Cactus Crisis

This morning, I cut my nopal cactus down to the ground. It, and all the local cactus seem to have scale insect infestation. Half of my plant was dead and rotting, I used a machete and an axe, and it took hours to cut, then load in the truck, with many needles in my hands.

If it regenerates from the roots, I'll try and control the insects on the new growth.

Tomorrow, I'll finish filling the truck with old fan palm fronds, and haul everything to the dump.

We're having cooler weather, and I'm taking advantage by fermenting a new batch of apple cider. The optimum temperature to make cider is 65F, but these 90F days are cool by our standards, so now is the best time in summer to make hard cider.