----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, February 17, 2003 11:02 PM Subject: Update on cannibals / goat news / questions for seed starting
Martha, i really appreciate your (educational)sharing about the chickens,types,habits etc.....as one who has so far not had the conditions to keep some. This may change this year, and i'd like to know more of these basics which you and others may share..... In prior times, Guinea fowl kept pecking my lettuce leaves....same as the peacocks. I dont know if there were insect targets on the leaves, but there were leafbits missing. For seed starting, i use plain, grower-quality (no additives/wetting agents)coarse-shredded (not the very finest) peatmoss, sifted or rubbed well-composted leafmold, fairly fine paramagnetic rockpowder, washed concrete sand, medium sized growers'vermiculite, sifted mature garden/manure compost, pre-saved dry topsoil from the garden, and sometimes perlite. The mixratio is an art, influenced by the heaviness/stickiness of the components...especially the topsoil/compost. Because of the volumes, i use the standard white trays (so i can greasepencil/different colours on them ..re-used..on 4 different edges.. each year. And standard thin plastic inserts...3 different sizes. Later ,tomatoes go into scavenged 4" plastic pots. I use terra cotta when i can find them used. This year i also plan to use some standing- height soilblockers which i got at an auction. (although some bd person said it wasn't a good idea to use them....cant remember why). .manfred >
