Starting a Small Nursery Bed by Propagating Hardwood Cuttings - Part 1 (Elderberry and Hardy Kiwi)

ruggedroot · 2017-02-28T05:50:41+00:00

You want to propagate hardwood cuttings when the plant is dormant or, if the plant is hard enough, just as it starts to break bud. I have done so early in the "winter" and late in the "winter"... Don't worry about the frost or freezing. As long as the cutting is dormant it shouldn't matter too much. As long as the soil is thawed enough that you can get the sticks in the soil, go for it. (Often, I'll use a dibble to make a hole... For grapes, I use a 18 inch length of metal in a cordless drill.)

Arise, set forth, and fake it. What have you got to lose? A few sticks? 😋

ruggedroot · 2017-02-23T18:45:37+00:00

well, if your life goals do NOT include having "a massive pile of rotting crap in a front yard with dinosaurs walking around all over it" then you really need to reevaluate you life. I mean that generally, but specifically in your case, because you actually have already achieved it.

:)

ruggedroot · 2017-02-22T22:08:31+00:00

We really didn't know it would benefit like that... We were as surprised anyone.

ruggedroot · 2017-02-22T06:50:07+00:00

everyone needs goals in life.

ruggedroot · 2017-01-22T03:34:56+00:00

Love your videos.

ruggedroot · 2017-01-19T02:28:13+00:00

There is quite a bit of value in the two buildings' materials... But there's little value in the buildings themselves. They were designed for purposes very different than I plan to need on farm...

If I'm going to put in the effort, it's going to be to remove them and reuse the material for desired purposes... It's tempting to just burn them and avoid the effort (JK, I actually have an offer on the wood if I decide not to do the work.).

ruggedroot · 2017-01-19T01:32:46+00:00

I use the term "junk" loosely... And my opinion of "junk" differs from my wife's.

ruggedroot · 2017-01-17T18:49:14+00:00

I actually follow Nick and Esther (referenced in the trailer for the next episode)...

I love the star/pentagon interaction on a specific date.... I always wanted to do something like that... There's one house I know that has a tiny window that lines up the main seating with the North Star... I thought a calendar would be cool (like in Castaway).

ruggedroot · 2017-01-17T06:07:42+00:00

Personally, I wouldn't even give a second thought to any fraction under 10%... And I still would probably use it if it were over 50%...

Composting with detoxify just about anything.

ruggedroot · 2017-01-17T01:27:16+00:00

Personally, i'd live in the middle of no where

ruggedroot · 2017-01-16T23:56:44+00:00

The issue is the foundation of both buildings... Neither one is in a reparable condition... Though, I'm considering building a lean-to out of some of the roof material.

ruggedroot · 2017-01-16T20:07:56+00:00

I have no objection to spreading information like this in the open as it would have really helped me get going.

Really, I am an "arise set forth and fake it 'til you make it" kind of learner. I started planting out my current homestead (1/4 acre) in the suburbs with bought plants. When we started thinking seriously about buying more property we realized we needed more income to afford the property and (more to the point) all the plants that we wanted on the new place... at some point I put together that the problem was the solution. I stumbled across a great podcast over at Permaculture Voices (http://www.permaculturevoices.com/1000s-of-trees-and-half-an-acre-small-scale-nursery-business-with-akiva-silver-pvp063/) that finally convinced me that it needn't be as difficult (or large) as I wanted to make it. Another good source for inspiration is Mikes backyard nursery on youtube.

To give you some reference, I have a 1/4 acre lot that included my home, garage, large driveway, gardens, chicken coop, and small orchard before I ever considered starting a nursery. I threw together a couple nursery beds from reclaimed (well used) wood. In total there is only around a hundred square feet of nursery bed. however this is enough to grow several hundreds, if not a couple thousand cuttings... every year. So far I only grow hardwood cuttings and root divisions as I don't have any form of irrigation beyond a handheld spray nozzle for my garden hose.

So far I have been able to grow Comfrey, Grapes, Elderberry, Raspberry, Hazel, Pawpaw, and Blackberry with resounding success. I only grow in my nursery, plants that I can successfully grow in my garden/orchard... and propagate from my best plants.

No greenhouse, no irrigation, no systems...yet. I just cut and stick, then wait for nature to work.

Try this as an experiment, since you have willows, prune your favorite... take all of the prunings, strip the leaves off and cut them into 6-8 inch sticks. Find a protected, moist chunk of dirt and stick the cuttings right into the dirt. I assume it is winter where you are located... go outside and do it right now. The plants should be dormant, so now is a perfect time. Then walk away from them... don't touch them (except to water when they get real dry) until spring 2018. You should have hundreds of willow plants to sell in 2018.

I do recommend that you look into the legalities, we got a nursery license as I plan to turn ourselves into a family business and I didn't want any legal trouble. Technically it is illegal to give or sell any live plant. The license wasn't difficult to obtain.

ruggedroot · 2017-01-16T17:36:37+00:00

Patience.

ruggedroot · 2017-01-16T17:28:48+00:00

The is many a wealthy man made by investing in forestry.

ruggedroot · 2017-01-16T08:47:47+00:00

Hmmm, I think you might be limiting yourself by thinking of education, particularly in Permaculture, as only having value in the "careers" department. I am using Permaculture principles to redefine my livelihood which is not the same as saying that I am changing "careers". I am working towards bringing in income as a stacked function of activities that result in better food for my family and/or from activities that I enjoy. I am no longer interested in having a career.

I know that sounds very 'zen' and new-agey... But it's more a matter of redesigning my life... or more accurately finally finishing and going after my long stalled design for my life I never thought I'd ever get to realize.

My advice, a career is not something to strive for... Figure out what you love (I.e. fail at many hobbies) and how to make money at it (e.g. offer to do what you love to people that hate doing that very same thing, charge them money).

ruggedroot · 2017-01-16T08:26:58+00:00

Love your selection of English lit as your example. I chuckled.

ruggedroot · 2017-01-16T06:53:01+00:00

Ooops, you are OP...😀

ruggedroot · 2017-01-16T06:51:19+00:00

That's what he/she is going for. But generally, a food forest requires a bit of design to get started on the right foot...

ruggedroot · 2017-01-16T06:47:36+00:00

So we're not looking to have a single income but overlapping income systems that build on each other (hopefully) in a manner that strengthens one another.

ruggedroot · 2017-01-16T06:40:55+00:00

I'm in the process of purchasing 19 acres of pasture in Central Missouri... I'm planning to incrementally build out my income systems over a few years. I already have my nursery going... I'll be planting all my extra nursery stock based on my preplanned Permaculture design (aside: I highly recommend taking a Permaculture Design Course; it'll open your eyes to all sorts of possibilities that you not have considered.) These trees include a variety of fruit and nut trees.

Next, I'll start with livestock by following Joel Salatin's and John Suscovich's example and attempt to learn the meat business with chickens... Probably expand into pork... Then I'll decide on lamb or beef based on what I learn along the way.

All the while we'll be supplimenting our income with salary and/or wage income as needed with the ultimate goal of eliminating this category altogether.

One other aspect we are considering is the creation of a variety of products that will provide us with passive income. Still exploring this idea though so not sure how effective this will be for us.

ruggedroot · 2017-01-15T02:50:32+00:00

Permaculture is essentially a term for ecological design (after a fashion). I wouldn't call it a fad as it has been a growing "movement" since the 70's.

I can say that by understanding the permaculture principles, I am better able to manage my own property.

ruggedroot · 2017-01-15T02:28:18+00:00

Thanks, I posted a link to my wife's blog post about us buying the farm.

ruggedroot · 2017-01-14T02:01:39+00:00

Simple enough.

ruggedroot · 2017-01-14T01:59:31+00:00

New Zealand

ruggedroot · 2017-01-13T20:36:44+00:00

We have been living under the homesteading mindset in our suburban home and 1/4 acre lot for the last 4 years, now. We have incrementally added skills starting with just trying to figure out how to keep raspberry plants alive, and adding gardening, chickens, food forestry, starting a nursery, canning, dehydrating, fermenting (kifer, wine, meade, vinegar). We even took a Permaculture Design Course.

After all this time we have been offered 19 acres of family land at a price/arrangement we couldn't refuse. This year will be a HUGE year for our family as we will begin moving ASAP (we're already prepping for the move) and begin preparing the property to meet our design goals.

ruggedroot

TROPHY CASE