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Post by gardendmpls on Mar 24, 2022 21:21:17 GMT -5
Get yourself a Staedtler marker. Good to know, as I had bought two of them but wasn't sure how they would hold up. |
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Post by martywny on Mar 25, 2022 5:50:36 GMT -5
Good to know, as I had bought two of them but wasn't sure how they would hold up. If you search my posts for the word Staedtler, back in Feb of 2020, I did a side-by-side comparison of Sharpie vs. Staedtler after a few months out in the sun. You made a good investment! |
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Post by Mumsey on Mar 26, 2022 11:40:53 GMT -5
I use the Sharpie garage sale marker, you find them where the garage sale signs are. And I use mini blinds too. The Sharpie lasts all season. I do try to put them so the writing side is toward the North.
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Post by desertwoman on Mar 26, 2022 19:33:59 GMT -5
I do try to put them so the writing side is toward the North. I do the same thing. They always last me the season with a Sharpie.I've even used ink pen in a pinch and they do pretty well facing north- faded but read-able. |
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Post by raphanus on Apr 1, 2022 7:59:27 GMT -5
Welp despite the fact that I jumped and completed all of the neighbors demands about pressure washing and repainting and weeding and tidying up lumber and removing the corn and replacing it with flowers et cetera, he still in fact called the cops about my four hens (I don’t have a rooster). They came and saw the garden and asked about chickens and I told them that my elderly neighbor had dementia and that he mistook my chihuahuas constantly barking for chickens. They laughed and left. He called the cops back, they came back and searched the place and found the four hens I was hiding under my grape vines and they were furious. One of the officers did feel a little bad for me because he mentioned that if my house were two blocks away I would be able to have chickens. I’m right on the dividing line of city limits. Further adding salt to the wound, every single neighboring city that surrounds my town allows backyard hens and all of those cities are larger and have higher population density than my town. I’m going to go to city council meeting next week and respectfully ask if we can just have the same regulations as every other neighboring city and allow a few backyard hens and if they say no, I’m going to tell them I’m going to make a huge scene and organize a protest and call news stations and radio stations and call state congressman and plaster the incident all over social media, they were technically my moms chickens and she just died of cancer a few months ago so that would probably make a compelling headline “Elderly Woman Loses Cancer Battle and City Forces Grieving Son to Get Rid of Her Chickens”. I’m hoping if I make a massive amount of noise, they will want to avoid the PR nightmare and just either grant me an exception or update the city code to match that of all of the neighboring cities that are fine with hens. Unfortunately I’m probably stuck with the $1087 fine either way, but money doesn’t really matter to me, I kinda don’t think money will have much value within a few years, the new currencies are probably going to be vegetable seeds, tools, vehicles, skills, social capital, etc. Anyway, just an update and explanation for why I haven’t been updating my journal. I will try to post some new garden photos soon. There are a few somewhat recent garden tour videos here though: youtu.be/hUJUY5lYwDU |
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Post by reuben on Apr 1, 2022 8:24:59 GMT -5
Staedtler is used to sign fine art prints and the like, since (depending on type) the ink doesn't fade, etc. The tips come in different widths to suit your preference. I have a set I should use instead of the Sharpie. Just need to see if I have a big enough Staedtler.
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Post by emmsmommy on Apr 1, 2022 9:41:50 GMT -5
raphanus, part of me wants to say "buck the system" while another part would urge you to do some research before making a scene. I fear lying about the chickens isn't going to help your case. Is there anyone beyond those two blocks that could house the chickens for you as I assume you'll continue to get fined and possibly the chickens would be removed. Are you breaking any other ordinances, no matter how ridiculous they may seem? If so, the city could in turn get nastier and fine you even more. I would encourage you to go to that city council meeting and raise the question of why chickens aren't allowed and have a list of nearby towns and their populations handy. If that doesn't get results, then definitely go to the newspapers and TV stations. If you do decide to organize a protest, make sure you go through the proper channels (it's ridiculous, I know) as I wouldn't want to see you face more fines. Good luck to you my friend. I've added your channel to my watch list and will hopefully start viewing tonight as I'm fascinated by your garden.
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Post by datgirl on Apr 1, 2022 10:41:16 GMT -5
raphanus,man, sorry for all your troubles. I hope you get to keep the hens somehow. As far as the poison ivy, do you know anyone with goats? I know up here there are places you can rent them to clear out overgrown vegetation.
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Post by gardendmpls on Apr 1, 2022 10:42:10 GMT -5
When I have a minute I will look up the article on how to deal with ordinances against chickens. It has details about what works for the most part and how to organize. Will look for it on Sunday.
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Post by martywny on Apr 1, 2022 13:45:39 GMT -5
f my house were two blocks away I would be able to have chickens. I’m right on the dividing line of city limits First and foremost, read the regulations pertaining to having critters on your property. Some statutes prohibit chickens but don't say a word about quail or ducks, or refer to "farm animals" and it's up to you to figure out what farm animals are and aren't. Only pick the battles you can win. I had a building inspector tell me we had to move the toilet in an office building we bought because it was 1" too far from the wall to meet ADA requirements. The plumbing had been in place for 70 years and he said we had to get a permit, hire a licensed plumber to tear up the concrete and run new pipes, move the toilet, then have it inspected. My solution was to screw a 1" thick piece of plywood to the wall which put the distance between the wall and the toilet back within code requirements. There may be a better solution for you too, but you have to look at all of your options. Good luck! |
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Post by gardendmpls on Apr 1, 2022 14:47:29 GMT -5
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Post by raphanus on Apr 2, 2022 7:15:22 GMT -5
Thank you so much everyone for the advice. gardendmpls, those links are so helpful, I may forward them to my city council rep. martywny, that is really good advice. I may go to city hall and try to read the actual letter of the law. My town was settled in the 1600s, officially incorporated in the 1950s, and chickens were allowed until 2017 when we got a new mayor and he banned them. But it wasn’t publicized so a lot of people don’t know they are banned now. I was quite surprised they were banned because there are horses and such right down the street from me. emmsmommy, yes, you are correct, lying did not work, when I told the officer there were no chickens, he was mad when he had to come back and he found them anyway. It was kinda funny though, reminded me of an Andy Griffith episode, me trying to hide chickens, him telling me he could arrest me for providing false information, me snickering and telling him, he could try but would need backup and then his cop buddies would probably make fun of him for having to call backup over a couple of chickens 😂. I’m fortunate that I have friends in neighboring cities that would be glad to babysit the chickens and get fresh eggs for a few weeks, months, or perhaps indefinitely if it comes to that. I’ve always been a vegetable guy and was never really that interested in livestock, but after mom mentioned she wanted chickens, I was like sure whatever, but never thought I would get attached. I like free eggs and all, but what I have really grown to LOVE is the free fertilizer and the fact that nothing goes to waste now… any time I have garden produce that I don’t get around to eating in time, I don’t have to feel guilty wasting food because the chickens will eat it, so my garden feels so much more sustainable now. Anyway thanks so much for the comments everyone, I will try to post some new photos after I cut the grass today |
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Post by emmsmommy on Apr 6, 2022 1:07:50 GMT -5
raphanus, I just watched your late winter garden tour video and am really impressed. How much area does your garden cover? Also you mentioned growing the black hulless barley from Baker Creek. Have you grown it before? I bought a pack this year and am looking forward to harvesting it.
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Post by raphanus on Apr 6, 2022 6:53:33 GMT -5
How much area does your garden cover? Also you mentioned growing the black hulless barley from Baker Creek. Have you grown it before? I bought a pack this year and am looking forward to harvesting it. I need to actually take some measurements, but I am just working with a standard sized residential yard at the moment. I think the lot is maybe 1/4 acre, but the house takes up a good chunk of that and there is a large driveway and two sheds. The backyard is unfortunately very shady due to massive old live oak trees. I managed to pack in 30 fruit trees, but the spacing is pretty tight. I think there’s 12 raised beds now. I had a slightly larger garden down the street but moved last year and had to mostly abandon it, I shoveled out a lot of the raised beds from the old garden into fabric pots and then moved those fabric pots to the driveway at the new place. I read that 1/4 of an acre can comfortably feed a family of four. I still have to buy some meat and bread and cheese at the store, but I’m definitely growing a lot more vegetables than I can eat. That’s why the chickens are so great, they turn surplus vegetables into protein and fertilizer. I have not grown the black barley here before. It’s surprisingly very bush-like, low growing with lots of side shoots. I was expecting it to look more like wheat or rye, a tall slender stalk, but it’s more like a bush of grass. I’m surprised it hasn’t starting flowering yet. I’m not sure if I will try to make barley stew or grind it into flour for bread or just feed it to chickens. What are your plans for the barley? |
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Post by emmsmommy on Apr 6, 2022 6:59:37 GMT -5
raphanus, from your posts I suspected it to be a typical sized yard, but watching the video gives the impression that it's much bigger. Hopefully you can get the issues with the town and your neighbor sorted out. I know I'd be happy to have a neighbor with as much passion for gardening and permaculture as you have.
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