Comments for gardenwallah http://gardenwallah.com Mon, 07 Jun 2010 22:34:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ Comment on asparagus beetles are grody to the max by Erin http://gardenwallah.com/2010/05/04/asparagus-beetles-are-grody-to-the-max/#comment-454 Erin Mon, 07 Jun 2010 22:34:13 +0000 http://gardenwallah.com/?p=2371#comment-454 Cynthia -- I'm with you. Killing all the grubs was gross and there got to be so many of them that it just wasn't possible. We try not to spray even "organic" chemicals on the gardens but we used Neem oil this year, which is totally organic and pretty much harmless. It took care of the beetles within 36 hours! Pretty amazing. Just to be sure I followed up with some spinosad which is also organic but just a bit more stringent (I wanted to be SURE that those nasty things were dead!) but that was probably overkill & we could have just used the neem. Good luck :) Cynthia — I’m with you. Killing all the grubs was gross and there got to be so many of them that it just wasn’t possible. We try not to spray even “organic” chemicals on the gardens but we used Neem oil this year, which is totally organic and pretty much harmless. It took care of the beetles within 36 hours! Pretty amazing. Just to be sure I followed up with some spinosad which is also organic but just a bit more stringent (I wanted to be SURE that those nasty things were dead!) but that was probably overkill & we could have just used the neem. Good luck :)

]]> Comment on asparagus beetles are grody to the max by Cynthia http://gardenwallah.com/2010/05/04/asparagus-beetles-are-grody-to-the-max/#comment-453 Cynthia Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:22:27 +0000 http://gardenwallah.com/?p=2371#comment-453 The fact that they are" tricky and will drop straight to the ground if they see you coming after them, hiding instantly in the mulch" is extremely helpful. I put two or three drops of soap in a small bucket of water(I used an empty yogurt container--the big kind). Hold it under the branch and they will drop right into it and cannot get out. I found it easier to get rid of the adults than the grubs--the idea of squishing them really grosses me out, but I will have to try, since the garlic pepper spray I made had absolutely no effect on them---aargh, and I finally got my first harvest this year, too! The fact that they are” tricky and will drop straight to the ground if they see you coming after them, hiding instantly in the mulch” is extremely helpful. I put two or three drops of soap in a small bucket of water(I used an empty yogurt container–the big kind). Hold it under the branch and they will drop right into it and cannot get out. I found it easier to get rid of the adults than the grubs–the idea of squishing them really grosses me out, but I will have to try, since the garlic pepper spray I made had absolutely no effect on them—aargh, and I finally got my first harvest this year, too!

]]> Comment on Neem Oil vs. Asparagus Beetles: Round 1 by M http://gardenwallah.com/2010/05/06/neem-oil-vs-asparagus-beetles-round-1/#comment-448 M Sat, 08 May 2010 01:24:15 +0000 http://gardenwallah.com/?p=2374#comment-448 A thought occurs to me: Diatomaceous Earth...maybe is not spelled just that way....is effective against larval stages of several insects. We've used it to kill off a flea infestation in the yard, and I've read that it also kills other soft-bodied buggies. Maybe it works for yours, too. Totally safe. A thought occurs to me: Diatomaceous Earth…maybe is not spelled just that way….is effective against larval stages of several insects. We’ve used it to kill off a flea infestation in the yard, and I’ve read that it also kills other soft-bodied buggies. Maybe it works for yours, too. Totally safe.

]]> Comment on asparagus beetles are grody to the max by M http://gardenwallah.com/2010/05/04/asparagus-beetles-are-grody-to-the-max/#comment-447 M Wed, 05 May 2010 12:55:54 +0000 http://gardenwallah.com/?p=2371#comment-447 Meditative work: Think of your work as feeding the predatory wasps, who just might take up residence, so that next year, they are already there, waiting those grubby little bugs as soon as they hatch. Think that next year, you won't have to squash any/as many grubs, because your partnership with the wasps will be paying dividends. You'll be enjoying the asparagus! Meditative work: Think of your work as feeding the predatory wasps, who just might take up residence, so that next year, they are already there, waiting those grubby little bugs as soon as they hatch. Think that next year, you won’t have to squash any/as many grubs, because your partnership with the wasps will be paying dividends. You’ll be enjoying the asparagus!

]]> Comment on asparagus beetles are grody to the max by Phyllis http://gardenwallah.com/2010/05/04/asparagus-beetles-are-grody-to-the-max/#comment-442 Phyllis Tue, 04 May 2010 23:31:27 +0000 http://gardenwallah.com/?p=2371#comment-442 Larvae morph into brilliant beetles and gardeners into steely earth warriors! (Great blog, Erin.) Larvae morph into brilliant beetles and gardeners into steely earth warriors!
(Great blog, Erin.)

]]> Comment on How to process a chicken (Urban Style) by Phyllis http://gardenwallah.com/2010/04/07/how-to-process-a-chicken-urban-style/#comment-372 Phyllis Fri, 09 Apr 2010 01:15:51 +0000 http://gardenwallah.com/?p=2346#comment-372 A fitting obit for a fine bird, "This Wyandotte enjoyed a natural, free range life." Though shorter than you expected, hers was a long, sweet life compared to commercially grown chickens housed in a crowded coop. Glad I got to see her and her sisters strut around your yard Monday afternoon. Bet she tasted as good as she looked. A fitting obit for a fine bird, “This Wyandotte enjoyed a natural, free range life.” Though shorter than you expected, hers was a long, sweet life compared to commercially grown chickens housed in a crowded coop. Glad I got to see her and her sisters strut around your yard Monday afternoon. Bet she tasted as good as she looked.

]]> Comment on How to process a chicken (Urban Style) by M http://gardenwallah.com/2010/04/07/how-to-process-a-chicken-urban-style/#comment-371 M Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:33:39 +0000 http://gardenwallah.com/?p=2346#comment-371 This is not the way I wanted any of your chickens to leave this world! I am very sorry you were surprised by this loss, and will miss the ol' girl. The photographs and descriptions are very apt; thanks to Charles for volunteering. This is not the way I wanted any of your chickens to leave this world! I am very sorry you were surprised by this loss, and will miss the ol’ girl.

The photographs and descriptions are very apt; thanks to Charles for volunteering.

]]> Comment on what’s happening now by M http://gardenwallah.com/2010/04/04/whats-happening-now/#comment-370 M Tue, 06 Apr 2010 14:56:10 +0000 http://gardenwallah.com/?p=2267#comment-370 Thanks so much for sharing a look at the garden and play time with the pets, chickens included! Phyllis enjoyed so much getting the first-hand introduction! Hope the veggies all are as productive as last year! Thanks so much for sharing a look at the garden and play time with the pets, chickens included!
Phyllis enjoyed so much getting the first-hand introduction! Hope the veggies all are as productive as last year!

]]> Comment on Heating Our House by Uncle Larry http://gardenwallah.com/2010/04/05/heating-your-house/#comment-369 Uncle Larry Mon, 05 Apr 2010 19:18:23 +0000 http://gardenwallah.com/?p=2211#comment-369 Hi Erin and Josh, Really enjoy the veggie and animal tales on you site. I can almost see the two of you working together on all of it. Uncle Larry Hi Erin and Josh,

Really enjoy the veggie and animal tales on you site. I can almost see the two of you working together on all of it.

Uncle Larry

]]> Comment on how to build a cheap low tunnel hoop house by Keeping Chickens out of the Garden « gardenwallah http://gardenwallah.com/2009/03/14/hoop-is-complete/#comment-368 Keeping Chickens out of the Garden « gardenwallah Mon, 05 Apr 2010 13:11:53 +0000 http://gardenwallah.com/?p=576#comment-368 [...] the hoophouse structure with black deer netting. Because the plastic is attached to the frame with pvc fittings that pop on and off it is easy to interchange materials. The plastic is folded up for fall use; once the lettuce, [...] [...] the hoophouse structure with black deer netting. Because the plastic is attached to the frame with pvc fittings that pop on and off it is easy to interchange materials. The plastic is folded up for fall use; once the lettuce, [...]

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