NFT System

[jobney]

Are you dropping rock wool cubes right into the bottom of the gully?

[GaryD]

No......I just place the seedling (complete with growing mix) into the trough. If the root mass is not sufficiently developed, I just rest the bare-rooted seedling in the nutrient stream.

Gary

[jobney]

An inert growing mix? What are you using? Does it wash off in the trough over time?

[GaryD]

Hi Jobney,

The growing mix is just the stuff that the seedlings are planted in. It's usually a combination of sand, compost and peat moss.....or similar.

Gary

[GaryD]

Jan's NFT system is still powering along.

The tomatoes are much larger than when they started - about four weeks ago.

The strawberries are producing small fruit......which are being attacked by the Sticky-Fingered Redhead (AKA Luke the Rat).

Gary

[Shane]

Looking great Gary,
What does Jan have in the hanging baskets?....flowers?

[Bear]

Hi Shane

I have flowers in the hanging baskets, I water them from the rainwater tank and any fish water available.

The wicking bed was going really well until our 2 grandsons aged 3 and 5 moved in without notice.

The 3 yr old has pulled almost every silverbeet plant out, despite being threatened with mortal danger. This morning he pulled the little ladder up to the NFT system and ate the red strawberries, he has collected eggs from the nests the ducks had made, (god only knows where they all went to) and this morning Gary had to extract him from the pen under the quail cage where the duck has been setting for a couple of days, how he got in there is anyones guess.

We now have an insight into Kellens future world. Oh yes Kellen, you have all this fun in front of you, only difference is that you will have it in spades.

How the heck do you lot out there keep your sanity surrounded by little people? Gary and I have not had little kids around for any length of time for about 30 yrs. It certainly is an eye opener. Strangely they show no interest in the fish tanks, both of which have covers now anyway.

Oh well back to shouting "don't do that, turn the hose off, don't chase the chooks, stop fighting, leave the gate closed, etc, etc" I fear I am finally turning into my mother!!!!! ( nasty nagging old Grandma)

Where is Pa in all of this you ask? He is on a weeks holiday, hangs aound the shed a lot, oblivious to it all, only putting his head up half a dozen times a day to ask "whats to eat?"

Jan

[Pugo]

Now that sounds like a very smart man avoid the household issues and children at all costs I remember the days gone by trying to raise three kids and I live no where near my grandchildren. Just pictures and phone calls which is just fine by me.

[GaryD]

Hi,

Where is Pa in all of this you ask? He is on a weeks holiday, hangs aound the shed a lot, oblivious to it all, only putting his head up half a dozen times a day to ask "whats to eat?"

Where I come from they say that "there's no point keeping a dog and doing your own barking" so, Pa's got to keep the shed safe from the grandchildren and make sure that he keeps his strength up.....and Grandma's got to do what Grandma's do (making meals, providing entertainment and washing various small body parts).

I should mention that Grandma tends not to care for most of my old rural wisdoms.....particularly the one about "keeping a dog yada yada....".

Gary

[Pugo]

I'm afraid to go home, I have some many nieces and nephews to look after when I show up. let alone all the kids that I teach now, that show up at my house on the weekend, early in the morning.. just to visit, But the idea of living with children again. I really wouldn't want to go there, even though my wife wants to have a child, I keep putting her off praying she will be to old for children and the subject will die.

The only thing I have to say is I am Glad it is you and not me...