Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

The first serious rain in 10 month, 21 mm in 1 hour.

It is not Monsoon jet according to the weather guys, just a change in weather patterners that might lead to monsoon.

Its ok with me.
Bring it on, the more the merry.

We had more rain, for the month already 64mm.
The las few days I extended the dog fence so it will now include the tub area.
I built a box for one of the little apple trees, thickly insulated for the winter. Have to built a second one for the other tree. The stuff in the grow beds is growing surprisingly good. I fertilize the water regular, myself.

The dirt garden has exploded with the rains.

I read an article how they fight rats in NY, they stuff dry ice in the tunnel, when it melts it releases CO2. I tried it on the moles, 3lbs for 5 bucks, did the trick. I like it.

I picked some potatoes from the wicking bed, the ones on the very top, Yukons and the Purple.
Very tasty. The whole bed should be good for harvest in 3 weeks.

wowowow those look so good! I should go check on ours too.

I finished the West side, with the tree box. I put a little door into it so I can get to the valves.

My peeponics are struggling, one day they look good, one day they look bad. It probably depends on the beer, wine and whisky mix I have consumed.

Dirt garden is doing very well.

I can pick Strawberries every other day, just stuff them in mouth, delicious. I tried to count the Toms, quit after 100, it gets to complicated after that figure.


Brian got me an idea with the smoker thingy. I fully blame you.


I still have the old chicken house and a small wood stove, just standing around.

Oh well

Yup yup, it's contagious. We did a brisket Friday! Store-bought meat is too fatty though. I'm seriously considering rearranging our pastures so we can raise our own grass-fed beef! Although lately it seems I spend more time thinking of things I want to do than doing things I want to do

I still had and have this small strip between the so called lawn and the aquaponics system to finish.
End of next week I will be able to pick up my KuneKune. Eventually they will get into the garden as law mower, once the dogs are used to them.
So ein dug in a small water pan and built a little mud bath for them
I still need some 3/4 inch roadbase, have to fix a smal section of the road and few buckets will cover the tarps.

All the good rain is already gone again, dry as a bone and it is burning again. Cloesest just 5 miles away, ash rain and lots of smoke.
But anyhow, I stated with my smoker, blame Brian.
First I moved the chicken house to a new location, than a 4x4 concrete pad for the stove.
I had some 2 inch foam insulation stored away. Insulated it and used 7/16 waver on the inside.

I will pick up D+D on the 7th

That's some smoker, it puts my little guy to shame

Oh man sorry the rain gave out already. Nice work on the smoke shack. Glad I could inspire you.

The plateau fire gained 1500 acres since Monday and is now at 7500 acres.
Last night it jumped the House Creek road. They had hoped to stop it along the road.
The smoke is thick as fog and ash is raining. This is getting serious. We have a constant stream of helis and slurries overhead. Can not see them in smoke but hear them. County road 31 into NF is closed, just 1/4 from here.


https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 590263.pdf

at the bottom of the map in blue is Boggy Draw, that's were my farm is.

Cross your fingers and toes.

We have on top extreme fire weather warning.

We just got pre evacuation order.

I am not evacuating, to many animals on the farm. I get everything ready to make a stand if needed.

Jeez mate, Good luck! hope the weather/Wind turns for you.

Farms/Building/Animals are replaceable...you life isn't. Don't leave it to late to get out!!!

Since the stage3 guys lost the fire Monday through Wednesday, they brought in a stage 3 team.
That is now the open no limits credit card of the Feds. They took over a field, knocked all the brush and dry grass down, built entrances for semi trucks and heavy equipment and than the semis started coming in.
It took them 1 day and a tent city was built, which will cater all the needs of 400 fire fighters and their equipment. That is a well drilled operation. The amount of equipment is just unbelievable.
That camp is around 400 yards from my farm. I like my new neighbors very much.

The new boss inspected the neighborhood and my farm with its open spaces and my plan and equipment got his approval. It would be, as I had hoped, a place which they would defend.

Send me some pictures of the firetrucks in action! They are probably using bigger equipment I would guess but if you see any Spartan diamonds on the side of the trucks we love to see our product doing what it's built to do protecting and saving lives and property.

Holy crap Gnoib, I'm so sorry that fire is so damn close, but hell yeah now you have an army of firefighters as neighbors so that must be some relief. Good luck buddy.
Brian