Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[1muttsfan]

I have a large pen, and only shovel half of it - they don't like to come out much anyway. I drag the roof rake along the ground and pull (not push) the snow into the half I don't shovel. The handle goes out through the fencing, so you can pull it quite a ways. Takes so much less time and effort.

 

[RaZ]

Blue rack will be filled with pine for the campfire pit. It holds 2 2/3 face cord.
The yellow racks are for the hard wood used for heating the house. The 3 hold 4.54 face cord.
Now to get them filled. Cut several trees that I dragged out of the woods. Just need to split them, then get the wood stacked. I'll do that at halftime.

Pictures show that I still need to finish the trim on the garage and get it painted. So much to do and simply not enough time to get it all done.

 

[1muttsfan]

Drove the RV down to the State Park and dumped the septic tank - found out they are turning off the water tomorrow. Vacuumed and emptied out all the freezable objects. Put up all the law furniture. Got the two "extra" roosters separated into the small pen so they could not all gang up on the girls, now that their hormones are becoming active.

Nothing like a little s*#! to get you going on the outdoor fall chores. Now it I could get a nice day to put the bulbs in... At least I remembered the Garlic this year.

 

[Folly's place]

I decided to give up on sweeping leaves off the back deck, and bought one of those electric leaf blowers today. Now, when it's not raining, it's time to try it out. Hate the racket they make, but this deck is under some big trees, and the leaves are a mess, all the time. Otherwise, leaves are good where ever they fall.
Mary

 

[Sue Gremlin]

Those things are the bomb. We have one that you wear on your back, I love that thing. The yard is spotless when I'm done with it. We also use it to blow out our gutters.

 

[Sue Gremlin]

Hello all.
What a surprise this morning when I went out and found a bit of snow on the ground. So I have a question.
Since this is my first winter in Michigan and with chickens who are not a year yet. They have a coop and a run, I let them free range for a few hours in the evening. Could I still let them free range when there is snow on the ground. I do have plans for a tractor but that is still in planning stage and financial hold up.
Deborah

I will let mine out, but most of them won't walk in the snow.

 

[Sally PB]

I used to hate raking. The only thing worse than raking was not raking in the fall and having to get the leaves off the ground in the spring. GOBS of oak leaves. Heavy piles or a thick mat.

Then I got some blueberries. Oak leaves are great mulch for them, as they like the acidity. Turns out oak leaves made great mulch in the rest of the garden, with a few exceptions. Now that I have a use for them, I don't mind raking. Funny how that worked out.

 

[RaZ]

Leaving the leaves is good for the insects that overwinter in leaf debris. Many butterflies, moths, and other beneficial bugs hide out and are protected over the winter.

I will clear the driveway and paths to the garage & coop. I use a lawn sweeper and then dump the leaves into a newly started compost pile. I leave that pile unmolested over winter just to give those bugs a chance to emerge when it warms up again. I also leave my native plants standing all winter because there are several birds that need them for food. Come spring, the compost pile will be worked & turned and the standing foliage might get cut down.

 

[Folly's place]

I do have to remove the weeds (six feet tall, some of them!) and veggie garden debris to another location. It was planted in the winter horse pasture, deep with rotting goodies from the horses, and actually too rich. Removing the plants will pull some nitrogen out, a good thing. Besides, some idiot animal would likely eat the tomato vines, never good.
Mary

 

[1muttsfan]

I have a smaller battery operated leaf blower and LOVE it - not as strong as the gas or electric plug ins, but so light weight and quiet, and the battery works in the string trimmer too (also quite and light weight)

I never mow more than ABSOLUTELY necessary - just hate doing it. So I'm glad to hear that the bugs benefit. I will, if it ever gets dry again, run the gas out of my mower by edging the lawn, does leave it looking much tidier. And makes it easier to find the dog poop