MASSIVE OUTDOOR GROW

[NPK]

I picked up a one-man auger and 8" bit today and will be putting it to use very shortly. Found a couple of outstanding spots this past week and need to get moving on hole prep. I have the next three or four weeks to work on this.

If the auger can handle heavy, rocky soil (the kind that goes "clang" when you try to shovel it) it will make an otherwise impossible task a reality for me. The auger's a sizable machine, though--gotta be around four feet high with the bit, and 30-35 pounds. I don't see how it's possible to tote something like that inconspicuously. The only places I need to be concerned about are where you enter the spots off the road...basically between my car and the entries. The distances are small, and there's no foot traffic, but there is somewhat steady vehicular traffic. I should be able to make it in a couple of well-timed dashes.

I am itching to try this thing out!

 

[Julian]

Well, if your using it in such a spot, then your a better man than me ......(although actually, could think of quite a few excuses that would work with a drill.......) Just be careful, but, know your well aware and know what your doing.......

Smaller the bit, the easier it cuts through.....been thinking about grabbing an 8" myself to use for things after first rounds (first rounds I always go more pre and bigger holes...as I work through season they get smaller......)

Yeah, I've drilled a lot of spots with a lot of issues, and, really, haven't encountered much that stops it.......(You might run into roots.......will usually cut right through them.....harder stuff slows it down...I can't really recall any spots it hasn't done...(Have done solid clay spots.....drier harder upper layer spots.....etc....)

Just be careful getting in......(but bright size is with drill, only have to get in and out once.........and can do almost as many as you like ....)

Depending on soil, prep from there pretty simple (as all dirt in hole pulled up and broken up, ready to go if halfway decent.....)

Other bright side is now will have for years on a moments notice........and a fuckin ounce basically pays for it ...(and, depending on what one currently does......returns infinite amount..........ie: Enables more holes......if one does smaller holes, enables higher yields.....I mean, any way you slice it....pays for itself in a sneeze ...

Just be careful ya badass mutherfucker ....

 

[Julian]

Some other drill notes.....

1. Don't use your back on it......work it and let it do the work.....(Serious....I have seen it hurt people who don't relax......back, neck, etc.......)

2. Even on private land, always a good idea to drill all asap.....(instead of drill, prep, etc.....instead of picking spots...etc.....pick all your spots, visually, or mark them, and then go through and drill as many as possible........Can get back to everything afterwards...(drill, break, and either prep or go home and prep another day, etc....but best not to leave them of course open for longer than necessary..(discovery aspects......)

3. Depending on soil......of course one doesn't have to drill full depth either...good soil?....1-1.5ft might be fine....(and be 3 times quicker...) Use best judgment depending on qualities of spot.....(If great soil, or groundwater, I might do them less...etc,....later plantings, the same, etc.....can do any and all variations...(going to drill 6"-1ft on one op this season where soil good for mid and late season smaller ones.....so...any and all variances.......)Smaller and later of course less needed......

 

[NPK]

Don't use your back on it......work it and let it do the work.....(Serious....I have seen it hurt people who don't relax......back, neck, etc.......)

Yeah, I'm going to try to let the weight of the drill do as much of the work as possible; I don't think leaning into it is going to help, and that definitely wouldn't do my back any good. I'm going to try to just "steer" the thing.

Just be careful getting in......(but bright size is with drill, only have to get in and out once.........and can do almost as many as you like ....)

Yup yup! Getting in (at spot #1, anyway) will just require a short dash. I don't want to stay too long, though, because you're not supposed to park on the road. I'll just leave the blinkers on--make it look as though I just needed to stop to take a quick leak. Can't imagine that anybody driving by would give a parked car a second thought, much less take the trouble to park themselves, get out, and investigate (unless they're LEO, which is always a possibility and the reason I'll need to work quickly).

always a good idea to drill all asap.....(instead of drill, prep, etc.....instead of picking spots...etc.....pick all your spots, visually, or mark them, and then go through and drill as many as possible........Can get back to everything afterwards...(drill, break, and either prep or go home and prep another day, etc....but best not to leave them of course open for longer than necessary..(discovery aspects......)

Exactly my plan: drill first, then come back later to prep and plant. I'd be there much too long otherwise.

Quick question, Julian--do you ever re-use the same holes year after year?

Thanks for the tips man!

 

[Julian]

Yup yup! Getting in (at spot #1, anyway) will just require a short dash. I don't want to stay too long, though, because you're not supposed to park on the road. I'll just leave the blinkers on--make it look as though I just needed to stop to take a quick leak. Can't imagine that anybody driving by would give a parked car a second thought, much less take the trouble to park themselves, get out, and investigate (unless they're LEO, which is always a possibility and the reason I'll need to work quickly).

Well.....I have known a lot who do those........but, those have always made me feel a little uncomfortable.....the drop off, the pull over, etc.....sometimes I have done them with city spots for harvest, but, sometimes I do alone and those tend to make me a little skittish...(ie: Get in, out, everything fine, but, never know what next car is going to be coming around corner........)

Pull over with the hazards.....I think invites attention though.....(trouble with car, motorist in trouble, etc)..,..so....have seen people just pull off on wooded areas, but, this is usually written off, depending on area, as someone fishing close, hikers, stuff like that...

The drill....I think you could have several excuses which might make them go away (drilling for soil samples......you are amateur geologist, looking for soil and rock samples, etc, etc , shit like that...which is pretty innocent, no serious damage to property, etc....to the absurd.....(going to drill, heard can find gold, stupid shit like that .......)

I never liked those though man...so, again......a better man than me...(and I fuckin mean that.......)......just be careful man.....sure you know the area much better than I, not knowing it, etc, so......When I hear that, I envision several similar spots...(which I see people pulled over, wooded, no one gives it a second thought, as above.....in 10 yrs of seeing people on side of road in those spots, have never seen any cops stopped, etc......(personally, I always assumed they were planting, etc .....cause spots are good where they are ....)

So.....just be fuckin careful man......control the exposure.....

Exactly my plan: drill first, then come back later to prep and plant. I'd be there much too long otherwise.

Well, depending on how many.......it's a physical task, so......might be the next day .....but, again, the parking and such.......

Quick question, Julian--do you ever re-use the same holes year after year?

Thanks for the tips man!

Well, sometimes yes, sometimes no......problem is in a lot of places, due to hunting, harvest is basically "Leave behind no indication anything done" so....holes/plants completely pulled up, not marked, etc.....but, I have done the same spots in general on some locations several times, and, we kind of knew where they were, so...if not the same, right next to it, etc.....

I would assume nutritionally.....would be good as lot of things, as elsewhere and above take much longer to breakdown, etc, so....plus then top feed throughout season......so.....usually whole spot in general I would think is pretty rich .....

Have toyed with ideas on how to mark them (even leaving 2 feet of stalk, etc, cause how could someone know.....but, you know, in a lot of cases, landowner safety and security is also primary, so,....want them to feel comfortable and same and accommodate their wishes, etc.....so.....

I'd like to....but, then, season later, would probably still drill it again anyway to break it up......and re hit it with nutes and such anyway...maybe different mix, maybe a little lighter....could see how same one yr after yr could have a little feeding/dietary confusion (ie: what was used, what was not, what remains, what what is not used but gone and washed away, etc, etc....)

 

[vod]

It's a risk to plant year after year in the same spot, but one can build the soil in this way. Like in a garden. Some basic composting, mulching. Bringing each year more stuff in. And end up with perfect soil that requires only some ferts at planting. Or top feed later or just organic stuff at harvest for the next years round. I assume good soil grows good weed at ease.
The crystals stay in the soil and do their job for a couple of years. I remember reading on my crystals that they are good for 4 years in the soil. Depends where you grow. My clay is pretty easy to turn into fertile ground.
Each year you have less stuff to carry in. On spot production of worm castings and green manure etc. Structure constantly getting better.

I had a look at the local vegetation growing on the spots I prepped last year. And one can see a big difference from the surrounding area. A tiny jungle.

I'd like to....but, then, season later, would probably still drill it again anyway to break it up......and re hit it with nutes and such anyway...maybe different mix, maybe a little lighter....could see how same one yr after yr could have a little feeding/dietary confusion (ie: what was used, what was not, what remains, what what is not used but gone and washed away, etc, etc....)

if you in the next year drill just next to the old hole you get qasi a double hole. Twice less drilling for the volume you get. Plus you get the old nutes and new nutes you put next to them and the new food there was created due to the fact that the place was nicer for worms and generally local life. I assume that there is a significant improvement in terms of efficiency year after year. Just a bit more than drilling next to old, like some form of at spot composting... makes sens to me. I belive

Satori must be the strongest I had so far. I've put just a tiny tiny bit

 

[NPK]

.....those have always made me feel a little uncomfortable.....the drop off, the pull over, etc.....sometimes I have done them with city spots for harvest, but, sometimes I do alone and those tend to make me a little skittish...(ie: Get in, out, everything fine, but, never know what next car is going to be coming around corner........)

I agree man, that is the one thing that makes this site sketchy. It's clear you are not supposed to park there (or BE there). On the other hand, that's also one of the things that makes it attractive: not only are you not supposed to be there, there's really nothing to attract anyone, either. It's like a large open weed patch that's well-sheltered on all sides; lots of vegetation around which you can disguise big plants. Lots of air and light, no evidence of recent human presence that I can see. Easy not to make paths walking around because there's lots of open dirt ground. It's kind of an elongated bowl formation--a long, deep-enough thicket of rocks and trees sheltering any view from the road on one side, and an abandoned railroad track on the other. Rolling hills on the other side of the track...no lingering human presence anywhere within miles.

Add to all that a healthy body of running water not far away (better than toting X number of gallons from miles out of town), and what you have is an awesome site. It's the getting in and out that's worrying. I'll have a good view of what kind of vehicle is coming from a couple hundred yards either way, though, and will dress to blend in with the scenery. Maybe I'll carry the drill in two pieces and attach the bit once in. Easier and less awkward that way; wouldn't be tripping over the thing while trying to move quickly.

Pull over with the hazards.....I think invites attention though.....(trouble with car, motorist in trouble, etc)..,..so....have seen people just pull off on wooded areas, but, this is usually written off, depending on area, as someone fishing close, hikers, stuff like that...

I'm really glad you pointed that out about the hazards; can't believe it didn't occur to me that they might invite the wrong kind of attention, including from well-intentioned good Samaritans. They're definitely staying off now. My car is nondescript and hopefully won't attract undue attention, especially if I can get in and out in a reasonable timeframe.

The drill....I think you could have several excuses which might make them go away (drilling for soil samples......you are amateur geologist, looking for soil and rock samples, etc, etc , shit like that...which is pretty innocent, no serious damage to property, etc....

Good idea. "I'm an amateur geologist and heard there was a lot of serpentine out here. Just wanted a nice sample."

Well, sometimes yes, sometimes no......problem is in a lot of places, due to hunting, harvest is basically "Leave behind no indication anything done" so....holes/plants completely pulled up, not marked, etc.....but, I have done the same spots in general on some locations several times, and, we kind of knew where they were, so...if not the same, right next to it, etc.....

Right, of course you don't want to leave any evidence of having been there. I imagine you get to know a place pretty well with some repeated use.

It's a risk to plant year after year in the same spot, but one can build the soil in this way. Like in a garden. Some basic composting, mulching. Bringing each year more stuff in. And end up with perfect soil that requires only some ferts at planting. Or top feed later or just organic stuff at harvest for the next years round. I assume good soil grows good weed at ease. The crystals stay in the soil and do their job for a couple of years. I remember reading on my crystals that they are good for 4 years in the soil. Depends where you grow. My clay is pretty easy to turn into fertile ground. Each year you have less stuff to carry in. On spot production of worm castings and green manure etc. Structure constantly getting better.

Yeah man, I really like this idea of improving your site's soil year after year, just as you would in your yard at home. Good to know about the crystals, too--that they are effective for more than one season. I didn't know that.

if you in the next year drill just next to the old hole you get qasi a double hole. Twice less drilling for the volume you get. Plus you get the old nutes and new nutes you put next to them and the new food there was created due to the fact that the place was nicer for worms and generally local life. I assume that there is a significant improvement in terms of efficiency year after year. Just a bit more than drilling next to old, like some form of at spot composting... makes sens to me.

Makes perfect sense to me, too. If undisturbed, a used site would only get better and better. It's a very appealing idea.

 

[Indica_Dreamer]

I have been treating my seedlings with neem... I have some type of trails that are eaten away... the leaf isnt completely eaten through, just all of the green matter. these trails turn brown after about a week.

 

[africanherbman1]

Hey Julian. I've read a decent bit of this thread, and even used your techniques for late season minis last year w/ absolutely excellent success. This year I've decided to go the same route as last, except w/ much higher numbers. The plots have already been scouted and the moms are growing at the speed desired to get the number of clones im shooting for going out between july 14-aug 14 at the very latest. My partner and I have decided to reduce exposure during the day by using night vision goggles. Do you have any experience w/ them? Also, in keeping w/ the theme of reducing exposure I don't believe that we'll be using a gas powered auger due to the noise. We were planning on just using the garden claws, and then heavy duty post hole diggers. I already realize how much more time and energy it will take to get the job done, and was wondering if you knew something that was in the middle between the auger and post hole digger. Due to just growing minis, and after realizing last year how hard they are to spot w/ native vegitation surrounding I feel like I've found a solution for finding every last one. My plan is to basically take (2) stakes w/ about 300'+ of thin twine tied to each side, marked w/ black marker every 1.5' and drive them down at the desired spacing. Then, about 2.5-3' below that row do the same thing except staggered, and so on and so forth.... BTW, since the twine will be so low profile I plan on just leaving it staked. Does that sound like a decent way of making the retrieval process not such a headache? I know that you've probably already covered this, but god is it hard to read and retain over 100 pages of vital information at a fast pace. At least that's me anyways.... Thanks so much for all that you've already contributed in my growing!

 

[Saibai]

Quote:
Originally Posted by vod
if you in the next year drill just next to the old hole you get qasi a double hole. Twice less drilling for the volume you get. Plus you get the old nutes and new nutes you put next to them and the new food there was created due to the fact that the place was nicer for worms and generally local life. I assume that there is a significant improvement in terms of efficiency year after year. Just a bit more than drilling next to old, like some form of at spot composting... makes sens to me.


Makes perfect sense to me, too. If undisturbed, a used site would only get better and better. It's a very appealing idea.

Yep, looks like I found a site I can use long-term this year, very clayish soil but too many other factors in its advantage - security, sun, relatively easy access etc.
I'll have to bring in some more amendments next season, but nothing like what I had to do to set it up this year.

 

[Care Free 1]

Julian
I have read through a good deal of your posts, but I cant remember you talking about the final part of the process. Dealing with the issues of getting rid of it once you have it.
I believe the process of growing large numbers is cake, but once you have that process down, can you give some advice on ways of sucsessfuly finding the safe ways of collecting for all your hard work, in general. (ie. finding and dealing with the right people).

 

[Jungle Jim]

Africanherbman, we use a tool called a matic. It is a cross between a pick and a hoe. The post hole diggers are a huge pita in my opinon. They will "pack" the sides as you dig so the roots have a hard time spreading out. When you cant use a powered auger due to noise issues, these are the next best thing IMO.

Care free 1 there is a wealth of information in this thread, literally. I know it is a long read, but will pay back in spades if you take the time to read it all. Many of the isssues of "getting rid" of it, and dealing with people, are in the thread.

 

[Jungle Jim]

I trust that everyone had a safe weekend in the bush. We had some serious weather to contend with. Im sure that some others were in the same "boat". Got lots of work done in spite of it all.

 

[HOVAH]

I SAW ON TV, THIS ELECTRIC DRILL ATTACHMENT FOR DRILLING HOLES IN THE GROUND, HAVENT SEEN IT AGAIN, WENT TO LOWES DIDNT SEE IT IN THERE,... WAS THINKIN IT WOULD CUT DOWN ON NOISE ISSUE ALOT... DID ANYONE SEE WERE, WHO TO BUY IT FROM?

 

[HOVAH]

SHIT THAT HOLE DIGGING SHIT HURTS!! IVE DUG 100 HOLE WITH A SHOVEL...F*CK ... I THINK I SLEEP FOR 2 DAYS AFTERWARDS... THAT AUGER IDEA SCARES ME TOO MUCH .. TOO MUCH NOISE.... CAUSE MY MAIN SPOTS ARE IN CITY, AND NEIBORHOODS.. DONT WANTA WAKE ANYONE @ 2AM , THEN HAVE THEM GO AND INSPECT WHAT NOISE THAT WAS THE NEXT MORNING...

 

[Jungle Jim]

Hovah, I dont think that any electric drill is going to give you the torque you need to dig in the ground. How would you run it? generatror? Battery powered drills have come a long way, but still dont have the power to drill holes in the earth. The power auger can be modified with a muffler from a motorcycle to be super quiet. The mufflers that come on them from the factory are pretty noisy. Think how quiet Honda generators are. If that is too noisy for your situation, then maybe the old pick and shovel are going to be your best bet.

 

[Ickis]

Here it is Hovah. The awesome auger by Billy Mays. I gotta admit I have been looking at it.

https://www.asseenontvnetwork.com/awesomeauger/?cid=377644

 

[PHB]

Here it is Hovah. The awesome auger by Billy Mays. I gotta admit I have been looking at it.

https://www.asseenontvnetwork.com/awesomeauger/?cid=377644

Not to discourage you from buying it, but make sure that your drill has enough power, and the ground isn't too hard. Those augers (I have a similar but different brand - 1" auger) are very effective on soil that doesn't contain a lot of clay and stones. I purchased mine with the hope that I could save myself some time and effort but quickly discovered that even my 19.2v rechargeable drill didn't have enough power to clear more than 3-4 inches of soil before the number of rocks in the ground would cause it to freeze up. For what its worth...

PHB

 

[lemonade]

Aside from the obvious, (busy) it's no wonder Julian has dropped out of sight as of late....

Awesome Auger...Billy Mayes.....Hehehe

 

[oohcow]

Julian,

Spent the last week reading this thread so as not to post anything crazy.

but Other than the obvious, any good way to find massive spots other than using private land? I want to grow large scale...maybe not what you would consider massive...but surburban areas all around me... and Cant find a place even to put 100 ...let alone thousands... Traveling to more rural areas more helpful?

Oh yeah... what do you think is a good number of ladies one man can do before needing another partner? I know this varies greatly from person to person.. but what about a well motivated workaholic like you? What number was your breaking point in you inducting another person into your ops?

EDIT: i know i have read this at least a dozen or two times throughout 100 pages or so... but this thread has inspired me beyond growing... to acheive my full potential... I was formerly a slacker.. but after reading through this.. you have helped me see that I want to do better.. to WORK for my cash.. not be lazy, I want to be a man and take care of my family and friends.. not be a leech.

Thanks alot man, I needed an inspiration like you, you've quite possibly changed my life through this thread.