The Refuge Permaculture Center
At Tara Farm and Nursery
Category: Permaculture Strategies
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Special Order Plants: Just Breathe…. Elderberry for Heart and Respiration
From the rich, deep blue-black of the ripe berries to jam simmering on the stove…from full, lacy umbrellas of tiny, creamy white flowers steeped for tea, this native is so beautiful in texture and color and grows amazingly well even in the Wyoming salty clay soil. The Elderberry shrub is native to the entire northern
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The Heart of the Garden
If you could snack on blueberries all day long, would you? Maybe add some blueberry pie or blueberry selzer water? Most people would say “Of course!” Why? Because that deep, complex flavor is so satisfying, and besides they are a “super-fruit”, right? Every year I have clients call to ask “Please help me get these
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New USDA Zone Map: Critical Thinking and Your Observations Are More Important
New USDA Zone Map: GIS and 30 years of data and over 30,000 collection points still requires that you use your elegantly evolved powers of observation. This map is “general” within the millions of years of the planet, and general to your personal portion of the landscape. But it is important for a trend, a
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Squashland… where pollen feeds the workers…
And the fall approaches… the pollinators and I are both preparing for winter. The Squash plants are buzzing, trembling with bee wings. This year will include some Yellow Crooked Neck Squash, a Yellow Winter Squash hybrid (seeds from last year) and firm, large zucchini. I love the hybrid. Easy to carve out and the skin
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Everbearing: Time and Space
A humid, wet spring ends your hope for Red Currants, but a few warm, clear days gives you baskets of Black Currants. A monsoonal down pour destroys the Native Plum blossoms, but the tiny, hidden green flowers of the Valiant Grape give you pounds of grapes in August. Honoring diversity of plants and temporal and
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Radical and Root Have the Same Origin
Most folks who follow me have no ‘edge’, no passion for the radical approach. Their gardening comes more from the institutionalized Master Gardener dogma perspective. I engage with them believing that there will be a moment when the light will go on and they will realize how strong they can be from seeing their place
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Spring Into Action 2
Tasks for April 18:Pasture Management – move cows into Hayfield #2 to graze cheat grass and foxtail coming up. Duck Mulch – continue cleaning out duck pen and shelters and move to storage to compost. Also reduces mice, which reduces snakes close to the cabin. Rain Capture – install new parts for 250 gallon poly
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Spring Into Action 1
Spring Task Series:Welcome to Spring at the Refuge!! A lot of the things you see here will be things you might also be doing around your landscape and gardens. Activities for April 16, 2023Plant herb seeds in window pots – #basil and #cilantro (how I miss homemade #pesto!!) Hook up all rain barrels- NOAA has
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Observe Nature: Currant Patch and Bumble Bees
Observe Nature… that’s the class title for a class I’ll be offering later this year. But for now here is such a great example. That heavy spring snow bent the lower branches of the black currant down to the ground. With the thaw, and melt, the snow got heavier and pushed them into the mud…
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Special Order Plant 2023: Hardy Grape Vines
Homemade Wines, Cordials, Juice, Jam, Jellies. Canning is not necessary as long as you have a freezer. North American, native-based grape vines producing up to 20 pounds on a mature vine. Deep purple richness, full of immune support and home-grown flavor. Read on… I have stopped buying commercially made fruit juice. Every week I make
The Refuge Permaculture Center 