Tag Archives: planning

Episode-2121- Time to Start Planning for the 2018 Spring Garden [ 1:42:31 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

It is Easy to Forget that Each Season is Really Only About 13 Weeks Long!

Each year usually in January or February I do a show on spring garden planting and it hit me that I should really do so earlier.  Why? Because every year I transition from winter to spring with a entire list of shit that was supposed to be done, that ain’t done.

I fall behind on new bed preparation, seed starting, plant layout planting and other projects.  I mean just think about seed starting, this should begin for many crops a full 8-10 weeks before they are to be set out.  Cole crops like Broccoli and Kale can be planted well before the last frost as well.

Other in the ground starters like peas for instance can generally handle down to about 28-30 degree over night lows, so we need to be ready to plant them very early and success them into summer crops like tomatoes and peppers.

And this is the time to START planning, at least get down on an organized list what you want to do.  Because yes, it is the holidays, there will be shopping, travel, etc. but the mind is alert right now.  Soon you will have what I call “Christmas Coma” where you sort of cost though the end of December and most of January.  It is a slow time for many of us, but also tends to become a time of inaction.  Hunting season ends, too damn cold for many things, no baby livestock to worry over yet, etc.

To break it what you need is momentum!  Otherwise next thing is it is March and you are over paying for Bonnie’s plants at Walmart because it is too late to start seeds for the year etc.

So how do you get momentum?  The plan is your momentum.  The hardest part of any process is what?  Getting started!  If you have that plan, that rough outline it becomes a to do list, you follow that in those slow weeks and by the time things pick up your are hitting the ground running.  However if you wait until mid January to plan, you put it off one week, then two, then it is February, the some life event happens, its March, got it yet?

Today we won’t talk so much about what to do but getting that plan in place to create scheduled action items so that when spring comes and the birds sing, your growing season is off to a great start.  And even if gardening isn’t your thing, there is a big lesson in that.

Join Me Today to Discuss…

• The lesson in taking a trip/vacation/etc.
• Why planning is important for spring planting
  • It works
  • Gives you actionable items
  • It is a sanity check
  • Allows you to sort critical from necessary from nice to have
  • Prevents mixing spring and winter prep items
• Some things I am planning for this year
  • Basic planting diagrams for all annual production
  • Massive wicking bed and aquatic expansion
  • Seed starting including a grow tent this year
  • Forage system for the quail aviary
  • New run of quail for production
  • Pastured chickens instead of new ducks this year
    • Brooder construction
    • Chicken tractor – build and complete dates, etc
    • Quantity – just for me or for others too?
    • Date to order
    • Date on pasture
    • Date of harvest
• Key Dates to Determine
  • Last frost and last hard freeze dates (not the same at all)
  • Dates to get your seeds started by
  • Construction start and end dates (planned and “drop dead”)
  • Planting dates
  • Fertilizer and amendment dates
  • Spaying of trees and perennial dates
• Keep a garden book
  • Weekly high and low avg temps, any frosts
  • Date of rain activity
  • In ground seed planting and first germination
  • Pest activity
  • Bud break on perennials
  • Flowering and first harvest of annuals
• Final Thoughts

Resources for today’s show…

• Join the Members Brigade
• Join Our Forum
• The Year 74
• Walking To Freedom
• TspAz.com
• The Granddaddy’s Gun Club
• Bullhead Fishing Forum – A new little site I started
• DASH School
• Upgraded Grow Light I am Considering
• Existing Economy Grow Lights I Love
• Grow Tent I am Considering
• Road to Nowhere – Ozzy Ozborne

Sponsors of the Day

• Western Botanicals
• Self Reliance Magazine

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK (866-658-4465) and you might hear yourself on the air.

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Episode-575- Planning 2011s Gardening and Homesteading Activities [ 1:05:51 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I thought this would be a great subject for today.  Over the past few weeks many of my seed catalogs have come in, the garden is now producing only greens and other frost hardy crops and today is the Winter Solstice which is the longest night of the year.  In other words we are about to go into the Christmas holiday and the first day of winter has just fallen upon us.  We now have a long cold winter ahead which will not officially end until March 21st.  To me winter is a time of planning, contemplation and evaluation.

Join me today as we discuss..

• Winter has begun but the coldest days lie ahead
• The first step is to review your successes and failures of 2010
• Do you reattempt or abandon your failures
• What do you want to add to your production in 2011
• Determine your average last frost date and counting backwards
• Time to build that cold frame, greenhouse or both
• Is 2011 the year you add livestock, if so what
• If  you are going to start keeping bees now is the time to order
• Seed and Orchard Catalogs – Knowledge and Shopping All In One
• Evaluational goals for 2011
• Irrigation System Planning for 2011
• Setting realistic time lines and priorities
• Some of my goals for 2011
  • Sell the old house and move
  • Install Garden Beds
  • Install Irrigation Systems
  • Develop Extensive Herb Gardens
  • Install Out Buildings
  • Develop Orchard Plan, Irrigation, Swales, etc.
  • Install small ponds
  • Build and install greenhouse and aquaponics system
  • Continue to develop our mason bee population
  • Evaluate small live stock choices
  • Install fencing
  • Develop Composting and Mulch Systems
  • Encourage Local Wildlife
  • Install Gun Range

Resources for Today’s Show

• Members Support Brigade
• TSP Gear Shop
• Pre Order Your AOCS Copper Rounds
• Join Our Forum
• Sawtooth Tactical– (sponsor of the day)
• Knife Kits – (sponsor of the day)
• 9 Cool Orchard and Permaculture Catalogs
• 18 Plus Free Seed Catalogs
• Members Support Brigade
• Ron Hood’s Survival.com Magazine

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.