tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47673472323430603052024-02-06T22:38:14.541-08:00Grow GrowUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger227125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767347232343060305.post-15963466392856926572017-03-01T13:26:00.001-08:002017-03-01T13:51:32.317-08:00Pushing Forward / Reaching Out<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">March is one of my favorite months because plants that have been sleeping all winter wake up and push out new leaves, new growth, new stems to meet the world. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUys7_tqZdM9e5B_3MNozFEO1dWi1nAdLKFdPR9eGyu4cGxEuqgpGoJ5EKg21Ec7_WjGA-pJZQ6y-yFKQzkkm9TFoGMwPpsmEwl583T2NqfVLKUAoLEH19UIG3SQmTJEotYihcK_stBVjv/s1600/2017-01-30+01.14.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUys7_tqZdM9e5B_3MNozFEO1dWi1nAdLKFdPR9eGyu4cGxEuqgpGoJ5EKg21Ec7_WjGA-pJZQ6y-yFKQzkkm9TFoGMwPpsmEwl583T2NqfVLKUAoLEH19UIG3SQmTJEotYihcK_stBVjv/s640/2017-01-30+01.14.19.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Virginia Mountain Mint regrowing (<i>Pycnanthemum virginianum)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Of course this winter has been so warm that there was some waking up way too early, but I can just hope for the best. The worry with too early wake-up calls is that plants come out of dormancy and then get nailed when the temperature drops again. For hardy herbs it is not a problem but tender peach flowers don't like that chill!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzvc_vH7Ou2w0hfZcruEKcM-vdOyE7gajugrP6PhkOxVMHPscdZkTDDefTHkJSk60hFviU2Ehn522Xt4ob8Il_MTdpELgDxax2DrC6ynHlGxMF-stCDaMuB1BrPVistNDmv0fYxteuTHS/s1600/2017-01-30+01.16.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzvc_vH7Ou2w0hfZcruEKcM-vdOyE7gajugrP6PhkOxVMHPscdZkTDDefTHkJSk60hFviU2Ehn522Xt4ob8Il_MTdpELgDxax2DrC6ynHlGxMF-stCDaMuB1BrPVistNDmv0fYxteuTHS/s640/2017-01-30+01.16.11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Self seeded chervil</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Some fragrant herbs have been leafing out, offering us fresh bunches of chervil and cilantro to cook with or chop into salads.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6nsjS1oxc0P2OPie3F_xZ7sOKSWVKCspp-eqFEbNFdsa7ZbmZwNlKhwxOf-_DBVUNNQK1zvV3UbGs0kX_IJb2rK5Olf-TfIM0WUtsfJfruoAI6GlRXkWcW491QY-tUYfERWH2VTGEhOS/s1600/2017-01-30+01.16.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6nsjS1oxc0P2OPie3F_xZ7sOKSWVKCspp-eqFEbNFdsa7ZbmZwNlKhwxOf-_DBVUNNQK1zvV3UbGs0kX_IJb2rK5Olf-TfIM0WUtsfJfruoAI6GlRXkWcW491QY-tUYfERWH2VTGEhOS/s640/2017-01-30+01.16.44.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peach flower buds on a Hale Haven tree</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXiN3U4mrqlXhA06vukwywuyqbbcFnEntFyo2ssUvcvUslllFjjXUPdkeppETGbBRBjA9LaZU87PnBdJcT-bnc-YUtgCrXxAzEmvpofhcQ1yOItDIWWxiTJHYtage4EFqygslDra70NYuA/s1600/2017-01-30+01.17.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXiN3U4mrqlXhA06vukwywuyqbbcFnEntFyo2ssUvcvUslllFjjXUPdkeppETGbBRBjA9LaZU87PnBdJcT-bnc-YUtgCrXxAzEmvpofhcQ1yOItDIWWxiTJHYtage4EFqygslDra70NYuA/s640/2017-01-30+01.17.33.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowering Cherry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObSR1n5DUX6_HJzjju91TxgauVVMxxYrvFKvsPGPm2m6WipE0o0vCkDXda-ghELOa_rb-_HUbtb957Z9aeFXiNtpGpABq83UPOLxUwxDYxckQfgiNQ6NObCuEwDwyfyi-ASMzLWz1KHEV/s1600/2017-01-30+01.19.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObSR1n5DUX6_HJzjju91TxgauVVMxxYrvFKvsPGPm2m6WipE0o0vCkDXda-ghELOa_rb-_HUbtb957Z9aeFXiNtpGpABq83UPOLxUwxDYxckQfgiNQ6NObCuEwDwyfyi-ASMzLWz1KHEV/s640/2017-01-30+01.19.23.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elderberry leafing out</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Hazelwood shrubs are going about pollinating each other right about now. The male flowers called catkins have been hanging on the shrubs all winter. Now, they open up and shed pollen that the wind hopefully will carry to other trees' female flowers. The female flowers are small and red and located right against the branches. Hazelwoods do best with plantings of multiple trees to pollinate each other. Since this will be our first year getting nuts, I used my finger to help do a little hand pollinating for some extra insurance.</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZTDTm90jqiJwtW2CjDVigh231hmqFG3quTKvam7l7KvItOYrCY-wbnLzIQOkwu0hSCL67FroQHz2RBZG9joNLi0bHVfEaz5Se3gnnAK0KaJwfqRzZyBeTtoNjN_8LO83-SNhNL20I8bW/s1600/IMGP9260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZTDTm90jqiJwtW2CjDVigh231hmqFG3quTKvam7l7KvItOYrCY-wbnLzIQOkwu0hSCL67FroQHz2RBZG9joNLi0bHVfEaz5Se3gnnAK0KaJwfqRzZyBeTtoNjN_8LO83-SNhNL20I8bW/s640/IMGP9260.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pollen on a male hazelwood flower (catkin)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HZEhyphenhyphen0oZaYnQRTE-vJm8PDbA1XibtQXQOq7nrjc1PA-zQlzZQJ4FtEv0ZyriJnZUkfCN-SZQswXgAoWN-QKESfMFQ_8PUToIw1vjBI7pV65eCamKN4woMtZoQ3eWHnBFYEXaW8G0g2Zv/s1600/IMGP9259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HZEhyphenhyphen0oZaYnQRTE-vJm8PDbA1XibtQXQOq7nrjc1PA-zQlzZQJ4FtEv0ZyriJnZUkfCN-SZQswXgAoWN-QKESfMFQ_8PUToIw1vjBI7pV65eCamKN4woMtZoQ3eWHnBFYEXaW8G0g2Zv/s640/IMGP9259.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Red female flowers on hazelwood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5vyeB5A-WHARS_mXHohU-qYR8Q6ahjzlRQ-d8lSbsMQywkq93NQPZDHLNYr9q9x-vF4-r5t3jewka67-3eqaHGf7zwDtG_x-6lRFnviYeM0gxtVamOEv72HrgAJLB0hhuYtf0W4bVqbl/s1600/2017-01-30+01.19.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5vyeB5A-WHARS_mXHohU-qYR8Q6ahjzlRQ-d8lSbsMQywkq93NQPZDHLNYr9q9x-vF4-r5t3jewka67-3eqaHGf7zwDtG_x-6lRFnviYeM0gxtVamOEv72HrgAJLB0hhuYtf0W4bVqbl/s640/2017-01-30+01.19.46.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regrowth of Anise Hyssop (<i>Agastache foeniculum</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Anise hyssop is one of my favorite flowers / herbs. It seeds itself everywhere which is fine with me. Its leaves and flowers give off an anise scent when crushed and bumblebees adore its lovely purple flower spikes. </span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8DfIEx_NSSPCZM_68a9wu7nKYi-w2BT-I1-46qevfWHUXpWPG4IHmZdKuNim41HUoD2ddXFbNM4OzkYsxgf1MP15K557-E-PlY0q4NVQW6oS93mLpHlI2gSxVMZRs5yFHSOOWRF0ux5YR/s1600/2017-01-30+01.18.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8DfIEx_NSSPCZM_68a9wu7nKYi-w2BT-I1-46qevfWHUXpWPG4IHmZdKuNim41HUoD2ddXFbNM4OzkYsxgf1MP15K557-E-PlY0q4NVQW6oS93mLpHlI2gSxVMZRs5yFHSOOWRF0ux5YR/s640/2017-01-30+01.18.46.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ida Joe with purple sage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I am looking forward to Spring and love seeing all these reminders that it is coming!</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
grow growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17810282434649710607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767347232343060305.post-69788839429407713272017-01-04T14:43:00.000-08:002017-01-04T14:43:29.181-08:00Insect & Bug ID #1: Four Toothed Mason Wasp<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftfRjM-Wn8xQ2rdSdovDUdVpAYaV8lBTixkMaRA30kcqZWbXNd907kqMM84dyCyvWNHK9bBb4M2t0njp3Ji9AXrb-GqYH6feeGDkU7YQDKJcIZdw0CvZtiIDMBxky-P1H_YNCWTQyg31G/s1600/20160815_094953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftfRjM-Wn8xQ2rdSdovDUdVpAYaV8lBTixkMaRA30kcqZWbXNd907kqMM84dyCyvWNHK9bBb4M2t0njp3Ji9AXrb-GqYH6feeGDkU7YQDKJcIZdw0CvZtiIDMBxky-P1H_YNCWTQyg31G/s640/20160815_094953.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Four Toothed Mason Wasp (Monobia quadridens)<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I thought it would be fun this winter to revisit many of the bug and insect photos I took in the garden this year and try to identify those I didn't know and learn more about those I did. What better way to lift the spirits than imagining all that buzzing, flitting, and energy on warm sunny days?! So our first insect spotlight falls on this pretty wasp, spotted sipping on buckwheat nectar. (Fun side note - buckwheat usually only yields it's nectar in the late morning and there is a few hour window when it is absolutely hopping with bees and wasps!)<div>
<br /><div>
<a href="http://bugguide.net/node/view/406330/bgimage">Bugguide.net<span id="goog_1086803357"></span><span id="goog_1086803358"></span>,</a> an excellent resource for the bug and insect obsessed, has helped me identify this pretty blue winged wasp that visited the buckwheat in 2016 as <i>Monobia quadridens</i>, also known by the slightly goofy name of Four Toothed Mason Wasp. I can't help but picture 4 human shaped front teeth inside that little wasp mouth but I'm sure it's not the case. <br /><br />
An even larger black/blue iridescent wasp was visiting the garden last year and I have yet to identify her. She was very fast, flicking from flower to flower and about 2 inches in length. I have a blurry photo somewhere that I'll have to dig up and try to start ID-ing her again. <br />
<br />
Anyways, back to Four Toothed Mason Wasp territory. The adults enjoy nectar, and pull caterpillars off plants to bring back to the nest and feed their young. <a href="http://bugguide.net/node/view/5345">Bugguide.net </a> also states that this wasp usually nests in wood borings, but has been known to take over old carpenter bee or ground nesting bee nests or make itself a nest in a dirt bank. It separates the cells of its nest with delicate mud partitions. <br />
<br />
Wasps are very effective predators. Once they find a caterpillar party they like, they often won't stop carrying off the caterpillars til the party is over. <br />
<br />
What caterpillars does Four Tooth Mason Wasp favor? Apparently moths. Snout Moths (grain moths and wax moths), Grass Moths (beneficial and pest garden moths), Grass Miner Moths (whose larvae damage grass blades with mining), Twirler Moths (borers, miners, and grain moths), and Leafroller Moths (this is a big one - includes both Codling Moth and Spruce Budworm which greatly affect commercial crops) larvae are all favorite foods to bring back to the nest. Many of these moths have detrimental effects on the garden and on stored grains. It's good to know who this wasp is keeping in check!<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
grow growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17810282434649710607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767347232343060305.post-66447390523910564562016-12-23T10:35:00.001-08:002016-12-23T10:35:56.163-08:00Water For DucksThe trio of ducks we have are Khaki Campbell. Ducks like access to water, as everyone knows. A pond would be super but we don't have one (yet?). A baby pool is a common duck pond, but I didn't want to deal with the pain in the butt of emptying it and the mud that would ensue. It's pretty much as small as you can go for a "duck pond" but a wash basin will do the trick. This is back in the summer...the lush foliage! How I miss it!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74nMwNzxqTkKGRAVNVU_3qo9_Hf5l53It16J9FalQb1dEQ9FpbJWqdARGxhTealDrTdFHykUDlPxDrhyRdP_Ioud4uDFbICZD87Y1CgMocy3g7MgYtwzDE9KbyL3zP5r7-_svOyAykVIr/s1600/20160615_194127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74nMwNzxqTkKGRAVNVU_3qo9_Hf5l53It16J9FalQb1dEQ9FpbJWqdARGxhTealDrTdFHykUDlPxDrhyRdP_Ioud4uDFbICZD87Y1CgMocy3g7MgYtwzDE9KbyL3zP5r7-_svOyAykVIr/s640/20160615_194127.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Two ducks can fit in at a time (though it is tight) and they are able to splash water over their whole bodies. They snortle and chortle (and sometimes mate) in the tub and then jump out and spend a good amount of time preening and fluffing and re-oiling their feathers with oil from the gland above their tails. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVpfcMXLrJ4oZbHiTsVN8zitsYpsfFS3zIVgMbZqRmIhnF_4EXjVWMniHjtb2BYV2AQ55w5oaYtLL1QPW4Cr8r47QsRkd6v3fSrxCVd_SOCRRLhZ_6-moSbGHotv7cX_cjiMwPahD8suC5/s1600/20160615_194147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVpfcMXLrJ4oZbHiTsVN8zitsYpsfFS3zIVgMbZqRmIhnF_4EXjVWMniHjtb2BYV2AQ55w5oaYtLL1QPW4Cr8r47QsRkd6v3fSrxCVd_SOCRRLhZ_6-moSbGHotv7cX_cjiMwPahD8suC5/s640/20160615_194147.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I give them fresh water daily and the tub is small enough, I can just kick the dirty water over and it waters the raspberry patch and doesn't cause much of a mud pit. It really keeps them happy and clean. For me, the pros of this system are: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1) Their water stays clean since it is so easy for me to change it</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2) The water isn't getting wasted...it is watering the raspberries (and fertilizing them)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3) It's good enough for now. Small water is better than no water or dirty water. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14RCOSfsefZS8tY0O_4hktvI4756N5bGM4Ys2Zw63bnGKwRqCmwtp6j7s4tyvCf47NB_1sBpxvT4Uuyzg6x1-1kg7Vsi9tHQkl3tePidPBhLhKpaxVC38URT0Ru8ZvbO7m5kMz6Cz1gOB/s1600/20160615_194214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14RCOSfsefZS8tY0O_4hktvI4756N5bGM4Ys2Zw63bnGKwRqCmwtp6j7s4tyvCf47NB_1sBpxvT4Uuyzg6x1-1kg7Vsi9tHQkl3tePidPBhLhKpaxVC38URT0Ru8ZvbO7m5kMz6Cz1gOB/s640/20160615_194214.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Actually..... you can go a little smaller than a wash basin....in the winter a large dog bowl is even easier to fill when hauling water from the house is less than fun. They seem pleased enough with it. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTYjQjBG9duCKo3XpznIuyhht30qtKcs6FLQGOhs96X5quxnUJsSxrRW_E9Ovsw-bwKqUxEj_khzzmonYlHpFwZTdrVtvTXkAgMfp7mEubDf438vU1-AIkSveqSZgqM6TYIC2xqlfNkPx/s1600/IMGP9236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTYjQjBG9duCKo3XpznIuyhht30qtKcs6FLQGOhs96X5quxnUJsSxrRW_E9Ovsw-bwKqUxEj_khzzmonYlHpFwZTdrVtvTXkAgMfp7mEubDf438vU1-AIkSveqSZgqM6TYIC2xqlfNkPx/s640/IMGP9236.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />grow growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17810282434649710607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767347232343060305.post-78910340631151031842016-12-17T15:16:00.001-08:002016-12-18T07:40:35.178-08:00Winter Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The winter garden under snow. The kale is still kicking and should hopefully overwinter. I tried something new for our fig trees this year. We shall see if it works. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAt1RXHLRE7axJcS2tb44Ks5dSARHp7m2Bo2SpgZR-nAraKTY186fiq3IXDuPNHDlRr5XQ0B9qm5ZvMC1JF21STbI7YgiwfMS_5tTSUH_-Lbx0M022QIBN5mFoQsrd29BCSTx87-DxpG-n/s1600/IMGP9240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAt1RXHLRE7axJcS2tb44Ks5dSARHp7m2Bo2SpgZR-nAraKTY186fiq3IXDuPNHDlRr5XQ0B9qm5ZvMC1JF21STbI7YgiwfMS_5tTSUH_-Lbx0M022QIBN5mFoQsrd29BCSTx87-DxpG-n/s640/IMGP9240.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My largest fig tree - about 12' tall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This fig is tied together with twine, the space between the branches stuffed with leaves and then wrapped in plastic sheeting and a tarp.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07-fpLRZh_djbU1h7tNgBr9yNO2oaKEToJOsiNjBfP_yCUmvVnaqDwYJaLvGmuQ1kcVcPVszL-1DS1qJU7SzzqoITBECGg6EwjTpqpeSoftIRiPxTVKWDu_AvqGDYTMWqyjZmQSl-6tDL/s1600/IMGP9233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07-fpLRZh_djbU1h7tNgBr9yNO2oaKEToJOsiNjBfP_yCUmvVnaqDwYJaLvGmuQ1kcVcPVszL-1DS1qJU7SzzqoITBECGg6EwjTpqpeSoftIRiPxTVKWDu_AvqGDYTMWqyjZmQSl-6tDL/s640/IMGP9233.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raspberry canes after ice storn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Jason and I thinned out our raspberry canes this fall to avoid congestion in the patch.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KWAyf6Iqu7fv8GJkXKYI1jMvt7OfRUzSD957Wqxjq6IPRXZahTnC_fb89CHOv-1DiML53TdChfz7p18gx7QLxAlNWq8jZ2HJp0Va9GHQ2fiOIHcg3XIldSH9kyxot0qxd1vLz-QCC5Pq/s1600/IMGP9239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KWAyf6Iqu7fv8GJkXKYI1jMvt7OfRUzSD957Wqxjq6IPRXZahTnC_fb89CHOv-1DiML53TdChfz7p18gx7QLxAlNWq8jZ2HJp0Va9GHQ2fiOIHcg3XIldSH9kyxot0qxd1vLz-QCC5Pq/s640/IMGP9239.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hardy Kiwi male and female (2 vines)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This hardy kiwi is in need of some late winter pruning. Ideally these would be grown on a super high T trellis and trained quite specifically. Since this lower trellis is what we have to work with, I will definitely be experimenting. The hardy kiwi experts say "Never let the vine wrap around the support" (note the vine wrapping around the support) and "Prune to one main trunk" (Note the multiple trunks). The good news is, they are called <i>hardy</i> kiwis for a reason and seem to thrive on heavy handed pruning so they don't run amok. I've got my work cut out for me with re-directing these young kiwis come February. That's the fun though..."I'll try this and see what happens..."<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbIDNavqr3jYClstGtszDZYgBdIYZB0duXcRAEdFLStgXFq-JdSWt8Rd-l2ZXejXQITQOTJuhFgDa49I_cvPOxwJqda1JY3LvOShTzdP6bIOR28ybopUE0YrjXXUplyrZwg1XSHOSO1PA/s1600/IMGP9250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbIDNavqr3jYClstGtszDZYgBdIYZB0duXcRAEdFLStgXFq-JdSWt8Rd-l2ZXejXQITQOTJuhFgDa49I_cvPOxwJqda1JY3LvOShTzdP6bIOR28ybopUE0YrjXXUplyrZwg1XSHOSO1PA/s640/IMGP9250.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter asparagus, shrubs, and apple trees</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NGRrGbtMupsdExwaGfDdo3tKi6LBqFIGaO9CxTg0pnRGsNyPLLSchwfQLcqtuQSF3CGowv1lJ-NydsyT5oMQe_ihuZ4nPy1lRZYiHbs1omimnNdRTAh-itstS8wucCTEljdhwi-G178k/s1600/IMGP9232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NGRrGbtMupsdExwaGfDdo3tKi6LBqFIGaO9CxTg0pnRGsNyPLLSchwfQLcqtuQSF3CGowv1lJ-NydsyT5oMQe_ihuZ4nPy1lRZYiHbs1omimnNdRTAh-itstS8wucCTEljdhwi-G178k/s640/IMGP9232.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gray Dogwood after ice storm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVFF8JO2wArLKfgldTsC5YcaAu5Vnedtw1rk0IgaTIN1IRUvagFTBTE9iAcTFu8TZ_WYlL5HbnfK87HChpQOaoUmy7KeDC7nKl3s3ejGaZKQrtvu4acbP50fkT8oU0W8SL35vCWSTjn_z/s1600/IMGP9249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVFF8JO2wArLKfgldTsC5YcaAu5Vnedtw1rk0IgaTIN1IRUvagFTBTE9iAcTFu8TZ_WYlL5HbnfK87HChpQOaoUmy7KeDC7nKl3s3ejGaZKQrtvu4acbP50fkT8oU0W8SL35vCWSTjn_z/s640/IMGP9249.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kale patch still kicking</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />grow growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17810282434649710607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767347232343060305.post-18161266681893466042016-12-17T14:57:00.001-08:002016-12-17T14:57:21.932-08:00Winter Ducks and Chickens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We got our first real cold snap this past week. Temperatures dipped down into the 20s and the ground froze hard for the first time this winter. We got a beautiful snow that clung to the trees. Then we got 3 days of temperatures in the teens during the days with single digits at night and wind chill below zero. And last night came an ice storm that sadly broke some limbs off our pine tree. For winter poultry care - the ducks' bathing tub has been downsized to a tiny basin they can fit in one at a time that is easy to fill. Feeders and waterers are in a plastic hoop I built that I am hoping can double as a wee hoophouse for hardening off seedlings in the spring. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4amCgGzMnr3W-vx3yRLViyIG1YfdG26oVZQJc7CA7luwS-DQGAdvZqDL2DttiM9KotmE0WvlC7qiRFuahXV2C8AYlHbO3K7T2Ih8I8HfyW0d0rwT15GqWkAjjCNhDjbcJnVzdJDUyhbM/s1600/IMGP9238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4amCgGzMnr3W-vx3yRLViyIG1YfdG26oVZQJc7CA7luwS-DQGAdvZqDL2DttiM9KotmE0WvlC7qiRFuahXV2C8AYlHbO3K7T2Ih8I8HfyW0d0rwT15GqWkAjjCNhDjbcJnVzdJDUyhbM/s640/IMGP9238.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Khaki Campbell trio preens and bathes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTYjQjBG9duCKo3XpznIuyhht30qtKcs6FLQGOhs96X5quxnUJsSxrRW_E9Ovsw-bwKqUxEj_khzzmonYlHpFwZTdrVtvTXkAgMfp7mEubDf438vU1-AIkSveqSZgqM6TYIC2xqlfNkPx/s1600/IMGP9236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTYjQjBG9duCKo3XpznIuyhht30qtKcs6FLQGOhs96X5quxnUJsSxrRW_E9Ovsw-bwKqUxEj_khzzmonYlHpFwZTdrVtvTXkAgMfp7mEubDf438vU1-AIkSveqSZgqM6TYIC2xqlfNkPx/s640/IMGP9236.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter duck bath</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobCZtPluLj4iaIRtLdi_CP8WC1wQpkpJhtB3R2nrQfmMy2wJaFPl5tBFwvDUAZOe55bOXkBLVk1XmIzv0TmeE2KOcTMbSqrJLPHXrvURq8EnFkJo6KribSWhUNbvAiW7948LAA3sjxQUW/s1600/IMGP9243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobCZtPluLj4iaIRtLdi_CP8WC1wQpkpJhtB3R2nrQfmMy2wJaFPl5tBFwvDUAZOe55bOXkBLVk1XmIzv0TmeE2KOcTMbSqrJLPHXrvURq8EnFkJo6KribSWhUNbvAiW7948LAA3sjxQUW/s640/IMGP9243.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poultry hoop</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3m0-WtKj_ZiKD1BugpQnDUH60tNSqDTdijGMZMtXgUsrC-X1CSEe9gVwKrzEM_yVQEuH_qXIcaRgDrHsUv5gQuOc78xkaEOe_YdsIR5Xl8TfQcPUe9XljlWpQq0JorygiWrpD6yrzWV00/s1600/IMGP9211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3m0-WtKj_ZiKD1BugpQnDUH60tNSqDTdijGMZMtXgUsrC-X1CSEe9gVwKrzEM_yVQEuH_qXIcaRgDrHsUv5gQuOc78xkaEOe_YdsIR5Xl8TfQcPUe9XljlWpQq0JorygiWrpD6yrzWV00/s640/IMGP9211.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter feeders and heated waterers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSq3mEwpoz3cASsuWOxOp7NNSIxXfnC8znKeM6AdHfrJWJ3r4NWyKsQsI2mmWd1TSxw6PCQiFZ1rJvVaAwotU_SNIfs0nycQtek4qxYSS17nDpbnhRNtD6_QrjlDN7FNvrRcdCq5xTBhu8/s1600/IMGP9247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSq3mEwpoz3cASsuWOxOp7NNSIxXfnC8znKeM6AdHfrJWJ3r4NWyKsQsI2mmWd1TSxw6PCQiFZ1rJvVaAwotU_SNIfs0nycQtek4qxYSS17nDpbnhRNtD6_QrjlDN7FNvrRcdCq5xTBhu8/s640/IMGP9247.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poultry Hoop</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />grow growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17810282434649710607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767347232343060305.post-48126091307406567042016-04-28T18:57:00.001-07:002016-04-28T18:57:56.683-07:00Side Lot Shaping Up<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKNz972FjWlRwClym4EulbNCi6pKPQhfFT51CqRbJUZusvt6fql-ZJpOeBuiJhgQEIcQ9_m0jlTG7OjT_5nzQ9n-3dhi_sZ9EFwupgmT6ZVHIiuLk4Dr5B9lPZn5eIQqTfpeVuvZ7B0A8/s1600/20160423_201946_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKNz972FjWlRwClym4EulbNCi6pKPQhfFT51CqRbJUZusvt6fql-ZJpOeBuiJhgQEIcQ9_m0jlTG7OjT_5nzQ9n-3dhi_sZ9EFwupgmT6ZVHIiuLk4Dr5B9lPZn5eIQqTfpeVuvZ7B0A8/s640/20160423_201946_resized.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side Lot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The side lot is coming together. The beds are in place. The Red Horse apple tree and Whitney Crab I planted are blooming. It's going to look nice by the end of this year I think. The big pine tree at the back of the lot looks way healthier than when we moved in. The wood chip path winds through the space like we envisioned. Things are heading in the right direction. <br /><br />grow growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17810282434649710607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767347232343060305.post-34382276779763117652016-04-23T18:07:00.000-07:002016-04-23T18:07:54.334-07:00Former "Victim Hen" adopts 3 Ducks and becomes MatriarchOur flock of chickens is living at my workplace for the summer. I am there a lot, there is a big shade tree and lots of weeds for them to eat so they are happy. Except that the move there threw some mysterious hen dynamic off, and they started really going after one hen. They pulled her feathers out, ripped her comb and wouldn't let her eat or drink. So, back home she came to live here on the homestead. After her departure, all became calm again with the main flock. Who knows...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxqYnfWHgwixp0R6nfE2R4javeWu9K6RLO_ENx-WRqA86XL3q5AF9McjgZFC-VnpZ_LmDCkLOPxODKEnCfkNaWEGoD6MDBAJgVvW2rLIm2iKevml6_KsSG505bJkzlGx5ksvBDmdtGWsZ/s1600/20160423_191003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxqYnfWHgwixp0R6nfE2R4javeWu9K6RLO_ENx-WRqA86XL3q5AF9McjgZFC-VnpZ_LmDCkLOPxODKEnCfkNaWEGoD6MDBAJgVvW2rLIm2iKevml6_KsSG505bJkzlGx5ksvBDmdtGWsZ/s640/20160423_191003.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicken plus duck</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Chickens are flock animals, not solitary creatures, though I thought a lonely life was better than death by pecking. She actually seemed to be enjoying herself. She had the whole property to roam, and gained weight eating bugs galore. Then, the ducks moved outside, and I had hopes that they might all bond. At first, I kept the duck trio in their own pen when they would come out, and she didn't show any aggression to them. Then, when it was warm enough, I popped them in the chicken coop and there they stayed. She didn't seem to mind them. I'd let them out and they would excitedly run around and forage, and she would saunter up like she didn't really care about them, but just happened to want to forage in the same place.</div>
<br />
Now they are free ranging, and follow her around the place. They are quite a motley crew, but a content bunch, as far as I can tell. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJX2Aw_aryzla183NXlg7hWQVj8Znew4lWuyfHXluZYHg2fTH4bqAhOOzt9EIyOlpS0mJ9X-DdHpCE4yw0hCrewFENc-Fi9dEzfyWwEnVymjYJtlFrLcqyCUalFxwZMj-Gw6x9xOWxtJa/s1600/20160423_191054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJX2Aw_aryzla183NXlg7hWQVj8Znew4lWuyfHXluZYHg2fTH4bqAhOOzt9EIyOlpS0mJ9X-DdHpCE4yw0hCrewFENc-Fi9dEzfyWwEnVymjYJtlFrLcqyCUalFxwZMj-Gw6x9xOWxtJa/s640/20160423_191054.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time for a drink</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The trio of ducks is always together. No matter what they do, it is with company. And if they need a clue on the ways of the world, they just find their chicken. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIM5gY7PIPIOq9c9iZ6Abo3nqDjc9dUB-DEf-Egy1ymvBgFeTuuGzDry3pRkj4JaIVezxMUhPyDuDz8VWnjci4GcbtLnNM5ZC91ESkRyus0TQcUHU58tUePpjMfdJ_3TxP_z-6f0PpnAz/s1600/20160423_195452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIM5gY7PIPIOq9c9iZ6Abo3nqDjc9dUB-DEf-Egy1ymvBgFeTuuGzDry3pRkj4JaIVezxMUhPyDuDz8VWnjci4GcbtLnNM5ZC91ESkRyus0TQcUHU58tUePpjMfdJ_3TxP_z-6f0PpnAz/s640/20160423_195452.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lounging under the elderberry bushes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />grow growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17810282434649710607noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767347232343060305.post-25827754158108445712016-04-19T12:07:00.002-07:002016-04-19T12:07:52.617-07:00What's up with the Ducks?!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Time flies. They are 7 weeks old and spunky as all heck.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZWPXA0SMCHXcC6nVvt7lD5dJjqWLS1FVMyFCnQJ25s8Iy-nFnENrIhRbvZg0UNlrYWX7KV84aHGgI5O_xE1UtawW-BD_A0u989BeHawZAA7lwNB9jNou9RuwsYKRJRXhb3TIL3_SghRX/s640/blogger-image-1799375411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZWPXA0SMCHXcC6nVvt7lD5dJjqWLS1FVMyFCnQJ25s8Iy-nFnENrIhRbvZg0UNlrYWX7KV84aHGgI5O_xE1UtawW-BD_A0u989BeHawZAA7lwNB9jNou9RuwsYKRJRXhb3TIL3_SghRX/s640/blogger-image-1799375411.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5 weeks old - still have that neck fuzz</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIen7zFVBe-p4d-7z64h0Ya6g3lJZ5RTytXNPAj2KRIjmJMCp7LjyG4eH3nFfunOQKU8PmwNz7awJuudAsORqCFxUDkAoFvr5cIw7-1NKlbyqKG_P48Rs6NsGt5lzOfcr_XpsdXxprNPfX/s640/blogger-image-318597901.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exploring. My best guess is I have 1 drake and 2 hens. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmkh43YjVgzosJd8GLYB6PWzVS_yboysB_ql82xHE7PoK0GYjEAPVrf37q32M_0WyMi8_5Tr4xj3tSqj-8rvhIBZ2Z4DvUlBvZc40pe51hgcWiYoFfR6SY25-ifGKJFC2XX0O2ihckveS/s640/blogger-image-1220681865.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stock tank swim time</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEl7i0ZYakaHOVm0n9A1WzRNIVXLk3Yt1LeACwkj5lWkPRk_6Ru1zQCKxp1H-0UpFQxmQokmQ4wtPBQBO-3-euOxX5a72n1muFC7tl_DGpHlvxfeJDlcERdZILUFOLBihc1Q2SHU9LmLnV/s640/blogger-image--565220538.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stairway to heaven</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86PkByX_nm34hyphenhyphenxvRkD-vvFXA7rqShE04AgAyIJcKByOtIa8XfRGyRl5xJRSddCsQoK-gZHPwSP_frfp3zFvAfWNli2XOxXL1fTFmceQd4hzcikDxaG7MX2nKeDQI-BS2gIiBmdCls-Cf/s640/blogger-image-549534386.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water is God</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40BNyVcwbUWjQgqxISetuYHTpCz1TXJ3LCWurQ_0RaiXVV_gYjg161939ic5u8lmX4zP6-UzGt_yeg2S30J0InOebUGEtDwXN6COKov4br7C0Z9AWERLFoLUCStrf0rdHXOrbHCnPJqBD/s640/blogger-image-485603475.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coexistence</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjD5VtaH7Rp4gDtaXtKg25rnBLlVsOtUvTrIc6QQMhjGZDK7gtoDA8IC97uG851S0iwf8VVbELQmcOaMDifz_VvYEcbYP8hl8SJy5d39vmoKUZZkmwXjK5pDSeS6BEhWLC0RftOHpnxjlr/s640/blogger-image--1826039976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjD5VtaH7Rp4gDtaXtKg25rnBLlVsOtUvTrIc6QQMhjGZDK7gtoDA8IC97uG851S0iwf8VVbELQmcOaMDifz_VvYEcbYP8hl8SJy5d39vmoKUZZkmwXjK5pDSeS6BEhWLC0RftOHpnxjlr/s640/blogger-image--1826039976.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duck Love</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
grow growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17810282434649710607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767347232343060305.post-11242485915779872112016-03-13T17:31:00.002-07:002016-03-13T17:35:37.630-07:00Side Lot PotentialI've been building sheet mulched beds in our side lot with all the plant matter and finished compost we have generated over the last year. It looks rough...just bags of leaves and piled organic matter. I am really looking forward to 2016 as the year we can get things growing in this lot, put up a nice fence and create a lovely area of shrubs and flowers instead of frankly, a bit of an eyesore. We recently got a load of topsoil dumped to top off the sheet mulch beds since it is just fill and subsoil beneath them. I am also going to use some of the topsoil to establish flower beds elsewhere. <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_pzGJc1BVSakhnuFT-iWpwiU434izL-u6dPCeppq1eWI7khJiSbMDOVJnn_51q32I6_vU2sWcJtMTy8Vas-gGz_16B-TBqC161poTxv-3WCv2bb_QqoFjSs6XhD9QMatDKZLU4hAvX8W/s640/blogger-image--337445432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_pzGJc1BVSakhnuFT-iWpwiU434izL-u6dPCeppq1eWI7khJiSbMDOVJnn_51q32I6_vU2sWcJtMTy8Vas-gGz_16B-TBqC161poTxv-3WCv2bb_QqoFjSs6XhD9QMatDKZLU4hAvX8W/s640/blogger-image--337445432.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Topsoil delivery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We had to take out a paw paw tree that didn't have room to grow at Garden Dreams, so this was the first tree planted. Paw paws have taproots and don't like to be transplanted, so I give him a 50/50 chance. That is what I'm excited about - this lot is a place to experiment. All bets are off.</div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJLK1jClUR4IEqYL7EXBbMIysgp7lOc-eh-6J1npJIFPDlzMSXVJBky5BlkFCylPhiqtnmpUqs63uksrCZiJIJOZI5cnNzH9L_lzv6W9yg-Z5bBP2o4h2ouSF6-N9_r8UI6BYULI66RAc/s640/blogger-image--1876752060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJLK1jClUR4IEqYL7EXBbMIysgp7lOc-eh-6J1npJIFPDlzMSXVJBky5BlkFCylPhiqtnmpUqs63uksrCZiJIJOZI5cnNzH9L_lzv6W9yg-Z5bBP2o4h2ouSF6-N9_r8UI6BYULI66RAc/s640/blogger-image--1876752060.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Sheet mulch berms/beds</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I use the phrase "sheet mulch beds" loosely. A properly built sheet mulch bed would have nice layers of first cardboard, then maybe compost, then some manure, then perhaps straw, then some soil, then some grass clippings, etc. These "beds" are more piles of organic matter. Large piles. With vines and small branches in them even. Hugelkulture meets sheet mulch. These are haphazard, to say the least, but I think they are full of potential, and definitely full of earthworms. </div>
<div>
<br />Some perennials that may make an appearance here in the side lot:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Witch Hazel</li>
<li>Serviceberry</li>
<li>Apple</li>
<li>Paw Paw</li>
<li>Ninebark</li>
<li>Spicebush</li>
<li>Grey Dogwood</li>
<li>Nodding Onion</li>
<li>Showy Tick Trefoil</li>
<li>Goldenrod</li>
<li>Sweet Cicily</li>
<li>Sedges</li>
<li>Wild Columbine</li>
<li>Chives</li>
</ul>
<div>
Anything I plant has to be unappealing to ground hogs and deer or protected from them. I'll likely cage the shrubs until they get established. The more things I can plant from the allium family, the better, I think. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_pzGJc1BVSakhnuFT-iWpwiU434izL-u6dPCeppq1eWI7khJiSbMDOVJnn_51q32I6_vU2sWcJtMTy8Vas-gGz_16B-TBqC161poTxv-3WCv2bb_QqoFjSs6XhD9QMatDKZLU4hAvX8W/s640/blogger-image--337445432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0i72Rue5Hpq1k9Q3NneeZsCSkdZ0-JHVNxesVhuknAed_U5yFM7gUTCD06uHpJvcHM51DJX_84KLHPH4FJNoPPkKj0KNJMs3s_pX4o9Mk1ruOdIM-eeTsggkzmRgtk8ud0Vgciu6Q9Yhh/s640/blogger-image--1207641425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0i72Rue5Hpq1k9Q3NneeZsCSkdZ0-JHVNxesVhuknAed_U5yFM7gUTCD06uHpJvcHM51DJX_84KLHPH4FJNoPPkKj0KNJMs3s_pX4o9Mk1ruOdIM-eeTsggkzmRgtk8ud0Vgciu6Q9Yhh/s640/blogger-image--1207641425.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Sheet mulch topped off with topsoil</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJLK1jClUR4IEqYL7EXBbMIysgp7lOc-eh-6J1npJIFPDlzMSXVJBky5BlkFCylPhiqtnmpUqs63uksrCZiJIJOZI5cnNzH9L_lzv6W9yg-Z5bBP2o4h2ouSF6-N9_r8UI6BYULI66RAc/s640/blogger-image--1876752060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlJFIDRuFY5R6daWPOVnPOUilmLtufqz9zR6SuE7I2RwkPDX5FV6gCTuxVDMWUbxkpP9oRygQclMzVyo6um_k3e4AIpagvpXpvcvb1D5-mtMFkJrA7k6EzrD095tK7VXta6Ynrvuwi63Z/s640/blogger-image-1488617645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlJFIDRuFY5R6daWPOVnPOUilmLtufqz9zR6SuE7I2RwkPDX5FV6gCTuxVDMWUbxkpP9oRygQclMzVyo6um_k3e4AIpagvpXpvcvb1D5-mtMFkJrA7k6EzrD095tK7VXta6Ynrvuwi63Z/s640/blogger-image-1488617645.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">"Uhhhhh, I guess this could look nice some day if you say so."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
grow growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17810282434649710607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767347232343060305.post-45113693742651529352016-03-10T20:25:00.000-08:002016-03-10T20:37:41.398-08:00Ducks at 2 weeks<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7O_x18yJcqpN10xmJA1JSyxyt-3lxS88IE7jJTHkURQP7d753MJnFBU4WnyfAG9nuBsu6PZxniItATbQN4iw-LvI22YM-4Am5JI-j6GnL_mXAbmIJ7ZESvJxBK5Zj5Xhdi6dpLIs9zlJ/s640/blogger-image--635291023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7O_x18yJcqpN10xmJA1JSyxyt-3lxS88IE7jJTHkURQP7d753MJnFBU4WnyfAG9nuBsu6PZxniItATbQN4iw-LvI22YM-4Am5JI-j6GnL_mXAbmIJ7ZESvJxBK5Zj5Xhdi6dpLIs9zlJ/s640/blogger-image--635291023.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swimming</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The ducks are growing very quickly. They are very perceptive and attentive and cock their heads sideways to scope me out whenever I come into view. <br />
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMGezq-58xfgnYTdlHfndL-O09GSUo_dz-XbsZzDovUQGNYH2fcLOu2bLzcpY6Z5_ty-q4FbMCZMVE3yBfDvE4Lvav3AIBwJHxql8038GxMegNh_SA9aax2rN1ja-Twn6gO40ctEFPr14/s640/blogger-image--1612538880.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I see some teeny tail feathers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Pretty much the daily routine is as follows:</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>After my morning coffee, I pay them a visit in the basement. I remove their waterers and replace the wet pine shavings around the waterers with dry ones. I rinse out waterers with hot water and refill, give them a little talking to and off to work.</li>
<li>In the evenings, every other day or so, I pick them up and put them in my "duck carrier" - a canvas bag with a sturdy bottom. As gently as I try to do it, they do not like getting picked up. It scares them. Then upstairs for a bath. When they were small they went in a wash basin. Tonight they got the real bathtub. This creates extreme excitement and they dash, dive, preen, clean and splash.</li>
<li>When they seem done cleaning themselves in the water or a max of about 5 - 10 minutes back to the brooder with a quick towel off. They proceed to then preen, clean and fluff every bit of their bodies, and then collapse under the heat lamp to dry and warm.</li>
<li>Before I turn in I clean the wet shavings again and change their water for the second time that day. It gets cloudy from food particles since they drink when they still have food in their mouths. I have figured out how much they drink daily, so I just fill about that much plus a bit of extra. </li>
</ol>
<div>
This doesn't take that much time, and I like figuring out what works and what doesn't so I can be more efficient and set up their waterers best for minimal soggy brooder. </div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjxDH_9WwDXqR-GpP3KXYtL24wwqbvcHyQu9pRfGau3Sba58MgrYR0KSm3-rfOKDShZDby7t-gCsYOSjl-bXPcXfGlMZPnYVmYv3oCNyDxdFzy7pRyTlic7e_2Rfp0EdIDcJT7-T18e0A/s640/blogger-image--1878659745.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brooder addition</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
They like to hunt for imaginary bugs in the wood chips but there is only so long that is entertaining so not surprisingly they seem a bit bored at times. A clump of weeds added to the brooder offers some entertainment as they root around in the roots... just make sure its not a plant with tough stalks or too long grass that they can choke on. I give them some finely cut lettuce and kale right out of the hand once a day or so. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I did expand the room they have, I cut a hole in their storage tub and made a cardboard tunnel connecting to another tub so they have double the room. They do like it, and seem to also like sleeping in the tunnel at times. When I see images of duck brooders packed full of too many ducks, I can understand the complaint about the smell, but with plenty of space for 3 ducks, there is no bad smell with regular refresh of shavings around the waterers. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The hottest spot in the brooder has been 80 degrees this week. They are not often directly under the lamp, but sometimes they are to warm up and stretch their legs out and doze, so I know it is not too hot for them. If they were constantly huddled as far away from the heat lamp as possible, it would likely be a sure sign it was too warm. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6O7mmQMjI8aQzUSz5NX78QnliwHja1-ATxUsYSl6oxiK_SiWPF8Bc3c2vZaDmPbth7ZHwzkqULqVhuijYlZhlW3LgmQgtXZ-tfYLV2MpdJRl6EBtYD1wQ2mCE3RbI0KY4jiy_bFbk18Y-/s640/blogger-image--1751798701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6O7mmQMjI8aQzUSz5NX78QnliwHja1-ATxUsYSl6oxiK_SiWPF8Bc3c2vZaDmPbth7ZHwzkqULqVhuijYlZhlW3LgmQgtXZ-tfYLV2MpdJRl6EBtYD1wQ2mCE3RbI0KY4jiy_bFbk18Y-/s640/blogger-image--1751798701.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New waterer set up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ducks like to submerge their whole bills and their whole heads if possible into their drinking water. To give you an idea of how long their necks stretch, they stand outside the metal pan that surrounds the waterer shown above, then they reach in and can hit the bottom of the waterer with their bills. This popular idea has many variations of containers you can use. Figure out chest height on your duck and that is the bottom cut for the hole. Fill with water and top with the lid. Then they can drink and dunk with minimal spilling and no pooping in it and no feet stomping in it. I also used square sided plastic orange juice containers and I liked those because I could fit multiple ones into the space easier than a container with curved sides like a plastic bucket or a yogurt container. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Lessons Learned so far:</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Wood chips are the way to go. When one duck seemed to accidentally be ingesting wood chips while hunting invisible bugs, I had 2 very short stints trying alternative bedding, both of which were big fails, at least for me. Shelf liner: the poop sat on the liner and even with rinsing it out once a day it was gnarly. Also, the little foam bits seemed to please the ducks and they popped them off and ate them. No good. Towel: Um, no. Can we say high maintenance? Wringing out a poopy duck towel, rinsing it, washing it and air drying it twice a day. No way. Back to shavings and they are working great. </li>
<li>Don't give them chunks of grass with tough stalks. I gave them a clump of winter rye cover crop and I watched one duck ingest a huge, tough stalk by gulping it down. I thought for sure "Oh crap, I'm going to have an impacted crop on my hands" and it did stay in the crop for about 24 hours because I picked the duck up and massaged it to feel. I let it be, though, and made sure they had plenty of chick grit and she was able to grind it up and poop it out luckily. Ducks grind their food in their crops with bits of grit and rocks, just like chickens. They are very enthusiastic about plants so make sure what you give them is tender and finally chopped. I learned my lesson that, yes, a one week old duck can wolf down something you thought was so big it wouldn't even try to eat it. The second lesson is, don't be too quick to try to remedy something. Often letting it be is the best route. I have learned that with chickens - try to observe and learn and do what you will know will help, but don't be too quick to jump to action because often the creature will take care of the problem itself and you could just make it worse.</li>
<li>They are afraid of getting picked up, though I do it once a day to get them used to being handled and having their bodies and feet inspected for health checks. They are not into it. I keep them in view of the other ducks because they don't like to be separated, but they are still not into it. I'll keep working on it though. They do like company though and seem to enjoy when I sit with them. If I just check on them and keep going, they peep peep peep peep which I think translates as "Hey, come back over!"</li>
<li>Ducks are very active. They need more room than chicks, period. They really zip around. </li>
<li>"Minimal water spilling" means that the brooder is not completely soaked, only 1/2 soaked. The catch pan around any waterer set up seems like it would need to be very large to catch all the water. They dampen about 1/4 - 1/2 of their brooder, despite the things I have done to lessen the water spilled and I think that is probably as good as it gets. I can't imagine a bone dry setup with them, and that's ok. I definitely see why it would be difficult to brood chicks and ducks together as chicks like it dry, are smaller, and move slower and ducks grow like champs, love mud and water, and stomp and zip around like a pack of wild things! </li>
</ol>
</div>
grow growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17810282434649710607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767347232343060305.post-1857565120080461442016-03-03T18:40:00.001-08:002016-03-03T18:53:07.481-08:00Brooding Ducklings<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZwfVWryvM34fn_KZ2_Qxi0zz-5bSntGwZJZhnCflK5BdXAWJiFyizjXKTAJK5vNPgy-rooTm9xd7AafspyZN43m8VmTiHLmGOUj8-p4XHJU2OfQTmW3ScUtiNW3FVoCvCp8lNhVHaFqN/s640/blogger-image--1518189270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZwfVWryvM34fn_KZ2_Qxi0zz-5bSntGwZJZhnCflK5BdXAWJiFyizjXKTAJK5vNPgy-rooTm9xd7AafspyZN43m8VmTiHLmGOUj8-p4XHJU2OfQTmW3ScUtiNW3FVoCvCp8lNhVHaFqN/s640/blogger-image--1518189270.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Three days old and already knows how to preen and clean</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I've had ducks on the mind for the last few years. I've enjoyed chickens so much, I thought, well, what about ducks? I've heard the downsides from people:<br />
<div>
<ul>
<li>they love mud and mucking around in it</li>
<li>they require way more water than chickens to drink/splash</li>
<li>their poop is more watery and shoots straight out of their butts like a projectile, instead of dropping in a neat bundle like chicken poop</li>
<li>they lay their eggs anywhere and everywhere</li>
<li>they can be harder to get to go in at night</li>
</ul>
<div>
They sound like free spirits to me. So, 3 Khaki Campbell Ducks (straight run - could be boys or girls) from Tractor Supply have started off our duck adventure. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So far, they seem quite intelligent and more responsive to me than chicks. They dash around like little bundles of energy, their extreme exuberance about being near or in water is fun to see, and I have never raised them before, so I am looking forward to seeing how adult ducks will work out for us. I know they'll grow faster than chickens, they are prone to foot injury due to their webbed feet but generally hardier than chickens otherwise, and they don't scratch but they can trample plants, uproot perennials, and muss mulch in their hunt for bugs. I can already see that their bills lead the way - nibbling, dabbling, and dibbling. </div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wESlxefEUsx81bwgbXvIS1FmwazhiwI-AT78ozAM-XxWqToZPx9eQB0qIDcuRWiVMmH5jFFPS210e_oeRr2NfNFv38-pIzH9G25gHzqGDvsnyalOFfKkaHE4W47HzEzgRLkNkr4Zrl_z/s640/blogger-image--1895266752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wESlxefEUsx81bwgbXvIS1FmwazhiwI-AT78ozAM-XxWqToZPx9eQB0qIDcuRWiVMmH5jFFPS210e_oeRr2NfNFv38-pIzH9G25gHzqGDvsnyalOFfKkaHE4W47HzEzgRLkNkr4Zrl_z/s640/blogger-image--1895266752.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Diving and splashing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I based my brooder set up on ideas from Fresh Eggs Daily in <a href="http://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2012/02/basic-duckling-care-raising-healthy.html">this </a>duck raising post. The most important things so far seems to be:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Bond with them by singing and talking to them. Then when they are playing in their waterer too long you can call them under the heat lamp and they will come running. </li>
<li>A stuffed animal in the brooder. They love this and seem comforted by it. The flatter the animal the better because they all want to pile on top of it and sleep. Also, it serves the function of towel and dries them off as they roll around on it and snuggle with it. </li>
<li>Some way to minimize water splashing everywhere in the brooder. There are lots of variations on doing this: the one I chose was to put a rack meant for the grill over a roasting pan, so when they splash and poop, it drains through the holes in the grill rack into the pan, and I change that once a day. Working pretty well so far until they outgrow it. You just have to be sure if you go this route that whatever you use is not too slippery or sharp on their feet, and that the mesh or holes are small enough that their legs and feet don't get caught. An alternative to using shavings at all in the brooder is to use a shelf liner so they don't slip that you just hose off periodically. </li>
<li>Niacin. Mix 3 c brewer's yeast with 10 lb <b>unmedicated</b> chick starter crumble for the proper niacin amount for ducklings. </li>
<li>Less heat than chicks. The hottest spot under the lamp is 85 - 90 degrees for the first week, where chick brooders are warmer than that. I'll probably switch to my <a href="https://www.brinsea.com/p-375-ecoglow-20-chick-brooder.aspx">EcoGlow</a> as a heat source when they are bigger since it is safer than a heat lamp and uses less energy. For now they love piling on their stuffed animals to warm up after a swim in their waterer!</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWSnfNT5Nc73gMizxU6vefRKIiuGssCMnc_myOIK59iwP73ly55X0caM01rk5NOH4uiUQFpIL0hMD4kZnQPZ-v5sgHRFjRgtyTknYK_uoTr5ituZePO5mTNZp-vAE7JQx-OnU6DPxwmjG/s640/blogger-image--47367600.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br />
Warm sun bath </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Many sources say to wait until the ducklings are a week old for a full-on bath experience and other sources say sooner is OK. At 3 days old, they spent some time in this baby bath given to us by our friends Yve and Marty. We kept it brief, kept it warm, and they really loved it. Since day one, they seemed to know about preening themselves and spreading oil from the oil gland located near their tails if they were wet. This helps waterproof their feathers and keep their feathers in good condition. They are just fuzz now with no feathers to speak of, and that is why you have to be careful they don't catch a chill. I have noticed with all the preening they are doing, water does bead off their downy fuzz when they splash in their waterer. </div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUUT2MwCEWkt2qeXO3-g1qKQT2rTvlovZ_2s6SsGKYJGQcSSw7EMEA0MqmkecQdrSX_zcQ98Pecs2HcPGInVHj8oHmL_py6lI6jF3mFfYgqBdUR071XPPwO6atMSRb18-IkqpG34chAiW/s640/blogger-image--1946326998.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Back in the brooder to warm up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2fGwDuhu_EEofHQ3NJkMITCBc6husaZ47f_pro_dUlOa8qVsv-drcv9tgxIqdR8h0sXzt4zt5pCmmYUgUFHVJoZHSWmAi9x43LfB2gdtzy3almHQqZPNK-RGVoHw0E1NVYQG5TKL0MiV/s640/blogger-image-1933365034.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Heat lamp and brooder set up </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The feeder is as close as possible to the waterer but far enough away so they can't splash it. This is because ducks run back and forth between feeder and waterer. They take a bit of crumble and then run excitedly to the waterer and dunk their bills in which helps them ingest the food. For this reason, they shouldn't be fed powdery feed as they can choke on it.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGR00uoM63am4RW-fIA-yzRG3G_4GqkYu0RXJfVrMCIwkpc5KsHpUFDL-iHwJOxFUl-mhvVQ7me-aDyj2nUylQQEo2HArNX8A2enKzD12uGeGFeRNCxyDgNDrL8XF2CSADb3-hcz0Xp7A/s640/blogger-image--644591527.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Waterer over a splash tray I rigged up with wood block "steps"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is where they spend most of their time. The waterer. As they get bigger, the water trough won't be deep enough for them to dunk their bills into but it works for now. </div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg648MpPl_l7rG2PAQLsvO7xO97R8glYioyUpGb4VvzQjY4o9f5BDCfMIxpItXuyqI7kGY3a9QZ-TdORmEXhqZ1Dcp1IEYD_Hy2VXUBHMtWUE2Ejk-RxlX7B8zPy2GZ9xL_XR34rTVV9JA-/s640/blogger-image--1885273618.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">They love their "babies" - two stuffed rabbits that they sleep with and on</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Warming up and snuggling under the heat lamp. Pretty sweet. So if the main complaint about ducks is they are cute as ducklings but then they grow up, well, I'm ready for it. Bring it on...I can't imagine them losing their joie de vivre as adults.<br />
<br />
These pictures are from Monday, so they seem twice as big now on Thursday - I can vouch that they seem to double in size every few days as they grow very quickly. A duck synopsis one week in? They do a lot of splashing, pooping, and growing, they stick together in a pack always, and they love life, as long as it involves water. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQEX7nB13nrYSy09wH95EW3UQYi9GNTRWwy5p1yhxQBQ_-T-lw8dvvxKnppNg6J4eR4XzrA6j4_c7mh6tG7mbQPLfYU5sf2WkulN_ZMsI3DvXoFoSJ_c18vxunjpYuAvKWFYmRNI3SFaj/s640/blogger-image-834443434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQEX7nB13nrYSy09wH95EW3UQYi9GNTRWwy5p1yhxQBQ_-T-lw8dvvxKnppNg6J4eR4XzrA6j4_c7mh6tG7mbQPLfYU5sf2WkulN_ZMsI3DvXoFoSJ_c18vxunjpYuAvKWFYmRNI3SFaj/s640/blogger-image-834443434.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time to snuggle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvx7-d_27VHae073DdDG9H5Bs-CJjThAOOgDP8sV9K_2l-Ysxx83YbuIQBwqJSjbjZ_G-mwDC0YfN9aX2AFIIettAnz988QmUIIFUpddILZREypGhHUo6gPFoNujTwj2FKCscHSItdxRL/s640/blogger-image--1388037921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvx7-d_27VHae073DdDG9H5Bs-CJjThAOOgDP8sV9K_2l-Ysxx83YbuIQBwqJSjbjZ_G-mwDC0YfN9aX2AFIIettAnz988QmUIIFUpddILZREypGhHUo6gPFoNujTwj2FKCscHSItdxRL/s640/blogger-image--1388037921.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Romaine lettuce? Don't mind if I do."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
grow growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17810282434649710607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767347232343060305.post-30850002192570956682016-02-26T11:46:00.002-08:002016-02-26T11:49:53.145-08:00Seville Orange Marmalade<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMzJFNL3qv1yzuyqJYG9KQ7vcyiJUDySimCywizY9zWSl9ilPXRCYxCNwrbX4HbvojrFrepRgVWd5AUEDgBnnYFL1C3Hax6b4JlsOtPCOXH37NUB2-Zm_gT3lsBTjJm1OLIiS-s_t56L-/s640/blogger-image-186596306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqwzdldM8Yvt-TX70LAfBDFaHeWjXpMRnUanCONkdZX55vh94Dk0qEHwQZUxBXvXrkfm7FT-_qSX9RcrzUbsrFb5Cv7Z8k_b2v908xox3RUhth8Z4s_v_XXWgjn-9mKyMaYXrMMF8TF9v/s640/blogger-image-848093077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqwzdldM8Yvt-TX70LAfBDFaHeWjXpMRnUanCONkdZX55vh94Dk0qEHwQZUxBXvXrkfm7FT-_qSX9RcrzUbsrFb5Cv7Z8k_b2v908xox3RUhth8Z4s_v_XXWgjn-9mKyMaYXrMMF8TF9v/s640/blogger-image-848093077.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marmalade</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I had only had store bought marmalade until recently, and I just didn't care for it. A few years ago, our friend of ours handed over a jar of her homemade marmalade. It was completely delicious! A lovely blend of tart, sweet, bitter, pure citrus deliciousness. When another friend pointed out Seville oranges in the store and mentioned how good they were for marmalade, I thought, "What the heck, I''ll give it a try." I really love preserves and jams, but am not yet an expert jammer. A fan of the soft set, I like try to take my sweet confections off the stovetop before they set up very firmly at all. Long story short, I did not hit the soft set sweet spot on this marmalade adventure, and instead created something that could be called Marmalade Gummy Candy. It's not easily spreadable...though it can be forced to spread on a warm piece of toast but the flavor is damn good! A must have for those that love the tart and bitter in life, with just a touch of sweet. <br />
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMzJFNL3qv1yzuyqJYG9KQ7vcyiJUDySimCywizY9zWSl9ilPXRCYxCNwrbX4HbvojrFrepRgVWd5AUEDgBnnYFL1C3Hax6b4JlsOtPCOXH37NUB2-Zm_gT3lsBTjJm1OLIiS-s_t56L-/s640/blogger-image-186596306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMzJFNL3qv1yzuyqJYG9KQ7vcyiJUDySimCywizY9zWSl9ilPXRCYxCNwrbX4HbvojrFrepRgVWd5AUEDgBnnYFL1C3Hax6b4JlsOtPCOXH37NUB2-Zm_gT3lsBTjJm1OLIiS-s_t56L-/s640/blogger-image-186596306.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">seeds of the Seville oranges are the pectin source: they are in a cheesecloth bag</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'm looking at this picture and realizing our stove top is due for a good cleaning! (By the way...best and gentlest way to clean a stainless steel appliance? Baking soda and water paste and a paper towel. Rub in the direction of the grain of the metal, then wipe with damp sponge and dry. Works great!) <br />
<br />
Anyways, Seville Orange Marmalade recipe is as follows: <a href="http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2007/02/seville-orange/">http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2007/02/seville-orange/</a> complete with the story of how Seville orange marmalade became popular. I had no idea orange seeds contained so much pectin. Next time, I will remove the seeds sooner and take the marmalade off the heat sooner and hopefully have the soft set marmalade I'm aiming for. My marmalade is very tasty nonetheless. Three cheers for the warm orange color of marmalade on a grey winter day!<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
grow growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17810282434649710607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767347232343060305.post-33335015675434786682016-02-23T14:04:00.002-08:002016-02-23T14:11:01.453-08:00Apple Pruning and Saving Scionwood<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1hpqREiGpiEij1jG_PdECmF-dfZSwjECkRMXsn9kobrPKysPB1slxjocRHjMfNvr9Sq9biQ8_ZHHdcU6tQE_scOzmwdVw9dOe3TdGLa4b9Kf0dHjroozb28LOCNWgxeJU1MogdsO-YUG/s640/blogger-image--1753197981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1hpqREiGpiEij1jG_PdECmF-dfZSwjECkRMXsn9kobrPKysPB1slxjocRHjMfNvr9Sq9biQ8_ZHHdcU6tQE_scOzmwdVw9dOe3TdGLa4b9Kf0dHjroozb28LOCNWgxeJU1MogdsO-YUG/s640/blogger-image--1753197981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXirolw9an_ajpo8zlpgnajhVwPQG9xRD0ymuZ1y7agSsPX35Y99f1Gsuf5Px344cOhPyMQluIychNw1sqnZYpFDAmHnXdyLHWWKlDqLX_Fweb2RlL3OdwJgbKKtOy360O19XuoSuEBN9/s640/blogger-image--1647298891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXirolw9an_ajpo8zlpgnajhVwPQG9xRD0ymuZ1y7agSsPX35Y99f1Gsuf5Px344cOhPyMQluIychNw1sqnZYpFDAmHnXdyLHWWKlDqLX_Fweb2RlL3OdwJgbKKtOy360O19XuoSuEBN9/s640/blogger-image--1647298891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYdGwIixBDsu5eAQkSu0uhK9bDD0Y3YYBun1AEdyzVOIGNjGjuLqQMyfLsqogPx52DXNeDTHMJ3BbD4SKksu_MCKhqRVkm2GeLuImqicLBhvevvYwqBGPZIOIKC5tEplCAQJeohKj8TGM/s640/blogger-image-8008294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULsQRXzTHeujE8tFMzKieDQYTzNjgRnvRTo9MvFnu8I0yTe97fpcCLwoLy7dJpjzcZGbpaGVns5qg46L2PFmKzNFqJqqkH9zae3MJ_Ysxk8mgToaZQIYanJ5OlP2lXcIU0MP7aG2IqvvB/s640/blogger-image-2139333040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULsQRXzTHeujE8tFMzKieDQYTzNjgRnvRTo9MvFnu8I0yTe97fpcCLwoLy7dJpjzcZGbpaGVns5qg46L2PFmKzNFqJqqkH9zae3MJ_Ysxk8mgToaZQIYanJ5OlP2lXcIU0MP7aG2IqvvB/s640/blogger-image-2139333040.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A freshly pruned Stayman Winesap</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Today was a lovely day - dry, warm and time to prune the apple trees. This winter was so warm for so long, I feared our apple trees might bloom in the middle of winter like some of the street trees in Pittsburgh, but luckily, it finally got cold and that didn't happen. <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have our apple trees planted in a hedgerow, at fairly close spacing, loosely experimenting with the idea of <a href="http://www.davewilson.com/home-gardens/backyard-orchard-culture">Backyard Orchard Culture</a> from Dave Wilson Nursery and others. I found <a href="http://deepgreenpermaculture.com/backyard-orchard-culture/">this</a> a helpful synopsis of the pruning ideas, if you scroll down through all the "why to do it" stuff. This idea of forcing trees to compete for nutrients and keeping them small through lots of extra pruning isn't my usual planting philosophy, but it makes sense to me to try it in this context. I want a tree I can easily reach to spray with my holistic foliar sprays, and easily prune and harvest without an orchard ladder. I want the trees to grow closely in a mixed hedgerow with other plants to keep out the deer, and I don't want to just use a dwarf rootstock because they are short lived and not good at anchoring so they would have to be supported and staked on our windy hillside. So far, so good (trees are 2 -3 years old) but we shall see how it goes as they continue to grow. This is something I am prepared to fail at, though I hope I don't for the trees' sake. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
All my trees are on EMLA 111 Rootstock, a large semi-dwarf that if allowed to grow full size would reach 20'. I'm attempting to keep them pruned to 10 - 12'. This means spring and summer pruning the first few years that pretty much removes half of all new growth. Pruning fruit trees is hard for the uninitiated...it seems so damn complicated. Reading, reading, reading the 400 different theories of how to do it, thinking about what feels right, and then just going for it is the only way to learn. I'm still in the beginning of the learning curve, but each year I figure things out...so we shall see how these trees respond to what I've done now that we are in year three.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYdGwIixBDsu5eAQkSu0uhK9bDD0Y3YYBun1AEdyzVOIGNjGjuLqQMyfLsqogPx52DXNeDTHMJ3BbD4SKksu_MCKhqRVkm2GeLuImqicLBhvevvYwqBGPZIOIKC5tEplCAQJeohKj8TGM/s640/blogger-image-8008294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYdGwIixBDsu5eAQkSu0uhK9bDD0Y3YYBun1AEdyzVOIGNjGjuLqQMyfLsqogPx52DXNeDTHMJ3BbD4SKksu_MCKhqRVkm2GeLuImqicLBhvevvYwqBGPZIOIKC5tEplCAQJeohKj8TGM/s640/blogger-image-8008294.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arkansas Black with minimal pruning</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The varieties I have planted include:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Stayman Winesap (this tree has a lovely, open growth habit)</li>
<li>Arkansas Black</li>
<li>Zestar! (definitely the oddball in my collection of older varieities - this is a patented variety whose growth habit seems very unfortunate - like the Grinch's christmas tree...spindly, with crazy, whip-thin branches growing every which way). </li>
<li>Maiden's Blush</li>
<li>Winesap</li>
<li>St. Edmund's Pippin</li>
<li>Red Royal Limbertwig</li>
<li>York</li>
<li>Virginia Beauty</li>
<li>Yellow Transparent</li>
<li>Wickson Crab</li>
</ul>
<div>
And in large 5 gallon pots, ready to find somewhere to be planted this spring: Red Horse and Virginia Gold. All but three of these trees are from <a href="http://www.oldvaapples.com/">The Urban Homestead </a>in Bristol, VA, a family nursery specializing in heirloom apples. They run specials each spring of "imperfect" tree bundles that are full of perfectly nice trees, though some have a bit of a wonky shape that can be corrected with pruning. </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A friend and I are making our first grafts this year, and we have some scionwood and rootstock on order from <a href="http://www.fedcoseeds.com/trees/?cat=Scionwood">Fedco Trees</a>. After this pruning session today I have some extra scionwood to add to our experiments. You can use what you have pruned off an existing tree to attach to rootstock with a graft, plant it, and there you have a new tree. If you do that, the pruned wood is called scionwood. </div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXirolw9an_ajpo8zlpgnajhVwPQG9xRD0ymuZ1y7agSsPX35Y99f1Gsuf5Px344cOhPyMQluIychNw1sqnZYpFDAmHnXdyLHWWKlDqLX_Fweb2RlL3OdwJgbKKtOy360O19XuoSuEBN9/s640/blogger-image--1647298891.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prunings bundled into scionwood varieties</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://www.oldvaapples.com/appledescriptions.html">Varieties</a> that I pruned that I can add to the mix are:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Stayman Winesap</li>
<li>Arkansas Black</li>
<li>Maiden's Blush</li>
<li>Red York</li>
<li>Winesap</li>
<li>Red Royal Limbertwig</li>
<li>Even though I pruned Zestar! I can't graft it, since the variety has a patent. I would likely leave this tree out if planting everything now, but it's there so I'll give it the same love as everyone else)</li>
</ul>
<div>
We won't be grafting until we get the rootstock in the mail so what to do with this scionwood until then? <a href="http://www.seattletreefruitsociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/gregs-scionwood-storage1.pdf"> Seattle Tree Fruit Society</a> came to my rescue. They say to paint the ends of the scionwood with latex paint so they don't dry out, then store them in the fridge in an airtight plastic bag with a damp paper towel included inside. So, that is just what I did. <br />
<br />
I'm really looking forward to another year of apple tree addiction and experimentation in 2016! </div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1hpqREiGpiEij1jG_PdECmF-dfZSwjECkRMXsn9kobrPKysPB1slxjocRHjMfNvr9Sq9biQ8_ZHHdcU6tQE_scOzmwdVw9dOe3TdGLa4b9Kf0dHjroozb28LOCNWgxeJU1MogdsO-YUG/s640/blogger-image--1753197981.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Latex paint seals the ends so they don't dry out</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4TK8fE1sXibaB4Nk7azt6VeMZzMwjRq6eBiiEAJ44zfHCKFCmUvLndyiS2HoSJa68P0A0Bt5Dn2NBnwRdJESENUfL6DHRnx8eqS5LSyBkPzolpTVZX8faxc1Xclx0znh9Cm0fEHJECGF/s640/blogger-image--410227491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4TK8fE1sXibaB4Nk7azt6VeMZzMwjRq6eBiiEAJ44zfHCKFCmUvLndyiS2HoSJa68P0A0Bt5Dn2NBnwRdJESENUfL6DHRnx8eqS5LSyBkPzolpTVZX8faxc1Xclx0znh9Cm0fEHJECGF/s640/blogger-image--410227491.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painted ends</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1hpqREiGpiEij1jG_PdECmF-dfZSwjECkRMXsn9kobrPKysPB1slxjocRHjMfNvr9Sq9biQ8_ZHHdcU6tQE_scOzmwdVw9dOe3TdGLa4b9Kf0dHjroozb28LOCNWgxeJU1MogdsO-YUG/s640/blogger-image--1753197981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
</div>
grow growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17810282434649710607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767347232343060305.post-14017275577313218852016-01-12T12:44:00.003-08:002016-01-12T12:47:00.444-08:00First Snow Accumulation of the Winter<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FES-WeDYuoxWvk_0HhrsxQzdSVZuus3hMavB5eYgdSEKkChCY-404X_kfxqNgzWqa6BUsMgqcPXkwjb7MLyTD8Z2NKpZBXsTzQCKmkno1S9IVDbrJmnKDuwb5mQR2adxj6y0xFtb4Th1/s640/blogger-image-1664033704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FES-WeDYuoxWvk_0HhrsxQzdSVZuus3hMavB5eYgdSEKkChCY-404X_kfxqNgzWqa6BUsMgqcPXkwjb7MLyTD8Z2NKpZBXsTzQCKmkno1S9IVDbrJmnKDuwb5mQR2adxj6y0xFtb4Th1/s640/blogger-image-1664033704.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hoop</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVKI5aKUZr8FdJw0qtLk64PCw0gqQ3ZZQGjGN9rhyDrCVBnMacCZHwxeY-pFaOdGhxJgDyNyS5CZ-Yptkc_iSA3Uca0NTFyR83ht9ZpKbcVFbOTHjZK1WjgsSKEZFcX1Xh2M71LHTwBhy/s640/blogger-image-1030516904.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnTbyJW4txKmtsKaKT5oEE-iMGYFoUp9Il3dz3cASDgoJavhKGNs9APtRBAXLxUXGErbj3Uf33qO2dJARU4lRhSdS0MaOgXN0UE5H0GZgd7wso_90YWOYDV0_j-FJNJ1kqbZ6HhcQW5_w/s640/blogger-image--1106824988.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">waterer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDldulAaRQmdd4UF2Yt4iyyvuqtdtKhU-BZa2o53hw-HSg0mdoB6uL7nqVd8ysWKCbC78mDsc1nckI0Rq9xq-t0N1sDB-Y0uwHQcfRqlKvlJBzxbYGkR54uodOaxAcZTUYWF4f4eujsv_/s640/blogger-image--1248964024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">straw bales with fiberglass panel on top - a fave hangout</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheF8QWc3-4CLKUPvAWUpO96zJZWCZWp0wMe-FE1eo58eUa88TZgoi1sIgUoO4isJ4yxCMNv79s9OogVftQTpI_Ey0MA8h3dL4WmYzOIPBt2QwgGRFtc-jv2lELfTuUMOlFVlpvKhJ4LS6Z/s640/blogger-image--1692342831.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">winter hoop</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
grow growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17810282434649710607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767347232343060305.post-33708749484603086122016-01-10T16:37:00.002-08:002016-01-10T16:37:56.106-08:00Early January Pictures<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkeeWYu2xbB6X2TfT1v8DHbHVa7EXOQICC0u0IY7p_RAwbNsoaSRejtfIaQmk474SIcAM6iSGF0ITRtLSQmlDFOoi_60UFJ23tTnTsjBF74AebeaZnmskv4k7QgDYiMrQJp_f6OeCtTK7/s640/blogger-image--857441600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkeeWYu2xbB6X2TfT1v8DHbHVa7EXOQICC0u0IY7p_RAwbNsoaSRejtfIaQmk474SIcAM6iSGF0ITRtLSQmlDFOoi_60UFJ23tTnTsjBF74AebeaZnmskv4k7QgDYiMrQJp_f6OeCtTK7/s640/blogger-image--857441600.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">a batch of 8 quarts chicken stock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXm3eH7M_ZoMFh5c1iXVtto7sND2thQp30zXhDOsGALdzzt3M4LFjaQBxa2So1vYdnNp0v64-QBwrny9RKgraqaciYtIA21uFkRK01ml5-K1JM3g8FAU72AhPL727z9j8kT2bLMknBbPp/s640/blogger-image-1130182448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXm3eH7M_ZoMFh5c1iXVtto7sND2thQp30zXhDOsGALdzzt3M4LFjaQBxa2So1vYdnNp0v64-QBwrny9RKgraqaciYtIA21uFkRK01ml5-K1JM3g8FAU72AhPL727z9j8kT2bLMknBbPp/s640/blogger-image-1130182448.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Warm day - girls are out flying</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE3wyoa-1TbFLIIE00qx0dfK4jngV1Gh1wE752bFr-g1W4dtMf-QQcabbcHq0fd1l5v1BFqogLVjeY7aqnYWXBM1tI4xF20lkB6hgQ42X_zNV5aB5EYYixwcPUS3mnOCu59cbAbk9fNW7I/s640/blogger-image--473194298.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Seed organization is fun for cold days</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Nz8-hUolEilSxrwC-9hifgd5bzYR-RfcjGnV09alKSU_krhHn9psMY0N-HIOTOt7BxnRVOni6o0ne9-V_qpkgJFPBIA1Of9x0Rq-5_y628UyQfd4ybh54VGMgeMpHdCIK9nLlO06vN8y/s640/blogger-image-543673344.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Seeds. Organized. Check!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
grow growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17810282434649710607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767347232343060305.post-81155770069429472722016-01-01T19:05:00.003-08:002016-01-01T19:09:29.505-08:00Happy New Year!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Welcome, 2016. Now, let's have some real winter weather so my apple trees don't bloom in January. Our elderberries have broken dormancy and are leafing out because they heard it was spring. Yikes!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
It was actually cold today, so that felt more normal. I brought in the new year by making herbal infused oils to use in a batch of skin balm. When a friend and I made balm recently, we used the basic recipe found <a href="http://mountainroseblog.com/diy-herbal-salves/">here</a>. The sunny yellow of the dried calendula was so darn cheerful, I couldn't help but be in a good mood. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKs1nREv4wZeS0vdkO3C7-zI5NnqQnj_ifup53D-Qn0E-vIoJExEVGRot-yAjFqXGVr__1-VqXoeTDhF9XUEUGF6oCVPpizTxS_BSci_mP2d_3RaU1NS8ks7sC-ch-mJcjf9zDcIFL5RHO/s640/blogger-image--351721016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKs1nREv4wZeS0vdkO3C7-zI5NnqQnj_ifup53D-Qn0E-vIoJExEVGRot-yAjFqXGVr__1-VqXoeTDhF9XUEUGF6oCVPpizTxS_BSci_mP2d_3RaU1NS8ks7sC-ch-mJcjf9zDcIFL5RHO/s640/blogger-image--351721016.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Resina </i>calendula</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQxyZ_a-GmG8gr-XINN8GZi1lQsup2L1azNgwBqQd8GIqg_Ysv_kFcuL9aWZXgwjcfl2sJrWz1s4HYG5zSbGtXCdOpjgrz2p-_MaXbzSorRAq4qQ7DlmTFsguXXTO4eQDMDNwq0F6deCD/s640/blogger-image-1817963468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQxyZ_a-GmG8gr-XINN8GZi1lQsup2L1azNgwBqQd8GIqg_Ysv_kFcuL9aWZXgwjcfl2sJrWz1s4HYG5zSbGtXCdOpjgrz2p-_MaXbzSorRAq4qQ7DlmTFsguXXTO4eQDMDNwq0F6deCD/s640/blogger-image-1817963468.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herbs l to r: comfrey, lemon balm, calendula, chickweed, lavender</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
To make the oil is fairly simple:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
1) Dry fresh herbs (or buy dried herbs)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
2) Wash mason jars with hot, soapy water and dry well.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
3) Put dried herb in the jar (you can mix but I like to do a single type of herb in a jar) and cover with oil of your choice. I have only used extra virgin olive oils, but there are many other options.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
4) If it is summer and warm, place in your window sill and infuse for a few months, shaking jars daily (or when you think of it). If you want a quicker oil, very gently heat the oils (I use my dehydrator set to 115 degrees for 4 hours and then 100 degrees overnight). I have read of using a slow cooker with a water bath set to warm can work as well. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
5) Your oil is ready when it has taken on the color and aroma of the herb you infused. Strain out herbs (I use a nylon mesh paint strainer) and store in jars or bottles until ready to use away from heat and direct sunlight. </div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwziI5WuvU18NBDCWDq6d1u-18PoLKclBUnxJ7Ho4xZ95gGpoVP7IC6wIE_1iE0gmTdcqw350mgNMW6fWPgltOs-1-8kYqcFiwu5CD0-Fq-bFei3cH-EQ6dpz2sMtZLLPwszRrw7X2Nt9z/s1600/blogger-image-1690339966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwziI5WuvU18NBDCWDq6d1u-18PoLKclBUnxJ7Ho4xZ95gGpoVP7IC6wIE_1iE0gmTdcqw350mgNMW6fWPgltOs-1-8kYqcFiwu5CD0-Fq-bFei3cH-EQ6dpz2sMtZLLPwszRrw7X2Nt9z/s640/blogger-image-1690339966.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chickweed and <i>Provence</i> lavender</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghc-Y53yuFyfm3wYKPOqO1ejXYxisKqcpJLKMR3Nbzn7FNdtZKYLrW6BWo0ITw4MhUnbTQ2B-F28cdn0XaDDXFvWGJrFu8MMO08xrgpwIJOX-fDZt1KqFcXm8R1PolR5j2jT8LwAEloaP4/s640/blogger-image-230311027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghc-Y53yuFyfm3wYKPOqO1ejXYxisKqcpJLKMR3Nbzn7FNdtZKYLrW6BWo0ITw4MhUnbTQ2B-F28cdn0XaDDXFvWGJrFu8MMO08xrgpwIJOX-fDZt1KqFcXm8R1PolR5j2jT8LwAEloaP4/s640/blogger-image-230311027.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olive oil added and ready for lids and labels</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQxyZ_a-GmG8gr-XINN8GZi1lQsup2L1azNgwBqQd8GIqg_Ysv_kFcuL9aWZXgwjcfl2sJrWz1s4HYG5zSbGtXCdOpjgrz2p-_MaXbzSorRAq4qQ7DlmTFsguXXTO4eQDMDNwq0F6deCD/s640/blogger-image-1817963468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
grow growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17810282434649710607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767347232343060305.post-78399578830842349852015-12-21T20:03:00.001-08:002015-12-21T20:11:01.945-08:00December Pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPt0CjCB9ZZ9cXMtrOoGiygXV-R6vjfNYlNp9b4WGxwhqaG7jCm92f_cUK9wos0fN2s-t1geUxZX2Kah_N39t17v9mhhxCxEZ59SkBenD3G2_B2ZaYdPsexvIl4fo97KH8OZ6Y_cbjPm-q/s640/blogger-image--1985401866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPt0CjCB9ZZ9cXMtrOoGiygXV-R6vjfNYlNp9b4WGxwhqaG7jCm92f_cUK9wos0fN2s-t1geUxZX2Kah_N39t17v9mhhxCxEZ59SkBenD3G2_B2ZaYdPsexvIl4fo97KH8OZ6Y_cbjPm-q/s640/blogger-image--1985401866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmd2FdiFgQsDNX9yEDgQaKxpy4tltV6jg4BXKjIAMESpNsO3lHn3mN0vMVR0cWN4X2JfeclucHvHx1z_ZXWJYZhw7Aomm9a9D2mmWQvJ5sNrb15t04YTAxcWw5Mwg_DobVzU3U1PIuvvY/s640/blogger-image-752060416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflIFEtXjClHCxkGajKDMELgv07SRvLUfNSF4K_Ej__PVSHHsyppGrAJ81KrX2QPdNTdSrVeULuH88jzrz_xGde58KBW_Del-uMHNf1hMZN9_-zbY9GfSTaZHE5tG5qFp6TFuKkmFNSBHq/s640/blogger-image--2092040813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflIFEtXjClHCxkGajKDMELgv07SRvLUfNSF4K_Ej__PVSHHsyppGrAJ81KrX2QPdNTdSrVeULuH88jzrz_xGde58KBW_Del-uMHNf1hMZN9_-zbY9GfSTaZHE5tG5qFp6TFuKkmFNSBHq/s640/blogger-image--2092040813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYp_cOM5SLtlQ-wUOuql2a4VsvQEosv9qF_tG9gDIPV8Szof8Efk24EDZq6TF4ctpu3x1CJ0YR4bQ8Rkl0kBXTkt55ipkbnQv-L6HPIvAiqf4V6PU4XtS_4fqRCJOwQSy1jzvuMKFhD9D/s640/blogger-image--722615558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYp_cOM5SLtlQ-wUOuql2a4VsvQEosv9qF_tG9gDIPV8Szof8Efk24EDZq6TF4ctpu3x1CJ0YR4bQ8Rkl0kBXTkt55ipkbnQv-L6HPIvAiqf4V6PU4XtS_4fqRCJOwQSy1jzvuMKFhD9D/s640/blogger-image--722615558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJ_5Ah1EVtJA2_9_Aov2L-JCx-Wb9LR8742ZeDNR-09sQFL9xaIFbuCsowDwoQFFdQXIwfgNCb3iYLeUeggQ0ZMkXL7k_ihvHOam44VM4ZFdqznT4uLzI2hIMs-KxieRQMvC3NOxoUPY4/s640/blogger-image--1569996679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJ_5Ah1EVtJA2_9_Aov2L-JCx-Wb9LR8742ZeDNR-09sQFL9xaIFbuCsowDwoQFFdQXIwfgNCb3iYLeUeggQ0ZMkXL7k_ihvHOam44VM4ZFdqznT4uLzI2hIMs-KxieRQMvC3NOxoUPY4/s640/blogger-image--1569996679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiky942TOUpMJUNo2LqBqJfi5jOcCLN7ZTMD3p7ghLWoLQuBEUqROtk-rmAjaHcpNDGBAqVYJGNI-ieyfIicxD8e7ibvFqanw3UuSLCd-b0XPQnqS4BWsXi4pc9VuZeLfiCQX0iO-Rn7BGN/s640/blogger-image-605786341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOuqpqhAh0h7BbWl_-luyZN8fdmqOy3hOZu47hyphenhyphenu7V5EmumqiuXnpGDCrfpL-H685gJBGWNvWrJLAIbL0QpR7poe4wI5c279UeUSxae9F0ay88EnnxGiMcYqRhY7a48Mmf3-9JJ-IroXd/s640/blogger-image--1786005640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOuqpqhAh0h7BbWl_-luyZN8fdmqOy3hOZu47hyphenhyphenu7V5EmumqiuXnpGDCrfpL-H685gJBGWNvWrJLAIbL0QpR7poe4wI5c279UeUSxae9F0ay88EnnxGiMcYqRhY7a48Mmf3-9JJ-IroXd/s640/blogger-image--1786005640.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiky942TOUpMJUNo2LqBqJfi5jOcCLN7ZTMD3p7ghLWoLQuBEUqROtk-rmAjaHcpNDGBAqVYJGNI-ieyfIicxD8e7ibvFqanw3UuSLCd-b0XPQnqS4BWsXi4pc9VuZeLfiCQX0iO-Rn7BGN/s640/blogger-image-605786341.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxla5osZOuC4WRzkEcKY7NeQQphvRsrTyRAzc-scMexoeDpilK6qKlESVgbJ0LPXks5aCpJQyIAuRtncZyHJTnPsamZ_hoiroJTN78nFdBEKGWQ-HyotNz-S-eisCzHM55gtQxo0SKm7Hu/s640/blogger-image--154995552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxla5osZOuC4WRzkEcKY7NeQQphvRsrTyRAzc-scMexoeDpilK6qKlESVgbJ0LPXks5aCpJQyIAuRtncZyHJTnPsamZ_hoiroJTN78nFdBEKGWQ-HyotNz-S-eisCzHM55gtQxo0SKm7Hu/s640/blogger-image--154995552.jpg"></a></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmd2FdiFgQsDNX9yEDgQaKxpy4tltV6jg4BXKjIAMESpNsO3lHn3mN0vMVR0cWN4X2JfeclucHvHx1z_ZXWJYZhw7Aomm9a9D2mmWQvJ5sNrb15t04YTAxcWw5Mwg_DobVzU3U1PIuvvY/s640/blogger-image-752060416.jpg"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPt0CjCB9ZZ9cXMtrOoGiygXV-R6vjfNYlNp9b4WGxwhqaG7jCm92f_cUK9wos0fN2s-t1geUxZX2Kah_N39t17v9mhhxCxEZ59SkBenD3G2_B2ZaYdPsexvIl4fo97KH8OZ6Y_cbjPm-q/s640/blogger-image--1985401866.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767347232343060305.post-72513683656621492182015-11-11T07:10:00.002-08:002015-11-11T07:10:39.858-08:00Cover Crop for Chickens<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIa3bqysL21ThAACCeZNkQ8PJbn3mP1ZR0ibQ3XTdXER6bNu7PRHSPuUheHMovXNNATlZvkJSlFncb44bKE5R4kAtw4ZxkhYY0btUfqtR0LGEFMmmDUTEJKoMEQv71lvAt3jjuxvFItUJC/s640/blogger-image--1373573901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIa3bqysL21ThAACCeZNkQ8PJbn3mP1ZR0ibQ3XTdXER6bNu7PRHSPuUheHMovXNNATlZvkJSlFncb44bKE5R4kAtw4ZxkhYY0btUfqtR0LGEFMmmDUTEJKoMEQv71lvAt3jjuxvFItUJC/s1600/blogger-image--1373573901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIa3bqysL21ThAACCeZNkQ8PJbn3mP1ZR0ibQ3XTdXER6bNu7PRHSPuUheHMovXNNATlZvkJSlFncb44bKE5R4kAtw4ZxkhYY0btUfqtR0LGEFMmmDUTEJKoMEQv71lvAt3jjuxvFItUJC/s640/blogger-image--1373573901.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cover crop planted near chickens: Austrian Field Peas, Winter Rye, Oilseed Radish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dXh_r14BqxmWGDJOtQNnePxOMbVTlLkZ4EnWdJZmHAfSnq5TzxmfLaBUvHLEhXsLkgXegt8sJTsPKV_Y_9Ww69_3Hfxf5RhXG_uOFjhjBuI8e_UggK5ldQ7I8YIV8GIuocE3v74qm5Wd/s640/blogger-image-1275091319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dXh_r14BqxmWGDJOtQNnePxOMbVTlLkZ4EnWdJZmHAfSnq5TzxmfLaBUvHLEhXsLkgXegt8sJTsPKV_Y_9Ww69_3Hfxf5RhXG_uOFjhjBuI8e_UggK5ldQ7I8YIV8GIuocE3v74qm5Wd/s640/blogger-image-1275091319.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chickens eating cover crop that was cut and tossed over fence</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUfJj3A3FlXJM_XkoyCNWWqlKytfsDsEwZZDqRltfHhB1B9PlX5-9qZJCC2K8xTvU40IPuvdnPORBDpaBB5iLvxjacMUBUXNhEwBLvo01ENPOkCw-irXGk4YuGbEXHjgZmaZblb7yTfFE/s640/blogger-image--1495928588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUfJj3A3FlXJM_XkoyCNWWqlKytfsDsEwZZDqRltfHhB1B9PlX5-9qZJCC2K8xTvU40IPuvdnPORBDpaBB5iLvxjacMUBUXNhEwBLvo01ENPOkCw-irXGk4YuGbEXHjgZmaZblb7yTfFE/s640/blogger-image--1495928588.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cut cover crop and fermented wet feed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUfJj3A3FlXJM_XkoyCNWWqlKytfsDsEwZZDqRltfHhB1B9PlX5-9qZJCC2K8xTvU40IPuvdnPORBDpaBB5iLvxjacMUBUXNhEwBLvo01ENPOkCw-irXGk4YuGbEXHjgZmaZblb7yTfFE/s640/blogger-image--1495928588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767347232343060305.post-90162563425979584302015-10-24T08:15:00.001-07:002015-10-24T08:20:03.931-07:00Chicken Winter Hoop<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNo-ygG6gMJgD8uBenJYRWJnLxgZ0uRTJlf3qneXgu8slyH2ScH_WPvQwyiKhM2ZudUDiVN3Kba_7VORdZrKkNB1lyhXSnhAmXPYZYnUv9uxVvIUEvaxuCdj3sI6b_az1B-NAAnHt0TpR/s640/blogger-image--1416048536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
Added items to the chickens' winter outdoor hoop. In went the hanging feeder from their coop, the metal winter waterer with base that keeps water above freezing when temps drop, and straw bedding.<br />
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUv_z7Jy6nM0Jk2OqMPzOBFPkJLz9dzL_LmNqIRDUrVuxD2Qm4ht5Mc4g7ZlS9OXZAUFhr_qHsjl7xYKQXFNLlZDIdWXOr-bOwldKrZ-sK9h7HI1y4gYUTSz0iKDHYf_P7i1xeAMjYiNxK/s640/blogger-image--148648584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUv_z7Jy6nM0Jk2OqMPzOBFPkJLz9dzL_LmNqIRDUrVuxD2Qm4ht5Mc4g7ZlS9OXZAUFhr_qHsjl7xYKQXFNLlZDIdWXOr-bOwldKrZ-sK9h7HI1y4gYUTSz0iKDHYf_P7i1xeAMjYiNxK/s640/blogger-image--148648584.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter waterer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNo-ygG6gMJgD8uBenJYRWJnLxgZ0uRTJlf3qneXgu8slyH2ScH_WPvQwyiKhM2ZudUDiVN3Kba_7VORdZrKkNB1lyhXSnhAmXPYZYnUv9uxVvIUEvaxuCdj3sI6b_az1B-NAAnHt0TpR/s640/blogger-image--1416048536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNo-ygG6gMJgD8uBenJYRWJnLxgZ0uRTJlf3qneXgu8slyH2ScH_WPvQwyiKhM2ZudUDiVN3Kba_7VORdZrKkNB1lyhXSnhAmXPYZYnUv9uxVvIUEvaxuCdj3sI6b_az1B-NAAnHt0TpR/s640/blogger-image--1416048536.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Straw Bedding</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767347232343060305.post-29170703281080635162015-10-20T13:51:00.003-07:002015-10-20T13:51:48.709-07:00"Gimmie Chiles!"Our chickens love chile seeds. Chickens co-evolved with chile plants to help spread their seeds, so they have no heat receptors that would make eating chiles painful. They like all kinds and pick open the chiles to eat the seeds first. There is anecdotal evidence that cayenne powder in chicken feed can prevent worms...not sure if all the chiles I grow could have the same positive affect but it can't hurt and they really relish them. I pulled the plants out before the first frost and since we have all the hot sauce and powders we need, the extra chiles went to the girls.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0asOfVO88EFtq0ZkQo2kz5C81uTfeH1col4WVVa_UznYA4BfHgVostxJBS45qeT4L19iMkLuWFX2ZfiDr8Fd2nI_y3x6Q0x-JLYxqO9Q4AVi-_KPGsOwx9fa7EEFNDE4nK2PJfs58ovyO/s640/blogger-image--1758187011.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">New Hampshire, Dominique, and Partridge Rock munch hot peppers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOke2TZoytoKEINdBF9ifFIdE1DHEBoItoRk3od5WTMAS8pV-u96TB-mI8-hsqxQu6ApRzgICzCBwuaOIZSjuAUg_0Fjmd2brW8FkcYXazcCTGdNIzSsQNnq28658CSZXaT8UUF1kNzaL/s640/blogger-image-716925749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOke2TZoytoKEINdBF9ifFIdE1DHEBoItoRk3od5WTMAS8pV-u96TB-mI8-hsqxQu6ApRzgICzCBwuaOIZSjuAUg_0Fjmd2brW8FkcYXazcCTGdNIzSsQNnq28658CSZXaT8UUF1kNzaL/s640/blogger-image-716925749.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Dominque with hot peppers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0asOfVO88EFtq0ZkQo2kz5C81uTfeH1col4WVVa_UznYA4BfHgVostxJBS45qeT4L19iMkLuWFX2ZfiDr8Fd2nI_y3x6Q0x-JLYxqO9Q4AVi-_KPGsOwx9fa7EEFNDE4nK2PJfs58ovyO/s640/blogger-image--1758187011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><div style="text-align: left;">
In the garden I have several beds seeded with cover crops (pictures are from a week ago, they are taller now). We had our first hard frost of 27 degrees 2 nights ago, which knocked out the tomatoes, zucchini, nasturtiums, and hurt the peppers but didn't kill them. Everything else was wilty with cold but promptly bounced back when warmed by the sun (parsnips, napa cabbage, cover crops, lettuce, arugula). The kale laughed and just kept growing. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vjtGtBZoR3Dd1U4slvI4A1P6ygVmbpRVK3wTzmZqLiQIANdeTY78huXZivAa8euxZpL7ckzRTb3YsqSx8rowSzLCz2QbDHFeljqPrB-JtsK6Q_rspPwOtZBrCJSl3mMy7Xkv5RO0rfu9/s640/blogger-image--2023797004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vjtGtBZoR3Dd1U4slvI4A1P6ygVmbpRVK3wTzmZqLiQIANdeTY78huXZivAa8euxZpL7ckzRTb3YsqSx8rowSzLCz2QbDHFeljqPrB-JtsK6Q_rspPwOtZBrCJSl3mMy7Xkv5RO0rfu9/s640/blogger-image--2023797004.jpg" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Cover crop mix: forage radish, Austrian field pea, winter rye</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPtOX3KectcNIeRPg6z7gmEvbIIOVTHw8pju8WETyjq7VwjZcSc0bCuzYU_zfIhFnZfBJ-q7FrSHSm-robZjBhEPv-siUrEiBt2XcRrFdL94lgU21Zd-CB0eaShFggB5mW82cShb7HeEn/s640/blogger-image-539254796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPtOX3KectcNIeRPg6z7gmEvbIIOVTHw8pju8WETyjq7VwjZcSc0bCuzYU_zfIhFnZfBJ-q7FrSHSm-robZjBhEPv-siUrEiBt2XcRrFdL94lgU21Zd-CB0eaShFggB5mW82cShb7HeEn/s640/blogger-image-539254796.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">cover crop</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vjtGtBZoR3Dd1U4slvI4A1P6ygVmbpRVK3wTzmZqLiQIANdeTY78huXZivAa8euxZpL7ckzRTb3YsqSx8rowSzLCz2QbDHFeljqPrB-JtsK6Q_rspPwOtZBrCJSl3mMy7Xkv5RO0rfu9/s640/blogger-image--2023797004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvMF-CLQJjGe481TJrgTc6b74RmBYnAhnYXDPKy8gJ14GpAozyfShUsuvEPxiCm77mRhGwgv2qhJrFGKOjD5Sfetn2HjSWKqkyURNT4tGEqnjoLRjKu0F2DbX0f6hf3cSv-jawMJQ7kDm/s640/blogger-image-1131493706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvMF-CLQJjGe481TJrgTc6b74RmBYnAhnYXDPKy8gJ14GpAozyfShUsuvEPxiCm77mRhGwgv2qhJrFGKOjD5Sfetn2HjSWKqkyURNT4tGEqnjoLRjKu0F2DbX0f6hf3cSv-jawMJQ7kDm/s640/blogger-image-1131493706.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Aji Cristal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_2STFoFidoYZXwwUn9CWWtSELbCGJoRNtLYxNskyc2ee1Qwx00QCkhexyO0s_vrNTISteNlVXE1h-GAiSA1Lmc5nc83PXSS5iXF6rkS2WoYJ7xGUxTweh6bCIiGCVli4_qjDgXUkJ_bcc/s640/blogger-image-302489624.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Veg from the garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQc_aQQ2hX2qs-O-1Eb5an6aDAbUMzIjkcGwglDQJjG73qjbuZTLLOfUmNlcFf9UIq55JG1vShSvQ1epf1rg51qK88-etsUXQdBAbh8-0oc_32OefPnFqFhWZ3Pr12DNnSfVwb89Y_OpN/s640/blogger-image--1794859020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">salad from the garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><div style="text-align: left;">
Harvested my first cultivated mushrooms ever. Wine caps from some spore I put on woodchips under our Sweet Bay Magnolia tree in early summer. Score. I tried them because I read they were fairly easy to grow - a good beginner mushroom. Seems to be the case. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-aA9GzSGd65LMjodiN8y0q3WANbSCPBzUkDcI9Q-iEvq8vUaBwX9-PODcfgWyF6-SlwSPBhXa2f9CDV5HGwgNQW571eB5tzpVv3PezsH-wVzpDgelnLSsKO2bwZZmGJrF0oenF4y_avg/s640/blogger-image--1845270389.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">first mushroom harvest ever: wine caps<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767347232343060305.post-78929827042938564072015-10-19T17:35:00.001-07:002015-10-19T17:41:14.639-07:00Prepping Chickens for Winter Outside<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
"What do they do in the winter?" is a common chicken question. Well, these birds don't give a crap, they want to be outside, come what may. Snow? Rain? Freezing temperatures? No problem. The coop seems to be for sleeping, eating, laying eggs and not much else if they can help it. The truth is the mix of birds I have are hardy breeds that can handle cold as long as they have wind and rain protection. Last year I waited too late and rigged them up a wobbly plastic tunnel when it was already winter, (which they spent ALL their time in) so this year I am being proactive.</div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmkYOLAC1y1cSjlG9gqw7gH6akc5d-1lNchLIVtJ6yFsxQoG2bbvov1npdIFnLEvaD0hbzB6WJuUAKc9dMOqbsFvnO42mM9BUI4AYdky8UG4g2Pg7tOkMVDD_QAbKbBmgbVmaWbgZ54IJ/s640/blogger-image-738572654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQPwKfY8kL03G3RZtkUZV_TsbWQCk3OnJkut9K3zJIoOXzI6bmvdqhvbcorGcRWyUlibu5ltXYSg3HsN4H_zR28vQ_XxkRmDz1ujSPZfj-Is6EaVJ9BXY9dwrmSgnIMwbtPW_XIAUaZb8/s640/blogger-image--849470107.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chickens on compost with winter hoop in background</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />
My ideal would be to make a walk in winter chicken run that could double as a spring hoop house for plants....something like this <a href="http://www.farminginmyfifties.com/how-to-build-a-cattlelivestock-panel-hoop/">http://www.farminginmyfifties.com/how-to-build-a-cattlelivestock-panel-hoop/</a> and maybe that will happen in 2016, but for this winter I decided a small hoop that I can put up quickly will do. I also made a "compost shelter" area out of hay bales to contain the garden waste I am giving them now so they don't spread it all to kingdom come with their scratching (and they like the windbreak from the hay bales). </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now I just need a way to get them from the coop to this area on rainy freezing days...I have an idea for version of a covered chicken tunnel....but more on that later. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIYrMQ0G7iljn5yQD7PnkcmFmrg_IhyJfFgyP8ch9vuBgdQoeUAYwAsrYMRkAPf1sR7eaGOXHsmHIS2SPbmurMY_FYiaQU8rA2IQypgsM0PAwGvHrKObmfulwvXkjb8oSd2vALUqjQkI0/s640/blogger-image-945094869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIYrMQ0G7iljn5yQD7PnkcmFmrg_IhyJfFgyP8ch9vuBgdQoeUAYwAsrYMRkAPf1sR7eaGOXHsmHIS2SPbmurMY_FYiaQU8rA2IQypgsM0PAwGvHrKObmfulwvXkjb8oSd2vALUqjQkI0/s640/blogger-image-945094869.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqF1cmSBbxjs2FVZpSXhiVkzdEFcBPMzwSKUWuTvYnXrGqx2XvO-VV1pASHy-bSYNzrjMxzZhQZ2Z3o4TP8flTIkR6VWSPOIrnZIBkZTlEwFxBdF0XuJ3Lw1dpeLYoPZnRyrvZVNOaIXD/s640/blogger-image--336921064.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">strawbale windbreak/compost area and plastic tunnel for hanging out in on rainy and snowy days</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpRGR8FTrNiJ1Rhct-fS5H_jH6nc2fvjRpAvPP6bcKeC-N8ZonxPjOV5PyPqUqLl_bq6EYjP0dBjPh8SQI88U53KJ4WEbihWAqhZ-c0WVy9ybYg1PasDgCyMA0WusDBe0MRht-GCiIDsk/s640/blogger-image-1398827852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpRGR8FTrNiJ1Rhct-fS5H_jH6nc2fvjRpAvPP6bcKeC-N8ZonxPjOV5PyPqUqLl_bq6EYjP0dBjPh8SQI88U53KJ4WEbihWAqhZ-c0WVy9ybYg1PasDgCyMA0WusDBe0MRht-GCiIDsk/s640/blogger-image-1398827852.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">compost area</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once the compost area was hastily assembled, I moved hoops from a garden bed I was not planning to cover this winter and covered with hoops with 6 mil plastic we had removed from a hoop house at work. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixedio3J749CR4SnY0LcYmqcZ6_f2uifEFX5lI2FlOFQ-3NaJ2eM7yB33kD0rbEbuK3UchwzazS9EJGFJTj6bk92JSZqOJEc3mf6CuNPxxFy3F4Efdnj3C-T1EbgwdtwI50w8fYHo3_1Qy/s640/blogger-image-1741819057.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">winter outside area</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmiPGjYGbkzmP0xRF8_k_x_pdQj3D6FrFKt3PWghKKeoisYyD8AJ_YxX5ssnU3Tf5DCq1xnfe8HDruSpF9MVr7LMjzg63m5I0hQxSiikeSwp0cdbVczxM8sWJHGRj_jQgaKlXE8IexGhU/s640/blogger-image-1720683052.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">winter tunnel...I'll likely put some straw bedding down in here.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmkYOLAC1y1cSjlG9gqw7gH6akc5d-1lNchLIVtJ6yFsxQoG2bbvov1npdIFnLEvaD0hbzB6WJuUAKc9dMOqbsFvnO42mM9BUI4AYdky8UG4g2Pg7tOkMVDD_QAbKbBmgbVmaWbgZ54IJ/s640/blogger-image-738572654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmkYOLAC1y1cSjlG9gqw7gH6akc5d-1lNchLIVtJ6yFsxQoG2bbvov1npdIFnLEvaD0hbzB6WJuUAKc9dMOqbsFvnO42mM9BUI4AYdky8UG4g2Pg7tOkMVDD_QAbKbBmgbVmaWbgZ54IJ/s640/blogger-image-738572654.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">screwed on fiberglass panels on coop as windbreak</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>If you want this whole "minimal winter protection for chickens, no heat in the coop" thing to work, you need:</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>hardy breeds (New Hampshires, Australorps, Rocks, Easter Eggers, etc)</li>
<li>ventilation in the coop at the bottom and top (important!)</li>
<li>no wind blowing on the birds</li>
<li>bedding that isn't too wet</li>
<li>enough birds to keep each other warm...I'd say 3 or 4 minimum...we have 11</li>
</ul>
<div>
<b>After learning from chickens for several years here are a few things I take into account when planning their winter quarters:</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>they like to be outside during the day...the coop is just for sleeping and egg laying</li>
<li>they like to feel safe when they are sleeping and egg laying so solid sides on the coop and curtains on the nest box give them privacy and make them feel secure</li>
<li>they don't like to get wind whipped (duh! who does?) and rained on when its cold (although they don't seem to mind summer rain) so covered plastic hoops or runs with covered plastic sides for wind protection are good for outside space</li>
<li>they like new things to check out in their space, although they might be wary at first</li>
<li>they can move a lot of (soil, mulch, whatever) with their digging so any use of them in the garden or on land has to take that into account</li>
<li>they can turn grass to bare ground quickly - having 2 spaces they can rotate between is best</li>
<li>an established raspberry patch can hold up to their scratching and they absolutely love the dappled shade and protection it offers. it seems to be number one area for chicken nap pile</li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PLc9c0_Z86PHN4iem6mYb1FTdca0b7aMRQmWLaL-bfs-5cN4m6-gqrqweot545Axdj2emSm0Yx9tcL34m4N7I7Aa78ZidIGQEq5b64EWTrRSNZf8IJW29dq0ILc7wrKMzO-bRsisUA1B/s640/blogger-image--365622427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PLc9c0_Z86PHN4iem6mYb1FTdca0b7aMRQmWLaL-bfs-5cN4m6-gqrqweot545Axdj2emSm0Yx9tcL34m4N7I7Aa78ZidIGQEq5b64EWTrRSNZf8IJW29dq0ILc7wrKMzO-bRsisUA1B/s640/blogger-image--365622427.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">raspberry patch and farm cart on blocks - fav napping areas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767347232343060305.post-54499609348625372562015-10-02T07:47:00.000-07:002015-10-02T07:47:36.771-07:00What's Happening on the Homestead this Week<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQi_Gp0dVemCi6-1a5bzaqv2zgwYa23vcbZfMOgZ6p7am0C9vqPmffj8yPVGKKoHvDONDtilm7iztkDIGMef6jYNT1yTXwWv7RvybVz6ikJg2QeNNs1nXQ7NRtw7cMdvlgtDn4GImeCrqX/s640/blogger-image-532029687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQi_Gp0dVemCi6-1a5bzaqv2zgwYa23vcbZfMOgZ6p7am0C9vqPmffj8yPVGKKoHvDONDtilm7iztkDIGMef6jYNT1yTXwWv7RvybVz6ikJg2QeNNs1nXQ7NRtw7cMdvlgtDn4GImeCrqX/s640/blogger-image-532029687.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let the chickens into the pumpkin patch to eat squash bugs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOBKm-yHdmpEWTxjKzgYRXoZaKOEXd2RyeUsJwwdbXP9fkzdIEmADyt_Ma0SX6j1DafuGcejsi_Z51o4QuVTKkY-SFLX_GTyHGnheAuPIHpsT30vKH7AuF6X4mJGjbg7fS28pFCwHODzz/s640/blogger-image-1087488261.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They also liked eating amaranth grain that I threw them (the red seedhead)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0yDD_6lfUA4dlqZe1ZVmfkn5SoshA_kGYtpoXh5r9gQogPoCcIBK0ZkssOMJOWprkYGEYdRyE66RD9lpx3pvt2muEQ7VPKRFi0tuouRKiasMjPI1-hkmT7MfKAOyth8f9jhnZRAHOkKS/s640/blogger-image-1713584467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0yDD_6lfUA4dlqZe1ZVmfkn5SoshA_kGYtpoXh5r9gQogPoCcIBK0ZkssOMJOWprkYGEYdRyE66RD9lpx3pvt2muEQ7VPKRFi0tuouRKiasMjPI1-hkmT7MfKAOyth8f9jhnZRAHOkKS/s640/blogger-image-1713584467.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fall garden winding down</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEX07cRk5BQiaTLJsZERJMYUPCdTABjwWtj6hgLuktlOqlK6NT33ij4i9G-bCknKcHfzfXq_np_iviOFuRxNAsVDECA0VlgW6II-U0iUPzJIUe_SdTUklB2rukK1FmSYHKPQsvotElqxY/s640/blogger-image-1810862031.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">garter snake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrY-8BKakytbcy7gehEefSAGH9k1ABgUeiyNNBZIZn2-6q9xPYyB808bRSPNGHmVlNnrj2ulPqmRn9lae3V_q1DirNyPB97Ui7Usc5h88F6xWUv_hJEUjN7GH4h4xwsPJMV4bDriXfdKF/s640/blogger-image--1497222083.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">parsnips for fall and winter eating</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rzSoHqv29m-PQ_EnXj1Ar9SJggyOYtKmegT9QADAs9tkMCYgUD1bJfJxAAsnSVS1PO3EeYHuhTAZn22RcI23INUEMId57l4Zmnw4eKEQEGiWO5MaFYJbe5hLR4ZO8FGdbmFt24oMf8aE/s640/blogger-image--2040922473.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">napa cabbage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9mVnx4kjkQx8C1LGe5z7v-b9VOyWK-j_hIEEuCKVKjNyR2B2PAZZcr6xT0Q7Z9ymlbb-iyA2G_6bdNudq6RUI0Q6u9uFwe8pis_8GvVkANxwXFCHUeFrR1t_F_o_pM6h3gyFw_MZXDHz/s640/blogger-image-724290907.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">digging potatoes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwwhSIXx6xwZdfvPFjKOhgM4JWI4YEXRqQb6eFmPnb3VroOroj0xToJfIDxfwUUo-m0JNUbsladmn5U02w1bJ0ubwi7tEgro7GyDmnvFlZnt1c3ECXnbb4iBnuzHmSi1W-Z4PxCgOb_LS/s640/blogger-image-140799098.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">got about 1.5 bushels German Butterball potatoes from a 25 ft row that received no irrigation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767347232343060305.post-58583303249505017832015-09-12T10:40:00.000-07:002015-09-12T10:40:31.366-07:00Onion StorageOnions and shallots like to be cured and then stored. They prefer cool and dry storage conditions with ventilation of course. Right now, nowhere in our house or basement is cool, so they will have to settle for less.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSdPxp4EiGVmcFm_W7L5yFfRi688TITyk8IobeTgDS-yCbUyqyZZetm58Ohc1pTiNtlJte7YOsfutcoaSk6Wc8rW80iKIkOYQZhsI7Ys_5zKMQVlfrkvBDZcqhfrodre_R8GOoQfWaPlv/s640/blogger-image-1332999947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSdPxp4EiGVmcFm_W7L5yFfRi688TITyk8IobeTgDS-yCbUyqyZZetm58Ohc1pTiNtlJte7YOsfutcoaSk6Wc8rW80iKIkOYQZhsI7Ys_5zKMQVlfrkvBDZcqhfrodre_R8GOoQfWaPlv/s640/blogger-image-1332999947.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baskets of <i>Cortland</i> onions</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKa-LumZAp0_xYJiOxC-HGpvI15uZR7XxuVFR8b_L32oFfHSYezv0b1YEujuK3UfiTQnHfuStgfc54ktVW1PJIa6tnluTt2OO-A3sCLvo9QDpRcuaN40tJuHSJNtC6VLIO-VGysVNtRI-/s640/blogger-image-1104256787.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cortland</i> onions</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9W5m8bX52IAgAhfysCeJHZc0Hx9Zy9PkE22s73Xg_WjpYmoYYsGVFcff0mdj7gcopDEBWmkA1fugAIQ1qmXa-7ioi7cES4gyyqc0gkywe-9aO3pCjuqR7odgw7lh7fFyXY_bLWAQGd29Q/s640/blogger-image-127162302.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red shallots <i>Conservor</i> from <a href="http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-8670-conservor.aspx">Johnny's Seeds</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAoax-KKOxZjFX9kCSXrNT2AXX_7CPrRxg6d1ngFHPymOgKW9yzlOHPpdsk6uRVpz7SElJKtLOSkQkJl9oP04hubIpkQEY0slDfNUkjBB_TK4E-tv5PtOfFIUNLRFjeah4_kl1YuqbFI4f/s640/blogger-image--221898137.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French shallot Zebrune from <a href="http://www.seedsavers.org/onlinestore/Shallots/Shallot-Zebrune.html">Seed Savers</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The onions and shallots hung in bunches on our front porch for several weeks until cured/dried. I then trimmed the tops and roots and rubbed off the dirty outer skins and stored them in baskets in the basement. I think the real key is trying to keep the temperature moderate and constant, without big swings. I learned that keeping them cool and then having to move them somewhere warmer once my "cool spot" got too cold last winter is what really set them to sprouting. Makes sense. <br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767347232343060305.post-25829647450864936682015-08-29T13:36:00.000-07:002015-08-29T13:36:43.218-07:00What's Happening on the Homestead this Week?The nights have been cool, with very slim chances of much rain in sight. It has been a very dry summer. A crispness of approaching fall is in the air in the evenings. The bees are making knotweed honey and I can smell it's rich aroma when I pass by the hives.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZJ8zhLr0rb0Y16KbRNaBTel-0FLDVN1G5Xr-27mTeWIiNRR4IgQVKfeyrCo1gRTWBTfTW2IWin9ehMcXsmH9i19ufPVs09G-Xd0DOmqR6h280zDl50C8Dv4Fu9vN4rhSV-L82x1reBHEJ/s640/blogger-image-1189010340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZJ8zhLr0rb0Y16KbRNaBTel-0FLDVN1G5Xr-27mTeWIiNRR4IgQVKfeyrCo1gRTWBTfTW2IWin9ehMcXsmH9i19ufPVs09G-Xd0DOmqR6h280zDl50C8Dv4Fu9vN4rhSV-L82x1reBHEJ/s640/blogger-image-1189010340.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>German Butterball</i> potatoes with carrots and parsnips from our friends' garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-9tf4k7ezmhBOxo2knbOvOSr41kK7riAwsSubqkgoAIqpGJVjwdd_mZ-Psf3Xak4NSVEduxwleV-PEnEDTZxoHtZcQY6JERlwwNi5H3WUWjwDV1wXmAYWp_sQiUrkqRzo1xAcYa9xPM0/s640/blogger-image--1700798749.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Long Island Cheese </i>pumpkin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4YYmzTTXp5Qln-ENSjBygiJo0A9plII3WNYAyg7g7fiytSx1y-osAy5VAgMyn2TYahk_W5iaa2CXBP8hdHoH9Fsdz6YxR5F78UBcJjjfOihmaxXQej5-_FtLEWRwNGR30_RtSV7Hq8T3k/s640/blogger-image--1640765747.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tromboncino</i> squash. I liked picking these as small squash and using like zucchini</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWNpt_Us94vsE6ID-_tFLFcpjnMVf4U_1HSO9GCDL1pniXlMh56oFzFeHbiaob9IrfcjnTpjZ4RlP5umcpQm9VAYs-IfhnnabOFBuMb22vl4zoAPLJx4wmN1mpuTGr4s5g4q8cJ2WEvhB/s640/blogger-image--28388602.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Boston Marrow </i>squash</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQKTNxTwfvyQzZTAYA0ApxbtqrtxgdvzNC2jJbL56TuG9am2xXqHHwnuqSLloq65Ey2yswqVN6mjtMdHmFg9eorR3piV2uchzclb_3_MEx-IzQJM9GGV2BJCq1iraEX5OZQQCBzWtwmtn/s640/blogger-image-822330932.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot Peppers: <i>Maule's Red Hot, Burgarian Carrot, Trinadad Spice, Habanero, Criolla Sella, Golden Cayenne</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-qCjjeF6wZNH7vxQuGkYs6L5jfiUizQEWBv9hI3ZekEpcEYMsqnGRn_H1bqLDL5J2yhuQHPbQaNna-iKU7jml4BxuVREBKcKhjKi11ZPfLNt9kCUlFHm6dOUv7NUpoe4zjfwTKCMOzyS/s640/blogger-image--551342487.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dried chile powders</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIQoJxW_t-R4Zr1FQpn-b6e9OcXMwJigYIR-joECa_NKj_Iuaior86oE9BWZhH0gWxStY5vEQLwRgevO_Nle9uXAyz3TPqomfMyTVsjcPqTjSHiDEpTn4ciWmY9zXIRPcQvKnahARuvOm/s640/blogger-image--995554075.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hops harvest (variety unknown)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHby-xrUz8oQXqyIO4Fo4HgsVapR2JK_s2_q2fAudxXIeUn51D4VccXEa7TPotDgxIhVK9u67fH8gaQA0kBrFxMOlmiXSa8Lxw0Ry-cqWAkNr4j7eQ3UtNgchSgUUjsrnMzlHk0WlRR0Ax/s640/blogger-image--315392348.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hops</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLdx5CvzrKvlG5HzacKbt7l0a-Ue2tyisjsie9OgYOW81wE43vo39OpEtBesLYYkfO06aXqRahCIYcwDpuQcTf65LAUHStIHsv5WTMURylZdiLFVt_y3CYWxA_Gzu5hqhUnf8IY-34ia8/s640/blogger-image-1955600032.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hops on drying screens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4767347232343060305.post-19057143267766368642015-08-15T10:14:00.001-07:002015-08-15T10:14:55.393-07:00What is Happening this Week on the Homestead?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZDl-zxClmUZkR-ZFQxlIVO76a0KaCH2tKhuUlofWlns4gYlWLtgm3W6VLwurJK6reeXJHK4gotWvEmTv0TAY2KGdgGcRRRwHWDifig0p5cCV35oHCqJC6O8xdryQ6bBfCq5-w1g92POE/s640/blogger-image-1778517615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZDl-zxClmUZkR-ZFQxlIVO76a0KaCH2tKhuUlofWlns4gYlWLtgm3W6VLwurJK6reeXJHK4gotWvEmTv0TAY2KGdgGcRRRwHWDifig0p5cCV35oHCqJC6O8xdryQ6bBfCq5-w1g92POE/s640/blogger-image-1778517615.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Criolla Sella hot peppers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSp9ArMGmm0pg1CZJiP0xAxWHZFcYh6UTMt3uDWICch1HPEDM5TkEkoVi7MktQ-fdKxBFwF4tRDVl9jMI7GeH-ecv-G5L64-tq0O-aLGR7dc7svHimjVfjLtgATj7hJgg0yk5J6VgUctF/s640/blogger-image--1279069546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSp9ArMGmm0pg1CZJiP0xAxWHZFcYh6UTMt3uDWICch1HPEDM5TkEkoVi7MktQ-fdKxBFwF4tRDVl9jMI7GeH-ecv-G5L64-tq0O-aLGR7dc7svHimjVfjLtgATj7hJgg0yk5J6VgUctF/s1600/blogger-image--1279069546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSp9ArMGmm0pg1CZJiP0xAxWHZFcYh6UTMt3uDWICch1HPEDM5TkEkoVi7MktQ-fdKxBFwF4tRDVl9jMI7GeH-ecv-G5L64-tq0O-aLGR7dc7svHimjVfjLtgATj7hJgg0yk5J6VgUctF/s640/blogger-image--1279069546.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Bulgarian Carrot, Golden Cayenne, Red Habanero, and Aji Colorado peppers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhej-TLRLEU28wZ-LF5O_3igFn0ggssqDh1h4AubYDePUp1EPbA8EovDyVEH_PUkwkFK_JB067JpXJgsw0sG2hDr6ofTeGf9zsJN9nTAD8KJ8sb2DBjXzqz5fDmoFx8-3cTbCFPdA6c-vTh/s640/blogger-image-851158135.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Sungold and Juliet tomatoes and Cayenne peppers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKi7dPhz7G3dkrhrXudEo4cXl9gygGMPnW_nkAPUh0SiXnuvugO7UUM-1BO3q7D8_q09LzcoRPfGBdFYYMW2_n3rdqefF6MQI14a7f60CaVoajJ-IIT0VGIAZQKPoWSZPcQzdgNPTaypt/s640/blogger-image-2129213389.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">My beloved Juliet tomato</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIIxa7-OsuDd7NsvRa1bBjj2fJ5g6l0WG6-c9ZERJVc_1_5b5ZGOJgZFdosFhhlbQW524h4P17Zk0XJdx71i_Wpw39TGItKyQRFatS7pudJhDEzgMM21-tkIvNBE5AvR9tAywxba9iczG/s640/blogger-image-250186633.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Juliet!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplibzV-nHCQhVyf0KWGY1VzZwYZcT4Z-ns0mAbrrYB1czV8aU5Gg6HsfZymQtRVTksQEz-2N2SNjzEzZuzB52W1-JdFklJ7Su0LLOYvkwfaE7NG-sCjnQMPVucGo3O1V_wClWw2v7VItY/s640/blogger-image--1458205327.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Chickens weeding</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zB-Ip0mumOrUmeczeBokumMZfDeIZ9eQ8BuA7R0oNKtgpgCQlgOmX5AbjuZdlTX50ZoHGzr5i3nG0FuFAC24IluIF0RpKZQP2RJj9DH5wjlCnCPE1N_qa6IhuVgLqw91iAmtVkQEyxYM/s640/blogger-image-1632516603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zB-Ip0mumOrUmeczeBokumMZfDeIZ9eQ8BuA7R0oNKtgpgCQlgOmX5AbjuZdlTX50ZoHGzr5i3nG0FuFAC24IluIF0RpKZQP2RJj9DH5wjlCnCPE1N_qa6IhuVgLqw91iAmtVkQEyxYM/s640/blogger-image-1632516603.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Chicken "Stay Out" fence</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GHy_0s-5wkjmE-OVkNEgeEUXVnqXbMvAjcLq4KLg9JtcNFccTUF-79Ba7-hf9wbpqN4h3fvNK1kzrgFxYVX97f8jDAMgl7yM8dWRQ6Go00YoYbRXkb3-Ebh6nUdgMO7I9oYMvVbxRY1v/s640/blogger-image--946386043.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Blue Lobelia and Elephant Head amaranth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSihyphenhyphennEkJmARXg7G7Nrw_CtU1Cpt5jVAyH97zwtjqduox9CijAsII6y0pONkDYW0fTNAhk5be7COGMr4T5Kc2Pzfcw6MquuJ3_MLzTeDWNNnqT9pL8NT0NvF_cX-qCno0WzgW-UoVlkDYB/s640/blogger-image--1441907207.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Chickens with hives, hop vine shade tower and coop in background</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfv6VxY2-imbhVOZ8o9gGDCSzaZ2n9TKcE_EntdoIIUDNonl1a8aQ8vmDITBAcyzJwFxFTk1HLOMhIwZRVoVbH6z4OnjKxmH68MkaIUvs_n3SnDKy9pmhyo5mAqf-Yof4b3nXHqNtYdB7D/s1600/blogger-image-1319618143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfv6VxY2-imbhVOZ8o9gGDCSzaZ2n9TKcE_EntdoIIUDNonl1a8aQ8vmDITBAcyzJwFxFTk1HLOMhIwZRVoVbH6z4OnjKxmH68MkaIUvs_n3SnDKy9pmhyo5mAqf-Yof4b3nXHqNtYdB7D/s640/blogger-image-1319618143.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; text-align: center;">Chicken harvesting elderberries</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCbCeT6_gUO6cyR65zYpVg6XO5sj67uMujYmWK3kDk-2siiTGtE4Uhu0xK5Cwut8T7NSre9CLKdcYgwnXUNaG8WEwJN9OwScuWFl72zci2rFd1IVAOCwJMSK63gAu0AvJNFSeBrWmuEyJ/s640/blogger-image--908819048.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Bees and chickens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfP-FA_pgkAn5-GJPUgAMUNbO6HIA52f-8EP5xPPqGCF514Z-hB7LTY-qfY0tG-j7OV4RnmA44Bckm88hkeaOqto3sv74gq-wWwhF1rMkPTR1e0sBmz4XIdzr_USDADmzhqBGMnkZ7joZ/s1600/blogger-image-754079561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfP-FA_pgkAn5-GJPUgAMUNbO6HIA52f-8EP5xPPqGCF514Z-hB7LTY-qfY0tG-j7OV4RnmA44Bckm88hkeaOqto3sv74gq-wWwhF1rMkPTR1e0sBmz4XIdzr_USDADmzhqBGMnkZ7joZ/s640/blogger-image-754079561.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Elephant head amaranth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0Hol3WEhBzJgrhiaRk4FO6NxgeWxOeT_HhCzT4McWXEIn9GRlFXwrwuw0wvQsaK1MpwD2q4W4PxB4GClPHqp3Dr-iSMW9Qzp3MmEWb3MHdjJ2kOKeOFCQiQ9-NxhAp0LUoZKZphrHCIl/s640/blogger-image--61844660.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Summer garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtPzZCmd52Ma9ir0_3lPp3B5xaUGZKJAcjYJQtCAdDg4PMzWNI_UdRK32VSlYTEiiAaYfEixd2zWXvd3VbsvIbReZjmmrJ85jw-6D0VcUQcvnLgljr2SvlKlY2pDoYvCtnKOl2BqTuK6y/s640/blogger-image--1083554033.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Boneset wildflower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0