New, and I have six wooded acres in East Texas to play with

doitjoself · Guest

Hi all,

I'm Shirley Jo, I retired from IBM in '92, I'm a Dallas native, recently relocated to far Van Zandt County. I'm a tree-hugging, dirt worshipping vegetarian trying to pass in East Texas!

I built a new "old house" (from old-house plans) back in the woods. I'm going to keep it natural, just add some native trees, shrubs, and flowers around the house and up to the road, and have nature trails through the wild woods out back. I've been a "naturalscaper" and organic for years.
Out here I'm on sugar sand, and I've got river maples, oaks, persimmons, hollies, mexican plums, wax myrtles, berries(dew?), virginia creeper, wild grapes, all kinds of vines including poison ivy....

I'm going to need lots of help for out here, though! I'm all by myself, and I've been pulling nasty thorny vines out of trees, cutting them up and baling them and moving them to my burn pile, but I can't even burn them until I can mow all the high weeds around the burn pile and I don't even have a lawn tractor yet! I got bitten by a copperhead that I'd invited up with all my piles of vines.... I didn't hurt him, though.

I'm glad to "meet" all these fine folks on here, bet I'll get lots of help, y'all seem like my kind of people!

ZIPPER · Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2003 2:37 pm Post subject: OUCH THAT BITES

Shirley Jo,

Welcome to the DD board and have fun with your retirement and East Texas.

Snake bit? May not be the last. Do you carry a cell phone while you work out yander?

One tuff lady! :twisted:

marti · Guest Joined: 27 Jul 2003 Posts: 6 Location: Emory, TX

Hi Shirley Jo.
I live in Rains County.
We are practically neighbors.

TxRok · Guest Joined: 21 Mar 2003 Posts: 11 Location: NE TX

Hi Shirley --- Nice to meet you, I am also in VZ Co., and know the briar story. Luckily my hubby does that when he has nothing better to do -- yeah rite! The goats will eat everything off the vine to make them easier to get at, but won't eat vine itself. We have ten acres - about 5/8 woods and clear a little bit when we get the time. We also plan to keep it natural, and have running streams that go to a pond in back. My husband catches the snakes and sells them to a guy he works with - they get the anti-venom from them, or something. Maybe you can find a young neighbor boy who will work cheap or work for trade.

PM me and let me know exactly where you are and maybe we can chat sometime. I am originally from Galveston County on the coast and everthing is much different here --- we have sugar sand also --- guess I just went from one beach to another! My main problem so far has been the gophers/moles and grasshoppers. No matter what I do they still eat my trees. I started with the recommended Sevin, and dumped that for Nolo and organic --- but nothing phases the little #%@*#.

One of my fave past times is to pick them off my plants, pull their legs off, call them names, tell them why they are going to die and then squish them. Sometimes when I try to pick them off they wiggle and get away with me holding one leg. I have tried chasing them around the field to kill them, but get worn out. LOL. I am making a net to catch them with and have a recipe for bug juice that is supposed to keep them away from the property. One morning soon.

TTYL ---- TxRok

imacutecowgirl2000 · Guest

Howdy Ya'll! I am new to this board. I stumbled across it right after I signed up on WBAP's website. It is wonderful!!!

I am a dyed in the wool listener to Howard on Sunday Mornings. I just don't feel right the rest of the day if I miss it!!!

I live near Wichita Falls and am an Organic Rancher. I have been in the Feed Business for almost 17 yrs and have tried to "sway" people away from the pesticides that not only kill the bugs but kills the people too!!!

I just wanted to take a few minutes and introduce myself. I will be back daily to enjoy all the wonderful Ideas that Ya'll have!!!

Gar · Guest Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Posts: 533 Location: Lavon,Texas

imacutecowgirl2000 :D
Welcome aboard our Organic Train. Glad to hear that you have been organic for many years. You will enjoy this forum with the many questions, answers, and peoples experiences. We all learn from each other and their past experiences.

pridgeon · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2003 7:22 am Post subject:

Hi Shirley. Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches has an excellent arboritum where they grow plants native to east Texas. Their web site is http://www.sfasu.edu/ag/arboretum/index.htm. Check it out - it's very informative! Twice a year they have a plant sale.

pridgeon · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2003 7:25 am Post subject:

Sorry, I just tried to click on the link on my previous post and it didn't work. This is the correct one:
http://www.sfasu.edu/ag/arboretum/

(take the index.htm off the one I said originally.)