Meet the Fortress : Our Answer to Pesky Varmints

The Brown family is serious about organic gardening. JB and Sara love the time outside and fresh produce almost as much as their two kids, Cameron and Grace. Problem is the critters in their backyard are more persistent than a door to door salesman. Every fat, green tomato went missing just days from turning red. Half eaten cucumbers littered the ground around the garden like peanut shells at a football game. Entire rows of bush bean plants were cut down to sad little stubs peeking up through the soil.

“We tried some deterrents,” explains JB, nodding toward a plastic owl sitting on the edge of one of the raised beds we installed back in May. “They left some stuff alone, like the peppers and eggplant, but we didn’t get to eat one single tomato. And I’m a tomato guy. “

A tomato guy with no tomatoes? That’s as bad as a theme park with no roller coasters.

Our solution?

The Fortress ;  An 8’x8’x7’Tall enclosed garden.

The fortress is made by connecting panels framed with cedar 2”x4” lumber, and wrapped with ½” galvanized hardware cloth to create an enclosed space that will keep out birds, squirrels, rabbits and other meddlesome varmints, while still allowing pollinating insects easy access to the plants. Once the cage was in place, we then installed a horseshoe shaped raised bed made with 4”x4” cedar timbers.

The area inside the beds was finished with small brown pea gravel, which has a warm, natural appearance, and won’t become discolored from mud and foot traffic like a lighter color stone. The beds were filled with our blend of pine bark fines, mushroom compost, and PermaTill, and we planted an assortment of heirloom carrots, turnips, radishes and peas.

As for JB’s tomatoes?

“Spring will be here in no time.” He smiles, locking the bolt on the door.

Our Favorite Heirloom Seed Sources

So you’ve read up on why you would want to choose an open pollinated, or heirloom seed variety over a bioengineered one, but where to obtain these much discussed seeds? The selection of seed packets at the local big box store isn’t very encouraging, and heirloom seed stores aren’t exactly on every corner like that big coffee shop chain from Seattle. Yet.

Good thing for discerning gardeners that there are some well established and reliable organizations dedicated to preserving, and selling open pollinated seed varieties. Most have lots of useful information too, like planting guides and a history of each seed variety. And talk about selection! Chances are, as you peruse the catalogs, you will see a few things you’ve never even heard of. While there are more than a handful of quality heirloom seed companies and non-profit groups around the country, here are a few of our favorites…

Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company

One of the largest heirloom seed outfits, with locations in California, Missouri, and Connecticut. In addition to over 1400 open pollinated, non GMO vegetable, flower and herb seeds, Baker Creek also publishes a vegan cookbook, and  Heirloom Gardener Magazine. They have a HUGE selection of tomato varieties.  Request a free catalog at rareseeds.com

Sow True Seed

Sow True has a nice catalog of open pollinated, non-hybrid, and non-GMO seeds, and  they’re based in Asheville, so many of their heirloom varieties have a history from Appalachia or other areas in the Southeast. Consequently, these ‘local’ heirloom varieties are often better adapted to grow in our region. In addition to a nice selection of heirloom vegetables, herbs and flowers, they’ve also got garlic, potatoes, grains and cover crops. They’ve also got a series of great seed collections including one for medicinal herbs, a children’s garden, and a Fall-Winter vegetable collection. Request a fee catalog at sowtrueseed.com

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange

More than just a place to buy non-GMO heirloom seeds, SESE is an active organization that’s won all kinds of industry and community awards.  They’re based in Virginia, and most of their seed varieties are especially suited for the mid Atlantic region. In addition to an ample selection of vegetable, flower and herb seeds, they’ve also got cover crops, potatoes, garlic, and even cotton and peanut varieties. SESE has a huge library of books and DVD’s, and also sells seed saving and other heirloom gardening supplies. If you’d like to see firsthand what Southern Exposure Seed Exchange is all about, ride up to Thomas Jefferson’s place for the 6^th annual Heritage Harvest Festival at Monticello. The event happens on Sept. 14-15, 2012, and features tastings tents, workshops, the Young Farmers Zone, and an old timey seed swap.

Here, Have $50 On Us

Sometimes even the most motivated urban farmers need a little nudge off of the fence. Considering a raised bed garden or backyard chicken coop this fall? Perhaps fifty bucks back in the wallet is what you need to get going. Now through Nov. 30^th 2012, we’re offering $50 off select raised bed gardens and chicken coops. Naturally, some restrictions apply, so be sure to stop by microfarmgardens.com/offer for complete details.

Microfarm on Charlotte Today

You know urban farming has become popular when the local morning show wants to mix segments about garden tool maintenance, organic soil amendments, and backyard chicken coops into the traditional line up of cooking demos, fashion, and health. WCNC-TV’s Charlotte Today program tapped Microfarm to give their viewers the scoop on the coop, and we were happy to oblige.  

The appearances must not have been a total train wreck, because the show’s producers have asked us to come back with something new every month. Now, if we could just get a couple of goats to sit on the sofa in the studio…

Growing in Stone

The Glassners are one busy family. A bit longer than the typical commute to Uptown, Adam’s office is in Washington D.C. So during the week While Adam’s working, Patti manages the homestead, mothers four kids, and still manages to crank out the occasional triathalon.

“We’ve wanted to have a garden for a while now”, explains Patti. “Like every parent, we want our kids to eat fresh fruits and vegetables. We feel like growing organic produce at home will create excitement about healthy eating.”

“It’s not entirely for the kids though”,  laughs Patti. “Adam and I are really excited about the garden too.”

The Glassners opted to have their 5’x9’ raised bed made using dry stacked Pennsylvania Field Stone, which, in addition to a timeless, elegant appearance, will last much longer than any type of lumber.  Once a few shrub bushes were relocated and the site cleared of debris, the first course, or layer of stones was put down. The first course is the most important ( and slowest )as it will largely determine the stability of the entire structure.

The widest, flattest stones are selected, and painstakingly fitted together and leveled. Subsequent courses are laid down and secured with #78 gravel . Unlike mortar, using gravel creates stability and also acts as a filter, preventing soil from washing out from between the stones. For the final course, flat stones were again sought and carefully fitted together for a clean looking cap. The finished height of the Glassners’  stone bed is about 20” and was filled with an organic soil blend of pine bark fines, mushroom compost, and PermaTill.  The family’s fall garden includes beets, carrots, sugar snap peas, Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli, Swiss Chard, and lettuces.