Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[stake]

I just read that Marans need more protein than other birds. Could this be why Cate only lays 4 eggs a month at the most?

LB:
never heard of that either....would think if that was the case, there'd be some sort of label on the feed.....could be Cate is getting a little long in the tooth...or maybe laying eggs isn't 'her' thing...my two cents....

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

What kind of canner? What size?

Presto, 23 quart with the pressure gauge (weights).....
The all-american is great, love the screw-down knobs, but too much $$ for the wallet right now...maybe the next step-up or always great to have two canners, right?!
I am so jacked right now!!

..the problem won't be "what do I can?"...it is "what do I have left to can?" , oh yeah..and..I need more JARS!!!!

seriously..i do!

The garlic powder isn't hard to make, just takes time. After all the cloves are peeled, we run them through the food processor to spice them up. We used to do it by hand but that really was a pain! Then we spread it out over all the trays in the dehydrator. Ours is a forced air one from kmart. Not too expensive but still works well. We've tried a radiant heart one that e found at a yard sale once. That one did not stay lol. Once the garlic is looking pretty dry (not all of it will be) we put it in the nutribullet and use the milling blade to grind it in to a powder. After that, we spread the powder out on the fruit leather trays in the dehydrator and dry it more. Then we grind it again, and by then, it's usually good. Occasionally, it needs another run through the dehydrator but not usually. It sounds really long and drawn out but honestly, it's not bad. It does take a while to dry out though. We ran the thing 8 hours yesterday and is not even close to being done yet lol
I have never heard of marans needing more protien. Seriously though, 4 eggs a month? That's crazy! I get at least 3 eggs a week from my marans girls. Usually more though.

that is the issue with these smaller dehydrators...have to run them alllll dayyyyy...and then hopefully your stuff will be dry completely
I am going to have to give the garlic powder a try!! I am having issues with growing the stuff though..i know-it is soo easy, but it always seems to be the "easy" stuff that gives me the biggest issues

Are you saying that some of us actually have that many, but continue to live in denial?

me..say THAT?!..wha...what are YOU talking about?...I would never say such a thing...to you ..in person.

**you all know i am only playing...

LB:
never heard of that either....would think if that was the case, there'd be some sort of label on the feed.....could be Cate is getting a little long in the tooth...or maybe laying eggs isn't 'her' thing...my two cents....

2nd that one..maybe her "thing" is soup?...

...I understand if she is a 'pet'...but if not...just saying it would make more room for maybe someone who's "thing" IS laying...
not trying to offend anyone..

Awesome pics! Love the idea of using the failed branch to make a "tree house". Looks like they will be climbing over it in no time. Your little bug is adorable too.

Thank you!!...DH was just going to cut it for fire wood, but I wanted to make something with it..oh..took these this morning...

they have found a way to avoid the "mean girls"...

they are getting very comfortable with it. Climbing all over, jumping off & on. Even roosted a bit. Glad to see they enjoy it, that was the whole idea.

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

oh...Good morning everyone...

....
hope the weekend is off to a great start for all!!

 

[BullChick]

oh...Good morning everyone... ....
hope the weekend is off to a great start for all!!

Yes, two is better than one! I kept running out of jars, but I don't have that problem anymore. All the canning I had hoped to do is a no go without the garden.
Oh well! There is always next year... I think.
Great pictures this morning! Glad the flock likes the new toy!

 

[BullChick]

Duckling was great about eating lunch! Not only was it a surprise she was acting excited, but she really did eat some! She never said yuck, so she might be easier to feed again (the past tenish months have been almost meat and vegetable free)!
I wasn't in heaven, but if someone served duck, I could eat it.
I might can the rest. Hadn't thought of it until now. Hmmm... Can you can bacon?

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

Yes, two is better than one! I kept running out of jars, but I don't have that problem anymore. All the canning I had hoped to do is a no go without the garden.

Oh well! There is always next year... I think.

Great pictures this morning! Glad the flock likes the new toy!

yes..next year will be better!!
if keeping up with weeding is too much..and when is it never too much?!...maybe raised beds would work better for you..??..just a thought. Not everything needs a raised bed, just maybe things that don't vine-out...peppers, tomatoes..i realize they go everywhere, but with cages they stay somewhat under control.
Pumpkins..squash and the like could be left to their own devices, sort of...it seems to work for me anyway. When they get going, not too much grows under them.
Raised beds can be as easy as laying pallets down and planting..doesn't have to be super complicated or give you too much extra to get together.
Just tossing things your way...want it to be a little easier for you some how.

Duckling was great about eating lunch! Not only was it a surprise she was acting excited, but she really did eat some! She never said yuck, so she might be easier to feed again (the past tenish months have been almost meat and vegetable free)!
I wasn't in heaven, but if someone served duck, I could eat it.

I might can the rest. Hadn't thought of it until now. Hmmm... Can you can bacon?

I don't know ...i have seen 'pinterest' stuff on doing it, but i don't know if it is for-real "safe"...will have to check that one out too.
Is that bacon on top of duck?....i don't know of anything that bacon can't make better..ahahaha....i miss it.

okay..i have to start canning here...laundry hung out, animals and every-other thing has been tended to now...it is hot already

...now will have to close things up and turn on the confounded AC again!!

...
The building that had my business in used to have a wood stove in it. It was the former owners 'work shop'...it worked and was very nice..fancy actually. Had scrolling and nickel accents. I wish we had it back again...would be nice to use it out there as a summer kitchen to do all this hot stuff..not in the house.
Used it as a trade for professional work to convert the building from what it was, into the business....was what was needed then..but sure could use it now. ah life...

Hey MC...maybe you have something lying around you could use to trade...for labor to make those raised beds?!....never know.

 

[BullChick]

The weeding wasn't the issue. Nothing really grew.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

@LittleMissPurdy-for hats, keep a close eye on pennswoods.net and craigslist. Last spring, we ended up finding over 1000 jars from some Mennonite family for dirt cheap.

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

@LittleMissPurdy -for hats, keep a close eye on pennswoods.net and craigslist. Last spring, we ended up finding over 1000 jars from some Mennonite family for dirt cheap.

yeah..wow...someone had told me about penns. before...just must have slid through one of those sieve-holes...

I am writing it down NOW...thank you!!

The weeding wasn't the issue. Nothing really grew.

okay...still, it is easy to mend the soil in smaller areas...adding goodness to it all you know...

 

[troyer]

The weeding wasn't the issue. Nothing really grew.

Well with chickens and chicken manure to put on the gardening area you should really be able to get something to grow in a few years. We use almost all our chicken and goat manure on our gardens and have no problem growing things, especially weeds it seems. Some years ago I had moved to a property with extremely poor soil. Even some varieties of weeds that thrive on poor soil really struggled to stay alive on it. After 2 years of chicken manure we started getting some very good crops. By three years we were able to grow anything we wanted.

Duckling was great about eating lunch! Not only was it a surprise she was acting excited, but she really did eat some! She never said yuck, so she might be easier to feed again (the past tenish months have been almost meat and vegetable free!

You served duck to a Duckling? How dare you to do such a thing? What if....what if.....what if.....what if...... you hurt the ducks feelings Never mind baked duck doesn't have feelings.

ever say such a thing...to you ..in person.

**you all know i am only playing...

they have found a way to avoid the "mean girls"...

they are getting very comfortable with it. Climbing all over, jumping off & on. Even roosted a bit. Glad to see they enjoy it, that was the whole idea.

Nice addition.