Lee James

I cannot tell you how much one oldish lady has learned from these young people. Please be vocal in defending your world. I tried my best to be good to the world and it's creatures but not vocal enough. If you do not, the world will continue to be run by the rich and powerful . Our leaders are not afraid of the people. They make money from the connections made while in office and the perks of the job. Like us and the bees and the planet, we are in trouble. The rich can go find another place to live or another planet. They will find a way to go on. We, the people are the ones with the voting power to remove our elected or keep the good ones. Where goes the bees, so do we. Short term goals and conspiracy theories will not work. Take care young ones and fight. You will have to push and shove to get what you know is right. I will continue to try to help but as a famous president said "The torch has been passed to a new generation". I am proud of your actions and your willingness to do more than write to your elected officials. It does not work. Violence, hatred, lies and more..do what is right for you and know that I am sorry to have failed you. Vote. It is the one thing Washington and our state officials fear most. Talk to others about voting and ask them to talk to others. Help people get to the polls. Leo, I tank you for your book and I will try to budget getting a copy. I am planting a pollinator garden near my 40 acres of meadow. I will try to spread the wealth and contact the seed exchange. I must tell you, that if the meadow is not overgrazed, the animals don't seem to bother many wildflowers. If hungry, they eat everything not matter if it is poisonous like buttercups or not..My apple trees and cherries are buzzing with little helpers tight now. I do not use any poisons unless I will not have enough food to feed myself. I did once 7-8 years ago and have learned more ways to care for my garden. The deer however don't believe in sharing at all and I might have to use a solar electric fence to have any apples! God bless and keep all safe. I do know that you have tools to protect yourself and others and that is knowledge. Use your brain to learn what is truth. Look to the experts. Remember the one truth I do know, as a Trauma Nurse for many years. Today is the gift we hold in our hands. We have God given choices and free will to mess up or not . Tomorrow is not promised to anyone. Today, is our "PRESENT". A gift to hold dear and cherish.

[color=blue] [/colorI I am impressed with this tool. I works fast and is perfect for multi tasking. I have a 50 acre farm and I have found the right tool makes jobs so much faster and easier.  Looks like a deal changer to me. You're making my day my Russian friend! Thank you!

I am a NY Newbie. i have issues with many of the worms mentioned. Coddling moths are a HUGE problem here. I use a simple solution of 1 part sugar (any type.. Honey), 1 part vinegar (apple vinegar is great) 1 part water. I use recycled water bottles painted with red if I have the paint. Core out 3-4 3/8" holes around the shoulders of the bottle and 2 holes at the neck big enough for twine or wire to pass through. Fill the bottle with a cup of the solution (you may need to warm it to dissolve the sugars completely). Hang the bottle in the tree. 1-2 bottles in mature trees. When temp starts to break freezing here, I made sure to use vegetable oil on the trunk first 12" and then 2 strips of sticky pitch or tanglefoot to catch the moths climbing up the tree. Place another couple strips of tanglefoot a foot or two above the 1st and on major branch/limbs. Check these strips for evidence of the moths. They crawl and fly short distances here but don't seem to go very far. Check the bottles and see what was caught. I have never seem a bee pollinator in my bottles but I do see an occasional hornet or yellow jacket. I have an organic garden and use BT, the bacterial parasite of caterpillars. On the ground at the very base of my trees, I have used diatomaceous earth around the 3-5" at the tree base, when I first started the battle. I have planted red clover in the open areas around and white under the trees..My neighbor also uses a foot wide piece of corrugated cardboard around the tree trunk. The moths crawl up under the cardboard to pupate. He removes the cardboard and checks for the silk sacs and destroys them at least weekly. I compost all fallen and pruned fruit from the trees but maybe I should be making my own vinegar! I hope to learn so much more from all on permies.T hank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.