Garden update May 18, 2010 - First Harvest

[RougeSamurai77]

Hahaha, some one picked the leaves.

[SistaSledge101]

lol too funny. a hot pocket and fresh green beans from your garden.

[AridSea]

Yes -- its oklahoma, i can tell by the TV behind... anyways

We have bermuda grass. How do I get rid of it? It's roots go down 20 feet in the ground and its always coming back up, no matter what we do (we're organic)

We've tried everything but last year squash bugs came for the zuccini .. any ideas?

and any more crops that you'd recommend?

[AridSea]

Where do you live? Looks like Oklahoma and if it is, I have a few questions

[718brooks]

Good job guys Keep up with the good work....

[mountainman28713]

Kev, I appreciate the videos. I have been unable to log on to the boards for a long while. I have not gotten a garden in yet. I am thinking about doing a bucket garden on the back porch to try and get something in for some type of harvest this year. Have a good'un!- Robbie in W-NC

[000BlackRockBoy000]

r snap beans just like green beans u get in cans at the store?

[DP1066]

How many bean plants do you have in the gound to get that much produce? I'd like to have the same results as you. Right now I have 13 sugar pea vines growing on my fence. They just started producing but it's my first year planting them so I dont' know what to expect.

[alzathoth]

i get hungry just watchin... lol. :)

[SurvivalPete]

Very informative and helpful for anyone starting into gardening as a survival skill.

[stephen88hox]

could u tell me how you kept the plants so short?ive just started growing french beans,and would like them to stay short,were they just topped?

slainté

[richis7]

Kev,

Have you ever grown pole beans? We used to grow the bush beans like you have there, but found pole beans are much easier to harvest and taste about the same.

Your garden looks great, I wish ours was already producing, but it went in later than yours.

[tearmakerman1]

Damn Kev you really need to weed that garden! LOL Don't those kids know what a hoe is? Your allowing the grass and weeds to absorb a lot of your moisture and nutrientsnot only that but the cut weeds and such will return some back into the ground. BUT A GREAT LOOKING GARDEN!

[hyperseauton]

FUCK plants. Do GUNS! bang, bang...bang bang....

Bang!

[mrmonkeyman50]

part 3 - Every survival video assumes that the forrests, etc. will be as empty then as they are now. But the fact is that you will be bumping into lots of others like you, and those worse off. That changes much of the strategy. Arming to the teeth won't necessarily help because others will be armed as well. Rugged individuals won't survive unless they band into communities. But that is is a different scenario than most vids show.

[rlmarin1968]

@mrmonkeyman50: Great coments. I was discussing just that with my wife. That in a true "long term" situation, the key to sustained survival would be to band together with others you can trust to work with you to protect what you can obtain. I do believe that there will be plenty to worry about, so if I can have food covered for 1 year...that's a long time to not have to worry about one major survival need. I can then focus on security and securing other needed resources.

[mrmonkeyman50]

part 2 - So it seems to me that we need to talk about what the purpose of this garden is. Just as every tool has a purpose, so does every strategy. That's where the confusion lies. Just as there is a difference between gear for bugging out for 72 hours vs 2 weeks, so too the long term food issue needs to be thought about in context. On top of that, expect to be overwhelmed by the large numbers of people in the same bad situation as you.

[mrmonkeyman50]

There are some interesting discussions which show that not everyone is on the same page. Kevin talked about "the breakdown of society". That's a long term, if not indefinite, problem. So, as a garden, this is great. As a means to supplement a stash - which is what, maybe 2 months? - okay, I get it. But even if you have stashed for a full year, you will run out eventually. And this garden will not sustain you then.

[rlmarin1968]

Quick question. In a survival situation, wouldn't you let those zucchini grow another day or two to feed more people? If my research serves me correctly, another day or two (a bigger product) won't diminish the nutritional value of the zucchini and would allow you to get more substance for your result. Just wondering what your thoughts are on that. Thanks.

[mrmonkeyman50]

@rlmarin1968 Great comment. You have to maximize efficiency which isn't being discussed yet. Great comment.

[niffer58]

nice harvest there love the hot pocket touch lol

[Bonstergirl]

Wow, I can't believe all the negative comments. Seems like a lot of armchair elitists want to tell you what they think you're doing wrong. I hope you don't let it get you down. You have a lot of good videos. And it's a lot of work making them. I, for one, appreciate your efforts. Keep up the good work.

[mrmonkeyman50]

@Bonstergirl Actually, it's just the opposite. The web gives the ability for anyone to post anything and appear as an expert. Were I you, I'd sit back and watch how educated people discuss something - you know, those "armchair elitists" that have more knowledge than you. If you bothered to read the comments, you will see that the disagreement is over ideas, etc. and there has been no personal animosity. Read. And learn.

[Bonstergirl]

@mrmonkeyman50 Touchy!

[scottmbrown]

The cooked beans looked really good!

[bakcompat]

well done there Kev. The beans look good. Reminds me that I should get outside and pick my Kentucky Wonders off the vines... Enjoy!

[RemMan700]

MMMM.... Hot Pocket!

[Hedgehobbit]

I can't believe you'd boil those beautiful fresh beans!

[mywootgarden]

hot pocket!

[opcn18]

You need to till some manure into that soil, and some compost, that looks awfully dense and heavy and poor. You ought to try and remain aware of a SHTF scenario where you can;t get your hands on commercial 13-13-13. A healthy soil will retain vitality year after year after year, a poor soil needs to be fertilized every year.

Also Wiki Terra Preta.

[JustinLinkerBeats]

And you mentioned that you should have planted okra in the comments. It's still not too late to plant some okra, especially if you live in the south. Last year I planted some in July and still got a decent harvest. Best wishes.

[JustinLinkerBeats]

Great video. Do you save the seeds from a portion of your harvest to use for next year's crop? Or do you buy seeds at the market?

[CoolConejo]

dude i love green beans!

[millerman2683]

Great video man, we just put our plants in the ground last week. Lookin' forward to canning this year. Keep up the good work.

[khouse42]

wow, i'm from TN and we have just planted.

[TheGrayman1234]

Good stuff Kev. Thanks for the look.

[hybrid4163]

@mrmonkeyman50-The rest of us were talking food. You're the one talking guns.

In the event of any type of disruption to the food supply, those that have planned ahead will be ahead-of the game and everyone else.

[mrmonkeyman50]

@hybrid4163 I am talking food. Prepping is prepping and systems intersect one another. What is shown here is someone who has a nice (very nice) garden, but it's not survivalist standards either in yield or efficiency.

[mrmonkeyman50]

@hybrid4163 Furthermore, when everyone is going hunting at once, you will find that the forests have more people than game in them.

[rlmarin1968]

Anyone out there baggin' on this guy is crazy if they think they will eat 3 square a day in a survival situation. A garden should supplement your grain stockpile, so you won't need to defend a 5 acre garden. Stagger planting the same plants (a few weeks apart) will lengthen your harvest time.

[blueshoals]

Wow, gratz!

[watuwaitn4]

Squash and zuccini blossoms are great to eat. A few years ago we made a nice batter and fried them. Every time my 17 year old daughter hears we are planting zuccini she asks... "Are you going to make the fried blossoms again, I love them."

[bishonenboy]

so much for fresh.... Just blanch them and they're ready to go. You guys damn near cooked everything out of those beans

[mrmonkeyman50]

@bishonenboy I'm glad I wasn't the only one with this thought. Snap beans should snap!

[deleonb05]

@bishonenboy

you are completely right. i was thinking the same thing. such a waste

[hybrid4163]

@mrmonkeyman50-The fresh food they're growing will augment the dehydrated and canned food they have stored. That, along with hunting, will allow them to survive while the less-prepared will perish.

Another great vid, thx. It's cool to see the progress.

[mrmonkeyman50]

@hybrid4163 "The less-prepared will perish". This is one of the fantasies of some survivalists. Fact is that a 5 acre farm is required to sustain you. And that is assuming you can defend it. Since the survivalists claim that most people aren't prepared, that means that they will have to defend against overwhelming numbers. Society runs on trust, not guns. There aren't enough bullets in the world to defend against mass poaching.

[kartmankai]

@mrmonkeyman50 Not sure where you get the five acre quote from. If you lived in florida, california, or texas wouldnt need nearly that much. If you lived in Maine, Minnesota, or Washington youd need a lot more than 5 acres. Check out the video about the family that lives in California. they live in the middle of a major city and are able to lively completely off their own food grown on something like a quarter acre. Its all about preping and figuring out which plants will work for you!!!

[mrmonkeyman50]

@kartmankai Google Kains and Oldfield. You will need about 5 acres to have a real self-sustaining farm. If you have a Google ref for your 1/4 acre farm video, I'd love to see it. It's not possible to have a self-sustaining farm on 1/4 acre because you will exhaust the soil quickly (+ imbalanced diet), but I'd love to see the reference. These types of gardens aren't for 1 month surviving - they must be self-sustaining for the long term.

[kartmankai]

@mrmonkeyman50 Youtube this HOMEGROWN REVOLUTION - Radical Change Taking Root They grow 6,000 lbs of food each year on a TENTH of an acre. They say they grow 80% of their diet in the summer and 50% in the winter, and this is for a family of four. But all of this on a 1/10 of an acre. I agree with you it would be hard but if you raise goats/rabbits work really hard on composting it can be done!

[mrmonkeyman50]

@kartmankai Their page is URBAN HOMESTEAD period ORG but most of the interesting pages are gone. Hmmm.....

[kartmankai]

@mrmonkeyman50 The other thing I might note. I looked up the book you referenced No offense it looks really interesting, but it is sorta dated early 1970s. Personally I live in Kansas City. I've been using the University of Missouri's Ag Centers webpage. Full of great info for Missourians about growing times, yields, etc. I assume your state might have similar info that might be able to produce a little more up to date information

[mrmonkeyman50]

@kartmankai LOL! The techniques if it's the end of society will be much older than the 70's. You won't have modern genetically modified seeds or fancy fertilizers. I'm betting anything that happened since the 70's... the 1870's... in farming won't be of much use in the end of the world as we know it.

[kartmankai]

@mrmonkeyman50 Agreed but if you watched the video I sent you and do some independent research you will see that the 5 acre argument is not valid. That family of four does EXTREMELY well on a 1/10 of an acre. Obviously these two authors didnt have all the relevant information, made the wrong conclusions, or things have just plain changed. That video and videos of others that do farmsteading is conclusive evidence that a 5 acre farm isnt neccesarily needed

[mrmonkeyman50]

@kartmankai 1st: they are veggies. So no livestock. That's okay, but how many people plan on being veggies? 2nd: in Pasadena, all year growing season. That means you don't have to "get ahead" of yourself for storage. Now, how many people want to eat this way? Also, they don't show much supporting facts. How do they rotate crops? What do they use on the soil? But it is interesting. Thanks for pointing it out!

[kartmankai]

@mrmonkeyman50 Yeah it is an interesting piece. Something we could all look to for inspiration. Again just something to point out that preperation is everything. And that even those of us with smaller yards have options

[Reehill9]

you can fry the zukini and squash flowers and there delicious

[bucki58]

You ever grow any of that there marijuana?

[rockhardxrocker]

The hot pocket on the side is so hilarious. Awesome garden, and cool looking family, they must be proud of such an experienced and loving father.

[hyperseauton]

How do you protect your crops from being looted or burned down?

Do videos about fencing, automatic sensory-controlled machine guns and laser barriers!

Illegal Mexicans are looting all of the United States now.

[Billthrasher]

Wow the corn has really took off from the last video...

[mrmonkeyman50]

Nice harvest. Question: in the "end of society" situation, how do you propose to feed yourself from these beans? It took 6 weeks to get about 3 meals worth? I think what you have is great gardening, but it's not going to help you in a true survival situation - there's not enough produce per acre per month to feed you.

[bishonenboy]

@mrmonkeyman50 his garden is under producing. I think he could get more out of it. And he'd have to plant more. & can surplus. & hunt. Anyway, those plants will keep producing- thats just their first, early harvest. But no, a few bean plants arnt going to sustain a family,

[survivalistboards]

@mrmonkeyman50 - in case you did not know, the snap beans are high producers. We should be able to pick them every 2 - 3 days.

The same thing goes for the squash, and zucchini, it should be picked every few days.

The cucumbers have not started producing yet. When they do, those will be added to the mix.

I guess I should have planted some okra, that would have been a really good example of a high producing plant.

[mrmonkeyman50]

@survivalistboards Thanks for the education, I did not know that you can pick the beans every 2-3 days.

[kartmankai]

@mrmonkeyman50 Just to add to what Kevin said. I have a garden thats about twenty feet long and ten feet wide. Thats about as big as I can get right now because I own a small yard in a major city. But through research I've discovered that certain plants are truely high yield. Strawberries, spinach, tomatoes, peppers, etc. And while youre right I couldn't live on it alone it would tremendously aid my dry food reserves!

[kartmankai]

@mrmonkeyman50 Just to give you an example in that small space I have. Cukesx2, Zukesx2, Tomatoesx4, brussel sproutsx6 strawberriesx18, jalapenosx4, serranosx2, pepper plantsx3 snap peasx2 sugar peasx4 and nine assorted herb plants

[mrmonkeyman50]

@kartmankai (a) how many pounds of producer / day (averaged over entire growing season, not the say you pick!)? (b) how many people are you trying to feed? (c) How much area does this take up? and MOST IMPORTANTLY: Have you ever done the experiment of living off your garden/supplies for 3-4 months at a time? THAT is a survivalist test!

[mrmonkeyman50]

@kartmankai Thanks for the area, missed that when I wrote the other post. I would still like to see some realistic (3-4 month) test of living off the garden/supplies. I think a lot of this is like the useless stuff in a survival kit (i.e. crumpled piece of aluminum foil to "signal a plane with" or "boil water in") Without realistic testing, people miss things. In a real survival situation, birds/rodents will be attacking your garden more so for example!

[kartmankai]

@mrmonkeyman50 Im a 100% with you. THERE IS NO WAY MY GARDEN WOULD SUSTAIN ME. Its simply not big enough. But it would suppliment, if nothing else with herbs to make things taste better. I have turned a 10 x 10 room in my basement into a grow room. There are four floresent ballists with plant bulbs. I also have a small fan and a heater. All of this is run of some used solar panels I got off of Craigslist. Was actually able to grow 4 tomato plants and two jalapeno plants

[kartmankai]

@kartmankai Again not able to live off my garden but I guess the point I'm trying to get to is anything is possible with a little planning

[rlmarin1968]

@mrmonkeyman50: Another point to consider is any garden should compliment any food stash you already have. To add zucchini, cucumber,..etc. to whatever grain stash you have will not only make those stores last longer, it will also allow you to add much needed nutrients to your diet.Remember, you prob will not have more than 2 good meals a day...so suplimenting your grain stores with fresh veggies is a great way to stay healthy and survive.

[mrmonkeyman50]

@rlmarin1968 You have to define how long you believe the garden will sustain you. If it's to augment a stash for even a few months, okay. But if its teotwawki, that's a whole different strategy and one would be foolish to plan for one situation but need it for another type. See my new comments.

[ajgsxr]

A little weeding might not hurt. :)

[katanaburner]

I am so jealous! GREAT WORK!!!!!!

[PANWO762]

What variety of green beens are those? Is snap beans the actual variety?

[survivalistboards]

@PANWO762 - If I remember right, the 2 types that we planted are Contender and Roma.

The canned Green Beans that you buy at the store, its pretty much the same thing.

[PANWO762]

@survivalistboards Thank you friend! Yeah green beans are the only thing im lacking. Thank you for the info. Its lookin good brother! And I bet they taste even better. I live in the mountains and weather hasnt permitted planting, so were just getting to plant! Cant wait! Stay safe God Bless

[BroPaul]

GREAT!

[187plumber]

looking good still to cold to plant here can't wait

[Microage97]

Great vid!!! *****

[The85Fox]

looks like you had a couple of squirrles get into the garden and not all your stuff came up. I dont know if you have ever heard but we usted to get hair from the barber and put it in the garden and it would keep them out and the deer.

[practicalskills]

Wow it seems to be comming along very nicely

[waylan3]

awesome job check out my bad ass garden video i popsted today lots of rain here to much rain

[panstriato2]

don´t separate those three, plant them toghether!

[znotzelda]

It's so good to see kids out in the garden enjoying themselves and helping pick vegetables at the same time :) That's what I spent the majority of my childhood summers doing, helping grandmama pick tomatoes, corn, and squash.

Barefooted is the only way to garden as far as I'm concerned; gotta get that MS delta dirt in between your toes! ;)

Or, y'know, Texas sandy soil. :)

[fang1998]

You are so lucky to have fresh vegies from your garden so soon. Last week it was snowing here in Idaho where I live. I tilled up the garden spot last weekend and will plant this weekend.

[theeastwatch]

lookin good.

-TEW

[flamedrag18]

did you have bacon or pork in with the snap beans?

[bgeek23]

Drop the Hot Pocket and eat another helping of beans. They look great.

[headbud43]

is it raining out?

[centervilletn]

looks fantastic...my beans are blooming now..looking foward to fresh beans...looks like you are about a month ahead of us...

[fishnkid1923]

looks good...we usually pick the zukini when they r alot bigger than that...when they r about 12-16" long

[erm9173]

The end was great....both sides of the food chain.*****

[Samueladams88]

the zukini an squash are way to small to pick

[survivalistboards]

@Samueladams88 - if you let the squash get too big, the skin gets tough.

[Burson69]

hot pocket an green beans hell yeah

[capitaindouleur]

I'm  jealous, you get to harvest so early.

[scutt09]

crops are lookiing awsome ....congrats