***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Cjarvis]

I just bought 4 fruit trees, red gold Nectarine, Black Plum, 3 in 1 pear and 3 in 1 apple. I thought cheating and getting the 3 in1's would save me from digging as many holes but what will likely happen is I will have to buy more fruit trees.
I think I got a decent deal all but the nectarine are about 10ft tall, the nectarine is about 5ft and in total was 135. We already have a large 20yr old volunteer peach tree that produces very well, but is starting to show its age.. I will liukely add a few varieties of peach and another nectarine later. Steph is dead set on cherries so thats her deal.

 

[Cjarvis]

I also have an experiment I'm going to work on (shocking I know)

I have been doing alot of reading about natural deworming ideas. I am not squarely in the chemical worming camp, but also not in the hot pepper, DE, garlic camp either. I have researched several herbs that have been used for centuries for deworming humans and animals and that are also fairly easy to grow and will grow in our area, I've ordered the seeds and am going to work on a deworm medicinal herb bed. I can feel you guys in the die hard chemical camp cringing

I use what I know works.. and take no offense to anything or anyone with a different approach. I have been told peppers work, I'm not sure about that but they will make the birds lay better. I have been told pumpkin works once again don't know but they will lay well when eating pumkin (tried that to). I have tobbacco seeds I plan to start as a semi natural steeped brew for bugs etc. I think too many bugs are becoming chemical tolerant so back to a more natural killer (Nicotene) I will be planting in about 1/2 acre this year.

 

[Cjarvis]

I think I need to go back to work.. I seem to accomplish more in the few hours after I get home than I do on the days I'm not working.. and no one calls wanting to go run them places while I'm at work..
well back out to work on my truck. the second day of a tune up that should have really ony taken an hour or two but just can't seem to finish anything.

 

[Sooner]

I have one more tree to plant a liberty apple. I've planted all the asparagus roots I'm planting this year (they are already coming up) found a great deal at Arnold's, but I do have some seeds I'm going to plant (asparagus). I'm hoping it dries enough by Sunday to plant my apple tree, and alot of the garden. I think I'm going to go ahead and put out the tomatoes, may hold off on the peppers for a few weeks, and plant out alot of seeds too, maybe getting about 70% of the garden in this week

My potatoes aren't coming up yet, but I knew they were going to take longer. I read an article about planting them way deep (10-12 inches) that way you don't have to hill them through the growing season, not sure how the onions are doing after all the rain, the comfrey is outgrowing the chickens eating it! Woo Hoo.

I also have an experiment I'm going to work on (shocking I know)

I have been doing alot of reading about natural deworming ideas. I am not squarely in the chemical worming camp, but also not in the hot pepper, DE, garlic camp either. I have researched several herbs that have been used for centuries for deworming humans and animals and that are also fairly easy to grow and will grow in our area, I've ordered the seeds and am going to work on a deworm medicinal herb bed. I can feel you guys in the die hard chemical camp cringing

I would love to say that I will be in my garden this weekend but I dont think thiere will be anyway consider events & how wet it is.

Please let me know how your worm project goes! I would be interested in finding out. I don't worm mine but once a year (need it or not), I haven't really found any but don't want to have a large infestation either. I tell you I have less trouble with the free range than any of the others.

I am reading on the ruth stouts method of gardening & think I might experiment with that alittle this year also. Considering the hay the horses waste anyways!

On the asaparagas, I think I read that it will take like three years to produce from seed? Is that correct?

 

[momma_raven]

Thanks for all the opinions on what gender our older chicks are. We have six new fuzzy buts in a make shift brooder in the house that are about a week and a half old now. They are keeping the girls entertained since they can't play outside in the swamp that was formerly known as the yard. Was hoping to get the garden tilled and planted this weekend but its not going to happen with all the standing water around here. Will post a pic of our new babies later. Hope everyone is having a wonderful Friday!

 

[Sooner]

I'm telling Steph I got a cherry tree!!!!! I got a Cherry Tree!!!!

 

[momma_raven]

The girls and I bought green and concord grapes, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries to plant. Still need to buy some strawberries and fruit trees. Then we'll have a good start on growing our own fruit.

 

[Kassaundra]

Sooner, yes it takes longer and you get the old fashioned roots w/ both male and female shoots. I have quite a few I've started from roots last year and this year, they will be the "prefered" all male shoots and I can harvest from them while the seed planted ones develop.

Cjarvis, I am not opposed to chemical wormers at all, just very interested in EFFECTIVE alternatives. Many of the alternatives I've seen posted just don't hold up to scrutiny (as in fecal tests or common sense) Some of the alternatives that I don't actually believe to be effective deworming agents are nutritious and healthy for the chickens and they like them (hot peppers, onions, garlic, pumkin seeds etc...) and I feed them all to the girls when I have them but not as worming agents. I would really like to look into the black walnut oil (tea) as I think that has real promise, but I don't have a walnut tree to harvest from.

This year I planted peach, sweet black cherry, apple, fig, and plum trees. I really wanted to plant some blueberries, but needed to move the raspberries first and didn't get around to that yet. I also wanted to plant a couple of mulberries for the chickens and to protect (at least try) my cherries from the birds, but didn't get them ordered. I did plant strawberries but think they died, they didn't look to healthy when I planted them (got them from a bag at wally world)

 

[nocityboy]

The girls and I bought green and concord grapes, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries to plant. Still need to buy some strawberries and fruit trees. Then we'll have a good start on growing our own fruit.

anyone wanting black berries, I have plenty, my goats can't even eat them all. they are growing wild in my yard and last year they were under my front porch

 

[momma_raven]

Here are some pics of our new babies. Checked the calender and the oldest chick is 2 weeks and the youngest chick is a week old and the others fall somewhere in between.