Vancouver Island 2022 Organic Grow

[Azimuth]

-I havent found nettle patch I trust, too much glyphosate used to kill this weed

I started my own patch from seed I got from an herbal farm. It can be pretty invasive so I'm growing it in a big pot, which will also make harvesting the roots much easier. The roots are supposed to make a great and healing tea.

The plant spreads from underground runners but also from seeds so I'm keeping mine cut back and hopefully can keep it from flowering.

 

[scottreid1966]

Well these ones should not have smell since there is no oxygen inside. The oldest one is the banana peel and doesnt smell bad at all, I also dont open the jar often and try to keep a minimal of biosecurity (wash hands, dont sneezz inside of it lol... things like that) when I open the jar to not spoil the content.

The one with horse tail shouldnt smell. The egg one because there is animal protein residue it could ferment and smell like metane or funky... but yet again it would need oxygen to fully decompose.

On how long it takes, sure opens a debate. couple days? one week? a month? 3 motnhs? I dont know to be honest. I like to do them in advance.

Loving the sweet zombie!
How much of each do you use for the foliar? Can you use them during flower?

 

[Danishoes21]

I started my own patch from seed I got from an herbal farm. It can be pretty invasive so I'm growing it in a big pot, which will also make harvesting the roots much easier. The roots are supposed to make a great and healing tea.

The plant spreads from underground runners but also from seeds so I'm keeping mine cut back and hopefully can keep it from flowering.

That’s a great solution. I’m looking at the same option planting nettle from a trusted source. Probably start all my weeds from seeds and then let them do their thing.

Nettle is special for us because wife and I consume it in capsules. This year we hit a patch from a friends property he has some sheep so the soil is rich, so much nettle growing. We harvest so much, dried, powdered it and capsule. Daily supplement.

 

[Danishoes21]

Loving the sweet zombie!
How much of each do you use for the foliar? Can you use them during flower?

I haven’t used them yet, but I only have a small pot so I might use 100ml of solution per litre of water. Giving me 10 application see how that works out.

I will try during flower but might stop once bud a very developed to avoid possible bud rot.

 

[Azimuth]

I haven’t used them yet, but I only have a small pot so I might use 100ml of solution per litre of water. Giving me 10 application see how that works out.

I will try during flower but might stop once bud a very developed to avoid possible bud rot.

You could switch to the JMS (microbial solution) in flower to try to prevent the bud rot.

 

[Azimuth]

Nettle is special for us because wife and I consume it in capsules.

What benefits do you get from it, and I assume it is the leaves you are consuming?

 

[Danishoes21]

What benefits do you get from it, and I assume it is the leaves you are consuming?

Internet has many many sources that confirm the full potential of this weed.

10 Science-Backed Benefits of Stinging Nettle | Organic Facts

The important health benefits of stinging nettle include its ability to detoxify the body, ease seasonal allergies, minimize menopausal symptoms, & aid in skin & hair care.

www.organicfacts.net

We powder the dry leaves and we harvest in spring when the plants are sprouting (peaking nutrients), we harvest the young shoots (that includes leaf and stem) since they hold the most amount of thriving energy = nutrients.

Once we powder it, we make capsules or use the powder in any recipe. Its part of our preventive medicine practice, the importance of it being 100% glyphosate free.

 

[Azimuth]

Internet has many many sources that confirm the full potential of this weed.

10 Science-Backed Benefits of Stinging Nettle | Organic Facts

The important health benefits of stinging nettle include its ability to detoxify the body, ease seasonal allergies, minimize menopausal symptoms, & aid in skin & hair care.

www.organicfacts.net

We powder the dry leaves and we harvest in spring when the plants are sprouting (peaking nutrients), we harvest the young shoots (that includes leaf and stem) since they hold the most amount of thriving energy = nutrients.

Once we powder it, we make capsules or use the powder in any recipe. Its part of our preventive medicine practice, the importance of it being 100% glyphosate free.

Thanks. I've read a bunch of those types of articles and most use the same words to describe the benefits like "may do this" and "might do that" so it's good to hear from those who actually use the stuff and find certain benefits.

I've not tried the root powder yet as this is my first year growing it but plan to try it after a fall harvest.

 

[Danishoes21]

Thanks. I've read a bunch of those types of articles and most use the same words to describe the benefits like "may do this" and "might do that" so it's good to hear from those who actually use the stuff and find certain benefits.

I've not tried the root powder yet as this is my first year growing it but plan to try it after a fall harvest.

I feel you on that, I can understand how internet information can be doomed to be a click bate making any statement automatically suspicious of being fake claims.

I can’t really claim that nettle helped me in any particular way since we just use it as plant medicine or we call it preventive medicine, we use many plants to avoid chances of getting ill. We are unofficial herbalist (me and wife). When you consider yourself a herbalist and use plants as medicine you never doubt the plant.
When it comes to weeds with high nutrition components nettle is the undisputed king.

Some plants that we take for a specific use are

horsetail = promote hair growth
nettle “king of weeds” = vitamin/minerals/immune system
Poppies = analgesic/pain killer
Dandelion root = detox liver/diuretic
Echinacea root = immune system
Mallow or mauve = immune system
Broad leaf plantain = small skin rashes/wounds
Yarrow flower = pain/immune system
Elderflower = immune system/diuretic
Rosemary “queen of herbs” = antiseptic/inmune system/general use
Mugworth = digestive system
Chamomile = calming/sleep aid
Calendula = anti inflammatory/immune system
St. John’s worth = energy boost/anti depression
Spruce flower = colds/ coughs/ respiratory system
Cannabis = my favourite I use it for everything

And then all the medicinal mushrooms that grow in Canada reishi, chaga, turkeytail, lions mane, birch polypore.

These are some that we currently have in our shelves in capsules or tinctures. We try to harvest every spring when we can from wild otherwise we grow ourselves.

We believe blindly in plants, we don’t believe the doctors and their corrective medicine like taking a pill when you have a pain or illness.
By preventive the illness there is no need to correct it. So far we are doing great, helping our body regenerate itself.

 

[Azimuth]

I feel you on that, I can understand how internet information can be doomed to be a click bate making any statement automatically suspicious of being fake claims.

I can’t really claim that nettle helped me in any particular way since we just use it as plant medicine or we call it preventive medicine, we use many plants to avoid chances of getting ill. We are unofficial herbalist (me and wife). When you consider yourself a herbalist and use plants as medicine you never doubt the plant.
When it comes to weeds with high nutrition components nettle is the undisputed king.

Some plants that we take for a specific use are

horsetail = promote hair growth
nettle “king of weeds” = vitamin/minerals/immune system
Poppies = analgesic/pain killer
Dandelion root = detox liver/diuretic
Echinacea root = immune system
Mallow or mauve = immune system
Broad leaf plantain = small skin rashes/wounds
Yarrow flower = pain/immune system
Elderflower = immune system/diuretic
Rosemary “queen of herbs” = antiseptic/inmune system/general use
Mugworth = digestive system
Chamomile = calming/sleep aid
Calendula = anti inflammatory/immune system
St. John’s worth = energy boost/anti depression
Spruce flower = colds/ coughs/ respiratory system
Cannabis = my favourite I use it for everything

And then all the medicinal mushrooms that grow in Canada reishi, chaga, turkeytail, lions mane, birch polypore.

These are some that we currently have in our shelves in capsules or tinctures. We try to harvest every spring when we can from wild otherwise we grow ourselves.

We believe blindly in plants, we don’t believe the doctors and their corrective medicine like taking a pill when you have a pain or illness.
By preventive the illness there is no need to correct it. So far we are doing great, helping our body regenerate itself.

You should look at adding comfrey to your list. I got it for it's fertilizer properties but turns out it's nickname is 'knitbone' for it's ability to speed healing. It has something called allentoin(?) as its active ingredient.

The roots are more potent than the leaves, but both work.

I make something I call my hiking salve which is a combination of comfrey, plantain, beeswax, and a carrier oil for use out on the trail. Helpful for things like bug bites to light sprains.

PLUS, when comfrey is combined with s.nettle, it's one of the best all around natural fertilizers for your plants.

There are some caveats to planting it though as it has a very long tap root and is propagated by root cuttings which means you'll likely never get rid of it where it's planted, and if you get a non-sterile variety it can also spread by seed making it a bit of a nightmare. I grow the Bocking 14 variety which is sterile so I don't have that issue, and I planted it in my garden where I'm happy for it to take up permanent residence.

 

[Danishoes21]

You should look at adding comfrey to your list. I got it for it's fertilizer properties but turns out it's nickname is 'knitbone' for it's ability to speed healing. It has something called allentoin(?) as its active ingredient.

The roots are more potent than the leaves, but both work.

I make something I call my hiking salve which is a combination of comfrey, plantain, beeswax, and a carrier oil for use out on the trail. Helpful for things like bug bites to light sprains.

PLUS, when combined with s.nettle, it's one of the best all around natural fertilizers for your plants.

There are some caveats to planting it though as it has a very long tap root and is propagated by root cuttings which means you'll likely never get rid of it where it's planted, and if you get a non-sterile variety it can also spread by seed making it a bit of a nightmare. I grow the Bocking 14 variety which is sterile so I don't have that issue, and I planted it in my garden where I'm happy for it to take up permanent residence.

I believe you we love comfrey I forgot to name it and she is right there growing in the garden lol I also forgot clover that’s one of the hardworking ones.

I love plants.

 

[scottreid1966]

Cannabis = my favourite I use it for everything

 

[Danishoes21]

Worked on some things today. Didn’t see the plants will do that tomorrow.

Powder nettle

horsetail second brew same organic material but this time added nettle, tbsp worm casting, 2 tbsp of organic molasses plus water.

roasted eggshell powder in water with 1/4 ltr of home made kombucha turned vinegar, 2 tablespoons organic molasses.

This is how the first brew of horsetail looks like. Smells funky good.

 

[TwelveCoffee]

Worked on some things today. Didn’t see the plants will do that tomorrow.

Powder nettle

horsetail second brew same organic material but this time added nettle, tbsp worm casting, 2 tbsp of organic molasses plus water.

roasted eggshell powder in water with 1/4 ltr of home made kombucha turned vinegar, 2 tablespoons organic molasses.

This is how the first brew of horsetail looks like. Smells funky good.

You sir are a wizard making all these potions what do you got to make toddlers sleep? Lol :d

 

[Danishoes21]

You sir are a wizard making all these potions what do you got to make toddlers sleep? Lol :d

Chamomile could work. It’s pretty harmless but take more than enough you’ll fall asleep. But this is not a suggestion lol unless you are my really good friend and trusted me I could suggest a cold press brew of chamomile then do drops to see what’s the dose.

 

[TwelveCoffee]

Chamomile could work. It’s pretty harmless but take more than enough you’ll fall asleep. But this is not a suggestion lol unless you are my really good friend and trusted me I could suggest a cold press brew of chamomile then do drops to see what’s the dose.

I'm down with it but I don't think she'd down with it I shall ask and see

 

[Azimuth]

roasted eggshell powder in water with 1/4 ltr of home made kombucha turned vinegar, 2 tablespoons organic molasses.

Nice assortment of potions you have there.

The KNF version of WCA (Water Soluble Calcium) is made with eggshells and straight vinegar in a ratio of about 1:10 eggshells:vinegar by volume. The eggshells start to dance up and down from the bottom of the container to the top as the calcium is released and the process is done when that activity stops in 5-7 days or so. It will initially foam up considerably so leave a bit of head space available in the jar.

I'm not sure what adding water to the mix will do although it will certainly slow it down markedly at the very least. You might make another batch the original way and then add your other ingredients in after it's done and compare the two. The original version is a straight up chemical reaction without microbes as I understand it, and is simply to physically release the calcium form the eggshells.

 

[Danishoes21]

Nice assortment of potions you have there.

The KNF version of WCA (Water Soluble Calcium) is made with eggshells and straight vinegar in a ratio of about 1:10 eggshells:vinegar by volume. The eggshells start to dance up and down from the bottom of the container to the top as the calcium is released and the process is done when that activity stops in 5-7 days or so. It will initially foam up considerably so leave a bit of head space available in the jar.

I'm not sure what adding water to the mix will do although it will ceratinly slow it down markedly at the very least. You might make another batch the original way and then add your other ingredients in after it's done and compare the two. The original version is a straight up chemical reaction without microbes as I understand it, and is simply to physically release the calcium form the eggshells.

I red the original RD recipe wrong I was thinking 750ml water and the rest vinegar. I realized last night when I made the post. Ill do a white vinager/egg this week, I am concern the solution will be soo acid maybe thats why the dilution is 750:1 as said by RD.
Another thing I saw last night molasses I have has 8% calcium in it, thats why I added 2 tbsp to both mixes, makes sense? Im thinking it all has to be subtle since is going to foliar, dont really wanna burn a leaf in the process.

The vinegar I used isnt straight acetic acid. But I have a Kombucha culture turned into some heavy vinegar I cant even consume because its sooooo acid, I gave it a shot.

What do you think of the color of the horsetail brew? does it look like something you have seen before? The smell is pretty particular, not the most pleasant one. I will be hitting them with the horsetail foliar and the banana brew for the watering today.

 

[Azimuth]

I am concern the solution will be soo acid maybe thats why the dilution is 750:1 as said by RD.

I had a back and forth Here in my 'Alchemy' thread with NuttyProfessor regarding that exact point and is one of the reasons I switched over to more of the Jadam approach from KNF. With organics the pH isn't supposed to be all that important within reason but if you're using several at a time like I do that could throw your fertigation water out of whack I suppose.

But some, like the Water Soluble Calcium, seemed best derived from the KNF world.

Another thing I saw last night molasses I have has 8% calcium in it, thats why I added 2 tbsp to both mixes, makes sense? Im thinking it all has to be subtle since is going to foliar, dont really wanna burn a leaf in the process.

The WCA is high powered calcium so you shouldn't need any other source unless you're using the other for a different purpose. Molasses is supposed to be a good additive for soil (although there are detractors) for the microbes, but I would think a sticky syrupy residue on leaf surfaces wouldn't be the best. Kind of like why we rinse off soaps after they dry when we treat insects, otherwise it can lead to clogged leaf pores.

The vinegar I used isnt straight acetic acid. But I have a Kombucha culture turned into some heavy vinegar I cant even consume because its sooooo acid, I gave it a shot.

In KNF a weak brown rice vinegar is often used, but I don't know what pH we're talking about. I use either white or apple cider vinegar to make mine.

What do you think of the color of the horsetail brew? does it look like something you have seen before? The smell is pretty particular, not the most pleasant one. I will be hitting them with the horsetail foliar and the banana brew for the watering today.

Color looks good. It will get darker the longer you leave the plant material in it. I usually keep a couple of containers going, one large one where all the extraction takes place and I add both microbes and new material to that one periodically, and the second a smaller container I work out of used to hold strained liquid to fertigate with. It gets stronger the longer you leave the material in it but I find it's a bit of a pain to strain it each time so I strain some into a small bottle and work out of that. Once it's used up I strain more to refill it and then replace what I used in the larger container.

The smell with all of these things is an acquired taste. You get used to it, but man it doesn't come easy.

 

[ReservoirDog]

I havent been to Whistler or Jasper, been to Banff... This time around I've been all over the Kootneays. My friends this is where its at in the rockies. Soooo many mountains to ski/snowboard and as far as I know Cannabis the Kootneays is like the Emerald triangle of Canada. Nelson being the town of hippies and weed growers...
But Van. Island is the perfect gift bag that contains small samples of the province in one place. Courtney, Comox valley and Cowichan valley all places where the weed grows incredible.

What I love out here is (maybe one day I will get to do it); growing cannabis at high altitudes. They do it in Oaxaca with there Highland and lowland Oaxaca gold, once you start growing in high altitude you get a whole different set of tepers and cannabinoids (higher UV exposure, less oxigen, less humidity...) the phenos grown at high altitudes probably get you HIGH altitude.

High Altitude growing was my jam for 8 years during The Dark Times. Coastal BC, Mainland coast Desolation Sound, Toba Inlet, Bute Inlet. We bred special high altitude strain that was from Himalayas crossed with Timewarp and another I cant remember for the life of me. I had a classic 42ft. ex-salmon troller and a 24ft. aluminum oyster barge and we loaded both up to the gills every year with guano and more clones than you would think possible and spent 6 weeks planting above treeline in the wildest country in Canada, every spring. It was truly epic. You`re bang-on in your terps assessment, and there are numerous other benefits. Security for one. Cosmic rays, UV, good gaseous mix, no competition for space and no valley-effect killing your DLI. Best outdoor grow location full stop, IMO.

Slocan Valley - Kootenay Lake is definitely our own Emerald Triangle. My parents lived in Procter, a wee, wee village on the main lake, across the arm from Balfour where the Kootenay Lake ferry docks. You had to take a cable ferry to get to their place and it was heaven. They had 6 acres and a nice, handbuilt, Swiss Alps Chalet-style house.

The winter snow there is phenomenal. I ski toured the whole region, up to all the cabins and glacier climbing in summers up on Kootenay Glacier. I was up there working search and rescue when Trudeau's brother died up there. Almost went a couple times myself up there, fell through a snowbridge on the glacier once into a deep, deep crevasse. Managed to get my arms and ice axe out fast enough to keep from falling through totally and bury that axe deep enough in ice to pull myself out. I was roped up but it wouldn`t have mattered the length I was on and you get wedged in there real tight from their shape, die of shock and thermo before proper rescue.

My climbing partner went waterfall climbing without me and the entire waterfall collapsed. They fell 150 ft. One dead, and my partner was in the hospital for 5 months. Brain injury, life-changing injuries of all kinds. The snow in the Kootenays is the best I`ve ever seen and I`ve seen all of Canada`s ski meccas. I was into backcountry though, telemark. Old school. That and alpinism. Love the Rockies, but Kootenays is where I learned, was home, and grew indoor hydro weed there too.

If you look at my adult life, and where I`ve lived, Holland, Kootenays, BC Coast Islands, you could be forgiven for thinking a single theme connects them all... I used to think it was a coincidence. Not as convinced these days.

I really hope you get your land Dani, really do. I know you`d do right by it. I`ve been working to turn my patch in the suburbs into a piece of how I lived in `the wild Islands`. This year I finally said `fuck curb appeal`and ripped out all the grass and built a mammoth raised vegetable bed from cardboard and wire. I put down woodchips over the entire remaining space and planted out the corner as a food and fertilizer forest. I assumed the neighbourhood would shun me but the opposite has happened. Now all the neighbours love it and are launching their own projects! They bring me plants, and come and buy the succulents and seedlings I'm putting out for sale every day... Who knew... just takes one person to swim against the tide sometimes I guess. Proud of my neighbours for going their own way too now, full support from me. They just got chicken across the street and aa few doors down fella`s getting goats. My place may appear a Hippy Haven to outsiders, but it`s a sustainable, ecologically responsible and vibrantly diverse mini biome to me. It`s a family project but as the driving force I`m proud of what we`ve accomplished in twenty years. My plans for the next 20 years was to take down the old, original house and place 4 tiny-homes - and a grow shack, on it. I love living in small spaces, it`s an eccentricity, I know, but my needs are simple and I wanted to get some other people on here with me. Now I just hope I can keep it as mortgage rate goes up and our family business of 30-plus years may fall due to covid ramifications. We just lost our two core customers...

thanks for letting me blather on in your thread Dani. I`m having some tech. computer issues keeping me from posting images how I`d like to on my thread but I`ll get it sorted. This forum has become an important social outlet for me. Cheers mate.