New Englanders! Much ado about New England!

[the simple life]

Hey Moe,
The time is coming, you are going to get chickens and your life is never going to be the same...
So what type of a coop are you building? Make sure its big because you will keep getting more and more chickens you know.

I have had enough of the snow too, we are near the end. I bought some seeds and started some in peat pots the other day. I cannot wait to go out and dig in the garden.
I just did the lasagna gardening method over the weekend to start a new flower bed in.
Its approx 20 x 30 or so. I put down cardboard and then compost, leaves, leaf mold, coffee grounds and soil over the area and supposedly by spring I will have gotten rid of all the grass and weeds in the area and have some decent garden soil.
I should have done it in the fall for the best results but it will still work out, I know someone who does it for only a short time and grows gorgeous stuff right through the cardboard.
If the cardboard hasn't disintegrated she cuts right into it and plants in the hole and she has amazing results.
I guess if you have some good compost it makes a difference.
There is someone on the garden forum that does cardboard and goat poop and plants right away and she grows huge veggies.
Has anyone else done this lasagna gardening?

 

[Baymen Moe]

Hi Natalie, I'm building what I think is a very traditional type coop. Sort of the salt box shape. It will be 8x8 with a 12x16 run. It should be perfect for my planned 15 birds. Hey, if I want more someday I'll build another coop, I have the room.

That gardening technique sounds interesting. I'm adding another 8x24 feet to my garden this year making it 24x32 total. I plan on trying more leafy greens this season.

With gardening on my mind it reminds me that I need to get rid of some Coriopsis this year. I planted a one gallon plant 4 years ago and have used that one plant to great effect around the yard. If you or someone you know wants some free of charge, let me know.

Bill

 

[Birch Run Farm]

Quote:
Hey Cowchick, I didn't know about this pub. Thanks! It looks interesting.

 

[spook]

Quote:
Hi, no we don't use the method that you are talking about yet DH is a garden-a-holic and lays leaves, sea weed, compost, manure and keeps stirring it in before the plants go in, also after they go, they get the layers in the fall.
One of the amazing tidbits that we learned through the years is that sea weed and if that is not found, epsom salts in the garden is a huge boost. Especially tomatoes, peppers, cukes, Rose bushes. Not only that- egg shells, dry and crush and milk. If it can be composted, or jug rinsings, plants love it. (the milk I'd recommend diluting a lot with water so it doesn't smell sour).
So the lesagna style sounds wonderful and very benificial!!
I cannot wait for good food again. In the summer we get so tired of everything, yet in the winter we miss it!

 

[Ashleyy_x3]

Hey everyone! I'm from Maine.
just wondering if anyone in New England is selling any duck eggs?

 

[the simple life]

Hey moe, sounds like a nice new england style coop.
My new one is suppose to go in the first of next week but with the crazy weather who knows what to expect.
Every time the ground dries up and we are ready to go its raining the next day or we get a snowstorm.
The yard is pretty mucky right now, I put on my rubber boots and spent most of the day trying to level off the ground and filling in low spots.
My husband unearthed the original well to this place, circa 1768 today.
I found it by accident one day when I moved some stone and found the well, my husband pulled all the stone and dirt that had filled it in and its pretty impressive. It has nice round stones and tight masonry even now.
I need to find a good mason to build the surround over the well and bring it back to its former glory.
It seems thats all I do around here, try to restore things back to the way they were.
Its funny because the guy that lives behind me is the town historian and he always appears at the back fence whenever we are doing something like this and he yells "so what are you doing over there?"
I told my husband the guy is like an apparition, he just appears there while you are working on something to do with the house.
Not raking or hanging out, just something to do with the history of the house.
He sees my husband's head sticking out of the ground today and he says so what are you doing over there, ya found the old well did ya?
I talked to him and he was happy that we weren't going to do anything to change it, just build it up.
Its good that he cares though, he is a goldmine of information.
So anyway, that is our next endeavor, get the well done, the coop up and the flower bed finished.
I would take some coriopsis off your hands for sure Bill. Those remind me of an old friend who loved them, she passed away last year but I always think of her when I hear the name.

Kell, I appreciate the tip. I have used the eggshells but not the milk. I have heard of using epsom salts but haven't tried it yet.
Do you use it in the flower garden as well as the veggie garden?
I agree, I cannot wait to get digging in the garden and harvesting some real food.
The way things are today its good to be able to grow some of your own food.
I am buying a side of beef next month too.
I was going to buy a whole cow and have it processed but I can't store 1000lbs of beef and couldn't find someone to split it with so I will probably just go with the side of beef.
That ought to help see my family through, gotta plan.

 

[spook]

Greetings guys, you sure can tell that there is warm weather in these parts! The NE forum has been sooo quiet!
Isn't this sunshine just amazing. Brings some really nice attitudes, let one more snowflake fall and we will become crazed! LOL!!

 

[chickn]

dont you even say it girl!!

 

[spook]

I know, and I'm so happy its going to rain...doin a ran dance up heah! Happy happy. Bummed about my Cochin eggs, looks like they are duds, day 7 no veining. I am trying to get some fertilized layer eggs up here so I can put a batch in the incubator. I'd like to think we could keep some girlie chicks and sell rest at the Oxford Chickenstock. I'm not big into selling, but maybe someone would want them.
At this point, my new turkey family is interesting to say the least. Wow, I have to laugh because I've had the "hen" (haven't seen an egg yet, but she let the tom do his deed, so keeping fingers crossed. ) and she was walking around on the roof. Great, now when it rains, we will be fertilizing the surrounding area- ew.
Todays tale of interest is our little Cochin bantam Scooter decided he was going to stand up to that hen. He ran up to her, did the two feet off the ground and thumped her in the chest and stood his ground. She wasn't impressed and I knew where this was going and I feel I may have saved his life- lol, she was eyeing the top of his scalp whilst looking down her beak! ha ha ha...
Anyhow, you take care Chickn! Be well and tell that boy of yours that he's gonna have to put up with me pretty soon- he best watch it! (don't tell him I'm giggling)

 

[chickn]

everyone says how much fun turkeys are, but i am afraid of the feed bill with those.
sounds like your enjoying yours. little roo's i tell ya, i have 4 here that have been fine all winter together, starts to warm up a bit and they are at each other.

mr mario is in bed, but i will bring him to windsor with me, i will pack his bag..lol not