tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54887611150085791282024-02-22T09:14:14.684-08:00The Fruity ChickenMy attempts at Backyard Orchard Culture & Backyard Chickens in Las VegasAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17283870276480355913noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488761115008579128.post-28744742432305336432012-04-28T14:25:00.000-07:002012-04-28T14:25:09.245-07:00Hugelkultur Fugelkultur<br />
One of the basic pieces of permaculture is a raised bed construction practice known as Hugelkultur, to me that sounds about like that VW commercial from the 90's but what do I know. Studying up on the practice of <a href="http://www.richsoil.com/hugelkultur/" target="_blank">hugelkultur</a> a bit I read claims about not having to irrigate your garden all summer, decreased need for fertilizer and improved soil structure. While I am highly skeptical of growing tomatoes in Las Vegas without watering all summer any gardner here in the Valley should be striving to improve their soil structure. As previously mentioned in this Blog there is considerable open space between the trees in my orchard<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73qMsxPHV5I9ff5EdmvmbulJrE1pnDcBCmjbcTJspDFzzmBnEkK8B-n7u4-JuxHEg5ZoiRVKSL6O2G16ZwmsUql9xZ_7Vr8OYHsR1DXedaiPQeuraIoLWFhmPQjxN9II4anNAK_GwxS0/s1600/IMG_2180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73qMsxPHV5I9ff5EdmvmbulJrE1pnDcBCmjbcTJspDFzzmBnEkK8B-n7u4-JuxHEg5ZoiRVKSL6O2G16ZwmsUql9xZ_7Vr8OYHsR1DXedaiPQeuraIoLWFhmPQjxN9II4anNAK_GwxS0/s400/IMG_2180.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhDxSL0q3Xqd_XjnQAfT-sDrvLMhIohMpbEJfYqkI21D-JxC7roikS-7Hju41kYHQ_DttpGNPmffgtZT3lJLKtztosHCcYCKYtQGklJQQ8ZMlJwbhJO-as_W63HUcLC40d-IHyAW4WrQ/s1600/IMG_2252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhDxSL0q3Xqd_XjnQAfT-sDrvLMhIohMpbEJfYqkI21D-JxC7roikS-7Hju41kYHQ_DttpGNPmffgtZT3lJLKtztosHCcYCKYtQGklJQQ8ZMlJwbhJO-as_W63HUcLC40d-IHyAW4WrQ/s320/IMG_2252.jpg" width="240" /></a>So with the goal of putting in a couple of raised beds and the concepts of <a href="http://www.richsoil.com/hugelkultur/" target="_blank">hugelkultur</a> whirling about in my head I kicked Cammie outta bed, got in the Jeep and headed up to the Fruity Chicken!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVPIPmBEvoxc_IwY5Ak0ffkZEBhFFBaRKYNqjBK0FgJ4X_j_uhTAVSDjQbrLlv_qPndvbCz5WGRt2tJzZ40vdxjqMn4cB4zWi7oMSGZx0RehYygib8dXXavKlLasZJXM8nfg1GUD4QeM/s1600/IMG_2254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVPIPmBEvoxc_IwY5Ak0ffkZEBhFFBaRKYNqjBK0FgJ4X_j_uhTAVSDjQbrLlv_qPndvbCz5WGRt2tJzZ40vdxjqMn4cB4zWi7oMSGZx0RehYygib8dXXavKlLasZJXM8nfg1GUD4QeM/s320/IMG_2254.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice the Planks over Cammies Head</td></tr>
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We stopped off at the local Lowes and picked up some 5/8"X6"X6' dog eared cedar fence planks, I had used these same planks a couple weeks ago to make my sunken beds. Why these planks? Well they are cedar, but mostly they are cheap! Less than $2 a piece. I cut them to length and assembled them with gorilla glue and my brad nailer into 4'X4" boxes, I did reinforce the corners with L-brackets because I had them.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3w4E-et3vIa_H5Z4DQ0oxLyuMawWYuuj4iKRKoqxCEJPGVZtdgEfw7lcRVRkaOnlQmlGR-TX7vDvBwYk5ex646UCmQsK4fPfhIH_Fj4Xbh5zyLEnZizDlRIC1RTrBRLIGj5B-03XxFzU/s1600/IMG_2263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3w4E-et3vIa_H5Z4DQ0oxLyuMawWYuuj4iKRKoqxCEJPGVZtdgEfw7lcRVRkaOnlQmlGR-TX7vDvBwYk5ex646UCmQsK4fPfhIH_Fj4Xbh5zyLEnZizDlRIC1RTrBRLIGj5B-03XxFzU/s400/IMG_2263.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The area chosen for my two raised <a href="http://www.richsoil.com/hugelkultur/" target="_blank">hugelkultur</a> beds is between the Eastern most rows of trees in the Orchard, I chose this location because of access and so that as the Fruit Trees grow they will give the beds some afternoon protection from the sun. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0I5i5_dMY35mCvgP2y54yHGNhp7tWLxGLWyvxWK9tVyWsUUgOHZ66RqzIJJb2SFHp-QCR4K90od5NbDp7914d1ljJeNroygXGshnAZnq14wWC1SYaymOXnJ9V7Bubr1f_zmbiuD7fUWs/s1600/IMG_2262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0I5i5_dMY35mCvgP2y54yHGNhp7tWLxGLWyvxWK9tVyWsUUgOHZ66RqzIJJb2SFHp-QCR4K90od5NbDp7914d1ljJeNroygXGshnAZnq14wWC1SYaymOXnJ9V7Bubr1f_zmbiuD7fUWs/s200/IMG_2262.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDeBQVV-sEbGTlpEiEHpNtVHo2ttEHLbkvJx_hK4Tc1Ina3CUBbcaqLu2qgGgOTt0oMSB8NROD1oSx6eG6_69WTJtaCAGEu5qNvBKPuUfglweKtx7UMcsBjIK6bETaDMpbI8Aq819cLIA/s1600/IMG_2258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDeBQVV-sEbGTlpEiEHpNtVHo2ttEHLbkvJx_hK4Tc1Ina3CUBbcaqLu2qgGgOTt0oMSB8NROD1oSx6eG6_69WTJtaCAGEu5qNvBKPuUfglweKtx7UMcsBjIK6bETaDMpbI8Aq819cLIA/s200/IMG_2258.jpg" width="150" /></a>The next step after choosing the site and placing the frames is hugelkulture thingy of this project....filling the frames with rotten wood, wood chips, and coffee grounds. (the coffee grounds thing aint really in any of the Hugelkulture stuff I read but I figured it can't hurt)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHXQxidZ-6Ue-0EWGsB28czO0tA2e0EJ2smnw2MojTdV1Cv78v7uoW8EKBkd95X0b2QeiXyF_KBIFZJB3WYCWLYdaTeVSnJC4eP3WSUpWlEFuqF35irDvagE9lGGf6eHpFMXg4ZLpg34/s1600/IMG_2264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHXQxidZ-6Ue-0EWGsB28czO0tA2e0EJ2smnw2MojTdV1Cv78v7uoW8EKBkd95X0b2QeiXyF_KBIFZJB3WYCWLYdaTeVSnJC4eP3WSUpWlEFuqF35irDvagE9lGGf6eHpFMXg4ZLpg34/s320/IMG_2264.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Above are my finished beds awaiting planting. On top of the wood and coffee I put about 6" of compost. Bullshit you say! Those beds were only 6" to begin with! Well I filled them with compost, watered them, pulled the frames up, backfilled around them, and repeated until the truckload of compost was gone. Tomatoes are going to be planted on North end of the beds with Peppers in front of them and I'm not sure what in front of the Peppers.</div>
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Cammie says all of this Gardening and Blogging is exhausting and it's time for a nap!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTnezO6w7gCF2YKFvvUZv8NGcOdEa5O26y4guphw-JPhM-uv1yqJULvUwg6x74KE1DkP_J18B1mxKI6Mq6Z94qEndAbKybSMoM_bngK1y6oKSRQw79s5rfUgkCpmDbC2rL1HFjeMABBM/s1600/IMG_2269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTnezO6w7gCF2YKFvvUZv8NGcOdEa5O26y4guphw-JPhM-uv1yqJULvUwg6x74KE1DkP_J18B1mxKI6Mq6Z94qEndAbKybSMoM_bngK1y6oKSRQw79s5rfUgkCpmDbC2rL1HFjeMABBM/s400/IMG_2269.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17283870276480355913noreply@blogger.com0Sunrise Manor, NV, USA36.2110819 -115.073056336.108589400000007 -115.2309848 36.3135744 -114.91512780000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488761115008579128.post-34959883269917368642012-04-15T09:06:00.000-07:002012-04-15T09:15:34.271-07:00Sunken Beds?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUXh-hiSD8DqKKNlxairuM-4QwGYhPo87I_RRVIarrU1Qmhq40ZWXKup2zlKVLVIHBUczxlaH1GkvJKvhY8THvj-s_dMAig15uDCDIsRg2o2hUstFhvTuSlCRLoW53uO_poEbrG5pAls/s1600/IMG_2074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUXh-hiSD8DqKKNlxairuM-4QwGYhPo87I_RRVIarrU1Qmhq40ZWXKup2zlKVLVIHBUczxlaH1GkvJKvhY8THvj-s_dMAig15uDCDIsRg2o2hUstFhvTuSlCRLoW53uO_poEbrG5pAls/s200/IMG_2074.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYlemtvD3i8BcrNX-iJVA7-SWwV0iTGxQVVYjnB_4J-ZFKYiEiWBTmrBUBHknco76p5d40zchbHZWLdtxgjvhIP6U6mNQuos8N6iU63TRlUa1W_P-kXjVrIhvOjMwedDJ8XG8H-LK8wk/s1600/IMG_2073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYlemtvD3i8BcrNX-iJVA7-SWwV0iTGxQVVYjnB_4J-ZFKYiEiWBTmrBUBHknco76p5d40zchbHZWLdtxgjvhIP6U6mNQuos8N6iU63TRlUa1W_P-kXjVrIhvOjMwedDJ8XG8H-LK8wk/s200/IMG_2073.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmWqkoLZAMczXWDUP722K6zVm6c5kChanLJO7WsXB4udNXm1s4lYN4E0c_vIwnHD3Q3JGdZS8RLmMTy2yFSELp4E4_IagdCk82SL03Hd5w2MPDoCGVx6pvxBDhNx9Nix7bGGwV-BU5GU/s1600/IMG_2169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmWqkoLZAMczXWDUP722K6zVm6c5kChanLJO7WsXB4udNXm1s4lYN4E0c_vIwnHD3Q3JGdZS8RLmMTy2yFSELp4E4_IagdCk82SL03Hd5w2MPDoCGVx6pvxBDhNx9Nix7bGGwV-BU5GU/s1600/IMG_2169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmWqkoLZAMczXWDUP722K6zVm6c5kChanLJO7WsXB4udNXm1s4lYN4E0c_vIwnHD3Q3JGdZS8RLmMTy2yFSELp4E4_IagdCk82SL03Hd5w2MPDoCGVx6pvxBDhNx9Nix7bGGwV-BU5GU/s1600/IMG_2169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW41nAHjIy-s4KHCsxCTsroXQOQzkkZMC_-2BmcV8qQFn8wz6ztlaWv9thPTMxwG__yi9LZlpnw5HSz_PObjjxfv4FFVKrikJ4BVlHZOjWnI1BMaQ6_qIH-wZX3Nbo11QDkjG_2amAXis/s1600/IMG_2168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW41nAHjIy-s4KHCsxCTsroXQOQzkkZMC_-2BmcV8qQFn8wz6ztlaWv9thPTMxwG__yi9LZlpnw5HSz_PObjjxfv4FFVKrikJ4BVlHZOjWnI1BMaQ6_qIH-wZX3Nbo11QDkjG_2amAXis/s1600/IMG_2168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW41nAHjIy-s4KHCsxCTsroXQOQzkkZMC_-2BmcV8qQFn8wz6ztlaWv9thPTMxwG__yi9LZlpnw5HSz_PObjjxfv4FFVKrikJ4BVlHZOjWnI1BMaQ6_qIH-wZX3Nbo11QDkjG_2amAXis/s1600/IMG_2168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW41nAHjIy-s4KHCsxCTsroXQOQzkkZMC_-2BmcV8qQFn8wz6ztlaWv9thPTMxwG__yi9LZlpnw5HSz_PObjjxfv4FFVKrikJ4BVlHZOjWnI1BMaQ6_qIH-wZX3Nbo11QDkjG_2amAXis/s1600/IMG_2168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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As can be seen in these 2 pictures there is currently a lot of open space in my Orchard. This space both receives full sun and is irrigated. </div>
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That got me thinking about how I could put that area to use. At first I tried pulling the mulch back from the area above the dripperlines. That didn't work out to well because the mulch was so deep that it would migrate back into and cover the cleared area within a day. That was when I thought of raised beds, but in reverse.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW41nAHjIy-s4KHCsxCTsroXQOQzkkZMC_-2BmcV8qQFn8wz6ztlaWv9thPTMxwG__yi9LZlpnw5HSz_PObjjxfv4FFVKrikJ4BVlHZOjWnI1BMaQ6_qIH-wZX3Nbo11QDkjG_2amAXis/s1600/IMG_2168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW41nAHjIy-s4KHCsxCTsroXQOQzkkZMC_-2BmcV8qQFn8wz6ztlaWv9thPTMxwG__yi9LZlpnw5HSz_PObjjxfv4FFVKrikJ4BVlHZOjWnI1BMaQ6_qIH-wZX3Nbo11QDkjG_2amAXis/s200/IMG_2168.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmWqkoLZAMczXWDUP722K6zVm6c5kChanLJO7WsXB4udNXm1s4lYN4E0c_vIwnHD3Q3JGdZS8RLmMTy2yFSELp4E4_IagdCk82SL03Hd5w2MPDoCGVx6pvxBDhNx9Nix7bGGwV-BU5GU/s1600/IMG_2169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmWqkoLZAMczXWDUP722K6zVm6c5kChanLJO7WsXB4udNXm1s4lYN4E0c_vIwnHD3Q3JGdZS8RLmMTy2yFSELp4E4_IagdCk82SL03Hd5w2MPDoCGVx6pvxBDhNx9Nix7bGGwV-BU5GU/s200/IMG_2169.jpg" width="150" /></a>I built some 70"x14" frames from cedar fence planks nailed together then reinforced in the corners with L-brackets. </div>
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I installed these in between the trees and on the upslope side of the drip lines. I chose to put them there so that the majority of the water would still move through the mulch bed while water pulled uphill through capillary action would irrigate the crops in the boxes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfp99CcSboR8ecw6NYfG63YlZmjztq6gsXSkK0nHR6ITX_F442wn-dftWsCb541dyHOdt47jEkG72NTbACGURYzvtnCYq_wT8iHaESkNjJXveZGCMprUnQGO5XbTx6AYhChxmZCqS6F00/s1600/IMG_2146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfp99CcSboR8ecw6NYfG63YlZmjztq6gsXSkK0nHR6ITX_F442wn-dftWsCb541dyHOdt47jEkG72NTbACGURYzvtnCYq_wT8iHaESkNjJXveZGCMprUnQGO5XbTx6AYhChxmZCqS6F00/s320/IMG_2146.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Above is the first bed set into the mulch, in the foreground my Emerald Beauty Plan can be seen leafing out nicely. Below are the first 4 boxes installed between 2 rows of Plums, Pluots, Apricots, and Apriums.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXyCsftatErEig1UbDJ3usZw2nG4nVF3X07k0Rrf3Zkh1DzoNDKUbiTINrxBHlPtbE0Kj_xvstTxqkB-NNeBXJx2aZFb9k42GDiCJqzMStFx98azUqqlb-7csGycgauErm_hLHsrqM2k/s1600/IMG_2170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXyCsftatErEig1UbDJ3usZw2nG4nVF3X07k0Rrf3Zkh1DzoNDKUbiTINrxBHlPtbE0Kj_xvstTxqkB-NNeBXJx2aZFb9k42GDiCJqzMStFx98azUqqlb-7csGycgauErm_hLHsrqM2k/s320/IMG_2170.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sweet Corn, Cow Peas, Pinto Beans, and Buckwheat have been sown in these first beds. The Sweet Corn is for us and the rest is for chicken feed and to help break up and improve the soil texture. I am now thinking that the middle row will be setup similarly to the first row but will be sunflowers mixed in with legumes and cover crop while the final row, where there is room for six boxes, I may fill the boxes and use them as true raised beds. The draw back on that is that I will need to irrigate them, the upside is fresh Tomatoes! </div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17283870276480355913noreply@blogger.com1Las Vegas, NV, USA36.114646 -115.17281635.909413 -115.48867299999999 36.319879 -114.856959tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488761115008579128.post-71662073828632300132012-03-31T16:43:00.000-07:002012-04-15T20:12:31.663-07:00Common Sense Gray Water Irrigation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today I completed the basic installation of my Gray Water Irrigation system for my High Density Orchard. The system brings water from my surge tank (a rubbermaid garbage can) through a 400 micron filter (that only removes the really big stuff) and to the orchard via 3/4" poly tubing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTppc0N6ZU_fcAc2mo0A4qvLERgAF6jNiQcT9u3lV_v0K7x6MW3X6ztz9RetDNZ0OK_d4WRT8em0fpukwWZRatd-PtPGOQbIRpTQy62B7jXVBhftZX7n7CF7gZhefZto1QPkKaJoH0gXA/s1600/IMG_2044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTppc0N6ZU_fcAc2mo0A4qvLERgAF6jNiQcT9u3lV_v0K7x6MW3X6ztz9RetDNZ0OK_d4WRT8em0fpukwWZRatd-PtPGOQbIRpTQy62B7jXVBhftZX7n7CF7gZhefZto1QPkKaJoH0gXA/s200/IMG_2044.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBtR3-VQOpyD2tMLAWvwGLdtHaEK8cWPQGjjj_iTDwtG6QOkYYxaCgRK1QzX7io8EeT0XOuMvREFQ2V7TnYpqeYzIHHkyxhzxH4ceTQoAAC7rMFvI613MBRtRmzdKwDOiTdGpP7M2IPE/s1600/IMG_2045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBtR3-VQOpyD2tMLAWvwGLdtHaEK8cWPQGjjj_iTDwtG6QOkYYxaCgRK1QzX7io8EeT0XOuMvREFQ2V7TnYpqeYzIHHkyxhzxH4ceTQoAAC7rMFvI613MBRtRmzdKwDOiTdGpP7M2IPE/s200/IMG_2045.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAsxwqWt37fcpeUyKRij6dQZDa94fTGvrNVaAHz0CZZ9UiXwXL8jM3WYYdh8y2nyi2ObjqmR5k3GeASELkOCfFGXMyB3ng9WWh5Q_YS-DobUdjqj3tguOESM-3UmByaR5WwzgARCp4EU/s1600/IMG_2046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAsxwqWt37fcpeUyKRij6dQZDa94fTGvrNVaAHz0CZZ9UiXwXL8jM3WYYdh8y2nyi2ObjqmR5k3GeASELkOCfFGXMyB3ng9WWh5Q_YS-DobUdjqj3tguOESM-3UmByaR5WwzgARCp4EU/s200/IMG_2046.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><i>In the above pictures the Surge tank and Filter is underneath the stairway in the first pic, the 3/4" main line can be seen on the right hand side of all of the pics and it also runs along the fence line with the grapevines.</i></span><br />
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Once the Gray Water reaches the Orchard via the 3/4 poly line it is distributed throughout the planting area via 1/2" dripper line. This dripper line has emitters spaced every 12" along it's length and I have spaced the lines every 4' running generally with the contours of the area. What the heck does that mean? It means that the rows themselves are basically level but each row is lower down the slope of the land than the previous. Originally I thought my Orchard sloped from the NE corner down to the SW corner which would have forced me to orient the rows on the bias running NW-SE, but when I dug out the laser it showed that I had only a very slight E-W slope with the main slope being N-S. Consequently I ran my lines E-W, located 1' N of each row of trees.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKBq9aj8hSuIZVLnTIISi4cpTUTmOmA5DbRcU0fH9nV4S2ThZDAuSvYu5Ng6mha2Bd1YlkKV4eBcQXPrgb1_6T9e-PdYKAmGspC9_VBNogWYRRoinf-zxUCRYBqy_nWd5tWyKCMZSzmg/s1600/IMG_2043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKBq9aj8hSuIZVLnTIISi4cpTUTmOmA5DbRcU0fH9nV4S2ThZDAuSvYu5Ng6mha2Bd1YlkKV4eBcQXPrgb1_6T9e-PdYKAmGspC9_VBNogWYRRoinf-zxUCRYBqy_nWd5tWyKCMZSzmg/s200/IMG_2043.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFr2nEny2A7-KyFcTtNqrdzKkT3ienbNWStJpn39OoR8a7fjk0uLZDNOaORPbjL2oDGsdmGnoeAY89UsVMjaOUcHUMAf7iH5lIFPJ2ulzl38EvGU28g7qEMWeMGtQHn8ysXJZ9q6y_lg/s1600/IMG_2049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFr2nEny2A7-KyFcTtNqrdzKkT3ienbNWStJpn39OoR8a7fjk0uLZDNOaORPbjL2oDGsdmGnoeAY89UsVMjaOUcHUMAf7iH5lIFPJ2ulzl38EvGU28g7qEMWeMGtQHn8ysXJZ9q6y_lg/s200/IMG_2049.jpg" width="150" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-t7Vr8WA1glVF9NGp2ERFpKR7TCATaTmRgTJaPlwosulh02VbJCuCrb4N-Z3ia-9IN2uDsHH8Or_uwHainR7K3XbpVZ7c_bH9OHvVglacKlZyGtRwPOoYNOwhX9SCHWU4pGPYAnbghw/s1600/IMG_2048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-t7Vr8WA1glVF9NGp2ERFpKR7TCATaTmRgTJaPlwosulh02VbJCuCrb4N-Z3ia-9IN2uDsHH8Or_uwHainR7K3XbpVZ7c_bH9OHvVglacKlZyGtRwPOoYNOwhX9SCHWU4pGPYAnbghw/s200/IMG_2048.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><i>The first picture shows the layout of the emitter lines in relation to the trees, the following pics show the dispersal of the Gray Water from the emitters.</i></span></div>
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In a traditional drip irrigation system for a planting such as an orchard you would irrigate each individual tree with three or four emitters located in a circular pattern roughly at the drip-line of the tree. What's the drip-line of the tree you say? It is the circle defined by where the rain would drip off of the leaves of the tree. This system is designed to water each individual tree, additionally common knowledge (which everyone knows ain't necessarily correct) has it that this type of irrigation should be done slowly and infrequently to encourage deep root growth. This deep root growth is supposed to allow the tree to tap into buried sources of nutrients and provide a secure foundation. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIq0nPR4X695X96kWw-l55hNQN4TfCkZ_mHMe6XEZYL6GlAOllBGbyfecbE7W-JvdLwoIw86vTLHIYuHyO7ehd9eRVHeCyM3QlCmEc8aQbAWgznpydofrH_dKtqZdQ3922BlY18P_kKr8/s1600/IMG_2056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwmeWh3o7nbx4XSw2GgXF-4mEzq_VJIobHLa4A733YFsYZ4Yl7L3N3NCCKHu8W-rs_cDzn7hAMaIsHWHKhT-HkBDOaLMjokdwKnyD0fhs4gwAy5obLCFWl-WPftFZfz1JmdJeKQLMsxg/s1600/IMG_2054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwmeWh3o7nbx4XSw2GgXF-4mEzq_VJIobHLa4A733YFsYZ4Yl7L3N3NCCKHu8W-rs_cDzn7hAMaIsHWHKhT-HkBDOaLMjokdwKnyD0fhs4gwAy5obLCFWl-WPftFZfz1JmdJeKQLMsxg/s200/IMG_2054.jpg" width="150" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPCvoFfnai8xmlNZAqeKUHXMuMpj0eW3RjOR764RNgVXxg2Gyz3HKkNV3tVcnohAqJeE939xDZhjUENh-2cVkx-iNTX1doLxKDek1T4put5vwquxQpJK_rhPd1cejaNJmdaeoc-QMN8Q/s1600/IMG_2061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPCvoFfnai8xmlNZAqeKUHXMuMpj0eW3RjOR764RNgVXxg2Gyz3HKkNV3tVcnohAqJeE939xDZhjUENh-2cVkx-iNTX1doLxKDek1T4put5vwquxQpJK_rhPd1cejaNJmdaeoc-QMN8Q/s200/IMG_2061.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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<i>Here we see the drip lines running down the rows of trees, which along this axis are spaced 9' apart, the expanding area of moisture can also be seen developing in the second pic.</i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">The traditional system works great when you are providing water solely for the purpose of irrigation, in my Orchard my water source is primarily a waste product from laundering clothes. This Gray Water is not storable due to the fact that it contains nutrients that will start to get funky in 24 hours or less. Also for a Gray Water system to work in the long run it must be as unobtrusive as possible, if the system requires thought and effort every time a load of clothes is going to be washed it ain't gonna work! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Capillary action is the main theory my Orchards irrigation system is based on. Basically I am watering the entire 600 square foot area of my Orchard instead of the 24 seperate 4' diameter circles around each tree. When I first started researching this concept it made absolutely no sense but the more I read the more the pieces came together from separate sources to reinforce what Paul James over at <a href="http://www.graywatergardening.com/" target="_blank">graywatergardening.com</a> is preaching. What I am trying to achieve is an inviting biodynamic area for my trees to send roots out into. The moist areas seen expanding out from the lines in the pictures above is the result of approximately 80 gallons of Gray Water flowing through the system, by next weekend I'm hoping that normal laundry use and capillary action will result in uniformly moist soil over the entire area. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Then comes the mulch! Everything I am trying to emulate in my Orchard says that mulch is the key! Dave Wilson over at <a href="http://www.davewilson.com/homegrown/BOC_explained.html" target="_blank">www.davewilson.com</a> says it's key to successful Back Yard Orchard Culture, Bob Morris at <a href="http://xtremehorticulture.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">xtremehorticulture</a> says it's key to growing fruit in Las Vegas, and finally Paul James at <a href="http://www.graywatergardening.com/" target="_blank">graywatergardening.com</a> says it's key to having a safe and efficient Gray Water system. So next week I plan on hauling in mulch (ground up tree trimmings) and covering all of the area watered by the drip lines to a depth of at least 6". Over time this will provide a fertile and ever improving soil for my trees to spread their roots into as the mulch slowly breaks down and is incorporated down into the soil by the natural action of earthworms, God's little roto-tillers.</span></div>
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</h4>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17283870276480355913noreply@blogger.com1Las Vegas, NV, USA36.114646 -115.17281635.909413 -115.48867299999999 36.319879 -114.856959tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488761115008579128.post-27508949099440208122012-03-11T15:57:00.000-07:002012-03-11T15:57:08.979-07:00ResponsibilityI am just getting ready to head up to the "little house" which is where my Orchard and Chickens are. Looking in on my two babies I noticed that the bindings on my spraddle legged chick have come off. She can stand now and move around the brooder fairly well but her one leg is still turned outward and the foot is a bit clawed. This got me to thinking about my responsibilities as someone practicing animal husbandry even on such a small scale.<br />
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If I was a true farmer raising livestock purely for production more than likely this chick would have been culled at a day or two old, conversely if I were a fancier and looked upon all of the members of my flock as pets I would probably have an astronomical veterinarian bill by now. Myself and most urban/suburban wanna be farmers are more than likely doing what we do out of some indefinable inner urge to get closer to the earth and a very conscious need to feel we are doing something tangible to improve the world around us. That age old adage of "think global and act local" is a driving force behind my urge to produce food on my little piece of land. The idea that I can turn leftovers, gleanings, and insects around my home into eggs that are healthier and more nutritious than those in the supermarket is fascinating!<br />
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That being said, lately I have been thinking a lot about responsible use of the chickens I am raising. There are ads on craigslist offering 2 and 3 year old chickens free to a good home as long as you promise to not kill my pretty little babies who aren't any use to me because they don't pop out an egg a day anymore. Reading ads like that I think how out of touch and irresponsible some people are, trying to transfer an issue to someone else while avoiding some abstract self imposed guilt. A pet is a companion you love and cherish for as long as your blessed to be together, not just until they aren't able to provide breakfast.<br />
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That sounds pretty judgmental and it is! The judgement falls on myself also. While I haven't had to deal with over the hill layers yet, when incubating eggs you ain't gonna get all hens! Hatching out fluffy butts is something I truly enjoy and last years hatching activity left me with 11 roosters that I didn't need or particularly want. Rather than do the responsible thing and process (butcher) them for my families use I took the easy way out and sold them to the feed store for $5 a piece. What are they going to do with them? well they seemed pretty interested in the two big mean bastards with the honkin spurs!<br />
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So where does this leave me? I'm committing to myself that come late spring I will be prepared and will butcher my excess roos. And when the time comes to cull my laying flock I'm gonna learn how to make chicken and dumplings (Karen always pines for her Granny's chicken and dumplings). When the time comes I'll document the process' here, both of butchering and of becoming a responsible practitioner of animal husbandry.<br />
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MaxAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17283870276480355913noreply@blogger.com0Las Vegas, NV, USA36.114646 -115.17281635.909413 -115.48867299999999 36.319879 -114.856959tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488761115008579128.post-19475218397078059092012-03-01T19:25:00.001-08:002012-03-02T16:01:38.365-08:00Plum Crazy over Chickens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My first babies of the year, above is what they looked like this past Saturday when I got home from setting up my Graywater supply system. Then an hour later when I came back to check on them. It is amazing how fast some chicks hatch, last year I had several that took 7 to 10 hours. Those really tried my patience and I must admit to helping the process along several times. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUsXcBCMqBwmhbrnjUHEA18mQsolzI7ibAnkLkL0Q8GfDpe0fIWavts12MpWsKfBlQyjQvt94ziXrlqZUqPfgU9WYYcMQgMlQiXqGBuCnA8CYR6Ypfs_WXorp_WduXuESCZEaafEzfbg/s1600/IMG_1876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUsXcBCMqBwmhbrnjUHEA18mQsolzI7ibAnkLkL0Q8GfDpe0fIWavts12MpWsKfBlQyjQvt94ziXrlqZUqPfgU9WYYcMQgMlQiXqGBuCnA8CYR6Ypfs_WXorp_WduXuESCZEaafEzfbg/s320/IMG_1876.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zippin</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1 hour later</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8qh9Wtoe7QQwNY2M6OwOIkyVxppRrX_N6Q2NWe2AcWx9rp5-Q_sPxGjJHXH2bK8Bw8v9PsccBQyHTXuxKlB649wt1AP30lDuwEWmBaUrGleghwKCXLRg0dD21okiV8a0ueITOtB_uio/s1600/Mille+Fleur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8qh9Wtoe7QQwNY2M6OwOIkyVxppRrX_N6Q2NWe2AcWx9rp5-Q_sPxGjJHXH2bK8Bw8v9PsccBQyHTXuxKlB649wt1AP30lDuwEWmBaUrGleghwKCXLRg0dD21okiV8a0ueITOtB_uio/s200/Mille+Fleur.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Mille Fleur</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEG09oPaaRyRjnN1VZMi4SdTjeP30pZXqN7afXO34ngxYbDeENXvsC9ExBGlr7SLBMx0cthPjy4RPbwnThwa2rP7s0ufzl41sAXS47gOeijPzbK2gzUD5idEh5DoUEccAXxxIqhxVtbM/s1600/FGCflock1.9.11-600x500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEG09oPaaRyRjnN1VZMi4SdTjeP30pZXqN7afXO34ngxYbDeENXvsC9ExBGlr7SLBMx0cthPjy4RPbwnThwa2rP7s0ufzl41sAXS47gOeijPzbK2gzUD5idEh5DoUEccAXxxIqhxVtbM/s200/FGCflock1.9.11-600x500.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Golden Cuckoo Marans</td></tr>
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I kind of went crazy again. My wife Karen has a business, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Got-Birds/362928320394856" target="_blank">Got Birds?</a> , here in Las Vegas that caters to exotic bird owners supply needs here in the valley. She came home last week from a seed delivery and asked me what a Mille Fleur de'Uccle chicken was, I had seen the name on <a href="http://www.backyardchickens.com/" target="_blank">backyard chickens</a> and when I pulled up a picture Karen started oohing and awing. She then explained that this customer of hers has been looking for a pair for quite a while, in my mind that was a green light to order a dozen hatching eggs from this really nice lady on <a href="http://www.backyardchickens.com/" target="_blank">backyard chickens</a> . While searching for those I ran across a deal to good to pass up on a dozen Marans, 6 Black Copper and 6 Golden Cuckoo.</div>
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My eggs came in the mail on wednesday and I suddenly realized that my whacko step mother-in-law had repossessed my big incubator and all I had was my little one. It only holds 3 eggs and I had just put a load of Barnyard Bastards in it on Sunday!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHKga2DVrsqMgtYdPpBWaWHIpSc4cDcV74NZQAR7k-35MImOJT0ndc8hhngEFfXnpVa2b_Ih1WQJ3cf_kaXOE68R4XNhjhzfsnl3OxirJ8PJggoUfJkoOXhbhipRNQd7owYVNZ57oZX8/s1600/IMG_1916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHKga2DVrsqMgtYdPpBWaWHIpSc4cDcV74NZQAR7k-35MImOJT0ndc8hhngEFfXnpVa2b_Ih1WQJ3cf_kaXOE68R4XNhjhzfsnl3OxirJ8PJggoUfJkoOXhbhipRNQd7owYVNZ57oZX8/s200/IMG_1916.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a>We had a <a href="http://www.brinsea.com/products/octagon20A.html" target="_blank">brinsea octagon20 advance</a> ordered but it wasn't scheduled to arrive until next week! Luckily Karen's friend Nicole loaned us hers. On the left you can see the tray loaded. The darker large eggs are Marans and the smaller light colored eggs are the Mille Fleur. Now the waiting begins, March 18th I will put them in lockdown and hopefully will be posting fluffy butt pics on the 20th!</div>
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This is my babies today, the light colored one has gone spraddle legged. That's why she ain't standing up, When I talked about culling I thought Karen was going to cull me. So I did some research and found this site: <a href="http://www.poultryhelp.com/spraddle.html" target="_blank">Spraddle Leg Therapy</a><br />
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This is Gichael with his brace on</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>EXTRA!!!!EXTRA!!!!EXTRA!!!!EXTRA!!!!EXTRA!!!!EXTRA!!!!EXTRA!!!!</u></b></span></div>
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This is what the girls left for Us this morning!!!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitoAy-k-k_Kg5T405jqd3IQQcJtsk2sfZdXkqvf7lcuFdyraHYNdebNmsfCkG1JYlfFu4zM2X-JX5485wdaHywIL4EdjbuazH4r9BgxY8bLGobM19nBru1VgJ_-EH-3TSGzpU9TmGn-yA/s1600/IMG_1923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17283870276480355913noreply@blogger.com1Las Vegas, NV, USA36.114646 -115.17281635.909413 -115.48867299999999 36.319879 -114.856959tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488761115008579128.post-53785673763681267342012-02-25T15:38:00.000-08:002012-02-25T15:38:24.286-08:00Gray Water #2 The Backbone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I received the material for my gravity fed drip irrigation system this past week. The system I am using is from <a href="http://www.irrigray.com/" target="_blank">www.irrigray.com</a> . Their site is a wealth of information. Before deciding on irrigrays drip approach I did a lot of research, <a href="http://oasisdesign.net/" target="_blank">http://oasisdesign.net/</a> , is a good starting point with a wealth of knowledge that isn't built on fad theories. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9G3ntXIeBGqHAzOMLv_iEoaFVXqW1WVvgGL5bOx7IuhlEav5WxbQiy-NgJGWw7pfdKu-n1wwgnRVuZZIZFt1e-Lt5y3w3lF7bAwgG50UZkvrbCrTC3s9m2AArVE2R0huTpuvXMn-row/s1600/GW1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9G3ntXIeBGqHAzOMLv_iEoaFVXqW1WVvgGL5bOx7IuhlEav5WxbQiy-NgJGWw7pfdKu-n1wwgnRVuZZIZFt1e-Lt5y3w3lF7bAwgG50UZkvrbCrTC3s9m2AArVE2R0huTpuvXMn-row/s200/GW1.jpg" width="150" /></a>My system is basically a gravity fed laundry to landscape system, the starting point of which is a surge tank. Don't confuse this with a storage tank, gray water contains to many proteins and other nutrients and if held for more than a few hours will get funky. As you can see I am using a durable garbage can. </div>
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The kit came with a fitting to easily tap into the surge tank. I drilled a 3/4" hole approximately 3" above the bottom of the tank, inserted a tight fitting rubber grommet, and then inserted a fitting that was a force fit in the grommet thus creating a watertight seal. The other end is a standard barbed fitting for 3/4" poly irrigation tubing. The valve you see is only for system service and maintenance, when the system is in operation this valve will always be open.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0e8MKxuw-WmgnY6IC_5J-_5rtgdknocY1fSBSrwmSDDcBMln3yjH6w9UETbhcBrTEV4ZyP8XvA6wUldQnA6YXXqwfrcqjrvpLlPbhkzyEarJ21vqkTsw72QqLgGqMaYNyjsb-oRRjPU/s1600/GW3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0e8MKxuw-WmgnY6IC_5J-_5rtgdknocY1fSBSrwmSDDcBMln3yjH6w9UETbhcBrTEV4ZyP8XvA6wUldQnA6YXXqwfrcqjrvpLlPbhkzyEarJ21vqkTsw72QqLgGqMaYNyjsb-oRRjPU/s200/GW3.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1V6NDA8gjcK1dQJ4EV3_WuDtDQ8cK8lGswThbkHgbtHWhfd0ce3-2L_fYaeAmi6ZgJ8UJoVBBSQ6CPlwPOteg8uSQUCykKrwjqmgpCvAUqBhRAObVQym4Qy5gqrRTEm-ZhYgUZeS1nA/s1600/GW4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1V6NDA8gjcK1dQJ4EV3_WuDtDQ8cK8lGswThbkHgbtHWhfd0ce3-2L_fYaeAmi6ZgJ8UJoVBBSQ6CPlwPOteg8uSQUCykKrwjqmgpCvAUqBhRAObVQym4Qy5gqrRTEm-ZhYgUZeS1nA/s200/GW4.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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As you can see that 3/4" poly line goes past my irrigation valves, along a ditch, then comes back up and is run above ground in my orchard area.</div>
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I still need to install a 400 micron filter somewhere in the line before it gets to the orchard area, then install the 1/2" dripperline that has 2 gph droppers installed every 12" along its length. I plan on doing all of that next week which should be right on schedule for the start of the irrigation season here in Vegas. I did see one of my trees beginning to put out the tiniest little leaves today.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17283870276480355913noreply@blogger.com0Las Vegas, NV, USA36.114646 -115.17281635.909413 -115.48867299999999 36.319879 -114.856959tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488761115008579128.post-91804484473422001162012-02-20T14:54:00.000-08:002012-02-25T15:39:12.942-08:00Gray Water #1 The BSAs I mentioned in my first post I am planning on irrigating my Backyard Orchard with Gray Water from my laundry. During my research I discovered that in the state of Nevada it is not currently legal to use Gray Water for irrigation, apparently the Southern Nevada Water Authority has successfully opposed every piece of legislation introduced that would have enabled the use of Gray Water by anyone other than themselves.<br />
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The news articles I have found talk about the SNWA believing that a purchaser of water only has the right to use it once then return it for industrial scale treatment and return to the Colorado River. The purpose of returning the water to the Colorado is so that the SNWA can get return credits that allow them to draw more water out of the Colorado and sell it to the same customer that just gave it back.<br />
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I'm curious just how many people the water in the Colorado River has literally passed through before it makes it to our taps here in Las Vegas? and is it true that our intake is downstream of the outflow from the water treatment plants? if so how many times does the SNWA sell the same water before allowing it to go downstream?<br />
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All that aside I am still going to go forward with my gray water irrigation system, or rather my gravity fed drip irrigation system that will have multiple sources of makeup water. I plan on locating my surge tank where I can eventually install gutters and divert what little rain we get into it, second I am going to run a line from a spare valve on my irrigation system so I can fill it up during dry spells, and third I am going to install a 3 way valve on the outlet from my washing machine and route one side to my septic system and the other into the surge tank.<br />
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Additionally I have already started contacting my State Legislators and my Representatives on SNWA's board. Initially I have just asked for their opinion on the subject, so far only my County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani has responded. Chris supports the practice but was unsuccessful getting legislation pushed through. My next step will be to educate my representatives about the merits of Gray Water recycling, so if anyone knows of good source material please let me know!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17283870276480355913noreply@blogger.com0Las Vegas, NV, USA36.114646 -115.17281635.909413 -115.48867299999999 36.319879 -114.856959tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488761115008579128.post-8035490716976239112012-02-13T19:49:00.000-08:002012-02-13T20:19:32.453-08:00Overview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Lorri, my sister, made me this really nice plot plan of my Orchard/Chicken Yard</div>
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Currently my chickens and ducks have the run of the whole area. The only interest the chickens have shown in my trees so far is scratching in the mulch and turned over dirt, the ducks love mucking around in the basins around each tree when I'm watering. The plan is to let them free range in amongst the trees, their appetite for insects is voracious and I figure that as long as they don't damage the trees that can only be a good thing. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJpQ0CyKRaivDvbO93FJ5I-EXQyEa5yn1HrjKnsDdUa09XNE2a2tcOMIcErgcafhXp91j5Hji9oYGOa-qUTFc5I8IW2hnD2mJQMBHqHKgRrh6DnHRFDG1gv-YUFg9IT2-1KbG0p5RlN4/s1600/P2120315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJpQ0CyKRaivDvbO93FJ5I-EXQyEa5yn1HrjKnsDdUa09XNE2a2tcOMIcErgcafhXp91j5Hji9oYGOa-qUTFc5I8IW2hnD2mJQMBHqHKgRrh6DnHRFDG1gv-YUFg9IT2-1KbG0p5RlN4/s320/P2120315.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not quite sure where this guy came from. He likes to think he's all that but gets his butt kicked regularly by the other roo's. If he was gonna stick around longer I'd probably name him Mark,</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPzvNyk6ZsdJPtl3GA6TDJ_X2GKQ4FlvLN9qjKlGvWbrkZ0OXymQKFuetyPjZ2uuVtOqfxUhD3GuEuTva1HU6h6Vpv2y7yZUZlcgu-eDjY_4nw73NuQ313mcoWocgz4Fc_54WIl-6QzM/s1600/P2120322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPzvNyk6ZsdJPtl3GA6TDJ_X2GKQ4FlvLN9qjKlGvWbrkZ0OXymQKFuetyPjZ2uuVtOqfxUhD3GuEuTva1HU6h6Vpv2y7yZUZlcgu-eDjY_4nw73NuQ313mcoWocgz4Fc_54WIl-6QzM/s200/P2120322.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QKCErVqY0sWgeGHB28mtPd39P1uTNha-a0jvNe-ScUotOd4MMLgiKl_uOvJBL71R-IECVoIEGQB7XhI8hiJaxUA4DPYSuptIeB1nx0O3gZiLtf3Z8RrOO9oF73zpAH6rkd2UPa8kMsk/s1600/P2120324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QKCErVqY0sWgeGHB28mtPd39P1uTNha-a0jvNe-ScUotOd4MMLgiKl_uOvJBL71R-IECVoIEGQB7XhI8hiJaxUA4DPYSuptIeB1nx0O3gZiLtf3Z8RrOO9oF73zpAH6rkd2UPa8kMsk/s200/P2120324.JPG" width="200" /></a> This group of 4 chooks are barnyard mutts and the product of my first attempt at incubating eggs from my own flock!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovpHXndsLZe4Zo-b0przwiXpiGrLjtG56GQM0S87rap7zkIBqM4ViKDq100dfDZ4rEIpl5C6H5_kcnmh0QbkT2brVPerXfTMkqV_x4bp8BVky-uZ9Qrtc4mRjtEwCznZ6cjqwAVj0rsk/s1600/P2120346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovpHXndsLZe4Zo-b0przwiXpiGrLjtG56GQM0S87rap7zkIBqM4ViKDq100dfDZ4rEIpl5C6H5_kcnmh0QbkT2brVPerXfTMkqV_x4bp8BVky-uZ9Qrtc4mRjtEwCznZ6cjqwAVj0rsk/s200/P2120346.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5GTxotOc6ywqM1tgyOCFDUj5Y4R1EBwE7Dzx2HIE8k1QTygBkEWX-QLNaDmuLKEH5FDmD1D2uNSqlhIkkOpR1REcF3XMTcrDWjojgdrb4gplMWChGNuDBCJDGEpjBQKMtWonBI8F1fo/s1600/P2120320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5GTxotOc6ywqM1tgyOCFDUj5Y4R1EBwE7Dzx2HIE8k1QTygBkEWX-QLNaDmuLKEH5FDmD1D2uNSqlhIkkOpR1REcF3XMTcrDWjojgdrb4gplMWChGNuDBCJDGEpjBQKMtWonBI8F1fo/s320/P2120320.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6hx9yF5bleeJK8f-CF_-nbRYCDJEqZ0H3k-28ycsORMYzoCF0Ih79COnF7Rdsj9_0TUeTDo-0AhQCrFhRd_GsnDDdgsv0NnIVpJgn-Y9AKAG1mFYRInbyO3SV31c7g_ReqhSrsPJDpQ/s1600/P2120325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6hx9yF5bleeJK8f-CF_-nbRYCDJEqZ0H3k-28ycsORMYzoCF0Ih79COnF7Rdsj9_0TUeTDo-0AhQCrFhRd_GsnDDdgsv0NnIVpJgn-Y9AKAG1mFYRInbyO3SV31c7g_ReqhSrsPJDpQ/s200/P2120325.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9MUn6S7-AOW4iO28UPky-GcV-Liv37RfoELrsmhBycSohDFJfLyagXQWSvigtZfTnCoWv9y219zbzccJJtSsgGYOuPqodecCm_1MixwgMJ65_UziDAOymuRQZNfFBYRvuIM39utztJ8/s1600/P2120367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9MUn6S7-AOW4iO28UPky-GcV-Liv37RfoELrsmhBycSohDFJfLyagXQWSvigtZfTnCoWv9y219zbzccJJtSsgGYOuPqodecCm_1MixwgMJ65_UziDAOymuRQZNfFBYRvuIM39utztJ8/s200/P2120367.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cooperative effort</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxYzyT_dfu_q5I0OD04FoT8okreztk9UnB-baJeSLA0MmcAGBlSho6ljqE7WXWMrKaTYTyCXfQ8osOXiSjkEkAEWYslVQ4hrz6Ot8I4_oStxTp-zeAkURk19qqHIdm9muw3vORv1LOUQ/s1600/P2120330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxYzyT_dfu_q5I0OD04FoT8okreztk9UnB-baJeSLA0MmcAGBlSho6ljqE7WXWMrKaTYTyCXfQ8osOXiSjkEkAEWYslVQ4hrz6Ot8I4_oStxTp-zeAkURk19qqHIdm9muw3vORv1LOUQ/s200/P2120330.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ODvzLBn49aF0MWMxZtmvccQ4DkyxcsrPODnpV_Y5PeTIuhcZodSpkuIwmPe6gcRGGfK7BozNzischB3y3T6aWovwH-6KyVkRNNRv02nWB6Id7KvxMY_wT8xSy0-J_CLfNIAu7wJy3wc/s1600/P2120356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ODvzLBn49aF0MWMxZtmvccQ4DkyxcsrPODnpV_Y5PeTIuhcZodSpkuIwmPe6gcRGGfK7BozNzischB3y3T6aWovwH-6KyVkRNNRv02nWB6Id7KvxMY_wT8xSy0-J_CLfNIAu7wJy3wc/s200/P2120356.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whatcha puttin in there?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BFNb4hj11kClkW2wknLd9s-vo7TfF7qadFjF-pnkvEpmEQFL-45yzyKdGu73WwKBw_1bMcRqRoSM7_KB0jm2xUYyXwnx0kYJqGwHHWoX7ijp76CMn7iJ6hkegGd4bnKGRivjyZBwF5Q/s1600/P2120284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BFNb4hj11kClkW2wknLd9s-vo7TfF7qadFjF-pnkvEpmEQFL-45yzyKdGu73WwKBw_1bMcRqRoSM7_KB0jm2xUYyXwnx0kYJqGwHHWoX7ijp76CMn7iJ6hkegGd4bnKGRivjyZBwF5Q/s200/P2120284.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Ducken, He was a surprise, I thought I had an<br />
incubator full of chicken eggs. He still hangs with<br />
his nest mates and doesn't want anything to do with<br />
the Kool Krew</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdADSldtTeeHOaUM5WUVsQjr0dan02SUzBbmeJG7SQj7-Lq6HBvkcWhjigjoeO8GKj0DnZZ9OzJWnscTqVVIKrI2NQNPFnzzbukWnTUl5K3PCUlQNj-Nx3RKL2NNs37bWM2bfWoWjV2s/s1600/P2120425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdADSldtTeeHOaUM5WUVsQjr0dan02SUzBbmeJG7SQj7-Lq6HBvkcWhjigjoeO8GKj0DnZZ9OzJWnscTqVVIKrI2NQNPFnzzbukWnTUl5K3PCUlQNj-Nx3RKL2NNs37bWM2bfWoWjV2s/s200/P2120425.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kool Krew just hang in out!</td></tr>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17283870276480355913noreply@blogger.com0Las Vegas, NV, USA36.114646 -115.17281635.909413 -115.48867299999999 36.319879 -114.856959tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488761115008579128.post-34958447733632501612012-02-07T21:11:00.000-08:002012-02-07T21:11:43.864-08:00Fond Memories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Today is my Sister Lorri's Birthday, the passed year or so has been filled with a lot of ups and downs for us. The roadtrip that Lorri memorialized with this video was a big turning point for my relationship with her. Lorri, my son Brian, and myself went on a voyage of discovery to an amazing place from our youth, our Father and Grandfathers Goldmine. Growing up we had spent summers living in tents 80 miles from nowhere in Northern Nevada. For me it was a place of incredible memories and for my son Brian I can only imagine it was the source of many a "Big Fish" tale from nights spent with his Grandpa.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/aoOnaiKpRQg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
As you can tell from the video we didn't quite make it back to that wonderful place we were seeking. For me though that was only in the most literal sense, our fathers death and the resulting turmoil had created a lot of tension between Lorri and I, this trip took me back to the little brother that knew he could always count on his big sister. I realize now that the best road trips do reach their destination, it's just that sometimes that destination isn't a spot on the map.<br />
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Happy Birthday Lorri! I love You!<br />
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MaxAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17283870276480355913noreply@blogger.com1Midas, NV 89414, USA41.250141 -116.79620441.154635999999996 -116.9541325 41.345646 -116.6382755tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488761115008579128.post-30151010538018197712012-02-05T14:42:00.000-08:002012-02-05T14:44:23.601-08:00Eggs & Pomegranates<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
What a beautiful day to be working in the orchard. My nephew Steven spent the night and came up to the little house with Brian and I this morning to do a little work. Brian dug the hole for my Pink Lady apple and our little flock of ducks, aka the "Kool Krew", helped get all of the air pockets out after I backfilled.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPhDFZEyU2iHNHAbx0VGS5gZlUlHgw0vM71-ocVJsDMTm-o8dHXA9scxldyH2FzSM__o9zrhaaP5alsgxTOwaaPaP2Z81bomqOB0ETzSI_33sxFItr3pm90g0Z0LG7RwcTqBROAgY5fA/s1600/IMG_1819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPhDFZEyU2iHNHAbx0VGS5gZlUlHgw0vM71-ocVJsDMTm-o8dHXA9scxldyH2FzSM__o9zrhaaP5alsgxTOwaaPaP2Z81bomqOB0ETzSI_33sxFItr3pm90g0Z0LG7RwcTqBROAgY5fA/s320/IMG_1819.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Kool Krew" </td></tr>
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Steven attacked the hated oleanders on either side of the gate with loppers and a sawzall. I truly hate oleanders and just can't understand why people insist on planting them, they look fake, are poisonous to livestock, trigger migraines, and are just plain invasive. But maybe those are endearing qualities to some people. We planted 2 pomegranates to either side of the gate along the fence row spaced 4' apart, to the right there is a Sweet and an Eversweet, while to the left we planted Kasmir and Granada.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtoDbTMJujaUM3w6eAi9KAXjtipukNlXVb034ppb7JMEk34fr_dYhWcUJByo1QM0qksOrSCc5cVgV59Z_5-PzL34AIfz867_sPtbrGpDo73x0i8U_s3xFe9lH3N_Rl6X605j4GZeXvjs/s1600/IMG_1821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtoDbTMJujaUM3w6eAi9KAXjtipukNlXVb034ppb7JMEk34fr_dYhWcUJByo1QM0qksOrSCc5cVgV59Z_5-PzL34AIfz867_sPtbrGpDo73x0i8U_s3xFe9lH3N_Rl6X605j4GZeXvjs/s320/IMG_1821.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Steven also found where my Easter Egger Pullets were laying, and I remembered my little incubator. So in 21 days I hope to have some pics of pippin and zippin!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17283870276480355913noreply@blogger.com0Las Vegas, NV, USA36.114646 -115.17281635.909413 -115.48867299999999 36.319879 -114.856959tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488761115008579128.post-18839889950685254762012-02-04T15:57:00.000-08:002012-02-04T15:57:55.608-08:00Slow DayI had big plans for a full day working in my Orchard/Chicken Run but some kind of cold bug had a different idea. The third apple going in did arrive and I picked it up this morning, it is a Pink Lady. This variety is rated very high out at the UNCE orchard, one of the Master Gardners was able to get 9 shipped in when the orchard didn't receive any this year. When I got there this morning and mentioned I was picking up a Pink Lady everyone got kind of furtive looks and said "oh we couldn't get any this year" but when they showed up it was all hush hush like I was picking up contraband! Kinda neat bein in on the "secret" shipment! Again those volunteers out there are the GREATEST and obviously love what they're doing!<br />
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Now for some picks of my Chooks! This is my crazy teenage crowd of pullets takin a dust bath. And a single shot of one of the Easter Eggers I got as 3 week olds last fall.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0q6ydS9ahCpJCJe075h-5D_L-BUIvAE9bxOdbWSsPcVA2-PGNDtVqtpJ1Z7bucG_FuchE0jbY9LCcM_RrRfVPPPDLo5NeYRbpCGdoy9KtV7hTG06CEynboXQWhmI0fuLTU7v5iPzEVM/s1600/IMG_1628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0q6ydS9ahCpJCJe075h-5D_L-BUIvAE9bxOdbWSsPcVA2-PGNDtVqtpJ1Z7bucG_FuchE0jbY9LCcM_RrRfVPPPDLo5NeYRbpCGdoy9KtV7hTG06CEynboXQWhmI0fuLTU7v5iPzEVM/s200/IMG_1628.jpg" width="148" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMNr1c4Ss9AJ3evYVlzUhHBBtEloBmu_UfopMWG5UcOVEeoow5qomNuzwdbTlsK9BUpdS0cPW5gvd5pMbJbqZDBY-R3mIOwFGG_YMoJS0GN1HfVy1zNyhocDWiQuQroSibIdznqHkachs/s1600/IMG_1599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMNr1c4Ss9AJ3evYVlzUhHBBtEloBmu_UfopMWG5UcOVEeoow5qomNuzwdbTlsK9BUpdS0cPW5gvd5pMbJbqZDBY-R3mIOwFGG_YMoJS0GN1HfVy1zNyhocDWiQuQroSibIdznqHkachs/s200/IMG_1599.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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These girls below all came out of my hens, I'm not sure who each ones momma is, but other than the red one its obvious that their daddy was the big mean white and black rooster I got rid of. </div>
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These 6 Handsome Devils, grrrrr, below are my marans. I was hoping for pullets (young hens) but so far everyone thinks they're cockerels (young roosters) hence the grrrrrrr!</div>
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I plan on getting rid of my other roosters and keeping a couple of my Marans Roosters. That way if I do happen to get lucky and some of these are hens I will get purebred Marans. In addition I should get olive eggers out of my easter egger hens.<br />
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Hopefully tomorrow will be a productive day!?!<br />
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17283870276480355913noreply@blogger.com0Las Vegas, NV, USA36.114646 -115.17281635.909413 -115.48867299999999 36.319879 -114.856959tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488761115008579128.post-54120017418281111062012-01-29T20:14:00.000-08:002012-01-31T19:06:37.996-08:00Putting things in the right orderObviously there is a lot going on in my "orchard" right now due to it being planting season for bare root fruit trees, I need to point out that there needs to be planning and thought put into a backyard orchard project. While you might succeed if you drop by the local nursery and buy a couple trees on a whim doing it right takes work. I started thinking about this project last spring and was amazed at the information I found on the Web and in my hometown. <a href="http://www.davewilson.com/homegrown/BOC_explained.html" target="_blank">Dave Wilson Nursery</a> has great information and from what I understand were the originators of the Backyard Orchard Culture concept, Robert Morris over at <a href="http://xtremehorticulture.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">xtremehorticulture</a> founded the UNCE demonstration orchard in North Las Vegas back in the 90's and has written the book so to speak on growing fruit in the Eastern Mojave Desert. These two sources have provided me with lots of information and the inspiration to start my orchard. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA119DFC908660488" target="_blank">Dave Wilson BYOC basics</a> on youtube is a great primer if you want to see what BYOC is all about. So to sum it all up if your thinking you might want to get involved in the locally sourced (what could be more local than your own backyard?) food movement check out the information<a href="http://www.davewilson.com/homegrown/BOC_explained.html" target="_blank"> Dave Wilson Nursery</a> has to offer, then look around your community a bit and I'll bet you find an activist/expert like Robert Morris and the other great people Las Vegas is lucky enough to have over at the UNCE orchard!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17283870276480355913noreply@blogger.com0Las Vegas, NV, USA36.114646 -115.17281635.909413 -115.48867299999999 36.319879 -114.856959tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488761115008579128.post-18772141126396018742012-01-29T17:18:00.000-08:002012-01-29T17:19:46.899-08:00Late StartI got a bit of a late start today because my Wife, Karen, and I went to Brad Paisley's concert last night.<br />
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We had a BLAST!! Brad puts on one hell of a show, and it was awesome seeing the audience jump to their feet because Carrie Underwood showed up to do a Duet with Brad, it was even better watching at least half of them keep standing and screaming and not realize it was a "virtual reality" appearance by her!<br />
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My Son/Slave Brian and I made it up to the little house about 10am and managed to get all of my new trees in the ground by 2:30pm.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUiJjg-VGYugBjnb9Kz_L6d_I2K0P6UKP29-xEJHN4gzY23T0TATMu9tA4d13ruHK0PCiUeIPwQRDcczW7eoZjDfMwYAXAelgtEFg-bbw5jFx_PBRdMKESUD12RYuA1DxpRbE0fzUfCXk/s1600/IMG_1803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUiJjg-VGYugBjnb9Kz_L6d_I2K0P6UKP29-xEJHN4gzY23T0TATMu9tA4d13ruHK0PCiUeIPwQRDcczW7eoZjDfMwYAXAelgtEFg-bbw5jFx_PBRdMKESUD12RYuA1DxpRbE0fzUfCXk/s400/IMG_1803.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Facing West</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Facing East</td></tr>
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I am still shy 2 Apple Trees. One,a Cripps Pink, is coming in next weekend. Still to be found is an early bearing such as an Anna, Dorsett Golden, or Einshemer. Maybe I will get lucky and find one locally if not theres always next year.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17283870276480355913noreply@blogger.com0Las Vegas, NV, USA36.114646 -115.17281635.909413 -115.48867299999999 36.319879 -114.856959tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488761115008579128.post-38009358492276646752012-01-28T14:33:00.000-08:002012-01-28T17:58:22.936-08:00Bonus !!I went to the Orchard this morning hoping to pick up a leftover barefoot tree or three from the big order last week. I scored big!! John hooked me up with: 1 apple, Fuji Red; 1 Nectarine, Arctic Star; 5 Peaches, Fairtime, Florida Prince, Babcock, O'henry, & Early Treat; and 3 Pluots, Splash, Dapple Dandy, & Flavor Grenade. Now I got to figure out where to put them in the layout of my Orchard!<br />
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NORTH<br />
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I B<br />
Plum 9' Apricot 9' Pluot 9' Apple 12' I L<br />
o <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Emerald Beauty</span> o <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Gold Kist </span> o <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Splash</span> o <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Fuji </span>I O E<br />
o <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Santa Rosa </span> o <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Royal Rosa</span> o <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Dapple Dandy</span> o <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Cripps Pink </span>I C A<br />
o <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Flavor King </span>o <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Blenhem </span> o<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Arctic Star </span>o <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Red Fuji </span> I K S<br />
Aprium Peach--------------Nectartine I T<br />
o<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Flavor Grenade </span>o<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"> Flavor Delight</span> o <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Mid Pride </span> o <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Einshemer</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"> </span>I W<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"> </span>o<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"> Fairtime </span>o<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"> Arctic Star </span>I A<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"> </span>o<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"> Early Treat </span>o<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"> Florida Prince </span>I L<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"> </span>o <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">O'Henry </span>o <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Babcock </span>I L<br />
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This is what I'm thinking right now, but that could change by morning. One of the factors I'm thinking about is that block wall on the East end, it is 7' tall and has 2 30' pine trees behind the apples and the nectarines. Is that going to cut back the morning sun to much? and the shade from the other trees to the west going to cut down the afternoon sun to much? or is the combination of the two factors going moderate the brutal summer conditions here in Las Vegas just right? Lastly I wonder how that Einshemer bareroot apple over at Lowes would work out? hmmmmmmm.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17283870276480355913noreply@blogger.com0Las Vegas, NV, USA36.114646 -115.17281635.909413 -115.48867299999999 36.319879 -114.856959tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488761115008579128.post-73253885660010353882012-01-25T19:57:00.000-08:002012-01-28T18:02:48.047-08:00Orchard PlanMy orchard is going in to an area that is approximately 60' E-W and 25' N-S. I am going to plant in a Hedgerow style with N-S rows spaced 9' apart with the trees in each row spaced 4' apart. I messed around with trying to build the soil up over the summer with "green manure". Robert over at <a href="http://xtremehorticulture.blogspot.com/">xtremehorticulture</a> told me I was probably wasting my time and he was right! Rule #1 : listen to the expert, especially if he's an experienced expert. I tried everything from buckwheat to leftover seed from my wires exotic birds, it all came up fairly well but my chickens devastated everything green in the whole area. So what's that all about? just pointing out that I still ain't learned my lesson. Robert kept trying to nudge me away from hedgerows so what did I do? As laid out above I'm planting my trees in hedgerows! That's the wonderful, or maybe terrible thing about the web, it ain't very hard at all to find some intelligent sounding guy that's posted an article (or blog) that you can use to justify whatever preconceived notion you may have. Rule #2 : if your looking for authoritative advice about growing fruit trees in Las Vegas listen to Robert over at <a href="http://xtremehorticulture.blogspot.com/">knows more than Max.com</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqjJi-FUvDdWEWDJ8Z1Gb66WrJzo_KVeqgBJBRezsYQhMKKWLEqkJZojuGQws7OcxC54TLGjj24wlhlscFBQv9TZxz1ovPg8y_DiT48hwmrWcI2qpjpj1DaUfA4NrbrMHE8HD9LjfnvA/s1600/IMG_1725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqjJi-FUvDdWEWDJ8Z1Gb66WrJzo_KVeqgBJBRezsYQhMKKWLEqkJZojuGQws7OcxC54TLGjj24wlhlscFBQv9TZxz1ovPg8y_DiT48hwmrWcI2qpjpj1DaUfA4NrbrMHE8HD9LjfnvA/s400/IMG_1725.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Orchard area looking East</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftdcsQa78xtzn8RKnRKhbxPkCp4mkkL4odmgkkSvutsnTwbK8NNEoGIr7BQT0cQ8f4pVpiYLUC4NSpWH9NED1TXMzoj9d9xfmzXSUJWgQB761hnYZI033t7nja-eUZYsw92DGObLUxbc/s1600/IMG_1727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftdcsQa78xtzn8RKnRKhbxPkCp4mkkL4odmgkkSvutsnTwbK8NNEoGIr7BQT0cQ8f4pVpiYLUC4NSpWH9NED1TXMzoj9d9xfmzXSUJWgQB761hnYZI033t7nja-eUZYsw92DGObLUxbc/s400/IMG_1727.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Orchard area looking generally West</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17283870276480355913noreply@blogger.com06151-6205 E Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89110, USA36.159221413680946 -115.0381851196289136.133583913680944 -115.07766711962891 36.184858913680948 -114.9987031196289tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488761115008579128.post-76388496082717820942012-01-22T15:58:00.000-08:002012-01-28T18:00:41.255-08:00What the Heck<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A little background: I am a lifelong resident of Las Vegas in general and the East side of the Valley in particular. Growing up here we had horses and were involved in 4H which I think sparked the flame of a wanna be farmer in me. My wife and I acquired a half acre property about 4 years ago and I started getting chickens. My son and his fiancé rent the house from us so every time I went by the feed store I would pick up a couple of chicks, raise them till they were big enough to run around on their own, and them turn them loose while my son was at work. After a while my wife, who worked in an exotic bird store brought me home an incubator that somebody brought in. Big Mistake! I started by hatching out a bunch of my backyard mutts, I was bit by the Chicken bug bad now! Next thing you know the wife wants to know why I'm getting eggs in the mail, "why it's the only way to get Black Copper Marans" duh. Notice the "duh" wasn't in quotes? I been married to Karen for 25 years and learned not to say some things out loud long ago. And why do we need BCMS? she asks, "How else are we gonna get chocolate colored eggs?" duh! Below is a picture of the area where my coop (the red barn/shed) is being moved to.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAsHAKTntCMq4lZhZf7Mvq2ogGEJdzyheIggDg9h1EJKMO63RwizAdMP8nyJaB_C0ZK7g9VWBXI1GkL-GTglfs2GCWm8VSCUl1eecUndtlHXdp6DNrEpiHWjgp-VO2D-YOVj4FufQd9w/s1600/IMG_1723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAsHAKTntCMq4lZhZf7Mvq2ogGEJdzyheIggDg9h1EJKMO63RwizAdMP8nyJaB_C0ZK7g9VWBXI1GkL-GTglfs2GCWm8VSCUl1eecUndtlHXdp6DNrEpiHWjgp-VO2D-YOVj4FufQd9w/s320/IMG_1723.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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That was a brief explanation of the chicken part of "fruity chickens" the fruity part comes from us wanting to do something to all of the dirt areas on our little piece of Vegas. It's to much area for grass, rocks are OK I guess, but we wanted something productive. After a lot of research and thought we came up with the idea of an urban orchard. Below is the area we are going to plant about 20 fruit trees in. We are also researching using gray water for a portion of the irrigation needs of the trees. So far everything I have found says it is an ideal use for gray water and is legal in most of CA and AZ but still a bit of a grey area here in NV.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDRjvUW9OiSQMHU0EYbxtdhqanRfisdVZ_6zm-4Te6Iq02aAy2RR2i9-gITdvDVeSt5GmghiPdTYWgkDFztrE8hgzOJZlh7cuDpO8dayahLV0SEBAbe7GRwebohZ7JRT2-7l26EFWgsc/s1600/IMG_1722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDRjvUW9OiSQMHU0EYbxtdhqanRfisdVZ_6zm-4Te6Iq02aAy2RR2i9-gITdvDVeSt5GmghiPdTYWgkDFztrE8hgzOJZlh7cuDpO8dayahLV0SEBAbe7GRwebohZ7JRT2-7l26EFWgsc/s320/IMG_1722.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17283870276480355913noreply@blogger.com1Las Vegas, NV, USA36.114646 -115.17281635.909413 -115.48867299999999 36.319879 -114.856959