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Eric Hanson wrote:Let me second what MaryAnne said about Main Coon Cats. They are awesome hunters.
But I disagree about them being feral/untamable. For about 10 years we had a Main Coon Cat that had the run of our property or inside the house, whichever he wanted. He was a huge, hulking beast of a cat (20 or so pounds) that could intimidate any creature larger than him that might otherwise be a threat (around here, think numerous coyotes). He was also a great big softy, a true gentle giant. My young children could play with him and I had no fear whatsoever of him scratching or biting. He was a truly affectionate cat. And he is missed. But in his day we never ever had a single mouse problem.
So I totally agree that a Main Coon Cat is a great mouser, but I have found them to be the most “dog-like” cats I have ever seen.
Eric
greg mosser wrote:another thing to remember about onions is that they want a fair amount of nitrogen if they’re going to get big. nitrogen means growth of more leaves, and each time an onion grows another leaf, it gets another layer on the bulb.
Amy Gardener wrote:The antidote to mealtime stress is Benjamin Kemper's Pkhali, what he defines as "a smearable salad."
Once I memorized this (super easy) recipe, cooking changed for me. I make it anytime "I just can't even" imagine cooking which is often in the hot summer. Ingredients are always available in my garden or storage and I keep walnuts in the freezer.
The article is wonderful and here is the abreviated version:
PKHALI
[Cook] 2 cups cooked vegetables, cooled and squeezed of excess moisture. These should be grated, chopped coarse, or mushed up with your hands, depending on the type of vegetable and how you like it cooked.
To make the dressing, grind 1⁄2 cup (50 grams) walnuts (be sure they’re fresh and of good quality) to the consistency of coarse sand using a meat grinder (what Georgians use), mortar and pestle, or food processor, and transfer the nuts to a medium bowl. Stir in 1 tsp. salt, 11⁄2 Tbsp. …[homemade vinegar], 2 tsp. ground coriander, 1 minced garlic clove, crushed red pepper flakes (to taste), 1⁄4 cup chopped cilantro, and 2 Tbsp. finely chopped scallion or white onion. Incorporate 1–2 Tbsp. water to form a thick, sludgy sauce.
Add the vegetables to the dressing and mix everything well with your hands, adding water as needed to form a thick, moldable paste. Taste for seasoning:
The pkhali should be zippy with plenty of vinegar, salt, and garlic. Roll the mixture into single-serving balls or patties, or mound it onto a large serving plate. …Pkhali should be served at a cool room temperature and tastes best the day it’s made.
Dorothy Pohorelow wrote:
Heather Gardener wrote:Aww thank you Mary Anne 😊 Not sure if purple flower colour colour and purple tuber colour are necessarily linked, but can’t hurt to try.
There is an article on Cultivariable about potato plant flower color and what they can tell you https://www.cultivariable.com/what-potato-flowers-can-tell-you-about-tuber-color/
Marc Dube wrote:I raised two feeder pigs together one barrow and one gilt. I butchered the barrow about three weeks ago because he was bigger than the gilt thinking she would be fine by herself for awhile while she fattened up some more.
This past weekend she started breaking out of her pen constantly and no amount of reinforcement would keep her in. I moved her to a stall in the barn and she quickly broke the door hinges in two! Then took off into the neighbors field.
I went to the house to gather reinforcements (read teenage child) and while I was there I grabbed the gun because worst case scenario if we couldn't pen her up we would butcher her then and there.
We barely started looking for her and she started to full on charge me. I yelled at her to stop a couple times and she was not going to stop. luckily I had the gun with me and was able to shoot her just 3 feet from me.
The lesson I learned here was that pigs truly do get lonely and should not be raised alone. I think what happened was she came into heat and went looking for a mate. Always be vigilant around grown pigs most of the time they are docile but have the potential to be dangerous.
Heather Staas wrote:Here is a copy of the user agreement that I need to work withing (although it seems general accepted that many of these rules are NOT followed by others)
GARDEN PLOT USER AGREEMENT ~ 2022
1. Only one plot is allowed per person or family unit. No group registrations will be accepted.
2. Each individual or family must supply their own needs such as plants, fertilizer, tools, etc. Only organic gardening methods
are allowed. (No synthetic fertilizers, insecticides or pesticides allowed)
3. Each individual or family is responsible for planting (beginning Monday, April 18, 2022 with consideration of weather
and soil conditions), caring for, harvesting, and cleaning up their plot.
4. Registered persons must work their assigned plot.
5. Any plots not planted by Friday, June 3, 2022, will be reassigned by the West Springfield Park & Recreation Department
on a first come, first served basis.
6. Plots must be free of weeds, pests, and diseases. Should a garden become unkept, the registered gardener will be
instructed by the Park & Recreation Department to work out a maintenance plan. If the garden plot cannot be maintained,
it will be mowed or tilled.
7. Children of the gardening families are welcome in the garden area, but must respect the rights of other gardeners.
8. No dogs or other pets are allowed in the garden area.
9. Areas must be kept clean at all times. Organic debris (leaves, weeds, etc.) must be placed in the compost pile located on the
east end of the garden plots. Other debris may be placed in trash cans located on the west side of the garden plots. Keep
trash and litter out of the plot and away from adjacent pathways.
10. Garden plots cannot expand beyond assigned dimensions, into paths or into other plots. All plants must stay within set
garden plot limits.
11. No perennials, trees or shrubs are allowed to be planted.
12. Plastic or other non-porous material for ground cover is not allowed.
13. Rebar, metal fence posts, orange mesh fencing material and fencing over 3’ is not allowed. Wooden stakes are permitted
should a gardener choose to use them.
14. No vehicle, lawn furniture or rain barrels are allowed in the garden area.
15. Do not enter or take food/plants from other plots. Do not take anything from a garden that is not rightfully yours.
16. End of season clean-up deadline is Tuesday, November 1, 2022. All debris, stakes, and weed block must be removed
prior to the clean-up date. If materials are not removed, you WILL NOT be able to reserve a plot for the following year.
17. A minimum of 12 inches must be maintained on the sidelines or each garden.
18. The Town of West Springfield or its Agent, the West Springfield Park & Recreation Department, assumes no responsibility
for injuries, vandalism or theft in the garden area.
19. Community gardens are to be used for recreational gardening, such as growing vegetables and flowers for personal/family
use. Growing vegetables and flowers for commercial purposes is prohibited.
IMPORTANT DATES:
Monday, March 21, 2022: Registration for returning gardeners begins.
Monday, April 4, 2022: Open registration begins on a first come, first served basis.
Monday, April 18, 2022: Garden season OPENS (with consideration of weather and soil conditions.) Planting can
BEGIN.
Friday, June 3, 2022: Garden plots not planted will be reassigned by the Park & Recreation Department on a first come,
first served basis.
Tuesday, November 1, 2022: Garden season CLOSED; clear plots for tilling