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Re: Initial stuff Isaac Send a noteboard - 06/04/2013 03:19:39 AM

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View original postI've always had embarrassing yields compared to my uncle with tomatoes, he lives in the same zone as me too, but I still grow more than I need. I've been doing more square-foot gardening raise bed stuff in recent years and that's helped but not as much as advertised, though it is God Awful easier to weed, the soil is so friable compared to the local stuff. My grandfather replication issue is rhubarb, it just never seems to come out the way I remember.
. My grandfather had gorgeous tomatoes. He ordered double plants accidentally one year. Even after giving them away by the grocery bag and eating them for every meal, I still canned 60 quarts. Rhubarb is nearly an invasive plant where I live, ha!

That's a lot of tomatoes.


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View original postMy only pest issues are deer and japanese beetles, and while my cats hang out in the greenhouse a lot I've never even run into one of the racoons in there and it's right next to one of the favorite hangouts, my goldfish pond, so I've never ratcheted up security besides in regards to wind. I originally just nailed some boards together as a doorway and hung a pair of plastic sheets but after I replaced the main cover with a translucent tarp I did the same for the door, I just have it bungied in place when not wandering in and out and hung up like a shower curtain.


View original post Raccoons... I had one IN the coop (when the girls and boy were out so the door was open) last week. In the middle of the afternoon! Living in the middle of the woods has its predator issues, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. Which reminds me, I have to figure out what to do with my now-illegal varmint rifle.

Sorry about your rifle, I suppose you could probably sell it or dump concrete down the barrel like we do for old cannons and mount ti on the wall. I get a lot of critter throughput but the raccoons generally amuse more than damage and they've never had a fuss with my cats. Ditto a possum sometimes makes it way inside but they're pretty harmless. It's really just those damn deer that annoy, but yeah, the forest makes up for even its more annoying inhabitants.


View original postNever had anything get them a night, we have lots of strong wire fencing all around including the top. we have hardware cloth w/half inch holes over the windows. I have seen lots of coyote and/or fox tracks in the snow this year.

Coyotes don't make their way up this close to the lake much, a few miles further south and they make their presence known, haven't seen a fox in years.


View original postI have the garden fenced off to keep the cats and chickens (and deer and raccoons...) out. I can easily open it and let the girls turn the earth and eat bugs for me. I mixed the pine bedding/manure mixture in during the fall, let's hope it's not too hot... Have to make a pvc hoop/netting cover for the hex shaped strawberry bed to keep the birds and chipmunks out. I have so much to do this spring!

I've been doing square and rectangles so I can usually get away with sticking up to post, dropping a rod across and throwing a net over like a tent... never keeps the cats out, never. Have had better luck just leaving an empty small bed with sand in it.


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View original postNever raised chickens, though I've flock of turkey that wanders by for a week or so about once a year, always wanted to try permaculture though and chickens seem to be the popular animal add in. Supposed to be a good compost additive but I always worry about the temperature inside my heaps not being hot enough.
. You should get some laying hens. I love it much more than I thought I would. Wait... you mentioned a fish pond. That means you need some meat and laying ducks!


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View original postZone 6-ish, Erie lakeshore east stretch, odd-weather lake effect stuff. I should break down and grow grapes, it's the main agricultural product of my township but I've been doing strawberries and rhubarb and waiting with patient rage for my blueberries to finally grow or my dwarf apricot, though at least the blueberries most recent disappointing growth spurt I can partially blame on my new giant six-toed mutant cat Flax, I'd made the soil sandier and he seemed to think it made a good catbox.
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View original postYou should grow grapes! Acidify the soil a bit if you haven't already, that'll help the blueberries. If you don't want to use miracid, you can use a few handfuls of crushed pine needles per bush mixed into the surrounding soil.

It's pretty heavy on the peat moss, I'm hoping it will just quit the bad luck this year. I think I might try some grapes.

The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.
- Albert Einstein

King of Cairhien 20-7-2
Chancellor of the Landsraad, Archduke of Is'Mod
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Liberalism has officially failed - Poverty reaches 1960 levels - - 04/04/2013 12:33:15 AM 1112 Views
As has Conservatism. - 04/04/2013 12:37:23 AM 590 Views
I know it hurts.....but the truth about liberalism will set you free! - 04/04/2013 12:42:57 AM 675 Views
Have you ever tried to fish when really hungry? - 04/04/2013 06:32:17 AM 610 Views
HA! HA! In your dreams that's how liberalism works. How about..... - 04/04/2013 04:59:33 PM 563 Views
and lo, Jesus said unto the poor gathered to him: "begone freeloaders! the wealthy need more money" - 04/04/2013 06:43:32 PM 573 Views
Interestingly enough.... - 04/04/2013 09:20:06 PM 608 Views
Re: Interestingly enough.... - 04/04/2013 09:31:27 PM 610 Views
Well here is where theology gets fun.... - 04/04/2013 09:48:50 PM 667 Views
The entire post...as well as many of the sub-threads....prompts the question of: - 04/04/2013 09:39:16 PM 663 Views
it depends on what your definition of "succeed" is i guess.... - 04/04/2013 10:27:30 PM 714 Views
And that is certainly your opinion.... - 04/04/2013 10:54:08 PM 727 Views
Re: And that is certainly your opinion.... - 04/04/2013 11:57:34 PM 781 Views
Hmm good questions - 04/04/2013 10:29:45 PM 695 Views
you contradicted yourself - 04/04/2013 10:44:47 PM 620 Views
Re: you contradicted yourself - 04/04/2013 10:54:35 PM 689 Views
i think i understand where you're coming from.... - 05/04/2013 07:33:32 PM 656 Views
I see the problem - 04/04/2013 06:45:53 PM 615 Views
since you don't trust the gov't, what are you doing to help the poor survive? - 04/04/2013 12:58:49 AM 704 Views
A few serious answers, if you can handle them..... - 04/04/2013 04:15:32 AM 606 Views
Re: A few serious answers, if you can handle them..... - 04/04/2013 06:42:00 PM 727 Views
Perhaps its time to try a little fact checking. - 04/04/2013 03:34:44 AM 850 Views
I'm happy you agree with me, liberalism has failed and it's time for something different. - 04/04/2013 03:47:17 AM 587 Views
Oh the cleverness of you. - 04/04/2013 03:52:07 AM 741 Views
Wow, I'm shocked. Yes, let's stick with the failed status quo. Good plan! - 04/04/2013 04:17:32 AM 543 Views
Who said anything about the status quo? I just said I didn't agree with your solution. *NM* - 04/04/2013 04:19:37 AM 382 Views
Then time to step up, what's your idea? - 04/04/2013 04:22:58 AM 545 Views
As you might say, "What do you expect, a free ride?" - 04/04/2013 11:45:02 AM 736 Views
How typicaly conservative! And no. - 04/04/2013 02:05:00 PM 602 Views
Agreed and this is how we will finance such a move - 04/04/2013 04:01:46 AM 654 Views
I'm glad you agree! - 04/04/2013 04:21:25 AM 625 Views
No, in Europe, liberalism is generally successful - 04/04/2013 06:15:34 AM 594 Views
Liberalism & Conservatism 'officially fail' about ever other year I've noticed, still around though *NM* - 04/04/2013 09:02:42 AM 303 Views
Yes. I wonder if there will ever be an age of fiscally responsible/conservative liberals. - 05/04/2013 03:41:09 AM 651 Views
I guess it depends on how you define the terms - 05/04/2013 08:52:25 AM 799 Views
*nod* - 05/04/2013 01:30:47 PM 672 Views
Re: *nod* - 05/04/2013 03:12:17 PM 572 Views
Off topic: are you gardening yet? - 05/04/2013 02:25:06 PM 541 Views
Initial stuff - 05/04/2013 03:21:25 PM 501 Views
Re: Initial stuff - 05/04/2013 07:10:57 PM 576 Views
Re: Initial stuff - 05/04/2013 08:19:16 PM 619 Views
Re: Initial stuff - 05/04/2013 11:21:56 PM 621 Views
I didn't know they make LED grow lights! - 06/04/2013 12:18:25 AM 769 Views
It's a bit newer because of the price, that's been dropping - 06/04/2013 01:20:10 AM 644 Views
Re: Initial stuff - 05/04/2013 11:11:12 PM 723 Views
Re: Initial stuff - 05/04/2013 07:56:47 PM 630 Views
Re: Initial stuff - 06/04/2013 12:36:10 AM 771 Views
Re: Initial stuff - 06/04/2013 02:01:59 AM 667 Views
Re: Initial stuff - 06/04/2013 03:19:39 AM 514 Views
Yes, the logical step is to go for Nordic style socialism. - 04/04/2013 03:19:17 PM 641 Views
well that and a tiny homogenous population funded by large oil reserves - 04/04/2013 06:57:51 PM 609 Views
Eh, you're describing norway. - 04/04/2013 08:11:25 PM 566 Views
The Economist (of all people) was singing the praises of the Nordic countries recently. - 04/04/2013 08:49:36 PM 579 Views
Hey, guess what? - 04/04/2013 08:55:59 PM 567 Views
Awesome. - 04/04/2013 09:22:13 PM 472 Views
Oh my gosh! - 04/04/2013 09:27:17 PM 515 Views
Yes! - 04/04/2013 09:33:45 PM 552 Views
Yay! - 04/04/2013 09:37:40 PM 571 Views
We're Maryland, actually, as I recall. - 04/04/2013 10:15:49 PM 546 Views
Eh survival of the fittest - 04/04/2013 06:18:52 PM 652 Views
Excuse me? - 04/04/2013 08:42:24 PM 593 Views
Cry me a river - 04/04/2013 08:55:40 PM 624 Views
Funny. - 04/04/2013 09:18:15 PM 614 Views
Re: Funny. - 04/04/2013 10:19:35 PM 619 Views
good for you for making it but you are so full of bullshit - 04/04/2013 10:38:45 PM 645 Views
Re: good for you for making it but you are so full of bullshit - 04/04/2013 10:49:14 PM 612 Views
Wow. - 04/04/2013 11:27:06 PM 620 Views
Re: Wow. - 05/04/2013 12:18:08 AM 720 Views
congrats on being part of the problem.... *NM* - 05/04/2013 04:48:58 AM 328 Views
It's pointless to argue with those who don't understand the psychology of generational poverty. *NM* - 05/04/2013 03:43:40 AM 309 Views
Clearly. *NM* - 05/04/2013 07:32:21 PM 284 Views
Oh the "it's nobody's fault excuse" - 05/04/2013 08:56:51 PM 578 Views
Get back to me when you know wtf you're talking about. *NM* - 05/04/2013 09:03:08 PM 311 Views
I'm back *NM* - 06/04/2013 01:40:47 AM 286 Views
You're over-generalizing a bit - 06/04/2013 01:49:02 AM 691 Views

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