2025 gardens and such

[jjannie]

Still much to be done around the place as we work to clear the overgrowth all around house, yard and garage. It's nice we've had a nice cool down like we've been getting. Late Sep-early Oct we've got big house project happening - we're changing over our stucco to more durable cement-type board. Still about same color scheme. Between temp swings on the unheated detached garage and the flickers the stucco just hasn't held up very well. We're tired of fixing/repairing it, so time to fix it for good. It'll be noisy and messy having stucco removed.

[wiperhunter2]

If you own a house there is always something that needs to be done. How long did they say it was going to take for the stucco removal and cement board install project?

[jjannie]

If you own a house there is always something that needs to be done. How long did they say it was going to take for the stucco removal and cement board install project?

For sure. We know another person with gray stucco who lives in sunset who has only had their house for 7 years that are the original owners and they too have been having issues with theirs (stucco issues and woodpeckers) that they keep repairing it constantly. We love the gray but so do woodpeckers!!!

They estimate 1 week to remove it all and haul it away, and 2-3 weeks to install the cement board siding. So, 3-4 weeks of a mess and noise.  It'll just be nice once it's done (fingers crossed).

[jjannie]

Next week the house destruction begins. We're still spending 4 every morning removing overgrown shrubbery and using the chipper shredder to make tons of free bark. Good thing because we use so much of it in that side yard. This morning, we dismantled the badly rusted out Mantis tumbler compost maker using many tools such as an angle grinder and saws all for much of it as removal of the rusty nut and bolts wasn't always possible. But we got it accomplished and ready for disposal. 

Next week our lows start hitting the mid to upper (hopefully) 40s so our first frost may arrive when we are out of town and can't save anything. So, next week we may move what we want to save into the garage or greenhouse to buy a bit more time for things to ripen before we throw in towel. 


After our trip, we'll do a full reset and cleaning of the hydroponic garden, so it'll be all good throughout the winter months. Then we can get some new seeds started up. Any plants still producing we carefully remove for the cleaning then put them back in.

[jjannie]

We're really liking this fall weather since we haven't even frosted yet like in years past. Harvested tons of tomatoes, gave some to both the kids and their families. We have no need for canning more and no more room in freezer as well. 

Looks like we may even continue to harvest once we're home from our CDA trip this month. 

Hydroponics update - had another light issue on the Lettuce grow even though we already had moved the electrical outside of the water area. UGH. So the next plan is to switch over to growing in it next spring but do it outside only so NO lights are even used on it. We may even plant some flowers in any laces where we're not growing veggies. 

Instead, we'll be using one, maybe even 2, Aero Garden type of countertop style planter. We really enjoy doing hydroponic gardening and having it producing throughout winter it's just wonderful and handy in the kitchen. 

Picked a huge batch of green beans (didn't count them) that we squeezed into the freezer for later. If no frost comes, maybe a few more can be picked once were back home again.

[wiperhunter2]

Sorry to hear about your hyd pons issues, at least the water part is working well. Does the Aero Garden type of countertop style planter work different than the other style you currently use?
Not sure what the deal is this year on our GB's. I figured it was just going to be another bad year for them but they have gone insane since the temps finally started to cool, over 520 picked the last few days. I was picking them every 4 days but it's looking like I need to pick them daily at this rate. Finally winding down on our peaches, we have been processing them for two months now, every day, Freeze drying running 24 7. Crazy year.

[jjannie]

Sorry to hear about your hyd pons issues, at least the water part is working well. Does the Aero Garden type of countertop style planter work different than the other style you currently use?
Not sure what the deal is this year on our GB's. I figured it was just going to be another bad year for them but they have gone insane since the temps finally started to cool, over 520 picked the last few days. I was picking them every 4 days but it's looking like I need to pick them daily at this rate. Finally winding down on our peaches, we have been processing them for two months now, every day, Freeze drying running 24 7. Crazy year.

Yes the new hydroponics is the countertop version. It circulates a pump every 30 min on/off. Instead, the Lettuce grow makes it 'rain' over all the plant pots, the new one they just sit in the circulating water. I'll post a pic of it in a few. 

Our GBs were slow to produce as well but hopefully it'll still be good to pick the last crop once were back home.

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Here is our ahopegarden (brand) we ordered from Amazon. Its 12-plant pod system. You typically don't normally plant in all 12 to leave spreading space in between for plants to spread some. There's a small circulating pump in the bottom that auto turns on/off every 30 min. I set up using reverse osmosis water to give it check out. I'll start seeds once we get back home from our trip. You use planting sponges set into the cone shaped pots to set your seeds in. Some even use these to start their outdoor garden plants in. I used practice golf balls to cover the pot holes so no algae can grow inside - did the same on the LG. The grow lights can be adjusted up to about 16.5 in as the plants grow.  If this does well, we may add 2nd one. But starting with one first to see how it produces. 

[jjannie]

House stucco renovation is still ongoing. At least they have finished some portions. The rainy days have slowed the progress understandably. Hey, did their best to allow us to access our garages to get vehicles in and out as needed. We're really happy with the color we chose, kind of blueish gray. They have done their best to limit the mess and neaten up after every day's work. 

Picked the last of green beans. Didn't count them and some were even still blooming. I pulled the pulled up all the plants as we are likely soon going to get a hard frost so nothing new will have a chance to grow anyway. We may move a couple tomato plants in the pots into the garage to extend their life a little bit longer. The greenhouse will be OK as well.