Recent content by HopStalker

Here's an idea that I have - I'm just brainstorming. The view I'm showing is looking down the axle. The center is something like a 2x2 with the corners knocked off with a router or table saw to create a cross. Then the picker fingers stick into the cross and are attached with set screws.

I like the shape that you were able to get your fingers. I'm no expert. I dropped out of the engineering program at UVM about 17 years ago, but I kind of agree with day_trippr about the strength. I think you could make the fingers a lot stronger if you twisted the loops 90 degrees and attached...

I got the same email. I think Harbor Hops was their supplier, so some made it through the winter. I'm guessing it was more of an issue of supply and demand. Also, these just came in the mail :D

Good look on the Willow Creek. I saw them at Great Lakes last year, but the minimum order was 250. I was already able to get my hands other three (Multihead, Neo1, and Amalia). Just ordered two of the Willow Creeks.

Popping in the fridge already. Planned for 3 month stratification, so I started on 12/19/15. Some sterilized in 1 part household bleach to 8 parts distilled water in perlite moistened with distilled water. Some not sterilized - just in perlite moistened with distilled water.

I was a little worried about safety, but after seeing the guy in the video sticking his hands in there I figure it must be no big deal ;) I haven't looked closely at the lawn mower - I'm just brainstorming. I'm thinking of using the part of the drivetrain that powers the wheels. It already has...

That sounds like a cool "hack", but I'm guessing that you probably need to mount it in some sort of tunnel or hopper so it doesn't spray cones and lupulin all over. Also, if you're using a cordless, I could see battery issues too. I have an old Honda lawnmower engine around that I'm thinking of...

Here are some more documents with detailed plans. With labor, they estimate it cost $50K. http://www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/wp-content/uploads/Callahan_Mobile_Hop_Picker_3_19_2012.pdf http://www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/wp-content/uploads/The-UVM-Hop-Harvester-Project-Report-Drawings.pdf

I looked all over. The most promising place is Duluth Homebrew Supply: http://duluthhomebrew.com/brewing-supplies/order-rhizomes/. I reached out to them and they said that they should be getting Multihead/Medusa and Neo1 in the spring and they would be willing to ship them to me. If that...

@Weizenstein, here’s a good map for wild neomexicanus in the southwest. It's the GPS coordinates of the GRIN accessions. There are some spots in AZ, but they don't look too close to Gilbert though. http://sun.ars-grin.gov:8080/npgs_public/prodweb.gmapsp?in_acid=1642187

I just went and harvested some wild or feral hops that I’ve been monitoring so that I could get some seeds for next year. I cut a bunch of them in half to check their maturity and they are all half empty and full of green or black stuff, not nice solid white embryos. Earlier in season I...

I’m always amazed at how fixated people are on identifying hops that they’ve found. For me, what matters more than a name are characteristics such as bitterness, flavor, and aroma. Obviously those aren’t all the characteristics, but in general they dictate how to use the hops...

That’s basically what I have planned. Not sure about watering at this time of year though. Do they need special attention this fall or should rain take care of them?

@alane1 Most of the places seem similar. I’ve been thinking that they are Late Clusters too. Three of the locations aren’t quite ready to pick (though I have picked some to play around with). I’m guessing these are the Late Clusters. They are still growing/ lengthening, seeds...

I’m on fire this year. I just found this beast on the side of the road by accident. It’s a massive curtain/ tipi engulfing a telephone pole.