Avoiding Cross Pollination, Building Shelves, Roof Cleaning and More Country Lore

1 / 2
These DIY shelves are easy to make. Just follow the simple instructions in Country Lore.
These DIY shelves are easy to make. Just follow the simple instructions in Country Lore.
2 / 2
Make a simple bread box like this one from an old mailbox.
Make a simple bread box like this one from an old mailbox.

Seed savers usually face (or avoid, actually) the danger of cross-pollination between different species of squash, pumpkin, cucumber, etc. by resorting to growing a single variety. In McMinnville, Oregon, however, Floyd Moore has devised a better way to deal with the problem of potential mix-ups. A day or so before the female blossom (the one with the little pumpkin or squash or whatever at its base) opens up, just snap a small rubber band around the end of the petals. After a couple of days remove this retainer and — with a cotton swab or a camelhair brush — do your own pollination. Then replace the rubber band and tie an additional color-coded band around the stem so that — when harvest time rolls around — you’ll know which plants contain true-to-type seeds, which are also your own hybrids.

Building Shelves

” ‘Chris’s shelves’ (named for the friend who taught me this construction method) require a minimum of materials and only a little labor,” says Rich Weinhold of Redding, California. Sound appealing? You bet it does! A hammer, pliers with a wire cutter, a tape measure, and perhaps a stud finder and level are all that you need for the installation of these easy DIY shelves. And the only materials required are the shelf boards of your choice, common or box nails, and some twine or wire. Each shelf (see diagram) is supported at stud intervals (thus the probable need for a stud finder), rests on nails driven into the wall, and hangs at the front by the twine or wire.

The initial step in this construction process is to locate the studs and determine the desired height of each shelf. Leave 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch of each nail exposed in order to be able to wrap the twine (or wire) around at points B and C . . . as well as to support the shelf at point A. Front-to-rear leveling is then achieved easily by simply wrapping turns of the twine about the supporting nails to get the desired angle.

And — of particular interest to apartment and home renters (and landlords) — these shelves are inexpensive enough to leave for the next tenant. However, if you do choose to take your shelves with you when you depart the premises, the nail holes can easily be filled with Spackle and will be almost invisible. (To do this properly, though, place a small block of wood beneath the head of the hammer as you “claw” the fasteners out.) Thanks to Rich and Chris for this portable DIY shelf idea.

  • Published on May 1, 1978
Online Store Logo
Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368