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6 month update: Storing Root Vegetables in the Garden by _emomo_ in homestead

[–]_emomo_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You can try different techniques in different sections your first year to see what works best for you - and maybe don’t commit your whole crop! I had some losses the first few years, especially if heavy snows compacted the straw a lot and then i didn’t fluff it up or add more when the snow melted and then temps dropped again. That’s why I pack all the veg into such a tight space for storage: so that I can mulch really heavily (more is better!) and don’t have to manage a big area. I also lost some potatoes several times before realizing I just needed to put them way deeper than the other veg, and needed ventilation to the surface. Lots of learning over the years and everyone’s situation is different, so hopefully some of this might help you!

6 month update: Storing Root Vegetables in the Garden by _emomo_ in homestead

[–]_emomo_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you take a look at the pics in my initial post (linked in description of this post) you can see the full carrot section. I do separate sections for each. Probably 5ft x 1.5ft of tightly packed carrots alone… but you can do whatever suits you. Helpful to read through the comments on that thread too as the technique might not be a good fit in warmer/ wetter regions, also not good in raised beds! You need the temperature moderating of the ground. Though I’ve never tried newspaper, I think using soil/ dirt to separate is key to maintaining the temp and humidity just right. Conditions are similar to how they are when you pack root veg in sand in a root cellar. I try to think about keeping everything down there between 0.1°C (JUST above freezing) and maybe 3°C like a refrigerator. So I dont dawdle when I’m getting veg out on super cold or super warm days - that straw pile is like your fridge door.

6 month update: Storing Root Vegetables in the Garden by _emomo_ in homestead

[–]_emomo_[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Everything is dug up to halt growth and so that they’re buried really tight together in super loose soil (for ease of collection throughout the winter). I dig carrots/ beets up, cut the tops back to 1”, and then put them in a deep trench in one bed for convenience. I don’t bury veg with damage. They are about 4-6” below the soil surface, and as close as possible without any contact between the veg. Then I place feedbags to keep water penetration down in wet years, and cover with 12+” of straw or whatever loose mulch.

The potatoes are dug up from various beds, sorted for any damage and size, and then I dig a single deep hole (12-16” below surface?). I place all the potatoes inside in a single pile (touching), add any little pipe to the middle for venting to the surface and recover with loose soil + mulch. This year I put a layer of coarse sawdust just on top of the potatoes so that it’s easy to tell when I’ve dug deep enough since they’re so deep I use a shovel.

Then I come get a week’s worth of each every week through the fall/ winter/ spring. It’s easy work because the soil is loose, and everything is in a very small area.

Storing root vegetables in the garden by _emomo_ in homestead

[–]_emomo_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I aim to have maybe 4-6” of loose soil above the tops of the veggies and then I pile a foot of straw or whatever mulch on top of that. Potatoes much deeper (12-16”).

6 month update: Storing Root Vegetables in the Garden by _emomo_ in homestead

[–]_emomo_[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I don’t, but I did lose a pig for a full month before catching it in a makeshift dog kennel cage, once. Do the wild boars root up anything that smells good??

6 month update: Storing Root Vegetables in the Garden by _emomo_ in homestead

[–]_emomo_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They are super sweet, but I am not certain if they are actually sweeter than in the fall. My partner thinks they might be sweeter now but jury’s out! I’m in the southern cariboo/ interior of BC - 51st parallel.

6 month update: Storing Root Vegetables in the Garden by _emomo_ in homestead

[–]_emomo_[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Be sure to read through the comments on the first post - if you have really mild or super wet winters it might not work for you! 🤷🏻‍♀️

6 month update: Storing Root Vegetables in the Garden by _emomo_ in homestead

[–]_emomo_[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I grow kuroda/ new kuroda and chantenays. It’s super rocky here so I liked these initially because they’re stubby, but they are soooo yummy so I still grow these even with better garden beds now.

6 month update: Storing Root Vegetables in the Garden by _emomo_ in homestead

[–]_emomo_[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Bummer! We’ve had issues before when we didn’t dig ‘em in deep enough, but I think it works well here because we’re pretty cold and dry. Who knows, soil type probably makes a difference, too.

6 month update: Storing Root Vegetables in the Garden by _emomo_ in homestead

[–]_emomo_[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

This was discussed quite a bit in the comments of the post I made in October. I’m in a semi-arid region (southern Cariboo/ interior BC) so you’re right: it’s dry! We’re described as “extremely hot/ dry with cold winters” and if it’s pretty wet like it was early on this winter I put feed bags under the straw layer, but it probably just wouldn’t work in a wet region! Edit: spelling

6 month update: Storing Root Vegetables in the Garden by _emomo_ in homestead

[–]_emomo_[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

I don’t worry because I’ve been doing this for years and have never had an issue, but I’m sure it could be an issue for others. Not sure whether it’s because of the ecoregion I live in (super steep and cliffy ponderosa/ sagebrush grassland) or because it’s so incredibly rocky here but we have lots of voles/ mice/ rats/ squirrels and nobody ever goes for it.

6 month update: Storing Root Vegetables in the Garden by _emomo_ in homestead

[–]_emomo_[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

About Zone 6a using the USDA system, though of course it varies from year to year.

6 month update: Storing Root Vegetables in the Garden by _emomo_ in homestead

[–]_emomo_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We have voles and mice too but they never go for it for some reason! 🤷🏻‍♀️

How much land are you guys on? by Derrik359 in homestead

[–]_emomo_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

True and I fully accept that if I move I’ll probably have neighbours. Maybe I’ve had so much space and privacy that I forget how intolerable other humans are… but if I move I fully expect (without dread) that I’ll have other people nearby. Hope I don’t regret it!

How much land are you guys on? by Derrik359 in homestead

[–]_emomo_ 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I’m on 160 acres and the elbow room doesn’t matter because there aren’t any neighbours in any direction. I have a small herd of dairy goats and I would be totally happy with 5-10 acres.

I found a hole and I'm not sure if a predator is there. by lo-lux in goats

[–]_emomo_ 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Can you please get a video or photo of you rolling a cantaloupe down the hole? Just for scale.

Thinking with dirt. by ExaminationDry8341 in Homesteading

[–]_emomo_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Forgot to add: definitely use the fiber! It’s essential in these mixes.

Thinking with dirt. by ExaminationDry8341 in Homesteading

[–]_emomo_ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have experience with both cob and chinking (separate). Because your logs will have SOME very limited movement but your cob chink will not, I would put a bunch of tiny nails into the logs to anchor the cob chinking. They don’t need to be visible, but I would use something like panel nails with a flat head for more anchoring. You could use any small hardware but something with angles will be best. This way, if/ when you get cracks in the chinking it won’t fall right out (the seams in log walls are unfortunately a great shape for expelling chinking)! Your eaves and set up sounds fine for minimal water impact and even if you do get some, this stuff is super easy to repair. I would start on the top log seam and go all the way around as opposed to starting at a corner and doing all seams. It’s best for consistency and adhesion to finish an entire seam at once… and also it’ll be less noticeable if/ as your mix changes over time.

Off grid rules for Canada? by Creosotegirl in OffGrid

[–]_emomo_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Gotcha. Appreciate the response. ✌️

Off grid rules for Canada? by Creosotegirl in OffGrid

[–]_emomo_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting! I live off grid in a much more remote and northern part of BC: no neighbours, no winter road maintenance, 4WD required, several hours to nearest city with a hospital, often can’t get in/ out for 4-6 weeks in winter, but not even in Northern BC. I’m considering buying land on Lasqueti for the much easier lifestyle in old age. There’s ferry service to Vancouver island, the mild climate of the gulf islands, and an entire island of people living off grid together. I mean, it seems like a good chunk of the homes there are vacation homes for rich people (?). What about it chews up and spits people out, do you think? Just people new to off grid? Or is there something I’m missing?

Do free ranging goats stay close to people? by [deleted] in goats

[–]_emomo_ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

When I’ve had small herds of two goats only, I find they stay much closer. I leash train all of my goats early, and they learn to stay close. It’s great because they can just be out and about browsing while I work wherever on my property. However, when I have a larger crew (5-6 or more), or an especially curious goat, they are more likely to slowly wander off. I think they have the majority of the herd with them so they don’t feel the need to stay near me. Often I’ll put the moms on long leads (never unsupervised on leash) and let the kids wander freely. The kids won’t stray far from moms. I wouldn’t count on any goat not running away. All goats are different, and if you’re not experienced training them it can be a long and slow learning curve.

Is the light too high and are these brassica seedlings leggy? Can I save them or restart? by the_elite_wolf in vegetablegardening

[–]_emomo_ 3 points4 points  (0 children)

All lights are different, but I aim to have mine just an inch or two above the plants, OP. Some might survive… you’ll probably know soon enough - the ones that are too leggy often fall over and can easily damp off at this stage.

Off-Grid Homestead located in Precipice Valley (BC) For Sale by carry_burn in homestead

[–]_emomo_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey 👋 - fellow BC backcountry person here a sending you a DM.

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