![Regan Perry](/img/default-banner.jpg)
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Regan Perry
Приєднався 28 чер 2012
Homesteading. Off-grid. Sustainable Living. Regenerative Agriculture.
Raising our seedlings in soil blocks - good for the plants, good for the planet & fun too
We've been racing the calendar trying to get all of our plants started in time for Spring as well as building our homestead gardens from scratch and the one thing I didn't need was a broken bone to slow me down! In this video I'm going to show you the way we get seedlings started that's heaps of fun and is going to save you money in your greenhouse. And yes, I'll tell you how I broke my foot too!
Want your own Soil Blocker? I'm not affiliated but here in Australia I bought my first (genuine) Soil Blocker through Gundaroo Tiller (www.allsun.com.au/) about 12 years ago and it's still going strong, otherwise search eBay or Amazon and you'll find some cheaper alternatives too.
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00:00 Intro
00:27 The Soil Blocker
01:06 Plastic Free (mostly)
01:48 Gentle Watering
02:33 Air Pruning
03:31 No Transplant Shock
04:33 Tools Needed
06:40 Ingredients
09:21 Mixing
11:11 Consistency
12:46 Technique
14:30 Setting Seeds
16:33 Transplanting
17:02 How I Broke My Foot
19:13 Future Plans
Want your own Soil Blocker? I'm not affiliated but here in Australia I bought my first (genuine) Soil Blocker through Gundaroo Tiller (www.allsun.com.au/) about 12 years ago and it's still going strong, otherwise search eBay or Amazon and you'll find some cheaper alternatives too.
----------
00:00 Intro
00:27 The Soil Blocker
01:06 Plastic Free (mostly)
01:48 Gentle Watering
02:33 Air Pruning
03:31 No Transplant Shock
04:33 Tools Needed
06:40 Ingredients
09:21 Mixing
11:11 Consistency
12:46 Technique
14:30 Setting Seeds
16:33 Transplanting
17:02 How I Broke My Foot
19:13 Future Plans
Переглядів: 852
Відео
This DIY Farm Gate is going to help our chicken problem
Переглядів 48821 день тому
Free Ranging chickens has always been the plan but we weren't prepared for how much of a hassle they'd be while setting up our new homestead. I've got a plan for a whole new chicken yard and while we're at it, some coop upgrades too (including a natural timber roosting bar). And it's all going to start with an old-school farm gate build. 0:00 Intro 0:13 The Problem 4:14 The Plan 5:39 Marking it...
Our FOOD SECURITY Plan. I’m not going to miss this DEADLINE.
Переглядів 3,6 тис.Місяць тому
We're transforming an Aussie "bush block" into a thriving homestead and taking the first steps toward food security. This is more than just gardening; it’s about creating a sustainable future for our family and becoming less reliant on an overburdened food system. Our goal is to show you how you can start your own food security journey, no matter the size of your land. We discuss the design of ...
We had NO CHOICE but to go Off-Grid
Переглядів 6 тис.2 місяці тому
We had NO CHOICE but to go Off-Grid
Regenerating a stalled Compost Pile
Переглядів 1,3 тис.3 місяці тому
Regenerating a stalled Compost Pile
TOTAL Backyard Chicken Setup: 1-Day Build // $350 // Suits 30+ Chickens.
Переглядів 3974 місяці тому
TOTAL Backyard Chicken Setup: 1-Day Build // $350 // Suits 30 Chickens.
Our new bees desperately need a bigger home, will this temporary upgrade do the job?
Переглядів 4664 місяці тому
Our new bees desperately need a bigger home, will this temporary upgrade do the job?
What a nice moment between kids and dad 😊
How beautiful, they’re so engaged. You’re a great teacher.
Unhatched Baby chicken: "wth is going on why is it so bright in here?"
"Naurrrr!!"
why did i think that this is viral. Man deserves better
That's a great father
What is so great about teaching how to exploit animals?
@@egidijus6973how it this exploiting animals
@@egidijus6973brother you need to get off the internet and touch grass holy shi
@@egidijus6973I found the vegan!
@@egidijus6973 They ain't animals yet. Also, how is this exploiting? They're just sorting the eggs that can live, and the ones that can get eaten.
This is so cool, I've never seen this before. I don't have a garden at the moment unfortunately but I really enjoyed this video and the editing is great. Thank you!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.
Great tips and tricks, awesome!
Thanks!
The tomatoes in two inch soil blocks; when they are big enough, you plant them in the garden ? Or do you pot them up to 4 Inch soil blocks.
@@Charles00-xj3kz I pretty much never pot up from the 2” soil blocks. I find that anything I start in that size block once its roots are showing it’s strong enough to go straight into the garden. Only exception would be if I’m starting earlier in the season and want to keep them in the greenhouse for another few weeks. Then I’d just put them into a 180mm (7”) plastic pot but transplant them out to the garden before the roots reach the sides of the pot (less than 4 weeks).
I will try some tomatoes and peppers in 2" blocks. Up until now I had been using them for lettuce, brassica and leafy greens.
Another little tip. You can use a heat mat (which I have for my home brew) to get the soil blocks warmer and trick the seeds (like peppers) to start early.
I use 3 parts Coco coir, 2 parts sifted well rotted compost and 1 part coarse sand for my soil blocks. I agree with the transplant shock comment. With soil blocks you get super healthy transplants.
Nice. Simple recipe. I think sometimes you can overthink these things hey! Find what works for you and stick to it - that's Gardening 101 😁. The extra Coco Coir in your recipe is probably doing the same thing as the Perlite in mine. The only other reason I do like perlite is because it does help with compaction if all your other materials are too fine and so it gives a little bit better airflow.
cool shirt 🤙
Your enthusiasm makes me want to get out there and play in the mud!!
Mud pies
@@susanperry7147 Right! Actually the cheapest soil block to make is just by hand (maybe not the most efficient, but perhaps the most fun 😉)
Every person I have on my work sites I quote this. Trips falls breaks happen less then 3 feet on site by all means look up but dont forget to look down. Now we have OHS out of the way. I'm laughing at your pain mate true. I feel that. Just as bad as my 3m fall on to my knees 7 years ago.
Ouch! I don’t know which one I’d prefer tbh. Oh that’s right, neither 🤣
@@reganperry take the shin hit to the tow ball it only tickles a bit and makes everyone laugh 👍
Ahh yep, done that one 🤣
When the least obvious and lowest potential danger gets you 😟
@@goldnbees so true! Wish I hadn’t just been bragging about how I got it to land exactly where I wanted. Feel like nature conspired to humble me!
Have you had any issues with pythons there?
@@dezpez7038 not yet but I’m not sure we have them. Inland Taipans on the other hand 😬. Another reason I wanted to move them away from the trees/bush area and into more of a clearing.
Brilliant! Thanks for the great ideas 😊
No worries!
Awsome 👍
Great Bernard shirt
Two great Bernard shirts 😉
Cool
Thanks 👊
Wow.. cheers from canada good luck to our cousin down under.
Is that a Canadian thing, or are we really cousins?! 😁 Either way, thanks! 👊
For most of the video, I had something to say about the support being the wrong way, but somehow the last shot had it the right way, kudos
Haha! Got there in the end! 😉
The bark on those logs really makes it look awesome. Very cool build!
Thanks 😊
I want to see a tour of your little house in the background! 😁 Thanks for the info!
Got you covered! ua-cam.com/users/shortsOYkiWh_11Zc
Good job looking forward to the rest.
Thanks, another garden update video coming in a week or so. Been working on chickens this week, so watch out for that video in the next few days 😁
So cool!! personally would've gone for the bluetooth logo... wifi's still cool... i guess
@@AaliyahPerry-f4g 😜🤣
You said: "I want my tools to last a while" You could also consider linseed oiling the handles of all wooden tools to act as a Protestant and preserver to them
That’s a good idea. Most of my handles are fibreglass but I do have a few wooden ones too.
I see you have 24v batteries connected in series. Have you any issue with battery balancing and how do you solve it? As far as I know Victron battery balancer works only with 12v batteries bank.
They stay reasonably well balanced, we check them pretty regularly. I was just thinking though that I may design a process for cycling their order on a regular basis to ensure no issues.
subscribed
Much appreciated !
"Real men use pink tephlon tape!" I died🤣
Did you measure Your slope and contour?
@@fredfredrickson8892 sure did 😁. It’s about 2% (1m rise over 50m). With a proper irrigation setup in place 2% shouldn’t even be noticeable. 🤞
very knowledgeable
Thanks! Hope it was useful 😁
Did you consider building your own batteries? If yes, why did you decide against it?
I sure did, but the price has just come down so much it’s not really worth it. It might be if you went with the older tech (18650 li-ion cells), but I really wanted the lifespan of LiFePO4. And the warranty 😁
Cost of Sol PV ( vs. Utility power ). Did the math for you🌻 Most utility (grid) payers do this simple Interest calculation..."I will pay 100$/mo. for decades...so 1200$ x 20 years=24,000."...NO you won't!!. Ever hear of Inflation? And it's Compound Interest...Utility rates of Inflation avg.~5.5%* (some have been recently 40+%!!) for US electric Rate increases. So at *traditional avg. U.S. rate increase (prior to 2020), 1200$/ year becomes ~3,500.$ in year 20. Conclusion, if use same amt. of kWh/mo. over next 20 years at *traditional avg. rate increase , then you will avg. ~$1750$/ yr... or cumulative ~35,000.$$ over 20 years!!🧐 (if rates don't increase*...good luck with dreaming🤪. + if you qualify, there are pot. State Incentives for solar+ a Fed. Tax Credit of 30% off cost of PV systems🗽
Ahh still black magic. Are those panels in place as they are. Are you going to clear the ground lay gravel for stands and put a fire break in.
Haha! Yeah lots of future upgrades planned. Gravel and firebreak probably a bit overkill in our area, but I do want to get the panels and wiring off the ground. Just did a whole long video on the setup a couple of weeks ago if you’re interested.
@@reganperry cool banana's I'll have a look. Never over kill grass fires still no joke.
100% I just mean it’s already pretty clear there so all that’s needed is regular slashing. That being said, on the cards this year is a whole property firebreak. Gonna take a while. Dense ironbark 4km boundary 😬
Nothing annoys me more than paying over $700 a year to the power companies for their supply charge, even if you aren't using any of their power. I live in a residential area and I am grid connected, but looking at getting off the grid. I just need to work out how to survive our winter with low sunshine. I have installed 10kw of solar panels, a 4kw Victron Multiplus II, a Victron 450/100 MPPT charge controller and 32kwh of LifePo4 batteries. For 9 to 10 months of the year I am self sufficient as far as electricity goes. I was getting credits from the power company. The latest price rise for electricity includes a big drop in the price paid to me for the solar feed in tariff. With the price I am now being paid to feed back into the grid it works out I have to supply them with 55kwh's of power per day just to cover my daily supply charge. Lets do the maths on that, a daily supply charge of just under $2 per day costs me 55kwh's feed in/day which even at the lowest rate (off peak) would cost me $12.10 to buy from them, and 55kwh's would power 2 medium size houses for a day. I think the little guy is being taken for a ride again. My dream is to move to a bush block and go completely off grid. Its great to see you are living the dream. Keep up the good work.
Woah, that’s crazy! And I feel like stuff like that is only getting crazier and more and more unrealistic hey. What would it take for you to disconnect? That’s a pretty epic setup. Very similar to us and we’re 100% offgrid. But mind you we’re on a “tiny home” setup and are only using about 18kwh/day.
@@reganperry Hi, thanks for the reply. It sure is crazy and it drives me mad. We hear plenty about going green and saving the environment but there is very little incentive to do so, and as you say its getting crazier. As far as disconnecting, I would love to, but I am still working out if I could. I live in the south of NSW and solar production drops off hugely in winter. Many overcast and rainy days. My system has only been up and running since late November last year and this is my first winter to judge how well the system works. In February I produced 1258kwh's of solar but so far this month I have only produced 344kwh's. I am not even charging my battery at the moment. Most of the year is no problem, the battery is fully charged by lunch time and I export many kwh's back into the grid. I believe for me to disconnect I would need to run a generator in the bad weather of winter. Not sure what the neighbour's would think of that. I generally use about 20 to 22kwh's a day, but its cold now and the wife loves the split system A/C. So that pretty well doubles our usage. I was like you when designing my system. I spent many many hours watching youtube solar and off grid vids. I researched batteries, solar panels, inverters, charge controllers, cables and all associated electrical equipment. I dealt with a company in Victoria who are off grid specialists and Victron suppliers. They were very helpful. I was a little undersized with the 4kw Multiplus II but I have allowed for expansion of the system. I wired the board ready for a second Multiplus to run in parallel when I need to expand. As I said in my message above, I would love to buy some land, build a container house and go completely off grid. ( have watched many youtube vids on building container houses too ) lol. Maybe one day I will but I think I might have left it too late, might be getting a bit old for that now. You seem to have worked your system out well but if you have any questions or anything I can help you with just ask. cheers, Brian
Sounds like PG&E!!! I HATE THAT COMPANY WITH A PASSION! They’re the worst corrupt company that has a complete monopoly where I live. We have no choice and they’re currently charging $0.43 kWh for tier 1 and $0.52 kWh for tier 2. And they’re requesting ANOTHER price increase! It was $0.22/$0.35 cent 18 months ago. $0.12/$0.16 just 2 years ago!
@@Ang.0910Hi. You do seem to be getting a bad deal. Made worse for you because they have the monopoly. I am actually pretty happy with my electricity supplier and after checking what others are charging I think I am getting a pretty good deal except for the Solar feed in tarriff. My prices have just increased and I am much better off than you. Actually my prices decreased. I pay between 22 (off peak) and 27.5 cents (peak) kWh. My feed in tarriff reduced by around 30 to 35% at the same time. There is a real trend in reducing the payment for solar feed in by all companies. It seems that in the future all solar owners will be supplying a large amount of electricity into the grid and not being paid for it, making the big companies even richer. I have even heard there is talk that in the future solar owners will be charged to put their power back into the grid. Thats what I meant above about being taken for a ride. I am not looking at making money from selling solar power but it would be good to make enough to cover the daily supply charge. That was my aim but now that has become impossible. I think that Regan is certainly on the right track. Getting totally off the grid is the way to go.
Mate, they will teach you. And then you'll still need to watch for that secret stash. And I don't get, "wait for spring". 5 months is the magic number. Split your flock and get half when they are due to lay at the start of winter and you'll have eggs all year round. Oh. And they need 14 hours of light. You can manage that. You are on a journey of delight.
@@intothenight756d47 so true hey! I’ve been raising chickens for 10+ years and they still surprise me. I just meant that by spring they’d be 20 weeks old. We hatched this lot late February.
Nice summary! Have you considered better roof insulation for the shed? Alternatively you could install a small portable A/C unit - maybe a 300W heat pump which could give the equivalent of about 1200W of cooling. After all, it would only run on the hottest days when you have plenty of solar power anyway. Then you may get more life out of your LFP batteries which age much faster if charged at over 40C.
I’ve thought about a few ways to better insulate this shed but tbh it’s too small anyway so I think a full upgrade to a bigger shed with properly insulated walls and ceiling will be the project for this spring.
Nice ❤
Excellent presentation and explanation.
Thanks! Hope it was helpful.
The way I understand the rules regards voltage (in Australia) is we can work with Extra Low Voltage (ELV) without needing an electrician. ELV being up to 120 volts DC ripple free and 50 volts AC RMS. But then again us Aussies have a habit of changing the rules all the time so it's always a big question mark. lol... you solar / power shed is the same shed as mine 😀I also run Victron gear and have found it to be extremely reliable 👍
Oh that’s really good to hear about the shed, I’ve been nervous about how it’s going to cope in summer. It’s out in the full sun so I definitely think I’ll at least want to insulate the north side of it (where the door is). Yeah, so true about electrical rules. Are you running off-grid, or connected to mains? Do you reckon it was worth it in your case?
Yes "Low Voltage" is 240
in the future are you considering putting the solar off the ground? I see people building solar shacks, or pergola and keeping equipment under.
Definitely. They get great sun where it is, but I think it’ll protect the panels a bit more from wildlife and ground moisture if I can elevate the racks. I’d love to put them on a system that I can adjust the angle for each season too. Putting the solar gear/shed under the panels is actually a great idea! That would just look a whole lot nicer. And, reduce the cable length from panel arrays to MPPT - I like it!
@@reganperry I have tiltable panels (vertical angle) which I adjust every month for best results. I get about 10-15% more power than my fixed angle panels for the garage. What surprised me was that I could get about 20% more power by pointing them straight up on cloudy days in Winter, which has the additional benefit of making them less vulnerable to Winter storm force winds.
That's so cool. I have some designs for a DIY tiltable array so I may just do that for next year. Never thought about straight up on cloudy days, but it kinda makes sense.
Fantastic Video!!!
Great video with loads of info on going off grid solar, sure to help many! Great work!
Thanks!
Excellent video. One of the best out there!!
Now if you can convert the millimeters to a workable measurement like inches we can visualize the proper length.
🤣🤣 I must remember that there’s still 3/195 countries that still use the imperial system.
@@reganperry yes, the important ones still use it. I can easily visualize a meter it’s like a yard. But millimeters is just a sales ploy to make you think you have more of something. 100 millimeters sounds big but it’s just about 4 inches. Pretty weak, man! Long live the imperial measurements. Make men manly again!
I’ve had rats dug a small hole in under my aviary killing all my quails. Had to dig all around the bottom of the aviary and bury chicken wire.
Oh man that sux when that happens. Yep, I’ve had rats get into my chicks while raising them 😡. These days I make the coop mobile enough that we can move it around every few months/weeks so it confuses the predators.
I refuse to touch black magic. Im a carpenter aka Luddite
🤣
Yeah nah foxes would say hey drive by delivery in the early morning
So true. That’s why I wouldn’t use this in the paddock. The Omlet brand one I used on my last farm had a timer option. We set it to 10am.
Awesome, what did that set you back? We are hoping to start our homestead journey end of this year, what area are you guys? Looking for recommendations
About 1/3 of what they are now. We bought it 4 years ago. They cost about $18k now 😬 We’re in South-East Darling Downs region. Good for you - we need more Aussie homesteaders showing it can be done 👍