Planting a Bag Garden for Quick Temporary Production

[mhpgardener]

Good idea. Where there's a will, there's a way. Nice job

[ConcernedMushroom]

@survivalpodcasting miracle grow is owned by scotts...scotts is owned by monsanto...they make miracle grow...they make round up (as well as "round up ready seed"...they make all that nasty stuff...sorry ;( it's a great idea though, maybe just use a different bag o soil next time :)

[survivalpodcasting]

@ConcernedMushroom - No Scotts is NOT owned by Monsanto. You are simply wrong, Scotts has some agreements with Monsanto but both are independently owned companies.

[survivalpodcasting]

@ConcernedMushroom - No Scott's is not owned by Monsanto and no amount of saying it is true will change that.

Both are public companies owned by their shareholders

Scotts is on the NYSE under symbol SMG

Monsanto is also on the NYSE under symbol MON

Independent companies that have some licensing agreements with each other.

Facts are a BITCH to argue with!

[ConcernedMushroom]

"Scotts is Monsanto's exclusive agent for the marketing and distribution of consumer Roundup®. " This from Scotts website. I choose NOT to knowingly allow one single dime of my families money to support what I consider to be truly evil companies. You obviously have the "Facts" and your choices are your own. Also, I do not appreciate the foul language. Please try to have a nice day.

[survivalpodcasting]

@ConcernedMushroom - Like I said I am not in love with Scotts but your statement that Monsanto owns Scotts is total bullshit. Further if you buy something from Scotts that is not something produced by Monsanto (like this soil) it doesn't do anything to help Monsanto. I am also a realist, you claim to be a purist but I bet if we inventoried your home I would find GMO corn in your pantry.

[SuperGeek65]

@survivalpodcasting Let me just step in here and say you are sorely lacking in economics. So why did all the advertisers leave Michael Vick? You get my point? If not- google economics. Saying you are not a fan of Scotts (why if they are so good and you are defending them now?) and yet buying products from them when they were on sale shows that your ethics can be bought (for only $4 a bag!). And then to get all preachy about it and start cussing when all else fails just makes it comical.

[ConcernedMushroom]

@survivalpodcasting Never claimed to be a "purist"...simply someone attempting to do their best whether it is convenient and cheap or not. And, "Mr. Realism", if someone pointed out a GMO product in my pantry, I would promptly remove said product and probably return it to the store from which it was purchased; I would not launch into a sad, profane and ultimately IMPOTENT rationalization of my actions. The reality is you got called on your behavior and didn't like it.

[survivalpodcasting]

@ConcernedMushroom - and screw off about the foul language, if you don't like what I do and how I do it GO ELSEWHERE. There are many choices out there for sterilized and censored speech.

[ConcernedMushroom]

@survivalpodcasting Not looking for sterilization (though one would hope YOU might look into it) or censorship, just intelligent discourse...OBVIOUSLY not to be found here.

[SpeakaDaEnglish]

That's a great idea.

[JohnMarstonRDD]

Great Video Jack. Any updates on the garden?

[woodturningjohn]

Very nice, I did something like that this year. I bought plastic trash cans from Lowes for $2.25 each then got a truck load of compost from the nursery for $20.00 a yard, instant no dig raised garden, worked out very well, kept the rabbits out as well.

[mudtoa]

How many bags did you start with? It looks pretty plentiful!

[gjmcart]

That looks like a great area for a raised garden bed or a small greenhouse.

[survivalpodcasting]

@gjmcart - Actually it is pretty much the area the green house will go in. Raised beds though I have gone to hugelkulture and even my back hoe guy can't did in this area. Leveling it will be a challenge. LOL its only a few inches of loose rock and some soil, then bedrock. White quartz and granite to be exact. It is good for a greenhouse though because the solar exposure is great, I have water from the well house and power available. So this is where the aquaponics system will be.

[TaxidermyOutdoors]

Great Information Jack!  This technique will get you by until a person can work the ground and make it useable! --Thanks!

[jmlentz82]

One dislike?!?! Someone from Oak Park Michigan must have watched this! Seriously though, very cool, and Jack I love your property just from the little bit we can see from this video.

[martykean1967]

All the squash and melons and even your cucumbers may cross pollinate because they're right next to eachother. But all in all I like your idea I'd just go with less squash and melons because they like to make whoopie! LOL! I bet your beans and tomatoes and basil will be fantastic! Do you have anything you could put over your soil as mulch to save yourself all that work watering so much? Great ideas man!

[survivalpodcasting]

@martykean1967 - I don't care if they cross pollinate, it doesn't matter. It ONLY matters if you intend to save seed. Should I wish to save a particular seed I can select say two female blossoms, open them before they do it on their own, manually pollinate with a male flower, tape shut, done. Mark those fruits and save seed from them. Cross pollination does NOT effect the F1 generation. So many myths about this are out there.

[martykean1967]

@survivalpodcasting I didnt know that. I was always told to plant those as far apart as possible mainly because it will effect the flavor and textures of your crop. Like your melons wont be sweet and you'll get squash with a pithy texture and little flavor. I've never tried to pollinate and create my own seeds before. But like you say this is something that is widely believed by A LOT of people. Maybe there's something to it? I think its VERY cool that your growing a Native American bean.1 of 2

[survivalpodcasting]

@martykean1967 - In 25 years of growing squash and other cucuberts the only thing that ever caused me problems was the damn squash vine borers my stuff always tastes great. On the beans they are really cool and can handle drought, none of the squash are from the Native Seed folks but they do have some cool ones. I just saw an adult squash vine borer tonight, hurt my heart. So next year I am setting up a screen house for squash, those vine borers are the devil. God I hate them.

[martykean1967]

@survivalpodcasting 2 of 2.. I'm Native American. Was some of that squash also from Native seeds? I'd be very interested in learning more about getting some of those. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your vids soon! So many people have difficult soil. But I'm blessed to live in the Mississippi valley. Perfect black rich soil. But I really need to learn more about seed saving, using fertilizers and compost/manure. I'd love to grow evergreen trees, they brown and die in this area. Any tips?

[survivalpodcasting]

@martykean1967 - Pines are pretty hardy, I am trying to get rid of some so I am not sure. What exact types of trees are you trying to grow. If you want to chat about anything email me at jack at the survivalpodcast with a dot an a com.

[larrylhall]

Nice job the Garden lloks greaty!!!

[readyforshtf]

Good job Jack!



[BooGooNFlowoo4Evoo]

Great vid. I saw another video on youtube about a "sack garden" which is essentially what you are doing, but VERTICAL, so theoretically you could grow more plants in a smaller space...and it's supposedly really easy...the people in video are children in Uganda.

[w4pbk]

Excellent video Jack.  Garden looks great!

[ibboat]

@BooGooNFlowoo4Evoo just curious how to get oil from the sunflowers? Especially in a SHTF situation. But you could always just eat them.

[BooGooNFlowoo4Evoo]

@ibboat Oilseed sunflower varieties (ie black sunflower seeds, not the striped varieties) can be hulled & pressed in an oil press in a similar way to olives. Or, grind the raw seeds to a paste, let the oil float to the top (as in natural peanut butter), & then make crackers/bread from the paste. Or use them to attact some fat birds, roast them nicely, and collect the drippings. I'm not sure, but I think the root of the sunflower is edible too.

[ibboat]

Nice as always, jack. Keep it up.

[javabarbarian]

Thanks Jack, looking good!

[unchiekun]

those bags of miracle grow garden soil are part of my preps. I have a half pallet 1/4 stacked in my shed for a time when they will be needed. It's a great prepper item,

[survivalpodcasting]

Good idea you know those who bash this product don't have a fricken clue. Ever noticed how much compost and composted manure is in it? Sure it has some NPK added but fertilizer is not the enemy, dependence on it to the exclusion of soil improvements is. It is FULL of organic matter, it has no harmful chemicals. It's sad that fertilizer has been lumped it in completely with pesticides and herbicides. Nitrogen is a molecule, no matter the source it is the same molecule.

[BooGooNFlowoo4Evoo]

@survivalpodcasting Miracle Gro has a purely organic version of their potting soil available also in some areas, though it may be a bit more expensive. I have a bag out on my porch.

[SuperGeek65]

@survivalpodcasting who is bashing the product? We are bashing Monsanto, as you have done yourself.

So we do have a "fricken clue", thank you very much. I am sure teh soil works, just as I am sure seeds from Monsanto work. I just choose not to buy from companies that are affiliated with Monsanto.

Nobody is attacking you, or your video. GREAT work, but I myself will choose a different product.

[survivalpodcasting]

@SuperGeek65 - Actually no you don't have a fricken clue, sorry man. Scott's is NOT owned by Monsanto. I personally am not in love with Scott's myself but there is nothing wrong with this particular product and as it was on clearance at 4 bucks a bag it made sense. You opinion thought that Scott's is owned by Monsanto is simply completely in conflict with fact. In other words you are simply wrong.

[freakygeaktwo]

I have a bag I've not yet added to my raised beds I just might try growing something in it or many things even just for show if not for consumption, good video good luck with your transition. one last thing if a plant or two you have grown does not produce you can always add it to the compost pile that way it's not a wast.

[HoosierSurvival]

so do you think the seed crops you are setting up will be deficient in your area because you are artificially 'miracle-ing' the seed stock? Asking based on one of your earlier podcast's with Paul Wheaton and his point that the seed stock will become ... um ... aclimated? (for lack of a better term) to the area and it's nutritional problems?

M

[survivalpodcasting]

@HoosierSurvival - Well the only thing I am growing for seed are the teparory beans. They are anchient, you don't undo thousands of years of genetics with one generation. Improving seed is about selecting the best of what survives and increasing natural traits. In other words the seed I get won't be any better for my area but it won't be any worse either.

[Gunzshow55312]

Seems to be a popular idea this year! We heard this method on Mother Earth News back a few months, and it worked for us this past spring (especially lettuce.)

[BooGooNFlowoo4Evoo]

I'm trying a "birdseed" garden: sunflower, millet, and sorghum...all tolerate heat, drought, poor soil, and late planting (though allelopathy from pine presents special challenges), all are good for more than food. Sunflower for cooking oil, sorghum for sweetening if there's no commercial sugar, millet for alcohol. Plus I'm thinking I could attract animals that are good eating... plant away from vegetable crops and trap on your own land. You've already shown us doves are quite delicious.

[rustytool100]

Great idea, except perhaps for the cost, for crappy soil. Get a tuff tiller and some sheep poo. good vid. ty

[survivalpodcasting]

@rustytool100 - First it isn't "crappy soil" such statements are made by purists with ignorance of the composition of said soil. Additionally as I said this is designed as a temporary system while we use soil improvement techniques on the rest of the land. Franky if you call this soil crappy you have no idea the % of organic matter in it. Including peat, composted manure, etc.

[JamesRhodes1973]

I swear Jack promised us increased gear reviews...like the Raptor...but it must be on another channel of his that I am not subscribed to.

[seventeenbc]

Great video, Jack!

Your bag garden is much more impressive than I imagined it would be!

[ThisGuyCanCook1]

Like the gardening videos the best!!!!

[MrHollick]

Fantastic video!!!

[polishedcornerstones]

Looking good!

[nuclearthreat545]

Great garden wow

[thanson77]

Man those cicadas are LOUD!

[Knight8365]

Great to have you back doing videos again Jack; and great work by the camera-woman :)

Your bag garden does seem to be producing well for the first season and as you say all that soil can be worked in to the local soil to improve it.

I wonder if you are planning to hold onto the larger rocks from the soil to improve the heat retention in the micro-climate around the soil?

Have a great day

Keith

Scottish Borders

[missy85363]

I would also recommend the spinach that has a dual purpose. Malabar Spinach

[survivalpodcasting]

@missy85363 - I planted some but I guess the soil is currently to hot for it to germinate. It does well in hot weather but if soil gets over say 95 it has a lot of problems getting started.

[missy85363]

You should not plant your cantalope right next to the squash. The end products of both plants will not taste good. It is a matter of cross pollination. There should be a distance of 6-10 feet between the fruit and vegetable produce.  Next time put your herbs and beans next to the squash

[survivalpodcasting]

@missy85363 - No that is incorrect, if you were to save seed you could get some weird cross pollination results but the production of the F1 generation is not effected.

[travishalverson]

Thanks for the tour Jack.

[tracycolorado]

thanks , very inpressive