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Operation Golden Garden 2014: Let's Get Started!

**Instead of starting an entirely new GLOG, I decided to tack 2014 on to the end of this one. So if you have already went through 2013's grow, just jump ahead to page 40.**
 
Before you go on, I would recommend you grab a beer or something else stiff to drink.  If you didnt follow my grow last time around, I have the tendency to go on, and on, and on, and on.  Also, I may not be the most "PC" out of the group, so if you are looking for clean language, on topic discussion, and general 'niceness', I am sure that I can point you in the right direction.
 
Ok, now that we got that out of the way....I AM STARTING A FREAKIN GROW LOG!  A quick bit of back story. Since I spent more time in high school partying than studying, I didn't have much of a choice following graduation. I decided to enlist in the Marines (there really isnt another choice) and now here I am 8 years and 5 deployments later.  This last go around I left the first few days of September and just got back yesterday (9 months for all the other 'non studying' folk).  As most of you know, if you want some bangin pepper plants, you need to start early, and May 25th aint early.  So right before I left I cut everything back and prayed to the pepper gods that my plants would make it through winter so I could have something to come home to.  Up until yesterday I thought that they were just taking time to put on some green, but when I walked through the fence to see my dogs, a ritual that I typically do after every deployment, I realized that the plants were not there and instead was four trays of new plants just waiting for planting.
 
Note:  IPhones are not the world's leading video recording devices.  And as a result, I may not be easily heard.  Dont worry, I didn't have much to say initially anyways, I was just a bit more surprised than anything.
 

 
For someone who seems to always talk a bit too much, I didnt have much to say initially.  I was freaking out inside and didnt know if my wife got them or what.  When she told me that the guys from THP did it, i was blown away.  You gotta understand, over the past 9 months Bill (RocketMan) organized a "Operation Hot Sauce" care package rotation for me and my guys.  A bunch of members here chipped in and sent packages of sauces, powders, peppers, and other treats to help make this deployment a bit more enjoyable.  To hear that they ALSO chipped in and GAVE ME A GROWING SEASON pretty much put me over the edge.  I know that I already messaged you guys but I wanna thank RocketMan, Coheed196, Romy6, KingDenniz, Silver_Surfer, STC3248, DesertChris, Sanarda, MuskyMojo, Pulpeteer, WalkGood, DocNRock. Stickman, Annie57, Pic 1, Pr0digal_Son, Jamison, Spicy Chicken, HighHalt, Fremp, SethSquach, 3/5 King, Patrick, Bigoldude again for helping make this happen for me.  And although giving me a garden was WAY MORE THAN ENOUGH, they also gave me a little sumpin sumpin that will help out picking up the last minute things that I need to make sure I have everything I need for the season!
 
So this morning, I got up early because I am still on Afghanistan time, cooked breakfast, and then after the family ate we went out to the garden to plant everything. 
 

 
 
The Peppers:
7 Pot
7 Pot Douglah
7 Pot Yellow
Aji Colorado
Bhut Jolokia
Bhut Jolokia Assam
Bhut Jolokia Yellow
Bonda ma Jaques
Cobra
Congo Trinidad
Fatalii
Jamaican Hot Chocolate
Lemon Drop
Marconi Giant Hybrid
TSMB 
TSMB Yellow
Naga Morich
Safi Red
Trinidad Scorpion
West Indian Red
 
Maters:
Black Krim
Black Pear
 
Oh, and did I tell you that THERE ARE 3 EACH?!?
 
Gettin to work tilling the rows a bit


 
The wife givin me a hand

 
The kiddo givin me a hand

 
Rows Complete

 
And Peppers in the ground!

 
Some goodies from Bill, Jeff and Bonnie (Bill also has goodies in the fridge :cheers:)

 
Parting Shot

 
 
GnomeGrown said:
 
Sorry!  I musta missed you in the rush to post the final few pics! 
 
PaulG said:
Matt!  Howdy, brother!  Wanted to say a belated welcome back - sorry,
have missed a lot of the action on THP the past few months.  I'm glad
you made it back home safe and sound.  Your unit's commendation to
Bill was way cool.  It is great to see you have a glog going for the 2013
season - it's already becoming a classic!  Looking forward to seeing
more from NC this summer.  Your grow already looks just awesome!
Hey Paul! It is great to see ya, thanks for stoppin in.  I am still amazed at the members here.  Hopefully everything stays on track and everyone will have a :hot: summer!
 
DocNrock said:
Man, you're getting pods already?  Awesome!  BJ Assam, 7 Pots...not just pods, but superpods!  Loving the growth on that Fatalii.
 
On a different note, I've never pickled anything, but you have inspired me to give it a try at some point.  A couple of baccatum varieties I have are just calling to be pickled. 
 
Your starts are looking great, as well.  Green and healthy. 
 
It must feel so good to be back!
 
Hell yea, it is crazy! I am super excited to see the plants doing well, let alone them setting pods!
 
And ya gotta give the pickling a try!
 
Devv said:
Lookin' Good Matt!
 
Glad to see the poddage so soon! Looks like they're loading up too!
 
Got to admit when I saw the dirt on that one I initially thought some funk from too much rain. Especially with your opening statement, send some our way we're looking at 100's.
 
Keep up the good work!
Shoot, if I could I would.  They are doing fine, but I would really prefer to get at least 3 or 4 days between torrential downpour...
 
WalkGood said:
Looking great brethren \o/ ... captain take her up to full speed I see pods ... I'm giving her all she can take Scotty, hehe
 
Great job and I'm impressed wit pods so soon, that's awesome!
Yup, it won't be long before everything is setting pods!  It is definitely a great feeling!!
 
romy6 said:
 Looking good brother. Pods o plenty  :party:
 
 
Hope your ferment goes better than mine. Got a nasty fungus and had to throw mine away  :confused:
Thanks Jamie!  Playing catch-up!
 
I am sure that you will give it another go, you definitely have the pods for it!
 
Forgot to post this last night, we got takeoff!
 



RocketMan said:
PODS!!
 
Good on ya Brother, I'm watching with great interest some of those I've never heard of before.
Hell yea, thanks for stoppin in!

So I am going in tomorrow for some surgery tomorrow morning (calf implants), so I may be in and out for the next few days as the narcotics take me to la-la land.  I apologize in advance for any unintelligible responses....
 
Wow... calf inplants... I've never heard of those before... what's up with that? When somebody with a knife tells me I'll feel better if I just hold still for them, I'm a little skeptical, ya know?
 
Get better soon brother!
 
Ah so... you rogue you... ;)  Hope they did the mesh liner so you don't have to go back for any more repairs. I take it you're home on convalescent leave until the quacks pass you for duty?
 
Good deal, you had me worried, I googled calf implants...I was like WTF?
 
Be proud, I kept my mouth shut...a rare deal!
 
Edit: Hernia's are never a good deal..you know what I mean..and heal well!
 
Thanks all for the kind wishes, I'm feeling a little better, the docs took care of me.

It was laparoscopic with mesh. Going for my post op follow up in a few so I should get some news and back to my old self in no time!
 
  I'm glad I wasn't the only one who questioned that procedure. I didn't want to rock the boat, but I know for a fact anyone in the Marines does enough running to ward off such cosmetic procedures.I just assumed that was your way of saying " If I wanted you to know I would have told you". Glad to hear you made it out alright! Now take 4 motrin and drink plenty of water. You'll be back to full duty in no time!
 
Tim
 
Hahaha!  Can't believe you guys fell for that one!    :rofl:
 
You've been back like what maybe a month now, and your glog is already at 13 pages.  I finally caught up.  Everything looks awesome - plants, pods, seedlings, powder, smoked animal flesh, and now a ferment!!!  Wow, you have got it going on!!!  Oh, and my 14 yr.old gamer son enjoyed the gun and artillery pics ...
 
stickman said:
Good job Matt, once it starts gassing up you're underweigh.
Hell yea Rick, here is a shot I just took.  You can definitely see the separation between the liquid and mash. 

 
Devv said:
Good deal, you had me worried, I googled calf implants...I was like WTF?
 
Be proud, I kept my mouth shut...a rare deal!
 
Edit: Hernia's are never a good deal..you know what I mean..and heal well!
LOL. Sorry, I couldn't resist!
 
stickman said:
Ah so... you rogue you... ;)  Hope they did the mesh liner so you don't have to go back for any more repairs. I take it you're home on convalescent leave until the quacks pass you for duty?
They did, I have had this thing since Feb, but since I was deployed I muscled through it so I didn't have to go home early.  They gave me 2 weeks sick leave and then another 6 light duty.  The doc said I should be good in 6 weeks.  I am gonna try my best to take it easy...we shall see...
 
peppernovice said:
  I'm glad I wasn't the only one who questioned that procedure. I didn't want to rock the boat, but I know for a fact anyone in the Marines does enough running to ward off such cosmetic procedures.I just assumed that was your way of saying " If I wanted you to know I would have told you". Glad to hear you made it out alright! Now take 4 motrin and drink plenty of water. You'll be back to full duty in no time!
 
Tim
 
I had a bunch of people on FB personal message me and ask about it.  I actually had one guy that said, "dude, did you seriously get calf implants? are they totally sick?!?".  :ROFL:  I had to let him down slowly...
 
And yea, we are totally on the same page as far as Motrin goes....Hey doc, I accidentally chopped my arm off with the wood chipper...help...Hey Marine, take some motrin and drink some water and you will be good.
 
highalt said:
Hahaha!  Can't believe you guys fell for that one!    :rofl:
 
You've been back like what maybe a month now, and your glog is already at 13 pages.  I finally caught up.  Everything looks awesome - plants, pods, seedlings, powder, smoked animal flesh, and now a ferment!!!  Wow, you have got it going on!!!  Oh, and my 14 yr.old gamer son enjoyed the gun and artillery pics ...
lol.  Glad ya liked that one. 
 
Yea, it is pretty crazy, everyone here has helped out tremendously!  Tell your son that there are some more gun pics coming!  Got one on order for the end of the month. 
 
RocketMan said:
Glad to hear your out and stoned, I mean feeling better ;)
 
Take it easy though, and as an old Top Shirt of mine used to say, "and don't get cocky"
 
How are those maters looking, are you still getting some trouble from the weather with them?
Nope, you got it right the first time :lol:
 
I am planning on laying off the heavy lifting....I am much more mobile than I thought I would be, but I am definitely nursing it.  I am guessing I will be off of post surgery mode by the beginning of the week and more in the recovery mode for the next couple weeks.  It is definitely hard with the kiddo, he doesn't really get it.  But the wife has been doing great playing ringleader. 
 
Well, I am not workin, so I have plenty of time to cruze the boards and check in on everyone's grow.  If I am feeling up to it I will try and shoot an update video in the next few days, I owe one from last week. 
 
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