Posted on 09/01/2024 6:06:00 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
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Actually... I HAD just ordered a whole pile of new fittings. They came in today — these are the nylon fittings I’d mentioned up thread. They look good — the 3/4” size are true 3/4” with an ID of 0.633”. Woohoo for good flow rates! Their “weakness” is less strength than brass and they’ll deteriorate in the sun - but I can avoid those problems where I’ll be using them. (They won’t get yanked on, and will be in shade or covered.)
The male connector I wrenched apart (part of that 75 ft. 3/4” “professional” hose) is of course impossible to salvage - I cut it off right away and tossed it, after noting the “silver” color metal under the brass color plating (or anodizing). The female brass connector I cut off the 5/8” hose is, however, one of those really heavy duty jobs with a big grip, worth at least $8. It’s undamaged and essentially not corroded — it just still has some of the other hose’s male connector stuck to it. At worst, 5 minutes of careful work with the Dremel, and then a minute with a wire brush attachment will cure that. Even if I nick the threads it won’t matter, as that’s not where the seal occurs, and, it’s not a plated part.
This isn’t like the plastic clamps I had on a couple hoses. Those have two “U” shape pieces that screw together, and if the screws rust out, forget about it. Geezo. Attempting to drill out the screws (China seems to put their hardest steel in these) just results in broken bits and frustration. After one side of one clamp, I revised tactics: Chop the clamp off, pull out the barbed end of the connector if the connection threads are still good / not corroded, and toss the barbed end in the parts box. Done. :-)
BTW, I destroyed it, in case I left any doubt. But the other one came apart ok. :-)
Ask the doctor to look into Fenbendazole & Ivermectin!
Ask the doctor to look into Fenbendazole & Ivermectin!
Ask the doctor to look into Fenbendazole & Ivermectin!
fenbendazole.org/2019/12/19/what-is-fenbendazole-and-how-can-it-affect-cancer-treatment/
(I’m not a doctor, but ask one!)
We have some very large pots we are taking with us. Mom filled them with dirt from the old brush pile in the back. I used that dirt in my raised beds & after a couple of years amending with compost, it ‘lightened up’, quit packing & getting hard. The dirt in the pots was not amended so it’s not great for the plants.
We are dumping the pots & will either buy potting soil (we may need a bank loan: expensive!) or I will find a DIY ‘recipe’ to make my own.
Question for you: rather than fill the entire pot, what is best to put in maybe the bottom 3rd to lighten the pot & not use so much dirt? Some folks use those packing ‘peanuts’ & I think I used pine cones (which eventually break down) in some pots previously.
The two giant pots on each side of the front steps had gorgeous big leaf hostas - of course the deer ate them down to stubs. We plan to visit Andre Viette’s place in Fishersville & buy new plants for those 2 pots there, either hostas (that we will have to protect at night) or something else they suggest. These 2 pots will be on each side of the porch entrance. The other 4 or so (not quite as big) will be on wheeled stands on the back patio & planted with seasonal ‘color’ (wave petunias, pansies, etc.).
To fill or not to fill ... I see some container gardeners say fill the pot with potting soil, don’t put stuff in the bottom to lighten/limit potting soil.
Good DIY potting soil recipes out there - that’s what I’ll do instead of buying bags for $15/bag! Our biggest pots would take 2 bags each.
For many years I used a flake or 2 of straw, pressed down as is, in my big pots. This year straw being so expensive I used cardboard boxes covered with plastic sheeting I already had. Straw was the best, it rotted down nicely and added to my compost for flowers etc.
A ripe paw paw is the most delicious thing I have ever tasted.
Good idea - the co-op has plenty of straw bales!
We have some really big plastic pots too. Too heavy with all that dirt but easy to make up and move with straw. I do cherry tomatoes, and some pepper plants, two veggies that grow tremendous roots. They do great in a foot of soil on top. We use compost too.
If you have a Walmart nearby, ours has their off-brand (’Expert,’ I think?) on sale now for $3 for the big 1cf bags.
It’s not the BEST, but it’s a good start if you’re amending, anyway. :)
Pine cones! Brilliant! I have those in abundance, but never thought to use them. I have always used plastic bottles and tin cans that usually get recycled - they have lasted 7+ years so far - which makes me sad when I think of how none of our ‘stuff’ is breaking down in landfills with ‘recycling’ no longer being viable, or too expensive for so many communities.
Anyhow, here are some more ideas:
27 Best Ways to Fill The Bottom of a Large Planter
https://singlegirlsdiy.com/how-to-fill-the-bottom-of-a-large-planter/
My grandfather grew Dipper Gourds and Egg Gourds..........
Still have tomatoes coming on, though I did give two flats to Brennan, who was here bow hunting this morning, so a few less to deal with. Making one more batch of Tomato Soup from the Romas I just picked, then whatever is left will be cold-packed for soups and winter stews.
Good morning...going to be cooler this week, finally. I have Romas I need to pick, but probably not enough for soup. Do you can your soup?
I LOVE FALL.
Scalloped Italian Zucchini
You still got a bushel of garden zucchini hanging around? Layer it w/ irresistible
Italian blend cheese sauce, serve topped with more cheese---perfect side to any meal.
Ing 3 lge zucchini, s/p 1/2 tsp gar/powder 3 tbl ea butter/flour 1 & 1/2 c milk 2 c shredded It/Cheese
Steps Slice zucchini into 1/4-inch rounds. Or mandolin. Layer bottom of sprayed 9x13" casserole with 1/2 sliced zucchini, salt, pepper, gar/powder. Sauce: Melt butter on low, then add flour. Whisk/cook minute. Slowly whisk in milk til smooth and thickened. When smooth, add 1 cup cheese stir to completely melt. Remove from heat. Pour half of cheese sauce across first layer of zucchini. Place rest zucchini on top. S/p, add gar/powder. Cover w/ rest sauce and top w/ cup shredded cheese.
Bake 350 deg uncovered 30 min. To get those nice golden brown spots on top, broiler a few minutes, but watch closely, burns easily. Remove to counter and serve warm.
Notes <><>Even Zucchini Slices: For consistent cooking and texture, try using a mandolin shredder. <><>Season Well: seasoning enhances the overall flavor. You can use more than you think! <><>Smooth Sauce: Whisk thoroughly for lump-free sauce. Get it good and melty! <><>Resting Time: Allows flavors to meld together. You will be pleased at the difference this makes in the flavor. <><>Customizable: Adapt seasonings to your personal taste. Don’t hesitate to experiment! <><>Broil for Perfection: Watch for those coveted golden brown spots on top. Just don’t over-do it!
Wrapping the tunnel in cattle panels today. Time to get the first two trays of seedlings put out there. I’ve been hardening them off for a few days now. Gotta get more seed starting mix on my way to grab a cattle panel. I’m using pallets to block off the NW end of the tunnel with a half pallet as a door. Need to order some more pipe brackets and start buying chain link fence top rail again to start building the real end walls.
Goats have been getting into the little front yard garden since I took the cattle panels out from around it. I knew that would happen. It still has a fence around it but it’s only 39” tall field fence and the bucks can hurdle that without even touching it. Shishito plants are trampled but they were near their end anyway and only putting out tiny peppers. They started eating on one of my elderberry bushes. I’ve got three and they’ll be going in the tunnel today once it’s closed off.
Got a little rain and will probably get a little more but not enough to moisten the ground to be able to dig post holes easily. Once it is moist enough, I’ll start putting posts in for a perimeter fence around the tunnel. It will be big enough to grow some outdoor row crops around the tunnel and plant those elderberries and other fruit trees like peach.
The fence I really need is a pen for the goats so I can start getting rid of them. That won’t happen until Spring though. No one wants to take on new goats just in time to have to feed them hay all winter. They’ll be easy to get rid of in the Spring. I can sell 3 not too closely related breeding pairs at this point.
I’ve got one PTO day and will be using that to make a dump run, refill the trailer with compost and if there’s time, off load the compost in the tunnel and go get a load of white oak from the local stave factory. They’ll fill the 20 foot trailer for $20. Cheap firewood.
Yes, I water-bath can the Tomato Soup. Here’s the recipe I use. Don’t forget to add the Tbsp. of Lemon Juice before canning; it needs the acid to be shelf-stable!
https://diynatural.com/homemade-canned-tomato-soup-recipe/
When I heat it up to eat, I add a little Half & Half or milk. Top with shredded cheddar and croutons. Yummy! :)
You had me at, ‘CHEESE!’ :)
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