***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[NanaKat]

Todays garden goodies, tomatoes are doing great, still getting grean beans, and banana peppers like crazy, Okra is just starting to make decently, squash is slowing down thanks to all the squash bugs

Beets, looks like another batch of beet piclkes, after these all soak and have their water changed out 4 or 5 times

Almost standing on my head for a couple of hours early this morning picking the garden, will equal some sore places later on I am sure !

Why do you soak them and change the water 4 - 5 times?
I trim off the tops and root leaving 1 inch. Then laid out on the grass wash with a hose. Bring inside and scrub with a brush then boil, slip the skins. Cut off the top and root. Rinse well and then cut slices for the jars. Add the hot vinegar with spices and waterbath the quart jars for 30 minutes.

Exciting afternoon in my neighborhood, two at large pit mix dogs trying to breech my neighbors grandkids rabbit cage, we tried to shoo them away almost got bit, PD came and got animal control out off duty and are removing them now. Really didn't want his gkids coming home to sinmutilated pet bunnies, and even more didn't want them to discover what was in my back yard!

A gun would be the answer here since we are in the county...no animal control other than the 357 and 22.

The coolest gazebo ever I really need to grow one of these!!!!!!

Cool! Love the second story and the staircase.

Kass and Nana check out this site when you have time! Lynn

http://www.wiselivingjournal.com

Thanks for the link Lynn. I marked it a foavorite after I read for about 30 minutes...Has some nice recipes, and great information.

 

[sdsknifeworks]

NNBreeder, I assume "NN" is for naked neck? I remember as a kid my grandparents had what they called "turkens" that were a large naked neck bird. They weren't much to look at but from what I remember they were pretty hardy. When I get everything ready for birds I will see what is available. The biggest reason I chose the easter eggers was for the fun colored eggs and the orpingtons, I have heard, are good layers. The "black and white" ones will just depend on what I can find I suppose but the wyandottes sound like they would fit this description.

The cochins are a breed I haven't looked at.....but will now. I'm trying really hard to do all of my homework on the front end instead of learning hard mistakes on the back end.

Kassandra, I'm in Piedmont which in on the NW side of OKC. I'm technically in OKC but zoned agricultural and pretty rural.

I'll be watching here to see whats up and when I'm ready for birds I may be asking for information again.

I'm assuming that it will be better to go with grown birds vs. trying to raise chicks in this heat.

SDS

 

[Ksane]

i have been working on my own line of bantam shamos and i realy like what i see so far they are smaller bodyed than the other bantam shamos you see but stands just as tall i do not care for most bantam shamos but i realy like these

I was thinking he did, too. It's not the auction guys' fault but when they take those chicks out of the boxes to show people and then do the same with the next batch and next batch.....it just passes germs from one batch to the other. All those tiny newly hatched chicks don't have enough of an immune system to fight stuff off.

 

[NanaKat]

NNBreeder, I assume "NN" is for naked neck? I remember as a kid my grandparents had what they called "turkens" that were a large naked neck bird. They weren't much to look at but from what I remember they were pretty hardy. When I get everything ready for birds I will see what is available. The biggest reason I chose the easter eggers was for the fun colored eggs and the orpingtons, I have heard, are good layers. The "black and white" ones will just depend on what I can find I suppose but the wyandottes sound like they would fit this description.

The cochins are a breed I haven't looked at.....but will now. I'm trying really hard to do all of my homework on the front end instead of learning hard mistakes on the back end.

Kassandra, I'm in Piedmont which in on the NW side of OKC. I'm technically in OKC but zoned agricultural and pretty rural.

I'll be watching here to see whats up and when I'm ready for birds I may be asking for information again.

I'm assuming that it will be better to go with grown birds vs. trying to raise chicks in this heat.

SDS

I have Cochins, Columbian Wyandotttes, Australorps and Minorcas. Of the three breeds, Cochins have more difficulty with the heat...more feathers on their legs and heavier.
Minorcas are more spastic/flighty...not good with little people.
The Columbian Wyandottes and Aussies make great gentle kid friendly birds. The Aussies are nest protective when broodie.
Since you are not wanting roostrs, then you will most likely keep the girls from going broodie.

 

[MacGuyver]

Quote:
I did it mostly for braggin' rights.

 

[Kassaundra]

Lynn, cool link thanks.

Anyone who grows sugar baby melons, how do you tell when they are ready to pick???

I've been demoted and I'm not going to lie and say it doesn't hurt. I used to be the exhaulted, even beloved bringer of the treats, now I'm the evil, even hated stealer of the eggs.

at least to one broody girl, and I don't even steal the eggs, Gary does.

 

[jcatblum]

MJ the sugar baby is a tiny watermelon. So sweet & yummy. I will eat the whole melon. Larger melons I will only eat the center since it is the sweetest. I will bring some small melons or cantaloupes if any are ready. It is still kinda early for them, but we have been getting a few. DH LOVES cantaloupes but hates Honeydews. He calls cantaloupes muskmelons, but he is from Iowa so they do things different.
We also have ground cherries. Imagine you would LOVE them. DD has been getting everyone taste them @ the market. Have not yet heard a complaint about them. We can bring some of those too. Everyday it is always a surprise to see what we will harvest!

 

[jcatblum]

Kass when my melons stem turns brown & the tendrils next to the melon dry up they MAY be ready. I say mayy since I had a cantaloupe that stem was brown & it slipped off but the inside of the stem was green. I knew as soon as I saw the green it wasn't all the way ready. It still had an ok taste but was a little firm. If ever we pick them too soon the chickens don't complain one bit!

 

[MacGuyver]

Quote:
I suggest Dominiques for the "black and white" ones.

 

[our 5acre farm]

had a great party last night. Got some really cool fire works. Loved the water balloon and silly string fight. To day has been spent getting things back to normal had round 20 or more people over and would do it again in a heart beat. Think next time we need some horse shoes and darts added to the list of things todo. Ellie the black berry cheese cake was wonderful. Ill be sneaking some of that while the hubby is at work. Was gonna start a new diet and exercise plan tomorrow but will have to wait till that cheese cake is gone.

i make a lot of cheese cakes also, i made a new one the other day and it was awesome!!! It was a habanero mango cheese cake YUM!!!