First Light On Narrow Pond in Ant Village

60 flat 1x4" x8", eight flat 2x6" x8' removed and stacked for the winter

all large plastic, plastic roofing, and insulation removed from Hill Billy Mansion

..even took 90% of the slip straw

the rest of the logs, flat wood and metal will remain for next year's use

Thank you Kyle, Thank you Magdalene, for the work and the company on the slip sraw walls

I enjoy watching your progress out there.

South wall got some of Hill Billy Mansions slip straw

Did you have to reconstitute the slip straw?

nope, well, um here's what I did:

used a sawsall to cut Hill Billy Mansion's slip straw wall into peices I could just lift.

then determined if the piece I cut out was flat on the bottom to match the plate....if it wasn't, then I would put new wet thick soupy clay on the bottom side and the threw new slip straw under the bottom so it sat flat on the plate.

to add a second block like piece on top of the first, I'd slop wet thick soupy clay on both the first and second piece before adding about an inch of new slip straw between the two.

so yes but not like maybe you were thinking

Today, I didn't want to do any thing because I know I have only two short tasks to complete before I take off...so I dragged myself out of bed late and started to prepare my perennials for the onslaught of hungry elk and turkey during the winter.

All summer I worked next to the pyramid hugel. At the beginning of summer, I caved in three ground squirrel dens with my sturdy iron tamp and pry bar but left the all the other dens alone not found on the hugel.

All summer, I poured gray water mixed with urine on the pyramid hugel.

No ground squirrels attempted to move back in.

No deer came back after realizing I could be expected at any time.

Nor did I feed them apples or anything.

Finally, in this valley, it was wetter this year than last.

My point is, no deer nor ground hogs molested my perennials after the first few weeks.

On the other hand, my brother's deer were fed apples and compost so no running them off works. Notice I call them my brother's deer. They think he built his barn for them.

Now if it were not a wetter year, then I am sure every critter with in 20 miles would show up.  But I already informed them the best seeds and seedlings are on Fred's plot so even then I might only see a slight increase in the toothy harrassment of my perennials.

But I am leaving and the elk always come down looking for food and warmer hang outs in the winter. They come hungry and motivated. Also the turkeys come back after hunting season.

I hope to protect my plants slightly better than last year. Wish them luck!

Reminded me of the movie Never Cry Wolf where the biologist has to drink a lot of tea and start marking his turf to get the wolves he’s studying to respect his personal space.

Do you know if thorny berry canes survive animal browse? Perhaps they could be guided to help provide some cover.

Or some reused Halloween decorations with motion detection hooked into solar and batteries, to scare off the elk when they get close! 😁

Mark Brunnr wrote:....

...Or some reused Halloween decorations with motion detection hooked into solar and batteries, to scare off the elk when they get close! 😁

I want this device:

Today I took care of the last task I wanted done before I leave for the winter.

Probably empty the 300 gallon tank, the sand bio filter, and soak the pyramid hugel before I tidy On Narrow Pond and pack.

well, your updates will be missed. know when you’ll be back?