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 These winter berries provide essential foraging for wildlife. They are also a welcome sight for people looking to brighten their day with some needed vibrant color. When thinking about your environment, consider not only food crops, but visuals as well. Some are for the pollinators, birds and beneficial insects, but for the soul as well. Giving sustenance to wildlife and receiving in return.
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 Frost on the pumpkins doesn't happen often in SC. This recent, extreme ice and snow in the coastal region has presented new challenges. Watch out for pipes, pets and sensitive trees.
As always, Mother Nature will have her way. It is our opportunity to adjust and accommodate her moods. That is when creativity comes into play. Use this as an opportunity to review your resources and skill set for self reliance.  The southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is an icon of southern heritage. Stunningly beautiful, fragrant flowers on a resilient, equally stunning tree. Shiny, large dark green leaves provide intense contrast to the over sized floral display. No southern landscape is complete without them. How do they fit into the permaculture concept? Beauty, shady, erosion control - 3 immediate results of their presence. The aesthetic appeal they bring provides value of its own. If your area will accommodate them, enlist them into your overall design. They won't disappoint you.
 Snow Bells - Scientific Name: Leucojum
This flower is one of the first to burst forth to announce spring is around the corner. A delicate flower to take on such a task! It's the little things in nature that require essential skills of observation. Know your surroundings, pay close attention to the details that nature offers. Nature does not always yell, as in a hurricane or flood, sometimes she whispers. Are you watching and listening? The return on that investment is well worth it! Watch, listen, breathe and smile! Deer are very resourceful at picking around thorns and obstacles to their food sources. Neem oil, organic and natural is an effective method of persuading them to dine elsewhere.  This year started off with a cold snap event that followed a previous year of weather events. No question Mother Nature is in control. Protecting people, animals and water pipes were a priority. However, so was protecting sensitive plants and keeping the cold frames in place. If you have established a winter food plot, for yourself, family or animals (wild or domestic) don't let your efforts be affected by the freezing temperatures. A little protection goes a long way. Somethings to remember: do not use plastic if it will touch your plants, keep the covering supported off of the leaves. Use the stored heat of the earth by trapping it from the ground level. Using a simple gallon milk jug with the bottom cut off will help, as long as it does not touch the plants. It will keep those starts growing. Cloth tarps that are supported over the plants is a good defense, if you lack a hard structure, cold frame or green house. Below is a simple, inexpensive way to keep those winter greens coming!  This year the wild blackberries have been extremely prolific! We have collected at least 8 gallons ~ that is a lot of pickin'! Big, fat and juicy. A lot of rain, a lot of sun and a lot of berries. These berries come with a cost however ~ we have plenty of scratches and thorns to prove it. It didn't seem to deter us from going back out again, and again. Now the tough part - how do we use them? Jelly, jams, syrups, pies, wine - or straight into the mouth. I think we will try a little bit of everything.  Check out the newest video release about permaculture. We will be going point by point to provide insight into how you can take carefully planned steps to integrate permaculture into your homestead, farm or urban environment. Get creative! Download the layout sheets. (Be sure to get both of them off this site.) The element sheet is for each animal, plant or concept you want to include. The site sheet is for assembling all those pieces into your version of paradise.
Check out the video on http://www.tennessee-homestead.com/permaculture-homesteading-video-1/ feel free to send us an email to let us know how you are doing or ask us a question. Enjoy! Don't forget to check out www.tennessee-homestead.com on a regular basis for information on getting back to basics. Make it a favorite! Garden Gleanings, thank you for the question. Many people utilize an outside habitat for their worms. It is a good way to keep it low maintenance. You are correct that the worms basically will fend for themselves in extreme weather conditions. If it is chilly they ball up together, if it is hot they go deeper into the soil. Basically if you locate the site in a shady area, and provide enough moisture and food - they are your friends for life. Red wigglers, don't tend to have extended life expectancies in the yard, but I have spoken to people who have had them for years, so I think it is worth the try.
Please send any photos or ideas you can and we can try to avoid any unnecessary trial and error. There is a site you may want to review www.vermicomposters.com - lots of people there eager to share about - yes
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Diane C. MoreyMaking our environment, Archives
February 2018
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