Illinois...

[BReeder!]

When you live in the country, the landscape designs itself

I'm not so sure about that. I think there's plenty of opportunity to plant flower beds, shrubs, trees, etc. with some design sense. I had vines growing over flowing bulbs, patches of bulbs that desperately need to be devided because they never were, shrubs and bushes plopped randomly, and trees planted right against the house. I have managed to address most of it over the four years e have been here, but there is still work to be done.

 

[BReeder!]

Picked up our order of 6 Rouens ducklings yesterday. They are in a tote indoors for now. They'll go out to the shed coop in the dog crate brooder in May likely.
Not much else exciting here... I have a LOT of yardwork and some car work to get done but no time to do any of it. My dad and I we're talking on Easter about how we need to take a week off of work just to catch up around the house. I actually did just that last year in the Spring and I still wasn't caught up though.

 

[Molpet]

My dad and I we're talking on Easter about how we need to take a week off of work just to catch up around the house. I actually did just that last year in the Spring and I still wasn't caught up though.

Ha I retired and thought I would get caught up. I found out it wasn't working 60 hrs a week that was the main problem, it was a lack of caring about it. I found other things I would rather do.... like poultry

 

[NotAFarm]

I'm not so sure about that. I think there's plenty of opportunity to plant flower beds, shrubs, trees, etc. with some design sense. I had vines growing over flowing bulbs, patches of bulbs that desperately need to be devided because they never were, shrubs and bushes plopped randomly, and trees planted right against the house. I have managed to address most of it over the four years e have been here, but there is still work to be done.

We have four acres and a 240 foot driveway. Lots of natural landscaping, including 20 shag bark hickory trees between the road and the house (south side). There are more “planted by nature” trees, elderberry bushes, etc on the north side of the house. We’ve planted stuff we like but not much “design” to it.

 

[Molpet]

We have four acres and a 240 foot driveway. Lots of natural landscaping, including 20 shag bark hickory trees between the road and the house (south side). There are more “planted by nature” trees, elderberry bushes, etc on the north side of the house. We’ve planted stuff we like but not much “design” to it.

Same here. The old pasture, on the other side of the creek, is now natural. Can't get any equipment to it.
When I 80 went through the water flow increased and blew out the four 4 ft concrete culverts in the high spot. Down from there used to be a ford where I could drive the tractor across about a ft deep and it was only 4 ft wide in other spots. Now it's 4ft deep and 12 wide. Where the culvert blew out they went sideways and it's 30ft wide.

 

[SnootyHen]

Ha I retired and thought I would get caught up. I found out it wasn't working 60 hrs a week that was the main problem, it was a lack of caring about it. I found other things I would rather do.... like poultry

I was really good when covid first hit because I have been working from home since last March with no real plan to return to the office. In that first month, I repainted almost every room in the house, cleared clutter, got the backyard in check and brooded chicks. I was working out every day, up-to-speed on laundry and house work and making sure my kids were doing stuff and not just rotting in front of a screen all day. I totally thought I had it together and could rock this lifestyle. A year later, everything is dirty and cluttered again, the yard is a mess and while I have twice as many chickens, I still want more and am looking at moving to a larger property. Which is about the dumbest thing ever considering my kids are only going to be here another 6 years and then I'll want a tiny house somewhere with less to clean and heat.

My problem isn't lack of time or interest, it's that I never know what I want long enough to get there in time to enjoy it before I want something else.

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

A year later, everything is dirty and cluttered again, the yard is a mess

First, I saw pictures of your yard and I call BS. Not only my yard is a mess but as a mechanic my driveway is too.

My problem isn't lack of time or interest, it's that I never know what I want long enough to get there in time to enjoy it before I want something else.

Second, are you sure we aren't related? Long lost twins or something?
I struggle with that so bad. I seriously think I only got chickens because I was bored and wanted to learn something new. I need new challenges.

 

[SnootyHen]

First, I saw pictures of your yard and I call BS. Not only my yard is a mess but as a mechanic my driveway is too.


Second, are you sure we aren't related? Long lost twins or something?
I struggle with that so bad. I seriously think I only got chickens because I was bored and wanted to learn something new. I need new challenges.

Yes!!! This is it!!! I am in a constant state of "You know what would be fun...?" Even as my kids are outside building more garden beds right this very second, I am trying to figure out the next step. Never enough, never stop...definitely relatives.

 

[Molpet]

 

[SnootyHen]

My almost 12 year old is super bummed he can't take that job. He's been wanting to work there forever.