[Bluesky63]

I installed a new 1 inch pipe from the pond to my garden. The 1 inch poly-ethylene pipe is buried about 2 1/2 feet deep and slopes up to the surface at each end. I only use it during the summer, so don’t have to worry about freezing. All of the fittings that I looked at were less than 1 inch, so I made my own out of 1 inch copper pipe and soldered on threaded ends; therefore I have 1 inch inside diameter from pump to garden. The picture shows the garden end, with 1 inch pvc pipe split for a garden hose at one valved outlet and a 4 way splitter on the other outlet. I can attach 5 hoses at the same time; 1 hose with drippers along the ten grape vines; 1 hose with drippers along the 50 feet of blackberries and blueberries; and 3 hoses on Rainbird sprinklers for the rest of the garden.

[Bluesky63]

My wife can’t eat raw garlic or onions because it causes her ” a lot of bloating and digestive discomfort”. When cooked, they are ok.

[Bluesky63]

You will have less trouble with the small gas engines if you use “non-ethanol” gas rather than the gas with ethanol. Yes, it costs a little more, but you also get more power out of each gallon. And the “non-ethanol” gas does not tend to attract moisture as much, which means you can store it longer(all winter) without problems. The “straight gas” will not dissolve the fuel lines and gaskets in the carburetor.

[Bluesky63]

We carry “survival straws” in the car. They are cheap (18-$20) and may never be used, but just in case.

[Bluesky63]

We buy potatoes to plant from our local fed /farm store (MFA). Last year I paid 50 cents/ pound. Most mail order potatoes cost $5.00 /pound.

[Bluesky63]

I have purchased fruit and nut trees through University of Missouri Extension, which also has lots of info on cultivars, spray schedules, pruning, etc. I bought Chestnut trees and Black Walnut trees through the Center for Agroforestry (Univ of MO Ext) .

[Bluesky63]

Here in mid-Missouri, I go to my local MFA (Missouri Farmers Assoc) dealer. They have seed in bulk for a very reasonable price. They also sell seed potatoes (50 cents/ pound), several types of onion sets and more. This is the cheapest place to pick up fertilizer, tools, and many other supplies. And I like supporting our local business.

[Bluesky63]

My favorite book for seed saving is “Seed to Seed”. It is very informative and easy to read for the average gardener.

[Bluesky63]

I also have cedar trees close to my orchard, but the cedar-apple rust has not affected my Winesap, Arkansas Black nor the McIntosh apples. Th Granny Smith apple lost half it’s leaves from the rust but still put on a good crop.

[Bluesky63]

“adding another 96 sq ft for next spring” -I will suggest that you add the extra area now. The soil will have time to “age” over the winter and you will probably get a better crop. I always add my amendments in the fall.

[Bluesky63]

Bt is the best, natural way to control worms (white flies). It is not poison to warm blooded animals or humans. I have used it for 40 years with great success. Use on tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, lettuce- what ever you have worms eating the leaves. Spray early morning or evening and after every rain.

[Bluesky63]

Mid-Missouri – 45 degrees F tomorrow. I probably need to cover the fig trees for winter; they will almost freeze to the ground anyway. And get the 4 wheel drive truck inspected.

Yesterday, I filled the tractor with diesel and put additive in it. We might need to blade the drive.

[Bluesky63]

My peppers did not do as well as usual. Though there was one banana pepper that produced more peppers than the other 6 plants combined. I am drying seeds from that plant.

Bell peppers did very poorly.

[Bluesky63]

I also store my seeds in their paper packs, put into a plastic tote and into the refer.

[Bluesky63]

I have found that foraging and plant ID is hard to learn unless you have a knowledgeable friend. What I started doing was planting fruit trees and fruiting bushes with metal labels so I could keep track of them.