Looking for NC Gardeners

[willworkforfood]

Are there any gardeners out there from North Carolina?
I am trying to locate fellow tarheels for discussions like
this crazy weather we have here, what we are growing in our climates,
etc. I love anyone who is passionate about heirlooms and organics so
that includes everyone on IDigMyGarden, but just looking for
some folks in my vicinity.

[SunflowerMeg]

Hi - I'm in Rutherford County; just moved here from Buncombe County...the Asheville-Black Mountain area. I'm now about 40 miles "down the mountain" headed east.

This IS crazy weather. I don't know about you, but it has hardly rained here since we moved in February. Black Mountain had so much rain during the spring and summer the last few years, that it basically destroyed my gardens.

It sure is pretty here though. We are "rural" folks now...only 2 acres but that beats the .33 we just left. We hope to buy another 2 landlocked acres adjacent to this one.

I have always gardened organically, and have become interested in heirlooms the last few years. Can't say that I'm the best gardener ever, but sure have fun trying.

[HillsideDigger]

SW McDowell County, NC here.

[susananash]

I'm in SW Virginia, just 2 miles from NC. This is home, but previously we had a home in Fletcher, just south of Asheville.
It is D.R.Y. here. Local lore says today, Good Friday, is planting day. I'd much prefer rain so we can plant afterward.
I'm curious. Why do you say "no rototillers"? It makes me wonder if there is something I should know about. I've wanted to do organic gardening for the past 35 years or so, but never really had the time or land until now. I need all the advise I can get.

[lettuce lover]

I live in East Tenn, 7 miles from the NC state line and only about 60 minutes from Asheville. The climate in these mountains is so unique it would be wonderful to have other gardeners to chat with.

[SunflowerMeg]

So, here we are! Where are you? :)

[River Rest]

Hi, to all my NC, TN & VA neighbors. I'm in Caldwell County,NC. 10 Miles SW of Blowing Rock.

I'm learning to plant by the moon & natural signs. Any advice would be appreciated. Basically planting what fruits above ground during waxing moon, below ground during waning moon. Planted carrots yesterday (day after full moon, supposed to be the best day). Planted beets late last month. I think I'm late in doing so,but I'll be getting the potatoes in today.

I'm also doing the organic thing. Has anybody used the products from Garden's Alive? Are they really safe for organic gardening? I ordered the Soap Shield & Garden Plenty. They had a $25 coupon so I thought I'd give it a try.

I'm also doing the companion planting. It's been very dry here & now is turning hot. I'm watering every morning.

[SunflowerMeg]

Hi Susana - I think the jist of no rototilling is that it, for one, tilling chops all your worms up. You want to increase the microbiological benefits, not destroy them. If you google the subject, you'll find lots of pros and cons. I tilled one row just to get started because I'm starting from scratch here and digging that much area is more physical than what I can handle. Shoot, even tilling is too much for me, but the guys will use the tiller, whereas they won't do THAT much digging of fresh ground breaking. But, I'm laying black plastic and newspaper in 90% other areas to kill grass and weeds and will plant in those areas come Fall-ish. In time, I will use the raised bed/no sides (to hold the raised beds in place) method (forgive me, I'm still kind of ignorant of the terminologies). Once you have these beds established, there will be no reason to ever have to walk on them again, hence, in a few years time, you'll have soft ground built up several inches. Check out the "Lasagna Method" and there's another method too...help someone...what is it called???

P.S. Susanna - I believe the words I was looking for was "biointensive" and "sheet mulching". There's a thread on that in "General Digging".

[susananash]

Well, that makes sense. We could also call that the non violent method. It sounds as if you've done your research on how to kill weeds. For this summer, I think I'll just have to let my veggies peacefully co-exist with weeds & grass - if such a thing is possible. Our ground here is pretty rough, also. My husband has had to roto till also, just to get started. We've also had to pull a lot of stuff out by hand after tilling. It's dry here also, so the ground is very hard.
We've started a compost pile, and hopefully will build up the soil over time. I'm marking off planting areas within the garden. It sounds sort of like what you are doing with the raised bed idea.
I have no words of wisdom to offer, but I appreciate your response. This is the first time I've gotten involved in a forum. I really enjoy reading other people's ideas, and I'm learning from them.
Let's hope it rains soon.

[HillsideDigger]

OK, I've got time to answer about not using a tiller or a tractor or horses and plows for that matter

its not necassary, a planting bed can be prepared with a shovel quicker than a tiller can be cranked, particularly the first time you try to crank it at the end of the winter when it is discovered that a trip must be made to the small engine place to get it repaired, or you need gas and must run to the nearest gas dispersion center!

A shovel and hoe can work a very large area, saves gas and machinery but mainly tillers are very rough on my back, I have found, and I've noticed it in other people as well, main cause of fibromyalgia in rural areas.

Its not that I prefer to do things the hard way, its that I prefer to do things the easier way and the resulting produce is the evidence and further I think landscaping plastic or felt is terribly unsightly for years after its use.

It had not occurred to me that tilling might kill the worms.

Further, it does not matter how much plowing and tilling is undertaken, any good garden will still be overtaken by weeds without constant care (with a hoe and your hands), no herbicides either.

I did some irrigation this evening and hope that is not going to be necassary all year because our well will stop and need a day of recharging if to much water is pumped.

[SunflowerMeg]

I find rototilling to be extremely labor intensive, especially if it's new ground. In fact, I can't even do...can't keep control of the darn tiller.

[willworkforfood]

WOW!!! Nice to meet you all!!!
Been swamped with the beginning of the season here.
I think all I have done is pick spinach for 2 weeks.
We have spinach, lettuce, arugula, carrots, mustards,
strawberries, turnips/greens, onions, beets and fava beans
coming in right now, with English peas on their tail.
The melons, tomatoes, squash, okra and
several other things coming along. Had some rain and they all went
nuts. I hope the drought is breaking here and for anyone else
experiencing it. This weather is just crazy as I said previously.
Two weeks ago it was 88 degrees one day and 60 the next.
We covered and uncovered strawberries about 4 times.
What's everybody else growing this time of year? :)

[SunflowerMeg]

Hi willwork - Yeah, I think the drought is over! I was getting a little worried there for awhile. Do you already have your tomatoes and melons and such out??????