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Post by shades on Aug 8, 2018 1:23:27 GMT
Shades, we used potato bags designed for potatoes. Normally they work great, but we had about 5" of rain in a week, and we think they got saturated. The one thing the bags don't do well is drain, and we really needed that this year. Last year we had a drought, so the potatoes got watered periodically, but never saturated. We weren't sure how high the bags would let the potatoes go, so next year we will use a much more sandy soil, possibly gravel, and create a deeper base, so there's some place for the water to go, sort of like mounding the way your grandfather does. We'll plant the potato seeds higher. I think we'll still have pleny of space for them to grow. We only started growing pototoes in the bags last summer, so we're still learning  Potato bags? I've never heard of them. Are they like Gro-Bags? Long and flat. You cut a slit long ways down the middle, then plant the seed? Downside is that some are big and really heavy? That sounds quite useful if you haven't got suitable soil or space in a traditional garden. And much easier to clean up at the end of the season. |
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Post by jolovespiggies on Aug 8, 2018 8:26:20 GMT
That sounds dreadful Baz hunni. I was going to say they wouldn't get away with it here but in the present climate, I am not so sure. It is like going back to Victorian times which doesn't bear thinking about. I wish there were something I could do to help you love.
Hugs
JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 8, 2018 20:21:27 GMT
Makes me want to cry, Baz  That's inhumane treatment. I suppose you aren't supposed to spend a lot of time in the office, but out doing the jobs that need to be done. Still, basic amenities like a bathroom would be nice  It may not be the worst job you've ever had, but by this point in life, I'm sure you were hoping not to revisit that worst job quite as closely as you are I know what it's like to be stuck in a horrible job, and it weighs on us so heavily, emotionally, it's hard to get past that |
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Post by Bean on Aug 9, 2018 9:04:55 GMT
Oh that's awful, Baz - why don't people treat their employees with respect? If you want to get the best out of someone who's working for or with you, showing you care about them and value them is a really good start. Gah!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Aug 9, 2018 9:15:43 GMT
I entirely agree Bean love, it makes good sense all around because the person working for you feels valued and you will probably get the loyalty you deserve. I so wish you could find something better Baz sweetie.
Hugs
JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 9, 2018 18:34:51 GMT
Shades, this is a type of potato grow bag. We don't actually use this one, but the picture shows what it's like better than any other picture: www.target.com/p/9-gallon-potato-planter-grow-bag-living-green-bloem/-/A-52588544?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Patio+Garden+Shopping&adgroup=SC_Patio+Garden&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9002313&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlcWEysrg3AIVFgeGCh2u5QC7EAQYESABEgLe3vD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.dsIt's good for clean up, and keeps the area neat, but it also traps the water, and we think it may crowd the potatoes. We're discussing growing them in the ground, next year, just to see what differences there are. We'll have to till an area, put in the right type of soil, etc., but we do the soil for the bags, so why not for the ground. We get a lot of tiny potatoes that don't seem to grow to large potatoes, so we think crowding might be an issue. The potatoes were also behind the corn, this year, so there might not have been as much sunlight as the potatoes wanted, once the corn got high. We're looking at other areas where we could put in a potato bed, and might have a couple of really good options. Baz, I have a friend in SoCal who works for a printing company. They print can/bottle lables, boxes, etc., for food corporations. There's no lack of income with that printing company, yet they basically have the presses in an open air setting, no a/c, a few pourly placed fans, and basically a bunch of morons running the business, trying to make as big a profit as possible. He's always thin as a skelleton, because it's so hot in the building, he perspires constantly. Doesn't make he want to eat much, either. I think there are laws, but I'm not sure the laws are worded well enough to cover such things. Laws aren't worded very well, which is why there are so many interpretations, and so many loopholes. |
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Post by shades on Aug 10, 2018 3:39:12 GMT
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Post by Bean on Aug 10, 2018 7:55:59 GMT
but they can get quite heavy to take from the shop to your home. Aren't you in an apartment? I can imagine it makes getting your supplies trickier, and I bet getting rid of everything at the end of a growing season is much more of a job too! My courgette plant in a pot isn't half as productive as the ones I've had in the ground, so I think I'll stick to the ground next year. I don't know if I've just not been as good at watering/ feeding as I should be, but the point is it's taken more effort but the yield is much lower. I only put it in a pot because I'd had problems with slugs in the last few years, but it's been so dry they haven't done much damage his year. Ah well, I'm the only courgette lover in our house, so no one else is complaining as they're usually getting grated or sliced into every dish by this stage of the year! |
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 10, 2018 15:12:33 GMT
I've seen these on TV, but not in the stores. I'm not even sure where to buy them, and I would think mail order would have some pricey shipping costs attached. One nice thing about these bags is that posts can be sunk into the ground, right through the bottom of the bag, which would not only allow extra water to drain, but would put the tomato supports where they need to be. We have grown bags that are basically heavy duty fabric raised bed planters that can be folded up and stored over the winter, but I'm not sure how easy it would be to poke tomato trellis legs through. I think the whole point it that they don't rupture, so defeats the purpose We have a lot of different types of planters, and I think one issue this year was that I didn't map out where the different plants were to be planted. If I'd done that, hubby would have planted the plants where they were supposed to go, instead of claiming he understood what I'd said, then doing something else entirely. I do companion planting, so certain plants have to be together, and they weren't this year. The Borage plant has been fabulous. One plant, it grew into a huge plant, so definitely near but not in one of the raised planters next year. The bees love it, so they've been totally invested in the garden this year. It's really made a difference. Borage is also supposed to deter some nasty garden pests, and we have very few this year, so I definitely think planting the Borage with the veggies helped. Next year, I will also plant it with some kind of restraints, so the really heavy branches don't fall down to cover the plants trying to grow under them. Shades, do you have an elevator in your building? As long as no one minds you bringing bags of compost in the elevator, that should help get it to your apartment |
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Post by bazookagoof on Aug 11, 2018 2:55:48 GMT
Baz, I have a friend in SoCal who works for a printing company. They print can/bottle lables, boxes, etc., for food corporations. There's no lack of income with that printing company, yet they basically have the presses in an open air setting, no a/c, a few pourly placed fans, and basically a bunch of morons running the business, trying to make as big a profit as possible. He's always thin as a skelleton, because it's so hot in the building, he perspires constantly. Doesn't make he want to eat much, either. I think there are laws, but I'm not sure the laws are worded well enough to cover such things. Laws aren't worded very well, which is why there are so many interpretations, and so many loopholes. I think the idea is that "if you don't like the conditions, then don't work here" is what the management would say. For the most part, we employees just want to get through the day, rocking the boat is a good way to get fired. An employee at my company was fired without just cause, and he could have sued them, but in the end it wasn't worth the hassle for him.
Thinking back on it now, I've worked a few places where the more vocal protestors would get fired for whatever reason the management could find. Sometimes it's best just to keep your head down. I know this isn't the greatest strategy, but if I were the kind of guy who could land a job easily I know I could live a bit more dangerously.
Another friend of mine who's a chef usually quits a bad job before he lines up another one. I could never do that, but he's talented enough to get another gig more easily than I am.
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Post by Bean on Aug 11, 2018 7:22:50 GMT
I think you're doing the right thing for you - keeping your head down while acknowledging it's not right (and I'm sure they know this too, even if they don't care and just want to get away with cutting costs as much as possible) and looking for better. I really hope it pays off!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Aug 11, 2018 9:49:47 GMT
The times I have heard management say that Baz love and it is absolutely disgusting. It means they can treat you however they like and you have to put up with it. Oh sweetie, I agree with you with regard to finding another job too and it is often not what you know but who you know. I just wish you could find somewhere and be happy love, I really do.  Hugs JO xx |
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 11, 2018 19:59:04 GMT
I couldn't quit a job without another one, either. I need to be able to pay my Bill's, even if I'm miserable at the job. Never had anything to fall back on. Your job has been getting worse by degrees for quite a while. I hope it at least doesn't get any worse.
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Post by bazookagoof on Aug 11, 2018 20:45:29 GMT
I couldn't quit a job without another one, either. I need to be able to pay my Bill's, even if I'm miserable at the job. Never had anything to fall back on. Your job has been getting worse by degrees for quite a while. I hope it at least doesn't get any worse. Although I'm shooting to find a better job, it's getting to the point where I might take something just to escape the current one. It does need to pay the bills though- otherwise I'd go bag groceries at Jewel. (I did that 25 years ago and was good at it, and there are regular raises and chances to get promoted, but the rate is only about $10 per hour and taking a 50% pay cut is something I really don't want to do.) |
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Post by Bean on Aug 12, 2018 8:12:55 GMT
If you factor in the number of hours you'd be working, there's a big time saving there!
Mind you, I once took a slightly lower paid job to escape an unhinged boss, and as this new job was also closer to home, I figured I was saving time and money not having the commute. I didn't think it through though (in terms of the job itself) and it was so boring, every day felt like it lasted a year. I didn't last long there... (Being bored is one of my most unhappy states - I never experience it if left to my own devices as I can always amuse myself, but if I'm with people I find uninteresting or doing something monotonous, it pains me greatly!) It's much easier to chop and change jobs like that when you're in your 20s and have no responsibilities though!
It's definitely about balance and if you can afford it, it's worth earning a bit less to be much happier in your work and life. But yeah, a 50% cut is pretty drastic!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Aug 12, 2018 18:13:45 GMT
It was like that for me Piggles love even when I had a husband who could well afford to support me until I found something I was happy with. My pig of a first husband. I hope you do manage to find something else Baz hunni, even if it means a salary cut for a while, I remember being so miserable at work I felt sick so I can really empathise. I have had a few unhinged bosses too Bean sweetie.
Hugs
JO xx
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Post by shades on Aug 13, 2018 2:18:55 GMT
but they can get quite heavy to take from the shop to your home. Aren't you in an apartment? I can imagine it makes getting your supplies trickier, and I bet getting rid of everything at the end of a growing season is much more of a job too! I learnt my lesson last time so this year I've restricted myself to five tomato plants and a little grass. But there seems to be someone "secretly" placing plants out on the balcony. And not forgetting the cats' bathroom. The space is filling up quickly. |
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Post by shades on Aug 13, 2018 2:28:21 GMT
Shades, do you have an elevator in your building? As long as no one minds you bringing bags of compost in the elevator, that should help get it to your apartment yep, we've got a lift. The building is 12 floors high! You can't imagine what gets carried in that lift. Typically flats in China are sold undecorated (although that's slowly changing) - you just get the unfinished walls, floors, and ceilings with some electric sockets, lights and a water supply to kitchen and bathroom. The new owner has to do everything to make it liveable. It's good to have a blank canvas but it's hard work finding and managing all the tradesmen. |
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Post by Bean on Aug 13, 2018 7:28:10 GMT
Oh I so love it when you find a tradesman you 100% trust and can leave to it as managing them is something that quite often drives me crazy! It hardly ever happens though. Having to coordinate different workers to do one job is even more of a headache. There have been a few times we've mooted the possibility of having something done to the house, but I've said I need a few more months after the last job until I'm ready to tackle tradesmen again!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Aug 13, 2018 8:01:38 GMT
It is nice in a way Shades love because you can do it up as you want it but if you are not in a position to do this straight away I can imagine it being a bit bleak. Finding trusty workmen in the first place is hard enough isn't it Bean lovey, but coordinating them to come at different times must be very difficult.
Hugs
JO xx
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That's inhumane treatment. I suppose you aren't supposed to spend a lot of time in the office, but out doing the jobs that need to be done. Still, basic amenities like a bathroom would be nice 
