So the alfalfa tea did not seem to burn anything. I think it gave all the plants a little perk. The crazy thing is that the leftover blob/turd of strained alfalfa and kelp is already gone. Below it in the mulch is a crazy living tangle of red worms that seem about as happy as worms can be. A holiday feast. I don’t know how effectual the tea was. And I only let it bubble for 18 or so hrs, but if my worms are happy with it than I am too.
The purple bush I took down was a chocolate chunk. Temps have gotten a little low in the tent at lights out which makes for great colors, but I have reluctantly decided to hook up the heater for the cold dark nights ahead. (Lows were in the low 60s in the tent during the recent cold snap). Ah New England winters.
A year in with the big bag: call it 5 cycles of 6 plants times an average of 2 zips a plant is 60 oz maybe 4 lbs. Perhaps not the awesome numbers some more serious growers get, but I am content and anyway it’s more than I can ingest and give away. I have spent little to nothing on inputs (besides electricity ho ho ho). Maybe $30 on malted barley. A $40 splurge on
mammoth p. And, including solo cups which I use as starter pots and label collars, I don’t think that I filled a single trash bin all year.
I am obviously loosing yield by doing the perpetual flower. Between the uneven canopy and the fact that the plants don’t get to veg into the big bag, I think I loose ounces each cycle. But I am happy with the results and the experiment. I have proven to myself that you can grow really top shelf herb without chemicals, fertilizers, and $ on dirt and bottles. I have come to understand that environment and soil health replace these expensive and dubious techniques and substances.
At first it was hard to drive past the grow shop. “I must need something for the garden.” But now I’m used to it.
Thank you everybody who has followed along. It really has given me an extra incentive to keep things ship shape, knowing that cats can look in at what I’m doing. It has helped me, for the most part, be less sloppy and lazy and to keep to my pledged schedules of ipm and maintenance. It is nice to have an outlet to make notes and ponder the proceedings. Maybe brag a tiny bit.
Anyway. Much love and prosperity in the new year. I plan to continue this experiment for another year. I hope I’ve been able to help somebody on their path. Even if it’s just to show that a half assed dummy stoner like me can supply himself and his friends with top shelf.
Peace