The Selling of the Soul

[unclefishstick]

no kidding,seems like all i do once i get off the bike is drink drink drink...but i sweat like crazy,one of the little side things about being tall is a greater internal volume to keep cool...

you're getting cold die off and im getting heat die off,had a few of the landscape plants cack out on me after doing well for months....ah well,welcome to the compost pile....im massively overplanted anyway,i figured on letting the strong survive and replant next year when i see what wins...

 

[Jericho Mile]

The Siege

The Siege

The back bed is under attack again



Gophers...most likely aided by ground squirrels...have managed to breech the fortress..chewing through 1/4" galvanized hard wear cloth...pushing it up...and entering. All that is in the bed...at the moment..are...some chards, beets, and a row of peppers...mostly empty..because the garlic harvest is already in

was going to amend the medium...and replant with summer stuff..but now it looks like...I'll have to patch the bottom 1st. My thought process/experience tells me: if there is one breech...there are more breeches

I've gardened this bed since '07...and really...I might be over it for the summer. It's a serious pain in the ass finding and patching holes...better things to be doing..then fucking with rodents. If you've never dealt with these things...call yourself: Fortunate. Gardening is absolutely retarded here...if it's not one beast...it's another...if it's not the cold nights...it's 50 mph winds...just retarded. Sell your soul to garden...shit man..sometimes knowing when to throw in the towel...makes more sense

Day 8 of the running binge....fuck this shit...I'm hitting the trails

* had my best garden season ever...in '12....not in the cards for me this year. Hopefully pull off a nice tomato and pepper harvest to go along with an awesome garlic harvest...but I'm not even hoping beyond that. It's a brutal summer...I can feel it...gotta know when to not play...when everything is desperate and mean

 

[Jericho Mile]

Golden Beets

Golden Beets

My favorite beet...beautiful oranges and yellows...tender sweet flesh



They'll find their way into the juicer..and wherever else..they are needed

 

[unclefishstick]

i dont imagine you bbq too much but beets wrapped in foil and slow roasted over charcoal with a little butter,salt and pepper and rosemary is just awesome

 

[Jericho Mile]

Under Monsoonal Flow

Under Monsoonal Flow

Here's how the potted pepper plants are looking



A Purple Jalapeno...shooting out fruits..attractive plants



The highs and the lows...I'm still not really feeling the summer gardens. Some stuff is looking great...some stuff didn't work out...experimenting with plants and locations...coming out of pots root bound...some stalls...some stunts..whipping and driving..harvesting and reloading

weather has been hot and dry...the hours spent watering long/consistent....

 

[Jericho Mile]

Awoke to drizzle...actually

Awoke to drizzle...actually

...it was the smells of the native plants...that edged me out..of my sleep. Having not being washed...in months on top of months...all the dusts...all the traveling breezes..covering...clogging them..under clinging layers...anyway

you may know...the monsoonal flow...offers the plants a chance at a cleansing...the higher RH opening pores..exhausting plant fumes...rain drops carrying away the dusty coatings

* early morning run with the wife..following winding trails to and fro..over ridges...down into the hole...transversing in a side slope..drifting back up and home. A nice way to wake up

Chinese 5 color pepper plant. I've grown these before..hot peppers..like the name says...fruits come in 5 colors..and stand upright on the plants



Lemon Grass...excellent stuff in small doses...a seasoning grass. Strong flavor



Coming out of small pots...I'm feeling like the my tomato plants have stalled..maybe stunted..but most are in fruiting mode...and I have them everywhere...so it may come out just right.

Here's a cluster of Money Maker and Orange Strawberry tomato plants...some grown in the footprint of..the hothouse



^ I'm planning (if these things get going) to train them into the frame...but who knows..I might have fucked up here..kept them too long..in those small squares. They seem small to me....I'm sure the bashing in 100 degree days..didn't help their cause either.

My last frost was in mid June. No choice but to hang tight with non frost tolerant plants. Next year..however...I'll keep the plants in 1 gal pots...so as not to..get them so...root bound. The weather here..can't say it enough...just fucks with me. Extremes on both ends...can turn on me..overnight. When conditions show favor...and everything is rolling...I ride it...for all it's worth...short and sweet...but months spent...setting up...for it. Crash and burn all the time

 

[unclefishstick]

even on a small scale farming is filled with both triumph and heartbreak....probably just way more enjoyable on the home garden scale...

 

[Payaso]

Love this thread Jericho Mile, thanks for sharing! I hope your garden is doing well... I harvested my first Yellow Cayenne peppers yesterday. Everything is going well here at 2000', except the tomatoes are slow to ripen their fruit this year. Lots of green ones, being patient as always. The herbs are booming...nice.

 

[nattynattygurrl]

I love this thread! Nice work Jericho!
I really relate to your struggles with the weather…I battle extremes constantly in my little spot: cold nights, super hot, dry days and crazy wind.

I look forward to watching your garden progress!
Wishing you a most bountiful harvest Jericho!

 

[Jericho Mile]

I Bounce..

I Bounce..

...between this thread and the "A World on a String" thread. I may repeat myself here...and there..but....it's probably more a case of...fragmented documentation..as it's told...by jumping back...and forth. If it reads disconnected...that's the juggle

Not so jamming...in my back bed. As I've shown...it was planted with 1/2 the bed in Garlic...up until they harvested...back in June. Right?...right...yes..that's how it was. I should be resting the bed...yet I push it on..like a worn..beast of burden. Gophers attack..birds attack..days of triple digits attack...cold nights attack...this fortress..not so fortified any longer. Running it on fumes...and yet...it's been replanted with squash, more beets, and a couple rows of carrots....peppers

Had planted a couple varieties of swiss chards...some golden beets and some lettuces...spinaches..whatever else...back on 01 April...

going to get one more harvest off the chards...probably tomorrow..which will feed the juicer for...all of...a couple sessions (juicer being voracious..all consuming)....then turn those rows over..and replant. Still have lots of the golden beets rolling along...



^ they've been harvested off of...several times...look matted due to having a bird net on them...bit torn and frayed due to the birds getting...what they could..net be damned. Productive...but not as pretty as they could be. I'll be planting more>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

These are a row of Corno Di Toro Giallo or Rosso (can't remember which...if the fruit is red they are Rosso...if yellow Giallo) an Italian heirloom. The reason I show these: not any fruit yet...developing on them..but the same variety..planted in smart pots...and in a different location...are spitting fruits



Location...location...location. Nice to know...especially when...staggering harvests....or just..figuring out...what will work. I move stuff around...experimenting every session...every season

Some upcoming sunflowers (from last season's seed...giant ones)...being grown to cover up...a volunteer cannabis plant..that may or may not..be female.





Not giving it any love (the herb plant)...pretty much been..put through...deliberate hell..with almost no amendments...10 or so frosts..uprooted...ripped apart...topped several times...supercropped..pruned..mangled...

messing around with it....usually I have a pit grow...going in this spot. Didn't want to do an OD grow this summer..but if this stinker..flowers female..I'll start helping her out...see if I can keep hidden. More a game..than anything else

* also started some bush style zucchini plants in this spot...just to add some more green...lessen the contrasts..extend the blending of greens. It's like...painting a picture...strokes of colors..meshed into one...outlined only...by shading the canvas

** I figure..if the plant is male...no loss...still have squash and flowers...to enjoy. You'd think I'd be able to sex it...by now...but it's a tricky expression...and honestly...I've hardly given it...a good look. I'll know...soon enough

 

[gaiusmarius]

nice thread, thanks for sharing the ups and down

 

[Jericho Mile]

nice thread, thanks for sharing the ups and down

You know it...dude. Appreciate the visits

 

[Jericho Mile]

Setting up a Tomato Screen

Setting up a Tomato Screen

I've done a screen of OD cannabis...down in my pit a few yrs ago...and I did a screen of tomato plants...last season. Have had...good success....so...using the same screen

Here it goes again...



^ There is a total of...7...Orange Strawberry tomato plants...closely planted..so that there appears to be...only 3 plants. I like planting 2 or more tomato plants together...in this fashion...and most of my tomato pits...are grown in..a multi plant style.

Anyways...7 appear as 3...they are lollipop pruned...and some of their inside leaves have also...been..pruned out. They are fitted into cages...their growth...now getting close to the top rings...and as they progress (get taller)...I'll feed them into the screen..exploiting as much space and sun spread...as possible.

Takes some maintenance to keep them spread and the canopy open...but...because I prefer..due to strong winds..to keep a lower structured profile...it is a solid way of keeping heavy plants...in some sort of...organized....fashion.

Now...weather permitting...the blitz should begin. Get them up...get them screened..get them ripe...get them in

* this is a totally different location...than the screen I did...last season. Experimental spot...gets the fine morning sun..lots of afternoon sun...and some shaded lumens/spectrums towards evening. By all reasoning...this spot..should pump out tomato fruits

** It should be noted: in the 1st post of this thread...I said something about...seeking faith in this environment. Yesterday...I became enlightened to the level...that Faith is a useless...weak...waste of energy. I no longer seek Faith.....and I'll tell you..the world has become a brighter place. The less Faith is sought...the more that opens. It is very clear to me now....Faith is only...a human designed concept...created out of unknown fear. That's all it is...and it is...no more

 

[Jericho Mile]

Growing in a compost hole...and staking

Growing in a compost hole...and staking

computer misfire...double post

 

[Jericho Mile]

Growing in a compost hole...and staking

Growing in a compost hole...and staking

Had a bunch of spare plants...gave many away to neighborhood gardeners...and some (pepper plants) went out blindly via a "Free" sign...other stuff...

...I just 1/2 ass transplanted into a compost pit...somewhat under...an oak tree. Here's a look at a passel of Chadwick Cherry tomato plants..as well as..some Rosita eggplants



^ basically dug a few little holes...and unloaded the plants..very quickly...no spacing...no plan..figure if they provide...fine..if not...fine..they'll be all ready...to compost. Been a couple weeks..since transplants...and they actually...seem content

Old Skool staking up...tied off with strips..made of bed sheets. Moneymaker tomatoes...freshly staked/tied this morning. I'd rather that these....get to around 5'-6' tall...and call it good. I have that screen going on...behind these...so I'll want to manage height



We'll see...need those rushing growth spurts to happen...in order to make it look right. From today..figure to have about 2.5 months of prime grow time..but then again...I've not found a month...where frost has not found me...at one time...or another. Chances are slim for now...as the forecast is looking favorable. Hot days....T-cell build ups predicted later in the week...nights should be over 50 degrees...thumbs up...all systems go.

Hit it...while you can

 

[Jericho Mile]

Cloud Bursts

Cloud Bursts

Been getting drilled with rain...all the day long...predicted through the night



Won't have to water for 4 or 5 days....keeping it all together...tying off fresh growth on the tomato plants...running out...between passing cells

 

[unclefishstick]

we had a nice little bit of rain here,maybe an entire inch!

 

[Fly by Night]

JM you've been treating your body like a temple indeed...challenging physical routines and wholesome nutrition cannot be underestimated! Now and then I look back to when destruction was my daily diet, and mostly amazed how the body responds to what's put in. Also a reminder that a few weeks or month of poor lifestyle decisions and ill be back to jelly donuts!

Getting on in years, it's taken time to accept limitations. The muscles have so much response left to give, and the respiratory gets me thru without question. But every connective tissue is at its limit, not at once, but in consecutive order of sorts. Why does my left thumb hurt like crazy, elbows ache and a Charlie horse suddenly in the left thigh?

Rest, is the my greatest ally, but I don't often accept the assistance! Hate taking days off from exertion, but its not a luxury....total necessary to keep from getting really sidelined!

And if I can't find a public restroom, things get creative. Downing two pints h2o every time I pass the sink...always something on tap ready to flow!

Stay up JM, be very well and peaceful! Nice pathway you've chosen

 

[Fly by Night]

High density urban residential surrounds, I've chosen a type of transportation to blend with the scenery. Averaging 13-15 mi per day, visiting 3 gardens quietly, without a gallon of gas consumed. Plus delivering important medicine in a drug state. The hanger bars are what's pulling my elbows and shoulders apart! Happy trails amigo

 

[Jericho Mile]

High density urban residential surrounds, I've chosen a type of transportation to blend with the scenery. Averaging 13-15 mi per day, visiting 3 gardens quietly, without a gallon of gas consumed. Plus delivering important medicine in a drug state. The hanger bars are what's pulling my elbows and shoulders apart! Happy trails amigo

View Image

Dude...that bike takes me back...to my mid 70's youth. Could never afford one of those things...back in the day. Used to build all kinds of chopper style bikes...I remember the older kids used to...cut one pair of forks...and slide them over the attached pair..extending into a choppers...sissy bars...and banana seats (I had a yellow western flyer..with a fat seat...and a high ass sissy bar).......then the 80's

and the BMX bikes took hold....but I still...only had...shitty bikes. Bastards of whatever...my friends and I...got our hands on. Never had a solid bike...until the 90's..mountain bikes.

* I took all last week off...from the trails. Been doing some heavy duty labor...hours spent busting my ass...can't run and do that...during the same period.

** The weather (rain predicted again..today)....has halted the job...so I'm out on the trails...at least for...the next few days.


.......Gardening is important...being that...I'm a mentally fucked madman..brings me to the plants as a sounding board...rather than...looking for solace amongst peeps

I said to a neighbor...after he was commenting on some of my unconventional landscaping work (that I had pulled it off..and that it had successful function...organically built. I know..that many had just shaken their heads...when I had explained it to them..)

"Man...I can't listen to what other people say...sometimes a man...must fly..his own kite. I'd never get anywhere...if I was concerned about what these people think."

Diet...can't understand...why others don't see where all...the connected dots..lead. One dot to another dot...stay on their pathways...learn what the plants are sayin'...get off processed shit