Progress Update
It’s been another mostly aquatic week on the homestead. Pumpkinseed launched into phase 1 fully with the arrival of several new strains. I’ve also started thinking about some dry goods to add as well when I’m ready for e-commerce. Around the rest of the Homestead, most of the effort flits between weeding, attempting to kill some resilient shrubs, and clearing out the basement for the future operations area. I’ve also had one significant new arrival; my new red wigglers have arrived and been set loose in the basement worm farm. I’ll be putting them in the aquaponic beds as well once the population has stabilized.
What’s Blooming
The peonies opened, so I have flowers in the yard this week, but the complex ruffled flowers aren’t bee-friendly. I’m contemplating adding in some hardy geraniums for the next week, Maybe wild geraniums, but possibly some type of hybrid as well. I also think an American Pokeweed might do quite well to add some more life and interest to the bed. That’s a northern exposure, but it’s somehow sunny enough for peonies, so a pokeweed should do well in that bed. I may consider white baneberry at the shadier end of the bed as well. The side bed will be focused much more on being wildlife-friendly so I don’t have much concern with planting toxic berries.
Embracing African Violets
I’ve had great luck with the African violets I started from seed last winter. They seem to enjoy the growing condition I’ve been able to provide, and growing them in the Semi-Hydro method integrates well with my aquaponic ideas. Towards this end, I’m doubling down. I have three new varieties of known-quantity violets coming to start propagating. I’m also ordering several hundred new seeds to start another batch. I’ve also started researching other plants that do well with semi-hydro cultivation. The research I’ve done indicates It will be an absolute experiment, but there are a few promising things. I’ll try and get test plants over the next few months.