Have you read this book, 'The Overstory?'
Find a used copy and tuck it away for winter reading. I was impressed - and I am not easily impressed.
Posted on 08/01/2024 6:19:57 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
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Worthy of a big brag Pete!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurus_nobilis
Laurel - it’s an evergreen - can be a shrub or small tree - there are ornamental varieties - poisonous to goats and likely deer
You won’t poison the deer because they know not to eat plants that are poisonous. Laurel is where bay leaves come from but probably not the ornamental types.
There seems to be a variety for every different climate. Kind of an edge of the forest or understory shrub/tree in nature.
Sorry - last weed I grew was like 3 foot man.
Re: Your shared platters of GOODNESS!
I LOVED cooking for my crew at Jung’s. I always told them that I couldn’t pay them what they were worth - their weight in GOLD - but I COULD feed them! In the Summer months there were always popsicles and ice cream treats in the freezer in the Break Room. No one EVER took advantage, either. In the Winter? Soups and Chili. ;) I also kept a full ‘F-it Bucket’ filled with candy treats.
Guess where I learned that? Yep. In the Army. At one point I was a Platoon Sergeant and had a whole cadre of MEN to boss around. ;) I ALWAYS made sure, no matter where we were, that they had a footlocker full of ‘Pogie Bait’ which is stuff you’re NOT supposed to have, and that there was always hot water for shaving when we were in the field.
The Army (and a lot of civilians, too!) does run on their stomachs! :)
You are doing a GREAT job of giving your individual plants more space; it makes a world of difference!
I have 4x8’ raised beds and the beds with only THREE tomatoes in each, as well as fill-in flowers and herbs, do SO much better than when I used to cram 4+ plants into each bed.
Live and learn! :)
Those Pineapple Tomatoes DO get to be monsters. So yummy-licious! :)
That mobile pizza grill? I’m in LOVE!
Beau bought us a pellet grill/smoker and I am hoping against hope that I can find a way to bake pizzas on it.
Researching that now, thanks to you! :)
I remember Harrowsmith; LOVED that publication! :)
If you can still find them, the Foxfire Books are amazing, too! Wish I had kept the ones I used to have. Grrrr!
Re: Weeds.
Can you rent a goat? LOL!
Have you read this book, 'The Overstory?'
Find a used copy and tuck it away for winter reading. I was impressed - and I am not easily impressed.
Richard Powers seems like an author I need to read more of.
I will check laurel out - thanks!
Thanks for the recommendation. As an Official Tree Hugger, I really enjoyed the connecting stories and the format of the novel.
I guess you usually don’t win a Pulitzer right out of the gate. Well, maybe if you’re Harper Lee. ;)
I also LOVE Donna Tartt. Absolutely no connection to this novel, but her novels were good from the get-go and her ‘The Goldfinch’ won the Pulitzer. (The movie was AWFUL! Ugh!)
Thanks, I’m going to try this.
Awwwww.... NUTS!
Our well pump has frozen up.
Luckily it rained a bit last night, so, the garden should be ok for a day.
Most of the year, the water table is only 20’ down or so, and probably half the year a lot less (in Spring it can literally be a foot down even a week after rain), but, this is a jet pump (2 pipes leading down) rig. IIRC the foot valve is about 35’ down.
The Drummond well pumps Harbor Freight has actually get quite good reviews for durability, but, they don’t have a jet pump version. Looks like I’ll be out some pretty serious $$ to not get a crap brand. These things have really gone up. Crap...
Well (pun intended!), at least it’s not mid-winter in a blizzard, like the last time we had a well pump quit.
BTW, I was thinking of getting a hand pump for emergency backup. Is there anything out there under $50 that will pump from as deep as 35 ft. or so, noting that usually the actual water table is much closer to the surface (positive pressure @ foot valve)?
Our “Heatwave II” tomatoes have been fairly prolific in the heat - makes sense. They are pretty bland tasting, though, kinda like a Roma, but a more conventional shape fruit. I’ve had decent luck with Celebrity tomatoes in hot weather, but, they are just starting to produce.
Bizarrely, two of my Livingston Grape plants are producing orange color fruits. (If the fruits get past light orange, they rot on the vine.) The others produce the expected red fruits, and are definitely a more productive plant. The “orange” plants don’t seem to like the hot weather at all.
Both taste great, the reds are a bit sweeter. These were from the same seed packet, and the only grape tomatoes I went with, this year.
Check out Lehman’s for manual tools like the hand pump for your well.
https://www.lehmans.com/search?w=well+hand+pump
I feel your pain. I remember spending $1,500.00 to replace the well pump at the other farm. :(
Our well here is 300’ but I don’t know the exact ins and outs of it. We don’t use it for irrigation, just household and barn use. We DO run water to the pastured cows from it. I mean, it gets enough use, that’s for sure! I’ll have to quiz Beau tonight. ;)
This being a moderate depth (could ALMOST get by with a shallow well pump) I don’t think I’m looking at over $500.
You might ask hubby what he’d buy in a convertible well pump under that figure. The supply is to a residence, 3 people, wifey does a lot of laundry (guy’s perspective, even tho’ I’m the one doing 99% of the outdoor work) plus some watering to a bit under 400 sq. ft. of garden, but not to the lawn. Typical car washing and what not.
Oh, existing (locked up) pump is “Water Ace”, made in Taiwan, lasted ~ 7 years, I think. Maybe 8.
Freaking Lowes and Home Depot, everything seems to be: arrives in several days (shipping) or pick up in several days. Pardon my French, but, WTF? I guess I’ll call - can’t imagine stores have no stock.
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