Gardening and herbs on the go.

[Varmint]

Has anyone thought about mounting a sprouting garden/greenhouse on the SIDE of their trailers? Or a portable rack in which you can put rows of planters or buckets?

I've notice that a lot of trailers, in particular, have wheels that stick out past the sides of the trailer. If you mount a couple rows of shelves on the outside of your trailer from front to back, you could have a take-down greenhouse/planter with 1/8" plexiglass window on the outside, like a very narrow sun room. You couldn't travel with it, but you most certainly could take the shelves and planters out and put them back up on the racks when parked for days or weeks at a time, especially if parked as a campground host. As long as the shelves don't hang out past the wheels there should be no problem. Just bring the planters into the trailer when driving. They would be similar to cold frames, as near as I can tell, and being against the side of a trailer, they would warm up each day quickly. If the plexiglass had hinges, you could open them when it's warm out. Great way to harden plants for transplanting outside, too.

Just a thought....Varmint

 

[Cubey]

This actually gives me an idea later on when I settle up in Seattle. I have a raised mesh side trailer with a metal flesh floor. It would be a nice way to keep a potted veggie garden up off the ground, away from critters and crawling insects somewhat and protect it some from wind, excessive rain, etc. The raised sides allow tarping over without the tarp from getting on the plant itself. The main thing I'd want is tomatoes which can be grown in a 5 gallon bucket very easily. Maybe green bell peppers but not much else. The square plastic tubs that cat litter come in would be awesome for it I think.<br><br>Not good for on the go full timing, but great for stationary.

 

[rabiesandpeewee]

BEETS! Ready to harvest 1.5 months after planting. I second all the herbs. Don't forget mint! I think chard and lettuce are pretty hardy, as well. Oh...what about blueberry bushes? That would be a longterm investment, and would not be possible in the vehicle, but in a stealth site, it could be great! I know they at least grow all up an down the east coast. Never thought of growing kohlrabi. Cool!<br><br>I'm going to have to set up a stealth garden!

 

[ccbreder]

http://www.hydroponic-home-garden.com/<br><br>This uses electricity, but it could lead some of us-all to new ideas.<br>edit for bad link, this one works better. http://www.aerogarden.com/

 

[Scar]

I really liked the idea up there about the garden in a car rooftop carrier.&nbsp; I might do one on top of my new RV this year.&nbsp; You could close it for travel and open it back up when parked, great idea I think.&nbsp; Gotta be careful in Idaho though, some of the herbs are still illegal. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">&nbsp; j/k

 

[jeanontheroad]

Bumping alive, again.

Don't most full-timers spend several months of the year wintering somewhere? It may still be chilly, but a portable folding cold frame might be just the ticket. Throw in a dedicated solar panel to power extra heat and light. Herbs would work. So would several salad greens. Maybe onions and some root crops. I've seen some portable green house setups at Harbor Freight that may even let you go wild and grow tomatoes.

 

[sl1966]

Here's a little something I'll share with you guys. I've been in SoCal since summer last year looking after my elderly parents where the weather is generally pretty good for growing most things year round.

Money has been a little tight so I've gotten them to grow some of their own veggies to help stretch their dollars. There's an L shaped strip in their backyard where we've been planting various asian veggies, which have proven to grow pretty well under various conditions. I planted a few random mini guerilla gardens on patches of desert land with good results as well.

One of the best ones is a veggie from Taiwan called A Choy. It's a type of lettuce that's uber healthy for you and easy to cook. You can get seeds for it as well as many other asian veggies here ...

http://www.evergreenseeds.com/index.html

 

[jeanontheroad]

Mint! OMG! Do you realize how invasive mint can be if it is happy? Please do a little research b4 you start turning non-native species loose on public land. There are some things that need to stay in pots.

 

[sl1966]

Mint! OMG! Do you realize how invasive mint can be if it is happy? Please do a little research b4 you start turning non-native species loose on public land. There are some things that need to stay in pots.

Would you quote who you're replying to. Because I never mentioned mint and it looks like you're saying I was suggesting planting a foriegn mint plant when I talked only about a celery type plant. And just to clarify. The majority of asian veggies that the large Asian populace here in the US is purchasing comes from local southern california farms already.

However if you are saying what I think you're saying. You might want to do some research into all the foreign plants the Europeans brought here and how it killed off all many of the native plants in this particular continent. Just saying.

 

[jeanontheroad]

You .mentioned plants that would take care of themselves and possibly reseed themselves - in a word "naturalize." On public land, no less. Someone else mentioned mint. I don't need a reminder of what damage can be caused by thoughtless introduction of non-native species into native habitats. I live in the south, where kudzu and Brazilian pepper trees are a permanent menace that have already cost millions in a loosing battle of eradication and where non-native snakes and non-native feral pigs are causing no end of damage and millions of dollars more.

 

[sl1966]

You .mentioned plants that would take care of themselves and possibly reseed themselves - in a word "naturalize." On public land, no less. Someone else mentioned mint. I don't need a reminder of what damage can be caused by thoughtless introduction of non-native species into native habitats. I live in the south, where kudzu and Brazilian pepper trees are a permanent menace that have already cost millions in a loosing battle of eradication and where non-native snakes and non-native feral pigs are causing no end of damage and millions of dollars more.

Would it kill you to quote the person who posted it to avoid confusion in the future? Just asking since it was "rabiesandpeewee" who mentioned mint.

I lived in Texas where they're fighting a losing battle to wild boar so I'm more than familiar with the damage. I also spend a small fortune in allergy meds to deal with non native plants reproductive cycles. It sucks but the damage is more than done and there isn't much being done to combat it. I'm not saying I like it so much as it's a fact of life in the melting pot.

 

[jeanontheroad]

Yes, a lot of damage is done. Let's not add to it, especially on public land.

 

[sl1966]

Yes, a lot of damage is done. Let's not add to it, especially on public land.

Well, I wasn't suggesting planting anything of detriment so much as planting what's already being planted here. What you're calling non native isn't really valid anymore given that many species of plants that are non-native are already being farmed here.

 

[jeanontheroad]

Why do you think that agricultural growing of a species suddenly reclassifies it from "non-native" to "native?" These words have meanings.

 

[sl1966]

Why, do you think that agricultural growing of a species suddenly reclassifies it from "non-native" to "native?"

The powers that be can try and classify it all they want, but once it is introduced ... life has a way of making it's own way regardless of said classifications/controls. Take the common sparrow and starling for instance. Both are animals yes, but both area also non native species introduced to this continent in the mid to late 1800s. Both have been decimating native bird species on a catastrophic level. It doesn't end there either in that the common house cat has also had an even more catastrophic effect on multiple native species who have been ill equipped to cope with them. To be fair I will go back to plants alone for the sake of the subject. Florida alone has over 1400 non native invasive plant species to contend with.

I'm not saying I disagree with you about the damage being done. I'm only saying that it's already done. The fight is long past lost.

 

[jeanontheroad]

So, your point is that substantial irreversible damage has been done, so we might as well keep doing it. It's hard to argue with someone who can see the logic in that , so I won't bother.

 

[sl1966]

So, your point is that substantial irreversible damage has been done, so we might as well keep doing it. It's hard to argue with someone who can see the logic in that , so I won't bother.

That's a bit of a stretch. I did say the following earlier in the conversation ...

Well, I wasn't suggesting planting anything of detriment so much as planting what's already being planted here.

What I'd said (in closing) about damage being done already, is that as careful as any sanctioned entity is in growing non-native plants on US soil ... life will take it's own course as careful as anyone is.

 

[sl1966]

Here's a cool article that kind of spells out the bigger picture of guerilla gardening ... http://grist.org/food/why-guerrilla-gardening-wont-turn-the-world-into-blade-runner-hell/

 

[caseyc]

Steve,

Is that you, bud?! If so, where ya been? Nice to see you posting again.

Casey

Here's a cool article that kind of spells out the bigger picture of guerilla gardening ... http://grist.org/food/why-guerrilla-gardening-wont-turn-the-world-into-blade-runner-hell/

 

[sl1966]

Steve,

Is that you, bud?! If so, where ya been? Nice to see you posting again.

Casey

Good to see you too! Yes it's me. Thanks for the Welcome. I pulled away cuz of a lot of reasons the chief one being some family medical issues, and just when I thought we were out of the woods we're possibly headed back in. Thankfully this time my house is in order so I can juggle a bit more than back then.