Morning people
Winter preparations:
I have a small coop AND a small run AND a tiny flock of 6 ( remember I was aiming for 4 and threw those extra 2 in the box because everyone told me "a couple will probably die" - then everyone thrived.
)
But I also live in a warm-ish climate where they're able to range in the yard year round.
There are seasons here though. It's not like Florida.
If we get snow here it's only a little, maybe once a year.
Freezing rain is more likely. Being close to the Atlantic ocean keeps us fairly temperate.
We get the occasional week of frigid weather, even a night or two in the single digits, then it'll be back into the 50's for a stretch.
Shells:
I rinse them and throw them in a big ziplock bag in the fridge. When it's full I toss them in a roasting pan and bake them while i do other things or sometimes toss them in the oven after I've baked something else. After they cool I put them in a clean ziplock and whack the heck out of them with a wooden crab mallet.
It only takes a minute or two because baking makes them very brittle. I love amassing them up.
Some go back to the girls, some go directly into the garden some go in the compost bin. Just depends on how much I have.
Blossom end rot is A SCOURGE here so in the spring they are LIFE to tomato plants.
I've read that the amount of calcium in shells is not as high as in oyster shells so I mix them in the bowl, but it looks as though they find the shells tastier.
@raecarrow :
VBAC baby!
You can do it!
Smuvs:
We don't hit friends!
And no heiney words or the elves will come in the night and scrub you up...then I'll be sad because I love you being here.
@Sassysouth : when you mentioned your bday yesterday I was taking a quick break from working in the yard.
Now I can't remember if I actually said happy birthday and can't find the original post, so if not- HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY!
@CSAchook : stop lurking and get in here. You are one of us.
I might harvest some herbs to dry today. Lots of dill, chives and lemon balm.
And I should dig up some ginger.
Also I'm excited to harvest my sweet potatoes sometime in the next few days.
Potatoes are another miracle of the garden.
You never know how many you have til you peek under the soil.
-or in my case, flip those baskets over onto a tarp.
I grow all my different types of potatoes in laundry baskets. It's a fun and easy project for you peeps with kids. Very interactive for the first few weeks then forget about them til harvest time.
Hit me up. I'll give you directions.
Have I mentioned that I'm grateful for you guys and girls lately? I like that our ages are a big spread. I think it enriches our interactions to have that depth and breadth
of our varied life experiences in our friendship.
Hugs to all-
Stacey
)
