Workshop: Non-Toxic Gopher, Mole, and Vole Control

Love Apple doesn't fool around when it comes to gopher control. We only use the best. And the best farmer for the job is Thomas Wittman.  He has agreed to come to the farm to teach this essential skill for every home gardener.

Thomas started his gopher career as an organic farmer in 1982.  He trapped gophers daily for over twenty years and founded a non-toxic, wildlife damage control company, Gophers Limited.  He has been a consultant and lecturer on rodent problems since 1991.

Thomas gives an intensive 3-hour workshop on eliminating not only gophers from your garden, but moles and voles as well.  His business has had great success training farmers and gardeners on how to control these destructive pests without the use of poisons. 

The seminar will consist of an early morning trap setting session, a Power Point lecture on basic problem-animal biology focusing on behaviors and mannerisms that lead to effective trapping or control.  The lecture will also include attracting predators, using sprays and drenches, different fencing and barrier options, various organically-approved pyrotechnic processes and several trapping methods.  After the lecture, the group returns to the trapping site set up earlier and traps are checked, reset and new areas are set to demonstrate proper trapping techniques.

ALL CLASSES ARE HELD RAIN OR SHINE!

ALL CLASSES REQUIRE ADVANCE REGISTRATION, EVEN FOR GIFT CERTIFICATE HOLDERS.

March 31, 2013 (Sunday)  9:00 a.m. to Noon  $49  CANCELED

Please email us at loveapplefarms@gmail.com to be notified when we add another class date.

 

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Please read our cancellation policy in case you are not able to attend your scheduled class. 

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If the workshop dates don’t work for you, if the class is full, or if you’d like to request that another class be added, please email us and we’ll do our best to accommodate you!

Love Apple Farms gift certificates can be used towards classes, seedlings, and merchandise.  They are available for purchase here. 

Check out other classes at Love Apple Farms by clicking here.

Comments

[Love Apple Farm]

Steve: Yep, those are gophers! If they got sucked down a hole, then that's where the hole is! Young gophers leave smaller runs, sometimes being more difficult to find. Also if you've got loose, friable soil, then the runs can close on you as you try to find them. But it's always best to find the fresh mounds to set your cinch traps in. Check out www.GophersLimited.com to view more tips on catching gophers.

[Steve Gehre]

What is it? 4 plants disappeared with no disturbance of the ground, no holes, no mounds, no roots of the plant either. Two parsley, a cabbage, a tomato ... all gone. Have had moles before but they don't eat plants. Is this a gopher?, The plants just seemed to get sucked under, but again, the ground showed zero signs of digging, tunneling, or general trauma. Could find no tunnels under ground. HELP!

[Elaine Horsley]

Wow! What a great class this was yesterday. I never thought anyone could talk for three hours about gophers but Thomas Wittman did and it was very interesting. Unfortunately, the class ran overtime and I was not able to stay to go outside to see the traps and how to set them so I will probably be contacting him. Thank you very much for a very good class! I would just say that if anyone is interested in taking it, plan on it taking more than the 3 hours. :)

[Linda Moore]

wELL, YOUR CLASS WAS YESTERDAY, AND i DIDN'T THINK I NEEDED IT...UNTIL TODAY, WHEN MY FIST GOPHER IN 10 YEARS POKED HIS CUTE LITTLE HEAD OUT OF HIS HOLE, AND WITH HIS TOOTHSOME SMILE, ANNOUNCED THE BEGINNING OF HIS GARDEN TAKEOVER!!! HELP!!! PLEASE EITHER SCHEDULE ANOTHER CLASS, SOON, OR TELL ME WHERE TO GET THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION.

[mary lovin]

We have problems in Ohio with groundhogs. They are much larger than gophers and can devour an entire long row of green beans in a few days. They have three very large holes per each home and tunnel under fences with ease and are a real problem. I've trapped them in a Hav-a-heart trap but the problem is that it is illegal to relocate them (plus I wouldn't want to ruin someone else's garden!) So far, the only solution is my Husband gives them "lead poisoning" (aka shooting them).

[Doug]

Hopefully you'll schedule another class, but unable to attend this one. I'm only 1/2 miles from your location and the only protection that seems to work is wire cages. Occasionally for some plants that has meant circular growth within the cage or munching outside it.

[Jan]

HI Cynthia:

How about field rats. We never had a problem till last year, and the rats, of course, waited till the tomatoes ripened, then ate some, but not all of many tomatoes. We saw one running out of our tomato patch, and found droppings. We are near an openspace so maybe the population was greater last year? Any suggestions are appreciated.

Jan

[Peggy]

I am SO looking forward to this class. I have an ongoing war with gophers, as well as the occasional rabbit & mole. My garden is between an open space hilly area & commercial ag land...I get it from both sides. I've trapped a great deal, with mixed success and am hoping to gain some gopher insight.

[Beth Sullivan]

I am so glad that I was able to attend the class this weekend on ways to control gopher populations. It was such an informative class and so worth the money! I have already been passing along some of the pertinent info that I learned regarding the many different pests in the yard and garden. I think my friends are going to get sick of hearing about it. Oh well, they'll know who to call when they have a problem now. Thanks so much to Mr. Wittman for sharing so much of what he has learned over years. Not all professionals are willing to share their trade secrets. Thanks so much!!

[Carolyn]

I just wanted to report back on my second summer of growing your tomatoes. Last year I made the drive over the hill and grew four or five plants in my tiny, not so sunny backyard, I followed your organic planting instructions and we had a pretty good harvest. I was inspired enough to sign up for a plot in a community garden in San Jose and was lucky to be awarded a 15x20ft raised bed in full sun. I planted a cover crop over the winter and counted the days till I could plant your tomatos in May. Of course I used the fish heads, your worm castings, the bone meal etc. my fellow gardeners were a little surprised at everything that went in the hole! Early in the season I bought 3 tomatoes at the farmer’s market. Since then I’ve been harvesting about 18 lbs. of tomatos every 2-3 days! I think I’ve saved about $80-$100 growing my own (sorry farmer’s!) We do have some squirrel and gopher issues, but I figure I have enough to share! I hope to make it to one of your classes sometime, as I’m still learning. Enjoy the rest of your summer.

[Kasey Sullivan]

We don't have a gopher problem in the Berkeley flatlands--just raccoons, possums, and squirrels. No 10-foot tall tomato plants either, but I will be following your guidance carefully next year. I am so glad the farmstand is open--I will be staying in Ben Lomond the next two weeks and will definitely be stopping by!