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Post by wildhorseluvr on May 14, 2022 14:58:54 GMT
I'm having the worst luck with seed germination this year. I've had to replant my tomatoes twice, same with bush beans. Out of 12 eggplant seeds I had >1< seed to germinate. All fresh seeds ordered last year. In 40 years of gardening, I have never had such lousy results. If we had to depend on this stuff to survive, we'd starve to death. That’s a big concern of mine. Even experienced gardeners have bad years and although I’ve done some gardening, my successes have been more in spite of myself than due to any sort of skills. IOW, sheer luck. I’ll be depending more on storage foods with gardening as a supplement. My DD is still struggling with normalcy bias and doesn’t want to store more than a couple months worth of food, which is why I’m looking at renting a small storage unit for the next several years. Which brings me to another question. It seems pretty much all storage facilities are now banning ALL food storage. They used to allow it if it was in cans or jars…anything rodent proof, but that is changing to NO food storage at all. So whether I go with a rented unit or buy an extra storage shed for at home, I’m going to need to have containers that are not only rodent proof but are not obviously food storage containers. So buckets and barrels are probably out. I’m thinking metal containers but what? Metal trunks, tool chests…? Heavy duty plastics might work but nothing that would indicate food storage, so multiple trash cans, etc wouldn’t work.
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Post by joebill on May 14, 2022 17:53:08 GMT
The first time we poured a new septic tank in place (fairly easy) I looked down into it and thought how much like a concrete cellar it looked.
Last brand new one I purchased was not much over $1000 and I could have gotten a surface manhole for not much more. Put in a ladder and you are home free, temperature partially controlled and you would need to cut out the plastic baffle in the middle so as not to waste space down there.
If you will have a backhoe or can rent one for a weekend, problem solved.....Joe
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Post by Ozarks Tom on May 14, 2022 19:13:32 GMT
wildhorseluvr, If food storage isn't allowed at those facilities I'd go with the pre-fab storage building for the back yard. As to containers, even though we have mice (sometimes by the hundreds due to dropped feed at the feeders) we've never had a rodent chew through a plastic 5 gallon pail. Since you don't have chickens, I'd suggest putting a couple mouse/rat poison dishes in the building. We put out poison years ago, but lost a couple chickens that ate poisoned mice.
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Post by wildhorseluvr on May 14, 2022 19:29:28 GMT
Thanks. Might be better off with that in the long run. I could put buckets in the back where they wouldn’t be noticed, so think I’ll go with as big a shed as I can afford.
I’ve had many food buckets stored for years in the barn and never had a mouse get into one (never had to deal with rats and hopefully never will). However I did have mice chew through 1 Roughneck tote, so I no longer consider totes safe for food storage. Even with the good quality heavy duty totes, the lid is always much thinner.
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Post by mzgarden on May 14, 2022 19:52:40 GMT
Today we rented a sod cutter and cut sod out to put in a 14'x3' pool for the grandladies this summer. Then we patched a big area with the sod, where we had taken down a dilapidated raised bed in the yard (not in the garden). We'll see if we can get the sod to take hold Got some cushaw squash starts and some musk melon starts put in the ground. Discovered a couple volunteer winter squash (assuming) in with the sugar peas - we shall see what comes of them.
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Post by laurazone5 on May 14, 2022 20:55:13 GMT
Last spring, a wonderful woman in my seed trade group, sent me a horse radish root. This is year 2 in the yard and holy cow it's huge. I can't wait to make cocktail sauce!! Temporary solution, but my branches are so heavy with fruit, they are sagging to the point of snapping! My first year growing BokChoy!!!! French Breakfast Radish!! My chives are intense and I am surprised at how sweet the flowers smell!! Finished the panels for my compost bin. So I used heat treated pallets, 4' tall by 3.5' wide. Wrapped them in black weed fabric, stapled it in place. Leveled the ground and laid a row of bricks down for the pallets to sit on. Monday, when my boy is home, I will have him help me bolt them together and place them. Started to mow the grass in back and a dang hornet AND wasp kept dive bombing me. Jerks. Straightened up the back yard so it doesn't look like a city dump. Had a few rumbles of thunder and some light rain come in, which was my que to go in and eat, and rest. Holy hotness outside yo!!
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Post by Ozarks Tom on May 14, 2022 20:56:51 GMT
Got the squash, cukes, and beans in today. I realize now I burned way too many tires last fall, this has been the warmest Spring since we've been here 21 years. Not that I'm complaining, but most years working past noon was an option.
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Post by laurazone5 on May 14, 2022 20:57:01 GMT
I'm having the worst luck with seed germination this year. I've had to replant my tomatoes twice, same with bush beans. Out of 12 eggplant seeds I had >1< seed to germinate. All fresh seeds ordered last year. In 40 years of gardening, I have never had such lousy results. If we had to depend on this stuff to survive, we'd starve to death. Are you starting them indoors? Could your soil be bad? I have a crapton of SanMarzono's and Beefstakes if you need some. Just message me and I will drop them in the mail!!
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Post by farmrbrown on May 14, 2022 23:22:48 GMT
Only thing I did today was rescue a baby bird before the dogs discovered her trying to get off the ground. Must have fallen out of the nest close by.
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Post by Txsteader on May 15, 2022 9:30:42 GMT
I'm having the worst luck with seed germination this year. I've had to replant my tomatoes twice, same with bush beans. Out of 12 eggplant seeds I had >1< seed to germinate. All fresh seeds ordered last year. In 40 years of gardening, I have never had such lousy results. If we had to depend on this stuff to survive, we'd starve to death. Are you starting them indoors? Could your soil be bad? I have a crapton of SanMarzono's and Beefstakes if you need some. Just message me and I will drop them in the mail!! Yes, starting them indoors. Now I'll admit, the first planting was regular potting soil, apparently I was in such a hurry that I 'forgot' to use seed-starting soil vs regular old potting soil. And of course, they all croaked from damp-off. So I bought the good stuff (Miracle-Gro seed starting mix) and replanted but only got spotty germination. So I planted again and finally got a tray full of seedlings. But honestly, they're not as hardy as in past years. I'm beginning to wonder about that MG seed soil. Bless you and thanks for the offer but I have a 'crapton' of seeds as well. Good thing too, considering I'm having to plant 3 seeds to get 1 plant. <eyeroll>
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Post by laurazone5 on May 15, 2022 14:17:49 GMT
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Post by Txsteader on May 15, 2022 18:38:48 GMT
Thanks laurazone5, I'll get DD to put it on her next Amazon order (she has Prime/free shipping ). I've never had a problem with the MG soil before but it seems since Covid, quality has dropped on a lot of items. Who would've thought even potting soil? Strange times. ----- I went ahead & planted out my tomato plants today, even though they're a bit small. Ate the first meal of the season of the Blue Lake pole beans (first time growing that variety) and dang! they were good. Of course, homegrown always tastes best. Pulled the broccoli plant and collected the seeds......enough to last the rest of my life lol.
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Post by wildhorseluvr on May 15, 2022 19:09:09 GMT
I've never had a problem with the MG soil before but it seems since Covid, quality has dropped on a lot of items. Just this last week or so I’ve noticed quality has taken a dive on a number of items. Shampoo and body wash are watered down. Because I tend to be lazy at times, I use a gravy mix when making biscuits and gravy. Bought a new package this week…couldn’t see any seasonings in it and it had almost no flavor, totally blah…had to do some doctoring. Bought some of my usual salad dressings…really bland compared to usual. Guessing they’re trying to save money on seasonings. Wouldn’t be at all surprised if the MG soil has changed too.
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Post by Txsteader on May 15, 2022 19:40:56 GMT
I've never had a problem with the MG soil before but it seems since Covid, quality has dropped on a lot of items. Just this last week or so I’ve noticed quality has taken a dive on a number of items. Shampoo and body wash are watered down. Because I tend to be lazy at times, I use a gravy mix when making biscuits and gravy. Bought a new package this week…couldn’t see any seasonings in it and it had almost no flavor, totally blah…had to do some doctoring. Bought some of my usual salad dressings…really bland compared to usual. Guessing they’re trying to save money on seasonings. Wouldn’t be at all surprised if the MG soil has changed too. I bought some plain yogurt @ HEB to use as a starter, I haven't made yogurt in a few months & had run out. Having grown up on homemade (plain) yogurt, I scooped some out to eat with honey. It was as gritty as sand! I went online to see what would cause that & sources said heating the milk too fast does it. So apparently the makers are rushing the process to get products out on store shelves. Said it's safe to eat but yuck, who wants to eat gritty yogurt? Threw it out, bought a different brand and it was fine.
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Post by themotherhen on May 16, 2022 4:16:39 GMT
Just this last week or so I’ve noticed quality has taken a dive on a number of items. Shampoo and body wash are watered down. Because I tend to be lazy at times, I use a gravy mix when making biscuits and gravy. Bought a new package this week…couldn’t see any seasonings in it and it had almost no flavor, totally blah…had to do some doctoring. Bought some of my usual salad dressings…really bland compared to usual. Guessing they’re trying to save money on seasonings. Wouldn’t be at all surprised if the MG soil has changed too. I bought some plain yogurt @ HEB to use as a starter, I haven't made yogurt in a few months & had run out. Having grown up on homemade (plain) yogurt, I scooped some out to eat with honey. It was as gritty as sand! I went online to see what would cause that & sources said heating the milk too fast does it. So apparently the makers are rushing the process to get products out on store shelves. Said it's safe to eat but yuck, who wants to eat gritty yogurt? Threw it out, bought a different brand and it was fine. The gritty texture is why I can't tolerate Greek yogurt. I think it's awful.
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