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Post by 12540dumont on Jun 23, 2012 16:18:37 GMT -5
The finished Product Attachments:
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Post by 12540dumont on Jun 23, 2012 16:21:37 GMT -5
You will need 36 inch wide aviary wire. We buy it by the roll. This is 1/2 inch net. On a piece of 4x4 plywood draw 2 lines 12 inches apart (were going to cut that 36 inch wire into thirds). Draw a 3rd line perpendicular and at 29 inches. Attachments:
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Post by 12540dumont on Jun 23, 2012 16:23:31 GMT -5
Using gloves and snips, and weights, roll out your wire and make 2 cuts 12 inches apart (line the wire up with the edge of the plywood and keep cutting on the lines. Yes, you must use Fancy Feast to hold the wire down. This is a union cat farm and it's in their contract. Attachments:
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Post by 12540dumont on Jun 23, 2012 16:25:35 GMT -5
Now make the third cut on the 29 inch line. Without the weights the wire will spring back and ouch, slap you in the face. This is a good time to use your safety glasses  Attachments:
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Post by 12540dumont on Jun 23, 2012 16:29:14 GMT -5
Form each 12 x 29 inch piece into a tube (overlapping at least 2 inches or more). So that the tube stays formed, poke the wires from the edges from the front to the back, and from the back to the front. Sort of like a fold. Attachments:
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Post by 12540dumont on Jun 23, 2012 16:31:53 GMT -5
Rotate the tube so that the smooth edge is on the table and push in both bottoms till they meet, forming ears. Attachments:
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Post by 12540dumont on Jun 23, 2012 16:33:21 GMT -5
see my ears? Attachments:
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Post by 12540dumont on Jun 23, 2012 16:34:22 GMT -5
Put your gloved had inside the tube and use the table to give you leverage to fold the ears onto the bottom. Attachments:
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Post by 12540dumont on Jun 23, 2012 16:35:38 GMT -5
Inside the basket. Attachments:
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Post by 12540dumont on Jun 23, 2012 16:37:24 GMT -5
So what you end up with is a basket that is about 8-9 inches tall and 8-9 inches wide. You will have to fold over the top of the middle cut wire as well, as there is no clean edge. The baskets last about 4 years left continually in the ground. About 10 years if you dig them up at the end of the season. (CAREFULLY). We do a combination. I leave bean baskets in place to do peas the following season. Attachments:
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Post by MikeH on Jun 23, 2012 20:46:11 GMT -5
Do gophers really need baskets to help them with the harvest?
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Post by 12540dumont on Jun 24, 2012 12:18:36 GMT -5
Yeah, it helps them cart away the potatoes.... Attachments:
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Post by mickey on Jun 24, 2012 13:18:30 GMT -5
That looks like it would stop moles from uprooting young plants also. how deep do you put them in t he ground, How much above ground?
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Post by 12540dumont on Jun 24, 2012 15:59:09 GMT -5
We leave 1-2 inches above ground. Last year one gopher was sitting in a basket eating beans. That was when the cat saw him. Too late, no escape! Leo makes bigger baskets for things like lilacs and roses. Don't tell Joseph, he'd make me take them out. By the way, moles are carnivores...gophers are vegetarians. In other words, moles are not the culprit in the eating of young plants. That doesn't mean to say they won't make a mess pushing up plants while hunting grubs. Attachments:
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Post by mickey on Jun 24, 2012 17:01:29 GMT -5
Yes I know moles don't eat plants, But they make a mess in the garden and push up the plants when tunneling. It's been dry here and they love that we have been watering the garden and flowers. Carolyn put down some flower seed mats and they made a mess of them I've pushed them back down five or six times we don't think they will come up as the mat drys out so much.
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