(11) Thu 23 Jun 94 22:49 By: Danny Daniel To: Cathy Mcgregor Re: fido-net connection ---------------------------------------------------------------------- @MSGID: 1:19/166.0 e0a4b7e0 @REPLY: 1:2401/114@fidonet.org 6816d8b2 Cathy Mcgregor wrote in a message to Bruce Bowman: CM> I have posted a request for information of growers or CM> researchers experience using propane flamers for insect and CM> weed control.. No response as yet. Cathy, Here on the hi plains of Texas back in the 60's "Flame" cultivators were quite popular and seemed to work well. The crops were planted on raised beds on 40 inch centers. The propane burners were hooded to direct the flame between the rows. Most of these tractor mounted flame throwers were 4 row units. While this was a sound idea economics took over the area when herbicides came on the market unfortunately. As for insect control I don't remember this being discussed. However whatever insects were on the weeds in the centers must have been destroyed... DD --- timEd 1.00 * Origin: Pride of the Plains BBS Floydada, TX 806-983-6133 (1:19/166) @PATH: 19/166 3615/50 3641/1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (12) Sat 25 Jun 94 22:01 By: Harsha Godavari To: Danny Daniel Re: Fido-net Connection ---------------------------------------------------------------------- @MSGID: 1:348/206@fidonet.org 6e4295a9 DD> Here on the hi plains of Texas back in the 60's "Flame" cultivators were DD>quite popular and seemed to work well. The crops were planted on raised beds DD>40 inch centers. The propane burners were hooded to direct the flame between DD>the rows. Most of these tractor mounted flame throwers were 4 row units. Whi DD>this was a sound idea economics took over the area when herbicides came on th DD>market unfortunately. As for insect control I don't remember this being DD>discussed. However whatever insects were on the weeds in the centers must hav DD>been destroyed... Danny: I am intrigued by your mentioning of "plants on raised beds". How high were they raised and why? Regards Harsha Godavari. --- þ SLMR 2.1a #389 þ Get the facts first - you can distort them later ! --- QScan v1.066b * Origin: Muddy Waters Computer Society Inc. Wpg. Mb. (1:348/206) @PATH: 348/206 3615/50 3641/1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (13) Mon 27 Jun 94 0:41 By: Danny Daniel To: Harsha Godavari Re: Fido-net Connection ---------------------------------------------------------------------- @PID: RA 2.02 21847 @MSGID: 1:19/166 53acbdaa @REPLY: 1:348/206@fidonet.org 6e4295a9 HG> Danny: HG> I am intrigued by your mentioning of "plants on HG> raised beds". HG> How high were they raised and why? The farm land here is very flat and we use a lister plow to form these beds anywhere from 6 to 12 inches high. The purpose being as we flood irrigate down these rows. It is not uncommon to have half mile long rows here. Very few fields less than 40 acres with quarter sections (160 acres) being the norm. Primary crops grown here are short staple cotton, milo, corn, wheat, and a smattering of vegtables. Our average rainfall here is around 18 inches per year making irrigation necessary. Our irrigation water comes from the Aqualia aquafier. This is a band of underground water that stretches from Nebraska to South Texas as I remember... To get this water to the surface six cylinder or V-8 engines powered by natural gas is the norm with some electric powered wells. Depth to water can vary from 200 to 450 feet. Regards DD --- * Origin: (1:19/166) @PATH: 19/166 3615/50 3641/1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (14) Sat 25 Jun 94 19:06 By: Dave Skinner To: Danny Daniel Re: fido-net connection ---------------------------------------------------------------------- @MSGID: 1:105/711.0 2e0cb85c @REPLY: 1:19/166.0 e0a4b7e0 DD> Here on the hi plains of Texas back in the 60's "Flame" cultivators DD> were quite popular and seemed to work well. The crops DD> were planted on raised beds on 40 inch centers. The DD> throwers were 4 row units. While this was a sound idea DD> economics took over the area when herbicides came on DD> the market unfortunately. As for insect control I DD> don't remember this being discussed. However whatever Many grasses (and other seed crops) are flamed to kill both weed seed and bugs. Unfortionatly, many undereducated eco types are trying to stop this practice. The alternative is toxic sprays which dont work as well and have all of the normal problems. Burning also makes phosphate more available. --- Maximus/2 2.01wb * Origin: /\Oregon Desert/\(503)475-3056(v32b)/\ (1:105/711) @PATH: 105/711 50 3615/50 3641/1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (15) Sat 25 Jun 94 8:52 By: Ed Brant To: Whomever? Re: Worm Boxes ---------------------------------------------------------------------- @EID:E0D6 1CD948CE welp, I did it! Got the book from the library (Worms eat my garbage), called ATTRA and got everything they have on worms and vermi*. Built a worm box, and used the edgeings of computer paper I'd been saving for awhile for bedding. Shocked isn't the word. Had to go to GIJOES and buy (Gasp!) worm bedding. Shedded paper, 2 pounds set me back $3.00. Wet everything down (3 to 1 ratio) and dumped the two pounds of worms in. Seperated the huge balls of worms, and scattered them over the whole area. Put a cover on the bin, and this morning put in the first garbage which had been sitting in the kitchen for a week. Buried it right in the corner. In about two and a half or three months we'll see what we've got. I plan to "feed" them once per week, hopefully they'll reproduce, and we'll harvest and propagate a second box at that time. My wife wants to sell fishing worms, but that's a bit intense for me..... More interested in compost, and my plants (House/GHouse). I'm seriously thinking of trying on a *very* small scale, some hydro gardening. I got what I could from ATTRA on the subject, but it seems a bit technical for my purposes. I'll be needing a source of "feed" for the plants. And a way to airate the HOH. What I have is two hot water heater inards. My wife left all my 55 gal drums (she did the "finals" at the farm, after I came to the city) in the barn, so they're lost. Anyone have experience in this line? If I can make it work on a family scale, I may expand a bit and go just barely commercial. (enough to help family income.) Last: Need a source of NOT hybrid seeds. Something that I can save seed from, and reseed yearly. Ed Sphinx XLT/v2.0 * KLEPTOMANIA! Take something for it! ---------------------------------------- --- InterBBS 7.4 * Origin: The Landing Zone - VetLink #7, Box 13762, Portland, OR 97213 (1:105/12.0) @PATH: 105/12 360 50 3615/50 3641/1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (16) Mon 27 Jun 94 13:15 By: Marlin Nissen To: All Re: Land available for Organic farming ---------------------------------------------------------------------- @PID: QE 2.76a+ @MSGID: 1:231/230 2E08397A Greetings I am new to this BBS stuff, so I'll seem like a compu-cluts, but here it goes. We (me, my wife, sister-in-law, and brother) have purchased property in Southern Indiana. The idea is to convert standard agriculture land to organics and move down there ourselves. Live off the land .... grow our own food etc. kindof a Helen and Scott Nearing thing. We are moving there within the next few years but are currently stuck paying for the land and our children are finishing school. Therefore we have been forced to do something with this land and as there was a traditional (chemical) farmer already signed up to the land when we bought it, he has been using it this year. **** YUK **** If there is someone out there, between Louisville area (37 mi.), Indianapolis area (110 mi.), Cinn area (90 mi.) etc. who would be interested in Organic Farming???? We could cut them a good deal while still making a little money to help make the land payment. This could benefit both of us. There is 28 acres avail. almost immediately and a total of 90 acres of tillable land, as well as 90+ acres of woods on the farm. We are also interested in sustainable living quarters and have helped build the first straw-bale home in Indiana. We would be interested in someone possibly building a place to stay on the property, if interested. ?????? Interested ???????? Signed : Ready for Ideas............... Marlin Nissen --- QuickBBS 2.76a Ovr * Origin: ORDOVICIAN OOZE * In the heart of Indiana * (1:231/230) @PATH: 231/230 50 3615/50 3641/1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (17) Mon 27 Jun 94 17:49 By: Jim Clanton To: Cissy Re: compost ---------------------------------------------------------------------- @MSGID: 1:231/710 2E0879A6 I left this message earlier, but evidently went down with the rest. I was curious about shredded computer paper as compost on the garden, are inks O.K. etc.? If you have any info on this please let me know. Thanks! --- FreeMail/QuickBBS 2.76a Ovr * Origin: * The H.O.M.E. BBS - (317) 539-6579 * (1:231/710)