re: Re: [pyrnet] rainy weather

[merrirfav@icehouse.net]

Wow! Thank you so much! That gives me a great direction to move towards. :o)
I'll tell Jeff about the chickens, but we may have a problem...Mel likes to eat them alive.
Maybe have to section off the yard. Mel in one part, while the chickens are in the other, and then rotate.
>>Someday I'll tell you how I built my garden beds, located outside
> the fence (due to Pyrs) next to the road. These were built in
> gravel that had been parked on for 30 years! Talk about back
> breaking labor! LOL! <<< 
 That really sounded like a back breaking task. But if the garden bed took, and in that harsh environment ...I am all ears. We would love to have a garden when we find the right place.
Anyway , much thanks for answering all my questions. I learn so much from this list.
Mer

> ** Original Subject: Re: [pyrnet] rainy weather
> ** Original Sender: "Barb Bowes" <bamb@monmouth.com>
> ** Original Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 19:08:06 -0700

> ** Original Message follows... 

>
> Merri wrote: <<I didn't know that chickens warded off sand fleas.
> Good to know. :o)>>
> 
> They eat the fleas, and Guinea hens eat ticks!
> 
> <<Did you let them run around, and eat them, or ...
> Did you have a coupe? >>
> 
> We had a coop, but we let them have free run of the yard every
> day.
> 
> <<Sorry to hear about your sod. >>
> 
> Oh well, we sold the house anyway, so it matters not, anymore.
> :-)
> 
> <<I would have been disappointed too, but how did you get it to
> take?>>
> 
> Lot's and lots of water! I got up every morning at 5 AM to move
> the sprinkler that my husband had turned on at 4:15 AM when he
> left for work! Watered every evening as well! Thank God for the
> well. If we'd had to use city water, the water bill would have
> been astronomical! (probably would have died too, from the
> chloring in the water!) Oh, and most importantly, get sod that is
> grown in the type of soil on which you'll be putting it. Prepare
> the soil first as well. We turned it all over with shovels, limed
> heavily (we had years of oak leaves that turned the soil acidic,
> and soil is acidic in the Northeast, anyway) and we used natural
> fertilizer, not chemicals. Never had any weeds either. We had a
> LOT of shade, from that huge old oak tree as well as the rest of
> the oaks, so I bought fescue sod, which does VERY well in the
> shade. (however, fescue is NOT good for mares if they are in
> foal, it can and does cause them to abort! Not sure about other
> grazers)
> 
> <<Is there a complex rooting system that the grass has to have
> right from the beginning.>>
> 
> Sod comes with a full root system. The trick is giving it plenty
> of water so it will "take". In sand, the water will not "hold" so
> you need to water VERY often, until it is well established.
> 
> <<Was it just regular grass? Or a specific type?>>
> 
> Fescue because of all the shade.
> 
> <<I know...you are saying this person sure has a bunch of
> questions...lol We are considering a move to sandy soil, so hence
> the questions.>>
> 
> Someday I'll tell you how I built my garden beds, located outside
> the fence (due to Pyrs) next to the road. These were built in
> gravel that had been parked on for 30 years! Talk about back
> breaking labor! LOL! Sometimes I wish I still had an interest in
> gardening, but then I look at the dogs, and well, ther's just no
> contest! <vbg> Even did my own soil PH testing as well as
> nutrient testing, mixed my own fertilizer depending on the
> results, etc. Grew my own annuals from seeds, the whole bit.
> Then, the Pyrs came in larger numbers and the greenhouse room
> became the whelping room. Was a LOT more fun growing puppies, but
> sending them off to their new homes was quite difficult. I cried
> each time one left. They each took a small piece of my heart with
> them. Good thing I only had the 2 litters!
> 
> Barb Bowes
> Bo & Chelsea (Pyrs), Flopsy (Pyr Shep) & Machin (Doxie)
> The more people I meet, the more I like my dog!
> bamb@monmouth.com
> 
> 
> 
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>** --------- End Original Message ----------- **

>