Archive for December, 2007

Homelite Mighty Lite Line Trimmer

Gardening, Tools | Posted by Dean
Dec 16 2007

We have been very lucky recently and have managed to score a brand spanking new 2 stroke line trimmer for a dirt cheap price. Whilst I am not capable of quoting the price, or where from, suffice to say it is a fully legitimate deal. The line trimmer is a Homelite Mighty Lite. The details are:

  • Engine Size – 25cc
  • Starting Technology – ZipStart
  • Cutting Head – E-Z Line Tap Advance
  • Cutting Swath – 17-inch
  • Dual Line – Yes
  • Fuel Capacity – 473 ml
  • Handle – Loop
  • Line Diameter – 2mm
  • Primer Bulb – Yes
  • Shaft Type – Curved
  • Weight – 9.2 pounds

Technically it is second hand as a customer purchased the product and then simply could not follow the instructions to start the trimmer. The instructions are available here from the Homelite website. As you can see the start procedure is incredibly easy. The supplier swapped it out for another brand and model simply for the good faith earned with the client. The supplier then verified that it started and had absolutely no fault. We have thus been extremely fortunate to benefit from the previous owners inability to follow instruction. I have also managed to start this device and am looking forward to using it on the next dry day to clean up the edges.

Addendum
Well today it is a fine day and I decided to crank the Homelite Mighty Lite up. It started effortlessly again so I really fail to understand how stupid the original owner must be. Anyways I managed to do a few edges quite quickly before trashing the line totally. Given its my first effort using such a power tool I was quite impressed with my efforts.

After replacing the line I flooded the engine … doh! So now I am giving it a break to have another go a bit later.

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More Additions

Cat and Pest Control, Flowers and Decorative Plants, Gardening, Herb, Fruit and Vegetables | Posted by Dean
Dec 15 2007

Today I officially ended my attempt to grow mushrooms. The attempt was a complete failure that was due largely to the infrequent attention I paid them. The soil was damp and kept in a dark place, but was certainly going nowhere. I thus decided to add the rich peat moss mix to the worm farm as extra nutrition. On checking that I found that my attempts to draw the worms upwards from the original layer was already succeeding within 48 hours. I though have since manually sifted through the produced compost and separated the remaining worms from the super rich soil.

The reason I took the measure to separate the worms and compost was that we went to the big kids toy shop, Bunnings. All that we were going for was to:

  1. Annoy my sister. Well spend time with her during a break as we have hardly seen her all week due to her insane hours.
  2. Pick up several bags of our favourite RichGro potting mix.

Anyways, as always happens we walked out spending over $200. We purchased 4 bags of the potting mix, 2 large tubs, half a dozen vegetable seedlings, a china doll, seeds, ant deterrent, and cat deterrent. The large tubs are being converted to be used as planters. The tubs were $12 each, whilst the equivalent size planter is $48. Easy maths when the only difference is a few holes in the bottom, easily corrected with an electric drill and 5 minutes. One has already had such a conversion performed and is now the home of some of the seedlings cucumber, zucchini and dwarf pumpkin seedlings. The cucumbers and zucchinis are full of buds. I will get the varieties tomorrow when the light returns.

In that tub is 25L of the RichGro mix that has been further enriched with our first harvest of worm produced compost. This has to be the most nutritious potting mix we have ever planted in. In the half barrels that arrived from Deals Direct we have planted the remaining zucchini seedlings and some pak choy. Again this is within the RichGro/Worm compost mix. We are looking forward to our harvest soon.

In terms of harvests we have just enjoyed a rather nice salad with home grown lettuce, chives and parsley being the highlight. 10 minutes from harvest to consumption simply can not be beaten.

Anyways I am off to watch some wrestling before bed … see yas.

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Worm Farm

Gardening, Worm Farm/Vermiculture | Posted by Dean
Dec 14 2007

Some months ago we decided that we would like to begin worm farming as a means to remove much of the vegetable waste that we are generating through being humans. We have decided that simply throw it in the bin to go to the local land fill we will feed the worms and produce an endless supply of useable fertiliser in the form, of worm castings, for use on the garden. Much of which will in turn return the worm farm for processing.

The one we decided on had a modular system where you start with one layer, and when it is at capacity add a second layer. The process continues once more, so at any point in time there is a maximum of 3 layers in service. When you harvest you take the lower most layer, empty it, and then add it back to the top. We have been running with the 3rd layer for about 2 months and it to was approaching capacity. As a result I decided that I would look at harvesting some of the worm castings.

Upon inspection I found that there were several thousand worms working their magic still in the first layer. This was a bit surprising as the food source in this layer should have been largely exhausted several months ago. That said they must still be deriving some nutrients from this layer as each dig I performed exposed a minimum of five worms. I think they have bred as we started with a thousand worms. However, there seems to be a monumental amount in the farm.

I then inspected the second layer and found that the worms had clearly been at this level and processed everything they could. All that was in this level was about 2 or 3 corn cobs and what looked like an avocado skin. The rest was bare clean plastic. I was shocked at how well the worms had processed this layer. It also explained why there were very few worms evident in the top most layer. Clearly traversing the great plastic divide was too much for the worms.

Today, I have decided I need to check out how encourage the worms to move upwards quickly. Clearly I can not produce enough vegetable waste quickly enough to fill the layer in the next month. As such I relied on my good mate Google and found the NSW EPA Worm Farming article. Within that it provided an easy answer to my problems, shredded, soaked cardboard.

As previously discussed I have heaps of cardboard available at present and I have a few sources of rainwater at present. So I have just filled the second layer, and half filled the first layers of the worm farm with cardboard. This should provide the worms with the perfect excuse to move from the first layer to the two rich food source layers.

I hope so as my half barrels have arrived from Deals Direct and I am keen to use worm castings with them to supplement the RichGro potting mix.

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The Cat Infestation

Cat and Pest Control, Gardening, General | Posted by Dean
Dec 14 2007

The last couple of days are quickly becoming the straws that break the camels backs. It all began yesterday morning at 6:30am when I was awoken by Socko in tears. As she drove off to work she saw one of the neighbours kittens laying prostrate on the road, it was clearly deceased. Socko has a very soft heart for animals and cries whenever she sees one suffering or deceased, for example the show Meerkat Manor has been banned from this house due to the distress it caused Socko when one of the meerkats got bitten by a snake. Anyway, Socko cried all the way to work and left me with the task of clearing the deceased kitten from the street, else it would still be there.

Anyways, I went back to sleep and then started work before I decided to carry out the undesirable task. At 10:30am I collected my shovel and several garbage bags and managed to get the carcass into the bags. From inspection of the body it was the kitten that had foolishly buried itself in the cardboard stack a few days ago. Also, I found that there were no visible signs of the animal death being the result of meeting a car tyre. It was also incredibly bloated and stiff. Anyways, the next task was to dispose of the body, which I have since done.

Late last night another local resident asked my Mum if we knew who owned the kittens as they had nearly run one over. We advised her who it was and the situation. She will be ringing the RSPCA to report concern over the situation. Finally, someone else with the gumption to try and take action.

This morning on my way to the letterbox I looked in the cardboard filled trailer (to be emptied tomorrow) and found 3 felines in it sunbaking. They ranged from a real little kitten to a cat perhaps 12 months old. When I bashed the trailer to move them along the elder cat was immediately on the move, however stopped and watched me to see if I would give up. The intermediate kitten was looking for an escape and the tiny kitten had no idea what to do. After moving to get the eldest feline to move on the intermediate kitten leapt out the side. The tiny one just looked at me. After chasing the eldest pest down the fence line and out of the yard I returned to the trailer where the kitten was three quarters out of the trailer. I watched it finally leave the yard and have come in.

Across yesterday I also had further discussions with the RSPCA about CATWatch and their take on it is:

I have discussed this issue with our scientific staff and they have advised that:
1. RSPCA cannot comment on the effectiveness of this device as we are not familiar with the product.
2. RSPCA can see no obvious animal welfare problems with this device
3. If you do obtain this device, please position it so as not to interfere with the cats’ normal territory
4. You should consider carefully the effect this may have on any pets you own
5. and finally, if you do obtain this device, could you please advise this office:
* as to the effectiveness of this product
* if you experience any difficulties with it
* if you observe any animal welfare issues connected with the use of this product,
so that we can update our information data base accordingly.

I have also heard back from the distributor fauNature Pty Ltd with the following results.

Question – Is the CatWATCH device will effective against deaf cats?
Answer – Ultrasonic means the unit emits an alarm that is above our hearing range, however cats can hear it and indeed the unit relies on this fact to work. Deaf cats will not hear the alarm and therefore will not be affected by it. Fortunately the number of deaf cats within the cat population that are deaf is tiny – a significant percentage of pure white cats are deaf, but other than that there is no consistent characteristic that can indicate deafness.

Question – What is the average expected battery life with a regular alkaline battery?
Answer – Battery life expectancy – only the long life alkaline batteries can be used and the average life is three (3) months, slightly less in high traffic areas and slightly longer in low traffic areas. Rechargeable batteries very quickly develop a memory and for some reason do not work, while cheap batteries are exhausted too quickly.

Question – Is there a limit to the number of devices per mains adapter?
Answer – Number of Units per adaptor – given the units operate on 12vlt (using electricity) and draw very little energy in principle you are probably talking minimal effect. The most we are aware of having been lined up in series is 3, but if you were thinking of more than that we are happy to look into it.

I have since discussed with Socko and we are still deciding on our course of action. I really do like to look of CatWATCH, but with out impending move we may not need a device soon. I may still buy one of these and use a spray on the fences and in the backyard as per the earlier RSPCA communications. I really want to keep the feline infestations out of the yard, but cost is a factor.

In the mean time I shall continue to move the “skanks” and kittens on by whatever means is necessary. 1 x Super Soaker soon to be loaded with Citronella Oil/Water mix.

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Last Day of Work

General | Posted by Dean
Dec 14 2007

Woohoo, it is my last day of work for the year. For the first time in my working life I have managed to score time off at Christmas. I am off until the 2nd January 2008 and intend doing as little as possible. That of course does not mean I will be bone idle. I suspect that next week I will be off to do food and drink shopping in preparation for Christmas and New Year. That though can and will be done at my own leisure.

I will also look to spending some time in the garden. I will with luck be able to use the worm farm produce real soon now. I will be posting something on the worm farm soon. I also have some updates in relation to the war against the feline infestation to post.

Well I best push off as I am late for work now.

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