[BiggKidd]

Yes you can eat it as sweet corn in the milk stage. I would expect it to have a much stronger corn flavor than regular sweet corn and not be as sweet.

Far as growing it for meal or to use dry yes it needs to finish and the stalk needs to die back before harvest. Before you can store it the moisture needs to be down below about 13% or it will have problems. Generally the ears will turn from pointing up to pointing down before it’s dry enough to pick. If it’s getting to cold or wet before picking you can also pull the ears and hang them to dry much like garlic or onions. But it has to finish growing and filling out first. To test for dryness without a meter you simply weigh a given amount and then dry it in a stove or microwave until it stops loosing weight then weigh it again and calculate the moisture content.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by  BiggKidd.

[BiggKidd]

The company did get back in touch and they are the correct parts so now I just need to see what the total cost will be and hope I have enough left after bills next month to order them.

[BiggKidd]

I know I mentioned the steering brakes and clutches are pretty much gone. Well since I haven’t been feeling to great I spent the down time trying to find a cheaper option for fixing the brakes at the minimum. Caterpillar wants about $1,300 per side for new brake bands. I think I found new linings I can rivet on myself for about $100 for both sides. Now if I could find some decent instructions on replacing brakes and installing the new linings. Waiting on word back from the seller if these will fit my machine. I know I mentioned the steering brakes and clutches are pretty much gone. Well since I haven’t been feeling to great I spent the down time trying to find a cheaper option for fixing the brakes at the minimum. Caterpillar wants about $1,300 per side for new brake bands. I think I found new linings I can rivet on myself for about $100 for both sides. Now if I could find some decent instructions on replacing brakes and installing the new linings. Waiting on word back from the seller if these will fit my machine.

[BiggKidd]

In time of crisis I would “think” you would want it on hand to pay a Dr. to set a broken bone or treat a bad tooth. Anything you personally can’t prep for but could be needed. A service or item you HAVE to have.

[BiggKidd]

I think your last question is a personal answer for each individual. I bought my silver when it was $11 an ounce. So obviously I could have sold it for double or more a few different times, yet I chose not to. That may be because I own my silver for a different reason than some or even most others. I never looked at it as a way to make money. I look at it as a way to insure I have a type of currency that will be universally recognized if the economic system crashes. Just like I grow & raise food to be sure we have food. I think of it ALL as insurance just like you pay for each month for your vehicle. You sure as hell want it but you also pray hard you never need it! I never look at any prep as dollars just as insurance.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by  BiggKidd.

[BiggKidd]

I usually put a few 3-5 drops in a gallonish size container and mix it in. It will depend on your water hard water takes more if I remeber correctly.

[BiggKidd]

A multi prong attack would probably be best. Go to your local farm supply and get spray or pour on treatment for the cows. Then hang glue sheets around feeders and water. Third and most important probably build some bird houses to attract the birds to eat the bugs. Purple martins and bats are some of the best.

[BiggKidd]

Welder, torch, plasma cutter, tractor with FEL, dozer, deuce & a half, solar golf cart, The tools needed around a homestead are endless. Just get all you can!

[BiggKidd]

Put a few drops of dish soap in the water it will help break the waters cohesion and allow it to soak in easier. You can also inject water down into the root zone.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by  BiggKidd.

[BiggKidd]

Tractor was doing great breaking up the ground UNTIL I was already straining the hell out of it and hit a root or rock or something. At which point something had to give. The something was one of the old welds on the TPH lift arm, broke it clean in two AGAIN! The is the first of my welds to break on one of these arms. Both arms have been broken a few times but never where I had already welded them until now.
Even considering that I got quite a lot of earth moved using the dozer. Lucky for me I was on the last pull of that round of breaking up ground when the arm broke.

[BiggKidd]

Worms would be my first thought and I would treat them both…

[BiggKidd]

I’m using the homemade Ripper on the back of the tractor to break up the ground and pushing it off with the Dozer. I would guess I took another 12 to 16 inches off the top of that hump today

• This reply was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by  BiggKidd.

[BiggKidd]

Added a little to last post

[BiggKidd]

You know that’s how you eat elephant right? ONE BITE AT A TIME

[BiggKidd]

@Lesa I have to agree you’re getting things done. Biggest lesson I’ve learned in actively doing this for 15 years is PACE YOURSELF! It’s a lot more important not to burnout than to get everything done right now! Next biggest lesson is to avoid taking on to many projects at once. This definitely a case of do as I say not as I do. I am constantly taking on more than I can handle at one time. It shows in all the half completed projects around here. I have a bad habit of getting a project far enough along to use and that’s usually as far as they get never quite done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!