Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[tdhenson86]

Is anyone coming to Chickenstock with Heritage Rhode Island Red that could bring hatching eggs?

 

[cuppycake]

Raz, that's terrible. They're really trying to beat you down, eh? Even if you can't be certified I would continue meeting their standards and going above and beyond to demonstrate your seriousness in being a good steward to your animals and the land. There MUST be something you can do. Do you have community support for what you are trying to accomplish? Maybe we should all begin a letter writing campaign.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

So fortunate you are an early riser, Opa. Poop pits, that is totally the absolute perfect description! My coop is still very soggy. I'm hopeful these next few days of sun will help me with that. RaZ, I'm sorry that youre not getting more positive feeback. Keep writing. One of my Runner ducklings looks like she might have Niacin deficiency, I'm seeing what looks like could be leg issues. Came out to a nasty surprise in the outdoor pen today, 2 of the day old ducklings from my Khaki Campbell snuck out and didn't survive. Did get everyone outdoors to range while I finally got the cucumber seeds and some herbs and flowers going in the wintersowing jugs. Is anybody else planting by the moon? Have a great day everyone!

 

[cuppycake]

Is anybody else planting by the moon?

Have a great day everyone!

haha, yes! I have to wait until DD is sleeping to do much in the way of gardening because she is OBSESSED with playing in dirt. It's not fair if mommy does it and she's not allowed to spill dirt and seeds and water everywhere too! I started some pumpkin seeds indoors last night

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Garden babies, mine were the same way when they were little, now they are approaching the Teen stage, and everybody knows how much fun that is! I have had so-so luck with starting my pumpkins indoors... Usually I just direct sow them. Have any of you all had to do battle with that horrible miserable Squash Vine Borer? Disgusting nasty bugs them things are. Had horrible time with them last year, in every cucurbit. Luckily ducks really love to eat them! And I found that actually it isn't too difficult to find the larva, you just have to have a sharp knife.

 

[gladahmae]

I finally got the cucumber seeds and some herbs and flowers going in the wintersowing jugs. Is anybody else planting by the moon?

Have a great day everyone!

I wintersow too! Love it to pieces. Most of my back flower bed is a result of wintersowing (and the clearance plants at lowes). Was going to plant sugarsnap peas along the fence today, but ran out of time. Gotta get ready for work, and pick the kid up from school and then meet my husband in town to kid-swap so I can get to work on time!

 

[Lisa and girls]

My 3 month olds are starting to get their big girl voices. So funny to hear their voice crack like a pubescent. Makes me giggle. Beautiful day out.

 

[SillyChicken]

It is difficult to follow the rules when some faceless bureaucrat arbitrarily decides that you can't even play the game.

The following e-mail (copied verbatim) came from the MAEAP tech who first evaluated my farm and was very supportive of backyard chickens. His bosses in Lansing have stopped the process in spite of the governor's directive to step up MAEAP certification.

I will be writing several letters to MAEAP, MDARD, DEQ and the governor. I find it outrageous that state agencies are actively discriminating against citizens and selectively favouring others.


As you know, the MAEAP process is a proactive approach to environmental hazards that may be on a farmstead. We can proceed with cleaning up any possible hazards that might pose a concern for you. However, your residence does fall in a zoned area that the Michigan GAAMP’s does not recognize and you will not be able to be MAEAP Verified in any system as I have mentioned. The soil erosion (RUSLES) and wind (WEPS) assessment forms that need to be included on a Cropping System will not be needed for a review, because a final verifier will not be called to review you residence. I can work with you to assist in environmentally assured practices and concerns with your operation but remember without meeting the criteria in the Michigan GAAMP’s (Must not have a zoning issue) the MAEAP Program can only assist and cannot verify a farm.

ERRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrfrackalackamecaphoofalackinwhohaas!!!! (translated: $^#^&*&^%$%$#$#$&^*%$$^!!) I'm afraid....... this will become more the norm than the exception the way things are going with our gubinatorial a-hats......... and I'm being very good by stopping myself now. Sorry they decided to ..... you know why they did this, cause you're smart and educated yourself and tried to do the right things....... errrrr!

 

[SillyChicken]

taking a deep breath.........*sigh*... so me mum gave me some money for me b-day. I picked up a couple pear trees (Moonglow and Flemish Beauty) I wish they had Bartlett but no luck this time around... I am thinking of returning the FB because it's more susceptible to fire blight. I love pear and always wanted some trees. I may stop at another store on the way home to see if they have any. I hope to have a small orchard some day. I have 2 old jonamac trees that have seen better days but I love the apple it produces. Keeping fingers crossed that we won't have a killing frost like last year.. she's going to bloom soon!

Edited to say I found a bartlet at the other lowes so I returned the Flemish and got the bartlett......... and one of ever herb they had!

 

[SillyChicken]

http://annarbor.craigslist.org/grd/3768130781.html incubator (no price)- i see the same priced at over 2K on ebay