gifts from the compost pile

[sky otter]

well i went to toss the coffee grinds into the compost pile this morning and started moving some leaves around on a plant we  thought was a canalope..it is
and we might actually get one or two to eat..lol
so i had to take some pics..of course...





look towards the bottom right..it's about 4 inches across and nestled into the top of the pile


there are a few smaller ones  hanging outside the fencing










and this is horse radish in the older pile.. wonderful hubby tossed out some tinie tiney roots last fall..we argued.. i said, no toss them over the hill and he said, what are you worried about - they won't grow....
horseradish is a thug and will grow anywhere...now that compost pile is wasted because  we'll never get the roots out of it.
the fight was loud but not bloody..

[robomont]

i cant get horse raddish to grow in my soil.i thinks its bugs killing it but not sure.i may end up hitting you up for some if available at a later date and your willing.
congrats on the growth.
i tried trellissing water melons.they grew grapefruit size.not recommended.maybe cantelopes will do better.

[Somamech]

You needz more Sun!

[sky otter]

robo

i would easily send you some starts (pm me)
and
can i make a suggestion for soil

get a 5 gal bucket or something similar and cut the bottom off..
start composting and mixing in your native soil with the compost
some straw or grass cuttings mixed with dirt and even shredded paper,
coffee grinds, etc..water a bit
put the starts in the bucket to grow
by the time they hit the hard soil they will be strong enough to keep going

[Shasta56]

I tried composting, but the raccoons broke into the bin and had a feast.  Any suggestions?  I hate throwing potentially useful stuff in the trash.  Raccoon execution is not an option.  Nor is skunk execution.  I find one in the garage every now and then.  I say hello and back away very slowly.  So far, that's worked.

Shasta

[deuem]

Make a chicken wire circle with a flap on the top and tie it to a tree. The racoons will only be able to feed in as far as they can reach. You can tie off branches to the out side to make it look more normal. Or do what we did and just feed the Racoons until they become pets and come up on the porch and relax with you. It will take about a year but in the end it is fun. Don't feed the skunks. The racoons were fed using a chicken wire fence around a dogs bowl. They sit there all night and reach in and grab the food. The skunks can't do that so they pass on the food. Just pour the food through the wire.

[Shasta56]

We try to help the abandoned cats in the area.  That's where Sam, Callie and Max came from.  We have new raccoon every year.  They have no problem just hanging out with us.  They were afraid of Callie when she was living outside.  I don't inte
ntinally feed the skunks, but they figure out where the buffet is.  At least they just look at me and waddle away.

Shasta

[WarToad]

The winter being as wickedly cold as it's been (hit -65 Saturday with windchill) I've been putting feed corn out for the local deer and turkeys so they can get some decent calories in for the cold.  We've counted 16 deer at a single feeding session.  I've been doing this for 2 months now and have gotten to the point I can walk out there with the bucket of corn and they won't run.  They back off 20 ft or so and stare me down until I leave.  The turkeys will literlly come running when they hear me open the corn barrel and scoop.

I've been buying 50 lbs bags for $9.99, cheap wildlife entertainment for the kids.

[deuem]

Gold for yea Wartoad for being a nice friend of the animals.
Deuem

[sky otter]

yes and more gold WarToad...we're doing the same...lots of deer.. two of the older doe will eat out of hubby's hand..but no turkeys

instead of the veggie kitchen scraps going to the compost they are tossed for the deer..
i worry about the song birds too.. we put suet out but the temps are really hard on them

hugs to a fellow animal care-taker