MotherLode Gardens 2016

[DuskrayTroubador]

An owl box would help with your gopher problem. They use them here to watch over the vineyards. Every vineyard around here has them. I can't remember which organization puts them up for free but they are an easy install as well. Your property looks perfect for one.

http://www.hungryowl.org/nesting_boxes/barnowl_where.html

An owl will likely fuck his dog up though. Little fella is lunch to a hawk for sure.

Snakes seem to be the easiest, but maybe tough to adopt? Idk, I'm not a snake guy.

As far as cats go, I think of it the same way I think of hunting and zoos. Sure we can keep animals alive longer in captivity, but you ever see a happy monkey in a zoo? My man Harambe pretty much committed suicide by zookeeper. Animals wanna be free to do animal shit. Cats fucking LOVE to hunt. They're natural predators. Adopt a group of cats and let em live off your porch. They might die after a few years, but they had a fucking blast hunting shit the whole time. Def way happier than fatass Ms. Puss-Puss who lives to be 19 hauling her fat ass from the couch to the food bowl. I think the cats will actually appreciate the security blanket (food/shelter when they need it) and opportunity to do their thing in a populated hunting ground.

The longer you have 'em around, they'll teach new cats you bring in everything they know about hunting. Pretty soon you'll have a lethal gopher-killing squad of badass ninja kitties. Real shit.

 

[Sluicebox]

Absolutely right. ^

 

[redlaser]

There is a shelter by me that has what they call barn cats or outside cats. That's how they were raised and just want food and shelter generally. Probably other shelters have the same thing. The cat I got there was about 1/2 tame half feral, lived outside until 6 months, not very friendly and bites like a mouthy dog when it wants something or is unhappy. They make automatic feed and water dispensers for trips away. That or large bowls.

 

[Shcrews]

Goji Og:

Dream Lotus:

Ancient OG:

 

[Shcrews]

haircut time:

Ghetto Fabulous sprayer rig

 

[Shcrews]

Do you or a buddy have a real wood stove? I have one in the shed I still need to clean out. Seriously I know you doubt me on this so try it in a neutral spot. Sure you have other gopher mounds there. Just sprinkle a little ash on a fresh mound. One shovel full should do about 5 mounds. If you do all the mounds in a 50x50' spot, they will move from there. Water it in

i have a firepit , does that work? 50x50 might be 100 mounds lol.

There is a shelter by me that has what they call barn cats or outside cats. That's how they were raised and just want food and shelter generally. Probably other shelters have the same thing. The cat I got there was about 1/2 tame half feral, lived outside until 6 months, not very friendly and bites like a mouthy dog when it wants something or is unhappy. They make automatic feed and water dispensers for trips away. That or large bowls.

i'm probably not going to get a cat this year although that does sound kind of cool

 

[FoothillFarming]

Plants look great Screws. Nice and green and happy.

 

[Noonin NorCal]

Looks good man, got your t posts up and ready. How hard was it driving them in the ground? looks like they are part way into the mounds so it seems like it was somewhat easy going? Keep up the good work sir

 

[plantingplants]

You built that sprayer byf told you to make, awesome. So how much did it run you? I was thinking of doing the same thing. Better than a Hudson fogger?

Damn your plants seem like they have so much more internal growth. You can't see through them at all. Must be your full sun, alllll day. You have a great spot man.

 

[slownickel]

Pretty nice grow. In most of the photos the weed population looks like all grass. But in one of the last photos you see some broad leaf weeds.

Are you applying calcium carbonate or gypsum to that last plant with the broadleaf weeds?

Normally, when one sees all grasses, the soil has high potassium and little calcium. When one sees broad leaf weeds, one knows that there is more calcium in that soil.

Just wondering.

 

[Sluicebox]

Fire pit would work. Not sure on laws there. Here as long as you got a marshmallow stick in hand you can burn all year. Make some ash and try it on other side of house. Takes a week to work. Hard to believe you have no native snakes. Perfect spot lots of food regardless of the Hawks.

Do you have a small gas motor you could rig a dryer duct to the exhaust and get like Hitler on their ass. Stomp all the mounds down first should help keep the exhaust in the dens. Best of luck to you.

 

[Shcrews]

Pretty nice grow. In most of the photos the weed population looks like all grass. But in one of the last photos you see some broad leaf weeds.

Are you applying calcium carbonate or gypsum to that last plant with the broadleaf weeds?

Normally, when one sees all grasses, the soil has high potassium and little calcium. When one sees broad leaf weeds, one knows that there is more calcium in that soil.

Just wondering.

Thanks for checking out my thread. I have many different weeds that like to grow on my property. I can take pictures of some of them if ya want. I also planted a cover crop around my plants this year to act as a living mulch. it is a 12-species mix from buildasoil. I'm not sure if you're noticing that or the actual weeds.

regardless, yes I did apply gypsum to all the soil before planting this year, about a pound per mound.

 

[Shcrews]

You built that sprayer byf told you to make, awesome. So how much did it run you? I was thinking of doing the same thing. Better than a Hudson fogger?

Damn your plants seem like they have so much more internal growth. You can't see through them at all. Must be your full sun, alllll day. You have a great spot man.

actually i bought the sprayer at tractor supply. I cant use it though, my hill is too steep to move that cart when the tank is full, or even half full. I need to figure out something else. BYF is helpin me on a foliar setup, i think i will just have a stationary reservoir at each plot, with a long hose for the sprayer. and just move the battery/pump back and forth. getting this foliar setup done is important because the plants are too big now to spray with a handheld thing

the garden is getting great sun. very dense growth. spent this week pruning out the insides and putting up trellis., now they are all ready for the next phase of growth.

Hard to believe you have no native snakes. Perfect spot lots of food regardless of the Hawks.

Do you have a small gas motor you could rig a dryer duct to the exhaust and get like Hitler on their ass. Stomp all the mounds down first should help keep the exhaust in the dens. Best of luck to you.

i've never seen a snake here in 4 yrs , i think it's because of the hawks but idk.

the gophers are all over my hillside, i'm pretty overwhelmed by that issue. I think i will try one of those traps, and besides that just hope for the best. knowing my luck they will kill a few plants before the season is over.

 

[Shcrews]

Looks good man, got your t posts up and ready. How hard was it driving them in the ground? looks like they are part way into the mounds so it seems like it was somewhat easy going? Keep up the good work sir

it was pretty easy. they are mostly in the mounds. doing anything on that hillside is a pain though, especially in the summer sun.

Plants look great Screws. Nice and green and happy.

thanks! lets finish out the season strong...

 

[HillMizer]

Schrews I had the same problem moving the sprayer on the hillside. I rolled it over the first day. I bought a 100' hose at tractor supply. The little pump was just strong enough to push it nice. I only have to move it one for my garden & greenhouse.

I think BYF uses a stationary barrel and a higher powered pump with a bunch of hose. I like to bring mine around the property.

 

[redlaser]

I saw that you picked up a truck a while back, are you able to drive close to the plants? If so that could be your spray buggy.

 

[Phenome]

I saw that you picked up a truck a while back, are you able to drive close to the plants? If so that could be your spray buggy.

Agreed. Use a quad

 

[slownickel]

Mounds and gophers

Mounds and gophers

Like your mounds! Looks like a lot of work. Check out my mounds!

https://1drv.ms/f/s!As21OnsnOYwQaDH7grzOZYQiuWQ

Made with a tractor.... lots of work still. But maximizes air flow and gives me the ability to wash salts out easily.

For gophers, try some ashes in the hole. Half a shovel full supposedly chases them away. I have never tried it as we don't have gophers. Heard it in one of the forums that I belong to.

 

[cbcool]

Hey Shcrews, I was wondering if you pH your well water before you water your plants or if you just use straight well water and if so what is the natural pH of it? Sorry if this was mentioned earlier I couldn't find reference to it in your thread .

Thanks in advance!

 

[Shcrews]

sorry havent answered any questions but this is all i see when i try to go to icmag on my home wifi:

i can access from my phone on a mobile network but not from my home comp?