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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

 
 
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millworkman said:
Id put em out as soon as they hook. This time of year I sprout outside in full sun 6+ hrs a day. New seedlings do not need to be hardened if they pop in the sun.
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 Well that warning was for my climate I guess:)
 
Powder looks awesome! Its a shock how little powder comes from a gallon of pods. Couple LBs of pods reduced to a few ounces of powder. The thick walled pods go much further...just take longer to dry. 
 
I used to direct sow in South Texas each year in a spot that got full sun all day long...grew that way for years! I even did the same last year late season here in Cali and everything popped and grew like a weed. So +1 to Mill...if you sow in containers just be aware they'll need more water than in a grow tent due to the temp/wind of the soil outside in the sun.
 
Thanks all.  I guess the light is going back in the box until winter!  No worries, Ill save a few on the electric bill and not have to worry about hanging the light.  It makes total sense, I guess we just get wrapped up in growing under lights, hardening, etc.  But the lights are just our attempt to mimic the sun, why not use if if you can????  I think Ill just carve out a little spot next to the garden and start moving them outside as they pop up.  They are in those small 3 oz cups, so i will just have to be johnny on the spot with the water.  Once I cull the weaker ill probably pot up to a 2.5x2.5x3 to get a nice root ball before going in the bigger bags. 
 
Anyways, thanks for the recommendations, I knew you guys would know what to do! 
 
MGOLD86 said:
AK-47
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So... I saw this and all I could think was that Max Brooks really talks up the AK as opposed to an M-16 in "The Zombie Survival Guide" - apparently more durable and user friendly. So, if you're hunting zombies or whatever, you've got some training...

I know that was totally unrelated to smoking peppers and whatnot, but come on, if the zombie hoards attack are you going to leave your newly planted garden? I think not. You'll have to defend it.
 
Oh no. Andy will turn this into a AR vs. AK thread. :eek:
 
I'm in.
 
I choose my AR. This spring I have been regularly shooting open sights out to 600 yards (not really a stock gun). Can't do that with an AK, the bullets can't go that far and stay supersonic. I'll take those zombies out before they even get into AK range. No zombies eating my Brains (brainstrains that is).
 
A smart man once told me when it comes to the zombie apocalypse, we often overlook one central factor...weight. Ammo, weapon, parts, etc it all adds up. I always said that I wanted. Barrett, and at like 40 pounds before ammo, that ain't gonna be fun to hump. The AK is a bit heavier and the ammo is definitely heavier and harder to come by. I would probably just go with a 10.5 inch .300 blk, a good sure fire suppressor, and nice optic. That would slay anything that would be crawling around my pepper patch.

And now a pepper related comment to fend off the purists lol! I initially had the germination box just siting On the bench at ambient temp. I thought last night since our temps have been on the 70s that I should hook up the heating mat. I threw it on with my temp control plug and woke up this morning and it was nice and moist in the boxes. It is amazing how much better those work to get things perfectly warm. I can't wait to see what pops first, and which medium. I am pulling for the promix because I like how it feels, but who knows.
Oh, and for the record, I have NO PROBLEM going WAYY off topic, I mean, there ain't any peppers popping now...
 
The problem I see regarding the zombie apocalypse, and Matt makes great sense with the weight issue, no one wants to wind up humping 300+ pounds. even after the ruck gets dropped your still talking more weight in the mag pouch as well as bigger pouches to hold the 7.62 versus 5.56.  But I think, looking from a fortified position and Garden protection that a good supply of Foo Gas, it's a Vietnam thing, is going to be a must. Remember that zombies attack in Mass and it pretty much takes a head shot to put one down and keep it down and then after the attack is over you have to pile up all those bodies and start the funeral fire. Foo Gas takes care of it all at once and you can clean up with a lawn blower. Fight Smarter not harder.
 
But still there's just something about seeing a good head shot perfectly placed round going exiting the skull of a zombie :)  This is a PG-13 site I believe.
 
And Pepper related does fighting zombies go better with Scorpions or maybe a Fatalii for a little sweeter flavor?
 
RocketMan said:
The problem I see regarding the zombie apocalypse, and Matt makes great sense with the weight issue, no one wants to wind up humping 300+ pounds. even after the ruck gets dropped your still talking more weight in the mag pouch as well as bigger pouches to hold the 7.62 versus 5.56.  But I think, looking from a fortified position and Garden protection that a good supply of Foo Gas, it's a Vietnam thing, is going to be a must. Remember that zombies attack in Mass and it pretty much takes a head shot to put one down and keep it down and then after the attack is over you have to pile up all those bodies and start the funeral fire. Foo Gas takes care of it all at once and you can clean up with a lawn blower. Fight Smarter not harder.
 
But still there's just something about seeing a good head shot perfectly placed round going exiting the skull of a zombie  :)  This is a PG-13 site I believe.
 
And Pepper related does fighting zombies go better with Scorpions or maybe a Fatalii for a little sweeter flavor?
Click to expand...
 
 
You know RM, if you do have that fortified garden protection position, you could always have your significant other reloading magazines for you. Just drop a couple ammo cans down in between fatalii bushes and toss her your magazines when they are empty. I have another box of 30-06 so she can reload the en bloc clips when empty too. If the head shot from the AR isn't enough, there is nothing like zombie hunting with a Garand. :D weight be damned.
 
IMAG0945.jpg
 
For the record, I love the turn this just took. 
 
Going back to Max Brook's stuff, I think he would actually recommend a simple bolt action rifle if you're in a fortified position.  Single shot, no temptation to go full auto, makes you focus on making each round count.  Also, easier to clean and repair, not such a complex machine, that sort of thing. 
 
I'm just glad to be on a forum that knows the values of both growing peppers and defending the pepper patch from zombies...
 
Pulpiteer said:
So... I saw this and all I could think was that Max Brooks really talks up the AK as opposed to an M-16 in "The Zombie Survival Guide" - apparently more durable and user friendly. So, if you're hunting zombies or whatever, you've got some training...

I know that was totally unrelated to smoking peppers and whatnot, but come on, if the zombie hoards attack are you going to leave your newly planted garden? I think not. You'll have to defend it.
Click to expand...
A wise man once said...

And the Day of the Zombies Apoc...mk17,30-06,and or mp7. After seeing Matt's new toy...I'm starting to like that route;)
Zombie Apoc to me= Close combat,urban,silent but deadly. Matt's gun shoots both 556 and 762...SD ROUNDS! Shhhhhh more might come!

Anyone have any tips on a urban ghillie suit?



More smoker action...oh please and thank you! LOL
 
Since you're defending a fixed position, I'd say weight isn't an issue unless you have to go beyond the wire on foraging trips. I find it's kinda hard to beat Claymores when it comes to zombie wave attacks. They're too damn dumb to look for tripwires, so you'd have them rigged that way on the outer perimeter. Closer in you'd want them command detonated so you could duck before touching them off.
 
I have a handful of pictures that I just took and I seriously considered not posting them and just going with the zombie topic for a while....:rofl:
 
But I do have a duty, and it is more than just blow the heads off of zombie invaders. 
 
It really is amazing what a bit of rain can do, and after Monday's more than a 'bit' of rain everything is looking on point.  Here are just a few. 
 
TSMB Yellow.  These were kinda struggling after the transplant, and right now they are looking great.

 
BJ Red

 
Assam getting some side growth

 
This Fatalii got topped at some point in trasit, but it is putting off nice sidegrowth.

 
Nice big leaf on the West Indian Red

 
Sidenote:  I am watching last night's AGT and some dude did what he called the "Fire and Ice challenge".  Apparently it is when you lay in a tub of ice and eat the world's hottest pepper.  He did it after eating three raw eggs (shell and all) and doing a tequila suicide shot.  I think it was a Bhut, there wasn't a closeup until....Howie said he would eat it if Howard Stern did as well.  Needless to say, he took a small bite and the reaction was amazing.  Instant OH SHIT, followed by pouring milk down his throat.  Pretty funny.  Way funnier than the dude's act...
 
Another sidenote: it all depends on which zombies we are talking about....I mean, Walking Dead/George Romero Zombies or WWZ/28 Days Later zombies.  This plays a HUGE factor into arsenal choice.  Also, if we get overrun, which I wouldnt but maybe a lesser warfighter would, and you need to pickup and go that AR better be staged. 
 
Also, looks like there will be a GLOCK in my future.  Wasn't a GLOCK guy until this deployment, carrying one for a while definitely turned me! 
 
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