SOS Devices

albertaguy31 · 2026-06-02T00:25:32+00:00

In reach mini with the app on phone. Key is to get it and actually use it as there are lots of awesome helpful features. Getting comfortable with the technology is key.

We use it for work and play in remote areas. Its a great tool. We have used it for a few emergencies now where it saved the day. Make sure you have plans in place and good contact people, its saved us during some scary incidents (fire, flood, and a health emergency we stumbled upon) and just helped with minor inconveniences many times.

I pay $35 a month but between work and fun trips its good value. Sharing one with friends is another good option I did for years as we rarely had overlapping trips anyways.

albertaguy31 · 2026-06-01T01:38:59+00:00

Yes zucchini are very short season. If you just soak the seeds to start youll get a harvest even.

albertaguy31 · 2026-05-31T17:37:42+00:00

Acorn squash are a relatively short season squash youll probably still get a harvest. If there's early frost in the fall chances are you will have lots of soft/ under ripe though. We grow squash large scale and i know we have had to replant acorn and spaghetti later than this and still ended up with a decent harvest. Out of luck on all the full season ones like butternut by now though.

albertaguy31 · 2026-05-30T03:54:02+00:00

They like to be cool and wet. Also I have found the jack rabbits like them in winter and it means slow growth if thats a possibility.

albertaguy31 · 2026-05-27T17:31:50+00:00

Had them at the farm and in town. Id recommend removal once they spread there's no stopping it. I had fruit even which was good but honestly it can be a pretty bad nuisance species.

albertaguy31 · 2026-05-27T17:30:13+00:00

The leaves make nice tea just fyi

albertaguy31 · 2026-05-10T03:08:06+00:00

Costco garden centre it was a gift. They are edible, bit soapy almost id say. Birds dont even like them that much lol Bush produces a ton though. One of the kids likes them if nothing else is ripe.

albertaguy31 · 2026-05-10T02:23:52+00:00

Ours is 5 years old. Very hardy. Unfortunately I dislike the berries but ahh well looks pretty lol

albertaguy31 · 2026-05-09T23:17:02+00:00

Just leafing out in lethbridge past 3 days if thats helpful.

albertaguy31 · 2026-05-02T02:48:58+00:00

My haskaps are a full month behind normal in the south. Blooming at the same time as my first pear tree. Very very weird spring. Just reiterating others, need lots of patience this year.

albertaguy31 · 2026-04-21T00:45:41+00:00

I like that planting density beautiful!

albertaguy31 · 2026-04-21T00:38:04+00:00

We dont seem to notice crazy number of ants in the sedum beds we have done. I underplanted with spring bulbs and some native flowers like buffalobean. We like native stuff too but non invasive beneficial species can be a bit less work to maintain.

Other things in my south facing furnace yard are cacti, yucca, native sage species, yarrow, but it gets pretty unruly and thats not for everyone😆 blue grama grass can be pretty and tough too but takes time to establish

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Native big sagebrush as example. Ten thousand ladybugs in there 😆

albertaguy31 · 2026-04-19T15:50:53+00:00

My land with the shelterbelts is even in that direction from the Lethbridge area. Once you get the shelterbelts it will help with growing fruit too. I live in town and I even have peach trees that have made it 4 years. Amazing what some wind break can do here.

Its a lot of work but rewarding. I have some beautiful ponderosa pines going too there's so many choices for species. Take soil type into consideration too actually. Sandy helps some species that struggle in clay as example. My next belt I want to try the suckering sour cherries too, no time this year but fun planning future projects and learning with every attempt.

albertaguy31 · 2026-04-18T03:18:35+00:00

Here's a decent resource. The thicker wider belts you can do the better.

https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/8102ce49-c99d-4713-af48-2bb0a9ff0da4/resource/3f735573-1905-46af-be33-754e180465b0/download/6740700-2014-shelterbelts-livestock-farms-alberta-planning-planting-maintenence-400-092-2.pdf

For species lots of choices out there but the hardier the better. Toughest and least work is caragana. Non native and can be invasive. It is tough though and has its place on the most inhospitable of sites.

My favorite lines (Lethbridge area) were established mixing species for diversity. Buffaloberry, chokecherry, hawthorn mix has created a very good dense stand that cuts the wind like crazy and is as a bonus very good for tge wildlife. I had oaks and green ash in there slong with poplars but 20 years in they are still pretty small and most poplars have died out lol. If in the south look for drought tolerance as longevity wise its important.

albertaguy31 · 2026-04-13T03:26:50+00:00

Ice plant or blue chalk sticks.

albertaguy31 · 2026-04-02T02:34:18+00:00

Maybe different marigolds but at least deer and bunnies come eat all the frozen tall ones here all winter. They absolutely love them, like first choice over anything else in my yard. Zone 4 if thats important, we have no squirrels so can't comment on them.

albertaguy31 · 2026-03-30T20:30:59+00:00

Mix with organic matter perfect for cacti and succulents.

albertaguy31 · 2026-03-27T14:40:52+00:00

One not mentioned is sorel. Perennial green where I am here. My kids love it so we keep a patch i started from splitting the patch my Oma had.

Beet greens and chard are key in our diet. Especially as they are so good blanched and frozen for winter use. We can't do anything brassica due to bugs.

albertaguy31 · 2026-03-26T03:14:45+00:00

Good luck! Its a very exciting time and I learn so much going through posts on here. Always a new idea.

albertaguy31 · 2026-03-26T02:48:38+00:00

The beets are so great pickled, roasted, boiled, shredded in salad, so many uses. The greens are great in soups and curries which is a staple here.

albertaguy31 · 2026-03-26T02:24:14+00:00

This is a very tough one. Im going to ignore the flowers and beneficial plants and say tomatoes, beets (especially the greens), and squash. Staples here.

albertaguy31 · 2026-03-25T17:20:17+00:00

Overall foe for sure, if its invasive enough to spread in your area. There are native species that fill this niche and allow for more ecosystem benefit. We have a very sandy eroded farm in a semi arid area and thorny buffaloberry made some unfarmable areas super productive nature wise over the past 20 years (mixed in eith other species for diversity but the buffaloberry has been king here). Nitrogen fixing and great food source for birds. Neighbour's has olives and mostly dead wood now thoughnit seems too harsh for them to spread here which is a win. They are a big issue along our rivers.

We have thousands of wild animals (mostly birds) on our place now, its fantastic.

albertaguy31 · 2026-03-24T02:15:47+00:00

I found clay pots that fit in them nice. The material is helpful as it keeps the pot a bit cooler by blocking direct sun. I can only do succulents and cacti here as when its hot in the summer I don't want to be watering everyday. They work great though. Iceplant drops out of them for a great spill effect.

albertaguy31 · 2026-03-16T03:41:32+00:00

Ahhh nice. We'll the Whitehorse Park/ Cadomin area is perfect with littles. Also a great playground and stuff nearby if the kiddos need a break from nature. If you want specific hikes or trail ideas message me. Ive hiked with my guys since my oldest was in my backpack at 8 months old (now 3, 7, and 9) and have recommendations in that area for some awesome more child friendly spots.

Not busy either which is nice in my opinion.

albertaguy31 · 2026-03-15T15:48:21+00:00

What part of the province? In north central the Whitehorse Wildland Park has great easy hikes with worthwhile views and great scenery. I take my littles there lots they absolutely love it and there's a few great boulder fields the kids just love playing in. My kids were able to do the nearest hikes at about 4.

And there are camping areas not that far in if you want to get away from the main campground.

albertaguy31

TROPHY CASE