Bruce's Journal

[Bruce]

News updates

• Got the water barrel done. I had to put a second "shorter" piece of 2" foam under the barrel so I could get a hose attached. I guess they don't expect you to place them directly on the ground.
• Got some organic garlic at the health food store and planted it yesterday. I've never tried garlic before but October is the time to plant it so what the heck, we'll try. It was planted in a lot of really well composted horse manure and stall shavings mixed into the garden 'soil'. Like no "fresher" than 6 years old. Grows REALLY tall grass in the pile. If it works we'll have 12 heads of garlic next summer/fall.
• Cleaned out the garden, except for the chard which isn't quite dead yet. Dug out all the weeds/grass yesterday that were growing there (*) but first I had to run the string trimmer over all the "non planted" areas so I could get to them more easily I need more time in the summer!
• Put the cultivator on the trimmer today and mixed everything up, including what the woodchuck added when it tunneled under the mound the squash was on. He had to contend with a lot of rocks too. But he left them all in the ground around the cherry tomato plant instead of removing them. I had to remove them before cultivating, some were as big as softballs.
• "Spread" a dump cart load of fairly fresh 'paca poo on all the "plantable" areas and hopefully it will break down over the winter. If things go well, we might actually be ready to plant early season crops when the time is right rather than having to do all those things first (and not having time). That would be novel!

Note that the boys were not even slightly interested in what I was doing over in their 'paca poo "trail". They stayed over by the solar panels, Laddie was in their dust bath space.

* because I never seem to have time to weed when they are small and easy to get rid of!!

 

[CntryBoy777]

I apologize for not getting those pics for ya, but will make a point to get them tomorrow of the grow box. It is really easy to set up and will give ya a good headstart for the growing season there.

 

[Bruce]

I'm still trying to understand why seedlings you start indoors get rangy if the light is too far away (like 1') but ones you start outdoors don't when the light source is way, WAY far away. The grow box has to be "cat proof", one reason I liked the aquarium setup

I just found out we will be "empty nesters" for a month starting on the 4th. DD1 is going to house sit for one of her Theatre on Ice team members while she, daughter and husband are in California. Apparently he has some need of a REALLY special specialist for jaw surgery. DD2 has to go with her because DD2 has a car and DD1 doesn't Somehow we get to board their cats free of charge for the month. Of course we usually do but at least DD2 feeds them in the evening and cleans the litter boxes after she does the dishes. And DD1 (in theory) cleans the litter boxes when she gets up (which is about 11 or noon).

As with the alpacas, the cats are treated really poorly, I also clean the litter boxes every morning after I feed the cats. I bet not many cats have servants to clean their litter boxes at least 3 times a day.

 

[CntryBoy777]

Our inside cat won't go if the litter hasn't been scooped, she will wake ya up to scoop it....during the day she will come tell me when it needs scooping, and also have to stay with her to eat....I guess she is afraid of the toilet monster getting her, so I have to stand guard for her....
Almost forgot about the light, the intensity of the sun is the same at any range and hits all the way around the plant, top to bottom. The intensity of the bulb lessens greatly with every inch of distance and isn't the same around, or top to bottom....so, thus ya get overstretching and if their isn't and breeze from a small fan the stem gets spindley and is weak.

 

[Bruce]

You OGRE you!
And I thought OUR cats were spoiled. Maybe you need one of those automatic litter boxes. Sorry I can't recommend any because I've never had one to know how well they do, or do not, work.

 

[CntryBoy777]

Got those pics for ya Bruce.... ....it hasn't been touched since Spring, so it is a bit ragged and dirty right now...the cabinet is on casters so I'll be moving it up to the house for use this next time....
The door keeps cats out and run-off water in the tray adds humidity along with detering felines.

 

[Latestarter]

What the heck there Fred... looks like one of those wacky weed grow out chambers there. You been doing some extra curricular farming for $$ over there?

 

[CntryBoy777]

....nope, it is our garden starting box. I got the crate when I was truck driving and living in Fl...it works great for starting tomatoes, squash, peppers, and such...to get a jump on garden stuff, because Joyce being ADHD can't wait for the weather to break....patience isn't in her vocabulary....
In fact she over wintered the poinsettia in it last winter.

 

[Bruce]

Nice sturdy crate to hang the height adjustable lights.

I dunno know Fred, that looks mighty complicated to duplicate
Do they even sell plant spectrum CFLs?

I do have a big cardboard box I could run some wood across to hold up fluorescent light fixtures. I have a 2 tube 24" one on the aquarium and I think a 24" single tube one as well. Now, as to WHERE to put it to keep the cats out ...

 

[greybeard]

Not having to carry water is always a win.

Oh...I wouldn't say .....always............