I am so happy that this technique will benefit you. Your welcome. I have actually redrew my plan to introduce Ryan Rowinskis' irrigation system to use my rainwater downspout to irrigate my garden. I hope all can benefit from these videos and techniques. Rowinski definitely knows his crop and soil science.

Eukofios, Thank you for your thoughts on sealing and binding the fig cleft-graft. In reply to your interest about my own experiences with fig grafting, I can summarise my personal observations in the field, thus far, as follows- Chip budding using current season's growth as buds matched onto rootstock material of similar growth maturity, has proven to be VERY easy and successful in my trials recently (we are now in the middle of autumn here in Australia). "Patch budding" (which is different to T budding or chip budding) has also proved successful for me, however it has many disadvantages over chip budding....The patch budding proceedure can only be done successfully when the bark of the recipient and the donor both slip easily....Also if the bark of the patch is much thinner than the bark around where it will be placed, it will always fail to take in the fig. I have therefore come to the conclusion that chip budding is BY A LONG SHOT more versatile than patch budding, and should be the preferred method of budding figs. I would also suggest that it is to be preferred ovet T-budding, if only for the obvious reason that T budding also reuqires the recipient bark to easily slip, which adds restrictions on the timing of the grafting. I have not as yet tried cleft grafting onto figs. Anyway, keep us posted on your results!!

Very good song but not sure I'd call it rock'n more of a folksy song.

Community Garden at The Michigan State fair by Michigan State University Graduate Ryan Rowinski.... Urban Farming at the Michigan State Fair We did our yearly caravan to the Michigan State Fair over the weekend. Myself, my husband, the four kids, my mother-in-law, and my brother-in-law go every year together, and Sunday could not have been a more perfect day. It was in the mid 60s, partly sunny, and just generally beautiful outside. While my favorite things have traditionally been the livestock and the agricultural exhibits, this year I was enthralled by the Great Lakes Gardens, an example of urban farming installed right on the Michigan State Fairgrounds. It was the creation of Ryan Rowinski, who is a graduate of the Michigan State soil science program, and donated his time, experience, and obvious green thumb to the Fair this year. I had read about the garden in the Detroit News, so I was interested in seeing it, but I have to admit that the husband and I werenÂt hoping for much. We already HAVE an urban garden, how different could this one be? Well. Great Lakes Gardens Urban Farm I could have spent the entire day in the Great Lakes Gardens. The plants looked fabulous, I loved the way Rowinski laid the garden out, mixing large borders of corn with small, narrow beds for squashes, and a circular bed for pole beans. What I loved about the garden was that it was obviously bountiful, it was beautiful, and it wasnÂt pretending to be anything else. This was a working urban farm, and it didnÂt need any "prettying up" or ornamentation. In fact, as of last week, the plot, which was installed eight weeks ago, has yielded over 300 pounds of produce, with another three to four hundred pounds expected in the next couple weeks. A quick survey of the farm showed that it was growing just about everything: corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, peppers, eggplant, wheat, lettuces, brussels sprouts, sunflowers, and herbs all had a home there. I did notice that none of the corn had been demolished by squirrels, though Rowinski told the "Grosse Pointe News" that bunnies have been a bit of a problem. Ideas IÂm Going to Copy There are three things Rowinski did that IÂm totally ripping off next year. The first was this awesome cucumber tunnel trellis: Emily and Sarah under the cucumber arch. The second is the way Rowinski supported some of his pole beans. He calls this type of staking "Detroit-style" (you would find rebar in many of the vacant lots in the city  may as well use it!) Love these bean supports. The third thing IÂm going to copy is RowinskiÂs use of narrow beds. This is something that would definitely benefit those of us with small, irregular, or partly shady lots who are always saying "just one more bed!" I have a few areas I am already planning to use narrow beds in. I donÂt have a photo of it, but there were several long, twelve to eighteen inch wide, beds along the edges of the garden. A simple idea, but a very useful one. I was totally inspired by this urban farm, and more determined to increase our growing space next year. As a side note, due to funding issues, this was the last year for the Michigan State Fair. At 161 years old, our Fair was the oldest in the United States. We signed petitions at the Fair to save it, and I really hoped something would be worked out. But, Michigan Public Radio reported this morning that the last minute reprieve so many of us had hoped for hasnÂt happened. ItÂs over. I hate to think that my youngest kids will never have the experience of feeding goats and alpacas, seeing giant pumpkins, or watching the pig races at the State Fair. This is a huge loss to so many families, and to our entire state. I agree. I also attended the state fair this year and was completely amazed. I hope it is not our last fair. I consider myself a knowledgeable grower but could not believe the amount of knowledge I was able to obtain from the creator Ryan Rowinski, he is a graduate of Michigan State University crop and soil science program. He had such simplistic but innovative techniques. This young man broke down details of our food sources and soil components that made my mind spin. I found some youtube videos of the garden this morning. I hope the group will enjoy. Its amazing what could be done in the city of Detroit, if not for all the bureaucracy. All of the cityÂs vacant and blighted land could be so productive. WellÂgood day to all! I have some weeds to pick. youtube video links below. part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH3TVOS7QT4 part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtix0E_jGcw part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIS19BFKDo8