Gardening for Old Folks (Adaptative)

[Sequel]

My garden got very weedy over the summer and I decided to just mow and mulch rather than really cleaning up and digging stuff in. It has been so dry for so long that I’m afraid once it starts raining I could lose all my dirt if it’s just sitting there. I’m leaving as many roots in there as I can.

 

[jvls1942]

I decided not to plant garlic this year.
it went from summer to early winter and skipped fall.
supposed to snow tomorrow. the ground is not frozen so
it will melt quickly.
I caught four red squirrels so far. just took one for a
five mile ride. at least this way he has a better chance
of survival than if I would have dispatched him.
good news, for two days there has been a cat hanging
around here. I suppose he will go after the rabbits first.
we will try to keep him here by feeding him a little.
don't want to overfeed him, though.

 

[jvls1942]

The garden is done. Froze this morning. I need to get out and pull all the weeds and prep it for winter.

plant winter rye and plow it under in the spring.

 

[R2elk]

I decided not to plant garlic this year.
it went from summer to early winter and skipped fall.
supposed to snow tomorrow. the ground is not frozen so
it will melt quickly.
I caught four red squirrels so far. just took one for a
five mile ride. at least this way he has a better chance
of survival than if I would have dispatched him.
good news, for two days there has been a cat hanging
around here. I suppose he will go after the rabbits first.
we will try to keep him here by feeding him a little.
don't want to overfeed him, though.

In most states it is illegal to relocate wild animals. I took a very dim view of the person or persons that illegally released squirrels here. Had I known for positive who was doing it, I would have turned them in.

 

[jvls1942]

In most states it is illegal to relocate wild animals. I took a very dim view of the person or persons that illegally released squirrels here. Had I known for positive who was doing it, I would have turned them in.

where we turned that squirrel loose was miles away
from any house.
These squirrels have found somewhere to get into
the house. I just had new soffits all around. I don't know
of any holes. I suspect they are going down one of the
unused chimneys . at any rate, I don't want them chewing
on the wires buried under the insulation in the attic.

 

[Nyhillbillies]

Thanks, my birthday is not until the 28th but i did get a present today and it holds 10 eggs!View attachment 1207382
Even having bad soil can make raised beds necessary. I put some in my new garden here in Virginia this year. Still i am digging up the soil inside the beds and adding composted manure and sand to the clay based soil. I only plan to do that once. I was not able to spend much time on the garden because i was building chicken coops. This year will be different.
You might be interested in straw bale gardens. They could even grow on a raised platform.

If you go on you tube and search “straw bale garden”, be careful what you open! There’s one master gardener there who’s also a nudist!

 

[R2elk]

where we turned that squirrel loose was miles away
from any house.
These squirrels have found somewhere to get into
the house. I just had new soffits all around. I don't know
of any holes. I suspect they are going down one of the
unused chimneys . at any rate, I don't want them chewing
on the wires buried under the insulation in the attic.

I understand why you want rid of them. If I had the same problem, I would kill them and not relocate them. You would be surprised how far wild animals that get relocated will travel.

 

[jvls1942]

I understand why you want rid of them. If I had the same problem, I would kill them and not relocate them. You would be surprised how far wild animals that get relocated will travel.

when I could still see, I could shoot them,
but I cannot even drive any more, or mow the
lawn. I refuse to drown an animal in a cage. did
a rat once. never again. where we dropped this
squirrel off was over five miles from anywhere and
two rivers between us. I don't think he has that strong
of a homing instinct .
If they would stay away from the house, I would leave
them alone.

 

[R2elk]

when I could still see, I could shoot them,
but I cannot even drive any more, or mow the
lawn. I refuse to drown an animal in a cage. did
a rat once. never again. where we dropped this
squirrel off was over five miles from anywhere and
two rivers between us. I don't think he has that strong
of a homing instinct .
If they would stay away from the house, I would leave
them alone.

I agree that drowning is cruel. I shoot any animals I trap while they are in the trap.

It may not show up back where you are but can very likely become someone else's problem.

 

[Molpet]

Pine squirrel was in the hood. Walnuts everywhere. Washer fluid line has been eaten. I caught one in a weasel box. I hear at least 2 more. Rodent repellent and peppermint isn't working. I have a bag of used cat litter under the escape. Seems to be helpful.