Some seeds, mostly perennials, benefit from experiencing a cold and damp period just like they would if outside in nature. Cold or seed stratification is the process of the seed coating slowly degrading from moisture (but not too much or they’ll rot). Once spring hits and temps warm up, the seeds will be ready to germinate. Here’s two ways to help stratify seeds:
SEED TRAYS Sow seeds just as you would during seed starting season. Make sure soil is damp and seeds are lightly covered in soil. Place in a cold but protected location like an unheated greenhouse or covered porch. Water as needed to retain moisture. Grow light/sunshine not needed at this time. REFRIGERATOR Place a damp paper towel in an airtight container. Add seeds and make sure they’re well folded inside the towel. Seal the container and store in the refrigerator for 4-6 weeks, depending on seed variety. Then sow as usual. SEEDS THAT LIKE STRATIFICATION Perennial herbs like rosemary, sage, thyme, and oregano. Perennial kale, collards and spinach. Asparagus, strawberries, apples, plums, cherries, artichoke. Perennial flowers such as lupine, milkweed, coneflower, rudbeckia, larkspur, and more. Note: Seed stratification can be done naturally by sowing seeds outdoors in fall. If you have mice, squirrels and critters that eat seeds overwinter, these hands on methods can be helpful. A guild is a neighborhood of plants that surround a fruit or nut tree. This species-specific curated ecosystem works to repel unwanted insects and even disease, attract pollinators, suppress weeds, mulch the soil, pull up nutrients from deep within the soil’s layers, and fix nitrogen.
All species require different guild members to successfully support them, just as in nature. In this video I’m sharing an in-depth explanation about how and why we implemented this practice that has been successfully used for centuries. We use sheet mulch to create square growing spaces, discuss foot traffic concerns, and placement of different plant species. This image is from a couple of years ago, but the story still applies.
This girl in my arms is Peg, the duck. After we moved to the farm I decided on purchasing a few more ducks to add to our existing flock of four. I went to a local barnyard sanctuary and found Peg and one other female kept in a duck yard… with 80-some drakes. If you know anything about male ducks, then you know they have insatiable appetites for mating. Imagine how battered these two ladies were! I took them both and brought them home along with a drake. Our flock grew to seven. Peg recovered quickly, along with her other female friend. I thought she was a badass then, and she continued to show her strength after 2 male goose attacks (that gander is no longer here), and a fox that preyed on my flock before Aaxlu arrived. Still she was friendly, followed me, and I so appreciated her resilience. On this particular afternoon here, I found Peg who had wandered too far from home. Usually after I finish farm work for the day, I shower and change into “real clothes”—hence the dress. You’d think I would learn that this is when all the action starts. 🤣 I had just grabbed my camera to take a photo outdoors and I headed into the woods. That’s where I found Peg. She was attacked by a heron and pierced through the chest. She died shortly thereafter. As for the photo, I remember I had turned the camera on and set the tripod down for this angle. My phone and timer are on the other side of my skirt. When I found peg nearby, I abandoned my little photo shoot and scooped up Peg. It wasn’t until I returned for the camera and phone later, blood stained from tending to my duck, that I found this image on the camera. It was like a little Christmas gift from Peg. I’m sharing this story because I continue to be impressed by the strength of animals. Not just with Peg but with Finnegan, my horribly abused and rescued Clydesdale. This holiday season, if you intend to purchase a pet or animal, please consider adopting from a shelter, sanctuary, or rescue organization. Their work and funding is needed and the animals, at least in my experience, are so deserving of a second chance. Easy and Quick DIY Homemade Sustainable Wreaths with Foraged Greens from the Homestead or Farm12/8/2022
I shared in my Instagram stories that I was making my own wreaths this year from greens foraged from my farm. When I asked if you’d like me to share how I did it, 100% of you said yes! So here we go!
I’m not an expert—I’ve only made 12 wreaths in my entire life. But I will say it goes quicker than you think so long as you have your greenery ready and cut to size before hand. Consistent bunch size is key for tying to the form for a consistent shape. At the end of the season when the wreath browns, I’ll be composting the greenery. The forms will be reused next year. A pivotal piece here on my homestead for winter survival of my honeybee hives. When I first started beekeeping here in NJ, I lost my hives three seasons in a row. Since then, I’ve overwintered successfully. Here’s what’s worked for me:
1. Feed sugar cakes. I leave my bees with the majority of their honey (90% to be precise). This is plenty to get them through winter. But as an insurance policy, I place sugar cakes directly on top of the frames for access in case it’s too cold for them to move between frames. It’s easier for a cluster of bees to move up instead of over. 2. A Quiltbox. I place a spacer right under the outer cover, on top of the inner cover. This spacer is lined with a screen on the bottom and has screened air holes on the side. Inside are pine shavings. Any condensation that builds up from the warm colony on a cold day accumulates under the outer lid. But a quiltbox prevents it from dripping onto the bees. Bees can survive cold. They can’t survive wet and cold. I check my shavings about once every few weeks to make sure they’re dry. The bees are never exposed to cool air while doing so. Have you tried a quilt box? I have a video on my Guides tab under beekeeping on how to build one if you’re interested. 🐝 Tapping trees for sap is simple and only requires a few tools. You will need a drill, 5/16” bit, spiles and hooks, and a bucket. In this video I share the best location for tapping the tree, and spacing if installing more than one spile. Trees should be tapped when daytime temperatures are above freezing (32°F) and at night, below freezing.
Any maple tree variety will produce sap. Their sugar content is simply different and only the sugar maple will produce the sweetest sap for syrup. Other trees also produce edible sap, though the flavor of the finished syrup will differ from maple syrup. It takes 40 gallons of maple sap to boil into just one gallon of syrup. Stay tuned for processing videos. You can also tap the following: Maple (Sugar, Silver, Black, Red, Norway, Big Leaf): 40 parts of sap yields 1 part of finished syrup Tap when daytime temperatures rise above 32 degrees Fahrenheit and fall below at night. Birch (European White, Paper, Yellow, Black, Gray, River) 110 parts of sap yields 1 part of finished syrup Tap when daytime temperatures are 40-50F (4.4-10C Box Elder 60 parts of sap yields 1 part of finished syrup Tap when daytime temperatures are above 32F (0C) and nighttime temperatures are below Black and English Walnut 60 parts of sap yields 1 part of finished syrup Tap when daytime temperatures are above 32F (0C) and nighttime temperatures are below Butternut 60 parts of sap yields 1 part of finished syrup Tap when daytime temperatures are above 32F (0C) and nighttime temperatures are below Sycamore 40 parts of sap yields 1 part of finished syrup Tap when daytime temperatures are above 32F (0C) and nighttime temperatures are below Palm 88 parts of sap yields 11 parts finished syrup (source) Can be tapped year round Gorosoe 40 parts of sap yields 1 part of finished syrup (source) Tap when daytime temperatures are above 32F (0C) and nighttime temperatures are below Other edible tappable tree varieties include Linden/Basswood, Ironwood, Alder and more. Pine trees can be tapped, however, their sap is very resinous and used for resin and turpentine. Be sure to always tap trees that measure 10” (25.4cm) in diameter or more so as not to damage the heartwood. A tree measuring this size can withstand one tap. A tree measuring 20” (50.8cm) can handle two. Finally, a tree measuring larger than 25” (63.5cm) in diameter may have three taps. Never install more than three taps per tree. When installing multiple taps, always place them at an absolute minimum of 6”to 8” (15.24 to 20.32cm) apart from one another. Many folks are starting to gather their seed catalogs. One thing I’m trying to be much more conscientious about is planting perennial crops over annuals, if possible. Less work, harvests get bigger each year, and they are so so good for soil structure and carbon absorption. I put a * next to the ones I’m growing now or have had experience with overwintering in zone 7. Ask questions if you have any!
Perhaps experiment and add a few to your seed shopping list! And please do share others that I have missed! This is not a zone-specific list. VEGETABLES * Asparagus* * Globe Artichoke* * Ramps* * Walking Onions* * 9 Star Broccoli* * Longleaf Groundcherry* * Siberian Peashrub* * Peppers * Wild Kidney Bean * Scarlet Runner Beans * Chilacayote Squah FRUIT * Seaberry* * Strawberries* * Raspberries* * Blackberries* * Blueberries* * Currants (check to see if there’s a ban in your region) * Gooseberry (check to see if there’s a ban in your region) * Cranberries * Elderberries* * Fruit trees* * Hardy Kiwi* * Grapes* * Akebia (Chocolate) Vine* * Beech Plum Shrub * Carmine Jewel Bush Cherry* * Adonis Berries* HERBS * Chives* * Garlic Chives * Winter Savory * Oregano* * Tarragon * Thyme* * Mint* * Sage* * Rosemary* * Valerian* GREENS * Tree Collards (purple and green)* * Sorrel * Radicchio* * Good King Henry Spinach* * Malabar Spinach * Walking Stick Kale * D’Aubenton Perennial Kale* * Kosmik Perennial Kale* * Okinawa Spinach * Dandelion * Lovage* * Turkish Rocket ROOTS * Jerusalem Artichoke* * Groundnuts * Potatoes (if left after greens die) * Sweet Potatoes (if left after greens die) * Purple Ease Perpetual Potato * Skirret * Perennial Leek * Welsh Onion OTHER * Rhubarb* * Horseradish* * Nettles * Daylilies* * Ostrich fern * Nut trees* * Hibiscus* * Saffron* |
Angela is the farmer and content creator behind Axe & Root Homestead® LLC. This historic six-acre permaculture farm is home to two Clydesdale horses, ten honeybee hives, five sheep, two guardian dogs, barn cats and a flock of 40 geese and ducks. The farm produces maple syrup, fruit from a small orchard and loads of garden produce for consumption, preservation and donation to the local food pantry.
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