i have received the most extraordinary gift.

[mopinko]

Last edited Fri Jun 26, 2020, 08:19 PM - Edit history (1)

so, i have this little urban farm. it sits in the north east corner of chicago. it is 5 pieces of property, all a city lot and a half.
i am close to loyola university, and the guy that runs their sustainable ag program there has entrusted me w a bit of history that i am just sure i am not worthy of.

he was given some 20 year old seeds of the original american tobacco. he got a flat of plants, and gave 3 to me.
they came to him through a man named john svenson, a man who deserves a nobel prize for his contributions to botany and to agriculture. he is one of the founders of the seed savers, and these seeds were part of his gift of his personal seed vault to them.

most of my main lot, which has no buildings on it, is full sun, but tobacco is an understory plant. (the other 4 have buildings on them. rental housing is what pays the bills here.) so i had to make a special place for them. i had a little hoop house that i was planning to move this year, but i decided to leave it where it is, and plant beans and squashes up the frame, plus some trellis, to shade the plants.
i will take some cuttings from my grape vines and plant them too for later years.
there is an the remains old mulberry next to it, cut down but not dead, that shades it from the late afternoon sun.

that i have been entrusted w this bit of history still boggles my mind a bit. but i have done everything i could to take care of them, and make the right place for them.
when they get a bit bigger is will post some pics.

i guess i am posting here to ask for some blessings for this. it has actually been a part of some neighborhood drama over people setting off explosions, and being assholes, and everyone going nuts.
it is peaceful now, and i think that old grudges have been buried.
but i dont think it would hurt to ask for good wishes of peace and tranquility, and good rains for the rest of the season.

can i get a culturally appropriate amen?

eta a link to my farm fb page, since it isnt in my sigline anymore-
http://facebook.com/moahsark

[leftieNanner]

1. Sending Blessings from Oregon

People who grow food are life givers. Thank you for your work.

[mopinko]

3. thank you.

it's been a crazy year, but this is year 8, and so much is coming together. it's really exciting. getting fruit on my fruit trees, and soil building projects getting to be just right.

so glad to live where i do, w things fairly under control.

[elleng]

2. Oy-men!!!

Shalom!

salam!

[Zoonart]

4. Amen and Amen.

[abqtommy]

5. I've found that people with an interest in seeds, planting them and watching them grow

will not advise me to drink bleach so AMEN to you my friend!

[mopinko]

8. lol. no, just advise you to get out and get some sun.

i sorta purposely dont wear a mask in my garden so people will keep their distance.
it used to be so quiet here during the day. but now. man.

[marked50]

6. You got it- Best for the continuity.-n/t

[blm]

7. You've got mine, old buddy.

[mopinko]

9. well that counts double.

thanks of friend.
we have to meet in meatspace one day.
what a tale the long version of this story is.

[brer cat]

10. Amen!

I hope you have good rains to bless your treasured plants.

[mopinko]

11. me too. it's been soooooo dry.

and this spot, having been covered for the last 3 years, needed so much water just to get it ready.

raining today, tho, and got a bit yesterday. if it can just keep up till the beans, etc, can give them some shade, they will thrive, i think.
that stuff was sitting in pots for too long too, so it should all shoot up fast.

thx for the amen.

[Karadeniz]

12. Sending good thoughts! But what about this? I heard a reason the colonists kept expanding

Their territory was because raising tobacco wrecked the soil. Also the need for new boundaries was why Washington became a surveyor. I don't want the tobacco to ruin your soil!❤

[mopinko]

13. hmmm. well

i dont intend to expand, so i dont have to worry about that, tho....

i do need to look into the soils issue, tho. this spot is freshly built soil. 5 year ago it was a pile of huge logs. i do hugelkultur here.
so, there is very little in the way of sand/minerals.
i did give it a shot of a good fertilizer, and a combo mineral source.
and i always plant beans the first year i put a pile into production.

should be interesting.
also have 3 little paw paws to add to this little bit of understory.
never thought i would go out of my way to block out the sun.

[bubbazero]

14. two thoughts

1. I wish you much success in your agricultural endeavors--"ag'r" myself...........2. Might want to check with extension service for permits and growing season length. Not much org 'American' Tobacco grown in upper Midwest. Hoop building might help. (Seriously, check for permits)

[mopinko]

15. i know of no such permit that i need to grow.

to sell, i presume so. but to grow? aint nobody gonna know what that plant is unless i tell them, and i have grown other nicotiana family. night scented tobacco is one of my favorite flowers, and i grow it for the night pollinators. the perfume of it physically hits you in the face when you walk up to it.

my seedlings failed this year, so i was super happy to see these little tobacco plants.

the guy who gave them to me would know, and he didnt mention it. he is a prof of urban ag, so...

[RestoreAmerica2020]

16. Muchas bendiciones para ti.[Many blessings to you]

Paz

[mopinko]

17. thanks much.

been brushing up my high school spanish lately, so i especially appreciate that blessing.

[RestoreAmerica2020]

18. De nada. Have a good night!