Jen Fulkerson

I have a raised bed off on its own. The bed is quite shallow, but it is a hugel beet, separated from the soil with 1/2" hardware cloth (to keep gophers out. The year before last it became totally overrun with Bermuda grass. Last spring my son and I removed the bed, repaired the bed, the Bermuda grass took prisoners. removed as much of the weeds I could.  The last corner was very hard to clear because there was so many ants. They were only the little black ants, but there were so many I would become covered in ants and they do bite. I dumped a bunch of diatomaceous earth, and left it for quite a while. I did finish the weeding, and was able to put the bed back. I didn't end up using it until this fall. Again I had to put a bunch of DE before I could prepare and plant the bed. There's been a lot of ants, but not so many I couldn't work in the bed. Until today. the fava beans are covered in ants. I didn't see any aphids, but there were so many ants, and they were getting on me and biting, so I couldn't investigate very well.
So what do I do?  With the exception of this bed, I have never had to bother with ants. But I can't even water this bed without having ants all over me. Should I put a bunch of DE on the soil and plants, should I make up some borax and sugar and put it by that bed? Do both?  What would you do?

Thanks Rebecca, It was a lot of work, but I think it will be worth it. I have all different kinds of roses hybrid teas,  floribunda and even a climber.  My favorite is Black Magic a hybrid tea, it's a very dark velvet red. I wouldn't say red is my favorite color, but this is something special. Mostly I like variety.

I'm so happy to say I'm done. It took me two days to put the wood chips in place. It didn't take that long, but my son didn't move the wood chips until dusk. I worked until I couldn't see anymore. The next day I worked, so pretty much the same scenario. It was the perfect time to do it because it rained not so long ago so the chips were not wet, but not dusty either. I'm not going to lie I didn't enjoy the process, but I'm thrilled it's done.

I put all my little decorations into the garden, and now I will wait for the spring to bring my lots of roses I can enjoy. One of my roses is an overachiever and blooming now.

I love planting all sorts of things in my main veggie garden. There are lots of benefits, and it looks beautiful. I only plant eatable plants.
I'm lousy at marking what I have planted. I write it all down, so I can keep track of when things were planted, varieties I liked, or didn't, but in the garden I often don't label anything. It's not a big deal for me, because I planted it, I recognize a lot of plants by leaf, or what it looks like. Unfortunately this is not the case for my kids.
I was talking with my daughter the other day, and she decides what she is going to pick and eat, by tasting stuff. (they have been around gardening long enough to recognize a tomato plant, so you don't have to worry about them eating those) I just thought it was funny she just nibbles her was through the garden.
It also made me grateful everything in the garden including flowers are eatable.

This fall my son planted peas all over the place. Unfortunately critters eat most of them, but I pointed out some that survived in a pot. the next day he showed me the little trellis he made. I love it. Functional and pretty.

Crepe myrtle can be great, or horrible depending on how you feel. My husband loves them, I'm not a fan. We have one in the yard, I've pruned it many times, but not in several years. We never water it, yet the picture was taken in the dead of summer. On the other hand I had one in the way of where I wanted to extend my rose garden. We cut it down and dug out all the trunk and roots we could find. This was many years ago. I have fought it ever since. It's my nemesis. So make sure you want it for ever where you plant it, because at least for me it's impossible to get rid of.

I'm finally done with phase 3. For me installing the drippers is the hardest part. My fingers, neck and knees are killing me, ( a reminder of how old, fat and out of shape I am) but it's done.
I have the wood chips. I hope my son will bring them close with the  bobcat. There's no access to dump them in the roses garden, but he can bring the pile close.

The max I get is 12 at a time. I was actually thinking about that yesterday. I can extend the shelf if I need to. You have a good idea, I might have to think about that. I have already discovered a few flaws, I wish I had done differently. That's just the way it is. Live and learn.

I have had chickens for about 20 years now.  We usually don't have a rooster, so every 2 or 3 years I get I new batch of chicks. I got chicks last year, and thanks to a persistent raccoon I'm getting chicks this year too. I have been using a large tote in the house to start them out for many years. It a total pain. I'm short, so it's difficult to reach, and care for the chicks. They also fill the water with the bedding immediately. I'm always fighting to lid, and the heat lamp.
I decided I wanted something more functional. I built a brooder. I'm not a carpenter, and there are lots of mistakes. I also used a lot of repurposed wood. I bought 6 fence pickets, hinges, screws, and some paint. Everything else was pallet wood, or wood given to me from no longer needed stuff. It cost me about $70.00. 30.00 for the pickets, 18.00 for the paint, and 10.00 for the bottom tray, and around 10 to 12 for the hinges and screws. I already have the hardware to cloth.
I'm quite pleased with it. It cost more than I wanted to spend, and took a lot longer to build then I thought. I think it's going to be so much more functional.
I bought a dog crate tray, and built it around the tray. I made a door to easily remove the tray to clean. I made a door in the front because I'm short and have a difficult time tending the chicks. There's a small elevated section on one end for the food and water in hopes of keeping them from filling with the bedding. That end also has a door for quick and easy food and water maintenance. The top is removable with 2 screws. ( if I end up needing to remove the top more than I think, I will put hinges on it). The legs are a very basic frame, and not attached. There's hardware cloth under the tray. when it's warm I can take the brooder outside, remove the tray a the chicks can play safely in the grass.
I don't have the chicks yet, so we will see, but I think it's going to be a lot nicer for them, and a lot easier for me.

When I first heard of this method, I thought it was just a silly fad. The more I see and read about it, the more I'm interested. I thought I would give it a try. A lot of people recommend bubble wrap, and I have some bubble wrap Amazon bags,  I also have some free seeds, so I decided why not?  I just couldn't plant my free tomato seeds. The thought of planting food in plastic, not intended for that purpose just seems like a bad idea. I planted marigolds (my seeds, so still free). Even though they are eatable, we don't eat them.
I actually enjoyed the process, and look forward to watching my snail come to life.
As a side experiment I poked some of seeds down and laid some sideways, we will see what germinates faster.
I look forward to hearing the results of using material. I worry the roots will grow into it.
Good luck everyone