Sustainable SW Blogs

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Had to add 2 more batteries to the Casita solar to fulfill Big Bend Telephone's requirements (minimum of 800 Ah).  They are coming tomorrow morning to hook up the equipment.  Video tomorrow night.  79,86,47,0,B

video monday68,77,60,0,B

Some of the low wattage lighting for the Casita just arrived...  77,87,67,0,B

Ephesians 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 

Jackhammered a 10" diameter hole 30" deep through solid rock on Friday.  Picked up a 13' long 4"x4" steel post this morning to set in with concrete tomorrow morning.  This if for Big Bend Telephone to mount their dish to in order for the Casita to have phone and internet by the end of the month.  We would've had to wait 90 days for the phone company to come out and do this at a cost of over $250.  It took me 90 minutes and $30 bucks worth of my time to make this happen sooner than later.  Video Monday... 68,76,52,0,B

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Some of the 2000 GoPro photos of today's ceiling work.  Thank God for the digital age.  87,94,66,0,B

As they kept saying in Game of Thrones, “Winter is coming” and it is coming here tomorrow night. Low temperatures tomorrow (Wednesday) will be 24°F and Thursday night will be 27°F. Harvesting everything you can before the cold hits. Afterwards is too late.

Most of our gardens are done but here are some crops that may still need harvesting. Pick  winter squash now and put it in the house. While winter squash likes it cold, it does not like the temperatures below freezing and can be ruined if they freeze–they should last months in the house.

Pick any green tomatoes of decent size and put them 2 layers deep in paper bags. The bags will keep the tomatoes in the dark. Then put a slice of apple in the bag (it releases ethylene gas, a natural ripening agent) and close up the bag to speed up the ripening process. Check the bag several times a week and you can move them to your kitchen table once they turn color. They are never quite as good as sun-ripened tomatoes but still 200% better than store bought and you may have home grown tomatoes into November.

Harvest all other warm season crops like beans, peppers, eggplants, corn, cucumbers, summer squash and melons-if they are not already picked.

Harvest onions if you still have any.

Cool season crops like broccoli, kale, cabbage, arugula and other leafy greens may survive but will need winter weight row cover over them to protect them from the below freezing nights. Take off in the day and recover at night when freezing. You can get row cover (winter weight) at some of the local nurseries. Just call around.

Beets and carrots should be ok but should be harvested before the ground freezes rock hard in December.

If you have lettuce, I would pick it as it will freeze. You may be able to save it with row cover over it, but it is chancy.

Herbs can be cut and dried in your house.

Of course if you have a cold frame, your season could still be extended if you cover the plants inside with row cover.

So pick everything you can today and tomorrow and don’t forget to disconnect your drip systems so they don’t freeze either. Get busy!

Halfway done with the ceiling... 82,90,54,0,B

Matthew 24:25  Behold, I have told you before.  
Mark 13:33  Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.  

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