Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[zndzant]

@aart sloped rafters could be a possibility in the future. I understand now what people mean about their "first coop" and additions. The focus this year has just been on getting rhem into a very secure enclosure and coop. Plus I would have had to take out a mortgage if I wanted to do any more than what we did this year! Lol

 

[lovechicks1293]

I love to press leaves, they are so lovely.  I have been working on paperwork for the accountant for end of year   and watching MSU get their fannies whipped 

Hmm paperwork sounds like a real fun job....lol. I am sad that MSU lost, I am a die-hard MSU fan

 

[ladyrsanti]

I'm looking for empty feed sacks again, woven plastic feed sacks. I turn them into totes and sell them on Etsy You can see them here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HudsonHobbyFarm. It's not the most profitable venture for the work involved but I do enjoy doing it over the long winter so I'm willing to pay a little, $0.25 per bag with a 20 bag limit.

I'm getting tired of the same old bags I get from my feed store and TSC. If anyone has any that are NOT Purina or Nutrena or Kalmbach, I might be interested, the prettier the better. Also interested in horse or goat or pig bags. I'm always on the lookout for unique bags. Also the old, discontinued Purina Layena bags with the barred rock on the front. Customers like those.

They must be reasonably clean. Dusty is okay, molasses residue is okay. I can't take any bags that have store stickers stuck to them unless they're on the very top or very bottom. They're way too hard to clean off. PM if you think you might have something that I'd be interested in and we'll discuss. I prefer to pick up so someplace reasonably close to GR, half hour drive or less but I'd be willing to pay shipping if you have cool bags that I can't live without.

 

[wannahomestead]

Any gardeners here do cover crops for winter? It's about time for me to tear the garden down and I wanted to explore planting some cover crops.

 

[A2Kzoo2]

Any gardeners here do cover crops for winter? It's about time for me to tear the garden down and I wanted to explore planting some cover crops. 

Psh... I'm still getting a ton of squash, cukes, tomatoes, greens, radishes, and herbs. We do a wintry green manure mix in places, hoops in other places (I've had brassicas go through January before) and hoping to make a deconstructable greenhouse over a raised bed this year. We'll at least be getting greens and other winter hardy veggies for most of the winter.

 

[wannahomestead]

Psh... I'm still getting a ton of squash, cukes, tomatoes, greens, radishes, and herbs. We do a wintry green manure mix in places, hoops in other places (I've had brassicas go through January before) and hoping to make a deconstructable greenhouse over a raised bed this year. We'll at least be getting greens and other winter hardy veggies for most of the winter.

I got hit pretty hard by a ground hog this year that destroyed most of my tomatoes, cabbage and that. I still have some squash coming out, a few melons still working, and more kale/swiss chard than I can eat. My yellow pear tomatoes are pretty much all ripe at this point, and I still have pounds to harvest. My jalapenos did well, as did my banana peppers.

The tomatoes took a beating though, as did the bell peppers.

 

[wannahomestead]

Of the 5 duck eggs I set, 2 are showing development. Should I try tossing a couple more under my broody? We're about 3 days in, so it may be too late. I was hoping for more than 2 :-/

 

[Folly's place]

I grew nothing this year, and my ornamental gardens went to pot too. Working too much and not motivated to work on a garden too. I'm canning tomatoes today, organic Romas from the farmer's market. Probably less expensive than planting a garden and then ignoring it! Like last year. Mary

 

[1muttsfan]

Mary, be careful - work can come to overwhelm your life,, take your personal time for yourself or it will be gone - poof. Work is important, but so are YOU

 

[wannahomestead]

Dang! I lost a duck today to an unknown predator. I walked outside this afternoon while the critters were free ranging, and saw a big old vulture almost land in the yard. I yelled at it, then dipped inside to grab my .22 to shoot off and make noise. I didn't end up needing to shoot because it flew off, and I noticed 2 of them. This same thing happened yesterday and I think one of them may have gone after my rooster, since he's missing feathers from his tail.

I can't find one of my pekin girls anywhere though. The vultures never have really given me trouble before, but now 2 days in a row, they're around and up to something. I can't believe they would pick up and fly off with a big pekin duck though!

Everyone is on lockdown for now until I can get a better idea of what's going on. I'm starting to wonder if Wile E. is making a return again this year.

Broad daylight, boom, duck is MIA now. I just can't imagine the vultures doing it, seems like it would have to be something big and fast. No feathers, no blood, not signs of anything.