Homestead mailing list

[bob ford <bobford79 AT yahoo.com>]

Harpers only has locations in the East Valley now.  Their original store 
open, since the 1940s , was off 16th street and Thomas.  Thats where I used 
to buy all of my plants.  
I have heard the same thing, as you,  about Home Depot plants.  Anyway, I 
just like supporting the local guys.  Jay Harper and his brothers are still 
very much hands on in running the business, as far as I know. I used to see 
Jay at the Thomas Road nursery.

I have caliche, maybe you are right that other area don't.  Most people I 
know do have caliche in their yards.
 That area north of Camelback , the area Gene mentions in his post, was 
citrus groves at one time, just as much of the far east and far west valley 
were all agricultural: Citrus, cotton, even peaches.  

I remember, only about ten years ago,  going out to Queen Creek for 
pick-your-own peaches.  And, of course they would have some vegetables to 
pick while you were there, and they even had a little restaurant and gift 
shop.  Now it is just another sea of ugly red-roof-tiled McMansions.  

Blasted real estate developers and agents ruined this city.  I might have 
stayed here forever, if---the day after I moved here--- they had simply 
passed a law disallowing any new real-estate developement,

 or any more people moving here from california.  Real estate people ruin the 
land ( I have a passionate hate for red tile roofs )
--  People from california ruin everything.  They move to your town from a 
state they hate, and then try to change your state to become exactly like 
blasted California. 

so,If you have a new group of riff-raff downtown at the Capitol screaming for 
gun-control, you just stick your head out the window and holler a neighborly 
reminder that they can go back to california where they already have plenty 
of conficatory gun control laws.  People from California want laws for 
everything; I mean everything.  And, if you break one, they want you locked 
up, unless you are in the country illegally.

Anyway, the city was great at one time, but I am on  my five year plan (I was 
palnning to move out sooner, but some very recent events have delayed things) 
to get the hell out of here. 

 I'll miss the old phoenix that I saw when I arrived years ago,  but not much 
of the phoenix of today .  *dad% &@ blasted California people.....bobford


--- On Tue, 7/22/08, VAN DELL JORDAN <vdjor AT yahoo.com> wrote:

> From: VAN DELL JORDAN <vdjor AT yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [Homestead] Growing tomatoes and vegetables from seed for the 
> fall
> To: bobford79 AT yahoo.com
> Cc: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
> Date: Tuesday, July 22, 2008, 9:10 AM
> --- On Tue, 7/22/08, bob ford <bobford79 AT yahoo.com>
> wrote:
> 
>   I don't buy any plants from Home
> > Depot ( personal choice, only).  
> 
> I have been told by aquaintances in the L/S business that
> wholesale growers sell the lesser quality to home depot and
> save the best for the nurseries.
> 
> What was the nursery that used to be at 16th st and
> Camelback?  Think they moved further out on Camelback.  I
> used to go there if I wanted to make sure I was getting the
> best. though that was just my impression.
> 
> Is Harper's still in business.. I thought they closed,
> or was that just one location?
>  
> > Everyone has caliche in the city (as far as I know). 
> You
> > have to dig it out for each plant--be healthy and have
> a
> > solid shovel handle and a pick-axe.  Drainage is still
> a
> > problem.  You are correct that most people plant in
> low
> > spots, as do I.  I have been experimenting with small
> > raised beds, not with very good luck so far.
> 
> I have never encountered caliche in the older parts of
> townk that were agricultural prior to development.  Lots of
> clay and drainage was still a problem though.
> 
> Van Dell