Misc/Chat What can happen in such a short time

Bps1691

Veteran Member
Had a Thunderstorm pass through early this morning (around 3:30AM) and this is what a straight line wind can do. See how selective it can be.

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This is the west field just past our back chain link fence around our house and the sheds. The green with the straw is 60 foot long, two rows of potatoes between the fence and where the tractor has to go for the corn.

It got about 8 rows at its widest and runs north/south for about 200 feet. At the north end it is about 4 rows wide, broadens out into this and then at the south edge goes back to about 4 rows before it ends with normal corn.

There are also several small swirls (about 8-10 foot circles) across the field further west. They'll come out of it.

There are raised beds with garden on the east side of the fence and other than one cucumber plant, it did no damage. A few of the potatoes along the fence were pushed down but they've come back through the day. They had already bloomed and look like they are coming back.

I heard it come through and it sounded like a normal thunderstorm. we also got 2 inches of rain.

Through the years I've lost Garden crops to bugs, rabbits, tree squirrels and ground squirrels. I have had hail, to much and to little rain, and occasionally to wind.

When you're growing your food, this type of thing can be a catastrophe and a very good reason why you should always can at least two years worth of your needs so if you have a bad crop year (for whatever reason), you have a chance the following year.



Imagine if this was for human consumption.
 

Bps1691

Veteran Member
This is why I try to plant the same crop in several different spots on our farm. I'm so sorry!
Part of the game and the gamble. Minor loss.

More important is this could have been garden needed to feed my tribe.

My tribes main garden is at my daughters farm about 15 miles from here. She's been fighting critters this year big time.

We had to replant the Sweet potatoes because critters nipped them off (25 plants) in one night. Most came back but they got them a second time after rain that washed the sevin dust off during the night. We replanted them for the last time two weeks ago and her husband an I put up loop of chicken wire plus a layer of steel fabric around the plot. They also got several rows of pop corn. We've put temporary chicken fabric fencing around all the garden corn now.

Two years ago, tree squirrels wiped out my sweet corn in the raised beds and three large tubs. They raided it early one morning when it was just a day or so from me start picking it. They got all but one ear of corn (several dozen ears).

We had deer wipe out the early sweet corn at my daughters three years ago. They moved the electric inground dog fence to cover the garden and her two dogs keep the deer away, but they ignore the smaller critters. We can't use poison peanuts because of the dogs possibly eating the dead critters..

That's the reason for this original post, more so for anyone who really hasn't raised garden and expects to raise food when TSHF. It is amazing what happens and usually just at the wrong time.
 

philkar

Veteran Member
Oh I am so sorry! We feel your pain. The critters are always hiding in the wings waiting to eat any and everything!
 

China Connection

TB Fanatic
020
Galvanized Wire Mesh is the Top Choice for Rat & Mouse Control


rodent-outside-eating-food

PEST CONTROL #PestControl


DIY exclusion of rats, mice, and other pests is easier than you might think — all you need is the right material. While a few varieties of metal wire mesh can be used to keep rodents out of your house and garden, galvanized hardware cloth is a top choice for homeowners.
Find a breakdown of the benefits of galvanized mesh for pest control below, as well as tips for installing your own.

Benefits of Rodent-Control Wire Mesh
mouse-eating
If you already have rats or mice on your property, we don’t need to tell you how much of a nuisance they can be. Luckily, you don’t need to put up with these furry pests much longer.
Rodent-control wire mesh can be applied to air vents, soffit screens, floor drains, foundation vents, gutters, fan guards, chimneys, and exposed pipes throughout your house. The material can also be installed under your porch and throughout your yard and garden to keep critters at bay.
Metal mesh for DIY rat and mouse control is:
  • Affordable compared to other pest-control approaches
  • A non-toxic material that won’t harm you, the environment, or any animals
  • Durable and remarkably resilient in a wide range of environments and temperatures
  • Effective at keeping other pests out, including snakes, birds, gophers, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, and bats

Why Homeowners Use Galvanized Mesh
Many homeowners opt for galvanized stainless steel wire mesh for DIY exclusion of rats, mice, and other pesky rodents. To galvanize the material, steel is dipped into molten zinc or treated with electrolytic reactions. This forms a stable, protective zinc coating, which makes the product extremely resilient.
In some cases, rats will chew through wood, cinder block, mortar, plastic, and even aluminum. That’s why the protective zinc coating of galvanized hardware cloth is so vital when rodent-proofing your home.
Budget-friendly galvanized hardware cloth is not only durable, but it’s also resistant to water, high heat, freezing temperatures, and corrosion. It lasts for up to two decades, which is longer than plain steel wire mesh. According to the U.S. National Park Service, galvanized metal screens are the best material for excluding mice and rats.

Welded or Poly-Coated Wire Mesh for Outdoor Pest Control
In outdoor environments, rats and mice are good at finding food sources, whether it’s a trash can, compost bin, garden, or fallen fruit from trees. Galvanized hardware cloth comes in a few different varieties, including woven, black poly-coated, and welded. To expel rodents from your yard, galvanized welded or poly-coated metal mesh is the way to go. You can screen your trash receptacles, create a garden fence, or install landscaping mesh screens around your fruit bushes or trees.
For welded hardware cloth, the heavy-duty material goes through a process called resistance welding, which makes it consistently sturdy without any filler metals. With galvanized welded stainless steel wire mesh, you’ll often get the most longevity and resistance to rust and abrasion. However, poly-coated hardware cloth is more flexible, which can be beneficial for some outdoor applications.

Pest-Control Wire Mesh from TWP Inc.
wire-mesh-for-rodent-control
For many homeowners, metal mesh and hardware cloth are simple and easy to use yet very effective for excluding pests. TWP Inc. has a substantial inventory of industrial-grade wire mesh products suitable for rodent screens and many other DIY home applications. We’re the go-to resource for premium-quality galvanized stainless steel mesh, including welded, woven, and poly-coated options in various sizes and weaves.
Since 1969, our women-owned company has been a leading supplier of metal mesh. We carry virtually every material and specification you can imagine, but if you can’t find what you’re looking for, we provide custom orders. Our in-house services include cutting, measuring, disc sizing, slitting, and laser cutting.
Order your rodent-control wire mesh today or request a quote on a custom order. To get your home projects featured in TWP Inc.’s gallery, upload your photos to Instagram using the hashtag #TWPWireMesh.


 

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
Wow! Believe it or not, unless that corn is actually broken off at the base, it will survive and will try to stand back up on its own. Any help you can give is usually worth the effort.

Yes, subsistence farming/gardening is ripe with pitfalls. We once had a lush garden in full production in mid August be completely destroyed when an F2 tornado roared through the local village 5 miles away. We only had a bad thunderstorm. But it knocked the power out and the Dexters discovered the dead electric fence and held a garden party. I was pissed!

This year, we're fighting Gypsy moths, aphids, and we've seen the first cabbage butterflies, so we're also starting to spray Bt on the Cole crops. It's a never-ending battle.

It's also why I always insist on putting up 2 years worth if we have a bumper crop of something. Almost *anythjng* will last for 2 years if canned, and almost anything can be frozen that long if you vacuum seal and/or use the proper containers. That extra year's supply can give you the luxury of not wasting scarce or expensive seed if the weather conditions clearly are against getting a crop. It could give you time to set up hoophouses, or cold frames... or move. I forsee a lot of that if the GSM continues...

Summerthyme
 

Bps1691

Veteran Member
020
Galvanized Wire Mesh is the Top Choice for Rat & Mouse Control


rodent-outside-eating-food

PEST CONTROL #PestControl


DIY exclusion of rats, mice, and other pests is easier than you might think — all you need is the right material. While a few varieties of metal wire mesh can be used to keep rodents out of your house and garden, galvanized hardware cloth is a top choice for homeowners.
Find a breakdown of the benefits of galvanized mesh for pest control below, as well as tips for installing your own.

Benefits of Rodent-Control Wire Mesh
mouse-eating
If you already have rats or mice on your property, we don’t need to tell you how much of a nuisance they can be. Luckily, you don’t need to put up with these furry pests much longer.
Rodent-control wire mesh can be applied to air vents, soffit screens, floor drains, foundation vents, gutters, fan guards, chimneys, and exposed pipes throughout your house. The material can also be installed under your porch and throughout your yard and garden to keep critters at bay.
Metal mesh for DIY rat and mouse control is:
  • Affordable compared to other pest-control approaches
  • A non-toxic material that won’t harm you, the environment, or any animals
  • Durable and remarkably resilient in a wide range of environments and temperatures
  • Effective at keeping other pests out, including snakes, birds, gophers, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, and bats

Why Homeowners Use Galvanized Mesh
Many homeowners opt for galvanized stainless steel wire mesh for DIY exclusion of rats, mice, and other pesky rodents. To galvanize the material, steel is dipped into molten zinc or treated with electrolytic reactions. This forms a stable, protective zinc coating, which makes the product extremely resilient.
In some cases, rats will chew through wood, cinder block, mortar, plastic, and even aluminum. That’s why the protective zinc coating of galvanized hardware cloth is so vital when rodent-proofing your home.
Budget-friendly galvanized hardware cloth is not only durable, but it’s also resistant to water, high heat, freezing temperatures, and corrosion. It lasts for up to two decades, which is longer than plain steel wire mesh. According to the U.S. National Park Service, galvanized metal screens are the best material for excluding mice and rats.

Welded or Poly-Coated Wire Mesh for Outdoor Pest Control
In outdoor environments, rats and mice are good at finding food sources, whether it’s a trash can, compost bin, garden, or fallen fruit from trees. Galvanized hardware cloth comes in a few different varieties, including woven, black poly-coated, and welded. To expel rodents from your yard, galvanized welded or poly-coated metal mesh is the way to go. You can screen your trash receptacles, create a garden fence, or install landscaping mesh screens around your fruit bushes or trees.
For welded hardware cloth, the heavy-duty material goes through a process called resistance welding, which makes it consistently sturdy without any filler metals. With galvanized welded stainless steel wire mesh, you’ll often get the most longevity and resistance to rust and abrasion. However, poly-coated hardware cloth is more flexible, which can be beneficial for some outdoor applications.

Pest-Control Wire Mesh from TWP Inc.
wire-mesh-for-rodent-control
For many homeowners, metal mesh and hardware cloth are simple and easy to use yet very effective for excluding pests. TWP Inc. has a substantial inventory of industrial-grade wire mesh products suitable for rodent screens and many other DIY home applications. We’re the go-to resource for premium-quality galvanized stainless steel mesh, including welded, woven, and poly-coated options in various sizes and weaves.
Since 1969, our women-owned company has been a leading supplier of metal mesh. We carry virtually every material and specification you can imagine, but if you can’t find what you’re looking for, we provide custom orders. Our in-house services include cutting, measuring, disc sizing, slitting, and laser cutting.
Order your rodent-control wire mesh today or request a quote on a custom order. To get your home projects featured in TWP Inc.’s gallery, upload your photos to Instagram using the hashtag #TWPWireMesh.


Yep, we call it wire fabric here in my AO. They make it in different gauges and isn't that expensive. You can form wire "pipes" and secure with light wire ties to make columns to put around plants the critters like. If you are careful with it you can take it down in the fall, store it and reuse it the next year. You can also knit it together with light gauged wire for longer runs.

A two or three strand solar powered electric wire around a corn field usually works on deer, possums and racoons as well. You have to place the wires at the right heights (low, medium and higher). The low one so the coons and possums can't go under it, the middle one so they can't go over the bottom wire with out hitting wire and the top one for the deer.

Tree and ground squirrels are a bane. They are wasteful eaters and can be tuff to control short of poison or a 22. I favor the 22 for the tree rats but have to take care of it when the wife isn't around .... she likes them dam things.

It is amazing how much all the bugs and other critters can take out in just a few hours.
 

paxsim2

Senior Member
I had a beautiful stand of sweet corn planted next our shed one year. Every morning for a week we'd notice that several in the middle were knocked down. Couldn't imagine what was happening until we left the house and we could see the top of the shed. Two squirrels ran down the roof and landed on the corn and rode it to the ground. We had to laugh, we stood them back up and braced them. Got about 30 good ears from that patch. I don't grow it anymore, we have farmers who we support for our corn.
 

Sherrynboo

Veteran Member
Wow! Believe it or not, unless that corn is actually broken off at the base, it will survive and will try to stand back up on its own. Any help you can give is usually worth the effort.

Yes, subsistence farming/gardening is ripe with pitfalls. We once had a lush garden in full production in mid August be completely destroyed when an F2 tornado roared through the local village 5 miles away. We only had a bad thunderstorm. But it knocked the power out and the Dexters discovered the dead electric fence and held a garden party. I was pissed!

This year, we're fighting Gypsy moths, aphids, and we've seen the first cabbage butterflies, so we're also starting to spray Bt on the Cole crops. It's a never-ending battle.

It's also why I always insist on putting up 2 years worth if we have a bumper crop of something. Almost *anythjng* will last for 2 years if canned, and almost anything can be frozen that long if you vacuum seal and/or use the proper containers. That extra year's supply can give you the luxury of not wasting scarce or expensive seed if the weather conditions clearly are against getting a crop. It could give you time to set up hoophouses, or cold frames... or move. I forsee a lot of that if the GSM continues...

Summerthyme
I could bank on my corn getting knocked down every season once it got half grown. I started running fence wire along each row about halfway up and securing the stalks to the wire. Yes it is tedious and worrisome but at least I didn't have to pick corn back up every year. I know that is unrealistic for a larger operation though.
 

slbmatt

Contributing Member
My neighbor has 4 rows of corn that looked like what you have.
From a Strom last week said it all straightened up on its own.
 
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