Michigan

[uchytil]

I have to agree, the new site mechanics have gremlins....well after reading all the posts concerning the weather all I can say is wait and see. The "experts" predicted a harsh, very cold, winter which has not happened yet. Last summer was the 11th hottest in history. No one year (here in the Muskegon area), for the last 10 years, has been consistent weather-wise. My hope is the sap runs good in another month, there is just enough rainfall, and sun, to grow my gardens, and my rabbits don't need too many "ice days". BTW, it is still possible to get heavy lake effect snow due to the lack of ice cover on lake Michigan. A little too late?

HH, I am sending you a PM about sexing chicks (just for fun).

 

[Farmerboy16]

I went out looking for the peacock this morning, still not able to find him. I will let the others free range in hopes of the flyaway hearing his flockmates if he survived the night.

 

[Stacykins]

Speaking of bugs, we are going to have lots this year due to the mild winter - ticks, fleas, etc.

Oh gosh, the ticks are awful here to begin with! Even with frontline, they latch onto the dogs after each outing into the yard. Humans too, since we can't frontline ourselves! Hopefully my chickens can keep up, since they put a sizable dent in the tick population last year!

 

[Farmerboy16]

Quote:

Oh gosh, the ticks are awful here to begin with! Even with frontline, they latch onto the dogs after each outing into the yard. Humans too, since we can't frontline ourselves! Hopefully my chickens can keep up, since they put a sizable dent in the tick population last year!

Get some Guineas too!

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Quote:Originally Posted by RaZ

???? That was my best crop. How i did it was by planting thickly in sections, not in rows. ("biointensive planting") Of the 3 i tried "provider" did the best. It had the best flavor, was planted last, and produced first. Choked out the weeds. Watermelons made nice vines, but all i got were little unripe softballs. Yes, my DH was overtaken by grass on his side of the garden. You can kinda see the little onions trying to peek up.....

 

[Stacykins]

Get some Guineas too!

Oh no no no no! I LOVE the sound of roosters crowing, turkeys gobblin', geese honking, ducks quacking, and peafowl yelling, but I really hate the sound guineas make! It is like, nails on a chalkboard to me! I've been around guineas before and it drives me up the wall!

 

[SillyChicken]

I'd love some peafowl, but I'm so close to our little town that I'd be too concerned about drawing attention to myself.

 

[ChicwannaB]

Quote:Originally Posted by RaZ

THOSE LOOK LIKE GREENBEANS ?? i ALWAYS PLANT THAT WAY IN RAISED BEDS. i DO ABOUT 4 ROWS WIDE THEN SKIP A FOOT AND DO ANOTHER 4 ROWS WIDE. iT COVERS A RAISED BED NICELY AND KEEPS WEEDS down. sorry about caps, I wasn't yelling, it sticks. This year I am NOT tilling my garden. Ive been watching No-Till programs on RFD-TV, wow the earth becomes like a sponge, no rain run off at all, beautiful worms!! Thats the way Im going.

 

[Olive Hill]

???? That was my best crop. How i did it was by planting thickly in sections, not in rows. ("biointensive planting") Of the 3 i tried "provider" did the best. It had the best flavor, was planted last, and produced first. Choked out the weeds. Watermelons made nice vines, but all i got were little unripe softballs. Yes, my DH was overtaken by grass on his side of the garden. You can kinda see the little onions trying to peek up.....

We plant intensively, too. Where are you located? Micro-climates as well as your latitude within the state can make a big difference. Two years ago it was over 100 degrees and so humid it was like a sauna outside here downstate; meanwhile we were on vacation at Torch Lake where it was 70-80 and beautiful. It's amazing the difference a couple hours drive can make. And then just within microclimates. We're in a hilly area and it's incredible the difference just a little change in topography can make.

Some beans are certainly more suited to heat than others -- our Dragon Tongues produced far past the point where our Blue Lakes took a dive -- but in general 93 degrees is about the time they stop setting blossoms like they should.

 

[NovaAman]

I need to turn in the rabbit poo and some new soil in my raised boxes. I also need to dump all of my containers and remix and refresh them. Good think I have duck water for adding nutrients and all that crap for the watering time. Lol. Poop, poop, and more poop. I am thinking of making a tea box... Take the compost drippings from the bottom, (like tea) put a few drops in the watering can and water the plants. I will have to find the site again where I found it, but am sure someone knows what I am talking about...

out farm and home is supposed to open at the beginning of march. They have a nice little starter green house shed. I would love to get it for starting plants. I hope to get my state tax return here soon. I need to buy garden soil for the starter pots. I amusing those butler compost pots for starting, they transfer to the ground and containers so nice. I would like to try broccoli and cauliflower again this year... Didn't do so good with them last year. Any tips for those?

well... Time to get the kinderboy ready for school.