Just got a catalog in the mail a little while ago that is touting the
Weck canning jars as BPA-free and that you can spot spoilage quickly as
they don't have the "wire-bail" of other jars. Look like one of the old
time canning jars with the rubber ring and wire-bail but without the
bail. First time I've ever seen them advertised in the US. The jars
start at $17.99 for a case of six of the Tulip, mini jelly jars and run
up to $23.99 for a 6 jar case of 1 liter jars. Wow! I think I'll stick
with Ball Mason jars myself.

This and outfit called Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply in Grass
Valley, CA. I've bought beneficial nematodes from them a couple of times
to keep grubs under control in our garden but the latest catalog looks
like something an extreme environmentalist back-to-the-earth type would
use. They even sell chicken houses and runs on wheels so you can move
your chickens around the property. Nothing is low-priced either.

All I can say is Wow!

No canning or preserving here today except Miz Anne is drying some curly
parsley on a tea towel in the kitchen. I had to throw out some you dried
last year as it turned completely brown.

Tomorrow the very expensive plumbers come to replace the sewer line from
the house to the city line at the street. We've a very large hole
appearing in our yard and they will fill that up when they're done. I
guess we will plant a flower bed over that area when they're done, the
flowers should grow well. <G>

"George Shirley" > wrote in message
...
> Just got a catalog in the mail a little while ago that is touting the Weck
> canning jars as BPA-free and that you can spot spoilage quickly as they
> don't have the "wire-bail" of other jars. Look like one of the old time
> canning jars with the rubber ring and wire-bail but without the bail.
> First time I've ever seen them advertised in the US. The jars start at
> $17.99 for a case of six of the Tulip, mini jelly jars and run up to
> $23.99 for a 6 jar case of 1 liter jars. Wow! I think I'll stick with Ball
> Mason jars myself.
>
> This and outfit called Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply in Grass
> Valley, CA. I've bought beneficial nematodes from them a couple of times
> to keep grubs under control in our garden but the latest catalog looks
> like something an extreme environmentalist back-to-the-earth type would
> use. They even sell chicken houses and runs on wheels so you can move your
> chickens around the property. Nothing is low-priced either.
>
> All I can say is Wow!
>
> No canning or preserving here today except Miz Anne is drying some curly
> parsley on a tea towel in the kitchen. I had to throw out some you dried
> last year as it turned completely brown.
>
> Tomorrow the very expensive plumbers come to replace the sewer line from
> the house to the city line at the street. We've a very large hole
> appearing in our yard and they will fill that up when they're done. I
> guess we will plant a flower bed over that area when they're done, the
> flowers should grow well. <G>

ya, that is pricey! I can get pretty, non-functional stuff like that at the
Dollarama. Looks nice, but would never can in it. I too, will stick to
Bernardin, (Ball) and Golden Harvest jars with the 2 pc lid ...

I'm looking over some pretty tomato flowers...and hoping for a few to eat
fresh....that is if the local wild turkeys dont pick them off the vine
first... (like last year)

Kathi, hmmm...thinking perhaps wild turkey hunting is in the forecast....!
LOL

On 6/15/2010 8:04 PM, Kathi Jones wrote:
> "George > wrote in message
> ...
>> Just got a catalog in the mail a little while ago that is touting the Weck
>> canning jars as BPA-free and that you can spot spoilage quickly as they
>> don't have the "wire-bail" of other jars. Look like one of the old time
>> canning jars with the rubber ring and wire-bail but without the bail.
>> First time I've ever seen them advertised in the US. The jars start at
>> $17.99 for a case of six of the Tulip, mini jelly jars and run up to
>> $23.99 for a 6 jar case of 1 liter jars. Wow! I think I'll stick with Ball
>> Mason jars myself.
>>
>> This and outfit called Peaceful Valley Farm& Garden Supply in Grass
>> Valley, CA. I've bought beneficial nematodes from them a couple of times
>> to keep grubs under control in our garden but the latest catalog looks
>> like something an extreme environmentalist back-to-the-earth type would
>> use. They even sell chicken houses and runs on wheels so you can move your
>> chickens around the property. Nothing is low-priced either.
>>
>> All I can say is Wow!
>>
>> No canning or preserving here today except Miz Anne is drying some curly
>> parsley on a tea towel in the kitchen. I had to throw out some you dried
>> last year as it turned completely brown.
>>
>> Tomorrow the very expensive plumbers come to replace the sewer line from
>> the house to the city line at the street. We've a very large hole
>> appearing in our yard and they will fill that up when they're done. I
>> guess we will plant a flower bed over that area when they're done, the
>> flowers should grow well.<G>
>
> ya, that is pricey! I can get pretty, non-functional stuff like that at the
> Dollarama. Looks nice, but would never can in it. I too, will stick to
> Bernardin, (Ball) and Golden Harvest jars with the 2 pc lid ...
>
> I'm looking over some pretty tomato flowers...and hoping for a few to eat
> fresh....that is if the local wild turkeys dont pick them off the vine
> first... (like last year)
>
> Kathi, hmmm...thinking perhaps wild turkey hunting is in the forecast....!
> LOL
>
>
How about wild turkey,stuffed with squirrel, stuffed with a grackle. The
last two being the bane of our garden along with the !@#$% Southern
Cardinal, aka Redbird. The redbirds peck a hole in the tomatoes, eat a
few seeds then go away. I'm trying to coerce the blue jays into
attacking the redbirds, would make a heckuva color wheel.

> "George Shirley" > wrote in message

>>
>> This and outfit called Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply in Grass
>> Valley, CA. I've bought beneficial nematodes from them a couple of times
>> to keep grubs under control in our garden but the latest catalog looks
>> like something an extreme environmentalist back-to-the-earth type would
>> use. They even sell chicken houses and runs on wheels so you can move your
>> chickens around the property. Nothing is low-priced either.



George, if you have time for reading I suggest "The Omnivore's Dilemma"
by Michael Pollan. I know you are interested in food and gardening.

It's a story of four meals from farm to table:

a McDonald's meal
a "factory" meal (AKA supermarket food)
an organically and ecologically grown meal
a "hunter-gatherer" wild foods meal

I think you would enjoy it, particularly some of the growing techniques
used by the organic farmer. I thought it was fascinating reading.

gloria p

gloria p

Tur-Squir-Kle? Yum (lol)

>
> How about wild turkey,stuffed with squirrel, stuffed with a grackle. The
> last two being the bane of our garden along with the !@#$% Southern
> Cardinal, aka Redbird. The redbirds peck a hole in the tomatoes, eat a
> few seeds then go away. I'm trying to coerce the blue jays into
> attacking the redbirds, would make a heckuva color wheel.

On 6/15/2010 10:11 PM, gloria.p wrote:
>
>> "George Shirley" > wrote in message
>
>>>
>>> This and outfit called Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply in Grass
>>> Valley, CA. I've bought beneficial nematodes from them a couple of
>>> times to keep grubs under control in our garden but the latest
>>> catalog looks like something an extreme environmentalist
>>> back-to-the-earth type would use. They even sell chicken houses and
>>> runs on wheels so you can move your chickens around the property.
>>> Nothing is low-priced either.
>
>
>
> George, if you have time for reading I suggest "The Omnivore's Dilemma"
> by Michael Pollan. I know you are interested in food and gardening.
>
> It's a story of four meals from farm to table:
>
> a McDonald's meal
> a "factory" meal (AKA supermarket food)
> an organically and ecologically grown meal
> a "hunter-gatherer" wild foods meal
>
> I think you would enjoy it, particularly some of the growing techniques
> used by the organic farmer. I thought it was fascinating reading.
>
> gloria p
>
> gloria p

We used to be organic gardeners, that lasted until we moved to the land
of 60-100 inches of rain a year and got into our seventies. Now we use
chemicals, sparingly of course, but much easier here with no source of
organic fertilizers I would trust.

When we first moved here I could get aged cow manure from a work friend,
then he ran out and recommended a horse breeder. Talked to the horse
breeder and he uses multiple medications for his quarter horses, that
left that source out. Recently found a rabbit operation nearby but he is
out of fertilizer this season and then he told me what he gets for it,
by the pound. I'll stick with chemicals.

On 6/15/2010 10:31 PM, desertgardener wrote:
> On Jun 15, 2:29 pm, George > wrote:
>> Just got a catalog in the mail a little while ago that is touting the
>> Weck canning jars as BPA-free and that you can spot spoilage quickly as
>> they don't have the "wire-bail" of other jars. Look like one of the old
>> time canning jars with the rubber ring and wire-bail but without the
>> bail. First time I've ever seen them advertised in the US. The jars
>> start at $17.99 for a case of six of the Tulip, mini jelly jars and run
>> up to $23.99 for a 6 jar case of 1 liter jars. Wow! I think I'll stick
>> with Ball Mason jars myself.
>>
>> This and outfit called Peaceful Valley Farm& Garden Supply in Grass
>> Valley, CA. I've bought beneficial nematodes from them a couple of times
>> to keep grubs under control in our garden but the latest catalog looks
>> like something an extreme environmentalist back-to-the-earth type would
>> use. They even sell chicken houses and runs on wheels so you can move
>> your chickens around the property. Nothing is low-priced either.
>>
>> All I can say is Wow!
>>
> I thought BPA was in plastics. Wouldn't the Ball jars be free of it
> too, or is it supposed to be in the canning jar lids? I guess the Weck
> jars are prettier than my Ball jars, but unless it's for gifts I don't
> see the point.
> A lot of people started thinking about growing their own vegetables
> when the economy nosedived. That plus the interest in organically
> grown food gave companies a chance to make a little money. I bet some
> of those people don't realize they don't have to spend a mint on a
> garden.
> I guess the backyard chicken thing started about the same time. Lots
> of interest in that. For people who take their dogs to day care
> centers, buying a fancy chicken tractor probably looks like a good
> thing. In fact I know someone who just decided he needs backyard
> chickens and showed me the pix of his new chicken coop. I'd live in
> that, it has glass windows!
>
> Cyndi

So did the ones in the catalog, and they were made of redwood! I didn't
know redwood was acceptable to the green movement as the trees grow so slow.

We had a chicken tractor on the farmette, we just opened the gate and
let the chickens roam the ten acres. We kept them penned until after the
hens laid their eggs and then turned them loose. Lost a few to hawks and
foxes but not many, our old boxer dog thought she was a chicken herding
dog and watched after the chickens pretty good.

George Shirley wrote:

> How about wild turkey,stuffed with squirrel, stuffed with a
> grackle.
> The last two being the bane of our garden along with the !@#$%
> Southern Cardinal, aka Redbird. The redbirds peck a hole in the
> tomatoes, eat a few seeds then go away. I'm trying to coerce
> the blue
> jays into attacking the redbirds, would make a heckuva color
> wheel.

is that the boat-tailed grackle? we have the common grackle
and they are the one bird that the management decided she
could not abide. i now have an air-rifle with a scope on it
and finally we have some respite.

last year, the entire growing season she was out there with
a ladder pulling nests from the trees and they would not get
the hint and go away -- they kept rebuilding. this year they
returned about two dozen strong to take over again. not to
be...

they now leave us mostly alone and fly around the edges
and i take pot shots at them to remind them it's not their
territory any longer.

they were taking a huge chunk out of all the other bird
populations as last year we hardly had any variety at the
birdbaths or nesting in the trees. in reading about them
this year i saw that they raid other bird's nests so now i
see why...

around our veggie garden we have an 8ft fence, the
turkeys don't get in there... we have flocks of 30-60
birds in the fields, but they stay away from here. considering
that they probably eat about anything i'd encourage them
to move along if they started making a habit of visiting.

at least we do not have a pond that the geese take
over. the neighbors have that problem.


songbird

On 6/16/2010 8:24 AM, songbird wrote:
> George Shirley wrote:
>
>> How about wild turkey,stuffed with squirrel, stuffed with a grackle.
>> The last two being the bane of our garden along with the !@#$%
>> Southern Cardinal, aka Redbird. The redbirds peck a hole in the
>> tomatoes, eat a few seeds then go away. I'm trying to coerce the blue
>> jays into attacking the redbirds, would make a heckuva color wheel.
>
> is that the boat-tailed grackle? we have the common grackle
> and they are the one bird that the management decided she
> could not abide. i now have an air-rifle with a scope on it
> and finally we have some respite.

I think it's just the common grackle, we call them Mickey Dee birds
around here as they hang out at every McDonald's, scavenging the stuff
people toss on the ground.

>
> last year, the entire growing season she was out there with
> a ladder pulling nests from the trees and they would not get
> the hint and go away -- they kept rebuilding. this year they
> returned about two dozen strong to take over again. not to
> be...
>
> they now leave us mostly alone and fly around the edges
> and i take pot shots at them to remind them it's not their
> territory any longer.
>
> they were taking a huge chunk out of all the other bird
> populations as last year we hardly had any variety at the
> birdbaths or nesting in the trees. in reading about them
> this year i saw that they raid other bird's nests so now i
> see why...
>
> around our veggie garden we have an 8ft fence, the
> turkeys don't get in there... we have flocks of 30-60
> birds in the fields, but they stay away from here. considering
> that they probably eat about anything i'd encourage them
> to move along if they started making a habit of visiting.
>
> at least we do not have a pond that the geese take
> over. the neighbors have that problem.
>
>
> songbird

"George Shirley" > wrote in message
...
> On 6/15/2010 8:04 PM, Kathi Jones wrote:
>> "George > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Just got a catalog in the mail a little while ago that is touting the
>>> Weck
>>> canning jars as BPA-free and that you can spot spoilage quickly as they
>>> don't have the "wire-bail" of other jars. Look like one of the old time
>>> canning jars with the rubber ring and wire-bail but without the bail.
>>> First time I've ever seen them advertised in the US. The jars start at
>>> $17.99 for a case of six of the Tulip, mini jelly jars and run up to
>>> $23.99 for a 6 jar case of 1 liter jars. Wow! I think I'll stick with
>>> Ball
>>> Mason jars myself.
>>>
>>> This and outfit called Peaceful Valley Farm& Garden Supply in Grass
>>> Valley, CA. I've bought beneficial nematodes from them a couple of times
>>> to keep grubs under control in our garden but the latest catalog looks
>>> like something an extreme environmentalist back-to-the-earth type would
>>> use. They even sell chicken houses and runs on wheels so you can move
>>> your
>>> chickens around the property. Nothing is low-priced either.
>>>
>>> All I can say is Wow!
>>>
>>> No canning or preserving here today except Miz Anne is drying some curly
>>> parsley on a tea towel in the kitchen. I had to throw out some you dried
>>> last year as it turned completely brown.
>>>
>>> Tomorrow the very expensive plumbers come to replace the sewer line from
>>> the house to the city line at the street. We've a very large hole
>>> appearing in our yard and they will fill that up when they're done. I
>>> guess we will plant a flower bed over that area when they're done, the
>>> flowers should grow well.<G>
>>
>> ya, that is pricey! I can get pretty, non-functional stuff like that at
>> the
>> Dollarama. Looks nice, but would never can in it. I too, will stick to
>> Bernardin, (Ball) and Golden Harvest jars with the 2 pc lid ...
>>
>> I'm looking over some pretty tomato flowers...and hoping for a few to eat
>> fresh....that is if the local wild turkeys dont pick them off the vine
>> first... (like last year)
>>
>> Kathi, hmmm...thinking perhaps wild turkey hunting is in the
>> forecast....!
>> LOL
>>
>>
> How about wild turkey,stuffed with squirrel, stuffed with a grackle. The
> last two being the bane of our garden along with the !@#$% Southern
> Cardinal, aka Redbird. The redbirds peck a hole in the tomatoes, eat a few
> seeds then go away. I'm trying to coerce the blue jays into attacking the
> redbirds, would make a heckuva color wheel.

ok, I know what turducken is - what would you call that? tursquirkle? LOL

actually, my biggest issue with wildlife so far this season is black bears
feeding at the birdfeeders. I love to watch my birds - purple finches, rose
breasted grosbeaks etc, but when the bears show up? I have to sacrifice the
bird watching for safety!! Had a 250 lb bear here a couple weeks back -
totally destroyed a feeder and was going for a second before I decided to
try banging on the window to scare him off. It worked...but I'm on the
market for a 'blow horn' or whateveryoucallit...

Kathi

"songbird" > wrote in message
...
> George Shirley wrote:
>
>> How about wild turkey,stuffed with squirrel, stuffed with a grackle.
>> The last two being the bane of our garden along with the !@#$%
>> Southern Cardinal, aka Redbird. The redbirds peck a hole in the
>> tomatoes, eat a few seeds then go away. I'm trying to coerce the blue
>> jays into attacking the redbirds, would make a heckuva color wheel.
>
> is that the boat-tailed grackle? we have the common grackle
> and they are the one bird that the management decided she
> could not abide. i now have an air-rifle with a scope on it
> and finally we have some respite.

ya, grackles - we call them pig birds - eat everything in sight!!


>
> last year, the entire growing season she was out there with
> a ladder pulling nests from the trees and they would not get
> the hint and go away -- they kept rebuilding. this year they
> returned about two dozen strong to take over again. not to
> be...
>
> they now leave us mostly alone and fly around the edges
> and i take pot shots at them to remind them it's not their
> territory any longer.
>
> they were taking a huge chunk out of all the other bird
> populations as last year we hardly had any variety at the
> birdbaths or nesting in the trees. in reading about them
> this year i saw that they raid other bird's nests so now i
> see why...
>
> around our veggie garden we have an 8ft fence, the
> turkeys don't get in there... we have flocks of 30-60
> birds in the fields, but they stay away from here. considering
> that they probably eat about anything i'd encourage them
> to move along if they started making a habit of visiting.
>
> at least we do not have a pond that the geese take
> over. the neighbors have that problem.
>
>
> songbird

On 6/16/2010 3:18 PM, Kathi Jones wrote:
> "George > wrote in message
> ...
>> On 6/15/2010 8:04 PM, Kathi Jones wrote:
>>> "George > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> Just got a catalog in the mail a little while ago that is touting the
>>>> Weck
>>>> canning jars as BPA-free and that you can spot spoilage quickly as they
>>>> don't have the "wire-bail" of other jars. Look like one of the old time
>>>> canning jars with the rubber ring and wire-bail but without the bail.
>>>> First time I've ever seen them advertised in the US. The jars start at
>>>> $17.99 for a case of six of the Tulip, mini jelly jars and run up to
>>>> $23.99 for a 6 jar case of 1 liter jars. Wow! I think I'll stick with
>>>> Ball
>>>> Mason jars myself.
>>>>
>>>> This and outfit called Peaceful Valley Farm& Garden Supply in Grass
>>>> Valley, CA. I've bought beneficial nematodes from them a couple of times
>>>> to keep grubs under control in our garden but the latest catalog looks
>>>> like something an extreme environmentalist back-to-the-earth type would
>>>> use. They even sell chicken houses and runs on wheels so you can move
>>>> your
>>>> chickens around the property. Nothing is low-priced either.
>>>>
>>>> All I can say is Wow!
>>>>
>>>> No canning or preserving here today except Miz Anne is drying some curly
>>>> parsley on a tea towel in the kitchen. I had to throw out some you dried
>>>> last year as it turned completely brown.
>>>>
>>>> Tomorrow the very expensive plumbers come to replace the sewer line from
>>>> the house to the city line at the street. We've a very large hole
>>>> appearing in our yard and they will fill that up when they're done. I
>>>> guess we will plant a flower bed over that area when they're done, the
>>>> flowers should grow well.<G>
>>>
>>> ya, that is pricey! I can get pretty, non-functional stuff like that at
>>> the
>>> Dollarama. Looks nice, but would never can in it. I too, will stick to
>>> Bernardin, (Ball) and Golden Harvest jars with the 2 pc lid ...
>>>
>>> I'm looking over some pretty tomato flowers...and hoping for a few to eat
>>> fresh....that is if the local wild turkeys dont pick them off the vine
>>> first... (like last year)
>>>
>>> Kathi, hmmm...thinking perhaps wild turkey hunting is in the
>>> forecast....!
>>> LOL
>>>
>>>
>> How about wild turkey,stuffed with squirrel, stuffed with a grackle. The
>> last two being the bane of our garden along with the !@#$% Southern
>> Cardinal, aka Redbird. The redbirds peck a hole in the tomatoes, eat a few
>> seeds then go away. I'm trying to coerce the blue jays into attacking the
>> redbirds, would make a heckuva color wheel.
>
> ok, I know what turducken is - what would you call that? tursquirkle? LOL
>
> actually, my biggest issue with wildlife so far this season is black bears
> feeding at the birdfeeders. I love to watch my birds - purple finches, rose
> breasted grosbeaks etc, but when the bears show up? I have to sacrifice the
> bird watching for safety!! Had a 250 lb bear here a couple weeks back -
> totally destroyed a feeder and was going for a second before I decided to
> try banging on the window to scare him off. It worked...but I'm on the
> market for a 'blow horn' or whateveryoucallit...
>
> Kathi
>
>
>


Look for an air horn, it's a loud little horn on top of a can of
compressed air. Don't use it too much though or Br'er Bear will get used
to the noise. Bear is one our tribal totem animals so I just avoid them
when possible. Luckily there are hardly any along this coast, a stranger
will wander in every once in awhile. The black bear population in this
part of the south is increasing due to the amount of prey animals and
routine bear fare increasing.

In article >,
George Shirley > wrote:

> On 6/15/2010 8:04 PM, Kathi Jones wrote:
> > "George > wrote in message
> > ...
> >> Just got a catalog in the mail a little while ago that is touting the Weck
> >> canning jars as BPA-free and that you can spot spoilage quickly as they
> >> don't have the "wire-bail" of other jars. Look like one of the old time
> >> canning jars with the rubber ring and wire-bail but without the bail.
> >> First time I've ever seen them advertised in the US. The jars start at
> >> $17.99 for a case of six of the Tulip, mini jelly jars and run up to
> >> $23.99 for a 6 jar case of 1 liter jars. Wow! I think I'll stick with Ball
> >> Mason jars myself.
> >>
> >> This and outfit called Peaceful Valley Farm& Garden Supply in Grass
> >> Valley, CA. I've bought beneficial nematodes from them a couple of times
> >> to keep grubs under control in our garden but the latest catalog looks
> >> like something an extreme environmentalist back-to-the-earth type would
> >> use. They even sell chicken houses and runs on wheels so you can move your
> >> chickens around the property. Nothing is low-priced either.
> >>
> >> All I can say is Wow!
> >>
> >> No canning or preserving here today except Miz Anne is drying some curly
> >> parsley on a tea towel in the kitchen. I had to throw out some you dried
> >> last year as it turned completely brown.
> >>
> >> Tomorrow the very expensive plumbers come to replace the sewer line from
> >> the house to the city line at the street. We've a very large hole
> >> appearing in our yard and they will fill that up when they're done. I
> >> guess we will plant a flower bed over that area when they're done, the
> >> flowers should grow well.<G>
> >
> > ya, that is pricey! I can get pretty, non-functional stuff like that at the
> > Dollarama. Looks nice, but would never can in it. I too, will stick to
> > Bernardin, (Ball) and Golden Harvest jars with the 2 pc lid ...
> >
> > I'm looking over some pretty tomato flowers...and hoping for a few to eat
> > fresh....that is if the local wild turkeys dont pick them off the vine
> > first... (like last year)
> >
> > Kathi, hmmm...thinking perhaps wild turkey hunting is in the forecast....!
> > LOL
> >
> >
> How about wild turkey,stuffed with squirrel, stuffed with a grackle. The
> last two being the bane of our garden along with the !@#$% Southern
> Cardinal, aka Redbird. The redbirds peck a hole in the tomatoes, eat a
> few seeds then go away. I'm trying to coerce the blue jays into
> attacking the redbirds, would make a heckuva color wheel.

Hmmm... a little gamey, but may not be that bad

--
Enjoy Life... Dan

Garden in Zone 5 South East Michigan.

In article >,
"gloria.p" > wrote:

> > "George Shirley" > wrote in message
>
> >>
> >> This and outfit called Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply in Grass
> >> Valley, CA. I've bought beneficial nematodes from them a couple of times
> >> to keep grubs under control in our garden but the latest catalog looks
> >> like something an extreme environmentalist back-to-the-earth type would
> >> use. They even sell chicken houses and runs on wheels so you can move your
> >> chickens around the property. Nothing is low-priced either.
>
>
>
> George, if you have time for reading I suggest "The Omnivore's Dilemma"
> by Michael Pollan. I know you are interested in food and gardening.
>
> It's a story of four meals from farm to table:
>
> a McDonald's meal
> a "factory" meal (AKA supermarket food)
> an organically and ecologically grown meal
> a "hunter-gatherer" wild foods meal
>
> I think you would enjoy it, particularly some of the growing techniques
> used by the organic farmer. I thought it was fascinating reading.
>
> gloria p
>
> gloria p

I second that! A good read!

--
Enjoy Life... Dan

Garden in Zone 5 South East Michigan.

"George Shirley" > wrote in message
...
> On 6/16/2010 3:18 PM, Kathi Jones wrote:
>> "George > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> On 6/15/2010 8:04 PM, Kathi Jones wrote:
>>>> "George > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> Just got a catalog in the mail a little while ago that is touting the
>>>>> Weck
>>>>> canning jars as BPA-free and that you can spot spoilage quickly as
>>>>> they
>>>>> don't have the "wire-bail" of other jars. Look like one of the old
>>>>> time
>>>>> canning jars with the rubber ring and wire-bail but without the bail.
>>>>> First time I've ever seen them advertised in the US. The jars start at
>>>>> $17.99 for a case of six of the Tulip, mini jelly jars and run up to
>>>>> $23.99 for a 6 jar case of 1 liter jars. Wow! I think I'll stick with
>>>>> Ball
>>>>> Mason jars myself.
>>>>>
>>>>> This and outfit called Peaceful Valley Farm& Garden Supply in Grass
>>>>> Valley, CA. I've bought beneficial nematodes from them a couple of
>>>>> times
>>>>> to keep grubs under control in our garden but the latest catalog looks
>>>>> like something an extreme environmentalist back-to-the-earth type
>>>>> would
>>>>> use. They even sell chicken houses and runs on wheels so you can move
>>>>> your
>>>>> chickens around the property. Nothing is low-priced either.
>>>>>
>>>>> All I can say is Wow!
>>>>>
>>>>> No canning or preserving here today except Miz Anne is drying some
>>>>> curly
>>>>> parsley on a tea towel in the kitchen. I had to throw out some you
>>>>> dried
>>>>> last year as it turned completely brown.
>>>>>
>>>>> Tomorrow the very expensive plumbers come to replace the sewer line
>>>>> from
>>>>> the house to the city line at the street. We've a very large hole
>>>>> appearing in our yard and they will fill that up when they're done. I
>>>>> guess we will plant a flower bed over that area when they're done, the
>>>>> flowers should grow well.<G>
>>>>
>>>> ya, that is pricey! I can get pretty, non-functional stuff like that
>>>> at
>>>> the
>>>> Dollarama. Looks nice, but would never can in it. I too, will stick
>>>> to
>>>> Bernardin, (Ball) and Golden Harvest jars with the 2 pc lid ...
>>>>
>>>> I'm looking over some pretty tomato flowers...and hoping for a few to
>>>> eat
>>>> fresh....that is if the local wild turkeys dont pick them off the vine
>>>> first... (like last year)
>>>>
>>>> Kathi, hmmm...thinking perhaps wild turkey hunting is in the
>>>> forecast....!
>>>> LOL
>>>>
>>>>
>>> How about wild turkey,stuffed with squirrel, stuffed with a grackle. The
>>> last two being the bane of our garden along with the !@#$% Southern
>>> Cardinal, aka Redbird. The redbirds peck a hole in the tomatoes, eat a
>>> few
>>> seeds then go away. I'm trying to coerce the blue jays into attacking
>>> the
>>> redbirds, would make a heckuva color wheel.
>>
>> ok, I know what turducken is - what would you call that? tursquirkle?
>> LOL
>>
>> actually, my biggest issue with wildlife so far this season is black
>> bears
>> feeding at the birdfeeders. I love to watch my birds - purple finches,
>> rose
>> breasted grosbeaks etc, but when the bears show up? I have to sacrifice
>> the
>> bird watching for safety!! Had a 250 lb bear here a couple weeks back -
>> totally destroyed a feeder and was going for a second before I decided to
>> try banging on the window to scare him off. It worked...but I'm on the
>> market for a 'blow horn' or whateveryoucallit...
>>
>> Kathi
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> Look for an air horn, it's a loud little horn on top of a can of
> compressed air. Don't use it too much though or Br'er Bear will get used
> to the noise. Bear is one our tribal totem animals so I just avoid them
> when possible. Luckily there are hardly any along this coast, a stranger
> will wander in every once in awhile. The black bear population in this
> part of the south is increasing due to the amount of prey animals and
> routine bear fare increasing.

that's it - air horn - really loud.

When I smacked on the window to scare him away from the 2nd feeder, he (she?
I dunno) kinda thought about it before running away....

I don't want to hurt them if I dont have to, but lazing about in my front
yard is a bit too close for comfort!

Kathi

Kathi Jones wrote:

> bears feeding at the birdfeeders.

Birds can't taste the heat in hot pepper. Bears can.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&s...AAAKoEBU_QDQ_h

Results 1 - 10 of about 4,950 for cayenne pepper bird feeder bear

http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7246.html

"Some people have had success by mixing cayenne pepper
with the bird seed to make it less palatable.
This practice has some value with individual bears
who will learn to avoid specific feeders,
however in bear country,
every bear that finds the feeder will have to knock it down
to learn that it contains pepper and is not a good source of food.
Removal of the attraction is the only long term solution."

--
pete

In article
>,
desertgardener > wrote:
> chickens and showed me the pix of his new chicken coop. I'd live in
> that, it has glass windows!
>
> Cyndi

I hope it's air conditioned, too. :-)


--
Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
On June 25, celebrating 65 years of annoying people.
Shop early and shop often. Good gin and cheap chocolate preferred.
Or cash. :-)

In article >,
"Kathi Jones" > wrote:
> I'm looking over some pretty tomato flowers...and hoping for a few to eat
> fresh....that is if the local wild turkeys dont pick them off the vine
> first... (like last year)
>
Any way to keep the bird out, Kathi?


--
Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
On June 25, celebrating 65 years of annoying people.
Shop early and shop often. Good gin and cheap chocolate preferred.
Or cash. :-)

In article >,
"Kathi Jones" > wrote:
> ya, grackles - we call them pig birds - eat everything in sight!!

You misspelled it, Kathi; it's damngrackles.
--
Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
On June 25, celebrating 65 years of annoying people.
Shop early and shop often. Good gin and cheap chocolate preferred.
Or cash. :-)

I have some of those jars. I received them as a gift years ago.
Yeah, they are cute. They did come with plastic lids, I've used them
for storage but not actual canning.

On Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:36:33 -0400, "Kathi Jones"
> wrote:

>>> actually, my biggest issue with wildlife so far this season is black
>>> bears
>>> feeding at the birdfeeders. I love to watch my birds - purple finches,
>>> rose
>>> breasted grosbeaks etc, but when the bears show up? I have to sacrifice
>>> the
>>> bird watching for safety!! Had a 250 lb bear here a couple weeks back -
>>> totally destroyed a feeder and was going for a second before I decided to
>>> try banging on the window to scare him off. It worked...but I'm on the
>>> market for a 'blow horn' or whateveryoucallit...
>>>
>>> Kathi
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> Look for an air horn, it's a loud little horn on top of a can of
>> compressed air. Don't use it too much though or Br'er Bear will get used
>> to the noise. Bear is one our tribal totem animals so I just avoid them
>> when possible. Luckily there are hardly any along this coast, a stranger
>> will wander in every once in awhile. The black bear population in this
>> part of the south is increasing due to the amount of prey animals and
>> routine bear fare increasing.
>
>that's it - air horn - really loud.
>
>When I smacked on the window to scare him away from the 2nd feeder, he (she?
>I dunno) kinda thought about it before running away....
>
>I don't want to hurt them if I dont have to, but lazing about in my front
>yard is a bit too close for comfort!
>

Kathi,

Get one of those annoying horns that are causing so much concern in
South Africa at the FIFA games, the vuvuzela.
I'm not much of a sports fan but I know they've driven me away from
watching the games on TV.
OK, so I'm a grumpy old curmudgeon.

Ross.

On 6/17/2010 2:57 PM, Ross wrote:
> On Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:36:33 -0400, "Kathi Jones"
> > wrote:
>
>>>> actually, my biggest issue with wildlife so far this season is black
>>>> bears
>>>> feeding at the birdfeeders. I love to watch my birds - purple finches,
>>>> rose
>>>> breasted grosbeaks etc, but when the bears show up? I have to sacrifice
>>>> the
>>>> bird watching for safety!! Had a 250 lb bear here a couple weeks back -
>>>> totally destroyed a feeder and was going for a second before I decided to
>>>> try banging on the window to scare him off. It worked...but I'm on the
>>>> market for a 'blow horn' or whateveryoucallit...
>>>>
>>>> Kathi
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Look for an air horn, it's a loud little horn on top of a can of
>>> compressed air. Don't use it too much though or Br'er Bear will get used
>>> to the noise. Bear is one our tribal totem animals so I just avoid them
>>> when possible. Luckily there are hardly any along this coast, a stranger
>>> will wander in every once in awhile. The black bear population in this
>>> part of the south is increasing due to the amount of prey animals and
>>> routine bear fare increasing.
>>
>> that's it - air horn - really loud.
>>
>> When I smacked on the window to scare him away from the 2nd feeder, he (she?
>> I dunno) kinda thought about it before running away....
>>
>> I don't want to hurt them if I dont have to, but lazing about in my front
>> yard is a bit too close for comfort!
>>
>
> Kathi,
>
> Get one of those annoying horns that are causing so much concern in
> South Africa at the FIFA games, the vuvuzela.
> I'm not much of a sports fan but I know they've driven me away from
> watching the games on TV.
> OK, so I'm a grumpy old curmudgeon.
>
> Ross.

The only thing I remember about watching soccer was people screaming,
"Gooooaaaaallll" at the top of their lungs. Since I don't particularly
care for sports I just quit watching them. This was in Saudi Arabia,
when soccer season came around soccer and Koran teachings were about all
there was on TV. My Lesser Yellow-Crested Cockatoo liked the games
unless a team was wearing yellow shirts, if they were he stuck his head
under his wing and went to sleep. I guess he thought the whole flock was
giving a snake alert or something.

Oh yeah, and the Brit hooligans going nuts if their team lost and
tearing up the stadium and fighting. Now that was exciting and sickening
at the same time.

<Ross> wrote in message ...
> On Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:36:33 -0400, "Kathi Jones"
> > wrote:
>
>>>> actually, my biggest issue with wildlife so far this season is black
>>>> bears
>>>> feeding at the birdfeeders. I love to watch my birds - purple finches,
>>>> rose
>>>> breasted grosbeaks etc, but when the bears show up? I have to
>>>> sacrifice
>>>> the
>>>> bird watching for safety!! Had a 250 lb bear here a couple weeks
>>>> back -
>>>> totally destroyed a feeder and was going for a second before I decided
>>>> to
>>>> try banging on the window to scare him off. It worked...but I'm on the
>>>> market for a 'blow horn' or whateveryoucallit...
>>>>
>>>> Kathi
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Look for an air horn, it's a loud little horn on top of a can of
>>> compressed air. Don't use it too much though or Br'er Bear will get used
>>> to the noise. Bear is one our tribal totem animals so I just avoid them
>>> when possible. Luckily there are hardly any along this coast, a stranger
>>> will wander in every once in awhile. The black bear population in this
>>> part of the south is increasing due to the amount of prey animals and
>>> routine bear fare increasing.
>>
>>that's it - air horn - really loud.
>>
>>When I smacked on the window to scare him away from the 2nd feeder, he
>>(she?
>>I dunno) kinda thought about it before running away....
>>
>>I don't want to hurt them if I dont have to, but lazing about in my front
>>yard is a bit too close for comfort!
>>
>
> Kathi,
>
> Get one of those annoying horns that are causing so much concern in
> South Africa at the FIFA games, the vuvuzela.
> I'm not much of a sports fan but I know they've driven me away from
> watching the games on TV.
> OK, so I'm a grumpy old curmudgeon.
>
> Ross.

LOL - ya, I'm not much of a fan either

Kathi

Kathi Jones wrote:
>songbird wrote:
>> George Shirley wrote:
>>
>>> How about wild turkey,stuffed with squirrel, stuffed with a
>>> grackle.
>>> The last two being the bane of our garden along with the
>>> !@#$%
>>> Southern Cardinal, aka Redbird. The redbirds peck a hole in
>>> the
>>> tomatoes, eat a few seeds then go away. I'm trying to coerce
>>> the
>>> blue jays into attacking the redbirds, would make a heckuva
>>> color
>>> wheel.
>>
>> is that the boat-tailed grackle? we have the common grackle
>> and they are the one bird that the management decided she
>> could not abide. i now have an air-rifle with a scope on it
>> and finally we have some respite.
>
> ya, grackles - we call them pig birds - eat everything in
> sight!!

hehe, they have been discouraged this
year much better than last year. i was
much dismayed to see 25+ of them this
spring. they've now been chased off,
but it has taken a long and concerted
effort. they still hover around the edges
but they no longer inhabit our turf.


songbird (& homies