tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8884610467022224157.post4756216208349535880..comments2023-08-28T04:49:47.536-07:00Comments on Milkweed & Teasel: Hig Tech and Low TechJennifer Monterohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003650742439806128noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8884610467022224157.post-91762014952880794062010-05-17T01:08:56.693-07:002010-05-17T01:08:56.693-07:00Paula - I didn't know that about mole fur! Tha...Paula - I didn't know that about mole fur! That's really interesting.<br /><br />I bet the mole you found in your compost was fat from all the worms. We get slow worms (a type of legless lizard) and hedgehogs in our compost but I've never come across a mole. They don't know what they're missing here!Jennifer Monterohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10003650742439806128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8884610467022224157.post-19194761504670193602010-05-17T01:05:05.235-07:002010-05-17T01:05:05.235-07:00Kate - I don't know how long it takes the pine...Kate - I don't know how long it takes the pinecone to react, just that when it feels like the weather's on the change I look at it and it's telling me what I need to know. <br /><br />I think it's pretty quick to react as it's really the result of its seed distribution method responding to the right conditions for letting its seed drop. It works anytime there's enough moisture in the air so I suspect it predicts snow too.<br /><br />I forgot to say with the rose stem trick cut the point so that when you put it in the ground, the thorns are facing away from the cut. This way when the mole pushes into it, the thorns dig into the soil and create resistance.Jennifer Monterohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10003650742439806128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8884610467022224157.post-50658623795423441132010-05-17T00:59:26.439-07:002010-05-17T00:59:26.439-07:00Tamar - Next time you have friends visit from the ...Tamar - Next time you have friends visit from the city, when you're out for a walk look at the ground and say "Huh, looks like rain (or good weather..)". Your friends will inevitably wonder how you can tell by looking at the ground. Then you astound them with your knowledge of reading pinecones. You will become know in Manhattan circles as Tamar Survivorman.Jennifer Monterohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10003650742439806128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8884610467022224157.post-70263735157040309442010-05-16T22:41:48.415-07:002010-05-16T22:41:48.415-07:00Mole fur is actually pretty cool, the way it stand...Mole fur is actually pretty cool, the way it stands straight up so they can easily move forwards and backwards in their tunnel.<br /><br />All the same, I'm glad that when we unearthed one in the compost pile (boy- THAT must have been hog heaven for that little dude) a few weeks ago that I closed him up in my gloved hands and took him over to the ravine around the corner from our house.<br /><br />Thanks for the info on the pine cone- I'll keep an eye out for a likely specimen (or two).Paulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16171802310115844104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8884610467022224157.post-85881876759356301632010-05-16T14:48:09.158-07:002010-05-16T14:48:09.158-07:00Hot damn! I am SO on that pine cone trick. I'...Hot damn! I am SO on that pine cone trick. I'm going to have to keep an eye out for various kinds. The only ones I know for sure how to lay my hands on (white pine and teeny-tiny hemlock) probably aren't going to be the good kinds. So how far in advance does your pine cone warn you of rain? And does it work for snow too (i.e when temps are below freezing)?<br /><br />People used to skin mole and cure mole skins?!? That sounds like dedication, or extreme boredom. Unless of course they were worth a LOT of money. I'll try the rose bush trick too. <br /><br />Thanks for the tips!Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8884610467022224157.post-10384313144022147572010-05-16T09:31:05.748-07:002010-05-16T09:31:05.748-07:00I love the pinecone trick! I've noticed that ...I love the pinecone trick! I've noticed that the bazillion pine cones lying around our property open when it's dry and shut when it's wet, but did it ever occur to me to use it as a weather gauge? Noooo.<br /><br />We're planning (some day) to run electricity to the garage, and you are SO inivited.Tamar@StarvingofftheLandhttp://www.starvingofftheland.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8884610467022224157.post-12671158646445933992010-05-16T00:30:57.541-07:002010-05-16T00:30:57.541-07:00Colette - Can you send someone over with the CDs t...Colette - Can you send someone over with the CDs to show me how to use it??<br /><br />Paula - If I were you, I would collect a few different types of pinecones and hang them up and see which ones are the most accurate and responsive. But that's because I love experiments! It definitely works with other conifers, but bigger cones are better.<br /><br />I was told the Juicy Fruit gum trick at Gardening School but I've never tried it. The rose thing didn't get rid of the moles from the garden but did stop them making mounds where I couldn't tolerate them. <br /><br />I use scissor traps now since our local mole catcher taught me how to use them effectively. There is a real artform to catching moles. <br /><br />Gamekeeper's wives used to make an extra income skinning the mole and selling their prepared skins. They were made into wristwarmers, or waistcoats which took a lot of skins and a year to complete.Jennifer Monterohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10003650742439806128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8884610467022224157.post-71153534595477241322010-05-15T23:25:53.841-07:002010-05-15T23:25:53.841-07:00Great post! I'm going to have to find the righ...Great post! I'm going to have to find the right pine cone for that, because although I'm way up in the Pacific Northwest where they invented pine cones, I can't recall having seen any that look like that one. Do you know if it works with other conifers or just pines? I have three pines out front, but they have little, bitty cones. Does size matter in this case?<br /><br />I'm also going to have to try the rose stick trick as soon as I have some rose prunings. All my raised veg beds have hardware cloth underneath them because I don't want anything snagging my babies, so of course this darn mole is chunneling through my only flower border. Years ago I read that sticking an unwrapped piece of Juicy Fruit gum down a mole hole will do the trick because they can't resist the gum and eat it, and then they basically....seize.Paulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16171802310115844104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8884610467022224157.post-45400610201836356272010-05-15T15:45:51.849-07:002010-05-15T15:45:51.849-07:00Best I copy you five CD's then!!Best I copy you five CD's then!!Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05918092647201479349noreply@blogger.com