Survival Garden (top 5 plants) : Part #2 of 2

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For this to make sense, you should probably should read Part #1 first < click here to read Part #1 >

We stopped in Part #1 needing 5,400 pounds of food from your garden for our family of four. That’s almost 3 tons of garden production!!! Whoa!!!! That is a lot of garden production.

So, how would you produce that much from your garden?

Here’s how it breaks down, space wise, for each of the 5 foods…

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Here’s what a garden layout might look like based on individual plots of each of the 5 foods…

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Now good news, these plants can be planted as “companions” for space consideration and nutrient compatibility.

Now, let’s revise the garden layout with companion planting in mind…

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That is an impractical layout because there is no spacing between rows to work…or even walk. But I wanted to show you just what the actual garden “space” looked like. But now let’s look at what is realistic…

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This version is more practical but still very condensed/compact. It does give you an idea of what is possible. You could take it and expand it to meet your needs/wants according to your available space.

The bottom line here is simple…you could do it.

Does this mean you couldn’t plant anything else? Of course not. And there are plenty more companion plants that you could integrate into our survival garden with realistically little additional effort. Think about it…add flavor (chili peppers), add cooking options (tomato sauce), add nutrition/flavor (onions), add taste (cucumbers → pickles), etc.

Also, think about this…on our glamstead we have a strawberry patch, a raspberry patch, and a blackberry patch. You could plant those now as well…and be ready for the future.

The “garden” we’ve been talking about is the primary source of calorie/protein/fat staples kinda food. Our tasty berries are relatively high in vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants. They aren’t calorie-dense enough to form a primary energy source like potatoes, beans, or corn, but they round out nutrition, help prevent deficiencies, and add variety to the diet. Kinda like a boost to morale and diet satisfaction item…think sugar “fix.” They do provide nutrients that improve immune function. And frankly, if needed, berries could serve as trading or bartering items. Think about this…they cold also help prevent food fatigue.

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Here are some Options / Alternatives –

Out of the 5 basic foods we discussed so far here are some thoughts…

  • The most difficult to grow is dry corn due to heavy nitrogen demand. It is also the most labor and equipment intensive to process for storage and actual storage itself.
  • The most difficult to store is potatoes due to temperature control, humidity control, sprouting potential, and risk of rot.

Let’s see what can be grown in their place…

Dry Corn – “Most Difficult to Grow & Harvesting Process”

Alternative Options:

  • Grain Sorghum: Drought-tolerant, easier to grow in poor soil, high-calorie grain.
  • Millet: Small grains, very hardy, grows in hot/dry conditions, easier to grow than corn.
  • Amaranth: Can serve as both leafy greens and grain, very resilient, drought-tolerant.
Potatoes – “Most Difficult to Store”

Alternative Options:

  • Sweet potatoes: Longer storage life, high calories, and easier to cure/store in our high-desert climate. Interesting note…sweet potatoes are a completely different plant from regular potatoes, though they are both starchy, tuber-like crops
  • Jerusalem artichokes (sunchokes): Tubers that tolerate cold, can be left in soil until needed, calorie-dense.
  • Carrots or parsnips: Root vegetables with reasonable storage life if stored properly; less yield per acre than potatoes but easier to manage.

Now, if I was going to suggest two crops that could be of immense help, even replace the corn, it would be Jerusalem artichokes and grain sorghum. Grain sorghum would be a preferred replacement for corn. Jerusalem artichokes could replace potatoes. BUT…better yet…just add Jerusalem artichokes to the “Top 5 List”…call it “insurance.”

Jerusalem artichokes bring to the garden/diet incredible reliability, little storage headache, leave-in-ground harvesting, and huge yields. Jerusalem artichoke are calories per pound about the same as potatoes and they’re mostly carbohydrate (inulin). Inulin feeds beneficial gut bacteria. Produces less rapid glucose spike than potatoes. As a side-benefit it may help improve absorption of both calcium and magnesium. “Soft” Warning – eating Jerusalem artichokes, for some people, may cause bloating, gas, and digestive discomfort. The result could also include gaseous emissions (farts). Best to try them before doing a big planting.

There you go!! You can garden to survive…if you want to garden and survive. Many folks, myself included, would look at the garden as a supplement to our food storage for probably the first two years. First year for sure we would depend on our food storage and use the garden production to extend our food storage.

If this scenario would be an “extended” food chain problem…or a total “grid-down” end of the world event (TEOTWAWKI) then by year 3 you would be looking at the garden as the sole source of food. And please, please don’t say “I would just hunt for our food and eat deer, elk, rabbit, and the neighbors cows.”

Really, do you live in a forest? What do you think every other starving family would be doing? And do you think your neighbor might object, just a little bit, to you killing his cows? That being said…don’t overlook an opportunity kill of wildlife. Even small birds could add protein to a stew. And a venison steak would be amazing cooked over a campfire. But you won’t survive thinking you are the great hunter/gatherer dragging dinner home to your family.

Another thought…is your garden in plain view? If so, maybe that isn’t the best idea…everyone else would see it as a grocery store.

Here’s a thought for you…And I would plant zucchini no matter what. Zucchini can actually be a surprisingly useful survival food, especially in a high-production, home-garden or prepper setup. Zucchini germinates and grows rapidly, sometimes ready to harvest in about 50 days from seed. You can harvest multiple rounds in a single season. That could keep you from starving when food supply is limited. As you well know, each plant produces a large number of fruits over the season…even a few plants can provide consistent food.

Zucchini is easy to grow and can be eaten raw, cooked, roasted, or made into soups/stews. It can also be shredded or sliced and then incorporated into multiple dishes. Don’t forget “zoodles.” Zucchini is not extremely calorie-dense, it does provides hydration and nutrients such as vitamins A, C, potassium, and a good fiber source.

And lastly…the seeds. Zucchini seeds can be harvested from mature fruit, dried, stored, and then consumed as seeds (roasted and/or flavored). The seeds can be safely stored (if prepared & stored properly) for 6 – 12 months. And they can be added to soups or stews.

Think about this for a minute…how many times have you heard of zucchini plants taking over a garden or producing fruit 10 times faster than they can be eaten. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful problem to have if you were trying to survive off your garden!?!

Nature gets a vote. A survival garden should always have redundancy. I would over-plant and diversify. Better safe than sorry.

Last note…spices and salt. If you are going to live off your garden…store plenty of spices and salt. Without those…your meals, while filling, might lead to more food fatigue.

< click to enlarge or save >

Listen closely…in closing…forget the experts and talking heads for a minute. Think about your family, your community, and the people around you. Become more self-reliant, not so you can stand apart from others, but so you can better care for your family and serve those around you.

< click to enlarge or save >

No one is coming to save us…we serve and save each other.

← Click here to read Part #1 Article 

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 2009 - 2026 Copyright © AHTrimble.com ~ All rights reserved
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Survival Garden (top 5 plants) : Part #1 of 2

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I get this question a lot. I thought I covered it before but I will have another go at it with details. The question is “What can I plant and grow in my garden to survive on if there is no food available at all in the store?”

I am going to change that and make it much more dramatic.

The I am going to use scenario:

  1. Food supply chain is done, gone, not available.
  2. I need to live off my garden as the only source of food.
  3. I know I need calories and protein.
  4. I need lots of pounds of food.
  5. I need to be able to store it from harvest (year 1) through planting (year 2) to harvest (year 2).
  6. I need some of the seeds from the harvest in year 1 to use for planting in year 2.
  7. Space is not an issue…reasonably.
  8. I have a family of 4; 1 adult man, 1 adult woman, 1 teen child, 1 pre-teen child.

Here are some basics:

  • These become your priorities; calories, protein, fat/oils, storage life, seed saving, growth reliability, climate adaptation, production per square foot, nutritional density, and ability to preserve.
  • For my specific glamstead location, I have to consider crops that work with a shorter growing season, cool nights, intense UV, low humidity, spring wind, periodic drought, and possible early/late frosts/freezes. I can offset the “drought” issue because I have a well. But, will the well hold out? Think for a minute…a garden without reliable water is just landscaping.
  • We know that people need calories, carbohydrates, fats, and protein in our diets as priorities.
  • You will starve to death if you think you can survive on lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers.
  • And then there is the actual calorie intake requirements:

These numbers are rough estimates based on my climate, my soil, my family assumptions, and reasonable yields. Real-world results could vary dramatically. Please do your own research for your own area and family needs.

Let’s make it more real when looking at it as a family combined…

But under survival conditions where hard/persistent physical labor is present the calorie intake could easily double.

Now, let me share this with you…I am talking pure survival. I am not talking about balanced diet, healthy, gluten free, non-GMO, none of that crap. I am talking food that will keep you alive and the most efficient way to go about it.

Last note, the list is for my area…my location…not yours…unless you are a neighbor. You would have to look up what is right for your area. DO NOT TRUST INTERNET EXPERTS !!! Do not trust gardener or survivalist keyboard warriors. Do not trust me. Do your own research for your area. I will make one suggestion that might help…use some AI program for help. I worked on my list then double-checked it against a very detailed and specific prompt using chatgpt.com It helped me to understand I was off on one of my choices…there was a better one. It also gave me the reasoning for the difference.

Here are the top 5 foods to plant, harvest, eat, and survive…in my area:

  1. Potatoes
  2. Dry Corn (field corn)
  3. Beans (dried beans)
  4. Winter Squash
  5. Sunflowers

* There will be three substitutions/options/alternatives that I will mention at the end.

Here are the details:

#1 Potatoes –

First off, I’m about 1/3 Irish…so this is an obvious #1 choice for me. And in addition to that they have a huge calorie count, they are really productive, they store well, spread and reproduce easily, they are adaptable to most climates including ours, they are very calorie dense, and contain other useful nutrients.

For us the varieties would probably be Yukon Gold or Kennebec. They would store for months in a cool place like a dug pit (which we would do) or root cellar (which we don’t have). And all we would have to do is save some of the potatoes with the most sprouts to use as seed potatoes for the next year’s crop.

They can take up some space but can be grown densely. The soil we would use would need amending (compost) but that could be acquired from under our tress, etc.

#2 Dry Corn (field corn) –

This is not sweet corn we’re talking about…it’s “field” corn, specifically “dent” corn. For our area we would want to use Painted Mountain Corn or Hopi Blue Corn, probably both. These varieties are excellent storage types, pretty dang cold tolerant, they can thrive in a shorter growing season, and can handle more adverse weather conditions that our climate produces. This is a “grain” vs a picnic type corn on the cob. With this corn you can have cornmeal, flour, hominy, masa, and animal feed. But it takes processing; drying, shelling, grinding, and storage.

Our #1 issue is a dry climate, #2 is short growing season. Painted Mountain Corn is excellent at both and Hopi Blue Corn is very good at both. Hopi Blue Corn is a little better at nutrition.

A bonus with dent corn is the “leftover” after the ear of corn is picked and the kernels are shucked…EVERYTHING else is 100% usable.

The stalks and leaves can be used for fresh animal feed, silage animal feed (chopped & fermented), and dried animal feed. Animals that can eat it are cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, and to a limited degree chickens and rabbits. The stalks and leaves can also be used for composting and mulch. And our soil could seriously benefit from both. And the cobs can also be used as fuel. Once dried, they should be viewed as compressed natural tinder…it burns hot and fast. One interesting uses…biochar. Cobs are a good source that can be converted into biochar…another important soil amendment for our area.

#3 Beans (dry beans) –

For our area I would choose Anasazi beans. I am already familiar with them, they taste really great, they are a desert adapted bean, store really well, and they a very good-looking colorful bean. I am considering the addition of Tepary beans. I’ve never grown them but I will try some next year. If I am successful with them…they are actually even better suited for our area and conditions than the Anasazi beans.

Anasazi beans are high protein, high fiber, calorie dense…basically, nutritionally serious food. Yup, and they are great for the soil…they fix nitrogen and improve soil fertility. This would be a crop that you plant in the area where you plant corn the following year. Why? Corn uses a lot of nitrogen, beans put nitrogen into the soil. Once the beans are harvested, leave the roots in the ground (that’s where the nitrogen is) and then compost the plant separately with other organic matter. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the bean roots leave some nitrogen in the soil when the roots decompose.

Interesting side-note…if I was caught short and didn’t have any Anasazi beans to use as seeds…well, I would happily use green been seeds. Just let green bean pods mature and dry on the plant. Once fully dried they can be shelled and stored like any other dried bean. And yes, compost the removed shell material.

#4 Winter Squash –

For me there is only one choice…Butternut. This squash is incredible for storage (6 – 12 months), a reliable plant for gardeners (productive & vigorous), and packed with nutrition…and it tastes amazing. Butternut is a perfect plant for our climate…handles dry condition really well and doesn’t need perfect soil. And yes, you can seed save. Speaking of seeds…

Butternut seeds contain fats, protein, minerals, and calories…basically concentrated survival nutrition. These seeds really help solve the whole survival “fat” problem…they have lots of fat. Harvest the seeds from mature fruit, roast em, store them properly, enjoy the flavor and the nutrition! Look, you can grind them into flour or simply add them to a stew…or eat as a convenient snack. It’s all good…it’s all nutrition.

I will mention that two alternatives would be Hubbard squash and Seminole pumpkin. From my research both are good survival options, and both would do good here. I have no personal experience with them as of now…next year I will do a test plot. Treat them like you would Butternut squash.

#5 Sunflowers –

I bet that one surprised you. Sunflowers may be one of the most underrated survival/preparedness crops there is. It is a fantastic source of fats, oil, protein, and calories. The stalks and leaves can also be used for animal feed. The flowers are magnets for pollinators which support all the other garden crops. If you don’t use the stalks and leaves for animal feed there will be lots of biomass for composting.

For our climate they can handle our sun, can handle the heat, and can tolerate dry conditions pretty well. Our variety choice would probably be Black Oil sunflowers for their high oil content. I’ve never grown them before…on the list for next year. For snacking and stews I would go with Mammoth or Russian Giant. Those two varieties have larger edible seeds and are easier to process but contain less oil than Black Oil.

Along with the leftover stalks and flowers being animal feed, the flowers themselves are really beautiful and can provide a big morale boost. Once all the harvesting is done, if you don’t have animals they are great for composting due to their large amount of biomass.

Sunflower seeds are really nutritious, they provide a concentrated source of calories, fat, protein, and…what’s really cool…micronutrients. The seeds can be eaten raw, roasted, or you can grind them into sunflower “butter.” The seeds can also be stored long-term if you keep them dry and cool. That is a huge benefit…long-term storage food reserve. Sunflower seeds can be pressed to extract oil, which is then used for cooking, adding calories, and could be used as a barter item. The oil has a long shelf-life if stored properly.

Sunflowers are relatively easy to grow in most climates and soils…even our moderately amended local soil. They tolerate drought better than many other crops, which is valuable in hot, dry regions like ours. And obviously, you can seed-save and produce next year’s crop.

Now…how much do you need of each?

Why do I ask that? Well, if you want to survive off your garden you gonna need to know how much you are going to use…and then that tells you how much you are gonna need to grow. And that tells you how much space is needed for your garden.

So how much do you need of each of the 5 foods?

So here is the basis of my estimates…

Here’s a nice info-graphic presentation…

< click the image to enlarge or right-click to download the image >

Bottom line…5,400 pounds of food from your garden! That’s almost 3 tons of garden production!!! Whoa!!!! That is a lot of garden production. I don’t think I’ve gotten more than about 1,000lbs of produce from any garden I’ve ever had. I would be hard pressed to think I could grow that much. However, there are only 2 of us…so we could get by on about 60% of that list. Still, that’s a huge demand…3200lbs of garden production.

So, how would you produce that much from your garden? Well, let’s get into that a bit…in Part #2.

Click here to read Part #2 article →

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 2009 - 2026 Copyright © AHTrimble.com ~ All rights reserved
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without expressed written permission from AHTrimble.com
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Q &A : 5/22/2026

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Some questions have been piling up, thought it might be time to share a couple…

 

 

  • You’re writing style looks as if it has changed, what’s up?

Good observation! It has changed, or at least I am trying to make it change. The question is “why?”

Well, originally the website was all about preparedness. Then some “survival” topics crept in. Then I added “homesteading” stuff…more like long-term preparedness/survival. And then Obama came about…yikes. I started more articles about current events…and its uglier cousin “politics”. I felt it absolutely essential for situation awareness purposes. Then Trump #1 hit, then Biden, and now Trump #2. I just couldn’t help myself.

The situation in the US became such that I had to start seriously warning about what was happening and what was going to happen. All my opinion of course. But, Trump #2 really set me off…betrayal big-time! If you’ve been reading my stuff for the last 1.5 years you know that I think Trump is probably the worst president that the US has had in my lifetime. And in my opinion the Trump family is little more than an organized crime family. I’ve never seen a family get rich off Donny Boy (i.e. President) like the Trump Family has. They’ve made BILLIONS off his decisions and statements and influence peddling. Truth be told…Trump is probably the most corrupt President in the history of the United States the way he is benefiting his family’s business.

So, it became my personal mission to yell that from the mountain tops. There are lot’s of folks out there that are preppers, conservatives, etc. that have been coming to my site for years…but when I started exposing Trump they left…some with anger in their hearts. They just couldn’t handle me not suffering from TWS. That’s when I started the “Patriot” idea for posting PDF files regarding Trump and current events.

But here’s the problem…me. Well, not the way you might think. I found that after writing one of those articles I was really “down”, a dark feeling in my heart. You can’t research, find out the truth, think about it, and write about all that crap and not have it get into your head. So yes, I’ve backed off a bit.

The other “style change” you might be referring to is my use of AI. A couple months ago I started using AI to generate images/pictures. I would write a paragraph, sometimes more, then upload it to an AI program and ask it for an image that reflects what I wrote. Wow! It would produce some amazing images and info-graphics. Most of the time it hit spot-on. If not, and it needed editing, I would simply tell it to add this, take away that, change this, etc.. It was like having a personal graphic artist sitting there working for me. Nice!

After that proved to be really useful I thought about how to benefit even more. I do have a problem with typos and grammar at times. I would write a paragraph, sometimes a whole article, then upload it to AI and ask it to check for typos, spelling, and grammar. It was really helpful. Early on it would make suggestions on how to change what I wrote…I told it “no thank you.” My writing style is mine. But, I thought about it…

Now, I accept suggestions:

  1. Facts and stats…I ask AI to check my facts and stats to be valid, reliable, and defensible. The same facts and stats can be interpreted multiple different ways…that’s called opinion. So the valid and reliable part is to make sure I am telling the truth. The defensible part is where it checks what I am saying to be defensible. That means my opinion is on-track and not some wild crap being thrown out there.
  2. I am also asking the AI to point out my more “bombastic” statements…and suggest a better way to make my point. It usually gives me a more moderate version of my point. I weigh it and use it or not. If it means making my point more accurate and clear, then I use it, or some altered version of it. I do NOT use AI to generate any part of articles.

Where AI is being extremely useful is checking my spelling and grammar. But, I don’t feed my stuff through AI every time, maybe ½ the time give or take. I will be posting a series of articles on “economics” probably next week. I’ve been working on it for about 10 days now. I’ve used AI extensively on that project. AI has been generating graphics for me to make the information more “friendly” and understandable. I also used AI to verify my stats and figures to ensure I was passing along good information that was accurate.

So yes, you picked up the “change” in my writing style. I am trying to make my material better.

  • You talk about your “flower mound”, why do you have it and what does it look like?

Here it is…

The tall black things are solar lights that make it look fantastic at night.

There are two primary reason; 1) to attract pollinators, 2) it gives color and beauty to our glamstead. If you want exact identification of plants let me know.

  • You’ve talked about AI being almost “evil” and yet I can tell you are using it for pictures. Have you gone over to the dark side?

I hope there is dripping sarcasm in your question. I explained above how I am using AI. Specifically I am using an LLM version of AI for generating images such as info-graphics, some trolling pictures of various public figures, and to provide visuals of a feeling I want to convey. It also checks my spelling and grammar. But no, I have not gone over to the dark side and joined “Sky Net.” Although I did order StarLink this week.

Just for fun I posed your question to AI and asked it how to respond, here’s the response it generated

“I get why it might seem contradictory. I think of AI like any other tool — it can be used well or poorly. I’m using it to create visuals and clarify ideas, not to manipulate, harm, or mislead. Just because a tool has potential for misuse doesn’t mean using it responsibly makes someone ‘dark side.’ It’s all about how and why you use it. I’m still on the side that drinks RC Cola and grows tomatoes.”

Can you tell the difference between my writing style and AI generated style? I sure hope so.

But hang on…I told it to make it sound more like me…

“Nope. Still drinking RC Cola and growing tomatoes. I just believe tools should serve people — not replace them.”

Does it sound anything like what I would say?

This is not me…Maybe something more like…

Yeah…I got a bit carried away with the AI generated pictures. Sometimes I just like to enjoy life.

Q & A Time…Ask me a question or send me a message…

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 2009 - 2026 Copyright © AHTrimble.com ~ All rights reserved
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GARDEN : Update! (05/20/2026)

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An absolutely gorgeous morning!!! It is crisp and cool this morning, a bit more humidity freshening the air, and just enough cloud cover to make it a little different than most mornings. And best of all…I took a walk through our little glamstead of paradise.

Let me share a few updates with you on the “State of the Glamstead”…

Orchard –

Yeah…a bust! That deep freeze killed off virtually all of this years fruit crop of every kind. A few late blossoms have set and we might get a dozen apples or so. We’ll see.

The 3 “gift” apple trees that I have mentioned before had ZERO blossoms on them this year. The trees look fantastic, very healthy and vibrant…but not a single blossom, ever.

I’m doing my research homework now. From what I can tell it looks as if I will be buying Enterprise, Haralson, or Liberty Semi-dwarf apple trees, on M111 root stock or Bud 118 if I can’t find M111. They will not go in the ground this year. I am looking to up-pot them for the rest of this season and plant them when they are dormant this winter. Wish me luck!!

Blackberry and Raspberry Patch –

The “leftover” raspberry bushes are coming on real nicely. They were the lower-end of the larger patch from last year. If you

Raspberry Bushes

aren’t familiar…last year the raspberry bushes overtook an area and congested it with out-of-control bush growth. My wife got very worried about it being a snake haven and asked my to “uncongest” that area. Neighbors came over and gathered 30+ raspberry plants/starts to begin their own patches. The plants we didn’t take out became the “leftovers”. There are still a few stragglers coming up in the cleared area so more plant sharing with neighbors.

Blackberry Bushes

And then came the great blackberry relocation! I planted blackberry starts way too close to a row of raspberries. So wifey wanted them moved to another area…creating, another snake-free zone (hopefully). So 13 blackberry plants were relocated to another part of the yard. All of the plants are thriving in their new home.

Both the raspberry and blackberry bushes have blossoms on them already and if they keep coming on like they’ve started…Yea! Plenty of berries this year.

Blueberry Patch –

Blueberry Bushes

Well, they’ve struggled. The deep freeze back in early March wiped out the ton of blossoms that had set, even some small fruit that had showed up got hit bad. That kinda stopped that any hope of enjoying blueberries this year. And the newest bush I put in also took a huge hit…looked as if it was stone cold dead. Well, thankfully it came back and is looking just fine.

No blueberries this year…well, maybe a couple. So we’ll call this a “rebuild” year.

Strawberry Patch –

Sore subject. In all reality it is going as well as could be expected. Last year’s plants are going great, blossoms promising

Strawberry Beds

fruit maybe within the month. Some of the new bare root and live plants are doing really well. Some are dead. Some are alive, small, and trying their best. We will have strawberries this year for sure. I’d say 1/3rd of the plants aren’t going to make it. But hey, that’s okay…I will bring along some runners and start enough daughter plants to fill in the blanks. So next

Great New Strawberry Plant & one that is struggling just a bit

year…Watch Out!

I will take the blame on this. I have never planted bare root stock before so I may have messed up on how I planted them. I followed their instructions but there is considerable conflict on the “right” way to plant them. It looks as if I did the best I could on the second round trying to save what I could. We’ll see.

~ Melon Patch ~

Melon Patch

Butternut Squash : It’s all doing really well…some plants have blossoms. And if I am not blind, there is one plant that looks as if it has a tiny squash already started. I had to remove a couple of the protective chicken wire because the vines were outgrowing them: about 18” long vines on a couple.

Watermelon

Watermelon : Doing well, a couple plants have 12” vines already. One plant has a blossom on it.

Cantaloupe : Whoa! Plants are doing really well with the exception of

Cantaloupe Plant

one…looks a bit puny. A couple have 12 – 16” vines already. Plenty of blossoms!

Zucchini : Seeds are germinating and doing well. 5 of 9 seeds are showing, no true leaves yet. I will thin to 1 plant per each of the three hills.

Note: My fear that the dogs and/or rabbits would pose a problem seems to have been unfounded. I have 5 exposed plants now without disturbance. We’ll closely monitor.

 

~ The Garden ~

Tomatoes –

The “deep freeze” took out over half of my tomato starter plants in the greenhouse; that left me a bit limited on what I had left to plant.

Early Girl & Brandywine Tomato Plants

Early Girl (2 of these) : I’m sold!! These were very hardy, even in the freeze. They are in the ground and doing really well. Actually, I had to prune them already and a couple blossoms are showing. I got to get the new system of keeping them upright constructed. I had to put a basket on one already just to keep it vertical.

Brandywine (2 of these) : I am liking the plants so far. I’ve never eaten one but the plant so far is hardy and had to prune them already. I am expecting blossoms any day now…or at least before the end of the month. This is an experimental plant for me, never planted one before.

Rio Grand (3 of these) : This is a “Roma” substitute for our environment. I can save seeds and the saved seeds should grow reasonably true Rio Grand tomato plants…so it’s not a real F1 hybrid plant. Call it a semi-hybrid/heirloom. They are doing well…just not very big yet.

Arkansas Traveler (1 of these) : This was pure experimental. I was looking for a tomato that could handle the heat here. Problem was…the deep freeze killed off all but one of them. It’s in the ground, but real small, planted them in with the Rio Grands. I’ll see what happens…but I have great hopes for it.

Beefsteak (3 of these) : This is a love/hate relationship!! I love the taste and they can’t be beat for sandwiches. But for me…they are so hard to get started. Well, the seedlings held up fine. But, they grow real slowly and in the ground I never know if they will live or die. They look like puny midget plants at this point…but the same was the case last year…then BOOM! They explode with growth and produced like crazy.

Boston Pickling Cucumber (6 hills / 18 seeds) – The seeds came in on Saturday, seeds went into the ground on Monday. Kinda screwed up a bit…only 2 of the 6 mounds have lots of room for vines. The others not as much. My wife makes the best, crunchiest pickles you can imagine! I gotta get up some shade cloth and hoops to protect them for a while. Another project…yea!

Green Beans (a bunch) : coming along nicely, sprouted quickly.

Wala-Wala Onions – Total disaster…again. I tried to start some “sets”. They sprouted, grew 4 – 5” tall…then stalled. I was ready to throw them away but thought, “What the heck!” They are now in the raised bed with the green beans. Just kinda stuck em in the ground Monday. Oddly, this morning some of them are standing up, the others aren’t

Green Chili Peppers

dead. We’ll see.

Green Chili Peppers (3 of them) : Wow!!! The plants all look awesome and there are a couple of chilies already on the plants, one is about 2” long. Yea!!!! We love them 🙂

Rattlesnake Beans : Planted 9 ‘hills’ of 2 seeds each. Nothing showing yet…but it’s only been a week. Keeping our hopes up! This was an experiment for this variety of beans. Supposed to be real similar to a green bean but more nutritious and better suited for this area.

Anasazi Beans : Well, so far 36 plants are up and showing. I think maybe 5 – 8

Anasazi Beans

seeds haven’t made it yet. This year was a test for them. Last year I calculated that it would take 20 plants to produce an average year’s supply for one person. This year I planted 45 seeds (+/-). The seeds are great for this area’s weather, and using marginal soil. So when the blackberries came out…the Anasazi Beans found a new home. About 26’ x 18” or so for the row. I planted them double-row, staggered. The soil is pretty much marginal but I did add compost, soil conditioner, and organic fertilizer before planting about 8 or 9 days ago. I will keep you updated.

Summary –

That’s about it…you’re up to date. Garden is in and doing its thing. Irrigation is all in place. The shade cloth is ordered and will be here tomorrow. It might not get put up till Monday.

Has anyone else had the experience that raspberry and blackberry bushes could be classified an invasive species? Especially blackberries? I am thinking they are.

SPECIAL NOTE: It is not too late to plant a garden. In most areas of the country there is still plenty of growing season left…almost all of it actually. Go buy yourselves some nice vegetable plants from Lowes and get them in the ground…or in your raised bed. You can also go “container” as well. Just plant something will ya !!!

Ahhhh, Final Note: Yes, I still have to do my final weeding between the raised beds and around the blackberries…give me a break.

 

 2009 - 2026 Copyright © AHTrimble.com ~ All rights reserved
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I may receive compensation from advertised/mentioned products on this website.
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GARDEN : My plea to you… (please read!!)

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I am writing this from my heart…a sincere, earnest plea. Please, seriously consider what I am asking of you.

Let me begin with this…it is not too late!

I’ve written a whole bunch on gardening this year…far more than in the past. This year I have a serious sense of urgency…almost overwhelming desire to share information. But most of all I am prompted…big time prompted…to ask this of you:

# 1 – You may not have a garden, but if you have the space…even a small corner…that’s enough. If you live in an apartment, put a couple of container plants, or hanging plants on your patio or balcony.

If you live in the city, find a small plot, maybe a building lot, and plant a garden…even if it’s only a couple of plants.

Find a little corner in your yard…put in some strawberries or raspberries.

Size doesn’t matter…just start.

 

# 2 – If you just can’t have a garden. Here’s an idea…talk to a gardener in your community and ask them if you can buy them some plants or seeds for their garden, maybe offer some organic fertilizer. Offer to help them take care of their garden. Don’t bargain with them…don’t try a “deal” trading your help for produce in return. Just offer to help them expand their garden, let them decide what to do with extra produce.

 

# 3 – If you can’t have a garden but a neighbor has the space but they don’t have a garden. Offer to work them to have a garden on their property. If they can’t help with a garden (i.e. too old, handicapped, etc.) then offer to do all the garden work. Here you can ask for some “share” arrangement of the produce.

# 4 – If you do have a garden. Expand it! Grow more, maybe way more, produce more than you and your family can eat and/or store. When the produce starts coming on…give it away! Find an old couple living on social security…maybe a young family or a single parent family…then give them produce from your garden. Another option, find a food bank or senior center than provides meals…give them all the fresh produce you possibly can. For some of the folks who benefit from your generosity this might be the only fresh produce they get in their diet.

# 5 – Think of other inspired ways to provide for others. Give till it hurts…sacrifice for others. People need that right now…both the givers and receivers.

# 6 – Buy seeds now for future gardens. Seeds, properly stored, will last years, sometimes decades. Put them away for later gardens. You could do the same with organic fertilizer, biochar, worm castings, and other soil amendments.

Look, I have tears in my eyes right now, I am full of emotions with what I see all around. This world is in turmoil right now. There is far too much division, confusion, animosity, even hatred and violence. But…we can take care of each other. We can blot out the static…get rid of the noise around us that is hurting us all. We only need to reach out to others…then give and serve.

Please…I ask this of you sincerely, with real intent. I don’t know exactly why, but I know I must share this plea with you, and ask for your help in serving each other.

We don’t have to wait for the world to change. Each garden we plant, each hand we lend, each fruit we give…that’s the change. Together, through these simple acts, we can heal, nourish, and connect. So today, right now, look around you. A planter on your balcony. A neighbor’s empty yard. A friend who could use a hand. Take one small action. Plant, water, share. Even the tiniest seed of kindness grows.

 2009 - 2026 Copyright © AHTrimble.com ~ All rights reserved
No reproduction or other use of this content
without expressed written permission from AHTrimble.com
No legal, economic, or financial advice is given, no expertise to be assumed.
I may receive compensation from advertised/mentioned products on this website.
See Content Use Policy for more information.

GARDEN : Seedling & Potting Soil

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I posted an article on soil amendments and what each is and does. < click here > What I will do today is tell you a bit about how I actually use those products with my soil and in my garden operation. It would be really, really helpful if you read the “GARDEN : Soil Amendments…Better & Healthier Soil & Plants!” article first.

If you are blessed enough to live in the mid-west, like I did as a kid, you probably don’t have to do much to improve your soil. Their soil is called Mollisol…it’s a highly fertile prairie soil. It developed over thousands of years of deep-rooted prairie grasses (6–15 feet deep), seasonal dieback of that grass (incredible soil carbon and structure), plenty of live microbial activity and gradual organic matter accumulation. What makes it special? Very high organic matter, a rich dark color (usually black), excellent nutrient retention, good soil structure, deep root “zones” that makes for strong agricultural productivity. So we just have to recreate that in our raised beds and in-ground gardens. Simple!

Oh, I almost forgot…since it is all started with an incredible grass prairie, there was 10’ of thousands of years of animal grazing. And that natural grazing resulted in a tremendous amount of natural fertilizer on top of everything else…literally. So let’s go over some soil “fixes” and ideas.

First up…seedling soil – Here is what I would use (will use) next year:
  • 40% peat moss
  • 25% perlite
  • 25% vermiculite
  • 10% worm castings

Or, optionally,

  • 35% peat moss
  • 25% perlite
  • 20% vermiculite
  • 10% worm castings
  • 10% VERY fine charged biochar (optional)

I call this my “germination phase.”

Notes:

  1. Peat moss

Holds moisture evenly, creates a soft/fine seed bed, slightly acidic (which many seedlings like), and helps prevent rapid drying in your dry climate.

  1. Perlite

Keeps the mix airy and prevents damping-off problems and compaction. Very important in peat-heavy mixes.

  1. Vermiculite

Holds both water and nutrients near the seed roots. Excellent for germination consistency.

  1. Worm castings

Adds biology, mild nutrition, humic substances, enzymes, and microbial activity without “burning” seedlings like stronger fertilizers can.

  1. Biochar (optional)

Can create a better microbial habitat, nutrient buffering, improved aeration, moisture moderation, pH buffering (from peat moss that tends to be a bit acidic), & long-term root conditioning improving transition to “up-potting”. If using biochar it has to be “pre-charged” and not used raw. I like to pre-charge it in diluted liquid organic fish fertilizer. Relax, “pre-charged” just means put the biochar in a small bucket or bowl of the diluted liquid organic fish fertilizer for a few days so it absorbs the liquid nutrients and microbes.

  1. I haven’t used coco coir myself but it can be used as a replacement for peat moss, and I’ve heard it can be better. It can be 50/50 peat moss / coco coir up to 100% coco coir. I will try some this year…for a test I will try 100% replacement of peat moss to see how I like it.
Next would be my first “up-potting” soil –
    • 30% peat moss (coco coir for part or all)
    • 30% high-quality compost
    • 20% perlite
    • 10% worm castings
    • 5 – 10% charged fine biochar
    • 5 – 10%vermiculite (optional)

Goal for first up-potting: I usually up-pot multiple times depending on a number of factors. But, basically I am looking at this first transition moves seedlings from a ‘germination environment’ into a ‘growth environment. What I mean by that is more nutrition, more biology, stronger root structure, slightly less moisture saturation, more air exchange…but still not ready for a heavy garden soil. This mix is biologically active, structurally airy, moisture-buffering, and nutritionally gentle. But is also strong enough to push real vegetative growth in those new plants. I call this my “transition phase.”

Notes:

      1. The “high-quality compost” means no chunks at all, it has to be fine. It brings in microbes and nutrients.
      2. Charged biochar at this point helps level out the water retention/release, and pretty much the same for nutrients and microbes.
      3. Optionally, as needed, a small amount of mineral nutrition would help but not heavy fertilizer application…and only an organic fertilizer. At first up-potting seedlings begin needing trace minerals more consistently. Fertilizers such as kelp meal, azomite, basalt rock dust, fish bone meal, or humic acid. Apply very lightly.
Final & subsequent up-potting –
    • 30% peat moss and/or coco coir
    • 30% regular mature compost
    • 15–20% perlite
    • 10% worm castings
    • 10% charged biochar
    • 5–10% mineral/native soil

Goal for final & subsequent up-potting: This soil mix will accomplish two things for me; 1) provides a quality soil that prepares the plant to transition to my raised beds or my well-amended in-ground garden area. 2) I also believe that I could up-pot a plant to a large enough container and just leave them in that container for growing all season long…if I put a layer of mulch on them. I call this my “production phase.”

Notes:

    1. Equal parts peat and mature compost provides moisture buffering, good root penetration, and soil structural softness. They also promote full microbial activity, fungal development, and balanced nutrient release.
    2. Regular mature compost is fine at this point and doesn’t need to be ultra-screened. But, I’d still avoid large wood chunks and any uncomposted material.
    3. Perlite is important to me at this point, it helps prevent soil collapse and compaction and from staying too wet. It also provides aeration for the roots keeping oxygen moving and microbes balanced.
    4. Pumice can be used in place of perlite.
    5. Charged biochar becomes very valuable at this stage.
    6. The “native soil” at this point honestly helps with the economic side. But it also lays the groundwork for a healthy transition if the plant is going into the ground.
    7. Also, at this stage a very light application of a balanced organic fertilizer is a good idea. The operative word being “light”.
    8. At this point I am trying to provide aeration for the roots, balance of water retention/release, healthy soil biology, just enough mineralization in the soil, and soil structure that will encourage growth…and lots of it.
A couple closing thoughts…
  • Soil mixes can get expensive pretty quickly. If you have the money for it, fine. If not, adapt. Substitute your own fine high-quality compost that you have made. If you don’t have worm castings, you can still grow excellent plants without them. For the final up-potting use your soil from your existing raised bed. If you don’t have liquid fish fertilizer make “weed tea.” I would rather see seedlings →plants → food → plate than giving up for lack of a “perfect” soil mix.
  • If you have a seedling tray fail due to lack of water or neglect…I’m sorry. But, you can recycle that soil to save money. I would use it in place of “fine high-quality compost.”
  • If you have annual flowers dying off at the end of the season I would not hesitate to save the soil for use in the garden the next year. I would view it as “fine high-quality compost.” You can leave the roots in the soil as well…it’s organic matter. Don’t leave the above-ground plant itself with the soil…you might get a lot of weird looking flowers next year.
  • Just get out there and do it!!

Related Articles –

 

 2009 - 2026 Copyright © AHTrimble.com ~ All rights reserved
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without expressed written permission from AHTrimble.com
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How humiliating…how far we have fallen!

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Trump has landed in China and made quite the impression!! Yup, lots of pageantry and photo ops and flag waving. And then Trump started talking…ooooppppppsssssss.

Yeah, he kissed Xi’s ring like a pro…then butt-kissing, flattery, more butt-kissing, more flattery. Sickening, but classic Trump. Trump even called Xi a “great leader.” Ahhhhhh, did someone forget to tell Trump that China is an economic and military enemy of the US? Did Trump forget that China has said it will displace the US as the world’s super-power? Did someone forget to tell Trump that China is building up its military to defeat the US…and has publicly said so!

Trump says a Xi is “great leader,” “a friend,” and someone he has a “fantastic relationship” with. Really? Think about all of that for a minute. Let that sink in.

That’s the first humiliation.

And then it got worse…

Trump begged seriously asked for China’s help to end the Iran War. What? If we have won the Iran War as Trump has repeatedly claimed, then why ask for China’s help to “end” the war? Yeah, that exposes the truth…we have not won, and we are not winning, the war with Iran. If we “won” then we wouldn’t need to beg ask China for anything. So there is the second humiliation…our President admits we are losing, or have lost, a war that Trump claimed we would win in a day. The greatest military in the world and we can’t beat Iran…whoa!

And then is got worse…

Then it was Xi’s turn…thankfully, in private…Xi “strongly warned” Trump about Taiwan. Reportedly, Xi said, “Taiwan independence and cross-strait peace are as irreconcilable as fire and water.” And should the US “mishandle the situation” it could lead to “clashes,” “conflict,” or an “extremely dangerous situation.” That is diplomatic speak for…we go to war.

There are some reports that China agreed it may help diplomatically with Trump’s failure with Iran…but only if Taiwan is clearly seen by the US as Chinese territory and the US will not interfere. And of course Trump didn’t push back by all accounts. Third humiliation.

And then is got worse…

Trump goes over there thinking he holds the upper-hand…that he will manipulate China into doing his will based on flattery, trade, and money. Wrong! Look, China is 18 times older than the US…in 4500 years they have seen it all…and flattery will get you nowhere with them. Further, China is not all about money when it comes to the US…China is all about power…and money is only a tool to that end. Trump misread the situation from the beginning and his ignorance has proven the US and himself to be weak and begging for China’s help…exactly what China wants. And the whole world sees it out in the open…plain for all to see. Fourth humiliation.

You know I am not a Trump worshiper or even a fan of the man. As President he is ruining our economy and driving prices through the roof for every-day families. Inflation is out of control and getting worse…far worse since Trump took office. Biden left Trump a mess…and Trump is making it a disaster.

And then it got worse…

Every objective analysis shows the US not winning the war in Iran. Sure, we are winning battles, destroying lots of buildings and ships, and of course…killing thousands of civilians…including almost 200 little girls in school. Yea USA!!!

Oh, and we are the scorn of the entire world because we are hurting every country’s economy. And of course…we’ve destabilized the entire middle-east. And then there is the little detail of enabling Israel’s genocide in Gaza and now spreading it to Lebanon and Syria. Yea USA!!!

Okay, I apologize…I should not say “Yea USA!!!” The people of the USA don’t want the war, don’t support the war, and want it to end…at least by a margin of 2-to-1. The entire rest of the world is almost unanimous against the war…except Israel. And they wouldn’t be against the war…they started it and brought Trump into it like a good little boy. So if I am being 100% honest and fair…it should be “Yea Trump and the War Mongers!!!” It’s just that doesn’t have the same ring to it. Oh well…you got the point.

Here we are with yet more humiliation at the hands of Trump:

  • Trump publicly butt-kisses Xi like a little kid…or a weak leader to a great leader.
  • Trump makes it public to the world that we can’t beat, and haven’t beaten, Iran in the war that Trump started and bragged about winning.
  • Xi sternly warns the US over Taiwan, threatening war, and Trump sits there like a scolded dog…weakness again.
  • Trump shows the entire world that he seriously misunderstood the diplomatic trip to China and meeting with Xi. And puts it on the world stage for all to see. Not just “weakness again”…but, a serious showing of ignorance and/or stupidity…and most of all vulnerability.

It amazes me how Trump keeps screwing up over and over and over again…and just hides his embarrassment and humiliation…or he it totally unaware of it all.

What a shame how far the US has fallen…the US being led around by the nose by a madman. Pray for the mid-term election outcome to put the brakes on him and his disaster.

Then again…if you and your family are making billions of dollars a year off your influence and decisions as President…what does he care!?!

Hey wait a second… just before Trump’s trip to China, when a reporter asked how much Americans’ financial stress was motivating him to make a deal with Iran here’s Trump’s reply, “Not even a little bit. I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation.” What!?!?!?!?!?!?!  The truth cometh forth !

What made it worse…later he tried to backtrack that statement meaning it matters more that Iran doesn’t get a nuclear weapon. Ah, what!?!?! Hang on a minute…let’s do a little reality & fact check on Trump…

  1. Then why did he say it that way originally? Is he losing track of what he thinks and says?
  2. Since he bombed Iran last year he has been bragging about “obliterating” Iran’s nuclear capability. Was he lying all along? Did he not destroy their nuclear capability? And if not, why did he lie that he did? If he did, then why use it as an excuse now?
  3. And if we won this year’s Iran War, like Trump said we did, then why is he worried about Iran’s nuclear capability? Didn’t he already destroy that capability? If not, then how can he claim we won the war?

Here’s the really sad part…his ego and narcissism shows…In a later interview with Fox News anchor Bret Baier, Trump was shown the earlier clip of his comments and said, “That’s a perfect statement. I’d make it again.” Who in the world talks like that, or would say something like that, other than someone with a God Complex?

But, I can be “real” for a minute…

It is FACT that Trump has argued numerous times that tariffs on China, trade war impacts on farmers, oil price spikes families, and sanctions were necessary for the good of the country. And Trump has often downplayed economic pain, prioritized other goals over families’ household costs, and seemed detached from ordinary financial struggles of US families. But many of those times he was talking about “temporary sacrifice for a bigger goal”…according to his worshipers supporters.

Here’s the problem…Families in the US are seeing terrible and rising inflation, high gas/diesel prices at the pump, grocery costs going up every month, and people suffering from war anxiety along with all of the justifiable economic frustrations…to say nothing if the intense political division and open hostility. Then they hear our President say, “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation.” At the very least he is tone deaf and stupid mistaken to say such a thing. At the worst…he was telling the truth…and that is actually how he see US families.

I am kinda ready to see Trump start the whole America First & Make America Great Again thing…

 

 2009 - 2026 Copyright © AHTrimble.com ~ All rights reserved
No reproduction or other use of this content
without expressed written permission from AHTrimble.com
No legal, economic, or financial advice is given, no expertise to be assumed.
I may receive compensation from advertised/mentioned products on this website.
See Content Use Policy for more information.

GARDEN : Truth, Reasoning, & Their Endless BS !

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I will place the large version of this picture at the end of the article if you want to save it.

I’ve been asked “why” I am writing so much about gardening lately. For one…it is the beginning of the gardening season and I want to share my knowledge and experience…and maybe a little motivation along the way.

Second…they are driving food prices out of sight, it’s now getting worse, and people are hungry…and food is less and less affordable for the average American.

Let me explain…Last week I had to go for some supplies in the small near-by town. It was “pick-up” day at one of the local food banks, so I figured a little reality check would be good for me. I drove by and was sickened. I had to stop to see if what I was seeing was actually happening. It was. There were 25 cars in line waiting for the food bank to open up…25!!

Sad part…this is only one of three food banks between two small towns that border each other…a total of about 11,000 people, including the neighboring rural area. And then there is the additional LDS food bank (Bishop’s Storehouse) that serves the LDS population…which is about 70% of those 11,000 residents. Think about those numbers for just a minute.

This experience really upset me. I started talking about this issue on the website years ago, then the last two years I’ve been screaming about it. The economy is so bad that food, especially fresh produce, is now becoming unaffordable for many Americans. What does that have to do with gardening? A garden can help make food affordable again (MFAA). I decided to put out actual numbers and facts to show what I am talking about. I did some hardcore research and I came up with a basket of general produce…

This “basket” is a simple mix of common fresh produce items Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers, Lettuce, and Strawberries. The idea was to represent a small but realistic fresh produce basket that ordinary households might regularly buy. Representative of a “real grocery experience” focused on fresh produce. Each item is common, perishable, and everyday produce items. The basket includes salad items, snack produce, cooking produce, and berries.

Note: Basket quantities were standardized for comparison purposes and represent common household fresh produce purchases.

To compare pricing over time I used a 10-year date range because it is relatable, realistic, and something that is current, not some ancient historical period. I also used national averages not pricing that is location specific. 2016 – 2026 (inclusive)…

2016 – last year of Obama’s Presidency

2019 – the year before COVID hit, Trump Presidency

2024 – last year of Biden Presidency

2026 – second year of Trump’s 2nd Presidency and our current day

This date range covers 3 different Presidents…Obama, Trump, Biden. 4 different Presidencies…2 Democrat, 2 Republican. 2 different political theories/parties…Democrat & Republican. That is to ensure fairness in actual results using both parties, multiple political philosophies, and different presidential personalities.

So here is what the price of that fresh produce “basket” looks like in terms of cost comparison over time…

The original cost of the produce basket in 2016 was $14.00, 2026 the cost rose to $28.00…a 100% overall inflation rate. A 7.2% average annual inflation rate of that food. As a side note…notice that the cost increase has been the most dramatic in the last 2 years.

Now, let’s compare the produce basket to the general inflation rate during that same time period…

The nation’s overall inflation rate during that same time period was 57%. The average annual inflation rate during that same time period was 4.6%. That shows produce far outpaced the nation’s general inflation rate figures.

Now let’s compare the produce inflation rate and the general inflation rate to the average wage increase of lower & middle-income workers during the same time period…

Lower/Middle† wage growth was 43% during that same time period. The annual average increase was 3.6%.

Did those numbers sink in? Overall: Produce went up 100%, general inflation was up 57%, wages up 43%.

On an average annual basis: Produce went up 7.2%, general inflation up 4.6%, wages up 3.6%. Wages went up only ½ of what produce prices increased!! And adding insult to injury…wages lagged far behind even general inflation each year over that 10-year period.

Think back…for the last 10 years does it seem like grocery bills, especially fresh produce, kept getting more and more ridiculously expensive? Well, you are right! Each year the price of food far outpaced wage increases.

But it gets worse…the quality of the food during that same 10-year time period is approximately 15 – 20% lower in 2026 vs 2016. So the price doubles and the quality falls at least 15%!!

Back to the gardening thing…There are obviously two major benefits to gardens:

  1. Much less expensive if you are growing your own (70 – 85% less expensive)1.
  2. Much higher quality of food itself (27% overall healthier)2.

That is a pretty compelling set of tangible reasons to garden. There are also many intangibles in gardening…there’s a kind of peace when working with mother nature, seeing seeds turn into meals, making something with your own hands, and there are more. One of the most important and significant intangibles, some would call it a “tangible”…less food dependence.

Think about it for a minute…if you don’t garden, you are dependent on multiple corporations and supply chains to feed your family. Most people have no real idea what was sprayed on their store-bought produce, what condition the soil was in, how long ago it was harvested, or what it took to get it onto the grocery shelf…or any true idea of how healthy that food actually is…or isn’t.

So having your own garden is to provide healthier, better tasting food to your family…and to save money…a lot of money.

Notes:

1 - For an established productive garden, after start-up costs and exclusive of labor, 
this a very reasonable real-world estimate.

2 - Homegrown produce is often fresher, more fully ripened, lower in pesticide exposure, 
and may retain more nutrients and flavor than mass-distributed commercial produce.

† - Why did I compare lower/middle-income wage earners vs upper-income wage earners? 
Because there is a huge discrepancy between those two income earning groups. 
Meaning = upper-income wage growth was roughly 44% greater than lower/middle-income 
wage growth during that 10-year period.

– IMPORTANT –
Additional Information for those of you who really want to know more of what is happening:

And if you think that is a one-off wage growth comparison…well, try this…

Yeah, you read that right! Upper-income wage growth exceeded lower/middle-income growth by 252% over the last 56 years.

But wait…here is where it gets dramatic…

In the last 56 years lower & middle-income wage earners are losing ground financially. The purchasing power of lower & middle-income group has FALLEN by 6% in the last 56 years!!!

On the other hand…the upper-income wage earners purchasing power is up 125% over the same time period!

Yup, it is 100% true…the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Wanna know why?

There was a podcast lately where that very question was posed to a multi-billionaire business man and investor. His reply…and I am paraphrasing…The goal of a company, any company, is profit. Put money into the hands of its shareholders [owners] and the company executives via bonuses. The #1 expense for companies is almost always labor. So every CEO works hard to squeeze that expense as small as possible; that maximizes both profit and executive bonuses. So companies pay employees the very least they possibly can to bring that labor cost down as much as possible.

So what is this “labor cost” thing? Labor (employee compensation) includes:

  • wages
  • salaries
  • bonuses
  • payroll taxes
  • health insurance
  • retirement contributions
  • workers comp
  • other benefits

For most businesses, labor can consume 20 – 70%+ of operating costs depending on the industry. Companies have no true business incentive to pay employees well…they pay them as little as they can get away with. 1970 is actually a pretty meaningful turning point in regards to the highly-globalized economy that really accelerated after the 1970s. That is why I started my chart with 1970…to show you why the US went to the global economy…very, very cheap labor for US corporations was to be found overseas…NOT workers here in the US.

Let’s make it even more plain…

Estimated median worker hours required to afford essentials, this depicts a lower standard of living in the US. “Worker” applies to all wage earners in a given household. “Worker” also applies to lower and middle-income workers NOT upper-income class. The graph is representative.

Workers in 2026 have to work WAY more hours in 2026 vs 1970 to afford essentials…just essentials! Once again…proving that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. But you will notice that one area where you can make a real difference right now…gardening and becoming less food dependent and more self-reliant.

Folks…the economy is only getting worse and worse and worse…and has been for 56 years…and that is FACT. And along the way…middle-income and lower-income friends, family, and neighbors are falling behind…WAY behind. It will only get worse…history proves that to be FACT. Please, I beg of you, to prepare…get yourself in a position to be more financially independent (i.e. debt free) and do whatever you can to become less food dependent.

No president…and I mean NO president in the last 56 years has done a damn thing to actually fix the financial and economic problems we face…AND THAT INCLUDES TRUMP!! If truth be told, all presidents have gained personally during this same time period when they served as president…some by millions of dollars and some by BILLIONS of dollars!

Let me share this final thought…

Historically, authoritarian government control usually relies on a combination of:

  • food security
  • information/media
  • economic dependency
  • policing/military power
  • fear
  • social division

Food is uniquely powerful because people cannot opt-out of eating. But you can opt-in to growing at least some of your family’s food through gardening.

< right click on the image to save it…and post it somewhere to look at each and every day >

 2009 - 2026 Copyright © AHTrimble.com ~ All rights reserved
No reproduction or other use of this content
without expressed written permission from AHTrimble.com
No legal, economic, or financial advice is given, no expertise to be assumed.
I may receive compensation from advertised/mentioned products on this website.
See Content Use Policy for more information.

GARDEN : Strawberry Patch Problems…again!

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It just never seems to end with me and my strawberry patch! It is getting old…really, really, old.

Over the weekend (last weekend) I went out and really studied my strawberry patch. Remember, it was early April when I planted both “live plants” and “bare root plants” to fill-out my expanded strawberry patch. I dedicated 5 raised beds to grow a combination of Albion and Eversweet strawberries. Yeah, we like strawberries…a lot! That’s about 150sq’ of bed area. Or, a 75’ long 2’ wide row…two plants wide. Plenty of room to grow a huge patch.

We ended up putting in 20 live line plants of Eversweet, 25 bare root Eversweet plants, and 25 bare root Albion plants. We have maybe 6 or so plants carred over from last year. That is a great start for a great patch!

Well, as of last Sunday (a week ago)…yeah, not so good. Actually…pretty pathetic.

A quick assessment gave me the idea that we were losing ½ of all the bare root plants and maybe ¼ of the live plants. And the carry over plants looked sick. But I had followed all the instructions of the nurseries that I bought the plants from…and the plants were failing miserably. I estimated that within a month the patch would be full of little more than dead plants.

Now what to do?

Look, I followed the depth of hole, crown placement, wood chip mulch recommendation, and watering guidelines. The soil was healthy, well amended, and prepared properly. Yet, it was a serious problem quickly heading towards disaster!

So, on Monday morning I located an “expert” and they agreed to help me. I sent them pictures and described everything from planting to watering. Boy…did they read me the riot act! They sent me a “to-do” list to start right then and there. They estimated that I would save about 60 – 75% of the plants if I started immediately and do what they told me. Okay…trust buy verify.

I contacted the better of the two nurseries that I bought plants from, the live plant supplier. I explained what was going on in the patch and they told me what to do…which was different than the other nursery, way different from the “expert”, and also a bit different from their original instructions.

Then I went back to the “expert” and shared the new set of “to-do” from the supplier…thankfully they were patient…very patient. Step-by-step they explained to me why the new “to-do” from the supplier would not work…at all. Actually, they explained that the plants would all be lost and why they would fail. They made sense based on my gardening knowledge in other areas and it matched up with common sense. More garden work to be done!

So here is what the new plan is to save the patch:

  1. Remove all the wood chip mulch.
  2. Cut off any dead or sick looking leaves and stems from the plants.
  3. Put a 1tbsp ring of organic 4-4-4 fertilizer around the “drip edge” of the plant, not near the plant crown.
  4. Scratch that into the surface, then water it in really well.
  5. Then put about 1oz of a 6-12-12 fish-based liquid fertilizer around each plant at the drip edge, not near the crown.
  6. Then put a 6” – 8” ring of worm castings around each plant, ¼” – ½” thick. Don’t mound it up around the plant crown. Here’s the problem…it would have cost hundreds of dollars to do this step based on the number of plants and the cost of worm castings…even in bulk. So they said place it around the most mature plants and the healthiest of the live plants. That I can do.
  7. Then use clean, weed-free straw as a mulch on the entire bed, but keep the mulch 1” away from the plant crown. The straw will settle over time, they wanted 2” total after it settled.
  8. And I had to change the irrigation strategy as well…timing and emitter placement.

I didn’t have the worm castings or the straw on-hand…worm castings ordered from Amazon (best value) and will pick the straw in an hour or so from the local feed store.

So yesterday I spent the rest of the day removing all the wood chip mulch, applying the fertilizer treatment, and doing most of the irrigation changes. The “expert” was emphatic that the straw mulch go on today at the latest…so today it is. I won’t get the worm castings until Friday so that has to wait. When the castings get here I will simply pull back the mulch from the identified plants, add the worm castings, then get the mulch back in place. Once that is done I will sit back and watch everything go perfectly and strawberries will just jump into my mouth!

Here is what I had when I thought I was done a couple weeks ago…

Then today this is what I found…

I had dead plants like this one…no green at the crown at all. But I won’t pull them out…I will just leave them, treat them, and see if they might come back to life like a gardener’s resurrection dream come true.

Here is a live plant that I had just planted a few weeks ago. Sickly, edges are yellowing and/or brown…a couple crispy leaves as well.

This plant is a second season plant that also looks rather sick…looks worse than it did a month ago. Yellowing leaves, no new healthy growth, some crispy edges, etc.

After I had removed all the wood chips, added the organic fertilizer, and watered it in. I also moved the irrigation emitters to get more water where it was needed.

Here is the tour of the new and improved strawberry patch. Strawberry Patch 2.1…

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 2009 - 2026 Copyright © AHTrimble.com ~ All rights reserved
No reproduction or other use of this content
without expressed written permission from AHTrimble.com
No legal, economic, or financial advice is given, no expertise to be assumed.
I may receive compensation from advertised/mentioned products on this website.
See Content Use Policy for more information.

Yes I am !!!

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Yes I am!  Yup! Absolutely! You got it!

I am now using an AI program to generate pictures for the website. Pretty nice in my opinion. Weird, it also checks the validity of the information I am trying to portray. Nice actually…keeps me on track.

If you want…let me know what you think of the change…make a comment below.

And no, that is not a picture of me…it is a rendition of what the AI program thinks I look like. I could never grow a beard like that. I do love the hat…looks like one my Dad had.