Thread: alevin's account talk

Originally Posted by WorkFE

You sound like you already have done the hard part, educate. Planning won't be nearly as time consuming.

I grew up on a chicken farm. Contracted friars and raised our own layers. Dirty job.

Good luck. I look forward to hearing your progress over the next few years.

Thanks, WFE. I have NamVet neighbor who grew up raising chickens. Have other friends with backyard chickens. I know, I know. One had disease problems brought in by wild birds-she herself got sick. Ugh. lots to think about and plan for, including predators-coyotes, the occasional cougar, wolf population growing in the mountains not too far away-one reason I probably would think hard before getting a goat or 2. no false expectations about chickenkeeping-they'd be freerange, except at night, coop cleaning-yep, well aware that entails work that's not all fun. biggest flock among friends is about 40. They have mobile butcher come out to their place every year.

the funny part is that there is a reason all farmers own shotguns. no matter if you grow potatoes or pot, somebody will always come along and 'coon' your garden. it has always been this way.

they grow the devilweed in greenhouses now, not open fields, to enhance security. a local contractor friend here is unavailable to fix roofs because he is on a contract in colorado building a 30 acre greenhouse. yep, 30 acres. that is a lot of dope.

even if you only grow the most organic heirloom tomatoes and farm fresh eggs, it won't stop the pilfering, if you have something and people want it, they will come and get it. when the zombie apocalypse happens and roving hoards are hungry they will come pluck your tomatoes and paw the earth with fingernails to get at the carrots.

if you are going to farm, get a shotgun. like joe biden said.

Originally Posted by burrocrat

the funny part is that there is a reason all farmers own shotguns

My wife is a farm gal. I know why pops had a shotgun.

Originally Posted by WorkFE

My wife is a farm gal. I know why pops had a shotgun.

ha. farmers are smart. now it is you who leases and works the land, makes sure she is home by 10, and keeps the roof overhead, while he enjoys a quiet evening on the porch. life is funny that way.

Shotgun-on the list. Keep forgetting to ask my dad if he still has his 12-gauge. If he does, I want it, he hasn't gone hunting in a long long time. Shot one before and not recently, but not at live targets, just moving ones. 12-gauge was actually easier for me to handle than the 10-gauge was, for accuracy. I need a lot of practice to improve on hitting moving targets. The place I'm looking at is far enough off the highway, and just far enough from neighbors, they'd have to spot the garden with spotting scope, or at least binocs, to decide worth coming all the way in. Not saying hungry fellers wouldn't. Heck, maybe I'd hire one to help with the place. Ever read Les Miserables?

The current mental association between tall weeds and greenhouse does make it less appealing to put a medium-sized solid greenhouse on the place. that was on the list too, if I get this deal done. The one I have out of plastic nearly blew away in high high winds last year, even tho it was anchored down and on roofed back porch. I had to take the cover off to save it, fortunately there were no plants in it at that time of year.

I haven't done enough figuring yet. Need to find out more about property taxes, cost of well pump repairs, heating bills, current price she charges for the rent. much to figure on. I like challenges. as far as hungry fellers, there's about 8 hobo camps up along the river I live near, according to local policeman. One guy has come across fields into the next door neighbors lot at least twice after dark, the Nam Vet neighbor has chased the guy away. Nothing stolen yet. No indications the guy has been on my property yet. still working on affording the pistol I've been thinking about for awhile.-the day is coming and coming fast-then it will be time to start practicing and practicing and practicing. Maybe I'll ask my dad to bring the shotgun with him if they come out this spring. think I will, if he still has it, and the cleaning kit to go along with.

About shooting the 12 GA if you can try skeet shooting about 10 times and it will zero you right in, it did me!

I can't remember the difference between trap and skeet. clay pigeons were the targets, regardless. I got so frustrated after the first few shots where I did hit a few, then I must have gotten overly anxious, couldn't hit nothing after that, especially with the 10 gauge, gave up, walked away for about half-hour, calmed down, went and watched other learners shoot for awhile (they did way better than me while I watched), came back, picked up the 12-gauge again and did way better after that myself.

i find the older and less muscular i get that i prefer the 20 gauge, easier on the shoulders. hell, even a .410 will work the job.

just whatever you do, don't get a semi automatic, get a pump action. if you want to make a man up to no good stop in his tracks and pee himself, just rack the shotgun. it is a universal sound that makes everything stop, waiting for the boom. but you have to be able to pull the trigger too, or the situation will rapidly deteriorate.

Farming seemed so simpler back in the day.

Originally Posted by alevin

I can't remember the difference between trap and skeet.

1. Two bird houses vs. one bird house.
2. Crossing patterns vs. going away and rising and falling
3. number of shooting stations.

Personally I prefer sporting clays. awesome.

Originally Posted by WorkFE

1. Two bird houses vs. one bird house.
2. Crossing patterns vs. going away and rising and falling
3. number of shooting stations.

Personally I prefer sporting clays. awesome.

Well, I sort of get what you said. Don't recall crossing patterns, so must have been skeet I got a couple days practice on. whatever it was, it was fun, once I got past the frustration of temporary mental block where needed to take timeout and walk away for a bit. what are sporting clays? How are they different from trap or skeet?