feralfarmer.bsky.social
Feral Farmer: music artist, nature hacker, co-owner & product designer at Glaciers End, soil, perennials, Illinois Local Food Change Maker 2021, Techno, Elder
508 posts
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It’s been a good mulberry year for us here in zone 7.
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I’m a value added farmer. We take the things that we grow and nurture and cultivate the wild edibles that grow naturally on our farm and make products.
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Yes we use all of them but two in our products.
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Beautiful!
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Agreed. I’m excited to see what the new leadership can do. It’s a program not unlike other IL agencies that verys greatly from chapter to chapter in effectiveness and focus. I’m hoping it can adopt a more uniform message and game plan throughout the entire state.
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I totally agree much more is needed but when you gut the only agency working on the issue that’s going the wrong direction. They already have issues maintaining staff and now their funding is halved.
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In fact in Illinois @govpritzker.illinois.gov just slashed funding in half this year.
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Bummer. Yeah last year was like that for us. We’ve had a very cool and wet spring this year.
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So good.
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Let’s see if the press can both sides this one.
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Fuck off.
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I haven’t yet. Ours are just getting established so I’m leaving them to do their thing at this point.
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We have very intense deer pressure as well. For us it’s just sheer volume. We usually do between 300-600 cuttings. We loose a lot between deer and drought but some establish and when they do they do great. Our issue w deer now is them eating the flower heads off in early summer. Very frustrating.
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Permaculture can help with that. It great at transforming difficult areas.
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I have never propagated grapes but canadensis is very very easy. As simple as taking cuttings and sticking them in areas the like.
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If you get one established you can easily propagate your whole farm in 5 or so years from that one plant.
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It’s such a wonderful ingredient. One of my favorites. That looks delicious!
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Correction: it was the east side of the tree so shaded most of the day.
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Same here. Always a surprise. 😂
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Do you know if the ones that pop up are from seed or coming up from the root system? Elder and sumac both spread by vegetative reproduction.
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Outstanding. I do our elderberry the same way. Great to know!
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I’ve definitely noticed suckers too. Maybe I’ll try moving them. Thanks!
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Awesome! Thanks!
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I have not propagated by cuttings yet. Have you? Is there a good guide that you follow?
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I haven’t but that sounds very interesting. I will definitely do some research on that.
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That is definitely the case. I did plant then in partial shade but it is very hot and humid during the summer here. I’m going to try to establish a forest garden and plant them under the hickory canopy. The temperatures can vary greatly here and can be quite volatile from one extreme to another.
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The American Elder, canadensis, is native to our area. It grows wild all over our farm. We have both wild varieties and cultivars. It’s our main crop.
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The old” I smell communism in here. We’re gonna need to search your car!” routine.
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It’s a pomme. Related to apples and pears. It does make edible fruit. A bit sour and bitter.
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I use them in different ways. I make a shrub called Raspberry Bouquet : with magnolia, and elderflower. I also make a magnolia syrup as well. Very much like a mild ginger flavor wise. I find these the best. The large white ones can be very perfumy.