YvanAug 17, 2025

What surprising thing could I be sowing now, mid August, aka late summer, in Norfolk England (roughly sorta USDA 8b, but interested in varying takes on "late season" [edit to be less specific])

In this area, in a "good"* year, we can still be harvesting ripening tomatoes in October (in a polytunnel). So there can be up to about 2 decent growing months of time ahead.

We have outdoor bed space and understory space around the polytunnel tomatoes.

Today I will be sowing dwarf french beans outside, which have a good but not guaranteed chance of giving us a crop depending on the weather. That possibly isn't too surprising though!

I am thinking "surprising late season" mainly, though also "surprising over-winter" is interesting.... like I was fairly recently surprised to discover coriander grows well under cover in UK winter months. (Coriander is actually slightly frost tolerant!)

* aka: harbinger of impending climate doom racing our way...

#Allotmemt
#GrowYourOwn #GYO
#Gardening

Show threadBrambleBearGrrraulingAug 17, 2025

@yvan Excellent question and reminder!

(Still time to plant something for fall harvest, my neurosparklies and spoonie gardeners🌞🥰)

Tagging for #SolarpunkSunday

#SpoonieGardening
#NeuroSparklyGardening

Show threadDoomsdaysCWAug 17, 2025

I've started a few cooler weather crops, one of them being coriander (as well as more Rainbow Chard). I'm planning on starting some cabbage, beets and spinach as well -- all in containers so I can bring them inside if there's an early frost. @BrambleBearGrrrauwling @yvan

#SolarPunkSunday #GrowYourOwn #GYO

Show threadBrambleBearGrrraulingAug 17, 2025

@DoomsdaysCW

Brilliant🌻🌻🌻

Starting from seed?

I have killed so many cilantro and dill seedlings 😭 and love to cook with both; I hope I can still manage some.

@yvan

Show threadDoomsdaysCWAug 17, 2025
Yeah, I just killed half of my cilantro already. Luckily, I have a lot of seeds. @BrambleBearGrrrauwling
Show threadBrambleBearGrrraulingAug 17, 2025

@DoomsdaysCW aaaarrrgh.

How many seeds do you put in what size pot?

How about dill?

Theoretically, I could.....find seeds....scrounge pots without living plants, recover half empty bags of potting soil scattered about from last year's half-assery and failed dreams, maybe ....clean out pots, add soil, stick seeds in soil?????

Wouldn't that be something.

Show threadBrambleBearGrrraulingAug 17, 2025

@BrambleBearWhuffling
@BrambleBearGrrrauwling

Ok Bear, you can do this. Hold this plan in your mind from step 1, locate seeds, CHECK🌞 through however tf many steps it becomes!🌻💚🌱💛

(Edit-1.5- put seed packets in pocket so have when future steps ready for them, or will have to go hunt them down again. Ok, CHECK🌞) (grrrrraaauuuwwllllll. Following list. This is not going to beach. But this is resilience. Resistance. Yummy foooooood!!!!

1/fuck if i know

#NDGardening
#SolarpunkSunday

Show threadDoomsdaysCWAug 17, 2025

Oh trust me, it took a whole DAY of my sorting all the seeds out, organizing them by category (the ones in packets), checking for mold, etc. And that's all I did all day! (I think I had been triggered by coming across some moldy sunflower seeds in the old storage area). @BrambleBearGrrrauwling @BrambleBearWhuffling

#NDGardening #SolarPunkSunday #WheresMyList?!! #CategoriesCategoriesCategories #SortingSunday

Show threadDoomsdaysCWAug 17, 2025

I even marked the day (it was in 2024)! The only way I got through it was by thinking "I am Freeman Lowell. I'm doing this for the future and for wildlife (and for food security)." I sometimes have to throw myself into a "role" to focus and get things done...

https://kolektiva.social/@DoomsdaysCW/112046322952030970

@BrambleBearGrrrauwling @BrambleBearWhuffling

#SolarPunkSunday #SilentRunning #FreemanLowell #SeedSaving

DoomsdaysCW (@[email protected])

Attached: 1 image Organized the "seed vault" today. Threw out anything that had gotten moldy or was too old. I have some treasured heirloom seeds tucked away in sealed containers just in case (beans, corn, sunflowers, etc.). Hopefully this year, my black #walnut tree will start producing walnuts. The "mother tree" was one fully acclimated to #Maine. I've manage to keep alive a few #HeirloomPlants -- including strongly scented #lilacs, that I've rooted and planted in other locations. I've always idolized #FreemanLowell from #SilentRunning -- trying to keep my little corner of the universe green and full of food for the local wildlife.

kolektiva.social
Show threadBrambleBearGrrraulingAug 17, 2025

@DoomsdaysCW coolcool, great idea! Will take a look.

Actually made some progress on my list-

@BrambleBearWhuffling 🙏🏼

Thank You for inspiring me!!!!!

Gonna walk these potted seeds over to suuny garden spot, now quite rewilded with neglect and goldenrod. And lots of other things.

Show threadDoomsdaysCW
My bee friends love the goldenrod (and milk thistle). I try and keep some of both around for them, but I know they can get out of control... (Which reminds me -- time to cut down the burdock soon, now that it stopped blooming. It's taken over some of my raspberry / strawberry patch, but I kept it, 'cuz, bees. I'll keep a little bit around, but yeah... Part of gardening is to know what to keep, and what to get rid of, and keeping a balance!) @BrambleBearGrrrauwling @BrambleBearWhuffling
Aug 17, 2025 at 5:33pmWeb
Show threadBrambleBearGrrraulingAug 17, 2025

@DoomsdaysCW @BrambleBearWhuffling

I want as much goldenrod as I can get, not only for pollinators but natural dye for wool, plus such a cheerful yellow flower with No Effort on my part.

However, it is taking up a lot of sunny space where people food, medicine and fibers could grow. If butt could be coaxed to move into gear, and spoons were nurtured carefully, and ND chaos ridden skillfully. And lots seems to be thriving in shade. Just blooms later.

Show threadDoomsdaysCWAug 17, 2025
Also, dyeing with goldenrod? Do tell me more! (I grow rose madder and used to grow and use alkanet for dyes), @BrambleBearGrrrauwling @BrambleBearWhuffling
Show threadBrambleBearGrrraulingAug 17, 2025

@DoomsdaysCW

I haven't done it yet, but yes, will zap some info here.

Quick find https://lacreativemama.com/natural-dyeing-goldenrod-flowers/

Best bet if you want to try it is a good natural dye book from
https://portfiber.com/

You can ask Casey about it. Thry slso host classes there.

A master natural dyer lives out on Peaks too and gives classes lots of places. Will look.

Natural Dyeing with Goldenrod Flowers - La creative mama

Natural dyeing using goldenrod flowers for fabric and yarn. Free natural dyeing guide to learn the best way to use natural dyes.

La creative mama
Show threadDoomsdaysCWAug 17, 2025
Thank you! And ooooh... That's a beautiful color!@BrambleBearGrrrauwling
Show threadBrambleBearGrrraulingAug 17, 2025

@DoomsdaysCW

Some on this page should talk about goldenrod but you might need to look or ask.

https://portfiber.com/collections/books-on-dyeing

Books on Dyeing

Show threadBrambleBearGrrraulingAug 18, 2025

@DoomsdaysCW

Here is the Peaks natural dyer's site, and a bio from a fiber retreat.

https://44clovers.com/

44 Clovers

Maine island heritage wool yarn, spun in Ashland, Maine. Small batch dyed with lichens, mushrooms, and plants on Peaks Island, Maine. 44clovers also offers plant dying workshops.

44 Clovers
Show threadDoomsdaysCWAug 18, 2025
TY @BrambleBearGrrrauwling !