If I double dig raised beds that I am planning how deep should the planting soil that I add to the bed be? I estimate that I wouldn’t need more than 1 foot.

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Hello, I am a product design student and this survey is for a final year project about creating a product/tool for older adults when gardening especially focused on weeding. 

Your insights will help me in designing products for weeding.

By filling out this survey, you consent for your answers to be used in the project.
All responses are highly confidential and shared only internally. Thank you so much for sharing your time to fill this survey.

I’ve just had the worst luck growing oregano. I can plant it from seed and it bursts forth with life just beautifully! But then after a couple of weeks, the leaves start to dry out and it fades. I really don’t know what I’m doing wrong. I do fine with basil and cilantro, but oregano is just elusive. Can anyone help me??

I've grown store bought potatoes before without a problem. It was surprisingly easy. The difference this time is that I'm growing them indoors (because of the cold) and instead of cutting them in half I used whole potatoes which I thought might produce more potatoes just based on what little I researched. Anyways, I've grown both organic and inorganic just to see if there would be a difference in quality or whatever. Both sets grew like weeds. Like, weirdly so, in that they grew really tall with small leaves and a bit more like vines than actual potato plants. I thought maybe it was the fertilizer I used. 4-4-4 organic fertilizer that was suggested in a video I watched. But I've since planted some without the fertilizer and they're growing in the same exact way. I'm using Burpee organic potting soil in grow bags under a grow light.

What could be the cause of their strange, vine-like growth pattern?

Edit: Sorry, forgot to mention that I dug into the soil to see if there were any potatoes growing (which I would expect by now two months in) but there's absolutely nothing.

I planted fava beans as a cover crop and I’m wondering the best time to chop them down

I recall reading that it’s best to get them before they fruit so that the nitrogen remains in the roots and not in the fruit

What’s your experience or thoughts?

I put the first round in dirt once the mature enough I’ll start the second round! (Roma tomatoes, jalapeños, habenero’s, tomatillos, some others I can’t remember off the top of my head.)

Our avocado tree suddenly stops bearing fruits. Living in tropical. What could be the factors aside from oldness? Can I use fruit-producing fertilizer?

Is there anything that can totally get rid of this bug destroying so much food and plants has anyone got any natural remides. i have tried garlic water clove water bi carb soda Epsom salt. nothing is seems to work.

seedlings are destroyed trying not to give up any advice would be good. thank you .

Hi guys do you know of any scientific research that supports the effectiveness of microbial solutions like JADAM and Compsot Tea?

The “research” I’ve personally been able to find about it has only been anecdotal observations of increased yield but doesn’t compare results with a control group or anything

Reason I’m asking is because I’d like to know if it’s really worth making and using these solutions or if I should just stick to compost + watering with fish hydrolysate

Any help is appreciated!

Hi,

My name is Kristi and I'm a mental health researcher at Lancaster University. I'm posting here to ask the Organic Gardening Mods if I could share a study I'm conducting on men's experiences of orthorexia (I have attempted to contact mods through modmail but perhaps my message didn't go through)? As a way to invite anyone interested in participating. As a clarification, it's not assumed that a certain dietary practice or fitness type is orthorexic, but perhaps individuals who identify with orthorexia may visit this forum occasionally since it's related to health.

Thanks,

Kristi

Rogue Farm Corps’ Apprenticeship Program is an immersion for aspiring farmers who want to gain significant farming or ranching production experience. Hands-on field training with Host Farm mentors is complemented by a series of classes, farm tours, discussions, and networking events organized by RFC. Host Farms employ Apprentices as waged employees protected by federal and state labor law. Start and end dates vary based on the Host Farm. Full-time and part-time positions are available.

EDUCATIONAL EVENTS

Apprentices join other beginning farmers for an Educational Event Series facilitated by Rogue Farm Corps.

The full event series includes:

• 26 classes focused on foundational sustainable agriculture concepts, skills, and the food system.
• 7-11 farm tours which showcase practical skills and individual farmers’ stories and provide insight into diverse production and marketing systems.
• 3-5 discussion circles with topics including Food Justice / Food Sovereignty, and Next Steps for Beginning Farmers.

RFC strives to make all educational events inclusive and welcoming to people from all backgrounds and identities. Classes, tours, and discussions are led by Rogue Farm Corps staff, agricultural professionals, and expert farmworkers/farmers.

APPLICATIONS

Apprenticeship applications are accepted on the Rogue Farm Corps website until positions are filled, no later than late March, but early applications are considered first. Please apply ASAP if you’re interested! Host Farms decide which applicants to interview and offer placements to. Applicants must be 18 years or older and have authorization to work in the U.S.

FEES / SCHOLARSHIPS

Program fees are $700 for Apprentices in the Portland, Rogue Valley, and Willamette Valley chapters and $485 for Apprentices at one of our Satellite Host Farms in other regions of Oregon. RFC has scholarships available with priority given to participants who identify as  BIPOC, LGBTQIA2s+, veterans, those who have been impacted by the carceral system, and low-income participants. 

TYPES OF AGRICULTURE

Rogue Farm Corps trains beginning farmers in sustainable, regenerative, ecological, and organic farming. Our partner Host Farms practice these production methods. Host farm enterprises vary by farm and include plant-based production (vegetables, herbs, fruit, seeds, etc) and animal-based production (meat, dairy, eggs, etc). Host Farms are commercial, small-to-mid scale operations marketing to their local and regional community via a range of sales channels including farmers market, CSA, wholesale, and more. RFC participants are exposed to various farm production and marketing systems via RFC’s farm tour events.

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Rogue Farm Corps is committed to an ongoing learning process around privilege, power, inequality, and systems of oppression. RFC has a goal of making our programs welcoming to, inclusive of, and accessible to communities who are under-represented as farm operators in Oregon, including women-identified, BIPOC, LGBTQIA2s+ individuals, low-income individuals and immigrants. Our desire to create a more equitable food system is reflected in RFC’s programs and collaborations.

From The Holistic Orchard, by Michael Phillips:

"The marvel of comfrey from a fruit tree perspective begins with its deep-reaching root system, which effectively mines potassium, calcium and other untapped minerals. Its leaves and stalks are flush with nutrient wealth, producing a lush plant that blossoms just after petal fall on apple trees in a cascading series of delightful pale purple-pink umbel florets...As comfrey starts to set seed, it becomes carbon-heavy - and thus top-heavy - and soon falls in every random direction as living mulch, thereby suppressing grass growth and preventing it from becoming the dominant ground cover...the soil here becomes deep brown, even black, brimming with life force."

All this sounds fantastic! However, comfrey is considered invasive in the eastern US. My land borders national park property and I am only interested in planting native species. I want a clean conscience if anything ever spreads from my yard into the park.

So my question is, what is a good native species that I could plant to get some similar benefits (to comfrey) in my small backyard orchard? I'm planning on planting a meadow of native wildflowers around the orchard but it seems like comfrey has some very specific good qualities that I don't know if I'd get with wildflowers. I'm in central West Virginia, zone 6b.

Hello everyone,

I'm looking to take my first steps into organic gardening. I am thinking about galvanised steel raised beds that have an Aluzinc coating, but I am a bit concerned about potential leakage into the soil.

I would like to grow vegetables that are as clean, healthy and organic as possible, but I realise that I may be overthinking this.

I am aware that untreated wood - specifically cedar and oak wood - are other options for making a raised bed, but the price of wood isn't particularly cheap where I live, and I also want something that will last.

Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.

Hi all - I'm pretty new to gardening. Recently bought 18 acres in middle TN (7b). Looking to establish garden -- 25x25ft former weedy field has been tarped for a few months. I'm likely to do no-till, but recognize that I'll have to do some one time tilling to get it going.

I ran a soil test in the fall. My plan is to do the amendments recommended in the picture and then do deep compost mulch.

My two questions:

1 - When I Google these things, I don't really see where to buy them. Are each of these individual products?

2 - It also is a LOT of amendments. Any advice on how to best approach this? What's your thought on the commentary in red font.