Saving our SUMMER fruit: Will this keep the parrots out?! | Australian Homesteaders

[@sizercam]

Great idea guys, but why not use the steel post for the size of the mulch area. Eg. The drip zone of the tree.Then leave the shade cloth open on the bottom to where the mesh reaches

[@jaydegier3892]

Hi Corey and Amanda, first time commenter. My husband often watches your videos and I decided to tune in also. We just watched your latest video and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Such a great idea with the the guard to keep the mulch in around the trees and also your covers for them to keep the birds out are a great idea. You are both a great inspiration and if we were 20 years younger we would embark on a journey like yours. Keep up the great work, stay safe and happy. Also love your dogs, Jay.

[@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead]

Thankyou so much for watching and commenting! Glad you enjoyed 🙏❤️

[@pindarifarmlife]

Awesome ..... my next project !!! We have some cockies eyeing off my fruit trees and I have lots of plans for that fruit 😊 Lady nails (aka cable ties) are just the best invention eva !!! 😁

[@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead]

@@pindarifarmlife haha first time I’ve heard lady nails 😂

[@pennybutler418]

They look great 👍🏻

[@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead]

@@pennybutler418 thanks!

[@jeanettewhite2144]

Great idea guys. Hope you get lots of fruit ❤

[@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead]

@@jeanettewhite2144 hopefully!!

[@stevejohnstonbaugh9171]

Tw0 suggestions abut your fruit tree muIch; puII the muIch back abut 3 inches aII the way around the trunk This wiII prevent disease, fungus and rodents from working 0n the trunk. Air and Iight is barks friend. Move your sprinkler away from the trunk. Y0u don't want the bottom 0f the trunk and the r00t fIare t0 be constantly wet. Your roots have moved 0ut some distance now. The mesh ring is a nice touch for the chickens wh0 wiII c0ntr0I the insects. But I'II suggest it is heavier than it needs t0 be. H0w ab0ut hardware cI0th and heavy wire stakes with a 90 degree bend 0n 0ne end? 👍 With 0rchard trees 0f that size, I w0uId c0ver each tree with 0pen weave netting approximately 1" X 1" f0r bird pr0tecti0n. It's cheap, fast and aIm0st 100% guaranteed. I'm afraid the shade cI0th materiaI y0u have used wiII bI0ck the p0IIinat0rs from the bI0ss0ms. N0 p0IIinat0rs - n0 fruit. H0pe this is usefuI 😉

[@jenharris4470]

Operation was the name of that game lol 😆

[@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead]

@@jenharris4470 Thankyou!!!

[@rentedspace7462]

Well done guys. I’m loving the idea.

[@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead]

Thankyou!

[@SJ-xg3rv]

Love your tutorials. Thank you!

[@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead]

@@SJ-xg3rv you’re welcome!

[@fusiongaming5749]

Thank you for the idea! I will be installing mine when the season is right!

[@robyntodd2284]

Wow you two. It’s looking so beautiful. A thought on ur pollinator conversation, I was having the same thoughts, maybe attatch the bottom of the netting to the top of the mesh frames. Will keep the birds and chickens out, but allow the bees in. I think they look fantastic.

[@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead]

@@robyntodd2284 yay Thankyou!!

[@kerrytaylor939]

I'm not sure if you've allowed for the seasons growth. Also look into summer pruning for production and smaller tree's. As long as you get the fruit its worth it 🥳

[@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead]

@@kerrytaylor939 will do Thankyou!!

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

I often want to use the 'un-PG' descriptor for the parrots too Corey. We need to get our protection on too. On Sunday we found that the possums are already stripping the pear trees... leaves, flowers and all.

[@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead]

@@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus this year we were determined to at least get apricots but it was great to protect the almonds, peaches and a plum too!

[@madrabbitwoman]

Probably would be good idea leave one side open until flowering is finished

[@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead]

We’re considering doing that with the plum that is flowering but there have been pollinators in the nets, we left quite a few gaps… hopefully not large enough for the parrots! 🦜

[@mfrodyma1480]

The annual Fruit Tree Project tour for Michael!!! Thank you friends. The trees look wonderful. Plum sauce!!!!

[@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead]

We were thinking you’d be happy with this one!!! We’ll try to keep them more regular

[@peterbrain-y1s]

Hi guys may be build panelled frames around your trees but have them so you can fill them with water so they don't move and when you pull it down have 1 pipe with a tap

[@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead]

@@peterbrain-y1s great idea!

[@crazydaverocks]

Great vid guys. Why not make your 'panels' (that you plan to build in the future) incorporate into the mulch rings at the bottom? Maybe make the 'rings' squares instead. And, if you sit the panels on top of these square rings the bees can still get in through the 25mm mesh. You could even make the panels using mesh or chicken wire so bees and beneficial insects can get in. You could also make the panels easy to attach / detach throughout the fruit season so you can open them to do maintenance and pick fruit etc.

[@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead]

@@crazydaverocks good idea… we talked about square for the future mulch rings. You can buy bigger mesh sheets and it’ll increase the cost per surround but not by a heap

[@87xfute]

Hey guys, great idea with the sprinklers I did the same, with the almond trees did you seed the ground with truffle spawrs, isn't it almonds that you put truffle spawrs under ?. An old mate of mine at Lightning Ridge sowed $100,000 worth of sunflower and the cocky's and galahs ate $80,000 of it all. Just a heads up too, my mate who lives down near Cooma has trouble these buggers as well but the cocky's get on the roof of the sheds and chew through and throw away the rubber seals under every screw in the tin and chew trough cable ties as well, he now uses stainless cable ties which slows them up a lot. Great job, fingers crossed they all work guys. Seeya Rob

[@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead]

@@87xfute cheers for that Rob!

[@BronnieBee]

Love seeing other aspects of Rockpile! Love your mulch surrounds around the fruit trees. Are your fruit trees dwarf varieties or do you prune them hard to keep them small and seemingly very nettable?

[@BronnieBee]

I should have watched it right through to the end! Great job with the netting. Wondering why your trees are so far apart? You do have plenty of space! and what are your thoughts now about the bees? Perhaps only net once they've been pollinated?

[@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead]

@@BronnieBee can confirm insects and pollinators are getting in and no birds have got in yet. Our trees are not dwarf but I think we might get dwarf varieties in future for easy of netting if required. They are spaced far apart because we do have the room and the vision was a random feeling orchard to wander through. And because we didn’t get dwarf trees I wanted plenty of room for canopy. But! I think they’re a little stunted by our climate so we might end up inter planting that orchard with more trees if they don’t need the canopy room. Glad you enjoyed it!!

[@cheryesido364]

Great job, just wondering where you got your white shade cloth from?

[@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead]

Jaylon Industries in Malaga WA

[@cheryesido364]

@@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead Ty ♥️

[@Serendipity_Strawberry_Farm]

Hi Folks what are the corner connectors called on ebay? We have absolutely no plumbing experience so we have no idea what these are called to find them. Cheers Theresa

[@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead]

Try ‘pvc three way corner T’

[@Serendipity_Strawberry_Farm]

@@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead Thankyou folks

[@desmahebiton4534]

Just wondering, as it appears you didnt glue the top square to the pvc white legs, would the wind catch the top square and lift it completely off?

[@desmahebiton4534]

Tho perhaps as the sides are cable tied to the top square, that would hold it in position. If the duct tape holds the legs.

[@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead]

@@desmahebiton4534 it’s just the cable ties through the netting really ‘securing’ the lid down so there’s a chance it could lift.

[@Share_the_laughter]

Uggh I built frames like that out of white pipe it kept falling over in the wind 🤦🏽‍♀️ needed up dismantling , I didn’t glue it maybe that makes a difference ?

[@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead]

We get some pretty horror summer winds so we’ll let you know if it falls over!

[@lesboucher542]

Just a quick question... As the fruit wont all ripen at the same time, how do you plan to pick it? ;) LOL

[@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead]

@@lesboucher542 yes you’re right!! Oh well, problem for future Corey and Amanda 😂

[@lesboucher542]

@@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead I was thinking about your idea of making the side panels much like your roof. If one or two of those were hinged, maybe using cable ties, it would allow you to get into the fruit... Just a thought

[@bobbebbington5356]

Once the fruit is set the bees will not visit. Do not leave holes because the parrots will land on the net.and drop down through the holes.

[@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead]

Thankyou, that makes sense 👍👍

[@GunnaonedayHomestead]

Yummmmmmmmmm gotta love 🍓🍑

[@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead]

@@GunnaonedayHomestead love fruit!!

[@karengear5254]

Can you net them

[@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead]

😁😁 I’ll let you come back to this comment once you’ve finished watching ❤️

[@karengear5254]

@@ROCKPILEOffgridHomesteadha ha I certainly have as I had just started watching oops senior moment 😂😂😂😂

[@coevicman3685]

😳 some pipe sizes are Internal sizes, other use Exterior size 🤓🤬 Eventually an AntiAviary?

[@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead]

An anti aviary would be good just while the fruit’s growing 😂