What did you do in the garden today?

[Nym]

I found one!

us
89$ in australia

 

[gtaus]

Thanks for that info, @gtaus, I would have expected those to run considerably higher. We burn our cardboard around here, but with a set of cutters like those, composting becomes a viable option.

To be clear, I use my power cutters to cut the heavy cardboard into strips 2-3 inches wide and then shred the cardboard strips in my paper shredder down the middle slot designated for credit cards. That way I don't bog down and break my home paper shredder.

For me, heavy cardboard is now a great resource to be used as shreds fist in my chicken coop as deep bedding, then tossed into the chicken run as outside litter to decompose in place, then the finished compost is used to feed my raised bed gardens.

There are other ways to use cardboard, of course, but shredding it for the chickens and composting it later is the best use for my needs.

 

[CNJ]

My shipment from Baker Creek arrived today. In addition to my squash seeds I got a free packet of Merlot red leaf lettuce. I'm out of lettuce seeds and wasn't planning to plant any, but I guess I will now. LOL

I started eating my free Merlot red leaf lettuce I got from Bakers Creek. They pull on the romaine leaf side. They were easier to grow than the butter crunch type. It's a keeper.

 

[gtaus]

I found one!

View attachment 3735407us
89$ in australia

Not sure about the exchange rate, but here is that item in the USA...

You can buy that Ryobi power cutter in kits with additional batteries as well, for extra money of course.

FWIW, I only have the one battery in my Harbor Freight power cutter, but I only have to recharge it once every 2 months for as much as I use it. I use the tool a lot, but not everyday, and when I do use it, it's only for a few minutes at a time cutting up a box or two.

 

[Smokerbill]

I started eating my free Merlot red leaf lettuce I got from Bakers Creek. They pull on the romaine leaf side. They were easier to grow than the butter crunch type. It's a keeper.

That's good to know. Thanks!

 

[saysfaa]

... don't blame California one bit for doing anything, and everything, they can do to clean up their air.

I do when it results in higher pollution globally. Shifting the pollution to other parts of world isn't really cleaning up.

I noticed that cobalt minimg in the MN Boundary Waters area is a lot more problematic to many Americans than cobalt mining in Africa where about 70% is currently done.

 

[Nym]

Not sure about the exchange rate, but here is that item in the USA...

View attachment 3735456

You can buy that Ryobi power cutter in kits with additional batteries as well, for extra money of course.

FWIW, I only have the one battery in my Harbor Freight power cutter, but I only have to recharge it once every 2 months for as much as I use it. I use the tool a lot, but not everyday, and when I do use it, it's only for a few minutes at a time cutting up a box or two.

49.00 US Dollars = 74.524449 Australian Dollars

everything is expensive here. Buying from the US is a thing of the past these days, especially the postage costs.

 

[saysfaa]

...

Actually, tea bags might work well too.

They do!!!

I'm so glad I asked here. I would not have thought of tea bags. Thank you for all the ideas and discussions.

I'd never considered dissecting a tea bag. It was much more interesting than I expected.

I first made tea before taking apart the tea bag. Then sacrificed a tea bag of tea to take it apart dry. Either way works; dry is easier. They were different brands with small differences in construction (only folding vs sealing, tiny staple vs stitching).

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I still use cardboard in my garden areas. I’m planning on making more paths on my slope this season and will put down cardboard under a layer of weed barrier than cover with wood chips. That should keep the paths weed free for a while. Yesterday I worked on tweaking my garden plan. I also order some fabric to make produce (mostly, peas and beans) picking aprons with the grandkids. They got a sewing machine for Christmas and I thought they would enjoy a project.

 

[Acre4Me]

why do you have trouble growing cucumbers? I dig a hole just to put a handful or two aged manure and put a seed in. the only other thing it needs is water and sun. some dried grass around the stalk to keep snails and slugs away. I water it on the ground and early in the morning when it is cool. do you do any different?

I’m guessing it is a disease of some kind. Probably wilt and maybe others. So, I definitely find that the hybrids with disease resistance provide better success. Still, not great though. I try really hard to avoid spraying pesticide, and the cucumber beetles may be part of the problem bc they do spread disease. However, I hesitate to spray for them as the pesticides would kill bees or other beneficials. So, this year I may try beneficial nematodes in the ground. I can buy and liquify them to add into the ground, keep the ground wet/moist while they attack the larvae of various bugs in the soil, including cucumber beetles. It’s just an expensive option, but maybe worth a try to minimize the beetles or other problem pests, and avoid pesticides. It is really nice to grow cucumbers and eat them from the garden, so we keep trying!