On Tue, 16 May 2006 04:58:06 GMT, Gunner
wrote:

On Mon, 15 May 2006 18:03:52 -0700, Grant Erwin
wrote:

We grow strawberries, and the birds get a lot more than we do if we don't net
the beds. This year Karen built a raised strawberry bed about 3x10', and she now
wants to put bird netting over it. It has to be something you can also take the
netting off of so you can work on the bed, pick berries, etc.

I was thinking of a sort of quonset hut arrangement with some long skinny whippy
bendy things bent into half-hoops over the bed, and we could just lay the bird
net over the frame. I was thinking of something like the stuff they make mobile
ham antennas out of. Only problem is I don't have a clue where to buy it. Green
bamboo would be nice too, if it will bend in a 3' diameter, doubt it would. I
was thinking of heavy electrical wire, but I don't have any, and 100' or so of
say 6 gauge copper would run some do-re-mi.

Ideas?

Grant Erwin
Kirkland, Washington


Two choices most easily done. PVC pipe, or hit all the second hand
store for self supporting dome tents (here they are $5 each and net
about 4-6 poles that would span 3' with ease..would span 5' easily
enough. Just hammer in a piece of black pipe, or put a socket on a
tent stake arraingment, stick one end of the pvc or tent "pole: in the
socket, bend until it slips into socket on other side of row. Pull net
over. At end of season, pull up tent stakes, store in rafters with net
until next season. If you have bamboo around..its surprising how well
it will bend, particularlly when green or steamed.

Gunner

"If thy pride is sorely vexed when others disparage your offering, be
as lamb's wool is to cold rain and the Gore-tex of Odin's raiment
is to gull**** in the gale, for thy angst shall vex them not at
all. Yea, they shall scorn thee all the more. Rejoice in
sharing what you have to share without expectation of adoration,
knowing that sharing your treasure does not diminish your treasure
but enriches it."

- Onni 1:33
Greetings Gunner,
I read this thread because I will be making this year an outdoor area
for my cat that will be safe at night. All the choices for the cover
that I could think of vexed me because the house will be in the woods
and all sorts of stuff will rain down on any netting. So for sure the
netting, which will actually be heavy chicken wire, will need to come
down once in a while to get the debris off that can't be blasted off
with a hose. Making sections out of thrift store fiberglass rods will
be perfect. I'll paint the rods black for UV protection if need be.
Thanks,
Eric