This post is best experienced on Ecency's gallery mode
Greetings Hivers, hope your week was satisfying. Mine has been extremely cold with daily frosts, but I'm still here. Today I want to share an approach to gardening that for some reason I find easier to do in fall than other times of the year. I suppose it has to do with the fewer plants that still stand after the frosts which means I have more time to commit to their individual caring. Without further due, let's dive into the journal.
While harvesting plums I spotted several clusters of loose, high quality soil.
I asked myself what might happen if each time I take from a plant I put rich soil around it. It should probably help, right? Considering that the soil where I live is still not well developed with a high content of clay, and also just to form a give and receive bond with the plants.
Between the leaves and the grass, an untrained eye might think there is nothing of value.
With a closer look it's possible to see a dandelion. Can you see it?
Here, I'll help you focus.
Added forest soil and cut. I don't really get dandelions. I've read they like good soil but where I really see them thrive is on that rocky dirt at the edge of the road. We'll see how they react.
I start moving the grass aside, forming a path towards the plant I have spotted. Along the way I find lots of peas on the ground which are perfectly fine for eating.
There's also pea shoots to be found. I wonder if they can make it through the winter...
The same process with a quinoa plant except now I cut the larger side leaves.
Don't ask what strain this is, its quinoa! Curious how much it look like cannabis and all the tricomes it has
I noticed that quinoa plants can also have these, which I imagine are the masculine sexual traits.
One of the benefits of doing several trips to the forest in search for nutrients is scoring prizes like this one
Cow's tongue
(Fistulina Antarctica)
It didn't look great on the outside but the inside was gorgeous and free from worms
Along with what I had gathered so far from the garden I went home to cook it
So juicy! It resembles meat visually but the taste leans more to the sour side. It has a meaty taste though and the texture is unique in a good way.
Saying that this was delicious is an understatement. It was divine and orgasmic.
So that concludes the journal for today. I want to point out that there are a few reasons why I think this gardening practice is good, specially for those who want to reduce the amount of food they buy and increase what they can get from the land they live on.
First, it allows you to join harvesting, foraging and soil preparation into one activity. This is also good for disperse people who have a hard time focusing only on one thing. If you're a natural multi-tasker, this is a lot more enjoyable than spending hours straight on a single repetitive task.
Second, it allows you to shape your garden integrating Nature's design. I plan to keep doing this and I have no idea how it will look next spring, but I will be sure that the desires of Nature were at least partially taken into account. All the paths and growing areas will be shaped according to the plants that are now alive, instead of doing any kind of row to control how life will grow.
Last, but not least, it helps develop a different relationship with weeds. If you live in an area with cold fall and winter, with lots of frosts, the gardening is usually reduced to spring and summer. But if you tend to the wild vegetation, they'll provide you with sustenance until deep into the winter!
I plan to practice the give and receive not only bringing nice soil to the plants but also mulch and perhaps even some protection from the cold.
Ok, now thats really it, thanks for reading me out, till next time!
I hope you found this useful, entertaining, and worth your time. Consider following me if you like learning about plants, life in the forest, use of primitive materials, recycling, and a plant based off-grid lifestyle.
Thank you for stopping by 🌿
I love this post! You've obviously taken a lot of time with it and it
is appreciated!
Thank you, glad you appreciate it 😁
Great finds in the forest 🤩 I’ve not heard of this mushroom. Probably doesn’t grow in my area 🤷🏻♀️
!KING
Outstanding job King @fenngen, fantagira(1/3) is grateful for the care and attention you put into crafting this post. Your efforts are truly valued.
God damn this post is wonderful! You deserve this @fantagira has sent you this gift of 0.05 SOULS. Keep it up!
BTW! with SOULS you can access our infernal coliseum game, conquer territories and earn rewards
It's a rare find but there are other similar species that could grow near you. If you're interested, look up fistulina hepatica, maybe you're lucky. Thanks for the interesting tokens 😊
I’ll check it out!
My pleasure 💙
Lovely journal!! Giving and receiving - the way it should be. The mushrooms looks so delicious - wish i could taste it.
Thanks!! Wish I could share taste through the internet with you hahah
That cow's tongue looks amazing
said the guy who still eats meat but loves mushrooms
Meat, meat, meat... So many opinions on that topic but only the eater knows why he eats it so I refrain. Hope you eat more mushrooms though!
I guess we all have our struggles and we all make our own choices, more or less consciously.Y
ou will be able to read more about the meat ( or not ) dilemma in my upcoming book...
Note taken.
What a lovely journal you have here. I agree with you, give and receive is how it's done. My dad has a garden and we grow what we can and what we need. It's a huge difference in quality, compared to what you buy from the grocery store, not to mention the costs. Keep up the good work.
Thanks :) Quality is very different that's true. What are your best growing veggies at the garden?
Tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, pepper, beans, grapes, currants, raspberries 😁 the list is long.
This is just getting really amazing, @fenngen ! Seeing your gardening gets me all excited and giddy, and your presentation has the impressiveness of a graphic department. I mean, simply the way you showed us your dandelion, which honestly I did NOT see. Even with that helpful sun-circle pic I had to look carefully to find it. Your soil is also fantastic looking. And yes, you are growing it, little by little, together with the plants. This should be no surprise, really, since applying your techniques and attitude for a while should have some visible results. Well, it's right under your feet. Finally, I found your fungus steak super delicious looking. Thank you for showing us all the things that are possible!
Hahaha I'm very flattered my silver-tongued friend! Thank you for your constant encouragement, it's much needed in a process that is a bit too slow for us who grew in the instant gratification society
Wow, give and received is also applicable on the garden and this is a good practice.
In all things I guess :D
Give and you shall receive, is always a good practice. Getting into the woods and seeing all that it offers is always a fun activity, but one must know what to look for. The cow's tongue is a special find.
Very special indeed, I usually find one or two per season