Blog

Thank you all who put this on and attend. Special thanks to Jolynne Miller & Deonna Burnett

Youtube Link for this lecture: https://youtu.be/kUfluyNLIxI

Recap:

Broad-based information including

- Prepare the soil

-- Amend your soil - get the soil living by adding organic mulch, look for the worms

-- Test your soil

- Make your own compost

- Get out in the sun and dirt

- Place your garden where you will see it daily

- Proper water for your garden and timers

- What and when to plant in our area

- Starting seeds inside or planting outdoors and sufficient light

- Favorite tools for the garden

Resources shared

Washington County Extension Office

Seasonal Office Hours: Monday and Wednesdays 9-11AM for Horticulture questions. Call Rick Heflebower at 435-632-7385 or 435-634-5706 to schedule an appointment.

Rick Heffelbower https://extension.usu.edu/washington/gardening/index

(435) 634-2690 rick.h@usu.edu

Composting

https://modernfarmer.com/2017/02/how-to-compost/

Home testing for type of soil

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUhOBxVFcFk

Square Foot Gardening

https://squarefootgardening.org/

Sweet potatoes Starts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXSSXP2Ptx0

Seedling heat mat - variety of mats available on Amazon

Seedling grow light - https://www.amazon.com/Freelicht-Equivalent-Spectrum-Integrated-Hydroponic/dp/B07ZCRY2GN/ref=sr_1_15?crid=2ZP2O3H2ON9V7&dchild=1&keywords=seedling+grow+lights+indoor&qid=1616525116&sprefix=seedling+grow%2Caps%2C280&sr=8-15

Hula hoe - https://www.amazon.com/Flexrake-1000A-Hula-Ho-Cultivator-Aluminum/dp/B004OBZFIS/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=hula+hoe&qid=1616524579&sr=8-8

Watering timer - https://www.amazon.com/Orbit-62034-Mechanical-Watering-Timer/dp/B006FLGHGE/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=garden+water+timer&qid=1616524953&sr=8-6

Buy Seeds

Kirklands fence 545 W 400 North St George 435-628-0844

545 W. 400 N, Saint George, UT

Nurseries

Lady Bug Nursery- Cedar City/Enoch https://ladybugnursery.com/

Ballard's Nursery - LaVerkin https://www.facebook.com/ballardsnsy/

Beaver Nursery - Beaver https://www.beavernursery.com/

Ali’s Organics https://www.alisorganics.com/

Sandia Nursery: https://www.facebook.com/sandiagreenhouse/

Drought Friendly Raised Beds:

Self Watering/Wicking Galvanized Metal Raised Garden Bed

Tips:

I like to use food grade buckets. I drill one whole in each top to allow for air to escape. Then every two inches, I drill four holes on each side. Like a compass north, south, east, and west till I get to the bottom of the bucket. You must push down the gardening fabric and make pockets around the buckets when putting in the liner so you can get some dirt around the bucket into the water line so it can whisk. You don’t have to get account every bucket, just make sure you have a pocket constantly and evenly spaced apart to feed water to the entire bed.

I also like to put wood shavings on the top to create compost and keep in water from evaporation.

This method of raised bed with wood shavings tends to keep out the weeds. It helps to use Store bought soil (not native soil) that may have weed seed in it already.

The metal trough tends to keep out the mice.

You can make a top for it with plastic to make a mini-Greenhouse for the winter or line it will mesh to keep out birds, bugs, rodents, rabbits, and deer in the summer but allow cooling.

How to Build a HINGED HOOPHOUSE for a Raised Bed Garden

I have not made one of these hoophouse tops yet. If you do and have tips please let me know.

If you have any other helpful information about this topic please leave a comment below:

"Water Purification & Storage" (by Kevin Reeve)

Home Water Storage for an Emergency

"Emergency Preparedness for your Animals" (by Kathy McGann)

"Gardening in Our Area" (by Jolynne Miller & Deonna Burnett)