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The Victory Garden Thread - May, 2026
May 1, 2026 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

Posted on 05/01/2026 6:24:57 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin

The MONTHLY Victory Garden Thread is a gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you.

If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located.

This thread is a non-political respite. No matter what, you won’t be flamed, and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked.

It is impossible to hijack the Victory Garden Thread. Planting, Harvest to Table Recipes, Preserving, Good Living - there is no telling where it will go - and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us! Send a Private Message to Diana in Wisconsin if you'd like to be added to/removed from our New & Improved Ping List.

NOTE: This is a once a MONTH Ping List, but we DO post to the thread all throughout the month. Links to related articles and discussions which might be of interest to Gardeners are welcomed any time.


TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Gardening; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: cowgirlcandy; deerproof; food; fritatta; garden; gardening; howard; selfsufficiency; selfsufficient; victory; vidaliaonionsauce; vitaminc; wasps
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To: Paul R.; MomwithHope

My niece has goats. Knowing what I know (which isn’t much) I don’t see them being very amenable to a collar/wireless fence setup.


141 posted on 05/05/2026 6:39:20 PM PDT by Qiviut (A Mighty Fortress: “...the body they may kill. God’s truth abideth still. His kingdom is forever")
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To: MomwithHope

I meant ‘steers’ as in, ‘all of the steers that have been through here.’

‘Stew’ is back from ‘The Spa’ and he’s in the freezer. We’ll get the next one this coming October.

Didn’t you suggest, ‘Sir Loin?’ That would be perfect. :)


142 posted on 05/05/2026 6:44:11 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Paul R.; All

Oh, geez...

Wifey just informed me she needs holes punched in milk jug caps, 4 each for each of her students.

...By tomorrow @ ~6:40 a.m. when she leaves for the school. The kids will make little “cars” as a project, and these are the wheels.

I found the right size punch (awl) in my shop - now, how to center the holes / find something to use as a jig...


143 posted on 05/05/2026 6:52:50 PM PDT by Paul R. (Old Viking saying: "Never be more than 3 steps away from your weapon ... or a Uriah Heep song!" ;-))
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To: Paul R.

OK. Beau has been farming since birth. I gotta tell ya, he got a good chuckle out of that suggestion. ;)

HOWEVER - if you had a few goats, or the few Angora Goats that I want, I could actually see that working! :)

He’s thinking more along the lines of having a bunch of goats that he ‘rents out’ to clear areas. But, he’s 65. I don’t think it’s gonna happen. He’s pretty busy as it is, logging and fencing and rustlin’ cattle for the neighbor, burning prairies off for the ‘Prairie Enthusiasts’ group, hunting, fishing, training hunting dogs, being on the Land Use Committee and the County Conservation Board, and repairing any and all farm machinery on a DAILY basis!

That guy needs MORE ‘hobbies’ like he needs a hole in the head!


144 posted on 05/05/2026 6:53:44 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Qiviut
Qiviut, thank you, that is the one! And if you click on the picture the video will come up! (I enjoyed her reaction on trying it!)

She had a good short on sweet potatoes too. I stumbled on it when I was looking at something else on Youtube and the shorts came up, but they do not apparently copy.

I can only think this is useful if you are making a big batch of avocado guacamole. (Not something I normally do, but others might!)

145 posted on 05/05/2026 6:56:41 PM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission
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To: Paul R.

Hot glue gun tip, sans glue, will make nice holes for you in those lids! :)

I know. A ‘Hot Glue Gun’ is my answer to just about anything!


146 posted on 05/05/2026 6:57:39 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Bird of Paradise....if it were a bird I could imagine it calling “Bali-bali-HiHiHiHi!


147 posted on 05/05/2026 7:08:06 PM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

When we moved inland away from Lake Michigan, we were within a mile of a Hog operation and I could always tell when the wind was from the Southwest! Maybe one of those shorty homesteader pigs that don’t do a lot of rooting, just don’t make it into a pet!

(Someone said a 2nd steer? Not a bad idea to have more beef to sell next spring!)


148 posted on 05/05/2026 7:36:44 PM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Diane’s Yummy Instant Garlic Bread: Day-old French Bread slices, buttered, sprinkled w/ Parm, Gar/Salt, Italian Herbs. Freezer an hour or so. Hold in bag in freezer. Bake when needed.


That’s a recipe we all need.


149 posted on 05/05/2026 7:53:29 PM PDT by Liz (Jonathan Swift: Govrnment without the consent of the governed is the very definition of slavery .)
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To: Qiviut

Very practical lady.


150 posted on 05/05/2026 7:54:21 PM PDT by Liz (Jonathan Swift: Govrnment without the consent of the governed is the very definition of slavery .)
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To: Qiviut

Collars are fine if you want to manage them, be able to lead them for hoof trimming, shots, whatever. Ours were for showing at the local fair and state fair. Its leashes that are bad, tying goats out so they can eat. Their throats are very delicate and they are prone to choking. Plus they are so active and can get into trouble.


151 posted on 05/06/2026 3:10:37 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Yes I really like that name.


152 posted on 05/06/2026 3:11:54 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: Liz

I like to do any garlic bread toasted in a skillet with olive oil and butter. Of course I never needed to do a whole loaf.


153 posted on 05/06/2026 3:16:42 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Huge kudos who do the renting out of goats for clearing brush. They are mostly shrub eaters and like/need the bark too. That is a job for the young people. I’ve read of cases where municipalities will hire them to clear out hills along highway ramps, etc, hard places. If the goats are well trained to follow you, you don’t even need to put up fencing. But you would need a bunch of goats to clear it quickly.


154 posted on 05/06/2026 3:22:51 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: MomwithHope

The “Yummy” recipe was meant for larger quantities of day-old bread to do-ahead
and hold in freezer for later baking————not for smaller mealtime portions.

Your way is a good way to do the latter.


155 posted on 05/06/2026 3:29:52 AM PDT by Liz (Jonathan Swift: Govrnment without the consent of the governed is the very definition of slavery .)
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To: Liz

Yes it is a good method.


156 posted on 05/06/2026 3:35:23 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: MomwithHope

My niece has collars on most of her goats so she can grab them for milking, or to help her move them around although she really doesn’t need them. The goats love her & follow her like the Pied Piper :-) She bought a Nubian buck last year & it was a two-fer with a Nubian doe. After ‘the boys’ (she had a Dwarf Nigerian buck too) had done their duty, they were off to the livestock sale & the doe went as well. My niece would be leading the herd to a new field & this doe would get half way there, then run to the barn repeatedly & caused all sorts of havoc. She also was not friendly so off she went.


157 posted on 05/06/2026 4:34:04 AM PDT by Qiviut (A Mighty Fortress: “...the body they may kill. God’s truth abideth still. His kingdom is forever")
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Right, IIRC, I posted to that effect some time back. I think it was about creating holes in the bottom of plastic containers to turn them into pots with drainage for plants. I’ve used a spare soldering iron too - although those if not variable temperature run too hot, and you get a bunch of fumes. That’s ok outdoors with a breeze to carry the fumes away from oneself, but last night we had breeze AND a cold rain!

The bigger problem is centering the holes, and the only thing I could quickly come up with as a jig was made of easily melted plastic too!

So, I finally figured out where I left my medium awl: It’s SUPPOSED to be out in my shop, right at the workbench, but I frequently end up using it in the house, and every once in a while it ends up not making it back to the shop. The awl worked ok. I should make a better jig, tho’. :-)


158 posted on 05/06/2026 4:38:04 AM PDT by Paul R. (Old Viking saying: "Never be more than 3 steps away from your weapon ... or a Uriah Heep song!" ;-))
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To: Qiviut

That is always nice to hear that people are taking good care of their goats. They are very smart. Besides our long career with daiy goats I was goat superintendent at outr county fair for 5 years. WE would average about 70+ goats in the barn for a week. Also had a vet check line before they moved in. Many people gave horrible care or no care at all. I had to turn away some over the years, thankfully not too many. Fleas, lice, pink eye, not shaved for showing. Generally in poor condition. And not up on shots.


159 posted on 05/06/2026 5:10:13 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: MomwithHope

My niece is an RN. She does the blood draws on the goats so they get real “nursing” care. Her husband holds them - they pretty much stand there because they know my niece & her hubby plus she’s really quick. My great-nieces, 7 & 10, help out a lot & play with the baby goats so they get tame really fast. The 7 yo took on bottle feeding (during the day) the little goat whose mom rejected her. You should see those two running & playing together- so cute! Those are some lucky goats!


160 posted on 05/06/2026 6:25:00 AM PDT by Qiviut (A Mighty Fortress: “...the body they may kill. God’s truth abideth still. His kingdom is forever")
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