Today I made / bought / learnt .... (for a post oil world)

frankthetank

i caught a mole or vole? in my veggie garden with a shovel. I was watching him dig for worms and i picked him up with a shovel and put him in a bucket. I'll drop him off somewhere more scenic! Next up is about 5 rabbits and some squirrels. I'm thinking about picking up some live traps. They are on sale this week (have a heart). It would be fun setting these rabbits out in the open next to a large eagle nest i know of.

Just to add. I hate omnivores and i love carnivores. As a gardener you've got to love hawks, foxes, and such and hate rabbits, squirrels, and deer. I guess being a meat eater isn't all that bad.
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"Oil is going up because we use too much oil, and the capacity to replace reserves is dwindling"
-President Bush 11/07/07

wisconsin_cur

Ludi

Even though we're wall-to-wall deer here, so far, they haven't been much trouble in the garden, thanks to fencing. Same with rabbits, though they sometimes get in, they haven't done significant damage. Rabbit might be good for dinner, same with squirrel. We have tons of squirrels. I certainly don't hate them, after all, they're just doing what comes naturally. Same with the carnivores who eat my chickens. If I can't outsmart them, then I reckon I deserve to be deprived of my dinner.

Live trapping often does little good because many animals are extremely territorial and will return home even from miles away. In any case there is a seemingly infinite supply of critters to replace the ones you've removed, unless you trap enough to disrupt your local ecosystem, and then what would become of your eagles and foxes?
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"...powerdown so soft and fluffy you'll think you're living in a pillow..." - jboogy

nella · Tar Sands Joined: May 11, 2007 Posts: 57

Generally speaking, it's easy to tell the difference between moles and voles. Voles are smaller: maybe 2-4 inches. Moles are bigger. And you know when you have moles: they leave telltale signs: they furrow underground, but from the top you will see lines of their tracks where soil heaved up.
My cat got a vole. They're such weird looking things, with flapper type feet and pointy heads.

Ludi

The ones with "flapper" paws are moles.

Voles look like chunky mice with short tails.

Mole:

Vole:

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"...powerdown so soft and fluffy you'll think you're living in a pillow..." - jboogy

frankthetank

It was a mole. Funny watching it in the garden. It actually came up on the surface and rolled over on its back. It had trouble getting back on its feet. I dropped it in a bucket and let it go a long ways from the house.
_________________
"Oil is going up because we use too much oil, and the capacity to replace reserves is dwindling"
-President Bush 11/07/07

topcat

When I use my live-trap, and catch the coons that are eating my grapes, I put a long rope on the trap and take them to the lake for swimming lessons. Darn dumb coons, have not found one yet that can swim!

nella · Tar Sands Joined: May 11, 2007 Posts: 57

I did go to my locally owned yarn store. I signed up for classes on spinning. They have 3 spinning wheels in the shops and ladies were using them.
The owners told me there is still a guild for spinners!
I'll see how classes go. They say if I like it, they can run down used spinning wheels for me at ~ 100 bucks. They are treadle operated.
I think I have a line on a useful skill that I will really enjoy. It's something I would do PO or not.

delpasored

That has to be one of the wierdest looking creatures around.
I'd have to be pretty desperate to eat one of those things.

Although, the flippers/feet and nose might be nice and crunchy if deep fried. Smile

Ludi

Yesterday spent the morning repairing some of the 50 year-old fencing on our place, so now the sheep are slightly more inconvenienced at getting out.

This morning sheared another sheep, the little ewe. One more left to shear.

I'm horribly behind on things because of spending nearly a week with bad food poisoning. I'm still not feeling completely fine.

The garden is mostly neglected but still producing.
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"...powerdown so soft and fluffy you'll think you're living in a pillow..." - jboogy

Shannymara · Master Joined: Oct 04, 2004 Posts: 5143 Location: Oklahoma

Registered domains for the East Texas Permaculture Center I'm finally starting. Personal life got in the way for awhile there. Also started a niche crop for local market.
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"Every junkie's like a setting sun..." - Neil Young

Laurasia · Intermediate Crude Joined: Jul 10, 2004 Posts: 533

Wow! Good luck with the new Center, Shannymara!

Regards,

L.

Shannymara · Master Joined: Oct 04, 2004 Posts: 5143 Location: Oklahoma

Thanks, Laurasia. I'm starting really small, just going to try and do a couple of talks and see what materializes. I'll let y'all know.
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"Every junkie's like a setting sun..." - Neil Young

Blacksmith

Today the fava beans I planted came up, the corn and the squach did not. Don't go cheap buy fresh seeds
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Appuis ait fabrum esse suae quemque fortunae.
Alias Redneck

topcat

Went to a yard sale and picked up a surplus canvas strecher. Showed the wife, she liked it, went back and bought the other one!

We are calling them 'cots with handles' as they have short legs to keep you off the ground when opened.

Now we can sleep in the basement where it is cool.