Hammer-time! My looming problem is that with the inconsiderate fall weather, I'm going to have to have to route huge 14-yard dump-trucks right across my garden to deliver the materials needed to build the drain field. Not good. I want enough dry weather to accommodate that, since towing out mired 14-wheelers is not a budget consideration at this time. I have a 30 hp Kubota tractor, but that's not going to budge a huge Peterbilt with a dump-body if the truck is mired. Pray for dry weather!Math Jeans said:
I have a neighbor who has been hoarding implements for years, though most are sized for my tractor and not his behemoths. 3 things I can borrow instead of buying is a 2-bottom plow, a 6' rear blade, and a bush-hog.dlgoff said:
My neighbor's Brussels sprouts are still doing very well, too. Very hardy vegetables.Astronuc said:
turbo-1 said:
Redbelly98 said:
I forgot to save the Chat reply. Do you still have it, so you can scold yourself?Redbelly98 said:
It occurred to me that cabbage would do very well. And rutabagas.turbo-1 said:
Oh, all right ...turbo-1 said:
Please post homework questions here: https://www.physicsforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=152 . . . click on one of the subjects.Redbelly98 said:
That reminds me, won't this be the 1st winter for your Kubota? Does owning a new tractor mean you look forward to snow?turbo-1 said:
Cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli can all stand very cold weather, too. Broccoli has become a popular late-season crop in northern Maine. Aroostook county has long been potato country, so diversification into other crops that can be harvested in mid-late fall is welcome.Astronuc said:It occurred to me that cabbage would do very well. And rutabagas.
Not at all! The tractor will be handy for cutting back the huge snow banks so we can get out of the driveway safely (visibility), but the snow has to be moved well away from the drive so the snowblower is the primary tool.Redbelly98 said:
No!redbelly98 said:
There's probably a best selling novel in that.Evo said:
Lucky for the mole! Our red squirrels are vicious, and until I cleaned them out, they were scarring and seriously injuring my "pet" chipmunks. I used to be able to tell them apart by their scars. After I removed the squirrels, the 'munks healed up and I could only tell them apart by their behaviors until they got close enough to inspect them in detail and see the old scars. After the squirrels were gone, the vole population improved, which is a good thing because I garden organically, and voles eat lots of insects and their grubs.Evo said:
turbo-1 said:
They are a plague here, Kurdt. No shortage at all! And yes, the "cute" little red squirrels would attack and drive off the gray squirrels at our old house. There are no gray squirrels up here in the woods, but the red squirrels attack chipmunks, voles and other critters.Kurdt said:Red squirrels vicious?
They should be looked after, they're a species that isn't doing too well.
turbo-1 said:
I don't bother voles, nor indeed any other critter that is not causing significant damage. We need a balance of critters, and I am not going to upset the ecological balance of my property because we need everything to work, if organic gardening methods are going to work well. I'll shoot a groundhog on sight because they will take a bite out of one squash, then move onto another, and wreck a lot of produce in the process. Voles, mice, moles, etc have their positive sides, and I let them be because the damage they cause is negligible. We have weasels, martins, skunks, etc, too, and I will never discourage their presence. Little predators keep little pests in check.Equate said:
Awww, thank you ViewsofMars, always so nice to hear from you. I love your posts.ViewsofMars said:Precious. Evo, that's a sweet picture. I love my squirrels that steal the sunflowers from the birdfeeder in my garden. The birds perch along side them. It's a big bird feeder on top of a six foot post.
p.s. I hope your Kurdt gets better soon.
ViewsofMars said:
Evo said:
Always nice to chat with you. It’s obvious to me you’re a bright person with a great deal of compassion for people. Borek said:Its OUR Kurdt. Evo's ownership is only virtual
Another real toughie is Brussels sprouts. A few days ago when I dropped in, my neighbor had waded out into the snow-covered garden spot to harvest Brussels sprouts for the grand-daughters' supper. I got a stalk of them too, and they were still very tender and tasty.Astronuc said:
I'm going to have to work on the Brussels sprouts. I tried them one year, and the sprout didn't sprout much. Perhaps it was too hot and/or dry.turbo-1 said:
My wife and I tried Brussels sprouts 2 years ago, with disappointing results. Very small sprouts. Perhaps we'll try them again this year, starting them in our mini-greenhouse early, and transplanting them before most vegetables can be planted from seed. We planted parsnips that year too, and couldn't find a way to prepare them that was satisfactory. They were too rich and sweet.Astronuc said:
turbo-1 said:
I cook parship with roast along side potatoes and carrots. The parsnip and carrots are sliced in half length-wise.Borek said:
We tried using them in soups and in New England boiled dinners with mixed success. Probably the best result came from combining a bit of parsnip and some minced kale (what a coincidence!) with hot Italian sausage. Cook the sausage first in a pan with peanut oil, add in finely-cubed parsnip, and lastly add the minced kale. The kale adds a "zing" that helped mitigate the richness of the parsnips.Borek said:
Borek said:
baywax said:
