​Haven Homestead is what some folks like to call a "hobby farm." It may be a hobby farm on steroids, or we may call it something like a "lifestyle farm" or homestead, or something more appropriate, but whatever we call it, it wouldn't be a sustainable if we didn't have some way to pay for it. Hence, we have embarked on the Great Luffa Experiment.

All of these rocks are made up of a mix of common minerals: Quartz Felspars Mica Amphibole Pyroxene Olivine Calcite Plus, a splattering of minor minerals.

Here is a table of just a few of the common rock types 
and the minerals they contain:


Rock type        Rock Name        Minerals
Igneous            Granite              Quartz, Feldspar, Mica
Igneous            Rhyolite             Quartz, Feldspar, Mica
Igneous            Basalt                Amphibole, Feldspar, Pyroxene, Olivine
Metamorphic     Marble               Calcite,
Metamorphic     Schist                Mica, Quartz,
Metamorphic     Gneiss               Quartz, Feldspar,
Sedimentary     Sandstone          Quartz, Feldspar, Mica, Clays
Sedimentary     Shale                 Clays
Sedimentary     Limestone          Calcite


Once a rock is exposed to the weather it will start to break down "physically" into smaller grains, and "chemically" into different minerals. These major rock forming minerals break down into the following (lesser/minor) minerals. These are the minerals that you will find in your soils:

Original Mineral         New Mineral      Released Elements
Quartz                        Quartz Felspars                      Clays                 Potassium, Sodium,  Calcium
Mica                           Clays                  Potassium
Amphibole                   Clays,                Iron
Pyroxene                    Clays,                 Iron
Olivine                        Clays,                Iron, Magnesium
Calcite & Dolomite      Calcite,               Calcium, Magnesium

I have always wondered how it is that some people have "green" thumbs and others don't. I use to have the blackest thumb ever, and it's unfortunate because I believe that Geoff Lawton had it right when he said, "You can solve all the worlds problems in a garden."

My favorite color is green. I love the book "The Secret Garden" so much that I read it 12 times in one year! I want to study herbal medicine. I think that plants are amazing, BUT... I kill them. Completely unintentionally. Nonetheless, I am guilty of plant murder by neglect on several counts.

It's Chris that is the grower. Of all of the plants that he has revived, I am ashamed to admit that close to half of them were my fault. (The other half he bought from nurseries at extreme discounts at the end of the season and they were half dead when they were purchased.)

The garden thrives with him around. As soon as he walks into the garden, the plants start humming with excitement. I love working with him in the garden, because I can feel a little of the humming crossing over. When he's there with me, I feel like I'm doing alright.

So we were in the garden together the other day, and it hit me. I now know how to get a green thumb!

How do you get a green thumb? You spend time in the garden! 

... and prune the tomatoes! Tomatoes are full of green juice that turns your hands green after the chlorophyll has oxidized a bit!

All joking aside, spending time in the garden, whether you are pruning tomato plants or thinning carrots, or any number of other plant nurturing activities, will help you to develop your green thumb. 

After learning all you can from books and blogs and neighbors, you just need to get out there and do it. When you spend time in the garden, you gain the necessary experience that allows you to "read" the plants and tell what they need. If you have questions, it really helps to have mentors, friends and a few really good blogs give you some support. 

But the best way to green your thumb is to practice. Practice and don't worry about messing up. Just keep practicing! Just keep gardening!

Share a comment below on the green- or blackness of your thumbs!

Comfrey is probably one of the most talked about plants in permaculture plant forums, and it’s no wonder! This prolific plant is stout, easy to propagate and very useful. This little dandy is sometimes called knit-bone, because it is commonly used as a poultice to help heal broken bones. How cool is that!

In fact, since so much has been said, I won’t say too much my self, but I would like to point you to a couple of awesome resources on the matter!

First, there’s Paul Wheaton’s video, “Why Permaculture Folks Love Comfrey.” It’s a 10 minute video, where some permaculture experts talk about the awesomeness of this beneficial plant! Toby Hemenway, author of “Gaia’s Garden,” even calls comfrey the King of Permaculture! If you are even a little bit curious, about comfrey, I would check it out. 

Secondly, I’m going to point you to the Plants For A Future Database (PFAF). They are a non-profit, research organization dedicated to researching and providing information on ecologically sustainable horticulture. They have been compiling a database for more than a decade. That database currently has more than 7,000 different species of plants. THEY ARE AWESOME!!!! PFAF lists 5 different species of Comfrey, edible, medicinal, and other uses for the plant, growing conditions, propagation techniques and more. 

Here are some highlights from the PFAF entry on Symphytum officinale, or common comfrey:

• Comfrey likes to grow in Damp, often shady localities, in meadows, woods etc, especially near streams and rivers.
  
• USDA hardiness zone : 3-9
  
• Suitable for nearly any kind of soil.
  
• It’s most commonly used for the external treatment of cuts, bruises, sprains, sores, eczema, varicose veins, broken bones, as it contains a substance called 'allantoin', a cell proliferant that speeds up the healing process.
  
• It’s roots and dried leaves are dried and used for tea, or are roasted and ground to be used with chicory and dandelion to make a coffee substitute.
  
• And finally, comfrey’s nutrient-rich leaves make an excellent plant food as a green mulch, or soaked in water as a compost tea.
  

For more on this highly beneficial plant, including toxicity information, check out the database at www.pfaf.org.

We’ll see you soon with another awesome Plant Profile from Haven Homestead!

Every one likes to see that beautiful dark earth when they till up their garden in the spring, but then they spend the rest of their summer pulling weeds, watering and fertilizing the bare earth around their plants. Then when autumn comes, people fill up their garbage bins with all of the fallen leaves, and leftover stems and dead plants.

Well, I'm here to tell you there is a better way. Mulch. Mulch makes everything better.