Maine

[anyasmifya]

LazyG~ We did about 20ish feet of wattle fencing yesterday. The saplings are best alive they bend so easily, dead ones just break. We are using a lot of alder wood some maple and some oak. We have plenty of saplings around here by our ponds. It is going up very quickly and easily and looks really cool. I'm not going out in this rain to take a photo! Sorry. We don't mind if more saplings grow where we trim them because we can use those in the future to make stuff. I love this fencing so far because it's free and easy!

Wild strawberries and now replacing primrose as my current most hated weed! The area of the garden I worked in yesterday is bombarded with them! At least primrose pulls out easily this *&it has roots very where. Someone mentioned bind weed, yes I have that one too! No, issue so far but I am sure I'll see it in the summer. That stuff sucks bad too. Luckily, I am unfamiliar with barberry. That sounds horrible. Now, blackberries I know and they suck too!

 

[TAMMACLEAN]

No PTA program for me, dowgirl (I had to look it up to see what it meant). I teach art (K - 3). Most of the time, I really like it, but it is grueling. The subject matter is fun, but I am teaching children that will turn out like you and me, along with future violent offenders, mental patients, drug addicts, perpetually jobless, and a few brilliant scientists thrown in. I think all kids have at least a fighting chance, but many of them come from a very, very difficult place. It can be heart-breaking and exhausting.

I agree with the teaching. I just started at my sons school. I cover the first and second graders recess and lunch. I also teach P.E. On Wednesday to the kindergartners and first and second grade classes. You can see the differences in personalities already and it makes you wonder what they will grow up like. I also am an assistant coach at our middle school for outdoor track team and that grades 6-8. Sometimes I think they all act the same no matter what age they are!

 

[lazy gardener]

Anya, I'm glad your wattle fence is going up well. I grew up on a wonderful piece of property that had several springs and ponds down back, surrounded by alders. I loved to hang out there. Plenty to see and do, especially in the spring, when the alders were still bent down from the winter snow. I'd stand on one bent trunk, and bounce on it like a trampoline. I swear that this current generation of kids is so terribly deprived. They wouldn't know honest fun if it smacked them in the face.

I was out in the garage, digging my garden cart out of storage, and glanced up to see a very large ground hog waddling across the yard. I grabbed a shovel, and went out to exchange "howdies" with him, but, unfortunately for both of us, he could waddle faster than I could run, and he had quite a lead on me. Perhaps it's time to get out the have-a-heart. Today might also be a good day to get in some target practice!

Bucka, I worked in the pediatric population for a number of years. I found the kids refreshing, but a lot of the parents were incredibly dysfunctional. More often than not, the parents were the reason the kids were having issues in the first place. Too bad there is not a mandatory test before allowing folks to procreate!

Tamma, I agree: Jr. High kids are just little tykes in big bodies. My 12 y.o. is in a size 11 sneaker, but still a little puppy at heart! The Tweens just don't know how to deal with those hormones. It's a tough age!

 

[quailtrail]

What a nice afternoon! !! A friend stopped over for a visit. We were sitting at the table and next thing we knew all 6 chickens were at the screen door. She thought it was hysterical! They are spoiled just waiting for treats.

Well hatch day for bator #1...and all is quiet The 3 chicks in the brooder near by have been the most vocal ever. I swear they know I'm trying to listen for peeping! !!

 

[lazy gardener]

They may be more vocal b/c they know there are egglets getting ready to make a break for it.

Hubby and I worked on the new tractor today. He put on the new (old) wheels, while I stood by offering encouragement. It needs some diagonal bracing, a bit of an apron at the bottom, and to have a couple of hinges, latches, and the roof buttoned down, then it's ready to go. Good thing b/c the garage smells like a poultry barn.

I went to visit the 2 chicks that I gave to a friend. She's now got about a dozen including PBR, leghorn, RIR. Has a lovely little coop, and the girls are totally pampered. It's great to see others getting a start with poultry.

 

[quailtrail]

@lazy gardener I hope so!!!

I talk so much about my chickens that a few co-workers have decided to get chickens. I love sharing all I have learned, the joy they bring me, the wonderful lessons my kids are learning, and how its been a healthier way of life for all of us

 

[buckabucka]

Anyasmifya, I just looked up wattle fencing and it looks right up my alley! Very cool-looking. I hope you will get photos later.

I can't really fence my garden, as DH likes to be able to drive his tractor there, but it may be fun to build this type of fence along the woods this summer.

Good luck with your hatch, quailtrail!

 

[dowgirl71]

No PTA program for me, dowgirl (I had to look it up to see what it meant). I teach art (K - 3). Most of the time, I really like it, but it is grueling. The subject matter is fun, but I am teaching children that will turn out like you and me, along with future violent offenders, mental patients, drug addicts, perpetually jobless, and a few brilliant scientists thrown in. I think all kids have at least a fighting chance, but many of them come from a very, very difficult place. It can be heart-breaking and exhausting.

bucka, I think I just remembered who it was that was studying at KVCC. It's someone who hasn't been on this forum, since last year. If I remember right, she had some bad luck with predators getting her chickens, but I can't think of her name. I might remember.

 

[lazy gardener]

She was in the southern part of the state, and was going to, or had gotten some Dominiques. Bucka, when Anya was talking about her wattle fencing, it reminded me of the woven bird nests you made last year. Do you still have them???

I got a part of one of my beds covered with an other layer today. It has hay, shavings/poo from the January clean out, grass clippings/poo from the August clean out, will be followed by a layer of composted hay, and some soil. Then I'll plant and cover it with a layer of mulch after it's up. I think this bed will have some squash and corn in it. I have a lot of bags of leaves left over from banking the chicken coop, so may spread those between the built up beds.

 

[buckabucka]

LG, I still have one of the nest boxes I wove. I only made 2, and the first was made of cornstalks and was rapidly consumed! The second one seems to be holding up much better, although I occasionally find a piece of birch bark or vine on the ground that the hens pulled out. I am pleased that they use it. No one has used it in a while, because I had a broody take up residence in there on some wooden eggs.

I once made a maze out of poplar saplings. Our ground is soft, so I just pushed them into the ground close together and lashed them. It was a very large circle that led to a tree in the center. The tree had a ladder so you could climb up for a better view. We also have remnants of "stumphenge" here. Those were the days when I worked only half-time.

I feel like I am way behind on the garden, but when I look at the planting calendar, I am only one week behind schedule. This is the weekend I normally plant carrots, but that may be delayed a week while I finish the chicken fencing. Two flocks have access to their first pod, and I should have the third flock out there later today. It looks like a good week for working after school, if I can get myself home at a decent time.