Question about cement base for 12 Unit Deluxe Gourd Rack

[Tim Stover]

matt trust me poles or ground stake will break before they move

[Matt@atx]

Emil,

lol. appreciate the compliment on my age man but Im probably not as young as you think. Mom and I halfed on the cost of the rack system and gourds because we will need more cavities for the colony this year.
A little history. ~
My step father was the Martin man who could not get them though he tried very hard for 30 years. In 2008, I decided to do a little research on Martins to help him out. The family got together and bought a Nature Line 12 gourd rack system for his B-day in November 2007 (which we later had to modify).
We put it up in March 08, turned on The Dawn Song, and 2 to 3 days later some Martins showed up for him. we had 4 pairs that year and he was very happy about it.
2009 was 9 pairs, 2010 was 11- 12 pairs. I was the guy that started with him and looked after them since he was sick this whole time. He loved to come sit on the porch and watch the birds. It seems he had waited his whole life to have some of his own Martins and it was satisfying to see it happen for him.
On 01/29/11, he passed away of cancer at 79 yrs old and 3 days before his passing he asked me to look after The Martins in his death bed. It was the only thing he had asked me to do and he knew I knew how to do it.
2011 season after his passing we got 20 pairs and 3 single males for 23 out of 23 gourds occupied which I wish he could have seen, otherwise, it was a dreadful season from the drought.
My Mother and father lived in Buda which is about 30 minutes from Austin which is where I live and work. It is inconvienant for me to come to Buda so often with my schedule. I do not live there.
What I do now , I do for the same reason I did then and that is for my step dad because I loved him though I would be less then honest to say that his love for these birds has not now become my own.
My Mother is not helping me out on anything but trying to love creatures that Ken adored and to honor his memory. I credit her for that but things need to be done correctly to ensure the best outcome for these birds so my opinion on things "should" count before things are done. These birds were invited to their property and have to trust us.

[Jerry Parent]

Hi daveh,

The crushed rock that I used to hold my poles in place is 1/2" to 3/4" in size. I don't add anything else because I want the drainage for the wooden poles. I have moved some of my wooden treated poles that have been in use for over 10 years and still look as good as new. Our electric power company has used this method on their large treated wooden power poles for year with great success.

Jerry Parent

[~Ray~Gingerich]

I don't know what all is mixed into Crush & Run but it does pack well. They use it around here as a base fill for parking lots and driveways.