Homesteaders

[GardenNut]

I fear this is me.
Afternoon Farmer

A laggard; a farmer who rises late and is behind in his chores; hence, anyone who loses his opportunities.

Truth is there is much to do that needs two sets of hands and I can't do it alone so it gets put off.
[COLOR=333333]DW and I got into it sort of. I have two panels of fencing that need repair and she can't lift them high enough. I've told her we need to sell and move into an apartment but she doesn't want to. I can't fix things by myself and I have no one to help. Anything I do I have to do alone. It's to much for me with somethings. I paid a friend to help me put the fencing up, but some of it has come off. [/COLOR] [COLOR=333333]We have gutters that are falling off and a door that needs repair but I can't do this stuff alone. I'm discouraged and frustrated. [/COLOR] [COLOR=333333]She wants the dinning room painted and the upstairs but that means I have to move everything, clean and paint. Then put everything back. It's gotten to be to much. [/COLOR] [COLOR=333333]There are still pictures from when I painted the living room that are still not back up ! [/COLOR] [COLOR=333333]You either need to do these things yourself or be rich enough to pay someone to do them for you. We're not rich enough. [/COLOR] [COLOR=333333]Forgot to mention I found some Fungal stuff in the back roof says it's for "blight". To late for my taters though and I haven't seen it on my tomatoes. I'll post more as it's out near the garden now. I hope to put a shed of some sort further back so I don't have to walk back and for to the garage. [/COLOR] [COLOR=333333]I have two sets of tools for that very reason. [/COLOR]

Hang in there! At 57, I'm preparing to move to 6 acres alone! Even on my small suburban lot, I've had days I was overwhelmed. It felt easier to do nothing, than to do something. Things I can't do myself may not get done, but oftentimes I'll start with just ONE task I can do and that usually leads to the next task, and then the next. At the end of the day, I feel better just for starting! It's difficult having to do things alone, but the sense of accomplishment with what I CAN do feels pretty good. I know I'll have many overwhelming days on my new place, but I'll start slow and plug away at it. I wish you the best @rancher hicks! Don't give up! You're not alone!

 

[rancher hicks]

How can I get the big bulbs of garlic that I see at the farmers market? Is it okay to pull it up when it's wet out?

We've got some serious rain today, but I'm not one to sit around. There are still chores to do.

I want to plant some lettuce, brocolli and other stuff where the garlic is now.

 

[Molpet]

How can I get the big bulbs of garlic that I see at the farmers market? Is it okay to pull it up when it's wet out?

We've got some serious rain today, but I'm not one to sit around. There are still chores to do.

I want to plant some lettuce, brocolli and other stuff where the garlic is now.

depends how long you want to keep the garlic http://awaytogarden.com/the-tricky-matter-of-when-to-harvest-garlic/
Plant the biggest cloves out of the best bulbs to get the biggest bulbs http://awaytogarden.com/how-to-grow...win-their-classic-book-on-my-favorite-allium/

 

[rancher hicks]

Much of it is brown now and ready to harvest. I just wonder if I should harvest it even though it has rained.

In other news: While looking at magazines I'm seeing these pre- fab chicken houses. While they look nice they are displaying them with too many chickens with little or no space to move around.

My point is this is misleading to new chicken keepers.

I have just the pen from this, used to house broody hens. I made a plywood floor and keep it inside my back room up on saw horses for easy access. I got them on sale at Tractor Supply.

Soon that grass will be a mud hole.

Not to mention, some of these are so flimsy a Coon will make short work of it. Also you want it the right size for you to do your chores. Cleaning, watering and feeding.


So please do some research into properly constructed houses.

 

[Molpet]

Much of it is brown now and ready to harvest. I just wonder if I should harvest it even though it has rained.

well they say no, but I have had rain every other day gpr a month and my late garlic needed to be harvested before the bubs started to split ... so I went a head and plan on using it first.. I have about 300 bulbs total , early and late

 

[rancher hicks]

well they say no, but I have had rain every other day gpr a month and my late garlic needed to be harvested before the bubs started to split ... so I went a head and plan on using it first.. I have about 300 bulbs total , early and late

I still have garlic from last year, but don't want this to go to waste. Garlic is very expensive here. $3.99 a pound. How many pounds do folks average per year?

I will pulling it up.

 

[duluthralphie]

All of a sudden it is that time of year, I need to get my projects wrapped up. So I can get ready for winter next month.

My garden I waited so impatiently for is giving me more produce than I can handle. I have Zucchini, cukes, broccoli, cauliflower that will be going to waste at the rate it is ripening. The tomatoes have not started to ripen but I have a million on the plants. We have had a meal of eggplant with more on the way, Peppers have went nuts and I have 70 cabbage head to make kraut out of. I picked one for salads and it was great.


Pumpkin and squash galore. This is the best garden I have ever had, I attribute it all to adding compost this year. I know it is not organic, but it sure is good for growing plants. I wish we had a reasonable farmers market around here. I will most likely end up setting the stuff on the end of the drive for someone to take again. I hate to see it wasted completely.

The only thing I do not have is beans and corn. I did not plant any corn this year, it always takes up so much space and the beans were destroyed by rabbits. I have some of those extremely long Chinese beans but they taste terrible and I will not grow them again. I have lots of winter onions but my Walla Walla's did not grow well. or the rabbits got them. I need to start enjoying the taste of cottontails I guess.

Good luck on the garlic Rancher, that is something I have never tried. I need to get going now, I have broccoli to blanch and freeze.

 

[rancher hicks]

I wish I were as productive as you Ralphie, but I'm not.

Peppers are small, Tomatoes not ripe yet, Squash and Pumpkins not ready. Potatoes got some blight. Beans did not do well but then I didn't plant them well.

I really need more horse manure and to get a earlier start. I didn't start my seeds early enough. I've been buying seeds for next year though. Will have a better set up for starting them.

Good luck with all your produce. Hope you have a big freezer.

 

[duluthralphie]

I wish I were as productive as you Ralphie, but I'm not.

Peppers are small, Tomatoes not ripe yet, Squash and Pumpkins not ready. Potatoes got some blight. Beans did not do well but then I didn't plant them well.

I really need more horse manure and to get a earlier start. I didn't start my seeds early enough. I've been buying seeds for next year though. Will have a better set up for starting them.

Good luck with all your produce. Hope you have a big freezer.

We actually have 4 freezers but none are huge.

I need to do some canning but cannot seem to find the gumption today to do much...Seems to be more low gumption days as I age.

 

[Beekissed]

Beekissed it really sounds like you've been having a productive summer. I wished I could pick up some free roos. My 11 BSL will probably have to do for the freezer. I don't have a canner any more and I sure do miss it. Nothing better than canned chicken! Even old tough one are good canned. All your pictures are great. I love your BGD. Mine is a year old and is just learning that my chickens are not toys. She can finally be around them if I am there to tell her "No!". I'm looking for a good dual purpose. How are the black marons? I've heard they are meaty birds.

I've never had them before but I figure they are a very slow grow if they are supposed to turn out meaty....these look to be around 4 mo. old and I've got 2 mo. WR chicks that weigh more. These came from my sister the other day, so not a breed I'd normally have....and it looks like I"ll be killing the scrawny little things tomorrow so I can BBQ them for a family get together. That's okay, though, because that family will be bringing me 5 BR cockerels of similar age that I can free range and feed up for fall canning.

These Maran have very slender frames and legs, so I'm doubting they get to be a real meaty bird, even as adults. Look a lot like BA hens.