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Title: Gulching - Any Experience Here?
Source:
Lonsome Self
URL Source: http://None
Published: Apr 23, 2006
Author: ...
Post Date: 2006-04-23 00:31:48 by ...
Keywords: None
Views: 2505
Comments: 67
I am playing with the idea of surviving with very little money. The way my dad did back in the great depression. We've put in 100 tomato plants and are planning to can spaghetti sauce and a form of vedgitarian chili for the winter. I've also got a buch of peppers going in and several varieties of squash. The squash will keep through the winter. A woman down the road raises chickens and she was giving me tips on setting this up. It seems like an amazing amount of work. Buried fences faced with sheet metal to keep out foxes and coyotes. She said she lost 20 of her 50 free range hens to foxes last year in broad daylight. I was going to start with ten chickens just to get the feel of it, but I might shine this one. Still thinking it over. One problem is that is sometimes gets to 50 below here in the winter and this makes even more problems for livestock. She was telling me how a thick paste of chicken shit and sawdust on the floor helps keep the coop warm - bleeech. Last year I tried out some fish traps in the rivers and they worked great. Illegal as hell, but really effective. Anybody got any other ideas on crops? I am looking for things that grow and produce all summer and, hopefully, could be sold at a produce stand. Corn and wheat take too much land. Truck farming stuff seems best.
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#27. To: Diana (#13)
Try putting the chicken in a vice and tightening it. Not too much though or you will break the egg.
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how do you think asparagus would do in one of these?
"Of the corporate elites, by the corporate elites, for the corporate elites" - it's what America is all about. Now send your kids off to fight and die in Iraq so that corporate pigs get everything and we get nothing. What else have we ever fought for?~~Elliott J
shoot..i don't see asparagus on either of those sites.
"Of the corporate elites, by the corporate elites, for the corporate elites" - it's what America is all about. Now send your kids off to fight and die in Iraq so that corporate pigs get everything and we get nothing. What else have we ever fought for?~~Elliott J
Yes, it was fantastic. Went against most of what I read in the raising poultry books/booklets. I believe much of what happens with our critters is based on how they're treated, i.e., nutritionally, and habitat-wise. My girls were wellfed; raised from day old chicks; were allowed to run free in the daytime so long as they didn't come to my yard area. I know that when I was trying to cut back, i.e., not get more/raise more, I was selling 8 year old hens as stewing hens! And they were dressing out at 8 to 10 lbs. I raised Buff Orphingtons, and they had a mellow temprament, not flighty. In fact my youngest daughter started Rooster Cogburn out when he was a chick sitting in her hand--like a falcon. He musta weighed around 20 lbs when he was mature--we refused to let him sit on our hands by then. But it wasn't just the chickens where we tried for the best, most practical, safest production. Our cattle and our sheep did well, as did the Angora Goats. Oh yeah........even our kitties!
They appear to be re-designing their website, as their 'planting schematic' is not on there at the moment, nor are all the pictures of the giant plants these things produce. But I did find one of my schematics from a few years back, and asparagus is NOT one of the plants listed. I imagine that is because that particular veggie requires an established bed, and that is not what the box is designed for. That doesn't mean you can't...drop them an e-mail, and ask. (Shame, because my wife makes a 'Roasted Asparagus' that I could eat seven days a week. Simple, but tasty.)
I want to build a hot house for the seedlings. This would save a lot of money. The shoots are costing me over a dollar apiece. The big, semi-mature ones are five dollars. I am going to build it low using a box of 4 x 4's covered with glass from old sliding doors I can scrounge. We are at a high altitude and the wind routinely gusts to 80 mph so a wood frame covered with clear plastic is a joke. The wind ripped the shingles off one side of the house last week. We do have a short growing season. We still have to carry all the plants into the shed at night as it still freezes. Can't take them out of the pots and put them in the ground for three more weeks or so.
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Enough about Earth Boxes for a minute...'Lodwick' got me turned on to RBN several months ago, and I heard a show promoting sonic bloom a few weeks back. Wonder what kind of 'man-eaters' I could produce if I combined this system with a few Earth Boxes? Anybody have any experience with Sonic Bloom?
It takes several years to get an asparagus bed going. I guess the root system has to really develope. Recall that full grown asparagus is more like a tree than the shoots you eat. I think you allow the tree like root structure to develop first. This gives it the energy to push up shoots once a week or so.
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You aren't growing from seed, are you?
yum! can you post the recipe? i steam mine, then saute in a little butter, then sprinkle liberally with shredded imported romano cheese. delicious.
"Of the corporate elites, by the corporate elites, for the corporate elites" - it's what America is all about. Now send your kids off to fight and die in Iraq so that corporate pigs get everything and we get nothing. What else have we ever fought for?~~Elliott J
Zip's got asparagus in her yard.
"Of the corporate elites, by the corporate elites, for the corporate elites" - it's what America is all about. Now send your kids off to fight and die in Iraq so that corporate pigs get everything and we get nothing. What else have we ever fought for?~~Elliott J
Must be nice.
Very similar to what you are doing...1.5 pounds of asparagus, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Preheat over to 450. Wash asparagus and cut off ends (opposite end from tips). Coat baking dish with cooking spray. Place asparagus in baking dish, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Bake 15 minutes. Simple, but tasty as hell.
thanks!
"Of the corporate elites, by the corporate elites, for the corporate elites" - it's what America is all about. Now send your kids off to fight and die in Iraq so that corporate pigs get everything and we get nothing. What else have we ever fought for?~~Elliott J
No, no time. I didn't get back until a couple of weeks ago. I am buying six inch high shoots. A few two footers.
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I was thinking the same thing :)
"I woke up in the CRAZY HOUSE."
my mother used to make me asparagus on toast when I was a kid. she used the canned kind because as we all knew then....vegetables grow in cans. it was still delicious though. she also served dropped eggs on toast a lot too. we ate a lot of toast.
"I woke up in the CRAZY HOUSE."
OMG...that almost made me puke. I remember 'asparagus in cans'...that's why I HATED the stuff when I was a kid. Fresh, however...to die for. Mmmm-good! (Especially prepared as above.) If my long-dead mother could see me eating asparagus now; she'd swear I was a duplicate from one of those pods from outer space.
LMAO!!!! Well, I can't say my mother, sweet as she is, was ever much of a cook. I used to feed her pork chops to the cat as I didn't want to break my own teeth on them.
"I woke up in the CRAZY HOUSE."
Recall that in the wild, it is survival of the fittest. Not every creature survives birth. I only raised the first set of day old chicks. We bought 50 mixed sex day old chicks--planning to slaughter and freeze most. They throw in an extra chick in case one dies in the process of shipping. Baby chicks are sensitive for a bit--they need need supply, food available 24/7 and water. You get one that acts 'dumpy' you get rid of it because it could have something that could affect the rest of the babies. I only had about 5 or 6 dirty butts, and that was like in the first week. Fortunately, an elderly neighbor stopped on and was asking how we liked ranch life. She could hear my baby chicks in the mud room and so we looked at them. She's the one who brought it to my attention. And they were somewhat standoffish from the others, or not just being a normal healthy baby chick. We got a cup of warm water and plumped their little butts down in it for a few seconds, the started trying to get the crap off. Some it literally took taking a fingernail and picking at it. Once they were dried off and put back, in nothing flat, they were normal baby chicks--pooping, eating, drinking, running behind the curtain to get where the heat was. Domestication has negatives, it seems, though clearly we believe the positives far outweigh them. Nature has its rules, cycles, systems, etc. When we go against them, try to change them, it isn't always a benefit. For instance, polled (hornless) cattle. Great for man to work with because you don't get gored, you need less feedbunk space per animal, etc. Bad if you are a cow trying to protect a baby from an animal attacking it that she could kill with her horns--if she had them. That's her major weapon....she doesn't have upper and lower teeth to bite an attacker, although the upper dental pad is pretty strong.
I've had those, too. Reminiscent of those inserts found in most sneakers...
Actually her pork chops were more reminescent of those bones Dr. Leakey used to find in the Ethiopian desert.
"I woke up in the CRAZY HOUSE."
With asparagus.. you won't get a crop the first year. The second you will.. you plant it in a mound with the plants not closely planted and you keep mounding up the dirt.. preferably compost ... rich soil. The roots need a lot of room to spread. And you need quite a few plants.. and need to harvest often it comes in pretty quickly before youi know it's gotten ferny.. then it's too late to cut.
"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." Frederick Douglass
No I'm sorry this is the first I heard of it..
"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." Frederick Douglass
For what it is worth I tried investing in one of those ultrasonic electronic flea collars for my dog quite a few years ago. I was not particularly fond of the idea of treating her conventionally (i.e. poison dips). After a few days, I saw no signs that it was working. I took one of the fleas (taken from the dog wearing the collar) and put it in a fairly large ziplock bag along with the electronic collar at one end. The flea was not only seemingly happy with it in there, but the next morning he was actually sitting on it. I ended up using a good old fashioned flea comb multiple times per day. It worked like a charm. Within a month I'd killed off the entire population, even though my vet at the time said I wouldn't be able to. Fleas have a 14 day life cycle. They just couldn't keep up with me. After a month I never needed to use the comb again. Years later my girlfriend brought a barking dog into my life, a Lhasa Apso. We bought the "Bark Free". It works for some dogs as long as they aren't too stubborn (he was way past stubborn, lol). My dog, for instance, learned on the first bark and would leave the room whenever it was going off. Too bad. She didn't bark much anyway. It too had an "ultrasonic" setting. Neither dog cared about that. I guess that explains why you had the option to have the shrill smoke detector type sound as well. Unfortunately, that sound is worse than the barking. However, if you don't have a stubborn dog, it is worth a try. Then again, if you don't have a stubborn dog, you probably don't have a barking problem. And then there are the ultrasonic pest repellers. As seen here, ultrasonic waves can't travel through solid surfaces. So even if the product works as advertised (which I highly doubt), I guess the rats will just have to live in your walls. Too bad. That's generally where they want to be anyway, lol. Needless to say, I'm skeptical of any "sonic" technologies now. I hear "sonic" and immediately think "scam". Electronic Pest Devices That's not to say I know anything about the "sonic boom" when it comes to plant growth, just offering other "sonic" experiences I have had.
Deflation: Making Sure "It" Doesn't Happen Here - Ben Bernanke, 2002
If you're serious about this, do check out Sonic Bloom which should multiply your harvest greatly...fascinating concept with proven results.
Yep - Martha Washington's asparagus is still going strong at Mt.Vernon.
I concur...there is a LOT of BS that you have to shovel through to find the diamonds. I thought that 'electronic fence' for pets was baloney until I saw it working; over and over again on all kinds of animals. Sonic Bloom offers a 'home gardening kit' for $59.95. I might give that a shot...after all, I just pissed away a good chunk of money down a useless rathole on April 15th...what's $59.95? At least I haven't seen 'Ronco' in any of their online literature, as of yet. (Ever try this thing, Lodwick?)
Not yet - but I'll prolly order one, just in case. Like many other of my purchases. (I arrived late to the Gulching party) Good thread, everyone.
No, but I heard the inventor interviewed, and it was amazing. Dude has been to third world countries around the globe helping people multiply their crops. Take the time to bump around his website and see what you think. We have to begin looking at methods and ways of getting us back to nature, and off the BigAg, BigChem, GMO seeds and chemical pesticides and fertilizers before it's too late...control the food, control the populace - don'tcha know?
RBN? That's where I heard it.
I was asked last summer if I'd installed an invisible fence for my dog in the front yard. Her dog was pulling on the leash to get to my dog. My dog ran up to her dog, but stopped short of stepping onto the road. She then patiently awaited at the edge of the grass. Nope, no invisible fence. Here's the secret. I use an "uh uh" technology established since she was a puppy. You've gotta love retrievers. They so much want to please. Training consisted of saying a disapproving "uh uh" every time her feet touched pavement. No exceptions (you have to watch the dog like a hawk during that period). Followed by "good dog" every time her feet touched grass again. No exceptions. It takes a good week of retraining each spring, and then she's good to go for the summer. She only has street access if I'm there. Otherwise she's in the fenced in backyard. She's got a little bit of independent thinker in her though. I use "uh uh" when she barks and it sometimes takes more than one. That's also quite amusing though. She'll be in the backyard and sometimes, being a dog, she'll see something worth barking at. She'll bark once and then immediately come back inside (guaranteed) to see if I noticed and offer up the "uh uh". I'm not sure who has trained who on that one. It is just a ritual we both seem to do now. If I hear a bark in the backyard I know that she'll soon be looking for me to complete the cycle. Hey, at least I don't have to go to her. She seeks me out, lol.
Deflation: Making Sure "It" Doesn't Happen Here - Ben Bernanke, 2002
He was on http://gcnlive.com on Dave & Joyce's http://www.thepowerhour.com one day a few weeks back...both networks have many of the same guests on their shows. and now, an email humor break - As a young minister, I was asked by a funeral director to hold a grave-side service for a homeless man, with no family or friends. The funeral was to be held at a cemetery way back in the country, and this man would be the first to be laid to rest there. As I was not familiar with the backwoods area, I became lost; and being a typical man did not stop for directions. I finally arrived an hour late. I saw the backhoe and the crew, who was eating lunch, but the hearse was nowhere in sight. I apologized to the workers for my tardiness, and stepped to the side of the open grave, where I saw the vault lid already in place. I assured the workers I would not hold them up for long, but this was the proper thing to do. The workers gathered around, still eating their lunch. I poured out my heart and soul. As I preached the workers began to say "Amen," "Praise the Lord," and "Glory," I preached, and I preached, like I'd never preached before: from Genesis all the way to Revelations. I closed the lengthy service with a prayer and walked to my car. As I was opening the door and taking off my coat, I overheard one of the workers saying to another, "I ain't never seen anything like that before and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."
Training consisted of saying a disapproving "uh uh" every time her feet touched pavement. No exceptions (you have to watch the dog like a hawk during that period). Followed by "good dog" every time her feet touched grass again. No exceptions. Our neighbors are going through that process right now with the cutest little chocolate lab that they got at a Ducks Unlimited banquet recently. She's a sweetie and wants to please - especially when there's a tiny treat involved with it.
We have a similar arrangement with our three Siamese cats...we give them a treat every day, and they don't rip our faces off while we're sleeping.
I suspect the ones here (there aren't many) are on the same cycle, something, as they don't seem to lay as much during the winter months. One lady got some new chicks because her chickens quit laying, but they won't be ready for a few months.
Siamese are something else - they can get their way just by using that unholy YOWLING they possess...twenty-five years back, one of the first critters that owned us was a "humane" society orange-point mix that we miss to this day. Clyde ruled.
hahahahahahaha..lol
"Of the corporate elites, by the corporate elites, for the corporate elites" - it's what America is all about. Now send your kids off to fight and die in Iraq so that corporate pigs get everything and we get nothing. What else have we ever fought for?~~Elliott J
We're very familiar with that...we hear it bright and early exclusively on Saturday morning...coincidentally; the only morning we have the opportunity to sleep in.
I swear the story is true. Maybe I was missing the point. Perhaps the flea collar is not supposed to be put on the dog. Perhaps you put it in an opened ziplock bag near the dog. As seen in a hypothetical Ronco commercial... So what do you do? Deflation: Making Sure "It" Doesn't Happen Here - Ben Bernanke, 2002
Well of course - you're off their schedule, don'tcha know? One of our three poochies is the designated yelper - whenever any of them need, or want, anything; there goes Lewis with his ear-piercing yelps that may one day soon, shorten his time on this earth. STFU, Lewis. bbl
I have been buying them fresh from local people, but a lot of them have been having problems with their chickens not laying lately.
#28. To: who knows what evil (#20)
#29. To: who knows what evil (#24)
#30. To: Rabble Rouser (#15)
#31. To: christine (#28)
#32. To: who knows what evil (#20)
Do you have a greenhouse, or are you in a position to add a small sunroom to your home?
#33. To: christine, mehitable, zipporah, ... (#29)
#34. To: who knows what evil (#31)
But I did find one of my schematics from a few years back, and asparagus is NOT one of the plants listed.
#35. To: ... (#32)
The shoots are costing me over a dollar apiece. The big, semi-mature ones are five dollars.
#36. To: who knows what evil (#31)
roasted asparagus
#37. To: ..., Zipporah (#34)
#38. To: christine (#37)
Zip's got asparagus in her yard.
#39. To: christine (#36)
yum! can you post the recipe? i steam mine, then saute in a little butter, then sprinkle liberally with shredded imported romano cheese. delicious.
#40. To: who knows what evil (#39)
#41. To: who knows what evil (#35)
You aren't growing from seed, are you?
#42. To: who knows what evil, christine (#39)
#43. To: christine (#36)
#44. To: mehitable (#43)
my mother used to make me asparagus on toast when I was a kid. she used the canned kind because as we all knew then....vegetables grow in cans.
#45. To: who knows what evil (#44)
#46. To: mehitable (#19)
#47. To: mehitable (#45)
I used to feed her pork chops to the cat as I didn't want to break my own teeth on them.
#48. To: who knows what evil (#47)
#49. To: ... (#34)
#50. To: who knows what evil (#33)
#51. To: who knows what evil (#33)
Anybody have any experience with Sonic Bloom?
I provide monthly mouse control services at a private house. The location is in the crawlspace. The owner has an ultrasonic pest repeller device in the crawlspace, pointed at the area where I have my snap traps maintained. The device is always on, and about 6 feet away from the 10 or so traps I use, baited with peanut butter. I always capture mice in this location. Obviously the device is not effective.
#52. To: ... (#0)
#53. To: ... (#6)
Asparagus might be good, but it takes serveral years for the patch to become productive. Sort of like planting an orchard. But once it is going, and there is water, you can go harvest it every week or so.
#54. To: markm0722, lodwick (#51)
#55. To: who knows what evil. All (#33)
Anybody have any experience with Sonic Bloom?
#56. To: who knows what evil (#54)
(Ever try this thing, Lodwick?)
#57. To: lodwick (#56)
No, but I heard the inventor interviewed, and it was amazing.
#58. To: who knows what evil, lodwick (#54)
I thought that 'electronic fence' for pets was baloney until I saw it working; over and over again on all kinds of animals.
#59. To: who knows what evil. Gulchers here, and wannabe's (#57)
#60. To: markm0722 (#58)
Nope, no invisible fence. Here's the secret. I use an "uh uh" technology established since she was a puppy. You've gotta love retrievers. They so much want to please.
#61. To: lodwick (#60)
She's a sweetie and wants to please - especially when there's a tiny treat involved with it.
#62. To: Rabble Rouser (#16)
If you just go buy some biddies and put 'em in a coop, you will usually wind up with them all on the same cycle.
#63. To: who knows what evil (#61)
we give them a treat every day, and they don't rip our faces off while we're sleeping.
#64. To: markm0722 (#51)
I took one of the fleas (taken from the dog wearing the collar) and put it in a fairly large ziplock bag along with the electronic collar at one end. The flea was not only seemingly happy with it in there, but the next morning he was actually sitting on it.
#65. To: lodwick (#63)
Siamese are something else - they can get their way just by using that unholy YOWLING they possess...
#66. To: christine (#64)
hahahahahahaha..lol
Zip it and toss it.
That's it? That's all I have to do?
Absolutely! The fleas will be drawn to the bag.
So i just zip the bag and then throw it out?
You zip it and toss it.
That sounds very easy. I just zip it and toss it. I like that.
It is a real time saver and your pets will love it.
What about the flea collar? Just throw it out as well?
Trust me. After 24 hours you won't need it. Your problem is solved.
All the fleas would be gone. It is a miracle.
And what will you do?
I will zip it and toss it!
Exactly!
#67. To: who knows what evil (#65)
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