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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Jul 5, 2008 0:32:31 GMT 1
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Post by Viv on Jul 5, 2008 9:55:32 GMT 1
This is a wonderful and thought provoking idea.
We haven't bought a Christmas tree in years, but have a real one growing in a large barrel in the garden which we pop a few baubles on. (he stays outside as we were once told they don't like coming inside due to the heat)
Just waiting for the acorns now
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Jul 5, 2008 12:02:05 GMT 1
When we have out seed/nut gatherings this autumn, we may be able to offer bags of Welsh ones for the project, Viv. Andrew was telling me of a method that these can be grown and with a very high success rate. I'll ask him to post more about that, so I can copy it over here.
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Post by andrewkfletcher on Sept 5, 2008 15:58:27 GMT 1
Seed germination in a shopping / plastic carrier bag. Have had a great deal of success using this simple method. Requires mixture of soil and compost any multi purpose spent or unused will do. Fill bag to a depth of around 6 inches mix seeds in with compost, add water and tie the handles of the bag together for a week or so to thoroughly soak the seeds. open the bag and then forget them leaving them open to the elements. Each type of seed germinates differently, can't remember how long it takes but several months is not unusual and a year in some cases. But it don't matter as your only chore is to occasionally water when the compost dries out in the summer months. When the seedlings are sprouting and have some leaves on them transplant into pots or directly into the soil. If the latter is done prepare to lose a few to rabbits and don’t plant trees where sheep are present without fencing them off as the sheep are very good at preventing forests from seeding themselves, and goats are even better at it climbing along even the upper branches to eat the leaves. Andrew K Fletcher Direct link to file for copying and modifying i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb31/Andrew_K_Fletcher/Trees/APocketFullOfAcorns.jpg
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Sept 5, 2008 17:32:21 GMT 1
Just to show I am not all talk and no action - even at the moment - today when coming back over the fields after giving Daisy her feed, I stopped for just a few minutes to collect the fallen hawthorn berries from under a couple of the hawthorns that grow well in the fields at Llys Trerobert. Can't claim to have filled my pocket, but have a reasonable handful of these. Compost is no problem here, and I have a great many old dog food sacks that can be used to create suitable environments for these berries to germinate in. Why hawthorns, many might ask, but it is simple - one thing that I would like to see happening at Llys Trerobert is hedges growing instead of the wire fences that currently divide the paddocks. Not only are those safer for livestock, and more pleasing to the eye, they are a wonderful source of food and shelter for wildlife. The horses might nibble a bit at the hawthorns, but they already seem to thrive in the area despite this, and hawthorn, perhaps interspersed with a few other harmless native trees will be in keeping with the primary purpose of the new group and its aims. It is also educational, as people like myself can involve younger members of our own families in growing things from scratch. Even my three years old grandson can have some fun gathering berries and seeds, planting them and see the results for himself as he grows up. At that age, all is a learning experience, and fosters an interest in caring for the land and the environment from an early age. Participation, and inclusion, is vital for the young, if we are going to bring about a change in attitudes. I have seen the results of other youngsters growing up in a TRPD oriented environment, and most seem to thrive on it in ways that carry forward into their own lives and personal development. Back when TRPD itself was formed, one of the first things to appear in a little newsletter was the following prayer. It has been an inspiration to many over the years, not least those who care deeply about the environment and the way so many things have changed over the years, but not for the better... Can we afford to sit back and leave it all to those mysterious 'others' when anyone can do just a little toward affecting changes? Apathy is just as great a killer as any form of armaments. Well, when it comes to projects like this - We Need More Guns! More voices spreading the word, and more Indians gathering and planting the seeds.
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Oct 27, 2009 19:30:40 GMT 1
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