Gardening on the Move

Gardening on the MoveIndependence Gardens

Portland, OR

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January 2012© Independence Gardens LLC

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

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What We’ll Cover TodayIntro

we are Independence Gardens• We build raised beds, chicken coops,

terraces, trellises, & other garden infrastructure

• Help with garden design & planning, cleanup, prep, and installation

• Teach edible gardening classes

• & make Doo Tees!


Topics We’ll Cover• Garden = verb (why we teach this class)• Skill/resource requirements of moving

• Mobile, container, & countertop gardening

• Best plant picks for rapid harvest

• Quick soil prep in a new space, & longer-term options

• Proper plant care during transplanting and transportation

• Mooshy stuff!

• Alternatives

What We’ll Cover TodayPreview

Got Questions? Please ask as we go along.


Garden = verb


Garden = verb• Moving both plants and garden

infrastructure is possible...but not everything in the garden can/should come along




• Gardens can be designed to go with us when we go and/or transform when we leave them into something someone else can use




• Gardens can be designed to go with us when we go and/or transform when we leave them into something someone else can use

• Ultimately, gardening is what you DO, not just a place or thing; even when you move, your experience & efforts carry on


Moving...from where to where?



• Small to large



• Small to large– Movin’ on up!




• Large to small




• Large to small– Downsizing





• Place to place





• Place to place– When you go"a go...






• #e planned move






• #e planned move– You knew it was coming







• Surprise relocation







• Surprise relocation– All of a sudden...








• Never not moving








• Never not moving– Inspiration follows!


Mobile gardens


Mobile gardens

!e moral of the story: a garden can be anywhere, and anyone can grow one!


Top plant picks


• Many veggies are annuals, so with containers, countertops, or decent timing and simple soil prep, you can start over almost anytime

Top plant picks



– Choose veggie varieties with fewest days to maturity if you’re not certain you’ll be in one place long: radishes, le"uce, spinach, beans...

Top plant picks




• Harder things to move include: trees, big berry bushes, asparagus beds, artichokes, bulbs, etc.

Top plant picks





– Consider pu"ing some of these in containers so you can move them easily if and when you move again

Top plant picks






• Garden animals need special treatment

Top plant picks






• Garden animals need special treatment– Move carefully and with regard for their needs

Top plant picks


Container gardening primer

Container gardens are a good choice when you don’t know whether you’ll stay or go


• Container examples:




• Container examples:– Ceramic or plastic pots,

suitcases, milk jugs, boots, hanging pots, “topsy turvy” tomato planters...






• Features of good containers include:







– Good drainage







– Good drainage– Po"ing soil, maybe mixed

with compost/garden soil








with compost/garden soil– Easy for you to li$








with compost/garden soil– Easy for you to li$– Easy takedown/rebuild








with compost/garden soil– Easy for you to li$– Easy takedown/rebuild– Wheels/skids








with compost/garden soil– Easy for you to li$– Easy takedown/rebuild– Wheels/skids– Support structures for

taller plants




Container gardening resources



• How-tos:



• How-tos:– Storey Country Wisdom

Bulletins




Bulletins• www.storey.com


http://www.storey.com





– OSU Extension







– OSU Extension• extension.oregonstate.edu/

catalog/html/grow/grow/container.html




http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/html/grow/grow/container.html











– Edible Container Gardening















– Edible Container Gardening• by Michael Guerra (Gaia

Books)










Countertop gardening

Countertop gardens are an efficient use of space, can be used year-round, and are very moveable!



• Grow your own...




• Grow your own...– Sprouts




• Grow your own...– Sprouts– Wheatgrass




• Grow your own...– Sprouts– Wheatgrass– Salad greens




• Grow your own...– Sprouts– Wheatgrass– Salad greens– Tomatoes?





• Using...





• Using...– Mason jars and cheesecloth





• Using...– Mason jars and cheesecloth– 4” pots in a windowsill





• Using...– Mason jars and cheesecloth– 4” pots in a windowsill– #e old 1# salad greens box Countertop gardens are an efficient

use of space, can be used year-round, and are very moveable!




• Using...– Mason jars and cheesecloth– 4” pots in a windowsill– #e old 1# salad greens box– Prefab indoor arrays



Big move logistics


Big move logistics

• Timing is of the essence


Big move logistics

• Timing is of the essence– Sometimes you’re in control of that, and

sometimes you’re not...


Big move logistics


sometimes you’re not...– #e timing of your move determines what

you’re able to do


Big move logistics



you’re able to do

• Moving plants


Big move logistics



you’re able to do

• Moving plants– Good labeling & proper plant care


Big move logistics



you’re able to do


• Moving infrastructure


Big move logistics



you’re able to do


• Moving infrastructure– Take it all apart


Big move logistics



you’re able to do


• Moving infrastructure– Take it all apart– Bag soil


Big move logistics



you’re able to do


• Moving infrastructure– Take it all apart– Bag soil– Get helpers with strong arms!


Big move logistics



you’re able to do


• Moving infrastructure– Take it all apart– Bag soil– Get helpers with strong arms!– Find a truck/trailer/van/U-Haul...?


Quick soil prep: double dig

• Double digging– Soil prep technique via John Jeavons

• Changes structure• Creates raised beds

– Hard work but immediate grati%cation• Remove sod• Dig trench along one end & move soil

to other end of garden bed• Fill %rst trench with compost &

incorporate soil from next trench over• At the end of the bed, incorporate soil

from %rst trench with compost• Smooth surface into planting bed


Longer-term soil prep: sheet mulch

1. Mow down existing grass/plants and remove invasives2. Add a 2 inch N layer (grass clippings, manure, kelp, co!onseed

meal, "sh product, urine, coffee grounds, kitchen scraps)3. Aerate soil with a digging fork & water4. Lay down a C weed barrier (cardboard or 10ish layers off

newspaper)5. Add ~ ½” N layer6. Repeat steps 4 (with any C source) & 5 to desired thickness7. Water well8. Add a 12” blanket C layer (straw, leaves, wood chips, shredded

paper)


Proper plant care


• Depends on the season

Proper plant care


• Depends on the season– Fall: dig up perennial bulbs (or you can try to take them at any

season, if it’s urgent, but don’t expect high survival rates)

Proper plant care



season, if it’s urgent, but don’t expect high survival rates)– Winter: start seeds before you head out...but they’re extra-

fragile as seedlings, so be careful

Proper plant care




fragile as seedlings, so be careful– Spring: start your garden in containers

Proper plant care




fragile as seedlings, so be careful– Spring: start your garden in containers– Summer: start a fall/winter garden

Proper plant care





• Water before and a$er moving

Proper plant care





• Water before and a$er moving• Cover to protect from wind during transportation

Proper plant care


Transplanting


• When plants develop to a certain point in one location…and then you have to move them...

Transplanting



– Basic best practices

Transplanting



– Basic best practices• Avoid root disturbance

Transplanting



– Basic best practices• Avoid root disturbance• Create a favorable soil

Transplanting



– Basic best practices• Avoid root disturbance• Create a favorable soil environment

Transplanting



– Basic best practices• Avoid root disturbance• Create a favorable soil environment• Transplant to the right depth

Transplanting




• Provide extra shelter

Transplanting




• Provide extra shelter• Water consistently

Transplanting




• Provide extra shelter• Water consistently • Fertigate (water + fertilize)

Transplanting





– Add P

Transplanting





– Add P– Wait a li"le while to add N

Transplanting


Step-by-step: Up-po!ing



1. Moisten po!ing soil to be wet, not soaking—the consistency of a wrung-out sponge




2. Fill your new container with %rmed-down soil so that when the plant with its old rootball is set on top, the base of the stem will be at the level of or just below the top





3. Remove plant gently from current container by squeezing sides and, while holding its stem between your index and middle %ngers, inverting the container (or dig root ball out of current location)






4. Set plant on top of %lled-in soil and %ll the voids in the pot with moistened soil, then press the soil down %rmly so that it is evenly compressed






4. Set plant on top of %lled-in soil and %ll the voids in the pot with moistened soil, then press the soil down %rmly so that it is evenly compressed

5. Know the ingredients of your po"ing soil—if it contains fertilizer, don’t add more


Step-by-step: Planting out



1. Prepare the soil: if the area has not been cultivated before, double dig (this loosens and aerates the soil, creates consistent soil texture, improves drainage, and stimulates microorganism activity); if it is an established bed, go to the second step!




2. Dig a hole in the ground about 2x the diameter and same depth of the plant’s rootball





3. Remove plant gently from current container by squeezing sides and, while holding its stem between your index and middle %ngers (assuming it’s small enough), inverting the container so the plant is below your hand and the rootball in your palm






4. Place plant in the hole and %ll in sides with loose soil, then press down %rmly






4. Place plant in the hole and %ll in sides with loose soil, then press down %rmly

5. Top-dress with compost in a halo/donut at the dripline of the plant


Other options


• When a stressful move isn’t really optional...what other choices do you have?

Other options


• When a stressful move isn’t really optional...what other choices do you have?– Community garden plot

Other options



• Kind of like ge"ing a post office box

Other options



• Kind of like ge"ing a post office box– Neighborhood organization

Other options




• Grow at someone else’s house/apt.!

Other options




• Grow at someone else’s house/apt.!– CSA

Other options




• Grow at someone else’s house/apt.!– CSA

• Eat well until you get se"led

Other options


"e mooshy stuff


• Moving is hard, and moving a garden can be even harder...but like breaking up, while it is really hard to do, it provides unexpected opportunities

"e mooshy stuff



• Sometimes you just have to say goodbye

"e mooshy stuff



• Sometimes you just have to say goodbye• Be prepared for your gardening habits, conditions, etc. to change

dramatically when you move

"e mooshy stuff




dramatically when you move• What you did before is a gi$ to the next person who lives there and

to the earth, as well

"e mooshy stuff




dramatically when you move• What you did before is a gi$ to the next person who lives there and

to the earth, as well• Keep your eyes on the prize: feeding yourself and your family, being

healthy and active outdoors, and contributing positively to your local ecosystem

"e mooshy stuff


Questions?


Gardening on the Move

Self Improvement

Transcript of Gardening on the Move