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HillBilly Jeff's 2014 Adventure - Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

HillBilly Jeff said:
 

Just throwing this up here to plan out my list for next year.  Looking at some changes to my grow next year.
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Bodeen said:
Just throwing this up here to plan out my list for next year.  Looking at some changes to my grow next year.
Click to expand...
 

Just throwing this up here to plan out my list for next year.  Looking at some changes to my grow next year.
 
Click to expand...
Devv said:
Well I just got back from Home Depot, got my 50 and 10 bags of garden soil for 2 bucks each. I really like less than half price, my half ton had a bit of squat to it..LOL
 
For the strawberries we use the full length screens that came with our exterior doors to cover them so the Squirrels don't eat the fruit. Our intention is to build a raised bed and go a little higher possibly 8 high and still be able to use the screens.
 
Now I see those bricks...I'm NOT going back to town..LOL save that for next year...
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I picked up 10 bags as well.  I wish they had that deal on the composted cow manure.  I think I can get that locally for like a buck a bag.  That is really going to help build up my beds.
 
I am not going too high on the beds this year, but if they run a good deal like this again, and I don't get the hankering to build some more beds, I might raise em up and emend some more goodies into the top of the dirt.
 
But, but, but they're 25 cents a brick!!!
Speaking of the bricks, I need to cut a few in half so I can stagger the rows and I think the ends will need split as well.  Do they make a sawsall masonary blade lol
Scott, did you see the rolls of ground cover to keep the weeds down that they had?  Good price on them too.
 
Jeff,
 
I could have spent 2 paychecks and filled 2 18 wheelers with all the goodies I saw. I think HD is trying to compete with Lowe's who I feel stole a lot of their business. In SA the two stores are across the street from each other. In my book volume is what makes businesses succeed.
 
I ripped out all the carpet and linoleum in the house and laid ceramic tile years ago. Rented a tile cutter once and quickly decided to buy one, it would make quick work of them if they fit. You should be able to scribe them and using a support get a clean break.
 
Quickly Googled http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/skill-builder/0,,20201875,00.html
 
I bet a brick soaked in water would cut easily with a Skil saw and an old blade. I have an old POS saw with the blade put on backwards I use to cut tin roofing material. That link has info on a sawsall too.
 
Didn't take too long for the turkey thighs to get smoked.  A little too much salt in the brine, but other than that, they turned out well....for thighs.
 
 
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So I am driving past the Interstate today and ahead of me there is a van in the right hand turn lane....he proceeds to turn.....LEFT

JJJessee said:
My first ever bed of superhots last year, I did three rows in 4 foot staggering the middle row. They supported each other real well -minimal staking. Don't plant similar plants next to each other or you won't know what you're picking.  
 
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I think I will do two rows.  Was thinking of doing a border of some kind of flower, like midget marigolds, but I am not sure they will fit.  
 
My plan is to try to keep all the same varieties together.  I have a feeling one bed will be full of BMJ lol...But I have 7 brown morugas, 3 TSMB that can go in one end, and things like that.  
 
I think I want to plant the back garden first as I know how my peppers will do back there.  Then put the ones I don't have room for in the beds.  They should do fine out there though, but no sense having empty garden space just to fill the beds...of course, I could find more peppers to plant :)
 
HillBilly Jeff said:
So I am driving past the Interstate today and ahead of me there is a van in the right hand turn lane....he proceeds to turn.....LEFT
 
The trick here is the right turn from the far left lane on a 3 lane HWY. Which is why I'm not a fan of the city.

 
I think I will do two rows.  Was thinking of doing a border of some kind of flower, like midget marigolds, but I am not sure they will fit.  
 
This may just work if the plants are kept trimmed to a single stem and would look cool.
 
My plan is to try to keep all the same varieties together.  I have a feeling one bed will be full of BMJ lol...But I have 7 brown morugas, 3 TSMB that can go in one end, and things like that.  
 
I think I want to plant the back garden first as I know how my peppers will do back there.  Then put the ones I don't have room for in the beds.  They should do fine out there though, but no sense having empty garden space just to fill the beds...of course, I could find more peppers to plant :)
 
Now that sounds like a plan!
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I have to say that digging out an area 24 feet by 3 feet and lowering it by 8 inches with nothing more than a shovel and wheel barrel can only be described by one word.  It sucks.  
 
I want to give my bed around the hobby shop an additional 8 inches of good stuff along with whatever extra height I get from the bricks.  If I need more, I can get more bricks and go higher.  
 
All the spacing of the other beds is based off this bed, so I must get this one finished first.  Of course, I need to level the ground the bricks are going to be sitting on to make them look half way right.  I think I will connect 3 of my landscape timbers together and use them to find level and shim.  Back fill where I need and then place the bricks.  All I have in me today is shoveling out the bed area.  Worked today and have to work tomorrow.
 
Hope to get some pictures up later tonight if I can still walk.
 
HillBilly Jeff said:
I have to say that digging out an area 24 feet by 3 feet and lowering it by 8 inches with nothing more than a shovel and wheel barrel can only be described by one word.  It sucks.  
 
I want to give my bed around the hobby shop an additional 8 inches of good stuff along with whatever extra height I get from the bricks.  If I need more, I can get more bricks and go higher.  
 
All the spacing of the other beds is based off this bed, so I must get this one finished first.  Of course, I need to level the ground the bricks are going to be sitting on to make them look half way right.  I think I will connect 3 of my landscape timbers together and use them to find level and shim.  Back fill where I need and then place the bricks.  All I have in me today is shoveling out the bed area.  Worked today and have to work tomorrow.
 
Hope to get some pictures up later tonight if I can still walk.
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I've worn out 2 shovels, on my third. I may be crazy but now as I sit at a desk I feel it's a privilege, mainly cuz I still can do it :D
 
Still it's a lot of work for one day, I know this, you'll sleep well tonight!
 
Can't wait to see the images!
 
Won't be much to look at right now, but it will get there.
 
First up are some poddage pics.
 
HBJ
 
 
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Manzano
 
 
0405Manzano.jpg

 
 
 
Lemon Drop x Tepin
 
 
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Now for some landscaping pics
 
The initial layout.
 
 
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A look at how three bricks high will look.
 
 
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Got the border up just for the dig out.
 
 
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The Dig out
 
 
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And the depth removed.
 
 
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I still need to level the bricks and once that is done, I can get some black dirt dumped and start the filling and amending process.  The first raised bed will be set parallel to this bed, so getting this one done is the critical step.
 
Native soil up here on the hill is sand.  Across the road to the south is muck/sand mix.  The farm fields out back are black sand,  No clay to be had around here.
 
Looks good from my house Jeff!
 
The only way I feel you could have made things "perfect" would be if you made a concrete footer for the bricks. Life's just too short, and fishing is mas importante!
 
I would have done it exactly the same way, the sandy soil is really stable.
 
Our place is mainly sand, but it's got just enough clay in it to make it impossible the dig unless it's wet. When I start a post hole I chip away enough so I can fill the depression with water, same thing when shoveling, once it's wet it's easy. That's if you can ever say shoveling or post hole digging is easy. ;)
 
I thought about pouring a footer, and then mortaring the bricks, but then what happens if I want to make a change.  
 
I think I would have been just as happy if I used straight blocks and in each hole in the block put a flower!!!
 
Its functional and doesn't look hillbilly, so all is good lol. 
 
Don't catch too many smallmouth with the black splotches on them.  Put up a nice fight.
 
 
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Didn't get the camera out in time to catch the dive in the water, but it was awesome.  I think its an osprey
 
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y_QAGAtYSs
 
 
 
Amazing strike
 
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU36dlSfVzc
 
 
Called my cousin and I got a triaxle of black dirt coming in a few days.  Time to play in the dirt.
 
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