This is the time of the year that we are surrounded by yellow. Literally. The farm is electric with brown eyed susan's that have naturalized on the front hill, along the driveway, and pretty much anywhere else we don't mow them down. In addition the sunflowers are blooming in a last gasp of summer. The gold finches are here in droves to eat the sunflower seeds and flit through the yard and garden. They will start in on the BES seeds when the sunflowers are gone. The walnuts have started to drop little yellow leaves in the grass as they get ready for fall. I don't know how they make it as they are the last to fully leaf out and the first to start dropping their leaves.
Then there are the garden spiders. Which I always see in the beginning of August (though this year it was the last week of July). They are the beginning of the end of summer to me.... Can't say I'll be sorry to see it gone. Only, as always, devastated by the end of the fresh tomatoes.
Showing posts with label garden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label garden. Show all posts
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Gifts
Yesterday the temps didn't get out of the 70s and we had on and off rain all day. These days in the summer are some that I look forward to with great anticipation. They are a relief from oppressive heat and anxiety about my garden and my animals. We don't use the AC much around here, but when we do, I feel completely disconnected from the outside world, and that makes me uncomfortable. I love the comfort of the AC in the blasting sticky heat of summer and it means that I can actually sleep instead of tossing around trying to find a cool spot on the pillow. But it has its price. This weekend was a gift. A sweet reminder of the other 9 -10 months of the year that are mostly just plain glorious.
Another gift came my way recently too. You won't believe it. I actually won something. I did. Me. I won a giveaway from a blog of some seeds. How cool is that? Pretty cool. I waited by the mail box like a love sick teenager (back when people corresponded by letter) until the packet came. I am planting them this weekend. Annie's is not a seed company that I have any experience with, so I will keep you posted. They do have very charming seed packets with some good info on them. I was looking at the packets of seeds and roughly calculated 1500 seeds for the collection. That is a lot of vegetables. It makes me feel like I shouldn't just scatter them willy nilly around in the garden and then ruthlessly thin. It is amazingly wasteful. But I have tried the individual planting cells for each seed and I find that often transplants don't do as well in side by side comparison. The dilemmas....
And of course, the final gift, carefully disguised as ANOTHER vet bill is the news that all the cat's liver functioning is totally back to normal, which means that his liver failure was temporary and there is no reason to believe that he will not survive to aggravate us long into the future.
Happy day.
Another gift came my way recently too. You won't believe it. I actually won something. I did. Me. I won a giveaway from a blog of some seeds. How cool is that? Pretty cool. I waited by the mail box like a love sick teenager (back when people corresponded by letter) until the packet came. I am planting them this weekend. Annie's is not a seed company that I have any experience with, so I will keep you posted. They do have very charming seed packets with some good info on them. I was looking at the packets of seeds and roughly calculated 1500 seeds for the collection. That is a lot of vegetables. It makes me feel like I shouldn't just scatter them willy nilly around in the garden and then ruthlessly thin. It is amazingly wasteful. But I have tried the individual planting cells for each seed and I find that often transplants don't do as well in side by side comparison. The dilemmas....
And of course, the final gift, carefully disguised as ANOTHER vet bill is the news that all the cat's liver functioning is totally back to normal, which means that his liver failure was temporary and there is no reason to believe that he will not survive to aggravate us long into the future.
Happy day.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Celebrate
There are a few things to celebrate around here, the first being the break in the heat. We are back to our normal temps and even in the low 80s today, which is a real treat. I have taken the day off to plant the fall garden. Carrots, beets, spinach, leeks, etc etc. I am also going to try fall potatoes, though I have few hopes of realizing significant harvests. So worth a try though as home grown potatoes are one of my favorites. It has been incredibly dry here, so I am not sure what kind of luck we will have on anything.
We are also celebrating that the cat has not died yet. In fact, he is looking remarkably well for being on Death's door for several days. It appears he will live to cost me another $700 at some point in the future. Woo hoo.
All of our February ducks are laying eggs now. Not every day, but we do have 5 egger days which is super. It means we will now be able to start selling eggs again and the ducks can pay for their own damn feed. We'll cross our fingers and hope that the recent string of losses is at an end and we can have a relatively quiet rest of the year despite what appears to be an explosion in the fox population.
And finally, I am celebrating my 300th post here on the blog. Yay blog.
And I leave you with a photo of the rather large snapper who drowned our duck. (Ooh, another reason to celebrate! A photo!) This is my hand. Not a giant hand, but an adult hand. And that is the turtle. He is big, no? He is in one of those galvanized washtubs. The kind of tub I prefer to load full of ice and beer rather than killer turtles. Maybe that will come later in the summer.
We are also celebrating that the cat has not died yet. In fact, he is looking remarkably well for being on Death's door for several days. It appears he will live to cost me another $700 at some point in the future. Woo hoo.
All of our February ducks are laying eggs now. Not every day, but we do have 5 egger days which is super. It means we will now be able to start selling eggs again and the ducks can pay for their own damn feed. We'll cross our fingers and hope that the recent string of losses is at an end and we can have a relatively quiet rest of the year despite what appears to be an explosion in the fox population.
And finally, I am celebrating my 300th post here on the blog. Yay blog.
And I leave you with a photo of the rather large snapper who drowned our duck. (Ooh, another reason to celebrate! A photo!) This is my hand. Not a giant hand, but an adult hand. And that is the turtle. He is big, no? He is in one of those galvanized washtubs. The kind of tub I prefer to load full of ice and beer rather than killer turtles. Maybe that will come later in the summer.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Waiting
The heat wave that has hit the central and eastern US is still with us for another day or so. The temps are near or over 100 the past few days. In the upper 90s and around 100 for the seven previous days. We have turned the AC on. This is not something we normally do. But some of us get a wee bit cranky when we are trying to sleep and can't because we are drowning in our own sweat. All hail modern technology. I really feel for the folks who have been out of power for the last 8 days. Most days I could have probably made it without AC by moving slow and drinking cold drinks and sitting in front of the fan. Subtract the fan and the ice and I would be toast. You folks who have toughed it out are impressive. I, on the other hand, am a pansy. The weather people say that this all starts to break up tonight and tomorrow and we will have a week that is back in the 80s. The prediction is for the low 80s on Tuesday. When I went to the farmer's market on Saturday, everyone was talking about Tuesday in awed tones as if it was a holiday.
I have high hopes that the Canadian cold front that is up to relieve us from the heat may also bring us rain. We have been watering like crazy over the past few weeks. All the wee thunderstorms have missed us and things are dry. Really dry. The ailanthus is starting to wilt. We are lucky that the soil here is good and sucks up water quickly. We can have a lot of impact with our watering as not much rolls off. Still, our water bill will be staggering. Along with the electric bill for the AC.
And of course on top of that, is the vet bill for the cat who is very likely dying. Liver failure. Probably permanent, but possibly temporary. We are treating him as if it is temporary, though I don't hold out much hope. He is lethargic, but doesn't seem to be in pain, so that is good. I'll have my first experience giving subcutaneous fluids today. I suspect it will be a lot messier than we think. But it can't be much worse than trying to get cat food in his mouth with a syringe. I already changed clothes once today.
The garden is doing remarkably well considering the drought. We are getting cukes, tomatillos, a few peppers and summer squashes. Tomatoes have to be coming soon... Cucumber agua fresca is just around the corner.
Ducks hold up to the heat remarkably well. The little ducks are now convinced they are big enough to play with the big ducks. The big ducks have no interest. Sound familiar? Oh, Teh Drama.
I have high hopes that the Canadian cold front that is up to relieve us from the heat may also bring us rain. We have been watering like crazy over the past few weeks. All the wee thunderstorms have missed us and things are dry. Really dry. The ailanthus is starting to wilt. We are lucky that the soil here is good and sucks up water quickly. We can have a lot of impact with our watering as not much rolls off. Still, our water bill will be staggering. Along with the electric bill for the AC.
And of course on top of that, is the vet bill for the cat who is very likely dying. Liver failure. Probably permanent, but possibly temporary. We are treating him as if it is temporary, though I don't hold out much hope. He is lethargic, but doesn't seem to be in pain, so that is good. I'll have my first experience giving subcutaneous fluids today. I suspect it will be a lot messier than we think. But it can't be much worse than trying to get cat food in his mouth with a syringe. I already changed clothes once today.
The garden is doing remarkably well considering the drought. We are getting cukes, tomatillos, a few peppers and summer squashes. Tomatoes have to be coming soon... Cucumber agua fresca is just around the corner.
Ducks hold up to the heat remarkably well. The little ducks are now convinced they are big enough to play with the big ducks. The big ducks have no interest. Sound familiar? Oh, Teh Drama.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
It has been so long....
So much has happened in the last month +. There is no way to catch up other than a list! (because you know we love a list around here almost as much as Starr Hill Girl.)
1. A week after the snapping turtle got one of the brown ducks, a fox got Aretha. Aretha was one of the original flock and was the only reliable layer left. Our other old girl, Josaphine, lays eggs but they have very thin shells and are often broken. And they go bad quickly since they don't seem to have much coating on them (a waxy stuff that is deposited on the eggs as they are laid so that they don't dehydrate). It was a bummer. We think she got snatched on evening at dusk. We didn't even realize she was gone until the next day. We never found any sign of her, no feathers, no carnage, no nothin'. That is why we think it was a fox.
2. I paid $5 for a small container of homegrown tomatoes at the market. It made me want to go home and fertilize my tomatoes. But I am not sorry I did it. I am just sorry everyone else likes tomatoes as much as I do.
3. I got a call from a friend at work that they were incubating some duck eggs and did we want some more ducks. I consulted with the SB. Why YES, thanks, we would like some more ducks!!
4. We took receipt of three adorable baby ducks. Two runner/khaki crosses and one pure runner. They would adorably follow me around the garden and play in the water while I was hosing down the plants.
5. I dug my potatoes. One of my favorite jobs. I looked into planting fall potatoes. I doubt it will work but giving it a shot.
6. We lost the little runner to what appears to be a snake attack. It was crushingly sad as these little critters are so personable. And I had to tell the folks that gave them to us. It is really hard when this happens as you really feel as if you have just failed miserably. Failed the ducks, failed the family, failed at farming. It always makes me wonder if this is just the way it goes or if we are particularly bad at this. I think the SB is getting PTSD.
7. We still have two very cute ducklings. They are just catching on to the fact that we are not ducks and they are not people. But they are still quite personable and too small to leave alone with the big ducks. So when they are out, they hang out with me in the garden or swim in the creek. They are excellent company.
8. The February flock is starting to lay. Today I got 5 tiny "pullet" eggs. Hal a freakin luja.
9. And finally, at the request of my friend Meghan, to whom I owe the privilege of owning goats (she made it legal in the city), I have started a new blog. We'll be discussing goat ownership in the city. I am sure there will be cross links as clearly, I am not finding a ton of time to write on THIS blog, much less another.
Cheers!
1. A week after the snapping turtle got one of the brown ducks, a fox got Aretha. Aretha was one of the original flock and was the only reliable layer left. Our other old girl, Josaphine, lays eggs but they have very thin shells and are often broken. And they go bad quickly since they don't seem to have much coating on them (a waxy stuff that is deposited on the eggs as they are laid so that they don't dehydrate). It was a bummer. We think she got snatched on evening at dusk. We didn't even realize she was gone until the next day. We never found any sign of her, no feathers, no carnage, no nothin'. That is why we think it was a fox.
2. I paid $5 for a small container of homegrown tomatoes at the market. It made me want to go home and fertilize my tomatoes. But I am not sorry I did it. I am just sorry everyone else likes tomatoes as much as I do.
3. I got a call from a friend at work that they were incubating some duck eggs and did we want some more ducks. I consulted with the SB. Why YES, thanks, we would like some more ducks!!
4. We took receipt of three adorable baby ducks. Two runner/khaki crosses and one pure runner. They would adorably follow me around the garden and play in the water while I was hosing down the plants.
5. I dug my potatoes. One of my favorite jobs. I looked into planting fall potatoes. I doubt it will work but giving it a shot.
6. We lost the little runner to what appears to be a snake attack. It was crushingly sad as these little critters are so personable. And I had to tell the folks that gave them to us. It is really hard when this happens as you really feel as if you have just failed miserably. Failed the ducks, failed the family, failed at farming. It always makes me wonder if this is just the way it goes or if we are particularly bad at this. I think the SB is getting PTSD.
7. We still have two very cute ducklings. They are just catching on to the fact that we are not ducks and they are not people. But they are still quite personable and too small to leave alone with the big ducks. So when they are out, they hang out with me in the garden or swim in the creek. They are excellent company.
8. The February flock is starting to lay. Today I got 5 tiny "pullet" eggs. Hal a freakin luja.
9. And finally, at the request of my friend Meghan, to whom I owe the privilege of owning goats (she made it legal in the city), I have started a new blog. We'll be discussing goat ownership in the city. I am sure there will be cross links as clearly, I am not finding a ton of time to write on THIS blog, much less another.
Cheers!
Monday, May 7, 2012
Tiny Window
This is the tiny window in weather garden etc that is precious. The greens are going great guns, the summer pests haven't set in. The mosquitoes are barely buzzing. The rain is coming regularly. There is much potential and promise. Seeds planted. Trellises constructed. Mowing more or less under control. Flowers blooming, etc, etc.
Oh! Didn't I mention that the SB made trellises for the garden? No? You. Should. See. Them. I feel totally rich. They are simple, rabbit fencing with a bamboo pole woven through the top, hung on some posts. We have two of these panels per bed. We have the trellises around the outside of our 6 main beds, in a U shape. When they grow in there will be a wee garden room springing up around you. In my mind it is green and fruitful.
We'll see what happens when reality sets in.
Oh! Didn't I mention that the SB made trellises for the garden? No? You. Should. See. Them. I feel totally rich. They are simple, rabbit fencing with a bamboo pole woven through the top, hung on some posts. We have two of these panels per bed. We have the trellises around the outside of our 6 main beds, in a U shape. When they grow in there will be a wee garden room springing up around you. In my mind it is green and fruitful.
We'll see what happens when reality sets in.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Slogging
Seems like I have been moving through molasses lately. Not getting much done on any front. Spring fever? Laziness? Your call.
The new ducks are out in the duck yard. They are bums. They have to be rousted out of their house on a regular basis. I force them out into the yard (the big ducks are always dying to go out) and as soon as I turn my back they have snuck back in and settled in the house. It is a rough go for them, our big male Sampson will periodically chase them and then abuse them. It is pathetic. I don't know whether to just let them at it. I feel like he is going to get tired of it at some point. I think keeping them separate at some point just prolongs the integration. At the same time, locking them in a cage all day where they can't get away from him seems somewhat cruel. I guess it is gonna be rough whichever way it goes. And these little ones really do need to toughen up. They are total pansies. It is hard to find good info on duck flock integration.
The goats are enjoying all the greenery. They are eating up a storm and loving it. The goat vet came today for their yearly check up/vaccinations. She said that they are both "proper" goats, meaning they have good confirmation. Also that Zinnia has beautiful feet and Ella has witches toes. Just sayin'. She also allowed that they were at the perfect weight and I shouldn't feed them more than necessary. Which is good because they seemed on the thin side to me.
The garden is crappy so far this year. No rain and lots of heat has made the germination totally spotty. I am moving on. Looking forward to putting out the summer plants and planning for fall. I think we will have some mustard greens, arugula and lettuce, but nothing else seems to be coming up.
The new ducks are out in the duck yard. They are bums. They have to be rousted out of their house on a regular basis. I force them out into the yard (the big ducks are always dying to go out) and as soon as I turn my back they have snuck back in and settled in the house. It is a rough go for them, our big male Sampson will periodically chase them and then abuse them. It is pathetic. I don't know whether to just let them at it. I feel like he is going to get tired of it at some point. I think keeping them separate at some point just prolongs the integration. At the same time, locking them in a cage all day where they can't get away from him seems somewhat cruel. I guess it is gonna be rough whichever way it goes. And these little ones really do need to toughen up. They are total pansies. It is hard to find good info on duck flock integration.
The goats are enjoying all the greenery. They are eating up a storm and loving it. The goat vet came today for their yearly check up/vaccinations. She said that they are both "proper" goats, meaning they have good confirmation. Also that Zinnia has beautiful feet and Ella has witches toes. Just sayin'. She also allowed that they were at the perfect weight and I shouldn't feed them more than necessary. Which is good because they seemed on the thin side to me.
The garden is crappy so far this year. No rain and lots of heat has made the germination totally spotty. I am moving on. Looking forward to putting out the summer plants and planning for fall. I think we will have some mustard greens, arugula and lettuce, but nothing else seems to be coming up.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Slacker
I know, it seems to have been ages since I have posted. There has been lots going on...
11 baby ducks arrived February 23rd. Three went to another family (we had arranged that in advance to get better shipping rates) Of the remaining 8, one didn't make it. Just never really caught on to the eating thing. That kinda thing makes you wonder if you were cut out for this farming thing (clearly I am not since my "farm" animals are all pets). Then one of the ducklings developed a limp. Probably from being stepped on by one of its flock mates. We moved them from the rubbermaid tub they were in to the larger dog crate in the basement. Which made our living quarters smell a lot better. The limp resolved. They are growing like weeds. The SB refers to them as the demon babies as they are growing at an otherworldly rate. They are going outside soon as we can't keep up with their water and food needs much longer in the crate that they are in. Well, I guess we could. We did it with 11 ducks for a lot longer 3 years ago, but.....
The integration of flocks will be the next major step. Our alpha duck Sampson is very interested. It is impossible to say if it is benevolent, aggressive or some combination. There is one male duck in our current 7, and I do fear for that little one most. Despite their crazy growth, the babies are tiny and fragile compared with the older ducks. I think we are going to divide the duck pen and house. Have a sort of separate but equal situation where they can get tired of looking at each other through the fence before we actually let them co mingle. I imagine we will wear Sampson out. He is very serious about his job.
In other news, I went to Dragon Hill Farm to see the new goatlings and pick the brain of my goat's farm mama about goat birthing. It will be our turn next year so I wanted some real info from a real human rather than just a book or YouTube video. One of Heidi's goats had given birth earlier in the day. Three tiny goatlings were snug in the stall with their mama. Did I mention that they were TINY? O.M.G. On our way back to the house, the other goat that was close had apparently gone on with having her babies right in the paddock with the other goats. We saw a tiny wet thing commando crawling in the pasture and Heidi grabbed the birthing kit and went to it. Two more were born within the hour. All healthy and strong. Wow. A LOT of slime in birthing. I got some good if brief experience. And I smelled very much of goat when I got home.
Today I am hosting a seed swap at the chapel next door. I have no idea how many people are going to show up. Over the years, I have learned that many gardeners, myself included, are absolutely INSANE. So it wouldn't surprise me to see a lot of people here at 10AM on a beautiful Saturday morning.
Millions of things to do in house, garden, farm and school work. Blogging probably the least important, but the most fun and I can do it while I drink my (much needed) coffee. Yay.
11 baby ducks arrived February 23rd. Three went to another family (we had arranged that in advance to get better shipping rates) Of the remaining 8, one didn't make it. Just never really caught on to the eating thing. That kinda thing makes you wonder if you were cut out for this farming thing (clearly I am not since my "farm" animals are all pets). Then one of the ducklings developed a limp. Probably from being stepped on by one of its flock mates. We moved them from the rubbermaid tub they were in to the larger dog crate in the basement. Which made our living quarters smell a lot better. The limp resolved. They are growing like weeds. The SB refers to them as the demon babies as they are growing at an otherworldly rate. They are going outside soon as we can't keep up with their water and food needs much longer in the crate that they are in. Well, I guess we could. We did it with 11 ducks for a lot longer 3 years ago, but.....
The integration of flocks will be the next major step. Our alpha duck Sampson is very interested. It is impossible to say if it is benevolent, aggressive or some combination. There is one male duck in our current 7, and I do fear for that little one most. Despite their crazy growth, the babies are tiny and fragile compared with the older ducks. I think we are going to divide the duck pen and house. Have a sort of separate but equal situation where they can get tired of looking at each other through the fence before we actually let them co mingle. I imagine we will wear Sampson out. He is very serious about his job.
In other news, I went to Dragon Hill Farm to see the new goatlings and pick the brain of my goat's farm mama about goat birthing. It will be our turn next year so I wanted some real info from a real human rather than just a book or YouTube video. One of Heidi's goats had given birth earlier in the day. Three tiny goatlings were snug in the stall with their mama. Did I mention that they were TINY? O.M.G. On our way back to the house, the other goat that was close had apparently gone on with having her babies right in the paddock with the other goats. We saw a tiny wet thing commando crawling in the pasture and Heidi grabbed the birthing kit and went to it. Two more were born within the hour. All healthy and strong. Wow. A LOT of slime in birthing. I got some good if brief experience. And I smelled very much of goat when I got home.
Today I am hosting a seed swap at the chapel next door. I have no idea how many people are going to show up. Over the years, I have learned that many gardeners, myself included, are absolutely INSANE. So it wouldn't surprise me to see a lot of people here at 10AM on a beautiful Saturday morning.
Millions of things to do in house, garden, farm and school work. Blogging probably the least important, but the most fun and I can do it while I drink my (much needed) coffee. Yay.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Seasonal Employment
Because we have been doing nothing other than working on the milking cottage since this time last year (if you include the design/siting and the harvesting and collecting of materials in addition to the more obvious fabrication) I decided to take a bit of a break this fall on the garden. I did make a feeble attempt to get things going this summer, but it was so hot and dry that things really didn't germinate. I do have a small patch of carrots, some arugula and a few beets, but that is it. Because there is currently nothing in the garden that I am too worked up a bit, I have decided to put the ducks to work at their intended tasks...
We got the ducks as garden helpers.... do you remember? They were supposed to take care of bugs and not scratch things up like chickens. Actually, I have not had a slug problem since I got the ducks, even though we don't have them in the garden that much. The reason we don't have them in the garden as expected is because of the leafy greens. Wow, those ducks can put a hurtin' on the spinach and the chard. But since I have neither spinach nor chard this fall, thanks to Mother Nature, who knew I needed a break, I have set the ducks to task. The past year I have been plagued by these very annoying bugs that have ruined the greens and some of the brassicas. I also have a squash bug problem. All this is probably due to intensive cultivation and being a wee bit lazy about cleaning up in the fall.
I am hoping that the ducks take to the task. My plan is to leave them in the garden in the mornings with only a light breakfast. In the afternoon we will let them out into the bigger yard and let them swim in the creek. It is a good deal for them, because it means more forage time, and they do live to forage. The bad thing is that they are going to get spoiled rotten and think that they deserve to be out of the pen ALL the time. I guess we deal with that when the time comes.
I have also started to consider a flock of chickens. We have a section of the garden where we have been growing corn/beans/squash together. Unfortunately, this makes it pretty much impossible to weed. I need some good working chickens in a movable pen who can take that section down to dirt and eat every seed and growing thing in the top two inches of soil. I think some chickens are the birds for the job. While we don't need more eggs, there do seem to be folks in the hood who would be interested. I bet I could get rid of as much as we could produce in that department as people aren't as squeamish about chicken eggs as they are duck... And I don't have any trouble getting rid of the duck eggs.
Now it is all about fencing and a movable pen. And some warm weather. The first frost came in solid last night. Everything was crunchy this morning and the duck and goat water had a skim of ice across the top. Welcome to the Season of Frost.
We got the ducks as garden helpers.... do you remember? They were supposed to take care of bugs and not scratch things up like chickens. Actually, I have not had a slug problem since I got the ducks, even though we don't have them in the garden that much. The reason we don't have them in the garden as expected is because of the leafy greens. Wow, those ducks can put a hurtin' on the spinach and the chard. But since I have neither spinach nor chard this fall, thanks to Mother Nature, who knew I needed a break, I have set the ducks to task. The past year I have been plagued by these very annoying bugs that have ruined the greens and some of the brassicas. I also have a squash bug problem. All this is probably due to intensive cultivation and being a wee bit lazy about cleaning up in the fall.
I am hoping that the ducks take to the task. My plan is to leave them in the garden in the mornings with only a light breakfast. In the afternoon we will let them out into the bigger yard and let them swim in the creek. It is a good deal for them, because it means more forage time, and they do live to forage. The bad thing is that they are going to get spoiled rotten and think that they deserve to be out of the pen ALL the time. I guess we deal with that when the time comes.
I have also started to consider a flock of chickens. We have a section of the garden where we have been growing corn/beans/squash together. Unfortunately, this makes it pretty much impossible to weed. I need some good working chickens in a movable pen who can take that section down to dirt and eat every seed and growing thing in the top two inches of soil. I think some chickens are the birds for the job. While we don't need more eggs, there do seem to be folks in the hood who would be interested. I bet I could get rid of as much as we could produce in that department as people aren't as squeamish about chicken eggs as they are duck... And I don't have any trouble getting rid of the duck eggs.
Now it is all about fencing and a movable pen. And some warm weather. The first frost came in solid last night. Everything was crunchy this morning and the duck and goat water had a skim of ice across the top. Welcome to the Season of Frost.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Serves me right
Last night I was having one of those days. One of those days where I don't really feel like cooking anything. One of those days where it really seems like WAY too much trouble to turn on the stove. It would be so much easier to get in the car and drive to our neighborhood bar and get some nachos. And beer. And we wouldn't have to do the dishes or anything. And we could see one of our favorite bar tenders. We would probably end up with beer to take home and stay out too late and not get anything done. But really, the cooking was just not speaking to me. Despite having lots of fabu things around to cook.
So I started hemming and hawing. Then the SB mentioned lentils. I love lentils. Especially in the cool weather. I was inspired..... we had eggplant from the garden. We had smoked sausages from Edward's. We had garden peppers, garlic, parsley and onions and a bit of home made chicken stock. And some cooked fingerling potatoes. And that was sort of all she wrote with a squeeze of lemon on top. The onions were a pain in the butt because all that are left of this year's haul are the tiny ones. But we did it. We made a super yummy fall dinner and thawed some rolls from the freezer and added butter and it was delish. So much better than anything you could pay for and in large part homegrown.
So I started hemming and hawing. Then the SB mentioned lentils. I love lentils. Especially in the cool weather. I was inspired..... we had eggplant from the garden. We had smoked sausages from Edward's. We had garden peppers, garlic, parsley and onions and a bit of home made chicken stock. And some cooked fingerling potatoes. And that was sort of all she wrote with a squeeze of lemon on top. The onions were a pain in the butt because all that are left of this year's haul are the tiny ones. But we did it. We made a super yummy fall dinner and thawed some rolls from the freezer and added butter and it was delish. So much better than anything you could pay for and in large part homegrown.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
9:00 AM.
I just came in from the garden. I don't think I will be going back out if I can help it. Drenched and dirty and it is already 90 degrees. The livestock seems unconcerned, though I did let the ducks out early so they can be in the water.
I let the goats out yesterday around 6:30 PM, when the temperature had dropped to about 97. The fool animals were galloping around the yard like hooligans. I could hardly stand to watch but they were so stinkin' funny looking while they were doing it I couldn't really resist.
The garden is in very sad shape. The summer stuff bug eaten or crisped by lack of rain and the fall stuff not yet brave enough to germinate.
The heat won't keep us from work on the milking cottage. We had been calling this structure the goat barn, but it is so not barn like that I changed it to the milking cottage. Barns don't have cute Victorian style screen doors on them. You'll see when it is done. Yes, you will. Because I finally got a phone with a camera in it. So I can take some pictures. Now if I can just remember to take my phone with me....
I let the goats out yesterday around 6:30 PM, when the temperature had dropped to about 97. The fool animals were galloping around the yard like hooligans. I could hardly stand to watch but they were so stinkin' funny looking while they were doing it I couldn't really resist.
The garden is in very sad shape. The summer stuff bug eaten or crisped by lack of rain and the fall stuff not yet brave enough to germinate.
The heat won't keep us from work on the milking cottage. We had been calling this structure the goat barn, but it is so not barn like that I changed it to the milking cottage. Barns don't have cute Victorian style screen doors on them. You'll see when it is done. Yes, you will. Because I finally got a phone with a camera in it. So I can take some pictures. Now if I can just remember to take my phone with me....
Monday, June 13, 2011
Quiet
It has been quiet on the blog because it has been anything but quiet on the homefront. Dag. The drawback to the lengthening days is that there is way more light to work by. So if you come in when it gets dark, that means you start making dinner at 9. Which means you are up until past 11. Which means that when you get up at 6:00 to feed the animals you are a wee bit cranky.
But anyway...
The garden is entering the summer phase. The peas came out over the weekend as well as some of the beets and turnips. Also the cilantro that has bolted and the fennel that is looking ready to go skyward. I harvested some of the red onions and some of the garlic (the rest doesn't appear quite ready). In place of these things I have put okra and long beans. Possibly will add some more leek seedlings since they have miraculously held on in their tiny cell packs. I harvested the first cuke today with a yellow squash coming right behind. Lucky us.
The ducks are good. Spoiled with being out and eating far less grain. Which is a good thing. The gimpy duck still has a bump on her foot. She doesn't seem to be limping though and it hasn't developed the nasty black scab that the other bumblefoot bump had. I don't know what that means. Seems like her weight is OK and she doesn't seem to be in pain. Kind of all we can hope for.
The goats are cranky with giving up their milk. They now just get an ounce of water by bottle in the morning because I am a lily livered pansy and afraid they are going to make a rukus in the morning if I don't give it to them. My neighbors are already saints for listening to them complain in the evenings about the milk thing. Sheesh.
The goat barn is coming along slowly. Considering a work party soon to kick it before the SB takes off for Scotland for 3 weeks at the end of July. It would be nice to have it at least partially completed by then.... These things always take so much longer than expected.
But anyway...
The garden is entering the summer phase. The peas came out over the weekend as well as some of the beets and turnips. Also the cilantro that has bolted and the fennel that is looking ready to go skyward. I harvested some of the red onions and some of the garlic (the rest doesn't appear quite ready). In place of these things I have put okra and long beans. Possibly will add some more leek seedlings since they have miraculously held on in their tiny cell packs. I harvested the first cuke today with a yellow squash coming right behind. Lucky us.
The ducks are good. Spoiled with being out and eating far less grain. Which is a good thing. The gimpy duck still has a bump on her foot. She doesn't seem to be limping though and it hasn't developed the nasty black scab that the other bumblefoot bump had. I don't know what that means. Seems like her weight is OK and she doesn't seem to be in pain. Kind of all we can hope for.
The goats are cranky with giving up their milk. They now just get an ounce of water by bottle in the morning because I am a lily livered pansy and afraid they are going to make a rukus in the morning if I don't give it to them. My neighbors are already saints for listening to them complain in the evenings about the milk thing. Sheesh.
The goat barn is coming along slowly. Considering a work party soon to kick it before the SB takes off for Scotland for 3 weeks at the end of July. It would be nice to have it at least partially completed by then.... These things always take so much longer than expected.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Summer
If it weren't for the veggies and fruit, I really would have no use for summer. I'd skip it all if I could. The bugs, heat, sweat, watering, poison ivy, and dealing with hoses. There is none of this that I love. What almost makes it worth it is the tomatoes, peaches, fresh peppers, basil, tomatillos, corn, squash and parsley that makes its way to the table.
Last night we had a very late dinner of roasted chicken and veggies. I had found some inspirational new potatoes at the market and added my own tiny carrots, beets, turnips, fennel and onions and popped them in a way too hot oven and we still ate near 11. Which is what happens when you work until dark. Why is it that delicious roasty things come in a season that you don't want to roast? This is what I am saying about summer. Inconvenient on all fronts....
Last night we had a very late dinner of roasted chicken and veggies. I had found some inspirational new potatoes at the market and added my own tiny carrots, beets, turnips, fennel and onions and popped them in a way too hot oven and we still ate near 11. Which is what happens when you work until dark. Why is it that delicious roasty things come in a season that you don't want to roast? This is what I am saying about summer. Inconvenient on all fronts....
Monday, May 23, 2011
Season of Laundry
At this time of year there is much to contribute to the never ending and insufferable mountain of laundry that the SB and I produce. First, the temperature fluctuates wildly during the day. You can go from needing long sleeves, pants and socks in the morning to short, tank and sandals in the afternoon. Necessitating at least one change of clothes. Add in that you are sweating and stinking up your clothes. And that just about everything that we do outside involves mud, water, hay or poop and you can see where this is going. Then there are the work clothes. If I could hire out one indoor task it would be laundrypluscleaningthefreakinbaseboards.
The goats are growing and getting a wee bit chubby I think. They are full tilt on the hay but have not given up the bottles. We are weaning them down.... Tomorrow I think we do away entirely with their mid day meal. Nice how I eliminate the one that I am not home for.... I let the SB suffer the loud displeasure of the goats. Him and the neighbors. By the weekend they will be used to it. And I can sleep in another 10 minutes.
LBD is going on her third round of antibiotics. She still has a lump in her foot. It isn't getting any worse, but it isn't getting that much better either. The last bit really needed to ripen up on its own time, so we are trying to be patient. I talked to the vet today and he said his partner suggested using Preparation H on it. Another vet has told us that we should soak in epsom salts and hit it with Benadine every day until it "drains". There is both comfort and frustration in the fact that the "experts" are just as scatter shot as I am on this.
Flea beetles found my tender eggplant plants if 34 seconds flat. Planted corn and squash this afternoon. I think that counts as getting something done.
The goats are growing and getting a wee bit chubby I think. They are full tilt on the hay but have not given up the bottles. We are weaning them down.... Tomorrow I think we do away entirely with their mid day meal. Nice how I eliminate the one that I am not home for.... I let the SB suffer the loud displeasure of the goats. Him and the neighbors. By the weekend they will be used to it. And I can sleep in another 10 minutes.
LBD is going on her third round of antibiotics. She still has a lump in her foot. It isn't getting any worse, but it isn't getting that much better either. The last bit really needed to ripen up on its own time, so we are trying to be patient. I talked to the vet today and he said his partner suggested using Preparation H on it. Another vet has told us that we should soak in epsom salts and hit it with Benadine every day until it "drains". There is both comfort and frustration in the fact that the "experts" are just as scatter shot as I am on this.
Flea beetles found my tender eggplant plants if 34 seconds flat. Planted corn and squash this afternoon. I think that counts as getting something done.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Renaissance Hombre
So yesterday was sort of a crazy day, as are most around the Urban Farm in the springtime. The SB though, decided that he might just merit the title Renaissance Man after the day. He spent a big portion of it designing and building the goat house. The difficult part being the pyramid roof with the cupola that is planned (you know, the one that allows the light to come into the middle of the building and fire up the chandelier in the middle of the day). Not so straightforward in the rafter department. Not revolutionary, mind you, but it takes some figuring. Add to that an (at least) semi successful foot surgery on the Little Brown Duck (LBD) and you have a day of many colors here in Woolen Mills.
The surgery. Oi. We captured the duck late in the day and decided to give it another go on the bumblefoot. The foot was progressing in that the bumble was getting a large scab on the bottom and a tough outer ring. The SB poked and carved at it a bit until something came out. Um. Dis.Gusting. It was an evil looking thing. Like a booger from the nose of The Devil Himself. Tough like cartilage and with nasty fingers poking out in all directions. It bled quite a bit, but getting that bit out was a big step in the right direction. There may be more there, but we are giving it a few days to sort itself out before we try anything new. When I came home from work I gave the duck some antibiotics and tried to get some Blukote on its foot, but I couldn't subdue its feisty three pounds of protest (at least without doing damage) so I called it a day and let her spend the rest of it in the garden with free access to the pea shoots and spinach.
All in all, progress on many fronts. I got the tomatoes in the ground (FINALLY) and still have to plant lots of peppers and eggplant. And okra. THAT definitely has to go in soon. But the garden is heading toward its first lull, at least in the greens department. Though now that the spinach and cabbages are on their way out, this year's chard is coming on, so we should be ok for a while during the wait until the peas and zucchini start making a showing.
The wee goats are growing up and are now more interested in eating than in lap sitting. Which is truthfully something of a relief as I was beginning to wonder if having two forty to fifty pound goats in one's lap was really a good way to spend the summer. They are still adorable and love to be petted and will still climb in your lap, it is just between foraging now.
The surgery. Oi. We captured the duck late in the day and decided to give it another go on the bumblefoot. The foot was progressing in that the bumble was getting a large scab on the bottom and a tough outer ring. The SB poked and carved at it a bit until something came out. Um. Dis.Gusting. It was an evil looking thing. Like a booger from the nose of The Devil Himself. Tough like cartilage and with nasty fingers poking out in all directions. It bled quite a bit, but getting that bit out was a big step in the right direction. There may be more there, but we are giving it a few days to sort itself out before we try anything new. When I came home from work I gave the duck some antibiotics and tried to get some Blukote on its foot, but I couldn't subdue its feisty three pounds of protest (at least without doing damage) so I called it a day and let her spend the rest of it in the garden with free access to the pea shoots and spinach.
All in all, progress on many fronts. I got the tomatoes in the ground (FINALLY) and still have to plant lots of peppers and eggplant. And okra. THAT definitely has to go in soon. But the garden is heading toward its first lull, at least in the greens department. Though now that the spinach and cabbages are on their way out, this year's chard is coming on, so we should be ok for a while during the wait until the peas and zucchini start making a showing.
The wee goats are growing up and are now more interested in eating than in lap sitting. Which is truthfully something of a relief as I was beginning to wonder if having two forty to fifty pound goats in one's lap was really a good way to spend the summer. They are still adorable and love to be petted and will still climb in your lap, it is just between foraging now.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Ugh.
So I think one of the ducks has bumblefoot. It is an ugly big lump around one of her toes. Hard and a bit of a scab seems to be developing. She started limping yesterday and the SB and I caught her this evening before we both had to run off for work. Yes, it takes two people to tend a four pound duck. One holds while the other prods. And the wings try to go everywhere, which is the part you get nervous about. They are hardy critters, but a wing has a lot of leverage that could go the wrong way.
Anywhoo. From the reading I have been doing, it looks like the only option is to lance the wound and get the gunk out. That will have to happen tomorrow. So if I don't chow down as usual at the Diner, you will know why. And I may need to have something a little stiffer than the Legend Brown Ale I usually drink there. I am sorta hoping the SB decides that he wants to practice his surgical skills and lets me off the hook. But I also realize that this is something that I am gonna have to know how to do. These may be our first ducks, but they aren't the last. And bumblefoot is not uncommon. I'll be doing more reading tonight though. I won't so much be looking at the horrifying pictures on the internets. yee. Any advice would be welcome so chime on in....
We smeared the lump with Neosporin for the evening in hopes of slowing the growth and we will keep her penned tomorrow as well to keep her off the foot. Some people have made wee boots for their poultry to protect the open sore from getting caked up with poop and mud and stuff. I think I am going to shoot for as clean bedding as I can get. Really, I can't imagine a duck wearing any kind of boot. Heaven only knows how long this lasts.
In other news, we just got a torrential downpour with hail and everything. I am hoping there is something left of the garden, but I won't know until I can see it in the light of morning. I guess there isn't anything I can do about it right now anyway.
On a lighter note, I found $5 in one of my front porch pots this AM. I have no idea where that came from.... Yay me.
Anywhoo. From the reading I have been doing, it looks like the only option is to lance the wound and get the gunk out. That will have to happen tomorrow. So if I don't chow down as usual at the Diner, you will know why. And I may need to have something a little stiffer than the Legend Brown Ale I usually drink there. I am sorta hoping the SB decides that he wants to practice his surgical skills and lets me off the hook. But I also realize that this is something that I am gonna have to know how to do. These may be our first ducks, but they aren't the last. And bumblefoot is not uncommon. I'll be doing more reading tonight though. I won't so much be looking at the horrifying pictures on the internets. yee. Any advice would be welcome so chime on in....
We smeared the lump with Neosporin for the evening in hopes of slowing the growth and we will keep her penned tomorrow as well to keep her off the foot. Some people have made wee boots for their poultry to protect the open sore from getting caked up with poop and mud and stuff. I think I am going to shoot for as clean bedding as I can get. Really, I can't imagine a duck wearing any kind of boot. Heaven only knows how long this lasts.
In other news, we just got a torrential downpour with hail and everything. I am hoping there is something left of the garden, but I won't know until I can see it in the light of morning. I guess there isn't anything I can do about it right now anyway.
On a lighter note, I found $5 in one of my front porch pots this AM. I have no idea where that came from.... Yay me.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Off
I took off from my real job Thursday and today to catch up on things around the Urban Farm. It feels like I have gotten a lot done, though there is no end in sight for the to do list.
This morning I transplanted chard, parsley and tomatillos into the garden and volunteer sunflowers into the orchard bed. The overcast skies and rain made it a perfect transplanting day. We are officially in greens season. Lots of spinach, mustard, chard, arugula and lettuce. We are tossing the mixed greens with hot pasta, vinaigrette, garlic, Parmesan, grated carrot and sunflower seeds. Yum.
We worked on the goat barn some. I made squash soup with what I think is pretty much the end of the winter squash. It isn't my favorite, but it'll do.
Because of the rain today, the ducks were foraging all over the place. Twice they were caught at the front of the house near the road. I ended up locking them up early as they seemed hell bent on trouble today. They complained LOUDLY.
I took the goats for a ramble around the yard while the SB headed out to an auction. The goats do like to walk. And they are exploring a lot more in the way of forage. They still prefer plastic and string to pretty much anything else except cedar bark. Ella loves English ivy and they both like privet. It is a good start. Unfortunately, they are also obsessed with the raspberries, so those may need to go back into the garden.
The big day off treat was to go back to bed at 8AM after feeding the animals and myself and having a cup of tea. It is much easier to wake up after caffeine, but it doesn't make getting out of bed any easier.
This morning I transplanted chard, parsley and tomatillos into the garden and volunteer sunflowers into the orchard bed. The overcast skies and rain made it a perfect transplanting day. We are officially in greens season. Lots of spinach, mustard, chard, arugula and lettuce. We are tossing the mixed greens with hot pasta, vinaigrette, garlic, Parmesan, grated carrot and sunflower seeds. Yum.
We worked on the goat barn some. I made squash soup with what I think is pretty much the end of the winter squash. It isn't my favorite, but it'll do.
Because of the rain today, the ducks were foraging all over the place. Twice they were caught at the front of the house near the road. I ended up locking them up early as they seemed hell bent on trouble today. They complained LOUDLY.
I took the goats for a ramble around the yard while the SB headed out to an auction. The goats do like to walk. And they are exploring a lot more in the way of forage. They still prefer plastic and string to pretty much anything else except cedar bark. Ella loves English ivy and they both like privet. It is a good start. Unfortunately, they are also obsessed with the raspberries, so those may need to go back into the garden.
The big day off treat was to go back to bed at 8AM after feeding the animals and myself and having a cup of tea. It is much easier to wake up after caffeine, but it doesn't make getting out of bed any easier.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Everything else
Since you have heard more than you probably care to about goats lately, I will tell you of other things...
We are eating spinach, arugula, chard and mustard greens out of the garden. Along with some radishes.
Getting up 30 minutes early is killing me.
I don't really need to get up 30 minutes earlier just to feed goats, but I am a terrible judge of timing. So I am exhausted.
The ducks are goofy and laying between 6 and 8 eggs a day. Luckily, we can sell them to the diner. I seem to forget that I don't really use a lot of eggs when the weather is warm, because I usually use them in baking. And I don't do that much when the temperature is above 60.
I am exceedingly tired of stink bugs.
I planted cucumbers on Sunday in front of the duck house in hopes that the vines will give summer shade.
My garden needs some serious weeding.
The SB built a trellis for the peas and beans, and was gifted a very cute garden bench by a friend. The bench is now, surprise, in the garden. So we can sit there and drink wine. Ooh. How nice.
The potatoes are coming up.
The ducks ate all the sorrel, but I am hoping it comes back now that I have moved it to the front yard. The rhubarb is still alive and doing remarkably well.
OK, about to pass out now, off to round up the current crop of stink bugs and retire for the evening.
We are eating spinach, arugula, chard and mustard greens out of the garden. Along with some radishes.
Getting up 30 minutes early is killing me.
I don't really need to get up 30 minutes earlier just to feed goats, but I am a terrible judge of timing. So I am exhausted.
The ducks are goofy and laying between 6 and 8 eggs a day. Luckily, we can sell them to the diner. I seem to forget that I don't really use a lot of eggs when the weather is warm, because I usually use them in baking. And I don't do that much when the temperature is above 60.
I am exceedingly tired of stink bugs.
I planted cucumbers on Sunday in front of the duck house in hopes that the vines will give summer shade.
My garden needs some serious weeding.
The SB built a trellis for the peas and beans, and was gifted a very cute garden bench by a friend. The bench is now, surprise, in the garden. So we can sit there and drink wine. Ooh. How nice.
The potatoes are coming up.
The ducks ate all the sorrel, but I am hoping it comes back now that I have moved it to the front yard. The rhubarb is still alive and doing remarkably well.
OK, about to pass out now, off to round up the current crop of stink bugs and retire for the evening.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Whirlwind
Wow, it has been a whirlwind week. New goats, family in town, lots of goat visitors, bare root plants in the mail (like 200 of them), etc. etc.
We officially have the most visited goats in the universe. I love that we can share the goat love. Plus, we want everyone to fall in love with them while they are little and cute, so if they get in trouble later, there are the good memories to fall back on.
I still haven't had a chance to look at the garden, but I think we have lots of spinach.
We got 100 hay scented fern for the back yard. Currently, 50 Piedmont Azaleas , which will likely go to 100, as that is what we ordered. Love bare root stuff as it is cheap and easy to plant. The window of opportunity is tight though to deal with them. I would be happy to sell you some lovely piedmont azaleas if you want some. Ordering 100 (smallest available quantity) from this place was at least as cheap if not cheaper than anything else I found. And we can use a lot of them....
Once again, Punk Domestics pulls out the awesome recipe . I can't wait until my rhubarb takes off.
We officially have the most visited goats in the universe. I love that we can share the goat love. Plus, we want everyone to fall in love with them while they are little and cute, so if they get in trouble later, there are the good memories to fall back on.
I still haven't had a chance to look at the garden, but I think we have lots of spinach.
We got 100 hay scented fern for the back yard. Currently, 50 Piedmont Azaleas , which will likely go to 100, as that is what we ordered. Love bare root stuff as it is cheap and easy to plant. The window of opportunity is tight though to deal with them. I would be happy to sell you some lovely piedmont azaleas if you want some. Ordering 100 (smallest available quantity) from this place was at least as cheap if not cheaper than anything else I found. And we can use a lot of them....
Once again, Punk Domestics pulls out the awesome recipe . I can't wait until my rhubarb takes off.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
About the cutest
So I came home from work today to find the SB working in the garden with two tiny assistants. He was pruning and Ellamenope (Ella) and Zinnia were helping by keeping him company and nibbling on all the the twigs he had pruned off.
When I came down the hill toward them, the little goats ran across the bridge to greet me and one even bleated a tiny hello.
The SB had thrown one of the cedar rails across the creek to challenge the goats and Zinnia got it right off. Ella, being a week younger and by far tinier, had to do some bleating and figuring to get across. Finally opting for sidestepping the rail and just leaping. The little boys next door came over for their afternoon visit. They learned that goats do not like a hammock. Good to know.
I have been so busy with goat projects and visitors, I haven't seen my garden in days. I hope the rain helped things along and that there will be salad by the weekend. Funny thing is that it grows without me checking on it every day. Go figure.
When I came down the hill toward them, the little goats ran across the bridge to greet me and one even bleated a tiny hello.
The SB had thrown one of the cedar rails across the creek to challenge the goats and Zinnia got it right off. Ella, being a week younger and by far tinier, had to do some bleating and figuring to get across. Finally opting for sidestepping the rail and just leaping. The little boys next door came over for their afternoon visit. They learned that goats do not like a hammock. Good to know.
I have been so busy with goat projects and visitors, I haven't seen my garden in days. I hope the rain helped things along and that there will be salad by the weekend. Funny thing is that it grows without me checking on it every day. Go figure.
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