Since mid of June, I have been taking pictures of my maize and watering it.
August
This is what it looks like today (actually yesterday to be precise):
Yes, it looks miserable.
If you lived under a rock, or in a city, you might not be aware that the northern hemisphere is suffering from a severe draught.
This is worse than anything I have ever seen.
In my little hometown, we had no rain since May.
I am not living in Northern Africa, but in Northern Germany.
The lack of water and the heat makes this the most depressing and least productive summer of my life.
3 year old cherry tree: dead
My entire plum harvest: dead and on the floor
If I had not irrigated the maize, it would have died within weeks.
Pretty much everything in my garden is dead now.
The little fruit I have gets eaten by birds and insects, and because that is the only thing they can find for kilometers, I let them have it.
It is breaking my heart and was the last nail in the coffin; I am leaving this place.
Grass is greener on the other side
I know it's a saying and is not literally about grass, but seriously: right now, there is really no green leaf of grass to be found in my garden.
It's a nightmare.
What makes it even worse is that almost nobody around me seems to be aware of it.
People are so busy with politics, corona and other nonsense, that they can't even look up and see what's happening around them.
Of course, I will keep the challenge alive and most importantly will pay out the prize-money, but I am mostly busy with planning my getaway and have lost all passion about gardening under these conditions.
Sorry
...for such a negative post, but I can not cheer up while this place is dying.
For anybody who is still doing the challenge:
Keep up the work, I will reward your posts at the end of this year.
Part 5: Seeds
Part 4: Germination
Part 3: Planting
Part 2: Preparations
Part 1: My Location
Eine wirklich traurige Geschichte. Hast Du denn nicht die Möglichkeit gehabt einen Brunnen zu bohren und künstlich zu bewässern?
Der Garten ist auf einem Berg.
Es gibt einen Brunnen, der ist aber schon immer trocken, obwohl er sehr tief ist.
Ein freundlicher Bauer füllt mir meine IBCs, aber ich hab 200 Liter/Woche verbraucht nur um ein kleines Gemüsebeet gerade so am Leben zu halten und dann einfach aufgehört. Für ein paar Kohlrabi so einen Aufwand zu machen, ist ökonomisch sowie ökologisch dann halt auch irgendwann unsinnig. Es hat seit Mai einfach mal garnicht geregnet.
Gaub mir, ich bin alle Möglichkeiten durchgegangen, aber ohne große Zisterne oder ähnliches geht es nicht...
Wir hatten immer mal trockene Sommer, aber Bewässerung ist in einer der fruchtbarsten Regionen Deutschlands einfach nie ein Thema gewesen.
🤔 Es wird sich eine Lösung finden. Vielleicht noch mal eine zweite Bohrung runterbringen oder. Tatsächlich die besagte Zisterne errichten.
Glaub mir: Ich bin alle Möglichkeiten durchgegangen.
Der Garten ist lange in Familienbesitz und es gibt ihn ursprünglich nur, weil dort ein (Alibi)Brunnen ist- zweckgebunden. Es ist quasi ein Brunnen- und kein Gartengrundstück. Ich bin die 3. Generation, die dieses Problem hat.
Jeder und ich meine absolut jeder, der den Garten betritt oder sieht, macht mir Vorschläge, wie das gehen soll und ich habe es leid.
Der Garten steht im Landschaftsschutzgebiet und sowieso im Außenbereich. Dort bekomme ich keine Genehmigung für nichts. Schon garkeine Zisterne.
Der besagte Brunnen ist 100 Jahre alt (kein Witz) und 30 Meter tief gemauert. Regelmäßig steigt ein Höhlenkletterer (auch kein Witz) dort runter und gibt Lehrgänge für die Feuerwehr und so.
Am Grund des Brunnens gehen 2 Wege (echt wahr) ein paar Meter bergaufwärts bzw bergabwärts, und ein Tunnel verbindet die Stichtunnel halbkreisförmig.
Es waren schon diverse Leute dort unten und kamen mit den wildesten Theorien wieder hoch. Von Bunkereingang bis Einstieg in ein geheimes Untergrundnetzwerk von Höhlen. Aber keiner glaubt, dass es Sinn macht dort noch weiter nach Wasser zu suchen.
Würde ich den Brunnen tiefer machen, wüsste ich auch nicht, wie ich das Wasser hochbefördern sollte.
Der Garten liegt abgelegen. Kein Stromanschluss und es wird regelmäßig eingebrochen und geklaut oder einfach vandalisiert. Solarzelle und Tauchpumpe die höher als 30 Meter pumpen können sind teuer und wären sehr schnell einfach weg. Saugen kann man aus solchen Tiefen auf keinen Fall - Ich müsste eine Pumpe herablassen, irgendwie.
Ich werde das ganze in eine Obstbaum- und Beerenstrauchwiese umwandeln. Johannisbeeren und Äpfel kommen noch ganz gut klar, Wein auch. Zudem siedeln sich gerade freiwillig Robinien an - die scheinen die Trockenheit gar zu mögen. Ökologisch ist der Garten sehr wertvoll. Ein Refugium mitten in einer Agrarwüste.
Anstatt 10.000e € für Baugenehmigungen und Stahlbeton auszugeben, wo der Ausgang mehr als ungewiss wäre, spare ich das Geld und siedele hier weg. Ich will meine Ruhe vor Behörden, Zwangsimpfungen, Bürokratie, Masseneinwanderung und Inflation haben und habe ehrlich Angst was die sich als nächstes Ausdenken werden. Die Jahrhunderttrockenheit war der letzte Tropfen.
Den Garten behalte ich natürlich und reiche ihn in der Familie weiter.
Oh no, that really looks and sounds terrible. I knew from calls with my mom and sis that it is unusually hot and very dry in Germany (Raum Bielefeld) but you're showing it in photos.
It's so sad to see all the dead plants, plants dying and their fruit falling to the ground before their time has come...
Here in NJ there's also a drought, and we are asked not to water lawns, wash cars etc. etc. all the lawns are pretty much brown and burnt which is fine by me because they're artificially kept green during our summer and so freakin' short that the grass doesn't stand a chance. In our backyard there are so many leaves on the ground it could make you think it's fall already. Nature is hurting.
I hope you'll find your happy place again soon!
Ohhh, I'm so sorry to hear about your harvest and plants dying. I had no idea there was a drought in Germany (and other places). I guess I just don't follow the weather much since we've moved to Mexico. I've just started a little garden since we now actually have one, and a rooftop, which makes things easier when it comes to variety.
I now have tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers growing. Soon some potatoes too.
I'm still looking to find a small lime tree which I will grow and use as shade for plants that don't need, or can't handle full sun, like lettuce and spinach.
I hope the maize will pull through for you. And that you'll have a bit of rain soon.
Sunny & sometimes rainy greetings from Mexico!
I don't know about Russia and the rest of the Asian continent, but Europe is suffering and from what I understand a lot of places in the US as well.
I am going to check out Ireland and then work my way through Scandinavia in search of a better place to live.
Ireland...I don't recommend it. There are so many things wrong with that country, and its people...Too many to name. I should write a post about it: "Did my time in Ireland." Haha.
When we first moved there, I thought everyone would be growing their own vegetables. They're not. It's a sick country, with sick soil, and most years not enough sunshine to grow a tomato, let alone everything else. People use greenhouses and polytunnels there, and even then, there's a chance the harvests fail. They couldn't get me back there if they paid me.
Scandinavia is probably more controlled than Germany. I have friends here from Sweden, they feel the same about their country as I feel about Ireland. Almost had their kids taken from them because they took them out of school 2 weeks before they moved away...I think Europe and most Western countries are pretty much doomed, to be honest.
I understand what you are saying.
I am only checking out Ireland, because it's one of the few places in Europe, where they don't shit on you for being German.
All the Irish I have met, were good to me. I like the Irish, from what I have experienced and I need to spend some time there.
I am trying to go somewhere remote. I don't want to live in the woods, but I am not going near a city.
Compared to the Germans, I have hope for the Swedes and Danes and Norwegians.
I know they are socialist like us, but at least they have a chance of standig up for themselves. The Germans will not correct their course until total ruin.
...and there is always the Baltic countries in the east... Estonia seems good.
There is no way I am going to South or Latin America (even though I speak ok Spanish).
Every Latino I have met tried to get one up on me.
There is no stability, no respect, no order.
I'd have to be on guard constantly and that is exactly why I am leaving this shithole in the first place.
I am going to a cold place with less people, where I have a handful of neighbours and only need to arrange myself with them.
Mexico is tempting in a way, but I can not stand the machismo and the corruption.
Well you'd be in luck with Ireland. There aren't many cities. And those that they call a city are nothing compared to the cities in most other European countries.
The ONLY place I'd ever consider to move to in Ireland would have been County Clare. Before coming here that is. Clare has lots of expats and they all look out for each other. If you'd have to depend on your Irish neighbours for anything, you'd be out of luck. They wouldn't put you out if you were on fire.
The Irish who travel are different from those who never travelled. And those who travel will agree with me. In my 10 years there, I haven't met one, not a single one, who I'd trust as far as I could throw them. They're really nice to your face, but when push comes to shove, they're so twisted within their own ways, and they'd always take the side of the other Irish. We were always the foreigners. Even though my son was born there. Even my kids had no Irish friends. On one side that's fine because they're not missing anyone. But sad at the same time. If the kids' parents didn't go to school with their parents, they just didn't fit in. For you it may be easier because you don't have kids. But I'd definitely check into County Clare, or maybe the Dublin area (not the city), because there'll be more like minded people there who'd have your back.
We love Mexico. Yeah, it's corrupt but so is Ireland. Maybe even more so. The difference is that here everyone knows it's corrupt. In Ireland everyone pretends it's not...
Also, Northern Ireland would be a great option if you have the chance to go there. The people are just a lot different there. Not hiding behind their religion, their past and their heritage like the Irish in the Republic do. You'll get more straightforward people there. Unlike in the Republic, where everything and everyone is sideways and backwards.
Good luck on your journey! Wherever you end up.
Oh, and if you ever want to ask me anything, about any place in Ireland, please let me know. I''ve been all over the country and know quite a few places. If I can help in any way, please let me know. :)
I appreciate that 🙂
don't get discouraged and keep going the drought has been worldwide but it will surely pass soon
Never, my friend, don't lose your passion for agriculture. I imagine that the drought has been severe and I would like to have the best possible harvest, perhaps we will have to wait a little longer for the rains to start in your country and in your area of northern Germany, keep going. forward that you are the main engine of the mc2022. Up that spirit we must continue working and fighting to achieve our goals
It is very sad to see what the heat and the dry weather is doing in Germany this summer. Our summer in Hungary is not much better, but there were some rain in the recent past, and the local fruit trees are not dead. One of them is even rich in plums.
Terrible heat. I also read that electricity in Germany has risen in price several times this year.
Everything becomes more expenisve by the day and there is no hope for anybody to open their minds.
@felixxx I really like cherry i only saw it on the top of the cakes. I havent see it in real. Dont get discouraged about the weather your are only suffering of the heat. we also suffered from the heat of the sun.
Keep growing!🌱 We’ve reposted this.🌳
This post has been manually curated by @bhattg from Indiaunited community. Join us on our Discord Server.
Do you know that you can earn a passive income by delegating to @indiaunited. We share 100 % of the curation rewards with the delegators.
Here are some handy links for delegations: 100HP, 250HP, 500HP, 1000HP.
Read our latest announcement post to get more information.
Please contribute to the community by upvoting this comment and posts made by @indiaunited.
@felixxx Oh wow your mais are getting bigger now i can see the fruit on it. Im sorry of your other plants its already dead. How about your beautiful flowers with different colors i love seeing them i hope they are not dead too. 😥
How did it ever get so bad like this.
I can't imagine a drought in the middle of a wet season.
The rains are poor here but not so bad, we don't need artificial water for our crops and not even a single grass has died... Within the last 24 hours we had ceaseless downpour that has got everything so cold...
amigo, saludos espero haya comido cachapa para gratificar el trabajo