Grasshoppers. I understand the cycle, some of the causes, and many of the “solutions”. It’s terrible out there this year, and we’re going to lose everything if I don’t do something. Out first priority is no *cides, insect or otherwise.

The space is only about a quarter of an acre, but there are thousands of them (probably tens of thousands, but I don’t like to exaggerate).

Our current plan is to completely free range the chickens (11 of them) all day instead of just when we’re able to watch them, but they cause their own issues with the garden beds. If we go this route, my wife wants to fence in the beds to keep the chicks out— money, labor, and permanence.

Seasoned vets— any advice? Better ways to control the grasshoppers? Better ways to keep the chicks out of 16” raised beds? Is a small flock even enough to control it?

Denver, CO if that makes a difference

I am in the process of writing a research paper for my class, “Professional Development in Sustainable Food and Farming”. I have chosen to investigate what the biggest limiting factor preventing the widespread implementation of permaculture and other sustainable landscaping and agriculture projects into suburban and urban environments is.

So in your opinion, what is the biggest limiting factor?

Zoning and other bureaucratic issues?

Funding?

Education and knowledge? (Perhaps the tide is already turning, just not quickly)

Cultural resistance?

Or anything else you might think of.

Any and all responses are welcomed and appreciated.

I have a mature grape vine that I trim back every winter and I’m curious what kind (if any) of plants I can grow underneath it. I have wild strawberries that aren’t doing well in my pot, so I’m considering companionship with my grape. Will they thrive?

I’ve found two in my yard in the last week and understand that they will eat the roots of my fruit trees. Google search for how to treat/control was not helpful. Any advice would be appreciated.

I have seeds for California Sweet Bush watermelon (90 days to maturity) and Sugar Cube cantaloupe (80 days to maturity) that I forgot to plant earlier. If I plant them now, would I still have time to get a harvest (which would be in early October)? I'm in New England zone 6b, average first frost is around October 10th but will likely be later due to climate change.

http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/225821695

They are skeletonizing my marshmallow plant - if it’s a swallowtail I’m delighted but iNaturalist suggested sawflies? SE Ontario

Hello, I’m very new to the concept, but I have always wanted to have a farm of my own since I was like 10. I have started saving to buy land away from the city. I have a lot of questions, one of them is how much and what kind of land do I need? Note: I live in Maharashtra, India. So Hot climate + Heavy rains. Clay type soil is common here.

I have 500 acres of land in northern Iowa along a river that floods seasonally. Problem is that occasionally the river decides to come all the way up over the property. We are at the base of the loess hills, so the river bed floods every spring when the snow melts and there’s occasional major flooding when there’s copious amounts of summer rain.

Western side of the land has protected trees and wildlife back towards the river and there’s about 100 acres of farmed field on the eastern side towards the hills. I’m just now starting to plan for what I’d like this place to look like 20+ years down the road, and this year’s water levels have me itching to tackle the issue of summer floods.

I would love to build up/reinforce existing dykes on the property (last weeks floods managed to wear through in a few spots). I’m also looking to create a native food forest.

What types of trees or other plants would you use along a dyke to hold the sediment down during floods?

Any advice appreciated!

Editing to add that the main dyke I’m building up is the bank of the old riverbed and also my driveway to the property. This is the area that is already a protected wildlife area with the state of Iowa. We manage it by letting natural cycles take place along the back end of the property (which is the vast majority of it).

Older family members have lamented the loss of certain fruit trees and shrubs that used to be abundant in the island back in the woods (it’s only an island in the spring). I’d love to reintroduce natives and help them flourish.

I am looking for grass species that fix nitrogen. ive heard that most grasses dont, but there are exceptions.

I planted these fruit trees last fall and they are really not doing well, despite regular watering, they've lost pretty much all their leaves and look like they're on death's door. Should I prune them back heavily or just pull them out and plant something else?

I'm so angry right now. I currently live in the city but have purchased a piece of land that I will be moving to in a month. I've got all my fruit and nut trees, as well as my perennial veggies in pots ready to be moved to the land.

Today the gardeners for the neighood came and sprayed. I was only told about it when they told me not to let my dogs into the garden for a few hours. I'm absolutely devastated. I've spent so much time, energy and money on my plants and have never used any kind of chemicals on them.

I had just started seeing leaf cutter bees, praying mantises and ladybirds, now I'm scared to see if they are still there. The gardeners told me that they used a "food plant safe" pesticide and herbicide which hasn't made me feel any better, especially since many of my food plants are considered "weeds" such as chicory and purslane. Is there anything I can do? Should I try and spray them all with water to wash it off??

I live in NYC but my family has a place in Maine where I've been developing a permaculture garden for the last few years. Crucial to my context is the fact that I am only in Maine to tend to this garden for a few weeks of the summer.

I have planted a mix of potted (american hazelnut, american plum, highbush blueberry, wintergreen), bare root (paw paw, hybrid hazelnut) , and seed propagated (american persimmon) perennial food plants.

I would like to start planting a lot more, more than I could afford buying potted and bare root plants. The trouble is that I have no access to the site during winter (it's on an island) and very limited early spring/late fall availability. I want to develop a propagation regime that allows me to grow plants out in my Brooklyn backyard to put in the ground in Maine.

How would you go about this?

Hi all,

Last year I signed up for a really cool-looking permaculture course: https://shadesofgreenpermaculture.com/

But then life took a turn and I didn't end up getting the property I anticipated. So I have nowhere to garden. I want this course subscription to get used by someone who is passionate about permaculture. If you're interested, please message me. It did cost me money so I'd hope for some amount of compensation. Prices on website but I'll take lower than that at this point. Thank you!

EDIT: Thanks all for the interest and support! The course has found a new owner. And yes, the property market these days...terrible!

If this post is too tangential, please let me know. (And if you suggest other subs where I should ask, please let me know.)

We have a resident groundhog that has burrowed beneath a wooden extension of our garage. I am not opposed to sharing our yard with a groundhog, but it cannot destroy our garage.

In my area I am allowed to get a permit to kill the groundhog or hire someone to do it, as it is damaging property. I can't legally relocate the groundhog, though it's commonly done.

I am not really growing vegetables yet. If I do in the future, I'd like to build a separate groundhog-proof structure for that. Right now the groundhog chows down on some plants, which is fine.

My idea is to dump a bunch of wolf urine down the hole, give it a few days, then fill with concrete. Or dump urine, try to temporarily trap the groundhog, then fill with concrete and then release the groundhog. And continue to put urine around the wooden part of the foundation, ideally eventually installing wire.

I've been told that letting the groundhog stay isn't a good plan because it'll eventually destroy everything, but it seems most kind to let it stay. It was previously living under my neighbor's shed.

The garage is the only structure with a wooden foundation.

What do you think? What have you done/would you do?

Edited to add: Relatedly, how do I know the burrow is empty and can be filled in?

Hello I'm planning on making a food forest and have rock hard ground-as you can't even dig a hole with post hole diggers.

Are there any suggestions anyone might have on how I might prepare the ground for a FF for 6a 6b (SE Indiana) where apple, pear, BB Bushes, figs and more might go.

My plan as of now is to plant a bunch of comfrey in the spot 85 x 40', and then ammend with some sand and Compost and till into the soil once the comfrey has had time to do it's thing.

I'm not sure how far down the compaction goes. The bare spots in my grass grows dandelion, plantain, and Mullein and there are blackberries growing along the edges of the property. Thanks for any help in advance.

How do you all on large acerage personally work with and protect your crops and natives from deer? I live in a wooded sloped area with sparse areas with optimal sunlight so I don’t have an open field or anything to work with, besides the septic field which is on a slope - a prime target area for my Neigbors goats.

I’d like to think creating them their own garden could work but I think I know better lol. My neighbors finally either fenced off their goats or got rid of them - needlessly to say I am RELEIVED. But still weary.

A permie friend recently told me there was something “natural” you can spray to deter them but I haven’t looked further into that - as it rains often here in the SE. I’m curious if there are plants that achieve this affect. Trying to think bigger than fencing and green houses.

Thanks in advance