My little prince William and I were watering the garden this morning and I noticed one leaf on one of my tomato plants looked a little odd. When I looked a little closer it was a horn worm... OMG a worm.. eating my precious tomato plant.. the nerve of that creature doing what it was created to do. If youve not seen one of these creatures they are ugly. They are the exact shade of green as the tomato stalk with this horn thing sticking up and boy can they munch down on a tomato plant quick.
If you know me, you know i cannot stand bugs, lizards(shutter) or creepy crawly things. The lizards and I have an agreement in the garden. You dont get on me.. and i let you live. So far we seem to be holding up each others end of the deal. On that note.. did you know lizards wont eat lovebugs? I watched a little lizard on my rose bush eat, what I thought were lovebugs but on closer look he was eating little aphids. The love bugs swarming all around him. Those things are so nasty even a lizard wont eat them. Anyway.. back to the bugs... I aint touching that creature on the tomato plant... so i had an idea and it worked quite well. I went inside and got a pair of scissors and just cut him in half while he was munching. And i left his dead carcass there for all the other bugs to see what happens to creatures that eat my plants. By the way.. they bleed green. <shutter>
On this same topic of murder. I watched a video on Youtube.. oh my why have i not discovered Youtube before now???... anyway, one of the ladies i met on youtube has a farm in southern canada. She raises goats for milk, cheese and soap. Rabbits for meat and chickens for eggs and meat. She grows all her own veggies in a garden during the summer and she has a heated hot house she raises things in the winter.
I would love to get to the point that I only bought certain things at a store. I think i would need to get past my mental block about goats milk. Ive never tried it so i cant really say i dont like it. I love feta cheese, which is a goats milk product. We'll just add that to my bucket list.
I would be content as all get out on a little farm. Well.. as long as i had the internet i could pop on and chatter daily. My little half acre is starting to look like one. My goal for this winter is a green house of sorts. And I would love to fence in a little area in the back for some chickens. No rooster needed.. just a few hens. I dont know that i could actually clean a chicken. I know how to do it, I watched dad do it a couple of times...LOL and theres always youtube...lol you can see anything on that.
Anyway.. its almost 5 am, its quiet... i miss the sun coming up early. Y'all have a great day... its lawn mowing day today.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
Compost Tea
I will be honest here, until a few weeks ago I had never heard of compost tea. Its not for human consumption but the plants LOVE it,
In a 2 gallon bucket put 2 cups cow manure, 2 cups of compost, and whatever you have handy in your compost containter in the kitchen. Mine had potato peels, onion skins, lettuce and cabbage leaves and egg shells. Fill with water and put a top on it. Set it in the sun for a couple of days. Yea, yea it kinda smells when you take the top off. Reading another page it talks about adding fish emulsion to the mixture. I'm sure Lowe's has it. I think the fact it gets so hot during the day adds to it breaking down and making a "tea" with the water. I also let my water set out for a day or two to allow the chlorine to evaporate.
Online, several hooked a fish tank pump up to it and it pumps oxygen in the mixture.. but i didnt have one so i just let it sit. Stir it and let it settle then pour the liquid on your veggie plants and flowers. I didnt get any on the leaves, i was afraid it would burn them, but after further reading it would have been fine. I buried the solids left in the bottom in my compost bed.
OMG.... I couldnt believe how fast the plants would react. My cucumber plants I know have grown 4 inches since yesterday. My tomatoes are over 2 feet tall now and blooming. The green beans are vining everywhere. I was just amazed how fast they would grow feeding them a very organic fertilizer. My rose is doing great but when i gave her a drink of this mixture, this morning the leaves look even deeper green.
I have at least another 60 days before our average first frost, so I think my tomatoes, cucumbers and green beans will be almost finished producing by then. I have some peas im going to start in October, the gardening page says they dont mind a mild frost. I think my carrot and spinach seeds were old.. not one of them sprouted. Next time.. I will only buy from Mr Friedeck.. NOT walmart. I'll run by there some time this week and get some more spinach seeds not sure if i have enough time for carrots. Wont that be a pretty bed? Collards in the middle surrounded by mustard then edged with spinach. All three dont mind a frost or two.
In a 2 gallon bucket put 2 cups cow manure, 2 cups of compost, and whatever you have handy in your compost containter in the kitchen. Mine had potato peels, onion skins, lettuce and cabbage leaves and egg shells. Fill with water and put a top on it. Set it in the sun for a couple of days. Yea, yea it kinda smells when you take the top off. Reading another page it talks about adding fish emulsion to the mixture. I'm sure Lowe's has it. I think the fact it gets so hot during the day adds to it breaking down and making a "tea" with the water. I also let my water set out for a day or two to allow the chlorine to evaporate.
Online, several hooked a fish tank pump up to it and it pumps oxygen in the mixture.. but i didnt have one so i just let it sit. Stir it and let it settle then pour the liquid on your veggie plants and flowers. I didnt get any on the leaves, i was afraid it would burn them, but after further reading it would have been fine. I buried the solids left in the bottom in my compost bed.
OMG.... I couldnt believe how fast the plants would react. My cucumber plants I know have grown 4 inches since yesterday. My tomatoes are over 2 feet tall now and blooming. The green beans are vining everywhere. I was just amazed how fast they would grow feeding them a very organic fertilizer. My rose is doing great but when i gave her a drink of this mixture, this morning the leaves look even deeper green.
I have at least another 60 days before our average first frost, so I think my tomatoes, cucumbers and green beans will be almost finished producing by then. I have some peas im going to start in October, the gardening page says they dont mind a mild frost. I think my carrot and spinach seeds were old.. not one of them sprouted. Next time.. I will only buy from Mr Friedeck.. NOT walmart. I'll run by there some time this week and get some more spinach seeds not sure if i have enough time for carrots. Wont that be a pretty bed? Collards in the middle surrounded by mustard then edged with spinach. All three dont mind a frost or two.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Purified water
Today one of Marks clients gave him a bottle of Dasani purified water as he was leaving. So he brought it home and gave it to me. Waking up thirsty I grabbed it and have just finished enjoying it. Dont tell Coke..but it tastes just like water to me.
Then I got to reading the label. "purifed water, enhanced with minerals for a pure, fresh taste".
Ok.. so like if something has been purified wouldnt that mean taking it back to its "pure" state? The ingredients are... purified water, magnesium sulfate. and on that note.. sulfate just doesnt sound good, potassium chloride and salt. Heres my thinking. Water... H2O.. its pure, they took it back to its pure state. then added sulfate(ewww) potassium cloride(bleach???) and salt. Now the purpose of water is to aid in your liver and kidneys ability to flush out the toxins from your blood. Salt wasnt added as a mineral, according to the labe it was added for taste.. hello????????????????? water shouldnt taste!!!
Potassium chloride was once used as a fire extinguishing agent, used in portable and wheeled fire extinguishers. Known as Super-K dry chemical, it was more effective than sodium bicarbonate-based dry chemicals and was compatible with protein foam. This agent fell out of favor with the introduction of potassium bicarbonate (Purple-K) dry chemical in the late 1960s, which was much less corrosive and more effective. It is rated for B and C fires.
HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLO????? and im drinking this????
Magnesium Sulfate
Magnesium sulfate is used in bath salts, particularly in flotation therapy where high concentrations raise the bath water's specific gravity, effectively making the body more buoyant. Traditionally, it is also used to prepare foot baths, intended to soothe sore feet. The reason for the inclusion of the salt is partially cosmetic: the increase in ionic strength prevents some of the temporary skin wrinkling ("pruning" – partial maceration) which is caused by prolonged immersion of extremities in pure water. However, magnesium sulfate can also be absorbed into the skin, reducing inflammation. It is also sometimes found in bottled mineral water, and accordingly is sometimes listed in the contents thereof.
So, all that considered... just give me tap please and thank you... you can keep your 2 dollar waters.
Then I got to reading the label. "purifed water, enhanced with minerals for a pure, fresh taste".
Ok.. so like if something has been purified wouldnt that mean taking it back to its "pure" state? The ingredients are... purified water, magnesium sulfate. and on that note.. sulfate just doesnt sound good, potassium chloride and salt. Heres my thinking. Water... H2O.. its pure, they took it back to its pure state. then added sulfate(ewww) potassium cloride(bleach???) and salt. Now the purpose of water is to aid in your liver and kidneys ability to flush out the toxins from your blood. Salt wasnt added as a mineral, according to the labe it was added for taste.. hello????????????????? water shouldnt taste!!!
Potassium chloride was once used as a fire extinguishing agent, used in portable and wheeled fire extinguishers. Known as Super-K dry chemical, it was more effective than sodium bicarbonate-based dry chemicals and was compatible with protein foam. This agent fell out of favor with the introduction of potassium bicarbonate (Purple-K) dry chemical in the late 1960s, which was much less corrosive and more effective. It is rated for B and C fires.
HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLO????? and im drinking this????
Magnesium Sulfate
Magnesium sulfate is used in bath salts, particularly in flotation therapy where high concentrations raise the bath water's specific gravity, effectively making the body more buoyant. Traditionally, it is also used to prepare foot baths, intended to soothe sore feet. The reason for the inclusion of the salt is partially cosmetic: the increase in ionic strength prevents some of the temporary skin wrinkling ("pruning" – partial maceration) which is caused by prolonged immersion of extremities in pure water. However, magnesium sulfate can also be absorbed into the skin, reducing inflammation. It is also sometimes found in bottled mineral water, and accordingly is sometimes listed in the contents thereof.
So, all that considered... just give me tap please and thank you... you can keep your 2 dollar waters.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Preppers, not to be confused with preppies
I have recently discovered YouTube. If you havent go give it a look. You can find anything you want on it and a whole lot that makes me wonder if their head was screwed on straight when they filmed things and actually put it out on the web. SMH.. guess it takes all types. (thats shaking my head.. my teen taught me)
I have recently found a sec of people called preppers. They believe in the WROL and SHTF. I am learning a whole new language.
WROL = without rule of law
SHTF = Shit hits the fan
After watching some of the videos, that I might add I've made lots of new friends and learned all sorts of new things, Ive discovered that IMHO (in my humble opinion) i dont think they have a clue. Some of them have years of food stored in basements, attics, extra rooms or garages in thier homes.
In my minds imagination I gotta ask. How long do they really think all that is going to last? Especially after they have posted it on YouTube for everyone and their brother to view.
Now in one way I actually agree with them. I think SHTF will eventually come... i think WROL is not an unheard of concept. But if i had saved up years of food for either or both of these situation is it really smart to advertize to the world what you have, how much you have and what state your in? Do they think no one that knows them has viewed that video.. some of them many videos? Imagine this.... we are in the same place we were in the Great Depression, lack of food makes people do things they normally wouldnt. They get a sense of bravery or stupidty theyve never possessed before. A father looking at babies that are starving will do most anything to get food to those babies. How long do they think they will last when a Mob mentality sets in??? Some of them are very well equipted with a small armory. But how long can one house withstand mobs of hungry people?
Not that im knocking holes in their whole theory... well actually thats exactly what im doing. But I would think if i had the room and ability to store 2 years worth of food, no one would know about it.
They have flour, sugar, milk, rice, endless supplies of canned foods, water and medicines. The question that pops into my mind is this... what are you going to do with it, provided the MOB of people doesnt over take you? One has canned chicken, dehydrated veggies that she plans on making soup when that day comes. Coming from one that cooks .. homestyle cooking.. That aroma of homemade chicken soup cooking will draw hungry people like a moth to a flame.
Now dont get me wrong... reading all this and watching all these videos has got me to thinking. This ole world is backing itself into a corner. We dont respect our planet, our neighbor or ourselves for that matter. Natural disasters are hitting more and more often. I do believe the earth is responding. What i dont believe is that people like Al Gore have a freaking clue. He and others have jumped on that money making wagon with all fours.
Soo... whats the answer? What will life here on earth be like in that time? Its times like this.. im sooooooo glad i have a faith in God. Not that that faith will save me or rescue me out of bad times, history has proven sometimes it doesnt.. say the Holocaust, Witch hunts of the Americas, England bloody torcture of independent thinkers when it comes to God.. sometimes evil happens to good people. But its good to know there is life after this life.
So I leave you with this question. In the event of WROL, would you want to be a survivor? Which would you rather be, the one defending with his life what he has saved up or the one risking his life to give to his family?
Just thoughts to ponder... I dont think my little 4x16 garden is gonna get me very far.. LOL
I have recently found a sec of people called preppers. They believe in the WROL and SHTF. I am learning a whole new language.
WROL = without rule of law
SHTF = Shit hits the fan
After watching some of the videos, that I might add I've made lots of new friends and learned all sorts of new things, Ive discovered that IMHO (in my humble opinion) i dont think they have a clue. Some of them have years of food stored in basements, attics, extra rooms or garages in thier homes.
In my minds imagination I gotta ask. How long do they really think all that is going to last? Especially after they have posted it on YouTube for everyone and their brother to view.
Now in one way I actually agree with them. I think SHTF will eventually come... i think WROL is not an unheard of concept. But if i had saved up years of food for either or both of these situation is it really smart to advertize to the world what you have, how much you have and what state your in? Do they think no one that knows them has viewed that video.. some of them many videos? Imagine this.... we are in the same place we were in the Great Depression, lack of food makes people do things they normally wouldnt. They get a sense of bravery or stupidty theyve never possessed before. A father looking at babies that are starving will do most anything to get food to those babies. How long do they think they will last when a Mob mentality sets in??? Some of them are very well equipted with a small armory. But how long can one house withstand mobs of hungry people?
Not that im knocking holes in their whole theory... well actually thats exactly what im doing. But I would think if i had the room and ability to store 2 years worth of food, no one would know about it.
They have flour, sugar, milk, rice, endless supplies of canned foods, water and medicines. The question that pops into my mind is this... what are you going to do with it, provided the MOB of people doesnt over take you? One has canned chicken, dehydrated veggies that she plans on making soup when that day comes. Coming from one that cooks .. homestyle cooking.. That aroma of homemade chicken soup cooking will draw hungry people like a moth to a flame.
Now dont get me wrong... reading all this and watching all these videos has got me to thinking. This ole world is backing itself into a corner. We dont respect our planet, our neighbor or ourselves for that matter. Natural disasters are hitting more and more often. I do believe the earth is responding. What i dont believe is that people like Al Gore have a freaking clue. He and others have jumped on that money making wagon with all fours.
Soo... whats the answer? What will life here on earth be like in that time? Its times like this.. im sooooooo glad i have a faith in God. Not that that faith will save me or rescue me out of bad times, history has proven sometimes it doesnt.. say the Holocaust, Witch hunts of the Americas, England bloody torcture of independent thinkers when it comes to God.. sometimes evil happens to good people. But its good to know there is life after this life.
So I leave you with this question. In the event of WROL, would you want to be a survivor? Which would you rather be, the one defending with his life what he has saved up or the one risking his life to give to his family?
Just thoughts to ponder... I dont think my little 4x16 garden is gonna get me very far.. LOL
Monday, September 19, 2011
Lovebugs in SE Texas
While working in the garden this morning I noticed its time for our twice a year pest and decided I would google the creatures to see if they serve a particular purpose.
In September and then again in Feb/March Southeast Texas is bombarded by these little creatures.
The picure shows them on an old rose bloom. They seem to love white. They are a pest!!!! They dont hurt you, but they can do a number on your cars paint job.
What purpose do these little acidic creatures serve? Well.. I'm glad you asked. They are swarming this old rose because that is their diet. They feed on decaying vegetation. I dont feel this is a good trade off, we are getting the short end of the stick.
Rumor has it they are a University of Florida experiment gone badly. As the rumor goes they were created as an attempt to control the mesquito population. In all my searching Ive not found a basis for this belief.
I have found however, the little lizards that live in and around my garden and flowers view them as a delicacy. I tried to shoot a video of him eating them but I moved too quickly and he scooted off.
This is my contribution to useless trivia.
In September and then again in Feb/March Southeast Texas is bombarded by these little creatures.
Plecia nearctica
The picure shows them on an old rose bloom. They seem to love white. They are a pest!!!! They dont hurt you, but they can do a number on your cars paint job.
What purpose do these little acidic creatures serve? Well.. I'm glad you asked. They are swarming this old rose because that is their diet. They feed on decaying vegetation. I dont feel this is a good trade off, we are getting the short end of the stick.
Rumor has it they are a University of Florida experiment gone badly. As the rumor goes they were created as an attempt to control the mesquito population. In all my searching Ive not found a basis for this belief.
I have found however, the little lizards that live in and around my garden and flowers view them as a delicacy. I tried to shoot a video of him eating them but I moved too quickly and he scooted off.
This is my contribution to useless trivia.
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