guildfordcycads

Given our current knowledge and development, what’s the up to date narrative on “commercially viable” regen ag. As well as new or developing financial incentives for farmers, industrial plants etc. I know about carbon credits… Even providing resources to diff companies and organizations that tie into these matters would be a huge help:

I have ⅛ of an acre in Southern Missouri. Zone 6b. My property used to be part of a farm and has 8-12″ of nice soil on top of at least 12 more inches of clay. It takes a 16″ wide, 11″ deep hole at least 4 hours to drain. When it rains, there will be 2 inches of standing water in parts of the yard for days after (you know how torrential the rains get here).

I want to grow fruit trees and plants I get something out of, but all I can grow at this point is more hate for the dreaded “well drained soil” label on every tree I look at.

I’m looking for solutions. Are there fruit bearing (or veggies) plants I can get, or do I have to go nuclear and just build a rain garden or put mulch all over and hope it breaks down easily over the next year and creates good soil.

For mulch (which I need anyway), should I take it from an arborist for free, or will he likely be giving away some ground up diseased tree that’s just going to kill all my trees? Is landscape supply mulch any better?

Edit: My neighbor says there is an underground river under my backyard. She’s lived in her house 50+ years and said the last person here ways struggled with growing anything in the backyard.

Clunes in March

Is there anyone going to the Clunes Booktown Festival on Sunday March 23rd?

I’m going to see Costa, Kirsten Bradley, and David Holmgren speak on sustainability in a changing climate b/t 1130-1230 and thought it would be lovely to have lunch with someone after.

NOT looking for a date! Strictly limited to cross pollination in plants only!

Open to all ages and genders, neurodiversity levels and persuasions, just someone (like me) who maybe doesn’t get much human contact, loves their garden and growing things, and would enjoy an obligation free chat about plants and other stuff over a nice lunch or a cuppa.

Anyway, pm me if it sounds like something you would be interested in.

Our dog has completely wrecked our small lawn (like 15ft x 15ft) by using it as a bathroom. When we moved here 3 years ago, the lawn was perfect, now it is mostly dead with large bare spots and scattered clumps of living grass. Plus it smells. There’s not much of an alternative because our dog is a diva and refuses to go potty on walks. I’d like to tear out the lawn and start again but I’m nervous since our budget is very small. Is anyone familiar with Dymondia (“Silver Carpet”) as a lawn replacement? It seems like it may be hardier given the rough treatment the grass is getting, but I don’t want to invest if it is just going to die too. I also want it to not take forever to grow as we want it to look good sooner rather than later so we can have people over, so I’m guessing it will mean buying a fairly large amount of groundcover plants. Alternatively, does anyone know of a good dog bathroom lawn plant that will help absorb and process the odor and survive dog pee and foot traffic? I also want to be as good a steward of the land as possible, and having a dog bathroom in a concentrated area seems like not good stewardship. Woodchips seem like they’d just smell terrible and gravel seems expensive too. I’d love to hear your experiences.