Green Racine – Lots to Plots

Was at the Racine Public Library and came across a book written in 1948 on the use of Earthworms in Farming still on the shelf, of course I checked it out.
Thinking I got room in the Dudgeon to try a operation like my guy P.J. is doing.
Would not be must $$ to start and any worms I get I could use (Birds be happy too) they go a long way to fix the soil hear (Asgard) or RUGN too. I can not think of a downside. Be a help with the Composting too.
Wonder how the Worm Casting do with growing Mushrooms? Would the castings help fight the evil Blue Green?

Once again I got nailed by evil Blue Green Algae and I was it my wits end how. Coffee Grounds come from a clean source the grounds cooked and put into cleaned plastic grow boxes. So to say the least I was stumped how the Green Blue still got in the grounds.

I picked up new grounds today and the the manager showed me stops of the mold in the grounds I was picking up. He also explained how a few spore could grow very quickly (and they grow fast) mind you to me this is great news. I thought I have to invest in glassware and create a green room in my basement, none of that will be needed.
I will just have to cook the grounds longer in the oven say 3 hours at 400 or even use a pressure cooker. A far cheaper way then I first thought. Happy Dance.
Thinking research in how they grew Mushrooms in the 1800′s is needed.

With the return of the Blue Green mold of Death I need to find something that will work to fight it in the Coffee grounds.
I know that cooking the grounds longer to insure all nasty are gone, maybe 3 hours vs two.
Thinking somehow perhaps the plastic grow boxes harbor the mold after being washed with Bleach.
Perhaps I need to try to grow the shrooms in glass jars? Worth a try.
Like to use something other then the small caning jars I have. Guess an on line search is in order and visiting some estate sales
I wonder how the early growers did this back in the 1800′s time to dig out the old book I found in Goggle books

Yes damn it! I got hit by the blue green mold. Only God knows how that happens!! To fight this after the last time I now after getting the grounds “cook” them at 400 for two hours.
Maybe what I will try is getting an old pressure cooker create a “slurry” of grounds/water cook this in the cooker at high pressure then put this mix in a 5 gal pail with a cover to keep out the evil stuff.
The water in the mix should be good to go for the spawn to use and the grounds for the Spawn to eat. The pails be reusable and easy to clean between batches.
I often think of Edison. Gives me time to think of new ideas to try that God the investment to try them is cheep. Perhaps my compost pile is behind this to get the coffee grounds?!
Just think how the added grounds will help in the garden! So I will be haunting the Goodwill stores for the pressure cooker and pails.

Its that time of year when we here are getting ready for Winter.
Plastic over the Windows,using barriers in the windows to keep in the heat, bring in the decorations that might get damaged in the Snow/Cold.
With this effort I am forced to think I could have done more this year. Things happen they do some the fault of others some no one’s fault. End result is the same I need to do more to get ready come only the Cold/Snow of Winter or if the E.U. troubles bring all hell it will be me that must prepare for what may happen.
A lot to think about and be ready for, but in no way will it be a pity party.

We can a bit here, far from what we should. As things in the world get strange be great if we had more food in strorgae in case we needed it.
How much is enough? I know The Mormons think a year is what one should have, I know I like to have 6 months worth what might that look like? I have no clue but I know I need to find one and fast.

Well almost all the grow boxes are going hope that soon I have photos to show on results. I know that cooking the grounds will help keep bad bugs out of the boxes and that will go a long way in helping the program rock the house

So far so good. Coffee is coming in getting drained being cooked then The Spawn Added and boom there it grows, or at least I hope. The only modification is a mist Bottle to mist the grounds in the grow boxes. We will change the water everyday to reduce contamination. I should see something by the end of next week. If anything I will have to find more grow tubs to put the inoculated coffee in.

I will add photos once I have something good or bad to take a photo of.

Get Organic Coffee grounds

remove standing water (I made a press using a 5 gal and 3 gal bucket I punched holes in the 3 gal bucket, fill with grounds place a weighed tub on the top of the grounds forcing the coffee to compress and the water drips into the 5 gal bucket.

After 24-30 hours a remove the coffee from the 3 gal pail place into baking dish place inside oven heat dish and grounds at 240-275 Deg for min of three hours. I check the center temp to insure it is sanitized too.

After cleaning surfaces s to be used with 10% bleach water I ready my space and tools.

I place the grounds in my growing tubs inoculated the grounds cover the tubs label day type of mushroom place in growing area in Basement.

After a week I will open cover of the growing tubes for removing the CO2

Part of Lots to plots was working with kids,to show them how to garden how crops are raised the work it takes  growing food.  No group liability insurance put a huge damper on that. The school will not allow them  to visit sites without it. To say the least I was bummed.
Well the other day I met by chance the youth leader of the Racine County Volunteer Center! She is all about Gardening and has the insurance needed for the kids to visit the areas AND!!!!!! wants very much to work together to grow food in the Gardens she has for her center. Talk about Win/Win. Far more kids will be able to be exposed to what great things can be done taught by Gardening!

She needs seeds/plants since she has little cash and I can give her some of what I have. (thanks Dollar Seeds). I can help her with water and hvy labor.

Rabbits rock not only make nice pets but can provide pets stuff but also meat and manure. For those  eating the meat you can use the fur for many things, if your going to kill the Rabbit we should use all of it, right?

We had rabbits for some time and found the Manure the very best. The area that we dumped the pellets in by far was the area with the most growth of Grass, listed as well as some of the best Manure in publications like Countryside and Small stock journal  (subscribe today!)

We are not fans of Rabbet meat but in a long term self sufficiency stand point make a good choise for a homestead Urban or Farm, beats staving. You can feed rabbits a rang of food and make a great choice of livestock for youth to start with.

Your local 4-H is a great place to start learning about Rabbits.  Youmay want to adviod ones you find in Pet Stores