008, 15:10:

I'd love to live on a little finca somewhere in Felidia or kilometro 30 on the road to Buenaventura on the western cordillera but I'm too much of a scarycat. With the guerrilla hiking on the other side of the ridge I don't feel all too comfortable.

Kat, until they develop a grape that grows well in tropical climate there won't be any chardonnay production on the top of my Cali roof. How's the climate on your finca in Villavo?

"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." —Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

kat1 (Moderator) says on May 2, 2008, 15:14:

desi it can get quite at night believe or not, Villavo is not as hot as the coast.. uhmm I have to try and see, will let you know, as soon as my first vine come out we are on business :)))

we have to stat thinking on a name....

Desideria (Moderator) says on May 2, 2008, 15:34:

We'll have a couple of years left for that...your experimental first-year production, collecting the grapes stomping them to pulp in large vats (sounds like fun)you building a wine cellar in Villavo, we drinking up the first year production after a twelve-month maturing period.

Actually, it might be easier to make liquors and cordials out of tropical fruit like lulo and guanabana.

"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." —Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

kat1 (Moderator) says on May 2, 2008, 15:47:

uhmm haven't got lulo yet or guanabana, but got mango, orange, coconuts, guayaba, caña de azucar PIña, lemon,bananas, forgot the name of the other fruit uhmmm


i have a neighbor who grow noni, gezz according to many the juice is very medicinal, very good for your health but smell and taste like pecueca

lampltr says on May 2, 2008, 16:42:

Hey Mr. Lowell, where did you go bro...this is 3 of us for sure that need to know what you are growing...poppies, herbs, or what exactly jeje....no seriously. Desi & Kat, I will buy a bottle of which ever you decide to make!

Desideria (Moderator) says on May 2, 2008, 17:12:

Even if it smelled and tasted like pecueca?

"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." —Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Lisa Zee says on May 2, 2008, 17:20:

I always grow tomatoes, I am growing now heirloom tomatoes, bell peppers, herbs. I brought some pitaya seeds and they are sprouting on the window! They are hard to grow, but I will be so happy if they really become a big plant, and they are beautiful!, and good for you if you don`t eat too many, LOL.

Lisa Zee says on May 2, 2008, 17:21:

Pecueca! jajajaja, hacia tiempos no escuchaba esa palabra.

vicshere says on May 2, 2008, 19:02:

try earth boxes
http://www.earthbox.com/education/

listo

Lowell says on May 4, 2008, 07:28:

Sorry, been busy with kids, moto.... Basicly just starting now with tomatoes, lettuce, radishes and some flowers. I making a new folder on the construction and will post it on picture trail this week. Thanks for the leads on better gardening. Haven't started and buds as of yet.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

Frank Rizzo says on May 4, 2008, 12:17:

hey Vic...have you tried these earth boxes??? i'm looking for something like that or the upside down things to grow vegetables....

vicshere says on May 4, 2008, 12:28:

hey frank I have built my own boxes no problem ...but finding the right soil in Colombia is the problem you need to use potting mix (not potting soil). ....I found some at Exito but it cost 17,000 for 2 kilos....way too expensive to start my own little farm...need to find potting mix by 50 kilo bag
also try these site
http://www.instructables.com/id/Building-your-own-Earth-Box/
http://www.josho.com/gardening.htm

listo

Frank Rizzo says on May 4, 2008, 12:39:

Thanks Vic...that looks small enough to be manageable, i think i'll try that for some "root" vegetables......i really want to grow vegetables in colombia....if at all possible.....

i'm gonna try the tomatoes...like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL2Xgeo48iE

and there are some sites..that say you can grow any "vine" plant upside down....worth a try...

vicshere says on May 4, 2008, 13:18:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZUCxBHeq04&feature=related

mines like this but the problem is the potting mix

listo

Frank Rizzo says on May 4, 2008, 14:16:

I really like that.....i watched the video..then went to the website...survivela.com...


I think i'll do the same...why can we just use dirt and compost....??? mix in some commercial fertalizer too.???

Vic...if you have a place to plant corn...i'm bringing down kahuku sweet corn from hawaii...to plant....if you've never had it...ask Houstongal.....its the best corn on the planet....incredible...!!!

vicshere says on May 4, 2008, 14:25:

Hey Frank
potting soil is different than potting mix
potting soil is way too heavy for this as the earthbox works on a wick type system
as there is a constant bed of water in the bottom of the contain the "soil" need to work as a wick to draw the "humidity" up and out of the water bed and into the upper levels of the container....the regular soil just holds the water in the wick part or bottom part and doesn't travel further into the box system....

listo

vicshere says on May 4, 2008, 14:26:

and yes would love to try kahuku sweet corn from hawaii...

listo

Frank Rizzo says on May 4, 2008, 14:49:

ahhh......vic..are you familiar with using ground up lava rock in your dirt/soil?? it holds the water alot longer....we do this in hawaii...all the time...(but the dirt really is ground up lava)..it really helps..

here's the hawaii supersweet corn...i've never, ever had anything like it....its' amazing how sweet it is....when will you make it to cali...i can have the guys give you a pound of seeds..when it gets there..(probably 4 weeks)

http://www.hawaiiag.org/harc/HARCSD6.HTM

huskie says on May 4, 2008, 15:07:

Maryland has the best corn I have ever tasted
Cheers

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds-"

lpdiver says on May 4, 2008, 15:07:

I have had good results with hanging tomatoes. I plant them in the hanging basket that ferns etc come in.

I use the cherry tomatoe varieties and plant about three per basket. I don't try to insert them from the bottom like shown in a lot of schemes. I just let them flop over when the grow enough.

I would water them with slow drip emitters on a timer and put soluble fertilizer in the irrigation system. As a bumper crop I started "harvesting" the squirrels that were robbing me as well.

I haven't done this in a while but it used to work great.

t

"cook some rice!"

Frank Rizzo says on May 4, 2008, 15:24:

Hi huskie.....i've not had any from Maryland.......have you had any of the hawaii super sweet corn..??? if its' that good...i'll really be impressed....as i really don't even really like corn...

LP...good to hear about the hanging tomatoes... it'll be my first time...but i gotta try...cause.i really love fresh tomatoes......

How did the squirrels taste??? jajjajaa

vicshere says on May 4, 2008, 15:49:

frank if I could get VERMICULITA in quantity I think I could make my own potting soil...I asked around town ...they all looked at me like I was a crazy ass gringo

listo

Frank Rizzo says on May 4, 2008, 16:24:

http://www.paginasamarillas.com/pagamanet/web/procesos/link.aspx?ie=76...


I think these guys have it in bogota...

goin_south says on May 5, 2008, 00:24:

vic... that stuff (Vermiculita) is almost like AIR... isn't it?
that wouldn't be so costly to ship some to (Bucaramanga) Colombia.

why can't the freakin Chung King Chinese just LEAVE THE FREAKN DOLLY LLAMA and Tibet ... ALONE!