Confessions of a crappy gardener.

[hikatz]

We had quite a few people use it on their plants, haven't had any problems, the water from the ponds drains into ocean beach park across from us. DLNR frequently test and monitor the water by the drain culvert for bacteria, ect. so far all clear. We did check with the University before using this as a fertilizer.

[allensylves]

Jay,
I am planning to try to use washed (to reduce salt levels) seaweed and other aquatic plants as mulch for nitrogen and trace minerals, when I make it to Puna. I would be really interested to find out what your biologist friends mean by mutate to toxic forms. As a biologist/geneticist myself, I do not understand what they could be talking about, particularly as mulch rather than food.

Also, if they mean algae in the scientific sense, rather than common usage, Ceratophyllum is a higher plant, not an alga.

Allen
Baton Rouge, LA & HPP

[pslamont]

umm, I have been diving in various areas around the island.... do we have seaweed here? I certainly don't recall it.

[JWFITZ]

Hi Allen,

I don't remember in enough detail to sensibly comment. I do remember that the typically touted "blue-green" algaes were especially suspect. I had friends on ocean going sea-steads who grew such stuff heavily for protein forage aboard boats, and it was very cost effective(as in almost free) and spectacularly nutritious. Sprirulina farming may be very practical for the more "extreme" homesteads here too. As for seaweeds, I do know that there are a fair number of toxic sea weeds that float about in this neck of the woods, whether they would impact a garden or not is anybodies guess. Grasslike varieties in general are inclined that way. In northern climes dulse was heavily used as fodder for sure, but there aren't toxic varieties up north, and least, other than the sulfurous ones that are obviously so.

[Guest]

If you can get you hands on some guinies get at least three.
They are ruthless and fearless protectors of your chickens and voracious slug and pest eaters.

[Guest]

Spread a ring of epsom salt around the plants.

[jds]

Just bought 7 acres on north gleenwwod rd elevation 2600 was wondering what fruit trees can expect to grow and get fruit off of when mature.

[Mtviewdude]

Glad some of you are having success. I only seem to grow food for slugs and whiteflies. I only get about 1 crop of tomatoes before the whiteflies get to them, and the slugs get everything else.