Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

It turns out the article was expanded into a book. I downloaded a sample in iBooks. I might try to find it in an actual library.

Bullwinkle is contagious. In a good way. I wish I had an invention machine like his. I just have a "steal other people's ideas" machine. *sigh*

I'm going to be on your turf next week -- going to a pharmacology conference in San Diego. Shall I bring you some blackberry cuttings?

Yes! I know right where I will put them.

If you're really serious, tell me how to take cuttings, 'cause I've never done it. I mostly try to get them NOT to grow, which seems a losing proposition. My impression in general is they'll grow from pretty much any piece of stem or root comprising more than 6 intact molecules, but it figures if you're actually *trying* to get them to grow, that probably wouldn't be enough.

Is there any problem with bringing them into CA, as long as there's no dirt?

That's right, there is a restriction on produce from Washington. I don't know if it applies to cuttings. I do remember that if we did not burn our sticker bushes, the cuttings would take root just about anywhere. However, if you wanted to see my system while you are down, you would be welcome to.

I just let the goats at 'em. They eat them down to the ground, then keep eating any shoots that appear until they give up.

I didn't see anything on this list (http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/PE/InteriorExclusion/ext_summary.html) that would exclude blackberry cuttings from WA, but I'll email the information address and see what they say.


I would love to see it; I won't have transportation, though, so logistically I don't know if it would work out... Unless you just happen to live within walking distance of the Manchester Grand Hyatt, where the conference is.

I don't live within walking distance, but the trolley is not too far. If it is a priority at all, we could figure something out. If not, se la vie. I know how it can be during conferences, you are in something of a bubble. I once went to a conference held at the Disneyland hotel, and despite the fact that we were annual pass holders, we did not go into Disneyland at all. The Manchester grand Hyatt is a neat hotel. There is a bar on he top floor that has stunning views. Downtown San Diego looks like a bunch of tools, and the Hyatt is the flathead screwdriver. The other tools include One America Plaza staring as the Phillips head screwdriver, and Emerald Plaza as the Allen wrenches. Btw, it is at One America Plaza that you would catch the trolley.

I sent you a PM, but BYAP ate it.

We decided to go cheap and stay in a hostel instead of at the Hyatt, so maybe we won't get trapped in the conference-bubble. I always feel like I'm gonna get caught crashing the fancy people's digs and kicked back downstairs with the kitchen help when I stay in those ritzy hotels, anyway. Hostels are more my speed!

My designated bodyguard says he thinks looking at patio-grown fish would be fun. Psych nurses are just cool like that. So we just need to figure out when is a good time for you. We're getting in tomorrow around 2pm. Conference doesn't start until Thursday. We leave Sunday afternoon. Pretty much have evenings free, unless one of the others has plans I don't know about yet.

I'm gonna leave you a PM with my contact info, but just in case BYAP keeps doing its burpy thing, my email is my forum name at gmail.com.

It occurs to me my bodyguard reference came from the afore-mentioned vanished messages, and therefore might seem a little odd if you didn't happen to see them before they disappeared...

It had to do with hubs fretting about having me running around scary downtown San Diego all by my little vulnerable ownself. (If you've ever met a full-grown llama IRL, you might guess from my avatar that "little" isn't the most accurate description of me, at least as it applies to my vertical dimensions. But to my sweet hubs, I am a delicate petite flower. Or something. )

I am not generally the fearful type...the downtown of any large city is really pretty much just a giant outdoor psych unit, which feels right at home to me, with all the time I've spent in them. (*Working* in them, that is.) He argues, however, that they are severely *understaffed* giant outdoor psych units, and I have to concede that point. And also, I am not licensed to prescribe in California, which leaves me unarmed but for my wit and wimpy girl muscles.

But as it happens, my coworker Dave is also going to the conference, and he is bigger than me (in all dimensions). Hubs says as long as Dave goes with me, I can roam San Diego without him having to worry about me as much. Which means I can roam all I want, as long as I roam mostly toward things Dave is interested in.

So that's why I started referring to Dave as my bodyguard, and also why I had to get him interested in looking at fish so I could maybe come see your patio system.

I recall the missing posts! I have actually started copying my posts just in case they disappear. Olalla, the town I grew up in, had mostly llamas as livestock. I assumed the llama was resting on the floor to look up at you, but even then, that makes you tall. I P.M.ed you back with suggested times. I hope it gets through.

Got it. And PMed you back.

The llama and I were both standing. She was a particularly inquisitive one; kept following me around and snuffling at my neck and face. I had to work very hard not to want to bring her home! (We were actually there getting goats.)

There was this incredibly junky run down house surrounded by llamas in Olalla. I remember that it was on the way to my elementary school. After I moved away, I drove past it and the house and llamas were replaced by a mansion. I think the people that lived there made quite a bit off of the llamas. Llamas also have the distinction of bing the only animal domesticated in the new world. (There were domestic dogs, but they were domesticated in the old world and came over with people in which ever fashion they actually came over)

Now the the domestication... and fashion... is to shrink the dogs... so they'll fit in a handbag...

I think they're genetically modified.. and cross bred with hamsters... or gerbils...

Even the tiniest purse sized dog descends from old world wolves. It seems that the smaller they get the more they forget that they aren't wolves anymore. What is even more fascinating is that the old world wolves chose domestication. They were smart enough to join a pack that was extremely resourceful. Dogs are also the only animal to understand pointing.

Personally... I think any dog that doesn't stand at least as high as your knee.... and/or yaps rather than barks... (dingos & foxes excluded)..

Should be immediately culled...