barrel planter

Growing Heavenly Gardens

Hosted by Tomas Fernandez Lesson 4 – square foot & container gardens.

Praise Garden verse is from: Genesis 8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Welcome back to “Growing Heavenly Gardens, I am your host Tomas Fernandez.

This verse is one of God’s foundational promises that is a principle that we can apply to our lives today. Sometimes it is referred to as the law of sowing and reaping. Brothers and sisters something is going on that deserves our attention. Check in with your local food assistance outlet and you’ll find that the demands for food to feed our neighboring families have grown in exponential numbers. We need to apply ourselves to growing food; food that has nutrition and life, not empty calories and harmful genetics.

Today, we will be talking about two more kinds of no dig gardens, one that is ideal for patio or deck use and the other for a dedicated garden space.

I found an ingeniously design that uses a large 55 gallon style food grade plastic barrel. Included in our link section will be connections for a do it yourself plan for the handy among us. What I find so clever about this is that they create grow pockets for 48 + plants. Basically the plastic is cut and then stretched through a heating process and the pockets are formed, but wait it doesn’t stop there…the barrel has a center pipe where you drop in your family’s compost from the kitchen and it becomes a feeding chamber for worms. They travel back and forth from the surrounding plant roots and dirt leaving their fertilizing waste behind. Wait it gets better still, as you water or as it rains and liquid passes through the barrel you collect compost tea in a bucket beneath and then return it by pouring at the top of the barrel, feeding the plants. Talk about a self-contained grow system! WOW!

Story stick is created to mark barrel evenly. Be sure to watch a complete project guide provided in the link section below.

An upcoming feature will be on creating a square foot garden using wooden boarders.

What are the benefits of using 2 x 6” cedar boards? You can use rough sawn lumber, but certainly not pressure treated lumber that leaches so many harmful chemicals back into your organic vegies, what’s the point of that? See link for warnings on pressure treated lumber.

Also take note of all the potato varieties we are un-accustomed to. Let’s get creative and taste the goodness our God wishes to bless us with!  Once again ask our Lord to show us how to use the ministry of provision to bless others. There are so many who would be healed and fed by our efforts we could take the world by storm, of love and God’s goodness, that is.

Thank you, once again, this is Tomas Fernandez, please join me next time for more on Growing Heavenly Gardens.

 Facts about nutrition loss from farm to table:

http://www.examiner.com/article/institute-of-food-research-45-percent-nutrient-loss-grocer-vegetables

55 gallon planting barrel(buy one ready-made): http://gardentowerproject.com/

Do it yourself 55 gallon barrel project: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufEQ6ZljJBE

Health concerns about pressure treated wood around your vegies:

http://healthvermont.gov/enviro/water/pressure_treated.aspx

Need advise putting in your garden? Please give Tomas a visit at:

https://www.facebook.com/archangelhavenfarm

Straw bale no dig bed

Growing Heavenly Gardens

 by Tomas Fernandez Lesson 3: Types of gardens

Praise Garden verse is from: Ecclesiastes 2:5-6 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruits: I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees.

Okay, I hope everyone is getting excited about growing our own food.  Have you ever stopped and wondered how our poor ancestors did it? Could you forge, harvest, and store your food?

That’s one of many motivational thoughts that should inspire us to get into gardening. Here are some challenges as to why it may seem too difficult to have a garden, but you should know by now, adversity produces an opportunity for our God to create a path. Let’s have faith enough to say, the garden is one of God’s ideas and He will help us grow one. He still enjoys garden walks with his children!

One of the big show stoppers is, I live in a small space and I don’t have the plows and rototillers that are needed to turn the earth up….now what?

Well, I’m excited to introduce three wonderful gardening concept concepts; straw bale gardening, , square foot, and barrel container gardening. This week we’ll feature the straw bale gardens and next time we’ll discuss the square foot gardens and the barrel containers.

Straw bale gardens can be put just about anywhere, even on a patio deck, their size is adjustable according to your needs and best of all they require no digging. I have pictures from start to finish on the web site of both kinds that I constructed on my farm in Madison. Here are some of the benefits:

Straw, (not hay – hay has grass seeds galore and straw has none), is an incredible insulator of warmth and moisture, which is ideal for starting and sustaining plants.

Straw bales create a raised bed garden which is much easier to cultivate and harvest, (you’re not bending over as much).

Straw bales can last approximately two years and when they are all broken down and rotten, they are simply turned back into the garden – no waste!

Straw bales deter crawling insects, because they don’t like climbing their rough side walls. They also shelter worms within the beds and everyone knows worms are a gardener’s best friend.

Straw bales rows used in garden can be individual or in lengths you determine.

Straw bales used in the Straw bale no dig garden bed  – are relatively in-expensive, approximately $4.00 a bale. In my demo I used 8 bales and produced a growing space of 38 x 75”.

In a system of creating a layered fill the no dig bed is ready to plant as soon as you’re done filling it with the layers. In contrast to the straw bale rows which need the bales to be conditioned over a couple of weeks before planting. See links for step by step photos.

Thank you, once again, this is Tomas Fernandez, please join me next time for more on growing heavenly gardens. Read more at WPRZ.org

Links for straw bale gardening:

Straw bale rows, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPY1y_1-TVU

Couple of important reminders, use organic planting medium and fertilizers. The Fertilizer should be nitrogen rich. This film is short and doesn’t include creating trellises for tomatoes or climbing growth. For these look at my face book page.

Straw bed no dig beds  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPU2_xlUK0k

Follow up 4 months later http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-pIA12k9P0

(Highly recommend this fellow with his 40+ years of gardening know how)

You may schedule a small group visit if you wish. If you need assistance with your personal garden please consider hiring your host, Tomas and you may contact him through face book.

 https://www.facebook.com/archangelhavenfarm

Praise Radio where this information originally aired:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/PraiseRadioWPRZ/

Chemical absorbtion in Potatoes - Beware

Growing Heavenly Gardens

WPRZ Praise Radio Date - March 5^th, 2014

Hosted by Tomas Fernandez Lesson 2: starting potatoes gardens

Praise Garden verse is from Corinthians chapter 3: Brothers and Sisters, do you not know that you are the temples of God, and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 

Welcome back to “Growing Heavenly Gardens”. Today we are going to give some direction to planning your garden for the upcoming year.

Let’s start by stating that for our Central Virginia area there are 4 growing seasons, so you’re never too late or early to start your garden! Just like building any structure there should be a plan and today we will look at creating a calendar for growing.

Central Virginia has an ending frost date in the Spring of late April and a Fall early frost date of mid- October. 

A word about the term, “open pollinators - large communities of people globally are very concerned about ensuring that the ancient linage of seeds that produce life continue.

What should be going in the ground right now? Potatoes, that's what! These are one of the crops you can start about a month before the last frost date. So for us that means mid to late March. I’m including a link to show you two methods, one for a bushel basket container style and the other the more traditional plant them in rows method. 

Thank you, once again, this is Tomas Fernandez praying that we may continue to grow in the wisdom of the Lord and be a witness to this malnourished world. Please join me next time for more on growing heavenly gardens.

More on open pollinators: http://www.southernexposure.com/open-pollination-ezp-19.html

Garden planning and vegetable planting calendar: 

http://gardenplanner.southernexposure.com/garden-plan.aspx?p=492366

Potato planting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RznfHX7ur7k

Organic Seed Potatoes for sale site:

 http://www.southernexposure.com/potatoes-c-217.html

7 foods you want to buy organically. Potatoes are on the top of the list as they are a “root” vegetable and absorb the chemicals they are treated with both in the soil and as pesticides above the ground. Read…

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/builtlean/best-food-to-buy-organic_b_3779168.html

Read about industry buying out local seed companies and family farms:

http://www.farmaid.org/site/c.qlI5IhNVJsE/b.6097643/k.A9BA/Concentration_in_Agriculture_Forcing_our_Family_Farmers_Out_of_Business.htm

https://www.facebook.com/archangelhavenfarm

Tomas & Bonnie’s face book farm page

Here is a quote: "In 2003, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) looked at pesticides in the blood of ordinary citizens. Of the thirty-four pesticides tested, the average person had thirteen in his/her bloodstream, and blood levels of chlorpyrifos (an organophosphate pesticide banned for residential use in 2001 because of its negative effects) were found to be twice as high in children as in adults. The CDC report showed that children and women of child-bearing age carried the heaviest pesticide burdens - which is alarming, because pesticide exposure in the womb and during the first three years of postnatal life has been found to lower birth weight, increase the incidence of birth defects, and hinder normal neurological development and reproduction."

Growing Heavenly Gardens

Growing Heavenly Gardens

This short summary is about the program that aired on Praise Radio on March 29, 2014

Praise Garden verse: The Lord God took man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. Genesis 2:15

WPRZ Radio: 

On WPRZ we continue to encourage the growth of the spirit and now we are excited to introduce “Growing Heavenly Gardens” A new program by Tomas Fernandez that encourages the importance of both healthy living and shares information on gardening.

It is time to return to the wisdom of our ancestors…We need to wake up to the fact that our foods, as produced by the industries are less nutritious and can stimulate potentially harmful side effects. It is time we returned to growing our own foods and/ or buying them from families who earn our trust with sound agricultural practices or we doom ourselves to poor health and mal-nutrition.

God has given us a temple, that is, our body. As the stewards of the earth and caretakers’ of our bodies, it is our duty to tend the earth and ourselves.

Many in Europe have outlawed GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) from being grown, imported or consumed in the European Union. The information is now public that scientists are crossing fruits and vegetables with animal genes and making them chemically able to resist very toxic herbicides and pesticides which are then sprayed on our foods. This practice is proven to be unhealthy and dangerous to both people and nature.

 In the future to hear how to start seeds, why open pollinated seeds are best, transplanting, hardening off, fertilizing organically, and different growing systems like square foot beds, container gardens, wood chip mulch gardens.

Together, let’s grow food for our spirits and our bodies and honor the God who made this world and us.

Tomas & Bonnie's Face Book farm page:

 https://www.facebook.com/archangelhavenfarm

Praise Radio

https://www.facebook.com/groups/PraiseRadioWPRZ/

Mulch gardens 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM_gtZb8qyk

 Genetically modification of food - 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx3vu7fd2n8

Lift up your Heart

"Lift up your Heart"by Tomas Fernandez

The figure has stepped out, broken free, and celebrates the gift of Love. It is a birthing that releases us into the power of Love. If you have been following the progression of inspiration I hope you see the highlighted form that is left when we step out. Wither it is the freedom that is found when reaching up to God as expressed in Forever's Invitation or the freedom that flows through us when we are the conduit of the giver that allows God's gifts to be shared both actions are part on the breath of Love. In its purest form it has no attachments or expectations and the purer the action the higher the elevation and communion with God. God is the source and the destination. We join in the dance. The title of the work, "Lift up your Heart" implies action, saying "yes" to God. It is an invitation, as the other sculpture implies. We must reach up, even if it is physically impossible, our spirits have no such limits, as we are as much spirit as we are physical.

In "Crux Gloria", we see God's barely comprehend-able action of saying "yes", arms opened wide, Jesus, gestures an embrace to all of humanity. His part in the dance of Love was and is to create a doorway and shepherd us through the narrow gate to come to abide with Him. The journey however must begin with a healing to address our brokenness. It is hard to dance when we are crippled by sin. His sacrifice washes us clean. This is so very personal that only in our sincerest moments when we reach up and ask for forgiveness does the healing come. Although there are physical healings, the critical one is for our spiritual bodies. Here is where the dance starts and can never be extinguished. A special note, although churches are beautiful and special this calling on Jesus, (Yeshua in Hebrew), is so personal and private, it is the opinion of this blogger that it to be done alone in private. Remorse and tears are an important part of feeling sorrow for the times we stood in the way of God and purposefully or through ignorance took or abused what wasn't ours. Through the healing Love of God we are not only washed clean, but we are given strength to resist these sins in the future. This is a reason to celebrate and begin an eternal dance with God Himself.
http://pinterest.com/pin/354377064398357638/

http://www.aholyquest.com

tomasjfernandez@cs.com

Cross of Light - Crux Gloria

Many years ago in 1988 during the middle of the night I was awakened from
a sound sleep when an overwhelming presence and light came into my room.
Immediately I was aware that it was the Lord. I remember acknowledging His
presence by saying, "Oh Lord, it’s you". The feelings that followed are difficult to summarize except to say I came in contact with the very origin of Love itself.

The Lord directed my thoughts and vision. He began to show me
something within this ray of light that had entered my room. He impressed
on me His Cross. Then He asked me to make a special cross - for He
explained, "My Cross is a Cross of Light". I knew what He wanted me to
do. I couldn't move, nor did I want to disturb the state I was in. I was
asked to draw it down. I responded, "Don't worry, Lord, I won't forget".
The request had more of a command tone, "Get up and draw it down". I
complied instantly and as I did I felt God withdraw. I sketched down the
commission and sadly, but wondrously went back to bed.

The next day in the studio I translated my drawing to steel. I knew no one
else could understand the concept on paper. I called my wife to be, Bonnie
and asked her come by as soon as she could. I said, "something wonderful
has happened".

Two years later, on the feast of Christ the King, the St. Francis de Sales
Community had their pastor consecrate "Crux Gloria". "Crux Gloria"
stands today along Route 7 bypass near Purcellville, VA. The lights that
illuminate it's interior automatically turn on every twilight and extinguish
at each sunrise.

I've made a short movie about the forging of the cross here is a link to see it on You Tube: Crux Gloria - Cross of Light

More on how this vision impacted me personally and the art I do at: www.aholyquest.com 

For inspirational gifts that bear the light: http://pinterest.com/heartandanvil/ 

Stories of Christian Faith

Faith, Farm, and Art - thank you for visiting and sharing. We learn more about God's plan when we share how He is operating in our lives, loves, and livelihoods. This is a continuation of Forever's Invitation - part 2.

I am writing today as hurricane Sandy is barreling toward Virginia.  We don't know how hard it will hit us. It is hard when you know something bad is going to happen and it is only a matter of time. I remember once when talking with a friend about God's armor and I incorrectly blurted out that putting on the armor would keep evil away, and like a true friend who is willing to offer correction, especially in a matter as serious as protection, this friend, Christopher, raised his gaze and said, the Word doesn't say that, it says,  Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. King James version We are going to get it - helping one another put on armor is
what brothers and sisters are supposed to do. Like Forever's Invitation we need to surround ourselves with protection. We are Children of Light and there is an enemy of God and Mankind who wants to break through and put out that light. Who would go into a fight with only their undergarments on? God provides an armor and we need to put it on.

Visit Pinterest and see the new board on Stories of Christian Faith: Stories of Christian Faith

God bless and remember don't go to the battle in your underwear - put on the whole armor of God!