Prep Genrl Weekly prep thread July 11-17, 2021
- Thread starter nomifyle
- Start date
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
We've had the same conditions, although this is the first year we've ever used fertilizer and we got all of our plants from the same person. One of the goats did get in my garden and destroyed my two best producing tomato plants. But really I have no idea what happened.
Funny story, before DH came along I planted some tomato plants in buckets. This was my first time to ever grow or try to grow tomatoes. I think I ended up with maybe 5 puny tomatoes. I was afraid to eat them. Bottom line is I'm really no gardener. I've tried off and on for years but never had any success to speak of.
God is good all the time
Judy
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
We use Miracle Gro on all of our plants every two weeks. Miracle Gro mixed with one gallon of water per plant.
The only thing we've ever had trouble growing here are potatoes. It didn't matter if they were grown in ground or in raised beds. The bell peppers never did very well during the hottest part of summer, but they held on, and made in abundance in the fall. Now, I grow them in partial shade, and they're doing much better.
I'm planning to try and grow potatoes next year in grow bags if I can just figure out the best way to go about it. Maybe, we can have some success that way. I would try it now, but Cary still can't lift those heavy bags of soil, and I sure can't.
WanderLore
Veteran Member
oh help! tomato worms! never had them before, what do i do?
shopped at local discount grocery (only one here) and bought 20 cans (tuna size) of wild sustainable pink salmon...can says no other additives.....not my favorite but reading that salmon harvest is lousy...may have none soon...just shopping here and there for clearance, markdowns, and sales. I feel we should stop prepping but even if Jesus came tonight...I think my sons won't be among those who rise..........hope they will use what we have..........
hiwall
Has No Life - Lives on TB
A shotgun works well.
Honestly, they are easiest to just handpick. Drop in a pail with a couple inches of water and a slick of kerosene, lamp oil or vegetable oil, plus a squirt of Dawn.
If you are too squeamish to pick them up, buy some BT spray (tractor supply, Walmart or Amazon) and spray. They stop eating within 24 hours and die soon after. It's safe for anything not a caterpillar.
Summerthyme
WanderLore
Veteran Member
I think we are going to try that, thank you!
If you've got kids around, let them handpick them! (Pay them a nickel each or something - they are the larva of a large sphinx moth, and generally, there aren't more than a dozen or so on a plant.) But save one from the oil/water and let the kids raise it. Tomatoes have plenty of suckers to spare... put it in a large jar an feed it. Make sure to put a couple inches of dirt in the bottom, as they burrow underground to pupate.
Leave the jar outdoors (but protected from rain)over the winter, and the moth will emerge in the Spring.
Summerthyme
WanderLore
Veteran Member
Got me a new phone, finally one with good signal. Had to change number but very happy with the phone. Straight talk. $59, and $35 a month.
Ball game yesterday, couple granddaughters were here so they went to. Always a fun time! Took boys for cheeseburgers after.
Lots of harvest, daughter has taken that over, yay!
Took some homemade bread to older friend and wife, he gave us a buggy harness for our halflinger.
He is so happy with the little dog we gave them. He offered us all the fresh milk we want. It's raw milk straight out the cow. Summertyme do you know of any caveats we should do? These are Holstiens.
It has finally quit raining. Will have hot dry temps for a week. I put pine bedding in chicken yard to help smell. Not working too well
Ball game yesterday, couple granddaughters were here so they went to. Always a fun time! Took boys for cheeseburgers after.
Lots of harvest, daughter has taken that over, yay!
Took some homemade bread to older friend and wife, he gave us a buggy harness for our halflinger.
He is so happy with the little dog we gave them. He offered us all the fresh milk we want. It's raw milk straight out the cow. Summertyme do you know of any caveats we should do? These are Holstiens.
It has finally quit raining. Will have hot dry temps for a week. I put pine bedding in chicken yard to help smell. Not working too well
WanderLore
Veteran Member
I used to make a one pan dish over the fire when we camped.
1 large can each of ravioli and baked beans and a lb of hamburger. Yummy
1 large can each of ravioli and baked beans and a lb of hamburger. Yummy
As long as they are clean and careful, just keep raw milk refrigerated and enjoy it!
Summerthyme
WanderLore
Veteran Member
They milk 50 for now, used to be 150. Daughter is concerned about diseases if milk is not processed.
I want to get some for the boys to try and also make some butter
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
Wanderlore: please make sure the milk tank is ultra clean and the shed/room it sits in......no flies etc.......sterilize gallon/1/2 gal./pint glass jars in boiling water and air dry before storing milk in them......thoroughly clean afterward and boil them again...after every use........we did this with a dairy neighbor who was reliable...no problems except raw milk might give some the trots......it will go away normally as gut adjusts...
If they are selling commercially, the milk is tested for bacteria and somatic cells, send the cows have to be free of brucellosis and TB. About the only other serious issue that *could* be in the milk is listeriosis, which is rare. The best "guarantee" I've found if you must buy raw milk (can't produce it yourself) is to buy from a small inspected (commercial) dairy where the owners drink the milk raw themselves.
You might be shocked at how many places don't!
Summerthyme
WanderLore
Veteran Member
I know they drink it. He and son old farmers, not sure how clean everything is lol. But we will give it a try.
We got out and finished putting a yurt style roof on boys tree house, they like it. We just used some boards and heavy plastic.
Daughter and I picked only the few tomato worms we saw and did the dish soap thing, thank you Summertyme!
She is doing some canning of green beans and some yellow peppers with jalapeno mixed in. She is gearing up to do a lot of canning. She asks a lot of good questions, and I'm doing my best to answer.
I did get in the pool with the boys, man that was great.
Last question: smelly chicken yard. 8 chickens. Big yard fenced and they get out 3 hours in afternoon and evening. Lord the smell is bad. I dumped a big bag of pine shavings in and its helping somewhat. Too much rain.
What can I do about the smell?
We got out and finished putting a yurt style roof on boys tree house, they like it. We just used some boards and heavy plastic.
Daughter and I picked only the few tomato worms we saw and did the dish soap thing, thank you Summertyme!
She is doing some canning of green beans and some yellow peppers with jalapeno mixed in. She is gearing up to do a lot of canning. She asks a lot of good questions, and I'm doing my best to answer.
I did get in the pool with the boys, man that was great.
Last question: smelly chicken yard. 8 chickens. Big yard fenced and they get out 3 hours in afternoon and evening. Lord the smell is bad. I dumped a big bag of pine shavings in and its helping somewhat. Too much rain.
What can I do about the smell?
Illini Warrior
Illini Warrior
WanderLore
Veteran Member
Ok will get some powdered Lyme and try that and thank you both!
Worms seem to be gone with the dish soap trick!
Worms seem to be gone with the dish soap trick!