Stormcrow's Hobby Farm

[Sally PB]

Blood Meal? I'll give that a try

It's all nitrogen. I think my bag is marked "14-0-0." Onions and garlic bulbs are specialized leaves and not a root crop. They're happy to have high nitrogen fertilizers.

Reminds me... as the garden season winds down, some of this stuff might go on sale. I'll have to check and stock up for next year.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

By next year, my hugelkultur bed (the 2' raised bed) should be starting to settle down. Its a lot of dead wood, layered with bunny gold, composted chicken droppings, peat moss, some of my clay sands, and a few bags of soil from the big box.

All the articles tell you the first year is basically a bust till the microbes get established and your soil nitrogen cycle gets developed. What they don't tell you is that after a major rain in late spring, you are likely to have a termite flight of unbelievable proportions. I worry that said termites didn't stop with eating the dead wood.

Not a complete fail first year, i HAVE obtained a handful of decent carrots (first on the property), some radishes, a few other cruciferous leaf crops with shallow roots. But I've done the latter with equal success in a 3" bed of garden soil, and better results in a 5 gal planter.

I'm stubborn, will keep failing at it till I find a system that works here.

 

[Sally PB]

likely from the black water tank I drain weekly,

(From another thread)

Does this effluent have have a use? When we get dry spells, I wish I had a way to collect our grey water. I've looked into a composting toilet, but google is as far as I've gone.

 

[NanaK]

Termite flight?
Are you sure they were not winged ants?

We have plenty of both down south.
If I remember correctly, the ant flight has something to do with their mating behavior.
I've seen both types in spring.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Fixed the flock count in my Sig with this AM's head count.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Termite flight?
Are you sure they were not winged ants?

We have plenty of both down south.
If I remember correctly, the ant flight has something to do with their mating behavior.
I've seen both types in spring.

Sadly yes. We have both types too. DEFINITELY termites in the hugelkultur bed.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

(From another thread)

Does this effluent have have a use? When we get dry spells, I wish I had a way to collect our grey water. I've looked into a composting toilet, but google is as far as I've gone.

Goes to septic. I've collected rain water, shower water, wash water - those can be used. Black water? No. I want that "treated" by my septic field, not used directly (or even indirectly) any time soon after its generated.

 

[NanaK]

Sadly yes. We have both types too. DEFINITELY termites in the hugelkultur bed.

I have wanted to try hugelkultur but been hesitant because of termites and carpenter ants.
I have been getting rid of landscape timbers that were infested. Changing to concrete or no edging. Here wood on the ground has caused me many headaches and nasty ant bites.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Momma Hen is down on the ground with her four healthy chicks, introducing them to the pasture!

No idea if she will return to the remaining 4 eggs left in the gorilla cart or not.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Momma Hen is down on the ground with her four healthy chicks, introducing them to the pasture!

No idea if she will return to the remaining 4 eggs left in the gorilla cart or not.

Mine don't return once they leave (apart from one hen, who would rather just keep nesting than caring for her actual chicks)