Like the illusion of Wall Street, with its vast and powerful investment banks, now shuttered, China too is an illusion perpetuated by the Globalists that gave us the 15,000 mile Caesar salad, poisoned cat food and lead based paint on babies' pacifiers. Like the illusion that money would come from thin air to always push housing prices higher, China has spent a generation pursuing its illusion. Pursuing an unattainable dream to be like the West, while 6000 years of its carefully shepherded top soil blows into the sea.
Joined: Sep 09, 2004 Posts: 416 Location: Upstate New York, U.S.A.
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 1:03 pm Post subject: Re: Land! Finally.
Added a few winter pics too:
Cattails in upper field
Deep hole test
The spring
Poplars (I think) in upper field
More of the upper field
Olaf _________________ "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." - Henry David Thoreau
Und jetzt, Olaf, mein patented system for seedling protection:
Buy rolls of 48"-high welded wire, around 14 gauge (no need for the more expensive 12.5 gauge; the cheaper will rust sooner but will still last for many years). Cut into 7 1/2-foot sections. Roll into circles (each will then have a diameter of over 2 feet) and use a few of the projecting ends of cut wire on one side of each strip to fasten the ends together. Put a weed mat with an X-shaped cut in the middle over each seedling, then lower the cage over the seedling and onto the weed mat. Drive a 5-foot hardwood stake about 18 inches into the ground next to the cage and fasten the cage to it with pieces of wire. Finally, cut the uppermost horizontal band of wire off, leaving the sharp ends exposed, and bend the ends outward all the way around, nearly but not quite to the horizontal. Any deer that tries to wreck your tree as it grows higher than the cage top will be rebuffed by those sharp ends. Works like a charm.
Add mulch around the base of each cage, to further protect against weeds, help keep the weed mat in place, and conserve even more moisture.
Another big advantage of this system is that it lets you know where your seedlings are. They don't get lost in the shuffle, accidentally mowed or stepped on, etc.
ALWAYS wear eye protection when working with wire. _________________ "Actually, humans died out long ago."
---Abused, abandoned hunting dog
"Things have entered a stage where the only change that is possible is for things to get worse."
---Me and my brother
Joined: Sep 09, 2004 Posts: 416 Location: Upstate New York, U.S.A.
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 6:51 pm Post subject: Re: Land! Finally.
Heineken,
That sounds like a great methodology. May very well have to use it.
Thanks.
Olaf _________________ "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." - Henry David Thoreau
Joined: Sep 14, 2004 Posts: 6613 Location: Rural Virginia
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 8:48 pm Post subject: Re: Land! Finally.
Sure.
I made a little mistake when I wrote "7 1/2-foot sections." I meant 6 1/2 feet. That 1-foot savings adds up when you're making lots of these things!
Although my standard shelters for field-grown trees are a little over 2 feet in diameter, actually I'm not sure just what the optimal diameter is. Those transluscent plastic tree shelters (like Tubex) are only 4 inches in diameter. They have many serious problems (which I'd be happy to list for anyone interested), and I don't recommend them. My system is much better, although unfortunately not less expensive (although my shelters are reusable, which the Tubex-type devices are not). _________________ "Actually, humans died out long ago."
---Abused, abandoned hunting dog
"Things have entered a stage where the only change that is possible is for things to get worse."
---Me and my brother
Joined: Oct 16, 2004 Posts: 1497 Location: Appalachian Foothills of Virginia
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 4:20 pm Post subject: Re: Land! Finally.
Heineken wrote:
Buy rolls of 48"-high welded wire, around 14 gauge (no need for the more expensive 12.5 gauge; the cheaper will rust sooner but will still last for many years). Cut into 7 1/2-foot sections. Roll into circles (each will then have a diameter of over 2 feet) and use a few of the projecting ends of cut wire on one side of each strip to fasten the ends together. Drive a 5-foot hardwood stake about 18 inches into the ground next to the cage and fasten the cage to it with pieces of wire.
Exactly what I do! I apply roundup in a 6 foot diameter in the Fall to the area I've mapped out, and by planting time the grass is long dead, and the roots are decomposing. I then plant red clover as a cover and soil enrichment.
Quote:
Finally, cut the uppermost horizontal band of wire off, leaving the sharp ends exposed, and bend the ends outward all the way around, nearly but not quite to the horizontal. Any deer that tries to wreck your tree as it grows higher than the cage top will be rebuffed by those sharp ends. Works like a charm.
Joined: Sep 14, 2004 Posts: 6613 Location: Rural Virginia
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:36 pm Post subject: Re: Land! Finally.
Interesting to see I'm not alone in using my "patented" technique, Sky!
Welded wire has become horribly expensive as you know, but at least it can be reused many times in many ways. I've found the 14-gauge cages will last roughly 10 years, long enough to get two or three trees out of their training wheels. Same can't be said for the Tubex-type shelters (which produce leggy, weak saplings, BTW, and which often become fatal traps for our songbird friends).
The hardwood stakes have also become ridiculously expensive. They want $2.50 each for what they call "tomato stakes" at my local Southern States. So I've taken to making my own by ripping and cutting treated 2 x 4 x 8s and pointing the ends. MUCH cheaper.
The "spike" system is an innovation I'm rather proud of. Again, cut only the uppermost ring of wire off, leaving as much as possible of the verticals immediately below intact. They will be about 3 inches long. When you bend them outward in the manner I described above, you create a really effective, 360-degree, medieval barricade against browsing deer. This innovation makes it possible to use shorter wire cages, saving some money. I have never had any deer damage to trees I've protected in this manner. One or two have been dented---by deer trying to bang their way inside, I guess.
Eye protection is always a big issue when working with wire. I wear goggles and am always conscious of the potential for "snap-backs."
I avoid herbicides almost entirely, but whatever works for you. I find the weed mat does the job well enough.
I've read that weeds are starting to develop resistance to Roundup. Wouldn't you know.
This could be an interesting and useful separate thread, don't you think? If you want to mod it into one, I'm all for it. _________________ "Actually, humans died out long ago."
---Abused, abandoned hunting dog
"Things have entered a stage where the only change that is possible is for things to get worse."
---Me and my brother
Joined: May 13, 2007 Posts: 646 Location: Athabasca, Alberta
Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 11:10 am Post subject: Re: Land! Finally.
The "Chicken Coop" may be of value as Barn Wood. You can get a good price for it in urban area. _________________ Appuis ait fabrum esse suae quemque fortunae.
Alias Redneck
Joined: Sep 09, 2004 Posts: 416 Location: Upstate New York, U.S.A.
Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:53 am Post subject: Re: Land! Finally.
As of today, it is a done deal. The land is ours. 49.526 acres.
Everybody...Snoopy Dance!
Tree plantings to commence this weekend.
Olaf _________________ "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." - Henry David Thoreau
Joined: Sep 09, 2004 Posts: 416 Location: Upstate New York, U.S.A.
Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:40 am Post subject: Re: Land! Finally.
SpringCreekFarm wrote:
Olaf wrote:
As of today, it is a done deal. The land is ours. 49.526 acres.
Everybody...Snoopy Dance!
Tree plantings to commence this weekend.
Olaf
All the best Olaf. If you happen to cruise out to the Ontario side of things and want to drop in for a coffee / beer. Look me up on here. Congrats.
Now get to work.
Thanks. I'll definitely keep the invite in mind. There is much work to be done.
I took some video of the land on Sunday. Once I get it downloaded I'll get it uploaded to Youtube to share with folks. _________________ "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." - Henry David Thoreau
Joined: Sep 14, 2004 Posts: 6613 Location: Rural Virginia
Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:51 am Post subject: Re: Land! Finally.
I'm glad that land will have a caring steward. It's great news for all the critters living on it, and for that chunk of land's connections with the rest of us.
Happy day, Olaf. _________________ "Actually, humans died out long ago."
---Abused, abandoned hunting dog
"Things have entered a stage where the only change that is possible is for things to get worse."
---Me and my brother
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
News
Discussions
Resources
Members
Forum FAQ
Search
Usergroups
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
