Homesteaders

[rancher hicks]

FYI if anyone is looking for fruit trees, check Walmart. Our's had them on clearance for about $10, along with all their seed plants and slips. Going back tomorrow and hopefully they have some left, as i crunched the budget and we can swing a couple fruit trees.


Getting our chicks today, as soon as my daughter gets up. Not getting the buff orpington's I had wanted - it's just too far to the one place that has them. Maybe next year. Brooder is all set up, just waiting to go get the chicks.

Spent the last two days working on ripping out our hedge. I have about two more bushes to go in stripping them down to just trunks, and then I'll start on trying to cut out the trunks. It's amazing how much better the house looks without it - now I'm rethinking my plan to put a berry hedge back in it's place. Maybe just a nice bed with flowers and herbs instead.

I've just climbed down and dug up the currant bush that was growing behind my "marking" tree. There were a number of runners so I pulled and dug out as many as I could deal with. I want to build a "hedge row" along the back yard making a border with the woods. My Rose of sharon is so invasive that I may add some of those since they flowers will look nice. I may dig out those that were the orignals and plant that row with Herbs, and Asparagus.

Speaking of Asparagus should I and how to I cut it for use. One stalk is finger thick while the others are pencil thick. There are only about half dozen or so.

Bee, congrats on the broody hatch. The hen I had and moved did break with a night in the other coop so I'm glad for that.

If we were going to be here for the duration I would have given her some Marans and EE eggs, but DD will have enough to do while we are gone. I'd like to do a half out/ half in situation. Half old hens and half replacements coming up. We could certainly deal with half the eggs we are getting these days. The Marans lay a more consistent egg. Extra large by weight. Color not a concern for me.

 

[duluthralphie]

FYI if anyone is looking for fruit trees, check Walmart. Our's had them on clearance for about $10, along with all their seed plants and slips. Going back tomorrow and hopefully they have some left, as i crunched the budget and we can swing a couple fruit trees.

That might not be such a good idea for us in the hinterlands, where we see 40 below and have snow 9 months a year.


The problem is Walmart gets there trees from the deep south, Missouri, I think. While the "variety" might be cold hardy the trees are not. I have lost lots of money on Walmart trees. I buy them the flounder for a year or two and die. I am now going to get mine from Nurseries that actually plant and grow them up here in the cold.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

Quote: usually we just cut it near the ground. Then to prepare for eating I take a butter knife and cut the bottom of the stalk off. You should be able to cut the stalk easily with a butter knife ( usually where it starts to turn green) anything that seems tough will be tough to eat.
(If you ever get a bunch I strongly recommend grilling it with bacon. You wrap the stalks in bacon and then wrap that with tin foil. Throw it on the grill and cook it until bacon is fully cooked. You will not regret it)

 

[rancher hicks]

That might not be such a good idea for us in the hinterlands, where we see 40 below and have snow 9 months a year.


The problem is Walmart gets there trees from the deep south, Missouri, I think. While the "variety" might be cold hardy the trees are not. I have lost lots of money on Walmart trees. I buy them the flounder for a year or two and die. I am now going to get mine from Nurseries that actually plant and grow them up here in the cold.

I have read this before about places growing in the wrong climate. I think David Austin roses are grown in TX. I have two still alive but not doing as good as the one I took cuttings from years ago. I always look for zone 4 hardy even though I'm in zone 5. I think they push the edge of where things will grow.

That said, I've been watching Discovery Channels Alaska DVD and they hold the record for many vegetables. The cabbage was remarkable at 69 pounds. We're headed there in a couple of weeks.

usually we just cut it near the ground. Then to prepare for eating I take a butter knife and cut the bottom of the stalk off. You should be able to cut the stalk easily with a butter knife ( usually where it starts to turn green) anything that seems tough will be tough to eat.
(If you ever get a bunch I strongly recommend grilling it with bacon. You wrap the stalks in bacon and then wrap that with tin foil. Throw it on the grill and cook it until bacon is fully cooked. You will not regret it)

Thanks I've got to remember that. Asparagus is a good food.

 

[bluto in mo]

I've only had a couple asparagus up at a time. They never make it to the house to be cooked even though it is a couple steps to the door.

 

[FrugalmamaTx]

Good to know on the Walmart tree and growth in the hardiness zone you're aiming for. Does that reverse apply as well - for instance I'm in zone 9/10 {right on the line} - would I have trouble with a tree grown in zone 4?

Got our chicks today - so cute! 2 Barred Rocks, 2 Rhode Island Reds and 2 ameracuna / americana {not sure which it said and the guy said it both ways}. They are comfortably sleeping in the brooder - I think the trip took quite a bit out of them. If they don't perk up soon I'll try the sugar water suggested by a friend. My cat wasn't too pleased, but so far she just wants nothing to do with them.

Asparagus - I have been wondering if I could get it to grow here. After taking the hedge out, that bed would be a nice spot to put asparagus I think. I love grilled asparagus, but never buy it because it's so expensive.

Came home to a blessing today - while daughter and I were gone picking up the chicks, the neighbor girls {who are at my house all the time} mowed my lawn, raked it all, and finished cutting most of the hedge. I was leaving all that for tomorrow to work on while keeping an eye on the chicks.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

Good to know on the Walmart tree and growth in the hardiness zone you're aiming for. Does that reverse apply as well - for instance I'm in zone 9/10 {right on the line} - would I have trouble with a tree grown in zone 4?

Got our chicks today - so cute! 2 Barred Rocks, 2 Rhode Island Reds and 2 ameracuna / americana {not sure which it said and the guy said it both ways}. They are comfortably sleeping in the brooder - I think the trip took quite a bit out of them. If they don't perk up soon I'll try the sugar water suggested by a friend. My cat wasn't too pleased, but so far she just wants nothing to do with them. 

Asparagus - I have been wondering if I could get it to grow here. After taking the hedge out, that bed would be a nice spot to put asparagus I think. I love grilled asparagus, but never buy it because it's so expensive. 

Came home to a blessing today - while daughter and I were gone picking up the chicks, the neighbor girls {who are at my house all the time} mowed my lawn, raked it all, and finished cutting most of the hedge. I was leaving all that for tomorrow to work on while keeping an eye on the chicks. 

awesome neighbor girls. Sounds like they need a special desert made.

 

[rancher hicks]

Good to know on the Walmart tree and growth in the hardiness zone you're aiming for. Does that reverse apply as well - for instance I'm in zone 9/10 {right on the line} - would I have trouble with a tree grown in zone 4?

Got our chicks today - so cute! 2 Barred Rocks, 2 Rhode Island Reds and 2 ameracuna / americana {not sure which it said and the guy said it both ways}. They are comfortably sleeping in the brooder - I think the trip took quite a bit out of them. If they don't perk up soon I'll try the sugar water suggested by a friend. My cat wasn't too pleased, but so far she just wants nothing to do with them.

Asparagus - I have been wondering if I could get it to grow here. After taking the hedge out, that bed would be a nice spot to put asparagus I think. I love grilled asparagus, but never buy it because it's so expensive.

Came home to a blessing today - while daughter and I were gone picking up the chicks, the neighbor girls {who are at my house all the time} mowed my lawn, raked it all, and finished cutting most of the hedge. I was leaving all that for tomorrow to work on while keeping an eye on the chicks.

the tree situation is a yes. Find varieties that grow well in your zone. I'm not sure Apple trees would grow good in the south, but peaches would. Newer varieties are developed for individual zones. Lilacs would not do well just like Tulips that need what is called "Vernalization".

Basically it is a cold period where specific plants not only go dormant(theyhit the pause button until the weather warms) but must be exposed to a certain number of days with minimum temperatures or they will not flower. Scientists are not certain why some plants need longer periods of cold than others but they believe plants store this information and pass it on genetically.

Too some animals, including breeds of chickens do better in different climates. I've a friend in Israel who tried Brahmas only to find this did not survive in the heat. The Buckeye is another breed developed for the cold weather of Canada.

As for those girls who did all that work? Send them over here. You are certainly blessed.

In an episode of "Little House on the Prairie an angel ( I think ) says, sometimes folks will do for strangers what they won't do for their own.


Pro 27:10

Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbourthat is near than a brother far off.

 

[beautifulpirate]

First squash is starting!

We also found tomatillos, tomatoes and even a pepper starting fruit growth. Our garden this year is small but I believe it is gonna be good!

 

[duluthralphie]

Thanks I've got to remember that. Asparagus is a good food.

I have trouble remembering it is food too, it tastes so much like stink weed.