The call for the Land Army

[mudsticks]

I spent 8 months on a kibbutz in the early '80s and loved EVERY second of it. At the busiest harvest times, there were 60+ volunteers working in harmony.

I worked mostly picking citrus fruits for 4 months and was a bee keeper for 4 months with other small jobs thrown in, such as working in the kitchen/dining room, gardening, carpentry etc. others (who had previous experience) repaired or operated tractors and other agricultural vehicles, the dairy milking cows, the nursey and so on.

There was a tremendous community spirit and the partying (for the hard-core drinkers, who didn't usually last long) was hard.

Accommodation was basic but comfortable, 3 to a room, and everyone was equal with regard to jobs, status, clothing and salary earned (about £3:00 a week). Meals, clothing, accommodation and trips were all provided free of charge in exchange for working 6 hours a day, 6 days a week. The best time if my life.

Maybe something like this, on a much smaller scale, could be 'set up' in the UK to get everyone through this unprecedented time.

Some of us have been running our farms a little bit like this for a number of years already, but without the religious overtones.

 

[mudsticks]

I have created life...

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Ooof, mind what yer doing with that deity-like ego love

I just hope the sweetcorn works. I got talked into it by a small child who loves corn on the cob.

You need several to pollinate each other and make kernels. I'd say at least 16 plants.

It's wind pollinated so does better for that planted in blocks not rows

The ancients weren't trying to grow crops in a medium sized suburban garden in Sheffield.

I do like butternut squash though. Maybe I should give that a go.

It will ramble nicely through your sweetcorn plantation, the only problem is you'll be stepping on the squash leaves to get to the sweetcorn.
It's one of those tropes imported from. South America.
The 'three sisters' beans corn and squash all planted together.
Except the Aztecs were harvesting all three for drying. We want our beans n corn fresh n juicy, so it doesn't work quite the same..

Don't let me dampen your enthusiasm though.. It's good to grow stuff for sure

 

[Dayvo]

Some of us have been running our farms a little bit like this for a number of years already, but without the religious overtones.

My kibbutz was based on socialist values and religion, apart from the shabbat and festivals, was not present in everyday life at all.

 

[mudsticks]

My kibbutz was based on socialist values and religion, apart from the shabbat and festivals, was not present in everyday life at all.

Probs very similar..

We just worship the kitty / pest controller instead.

 

[mudsticks]

Just finished lifting the last of the overwintering leeks.

There were a couple, that didn't get the memo about social distancing

 

[Ming the Merciless]

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Just finished lifting the last of the overwintering leeks.

There were a couple, that didn't get the memo about social distancing

It’s alright they’ve been living in the same soil hold.