What Makes a Good Urban Farm Site?

[@elementalearth5096]

I've been watching your youtube video's since last winter after having seen a video on permaculture voices where you did a long introduction to urban farming, I'm still watching your channel, having learned lot's about growing already. I just wanted to express my gratitude for the amazing things you are doing and for being the change that the world needs. I've been trying out some of the techniques in my own plot of land behind my house and the results are amazing! Next season i'll give building poly low tunnels a try... living in Manitoba kinda requires that. Anyways, keep doing what you're doing Curtis! Respect! :-)

[@friedyamms]

In the fourth minute you beginning speaking about the "edge effect." this is one of the most beautiful phenomenon known to human kind -- we owe much of our success, as a species, to the edges of land. Edge effects are where the highest rate of speciation (the emergence of new species) occurs. It also applies to other aspects of life. eg/ the most effective political systems come from a healthy mix of political philosophies or ideals. Way to go man, you are an inspiration.

[@tumba3182]

Ive done the vinegar before curtis, takes a few rounds but it'll do the job. should only take a week or two, twice or thrice a week. I'm sure with a good flame weed before the spray on the initial go that'll break the cell walls and enhance penetration thus increasing the effectiveness of the vinegar. It'll throw off the pH of the O layer though ever so slightly and cause slight dmg to microbes if overdone. This would be one of the rare situations that I think compost tea is potentially necessary in maintaining the momentum in the soil in a profitable context.

[@lcrread]

That's awesome, Curtis! You're on a roll...... :)

[@GardenBandits]

Thanks! Great tips, looking forward to more info.

[@tjz19d]

I've done the vinegar and soap mix before, it works pretty good but it takes more than 1 application. I'm not sure if it does anything to the microbial life so I spray it around the house and not In the gardens. Great vid Curtis.

[@chevy6299]

Thanks but do you add any salt?

[@tpsu129]

Pittsburgh use to belch out smoke and lead from its now defunct steel mills. So, soil tests would be a big cya for me.

[@mytrueserenity5666]

Just curious, if someone is a one-man-show meaning the have no other help on their farm, how large a plot do you feel is possible to manage?;

[@mytrueserenity5666]

Myers Mushrooms I appreciate the reply :)

[@wilderfarmstead]

I believe I saw some mushrooms growing in that yard so there is some form of fungal hyphae, thats a major plus! :)

[@Quercusssss]

Very informative and useful! Thanks!

[@sherthom5672]

Do you do soil tests before adding amendments? Every single urban soil I have tested has been in nutrient overload with P and K.

[@offgridcurtisstone]

Not any more, but I used to. After doing dozens of them and seeing the same results, I just assume certain things. Often soils in certain areas will be similar as far as macro nutrients go.

[@sherthom5672]

Urban Farmer Curtis Stone I do tests yearly, but I'm fortunate because soil tests are only $7 through the local county extension office... many areas are not that lucky. I have just never seen an urban soil that was deplete of anything nutrient except for nitrogen. My concern is that nutrients like phosphorus can become an environmental pollutant when in excess. But the nutrient draw on soil that is intensely farmed is very different than most backyard home gardens.

[@holtscustomcreations]

If a hose spicket is not readily available, do you ever consider rain collection off of the Roof System?

[@elisacantwell9267]

How do you get organic compost? I live in a very rural area, I can get mushroom compost from a local nursery and it's fairly inexpensive about $80 for a truck bed full but I don't know where it came from and what it could've been treated with previously. I just wanted to know your opinion on that and if you had any alternative suggestions. Thank you

[@GardenBandits]

Hello, enjoying all of your videos, with the useful information. In what zone are you?

[@offgridcurtisstone]

6b

[@africansistersproduce4239]

Quick question. I am going to be using Agribon as my cover for crops and I've been to Home Depot and Lowes trying to find a thicker wire to use on my beds and the wire they have kinda crumbles down so I need to know what's the best place for me to buy the wire and what gauge am I looking for. Help! Help! guys

[@ffaubert1]

Hi, What about ground dwelling insects? I see a lot of brown grass in the video with green grass. In my area, that usually means the soil is Ok nutrient wise but has grubs (June beetles here). Is that a red flag or just a free feast for the birds when you till?

[@qualqui]

Interesting as always Curtis!

[@thegreenhornets]

Curious as to how you came to work this site. Did they approach you or vise versa? If you find a site you're interested in farming , what then is your process to being able to farm there? Great video as always.

[@offgridcurtisstone]

Like most of them, they heard of what we do and we're interested. I met their son at my neighbours pool party in the summer and that pretty much sealed the deal.

[@holtscustomcreations]

Urban Farmer Curtis Stone Sounds like social equity/ currency works well for you.

[@joansmith3492]

Bindweed. OMG it's killing me in Texas. I'm a coordinator in a community row garden. I don't know how it got here, but it did. I suspect it was lying dormant under the bermuda grass. Anyhow, I'm trying to rehab some of the rows of gardeners who gave up and quit. I initially cleared everything out of a 50 x20 ft plot and have been weeding it 2-3 x's a wk for 2 months. So far, it's showing no sign of weakening. Every 2-3 days it's popped back up 3-6 inches. Now I'm putting down tarps and cardboard, whatever I can find to cut off it's photosynthesis. I think this may take a year to get under control. I bought your book to see how you dealt with it. I was a little disappointed that you simply said to "pass" on it. Oh well!

[@asdeming]

Joan Smith It sounds like the other option, that you mentioned, might be to sit on the plot for a year or two while you bring the weed issue under control. It would suck, but you might have better luck tarping over the winter/spring, then dealing with the weeds when everything's germinated. Ps. Another option you might think about is focusing on crops that work well with landscape plastic. It might suppress some of your weed issue. Given your generally warm climate white plastic might reduce heat stress. It's not something I know too much about, but just a thought.

[@rosejafari8917]

Joan Smith

[@joansmith3492]

asdeming Thanks

[@jigary]

You may also want to look into bindweed mites that could help you rid your site of it. Be sure to do your due diligence when introducing bugs into the local ecology.

[@tpsu129]

Is not having the fence a deal breaker? Or would you install one?

[@hidarprasert2882]

will you make a video on the new plot of you turning it into a farm?

[@offgridcurtisstone]

That's the idea here.

[@hidarprasert2882]

Cant wait to see it done, keep it up! keep.it

[@robertjensen7943]

Curtis, do you have any idea if there are any websites that list land for rent at a quarter acre? Thank you.

[@saravananranga]

What amendments in general you use and how much it would cost?

[@tomboalogo]

if that is a walnut in the neighbours yard, don't you need to be concerned about the Juglone coming from the roots or will you grow Juglone resistant plants near the fence??

[@offgridcurtisstone]

+Tom Bednarchuk (tomboalogo) yes for sure. Turns out, it's not a walnut.

[@tomboalogo]

nice - thanks for all your info, I'm using it to try and convert my property to a farmlet (like the name too). My challenge/advantage is the steep South-facing slope.

[@tpsu129]

Why the forced spraying of fruit trees?

[@shanerasmussen6207]

another awsome video. ...What about a taxes and deductions video...

[@offgridcurtisstone]

Sorry dude, too specific to countries. Most of my viewers are Americans, and I'm a Canadian.

[@shanerasmussen6207]

10/4....

[@shanerasmussen6207]

I bought your book...Can't wait to read it...Waiting for my 12 yr old to finish it...He grabbed it before I got home and hasn't put it down....

[@offgridcurtisstone]

Love to hear that! Thanks.

[@joejohnson6786]

Shane Rasmussen it's safe to assume 25% is the common income tax 10% of all sales this how we do it at farmers markets get that tax IDs and all kinds of stuff to do to ductions and be registered with the IRS and be a certified business in your state and county

[@michaelsimonsen4494]

What do you mean when you say, "the soil is contaminated?" Contaminated by what?

[@offgridcurtisstone]

+Michael Simonsen could be heavy metals or ag chemicals.

[@michaelsimonsen4494]

Do you consider commercial fertilizers to be a soil contaminate, and if so, how can one ameliorate the problem? Thanks for your time.

[@Scott-nc5bk]

What do you do when your done with a site? Do you replace the lawn?

[@offgridcurtisstone]

Sometimes, yes. Depends on what the landowners want. It's all in the MOU's I use.

[@philipcamilleri7743]

Hi Curtis do you make a contract with land owners for definite years or they can kick you out of their property whenever they want ? That's the problem I'm facing. I don't want to invest in it and last for 1 year. Thanks as always

[@offgridcurtisstone]

+Philip Camilleri yes. 3 years minimum.

[@abundantpossibilities366]

I don't quite understand how you can put only $50 of fertility back into the soil when you are taking thousands of dollars worth of of nutrient dense plants out of the soil, without degrading the soil quality, microbial and macro biological health.

[@offgridcurtisstone]

+Abundant Possibilities soil doesn't understand dollar value. We put back in what we take out. I've talked about balancing soil in many videos before.