Stormcrow's Hobby Farm

[fuzzi]

First frost, not a hard freeze. Chicken waterers were fine, not even a skim of ice.

 

[Molpet]

We broke records - colder than anticipated. Mid 20s. But already in the upswing, tonight will be warmer (barely) than projected yesterday. 32 instead of 30.

No plumbing damage. All the plants were covered (but not candled) - will know by Thursday if they took a hit. Ground was warm and relatively wet. I'm expecting none, except to the tops of the bananas and the asparagus.

Crazy that you're as cold as I in northern Illinois

 

[WingItRanch]

Prayer

Ok I've been meaning to read through this thread (Stormcrow: your setup, climate, and plans are very similar to ours) and this made me laugh. I'm getting my first goats this week. 2 Nigerian Dwarf wethers. They're shorties, thankfully, but I've been reinforcing fencing for weeks in preparation.

I'm on page 58 so not sure when I'll get to "real time" so bear with me.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Ok I've been meaning to read through this thread (Stormcrow: your setup, climate, and plans are very similar to ours) and this made me laugh. I'm getting my first goats this week. 2 Nigerian Dwarf wethers. They're shorties, thankfully, but I've been reinforcing fencing for weeks in preparation.

I'm on page 58 so not sure when I'll get to "real time" so bear with me.

Welcome to the meandering thread, glad to have you here!!! We moved back to Florida from the Austin area. Hope you find it insightful and entertaining - or at least a useful warning of things that can go wrong.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Looks like we are right about freezing. Should be able to start taking the visqueen down at lunch, going to have to water before this weekend, and thru next week. No rain in the two week forecast.

Weird weather.

 

[NanaK]

Glad the cold is backing off!
Our frost was light. I'm only expecting minimal damage.
We should see 70s by the weekend. No rain for us either. I'll be back to watering. Seems I've done alot of watering this year.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Similar here - looks like some of my ginger was too close to the edge of the protection, and took some leaf damage - and the bananas of course were going to take a hit as they do every year.

But better to find out now, with a relatively short double freeze, than to find out when we have a week+ of the stuff, or go teens again.

I'll have the greenhouse finished in the next two weeks (only took a year), then this becomes a non-issue, as I'll safely be able to add heat, and will have plenty of air gap between the walls and the things I'm trying to protect.

 

[NanaK]

Congratulations on the greenhouse! You and wife will love it! I don't heat mine normally but I have early spring for late cold snaps. I do over winter some marginally hardy potted plants and start seeds in late winter. I use it year round.

Just looking out the window my banana tree looks pretty good. Some upper leaves a bit shredded from the wind but nothing looking dark...so far. A little more time will tell the tale.

Off to the kitchen, I have 4 fresh heads of broccoli to blanch and freeze today. Indoor work for now.

 

[WingItRanch]

One of the very best fairs in the nation. You should absolutely go if you get chance. Bring plenty of fives tens and twenties. Most of the ACT prefer cash. I am headed to a much smaller Fair. Gulf Coast Ren festival. Only runs 2 days, suffers from a bit of multiple personality disorder. Hasn't really settled on a theme or a Time frame. Mostly going to see a friend.

Ever been to the Texas Ren Fest? It's massive (like a city) and absolutely worth going. I try to go once a year. I think it may be largest Renaissance Festival in the world.