http://greenthumbs.tribe.net Tribe.net. Local Connections http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/c1f9049a-8398-40ad-aaff-b380389be3d1#42b11c21-c105-4b71-b444-d19988126104 I've tried to get rid of it at a home I used to live in. It was all over the lawn, and crowding out the grass, killing it. I hand pulled. If I kept at it the lawn improved, but I never got rid of it completely. It kept growing back and I eventually gave up. I say just leave it. If there are only small amounts, then sure, pull it before it becomes a problem. Otherwise, try and embrace it. It's not so bad looking. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:19:25 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/c1f9049a-8398-40ad-aaff-b380389be3d1#42b11c21-c105-4b71-b444-d19988126104 Christie 2009-11-06T07:19:25Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/12c4ea9c-0db3-45e6-849c-0775cf30e21d#3337fc32-9614-4ee4-99ed-af44bd9d3c9e I use hay bales. Break them into sections and mat it on thick. You can find them for free, if you look for a farmer who has some semi-moldy ones he can't feed the animals with. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:34:12 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/12c4ea9c-0db3-45e6-849c-0775cf30e21d#3337fc32-9614-4ee4-99ed-af44bd9d3c9e Jivatma 2009-11-05T02:34:12Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/12c4ea9c-0db3-45e6-849c-0775cf30e21d#5d9d2fb8-116b-4bf5-8a4f-76a1c70e3df0 Yeah...cardboard. I could kick myself b/c my mother just got rid of a ton of Ikea cardboard boxes...oh, well. If anyone in the SF east bay has tons of newspaper and/or cardboard, I'll gladly take it off your hands! Thanks, y'all! Carol Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:37:44 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/12c4ea9c-0db3-45e6-849c-0775cf30e21d#5d9d2fb8-116b-4bf5-8a4f-76a1c70e3df0 Carol 2009-11-03T17:37:44Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/12c4ea9c-0db3-45e6-849c-0775cf30e21d#e9101a4f-3e5b-43a2-838d-974efdba0969 I preferr cardboard too! My sister and her partner own a bike shop, so I get all the huge boxes from them (they would have to pay to get rid of them) I just slit the sides and lay them out.I even made a compost bin from them this year. Whilst it didn't last too long it broke the weeds down quickly as seemed to generate more heat (more evenly) .............. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:01:32 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/12c4ea9c-0db3-45e6-849c-0775cf30e21d#e9101a4f-3e5b-43a2-838d-974efdba0969 Mandy 2009-11-03T08:01:32Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/c1f9049a-8398-40ad-aaff-b380389be3d1#61219c14-a7c1-4d34-b4e2-1e9c98c2af1d I never bother getting rid of it. It doesn't seem to bother anything, and I figure if I just turn it in with everything else, then it's all going back into the dirt anyways and it can't be doing much harm. I could be horribly, horribly wrong though. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:18:09 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/c1f9049a-8398-40ad-aaff-b380389be3d1#61219c14-a7c1-4d34-b4e2-1e9c98c2af1d Linsey 2009-11-03T03:18:09Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/c1f9049a-8398-40ad-aaff-b380389be3d1#d6c97e36-fe4f-46ae-9429-aec39723fae1 To kill or not to kill? My yard gets COVERED in the stuff year after year, but it eventually goes away as it heats up. Should I just let it do its thing? Any harm in that? Yeah, I know it's a non-native...but I'd have to sift through quite a lot of yard to get rid of it. What do YOU do? Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:18:20 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/c1f9049a-8398-40ad-aaff-b380389be3d1#d6c97e36-fe4f-46ae-9429-aec39723fae1 Carol 2009-11-02T00:18:20Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/12c4ea9c-0db3-45e6-849c-0775cf30e21d#9828e304-a5a5-4868-a61f-490870dfff25 I've used plastic in the past with good effect, but this year i used cardboard and i like it much better. Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:08:58 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/12c4ea9c-0db3-45e6-849c-0775cf30e21d#9828e304-a5a5-4868-a61f-490870dfff25 wil 2009-11-01T01:08:58Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/12c4ea9c-0db3-45e6-849c-0775cf30e21d#51ba692a-106b-4243-96d2-91d308ba797a Wow, great input. Thanks! A friends just said she tried the cardboard trick once, but layered it with soil, then another layer of newspaper. Guess the layers are the key. Not planning on eating anything from the front yard - live on a pretty heavily driven street. Thanks again! Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:44:33 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/12c4ea9c-0db3-45e6-849c-0775cf30e21d#51ba692a-106b-4243-96d2-91d308ba797a Carol 2009-10-31T18:44:33Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/12c4ea9c-0db3-45e6-849c-0775cf30e21d#2a5c924c-6b5a-4cdb-8b96-f1f59ab3dca9 I have never tired this, but I have heard that you can use plain cardboard from old cardboard boxes. Wet it well first and then cover it with mulch. the wet cardboard will let water through but not let weeds grow up through it, and it will last for at least a year before finally disintegrating into the ground. I would think that potting soil would work as well but it might just encourage more weeds to grow on top. I would think you would need a lot of layers of newspaper to make a good barrier and then you'd have to be sure the paper used soy based inks especially if you plan on eating the sunflower seeds. Non-soy based inks can contain heavy metals. A local chain hardware store here sells a landscape fabric made out of paper that is supposed to last a year and then degrade into the ground. I have never tried it, but it might be an option for you. I hope that helps, Sara Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:48:17 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/12c4ea9c-0db3-45e6-849c-0775cf30e21d#2a5c924c-6b5a-4cdb-8b96-f1f59ab3dca9 Sara 2009-10-31T17:48:17Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/12c4ea9c-0db3-45e6-849c-0775cf30e21d#a6212671-30e5-4f33-a4c8-a0d32fd36b15 I'd avoid plastic unless you never want to disturb that area ever again, it's a pain to pull up. Newspaper, wetted and layered 3 sheets thick with overlapping works really well and can give you a few years weed free. The best part is that it'll naturally decompose and be good roughage for the soil... and if you need to plant more you can punch a hole in it and plant away. When the weeds come back in 2-3 years, just repeat the newspaper again and your set for a while longer. I'd put down compost or guano then newspaper... so you'll have a good nutrient layer underneath, then put woodchips, straw, or whatever on top of the newspaper. Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:46:32 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/12c4ea9c-0db3-45e6-849c-0775cf30e21d#a6212671-30e5-4f33-a4c8-a0d32fd36b15 Trix 2009-10-31T17:46:32Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/12c4ea9c-0db3-45e6-849c-0775cf30e21d#6af771bf-51a7-4140-86fb-b8ebf88b8fc0 I have managed to pull up nearly all the HUGE weeds in the front garden. Now, I'd like to cover it so the buggers will die (or at least remain dormant) until I'm ready to landscape (= have enough funds to have someone else do it). So, do I use plastic? Polyester landscape fabric? Newspaper? It may be a year or so before I can have work done on the very large area. Another issue: I'd like to possibly plant wildflowers for spring and then in spring plant a whole field of sunflowers in front. Do I do that on top of plastic, if I use plastic? Was just going to throw down some potting soil and use that...but that's probably not enough for roots... Ideas, please??? Thanks! Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:34:55 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/12c4ea9c-0db3-45e6-849c-0775cf30e21d#6af771bf-51a7-4140-86fb-b8ebf88b8fc0 Carol 2009-10-31T17:34:55Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/a5b9000c-5009-4b1d-a69d-42991b74b52b#a061ee07-d330-4168-b1ab-292834e8be04 I'm not sure if you can get less than 5lbs... but it keeps well and 5lbs will probably last for a few years. Serenade also works almost as well and you can get 32 oz for less than $20. http://www.groworganic.com/item_PFM925_Serenade_Garden_Disease_Control_.html Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:23:09 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/a5b9000c-5009-4b1d-a69d-42991b74b52b#a061ee07-d330-4168-b1ab-292834e8be04 Trix 2009-10-31T17:23:09Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/b2883644-fc7f-4944-b145-1ca95164e522#8d87dbd8-31b9-454e-bef7-f6ae3831ae9d pp: Tue, October 27, 2009 - 3:44 PM super link Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:31:22 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/b2883644-fc7f-4944-b145-1ca95164e522#8d87dbd8-31b9-454e-bef7-f6ae3831ae9d roger 2009-10-28T23:31:22Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/b2883644-fc7f-4944-b145-1ca95164e522#6e6fb0bf-265e-436c-93d1-6ba67afb3060 I think you might find this one interesting, too: This site is great if you're a rural, hands-on, DIY, visionary sort... http://www.openfarmtech.org/weblog/ This is page #1. There are many pages. Many interesting designs and stimulating ideas. Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:44:09 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/b2883644-fc7f-4944-b145-1ca95164e522#6e6fb0bf-265e-436c-93d1-6ba67afb3060 Tanemon 2009-10-27T22:44:09Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/dff4b1ad-5831-459d-840f-061a5048a842#b1075d76-6ff7-4b5e-9caa-28b36f0448ee Thanks Lianna. I do have quite a few tomatoes hanging in the basement. Thanks for reminding me that i need go check them. Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:01:03 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/dff4b1ad-5831-459d-840f-061a5048a842#b1075d76-6ff7-4b5e-9caa-28b36f0448ee jezabel1961 2009-10-24T19:01:03Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/dff4b1ad-5831-459d-840f-061a5048a842#962d72c2-1b29-4775-a628-60eb12b628c8 I dislike green tomatoes, so this is my solution. I might be too late to the conversation, but I bring my tomatoes in and ripen them. My neighbor pulls out the whole plant and hangs them by the roots in the garage. I don't have space for that so I pick them, put them in cardboard boxes and keep them in the garage. They should not be piled -- just one layer on the bottom of the box. This year I sorted them by how much ripening they needed -- the greenest ones in one box, pink in another, etc. You need to keep an eye on them and grab the ones that get ripe and the ones that decide to mold instead. The ones that ripened first made good eating, and yesterday I made sauce with the last of the ones I brought in (we had a freeze early in October). Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:50:09 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/dff4b1ad-5831-459d-840f-061a5048a842#962d72c2-1b29-4775-a628-60eb12b628c8 Lianna 2009-10-24T15:50:09Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/a5b9000c-5009-4b1d-a69d-42991b74b52b#d9affa58-962d-40bc-8fc4-3430bca7bf1d can you get it in less that 5 lbs? Its damned expensive! I need something for my aspen trees... Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:33:11 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/a5b9000c-5009-4b1d-a69d-42991b74b52b#d9affa58-962d-40bc-8fc4-3430bca7bf1d Lisa 2009-10-23T23:33:11Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/d49f9306-46b5-496d-89ff-104a25ef3c43#093af1ef-571e-4956-bb3e-18185222a4ad I live in a place where spring is brief and summer's heat has spoiled many a broccoli crop. This year I tried growing a fall crop and the weather has been very cooperative. Today we harvested the first of the broccoli and had it with our supper. Oh my goodness was it delicious! Just like every other veggie, homegrown has much more flavor and color. And I know without a doubt that it's organically grown with no surprises. Did you all try a new thing in the garden this year? I'd love to hear your experiences. Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:44:52 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/d49f9306-46b5-496d-89ff-104a25ef3c43#093af1ef-571e-4956-bb3e-18185222a4ad yadda yadda 2009-10-23T21:44:52Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/ca746893-0dd1-49f4-b81a-504913a04db9#2ff3f5ad-f143-424d-99ef-f6281effd309 tension of opposites. . .this may not be clear. . .do you know that there are load bearing walls, a strong foundation and a roof with rafters. the shape of the rafters is often based on triangles, which are the strongest geometric shapes there are. . .tetrahedrons actually, which are based on triangles. . These triangles push against each other and hold each other together nicely. maybe you have heard of Fibonacci?? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibonacci_number That spiral that lies within many forms in nature is dominant for a reason. The same concept can be applied to social organization, to provide the organization with balance and strength. Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:39:49 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/ca746893-0dd1-49f4-b81a-504913a04db9#2ff3f5ad-f143-424d-99ef-f6281effd309 lorenzo 2009-10-23T15:39:49Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/ca746893-0dd1-49f4-b81a-504913a04db9#d16eada1-9530-4dfa-b404-6710ac167edc democratic structuralism is a philosophical concept that holds that the citizens of a society are the owners of the society, but usually they give away their power. . .but they can assert themselves once aware and take it back. a democracy means of the people, by the people and for the people. . .and the people have the right to structure society for democracy. . . this is like building a house. . .there are rules that emphasize the tension of opposites so that nothing is dominant but everything works in concert for the good of the whole. a commonly known example of democratic structuralism, although limited to one aspect of governance is the system of checks and balances.. .however, the hole in the roof is private money in politics and the rain just comes in and wrecks the foundation of society. citizens need to band together in non-electoral political groups and demand that the laws that structure our society are changed so that we have a genuine democracy, not the rule by the elite that we have. . there are no websites as of yet. . .but there are a handful of people in the US who now support this concept. like all nascent political movements it will grow slowly. . there is a tribe called Democratic Structuralism and one called Green Revolution. . Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:35:13 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/ca746893-0dd1-49f4-b81a-504913a04db9#d16eada1-9530-4dfa-b404-6710ac167edc lorenzo 2009-10-23T15:35:13Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/ca746893-0dd1-49f4-b81a-504913a04db9#c0b7c269-3578-449c-9390-bd4f5c50fa3f : ) Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:28:53 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/ca746893-0dd1-49f4-b81a-504913a04db9#c0b7c269-3578-449c-9390-bd4f5c50fa3f lorenzo 2009-10-23T15:28:53Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/ca746893-0dd1-49f4-b81a-504913a04db9#cb89fa06-85ea-41b5-aeea-408c2e797192 oh this is funny--i meant peas on earth<>:) Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:00:21 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/ca746893-0dd1-49f4-b81a-504913a04db9#cb89fa06-85ea-41b5-aeea-408c2e797192 pickerrick 2009-10-23T11:00:21Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/ca746893-0dd1-49f4-b81a-504913a04db9#ae444cd0-3b65-4015-b124-30eb46c6810f the change does start where your at--we are the change-- you take a seed--plant it.,water with love.,and watch it grow-- i once took a class in plant awareness.,and part of the course-the fun part for me was- look at a plant at random-when you feel it talk to you this works best in a natural setting~ stop and study that plant whats its character what does it grow in-where do you relate it to its surroundings-- is it sick-healthy--and why., any pest on it now by this time you should be close to feeling the plants perspective-- Pees on Earth Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:57:27 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/ca746893-0dd1-49f4-b81a-504913a04db9#ae444cd0-3b65-4015-b124-30eb46c6810f pickerrick 2009-10-23T10:57:27Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/ca746893-0dd1-49f4-b81a-504913a04db9#6f1f2efd-2e0b-4a01-9d96-f0ec1011f759 please do not eat the animal it is innocent Fri, 23 Oct 2009 03:03:02 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/ca746893-0dd1-49f4-b81a-504913a04db9#6f1f2efd-2e0b-4a01-9d96-f0ec1011f759 roger 2009-10-23T03:03:02Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/ca746893-0dd1-49f4-b81a-504913a04db9#caaa4d81-0a87-4686-a93d-e6f4c9392692 jivatma - It's about making things happen where we are and participating in what's already been started up, we can't wait for other people to take action...someone has to go first :-) I'm East Coast (Quebec, Canada) and we've got lots of interesting initiatives that more and more people are engaging with (a rooftop garden project managed by a non-profit in conjunction with one of the universities, lots of CSAs, more interest in growing one's own food, bike activism, etc). Look into what universities are doing where you live (if it's in an urban environment) - I know the university culture in Portland has greatly contributed to it being a greener city and the same is true where I live. There's always something we can do to engage locally, even if it's just something small to begin with. The truth is, change starts at home and with each of us :-) Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:00:21 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/ca746893-0dd1-49f4-b81a-504913a04db9#caaa4d81-0a87-4686-a93d-e6f4c9392692 Fifi 2009-10-22T13:00:21Z