Pellet Fan
All Things Considered => General Discussion--Non food Related => Topic started by: 02ebz06 on November 26, 2022, 06:16:19 PM
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Not 2023 yet, but thought I'd get it started with a question.
I have not had a garden in many decades, but the house we just moved into has a couple planting areas.
So, I guess I am going to become a gardener (OK, not my, my wife) next year and I was wondering where people buy their seeds.
Do get them at Lowes, HD, or buy on-line ?
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I have found the online vendors have a much better variety of seeds. In the past I have purchased from Burpee and Parks as well as Southern Exposure Seed Exchange and Johnny's. I am not sure how well the varieties would do in your southwestern climate however. I would suggest you research vendors who specialize in varieties for your particular growing zone/climate. I do not know if the box stores would stock seeds suited for your climate/growing zone.
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I think it depends on how run of the mill seed or seedling you want. Lowes will rarely have the seed or seedlings of the chili's I want, nor the variety of tomato I want. I will usually use Burpee or Sandia...
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A long time ago I used https://www.gurneys.com/
Always had good luck with them.
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I think if you are happy with just a "generic" type, HD or Lowe's is fine. I have had good luck with them for beets, carrots, cantaloupe, watermelon and various squash. Not so great on a variety of tomatoes and chilies.
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I think if you are happy with just a "generic" type, HD or Lowe's is fine. I have had good luck with them for beets, carrots, cantaloupe, watermelon and various squash. Not so great on a variety of tomatoes and chilies.
For tomatoes, we will probably get them from local nursery.
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garden was mostly a bust this year, outside of my "giant" 57 lb pumpkin that I aggressively doused with miracle grow second half of growing season.
Anyway, I determined my soil was nutrient deficient. I added 1 cubic foot of chicken manure to each bed and covered in leaves for the winter. I hope to get started (outdoors anyway, I'll start earlier in the greenhouse) in May with some decent soil. We'll keep the raspberries, strawberries, asparagus, blueberries and a few cherry tomato plants. We've decided to forgo the rest. it will be a pumpkin and sunflower garden next year. The zucchini, onions, garlic, snow peas, beans, abundance of tomatoes, beets ... just easier to run to the store for produce and couldn't keep up with them all.
DK
Edit: to stay on topic at hand, I got my pumpkin seeds via Amazon. David's Garden Seeds Pumpkin Dill's Atlantic Giant 6612 (Orange) 15 Non-GMO, Heirloom Seeds
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The way things are going, there may not be any on the shelves.
Went shopping with the wife yesterday and was shocked by the number of empty spots on shelves.
Bottled water had about 75% of their space empty.
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Growing up we had big gardens, some seeds where sourced locally, some were ordered from Henry Fields, not sure if they are in business any more. Gurneys was another one.
For some things we would go buy plants like tomatoes and peppers. Woman would grow some plants, she would save up the little yogurt cups over winter and use them to plant seed in to start.
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My tomato garden pretty much shutdown in August. This summer was bad in terms of high temperatures over 110F. My local squirrel population decided my tomato plants were a great source of moisture. They stripped all 36 of my vines. They ate the stem pulp out of all 36 of my plants. Most plants were pretty much cutoff at ground level. All of my plants were pretty much destroyed. We have Eastern Fox squirrels in my area. They are horrible in terms of property damage.
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Our turnip greens in our small 4'x8' garden are just about getting ready to be picked.
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Am I the only one that had good luck with tomatoes this year? Squirrels can decimate a tomato crop during dry weather for sure. And tomatoes do not like extreme heat. Fortunately I have no large trees in my yard and the hawks make sure squirrels do not venture into my yard.
I amended my raised rows with alfalfa pellets (horse feed) and lobster compost and mulched heavily with straw (not hay). I had 6 beefsteak plants and two cherry tomato plants. Four of the beefsteak plants were heirloom and 2 were hybrids and they produced well over 150 tomatoes when I stopped counting. The two salad tomatoes (Juliet and Verona) had produced over 750 tomatoes when I stopped counting in late September. Neighbors would come over and pick because my wife and I could not keep up.
I have gardened for over 50 years in other areas of Virginia and have had much larger gardens when I was younger but I never had tomato production like this year. I made raised rows (similar to raised beds). Our garden soil is sandy loam and prior to this year not very healthy-no earthworms and likely no micro-organisms in the soil. I did not have enough of my own compost so I did have to purchase the lobster compost but man oh man did that stuff along with the horse pellets work.
Lobster compost may be hard to come by and/or expensive but alfalfa pellets are available at any farm supply store (Tractor Supply is my source)
Straw is available almost everywhere though it pains me to pay $7 a bale for it!
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We had good luck with tomatoes this year. Have never learned how to train them for the best production and harvest. After 35 years of gardening I think I have it down for nest year, for the tomatoes and the berries! I was giving away 30-40 a week at AA meeting for about 6 weeks. You become folks best friend after they eat the 1st ones!
And I think next year, after 9 years of amending the soil in all beads, I will be close to my desired "PBS Victory Garden" type soil!
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Pleased with the way the compost/mulch is turning out. A bit much dirt in it, but I am just not that good with the tractor bucket. Not sure if you can tell in the 2nd photo, but the lighter brown is the stuff from the 3rd photo, did not have as much green matter. Started with this, ended with that!
(https://i.imgur.com/9Z9a1e6h.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/rg0tLBGh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/bEcqJ7Gh.jpg)
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Ready, set...Hope to get the seeds in tomorrow!
(https://i.imgur.com/GPROtx0h.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/HDFGjCQh.jpg)
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Compost/Mulch Video (https://youtu.be/YrYjxkKLWrY)
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I haven't even ordered seeds yet.
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Started my tomatoes on February 8, 2023. I have two trays of twelve for my Better Boys and one tray of twelve for my Early Girls. My seed starts were fairly normal on a tray of Better Boys and one tray of the Better Boys. These two trays started sprouting in like four days. One of my Better Boy trays took two weeks to sprout and plants are still sprouting. All three seed packets came from Park. The slow tray sat between the other two so I concluded that there was something going on with the seed.
This week I plan weather permitting to move the seedlings to five inch pots. My plan is to get the plants in the ground by tax day. My yields have been going down over the past few years that I suspect was due to salt build up in the soil from city water. A vineyard owner from Livermore, CA was on TV news discussing all of the rain we got over the past few months. He stated that yields are expected to be real good this year because of the rain washing salt out of the soil.
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OK, 2023 is the year for large fruits & vegetables and high yields! And no confusion as to what is what!
(https://i.imgur.com/V4cZ4mwh.jpg)
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late spring up here, 3 weeks maybe a month late. May 7th turned out to be planting day. Tomatoes and these pumpkins
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I planted 3 weeks ago and may regret it. The stuff is just floundering. Supposed to start heating up, so will see if there is long term damage!
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After only a week my wife's small garden is doing very well, but I am having to water it daily. There has been no measurable rains in weeks and it has been hot! I have a sprinkler setup for it which I will be using while I am gone out of town for a few weeks. I plan on taking before and after pictures of the garden.
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Without photos from a month ago hard to tell...but stuff planted a month ago are finally starting to grow. Planted the rest in the last 2 weeks, and they have not really started to take off yet!
Tomatillo's.
(https://i.imgur.com/vfVQgneh.jpg)
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Basel, Oregano & Sage.
(https://i.imgur.com/LJWekQMh.jpg)
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I am hoping cucumbers from seed from last years crop, but that is a guess!
(https://i.imgur.com/eN6Mssjh.jpg)
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From L to R. Jalapeño, so small you cant see Jalapeño, Poblano, was supposed to be Hatch (but Tomatillo) and Jalapeño.
(https://i.imgur.com/LGK2oKRh.jpg)
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Back to guessing, I think 2 Musk Melons.
(https://i.imgur.com/1IgdH3Mh.jpg)
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B to T. Roma, Super Sioux, Brandywine, Super Sioux, and Roma. No idea what the 2 on right from last years crop is.
(https://i.imgur.com/syG6ftyh.jpg)
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Blueberries planted last year. I think they start producing in year 3 or 5? Then and now. Funny thing is the big one is the $10 and the little the $20 plant.
(https://i.imgur.com/UgZqZ9Fh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/gKHZBGlh.jpg)
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B to T. Ahh, so small you cant see them anyway. Peppers, Paprika and Pimento.
(https://i.imgur.com/RHSMvxTh.jpg)
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Looks like a good start.
There were a couple garden beds at this house when we bought it back in August.
So, I had to do some repair on them and we are trying to get all the old junk out.
Guess previous owners didn't know Mint is a dang weed. It spreads like crazy.
Wife took a couple plants and put them in a pot (where they belong).
She puts the leaves in her coffee and occasionally we have mojitos.
So this year is just a rebuild year for the garden.
Will be ready to go next year.
Closest still has some young mint trying to come up that will go.
Far one has some cherry tomatoes that volunteered from last year. Will leave them.
Also have peach, apple, and pear trees. Only the peach is visible in the pic.
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Guessing again, big one either acorn squash or cantaloupe (just appeared). Little one I think Watermelon.
(https://i.imgur.com/JpD146Ih.jpg)
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With the shoulder replacement surgery, I have just not been able to really help in the garden, so next year will have to be my year.
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Kristin! I somehow missed knowing about your surgery. I hope it doesn't take too much speed off your fastball.
I've added a request for a painless and speedy recovery for you to my prayer list.
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Thanks Paul, I don't believe I posted about it. Had the surgery mid-Feb and 6 weeks of arm being kept still in a sling. Bent was a real help and had to do everything. I have been in PT for two months and still about a month to go. Starting to get back some good motion, although I still can't reach anything on a shelf! I was in constant 24/7 pain before the surgery and that has all disappeared so very grateful for that. I appreciate the prayers. Many have been praying for me and I truly believe it is why I am having such a smooth time with surgery, recovery and PT.
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Prayers from us also. Keep up the good progress.
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Glad your recovery is doing well.
Both my shoulders are bone on bone.
Left is worst, but I keep procrastinating having it done.
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We have had the McLane 20 inch 7 Reel mower since Pasadena. Tried to use it on the Riviera Bermuda when we 1st moved back here, but I knew the Bedknife need to be face ground and the blades needed to be backlapped. Tried to do the latter, but when the bedknife is dull, if they are not both done it wont work. So for the last 9 years have been cutting the Bermuda with the rotary mowers. It works, but it is far from idea for a hybrid type Bermuda. Well Bermuda is not only a creeping grass, one of the many reason I like it, it appears it will basically take over other grasses. Whether it hitches a ride on the mower, dislodges and starts growing elsewhere, who knows. All i know is it is taking over the garden rows, which is fine with me. Since it is doing that, I figured I might as well pull out the McLane and see if i could even get it started after 9 years. 1st amazing thing was it started on 3rd pull. Long winded set up to say I bought a new bedknife and after pulling the old one, was afraid I had wasted $157. What do ya think, a little wear on the old bedknife? The video gives a much better comparison! Suffice to say, it is cutting very good!
New Bedknife. (https://youtu.be/mbDs9omFgtI)
(https://i.imgur.com/rrF7rnWh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/WAIjQrFh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/xERg6Vah.jpg)
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So this is the 1st time this has ever been cut with a reel mower. It will probably take about 4 cuts, and it still has to fill in, specially the 2 outside lanes, but I hope by the end of next season it looks like center court at Wimbledon the day before the tourney starts!
(https://i.imgur.com/Fd6njPKh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/xwBRPoCh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/LLGegoHh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/TorQJObh.jpg)
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I'm amazed that it started after 9 years.
I tried starting a pressure washer after sitting a year and it wouldn't.
I'm not a fan of cutting grass. I would have put crushed stone by the plant beds. Haha
Have artificial grass now. :P
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This is what it used to look like. When it was fescue.
(https://i.imgur.com/mrylZAxh.jpg)
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When I say Bermuda takes over, this is what I mean. This was about 4 years ago. No Bermuda grass was ever planted here. This is what it looked like.
(https://i.imgur.com/wSHux8Mh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/HUeFFuKh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/tFB288uh.jpg)
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This is what it is now.
(https://i.imgur.com/fyCxJmph.jpg)
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Out of shape. Have not used a walk behind mower in 9 years. It was 92°, but only a 59° Dew point. Usually I can do more with that low a dew point, but not after mowing the garden strips! Only got through a thrid of it!
(https://i.imgur.com/sf77MsBh.jpg)
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I am a little surprised that bermuda grass grows where you live as I thought it may be a little too cold for it. I know I had it in Memphis and it grew everywhere including across the driveway if you let it.
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Not sure what lat. you would have to get to before it would not thrive, or more important the Winters would kill it!
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A view towards the garden this morning ... I liked the diffused light. More to come as the pumpkins get bigger!
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Next project is raised garden beds. The picture is a 4x2x8, I am going to make a 2x2x8 foot. I actually will be making 12 of them. Will down size the 6 beds that are about 3'x23' down to 2, 2x2x8 or a 16 foot long bed 2 feet high and 2 feet wide. Gonna start on number one tomorrow! The existing 3 on the left will stay cinder block and have 2 more rows added. The 6 on the right will be replaced with the new raised beds.
I am through bending over to weed and harvest!
(https://i.imgur.com/HAHFaQm.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Fd6njPKh.jpg)
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Mine does not have the tight lines and is not as square as his, but I think it will work. Took about 3 hours to make the frame.
(https://i.imgur.com/vtdxvQMh.jpg)
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So almost done. I am going to use the old 1x2 that is behind this planter to put a ledge on this 8 footer. A little more support never hurts. And the old Hillbilly ones need to come out anyway. Think the next one I will make will be 2x2x10. That way I only give up 18 inches on each end of each existing bed!
(https://i.imgur.com/Jyre3ujh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/LJpiK71h.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/3wHpFnfh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/w0kmcLVh.jpg)
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Nice, never had a garden like that, we did have strawberry pyramids when I was younger. saw mill rough cut 2x10x10 for the bottoms, then 8 and 6 foot for the top two tiers.
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This is my wife's garden back in May before leaving for a two week trip. I had moved all of her plants into the garden area to water them. She is still picking tomatoes. My SIL picked 9.5 pounds of them in one day. The raised garden itself is 4' x 8' double stack of cinder blocks. There are onions planted in the cinder block cells. She also had pole beans, cucumbers and squash planted, but the tomatoes did he best. Our soil is too rocky to plant anything in the ground itself. I plan on enlarging it this fall to make it 4' x 12'.
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That is a nice set up for a confined space! Fence for deer, or multiple critters?
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I bought a oil based stain/sealer. I think it looks better then the pressure treated color. I saw another reason to seal pressure treated was to keep those chemicals in and not leach into the soil!
(https://i.imgur.com/8eiFkbUh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/qDus31kh.jpg)
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That has a nice look. I can't stoop. That's the solution.
Do you fill it with dirt or are the bottom layers stone or pea gravel?
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The youtube video of the construction suggested a unique way to fill the space. He collected downed tree limbs and sticks, which we have an almost unlimited supply of. He then puts leaves, then finishes with top soil. What I will do is after the limbs and sticks, I will add a bunch of cardboard I am collecting. Then we will go down to the evil old cow pond and bring up buckets of good ole Virginia clay, then add the 2023/24 compost, then finish with the top soil that was on the 2023 garden. I like the wood idea, as it not only helps with volume, but it keep the beds from having huge amounts of soil pressure pushing out the middle and bottom portion of the bed for at least a couple years. Am also stoked on the wood breaking down over the next 3-4 years and the bio-nutrients that that will add to the garden! Should get away with almost a $0 fill fee, just the cost of diesel to get soil up!
I am hoping 10-12 inches of great top soil for the 1st 2-3 years will be enough for any roots of vegetables we grow, but that is a guess!
Do you fill it with dirt or are the bottom layers stone or pea gravel?
(https://i.imgur.com/C31fN5Hh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/EK6BfAnh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/0SDhdMYh.jpg)
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Been trying to get the 2nd one built...but it has been Cool Hand Luke weather here for the last 2 weeks and I only make it till about 10:30! Have decided to build a 2x2x10' and see how it will work, along with the new sheet metal side instead of vinyl! That way will have 20' beds and will only lose 1 1/2 feet on each end and 6 inches on each side. Will make the row much easier to mow!
(https://i.imgur.com/GwlFMwVh.jpg)
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Me and bending over to garden are coming to a quick end, this is the last year for me!
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Looks like you got a great solution and plan to implement it. Can't wait to see the final result and next years crop!
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Raised garden bed 2.0. 2 inches higher and 2 feet longer and sheet metal instead of vinyl.
(https://i.imgur.com/fKeRnN7h.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/AXUkDSXh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Jryy4E7h.jpg)
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Nice job, those beds look great!
I was enjoying lunch while looking at your post. When I glanced out the window, I noticed they had some mobile units!
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Veg garden is pretty much done for the year. There will be a MAJOR overhaul over the winter as you all can tell from Bent's posts. Has only taken 9 years, but we have finally hit on the secret of success with tomatoes -- Super Sioux for eating/sandwiches and Romas for sauce. This is the last sauce Romas. A bit of work to clean, cook, strain and bottle, but this is some of the sweetest , most flavorful sauce I have ever made.
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Not bad for only 1 Paprika plant making it. The bad part is...when smoked, dried and ground. Will be lucky to get 2 grocery store size containers full of powder!
(https://i.imgur.com/pMLBGQFh.jpg)
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Well it is slowly taking shape. The 1st 3 raised beds were pretty rough. Wrong material, wrong measurements, braces in the wrong place. By #4 I think I got it dialed in. When I finish the other 2 cinder block raised beds i only have 8 more of the 2 x 10 foots to make! At least the 1st 2 mistakes don't show as bad when you look at them from the house! Weeding is going to be so much easier! Next 5 days of weather are 82-85°. Soy Beans are just about ready to be harvested with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background.
(https://i.imgur.com/okJx6Mch.jpg)
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#2 is done. True Stone Age work at its finest! Don't have enough cinder for #3, no even sure enough for one row high. Once it is done, it is back to building raised beds!
(https://i.imgur.com/hYuBKNzh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/1IKnQU4h.jpg)
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