Floating strawberries, tented gardens and other squirrel foils

[@LegalEagle]

I'm really enjoying these "Adam DGAF-style" videos. In part because you're covering topics I'm interested in, but I also enjoy the joie de vivre with which you're covering them.

[@TheMajorStranger]

It would seem the netting over the pond keep most birds away except the legal Eagle variety.

[@spritestar141]

Can't wait for Ragusea inspired videos of Devin talking about whatever he does when he's not in that suit.

[@Salty_Nutella]

Collab, NOW!

[@Fuck_YT]

oh hey its Saul

[@BookerZeroWitt]

It's like watching a professor finally get tenure and he starts coming into class with fuzzy slippers and sweatpants. It's great!

[@FireStormOOO_]

"I'm smarter than the squirrels" Ah, a hubris shared by many of our kind.

[@hg.chetan]

Mark rober has a whole series around how smart they can be in overcoming obstacles and problems

[@gothicfan52]

Persistence > Intelligence and squirrels have a lot of persistence.

[@mattjc]

We have but one life to repel squirrels. They have generations to break in.

[@jperin001]

@@gothicfan52 So true!

[@WillieWagtail1]

He might be smarter than the squirrels but he certainly is not hungrier than them.

[@KarachoBolzen]

Your "learning a bunch of different things helped me so much" monologue at 6:13 sounds SO MUCH like a transition to an ad for brilliant or something, but it is very true😂❤

[@Rollator13]

Hovered the finger ready to skip at that very moment

[@ljwithnok2615]

It was just begging for a Skillshare ad

[@alext6933]

Talking about people building a second home for their vegetables while he's in one. 😊

[@TheMister123]

Adam: Squirrel:

[@mzimmerman1988]

*several months later* - "the fierce fighting with the squirrel faction has come to a stalemate. Hopefully negotiations will resume soon "

[@BillBraskyy]

I am waiting for the "Adam Ragusea begins to speak in third person and grows hydroponic MJ and psilocybin" saga

[@noobslayer7564]

I love this video, simply for the fact that you're very transparently showing an experiment where failure IS an option. Videos like this tend to attract a ton of "experts" who'll tell you that there is only one way to do things. You're testing a thing and seeing if it works. We should all be more okay with doing this ourselves and allowing others to do so.

[@laurenvelentzas5044]

I remember coming across a story somewhere on the internet from a person trying to stop birds from eating their strawberries too. They painted a bunch of small rocks red a scattered them around their garden in the fall and winter, that way by the springtime the birds had learned that small red things in the dirt=rocks, can’t eat, and ignored the strawberries! Not sure if that works with squirrels too, but maybe an experiment for another time.

[@Beryllahawk]

You know, it might? Birds rely on memory, foraging in places they DID find food, ignoring places they did not: I think squirrels do too, especially since they are caching food as often as they're devouring it. Whether they would ignore a given patch because "eh, it's all rocks" or not is the real question though, isn't it!

[@davidonfim2381]

Squirrels, like most mammals, are "colorblind" in that they only have two types of cone cells in their retina. They wouldn't be the best at seeing red things. They rely more on their sense of smell to find things. I'd predict that that trick wouldn't work on them. Birds are tetrachromats (4 types of cone cells) so they see color very well, and mostly rely on vision rather than scent.

[@ahenchman8656]

Probably not. Squirrels tend to pick things up before they eat them while birds start by trying to take a bite. Squirrels would feel the weight difference while birds hurt their beak.

[@Ealsante]

Adam, you really shine when you enjoy what you're talking about. It's great that you're filming what you want

[@Musicdude14z]

Tip for mounting a net over the top of a pole: cut a slit in a tennis ball and sleeve the tennis ball over the pole! Now you've got a soft rounded top for the net to hang on, with some added friction! Used to do this with 4 PVC posts strapped to the posts of a cot to set up a bug net to keep out mosquitos on long camping trips.

[@ariez84]

If Mark Rober taught us anything, the squirrels will outsmart you and win. 🤣🤣

[@sebastianhelgeson3559]

I really like the “this was a problem I encountered… this is the solution I came up with” style video!

[@connman9783]

I am loving the Red Green style voice overs!

[@Waynerd_Crook]

Adventures with Bill. I can Adam pulling that wooden dowel out of his voluminous overalls.

[@o0Brick0o]

Huge Red Green Show energy

[@gangewifre]

I absolutely love these recent videos, it's so wonderful to hear you get excited about George and Gracie, gardening, elaborate plant jails, etc. It's a lot of fun and so inspiring!

[@ScifiMike12]

4:10 Adam rocking the short shorts. Hahaha!

[@karl1ok]

Propaganda shorts with 2 inch inseam is gonna be all the rage for men this coming summer

[@SoloBroBro]

Women volleyball shorts

[@SoloBroBro]

@@karl1ok the feminine men

[@aragusea]

@@karl1okI reckon the average men’s shorts inseam of today is still longer than it was in the 1970s, and I seem to recall men being men back then. Not to compare myself to Burt Reynolds, but I can have goals.

[@karl1ok]

@@SoloBroBro The confident gigachads will wear what they want, and what they want is short shorts

[@shepalderson]

The vigor with which you chucked the strawberry raft into the pond made me chuckle.

[@dodaexploda]

Hobby strawberry grower here. Physical barries absolutely 100% work. What I did was build a 4' x 8' barely raise bed. Then I built a wood framed lid for it covered in netting. It works FANTASTIC. You want strawberries, just lift up the lid and grab the berries.

[@DuelingDexperts]

"idk I'm not dumb myself, i can out think em" Narrator: He could not 😅😂

[@GohTakeshita]

I read that in Morgan Freeman's voice...

[@dannyboyNS752]

​@GohTakeshita me too...someone needs to AI Morgan Frreman's voice and some video of squirrels getting in there 😅

[@DuelingDexperts]

@@GohTakeshita I was thinking more Ron Howard, but yeah I could hear Morgan Freeman too lol

[@bikalimark]

Adam Ragusea, the only (not even) DIY chanel that actually feels DIY

[@Lilly_the_Snek]

I'm so happy with Adam's new content. Honestly he's living the way I dream go live someday

[@DahVoozel]

I appreciate you testing this for us. Squirrels are notoriously persistent, good luck.

[@fireant202]

Great video. Love the new stripped down style. I do feel like adding just one more pole of similar design to your garden solution would greatly increase the comfort and usability of the space though. :D

[@ljwithnok2615]

Agreed, even one of half the height of the first

[@elongated_muskrat_is_my_name]

get a stand of bamboo (in a pot, not the ground or else you'll never be rid of it) and you have more poles than you'll ever need for free

[@DiscGolfDom23]

I am really enjoying this content, Adam. As someone who hopped on board when your first steak video got its first million views, you just seem infinitely happier in your life and I'm glad that you are appreciating fun things in your life and further providing inspiration for people to live a life full of more things that satisfy them. That might even include inspiring people whose life currently revolves around their work schedule. This is all I want. I love food and I love silly hobbies that don't benefit anyone other than myself and my family. You're not living in a McMansion trying to fill it with lavish things. You're portraying the true American dream. Love your family, treat yourself, and have fun while you can.

[@unseen370]

This is awesome Adam. About a month before your rice fish video I started keeping rice fish, and now a week after turning my 20gal long tank into an aquaponics grow tank for lettuce, you post this. Synchronicity!

[@lazeddonut]

Really awesome video! I think it perfectly combines the personality we've been able to catch from the podcast episodes, but maintains the production value that you've been very evidently pouring into all that you do. I love it!!!

[@Znatnhos]

I love these everyman engineering projects. This is where being well rounded really helps us overcome any obstacle. We may not be pros at any one thing but we can get the job done!

[@Bleaksigilkeep]

I've been a subscriber for years but I've been enjoying the channel more since you've "retired" than ever! Hope you're enjoying it more too!

[@numrii]

The greenhouse looks SOOOO cozy!!

[@BasketOfPuppies642]

I really like these videos that're just you messing around with things you're interested in. I'd love a video going into detail about how your hydroponics are going!

[@01Naaman]

Maybe some gravel at the bottom of the tube to allow the water to run off better? Should reduce how much time the pole is in contact with water or damp soil

[@aragusea]

Ooo good thinking

[@--Paws--]

6:47 I do this all the time, works in reverse too. Some gardening supplies are great for aquariums and sometimes cheaper; aquarium supplies are great for gardening, especially if its related to substrate like gravel.

[@garretgraham248]

I can't believe this video only has 120,000 views. It's great. Be proud of the content here.

[@joshwannapaas]

8:32 the comedic timing of this was very funny please keep this up

[@Definitelynotacelebrity]

Wow the Red Green show vibes are strong on this one! Love it!

[@TLMuse]

Adam, a squirrel warning for you: Consider those wood-sided platform bird feeders you used for your strawberries. I mounted one hanging by the window of my mom's house, to amuse her with bird activity. A squirrel eventually took a fancy to the bird food (even the spicy variety), so I put a *metal* cage around it (made with wire fencing). It worked great at first; the birds got in with no problem, and the squirrel got frustrated. Alas, the squirrel got so frustrated that it began chewing at the wood, and over the course of a couple weeks it completely destroyed the feeder, having chewed the wood until the screws holding the cage and the hanging wire fell out, and the feeder just dangled from one side. The squirrel got one meal out of that, when the feeder dumped that last batch of seed on the ground. But I guess it didn't think ahead, because it lost all of its future meals-no more feeder! Anyway, if a squirrel can chew through the half-inch wood sides of that feeder, I don't think a bit of string netting is going to stop it for long. But good luck with it! -Tom

[@huntermclaren322]

so so lovely. this is the project I would undertake when I have fewer financial restraints. I wish you nothing but continued enjoyment

[@HonoredMule]

"I can outthink squirrels." And the saga begins.

[@lucasotis9525]

It's a treat to see you experiment and be hyped about your plants growing, the pride in your ponds and fish, and hopefully just getting to genuinely be interactive with your home to feel more like home. This was such good fun to watch. That being said, I need to know the name of the pudgy lil precious pug gold fish variety at 00:32. (Both the type of fish and the delightful little fellow's name, the latter for serotonin boost if possible)

[@doinker81]

I love the direction this channel is going in. Love the vids Adam!

[@MsrKSDisque]

I love how you brainstorm solutions for problems! Good job!

[@mrdanthesnowman]

I'm super grateful for this content. I'm watching a lot of gardening videos this year as I'm unemployed right now and need an outdoor hobby in the meantime. This is fascinating. I didn't know aquaponics existed. Hydroponics of course, but aquaponics....very interesting.

[@jonathanlapointe4977]

Man, as a long-time viewer I love to see you branching out like this subject wise. Your communication skills are always top tier, imo, and you're always so down to earth with what you share, too. Lovely content, mate, always worth the listen, thank you!

[@AMTunLimited]

I will admit it's not wholy my style (I enjoy your cooking videos better) but the joy in which you are bringing this new chapter in your own life I think I can get over it.

[@TheDarkfaery]

As someone who tried very hard to be a "grower" during the 2020-2022 era (you know what happened) from a flat, I hope to be someone that can achieve what Adam has one day. I failed hard. Bugs and birds ate everything before it could possibly be ready to harvest. Luckily my other 20-22 obsession paid off, thanks in part to Adam and I'm a fairly good home cook as a result. So I fully embrace this new side of Adam Raguesa. Teach me your hydroponics ways in the vain hope that I will one day have a garden.

[@salt-emoji]

Adam absolutely pulling off the European style jogging shorts. Legs for days! 🫡

[@Danij017]

I really like the pole and net idea. I feel like a second pole on the other side would give a bit more space and have a cool look. Like a net circus tent.

[@snakedoktor6020]

Speaking of good looks...those 70's era basketball shorts! They bring back a lot of memories.

[@LagiacrusHunter]

To this day, the most ingenious squirrel-proofing I've ever seen is Chris Notap's bird feeder made out of metal pipe segments. Just take a length of metal pipe, cut it into rings, silicone them together, and you have an attractive cage that birds can freely enter, but squirrels can't. I hope your netting works out for the garden!

[@sr6550]

Adam to his various projects, "Here, have a little strawberry plant, as a treat" Love the new content style!

[@typorter-pp6lh]

I have been growing fruit trees for several years (40 trees and counting) and have battled squirrels the entire time. The only thing that helps for me is a combination of removal and deterrent. I use a live trap and relocate them in a park a couple miles away. For deterrence I use a motion activated sprinkler to scare them away. My system isn’t perfect but it works just enough so I get plenty of fruit.

[@Exiled_Rouge]

I have no interest in doing any of these things myself. However, I LOVE the videos and find it so fascinating. Adam is such an engaging person that he can do a video on just about anything. I e joy these freeform videos of Adam just doing stuff.

[@six9058]

Im not even into gardening but i rlly like seeing super cool ponds and a hole filled with water with creatures in it these videos r so much more entertaining your commentary is so good that u could talk about a topic nobody gaf about and id still watch it

[@jackgregory9209]

Love all the new aquarium and gardening stuff

[@cryofsolace4840]

Loving the videos Adam, hope you're loving them too!

[@zacharymccullough4625]

The adventures with bill feel of this was real . I did enjoy this and is thought provoking.

[@insertnicknamehere]

Watching Adam gardening and using power tools while wearing slippers and not clamping down the materials was thrilling !

[@ricericericericericericerice]

Coming from pest control, some tips: Rodents are notorious for burrowing beneath foundations and whatnot to gain access to food. Simply staking the net into the ground may not be enough, you might need to look into 'trenching', which is where you install steel mesh in an L shape in the ground and then backfill the trench so they can't get through.

[@NateBiggity]

All the sped up clips are giving me "Adventures with Bill" vibes from The Red Green show. IYKYK 😆

[@Techfly11]

I had the same thought!

[@neck5566]

If the women don’t find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

[@drsrwise]

Adam 😭 although I love your food content, I really always followed you because I love hearing your thought processes, and I'm so glad you're doing more self-satisfying intellectual content. This is what I'm here for anyway!

[@tktyga77]

You're actually building the kinds of things I've been wanting for the college Horticulture section to put in for a long time

[@Sarlan2]

Love the video! Great idea with the pole and koi pond net to protect the veg patch. Think I’ll give that a try also! Thanks for the idea

[@trainier]

Loving the new adventures, Adam!

[@carolinepeterson7995]

Love it when you do gardening content, Adam. It would be super interesting if you ever did a video about which edible plants -- other than the obvious tomatoes and, as you mentioned, strawberries -- are significantly better homegrown than storebought, so as to be worth the effort.

[@elongated_muskrat_is_my_name]

herbs ofc, cane fruits if they have them where you are, legumes are worth it

[@christianhunt7382]

boy thats a nice looking goldfish! like a little manatee! big fan of your greenhouse! love the new videos too, keep at it Adam!

[@agrillingbeerguy]

This video totally reminded me of The Red Green Show. Very interesting stuff, Adam!

[@Ash-fd8ww]

For tomatoes you could try negative reinforcement with red marbles or painted stones, then grow not-red tomatoes for a few years (takes a little while for squirrels to forget) and then maybe you will have some luck (it worked for me, yellow tomato worked best). works for strawberries and sweet peppers as well

[@luckyfire313]

If you want to reuse the cheap plastic option for more plants on the pond in the future my thought was to try sticking pool noodles around the outside to act as a floaty. Like a pontoon.

[@sammythaangel9945]

Very excited to see where this goes

[@hsfb4894]

we struggle against squirrels in both garden and even just in normal flower pots here, but we've found some success in sprinkling red pepper along with the soil. Not sure how it affects the growth of plants but it works out pretty well in our patio flowers

[@erzsebetkovacs2527]

Red pepper? As in, spicy hot red pepper, ground and sprinkled over the soil?

[@kdkirby]

More backyard project videos! Been loving the aquarium saga and the non-cooking project videos

[@ahadmrauf]

Im looking forward to seeing how your net fares against the squirrels! I've battled against them with the peach tree and tomatoes in my backyard, they always seem to find a way. Maybe this year!

[@LukeHariono]

I just had a dream where my grandma taught me to garden. Adam, if you ever read this, please upload more gardening videos. Thank you

[@grubgobbler3917]

If you need a long pole in the future, drive around the wilder parts of town (plenty down by Maryville lol) looking for a big bamboo patch. Whoever owns the land probably has way more than they know what to do with, and will be happy for you to take a few. They don't last more than a few years but they're lightweight and renewable. Only problem is getting it home, if you don't have a truck or trailer.

[@allstarwoo4]

2 things. 1st you might want to seal the floating garden beds for multiple reasons. The default seal might not be rated for constant exposure to water. And it might leach into the pound. 2nd your structure solution absolutely works but framing a structure out of wood and nails is not as hard as you think. Of course it's on you whether you need it or want it. Other than that cool projects I hope the best for your system.

[@OrigamiMarie]

Adam confidently telling the camera that he can outsmart squirrels 😂

[@Noobtaco]

I kept expecting Bill and Red to show up before the lodge whistle went off!! Loved the video!!

[@yurmumsgjey]

Garden looking fookin beautiful

[@SageThyme23]

I love this video style. Feels like I am visiting an uncle and he is just talking to me about his hyper fixation

[@Qub3rs]

LOL... Every time I think about squirrels and traps, my brain goes the Mark Rober's squirrel maze/trap...

[@EthelredHardrede-nz8yv]

I think he might have been inspired by British shows about gardener vs squirrel battles. Found some. search daylight robbery squirrels

[@Qub3rs]

@@EthelredHardrede-nz8yv ooohhhh... Will do... Thanks for the suggestion

[@zjplunkett]

God, that pause after “Adam is into stakes!”. Peak Dad energy. You were so proud of that.

[@jar985]

I got an IGN trailer for a game called "Squirrel with a gun" in my feed just 2 videos above this one. I think it might be a good idea to put some food out to keep the squirrles happy

[@sonikku956]

Gardening Ragusea is something I want to see more of

[@ClarkeBar2424]

Happy birthday Adam!

[@strcat666]

This s great fun! Reminds me of the Red Green show.

[@ogwshl]

I love you Adam this video was great I thoroughly enjoyed !!

[@snozzmcberry2366]

I'm really looking forward to the strawberries & squirrels saga

[@Maxaldojo]

Can't wait to see how it goes!

[@doinker81]

I think putting up a second pole in the lower area can keep the net taut preventing squirrels from just weighing the net down to get to the plants

[@RachelShadoan]

I am loving semi-retired Adam! I look forward to updates on the squirrel foiling. I am still angry at the squirrel that stole the only fig my fig tree has ever produced, before it was even ripe! The fuzzy jerk took one bite and then threw the whole thing away!! THE AUDACITY! They could have at least waited until it was ripe and then actually enjoyed it

[@gmatz9390]

Please do more of these video, I’m loving them

[@Moewenfels]

Adam. You are the MacGyver of ANYthing you get your hands on.

[@trichogaster1183]

absolute KING in my book

[@Beryllahawk]

All I could think as Adam toyed with the Squarespace stuff at the end were all the "Graphic design is my passion" memes. Good luck with the squirrels!!! I'm quite interested to see how your garden grows. Your soil is likely not that different from mine - I'm in south MS, lots of heavy clay here too, but I'm trying to get around that by doing a "lasagna bed:" basically NOT digging into the ground in the first place, just covering the patch up with layers of various sorts, creating an environment that will over time self-compost. Not a short term thing, I won't be using this bed this year at all, but it IS the literal easiest thing to do if you have back trouble. You also don't walk around in said patch: it's designed really narrow so that I can reach across without needing to step in. I've heard a ton about hydroponic tomatoes and lettuce. I'm quite interested to try it someday. One thing I'd note too - styrofoam floats QUITE well. I've been saving squares of the stuff. Someone I know gets frequent shipments of refrigerated medications, and the boxes are cardboard but lined with styrofoam, so it's the best kind of material: free! I still have to figure out a water containment structure that'll work for my limited space, though. And then figure out my actual, you know...water; or rather growing medium/chemical mixture, since I don't plan to do fish things.

[@backseatdriver_9989]

Your backyard looks great! Makes me think of playing football or capture the flag with my friends in their backyards when we were in elementary school.

[@KingsMom831]

OMG! Please do more garden videos. This is freaking awesome! 😁

[@CarolineElizabethMartin]

poptart walking onto the net was the highlight of my life

[@nathanramstorf1033]

A BB pew-pew or a sling sgot with dog kibble sends a clear message. But, non-violently I have found that a few predator bird figures haven't found me squirrel problems. Loved the video Adam!

[@PumpkinHead-im9vb]

Jack Tripper called...he says you're rockin' those shorts!

[@trist308]

This feels like a classic red green episode :)