The Front Porch Swing

[MistyMountain]

I think it is futile to think of planting anything anywhere near black walnut. It might look okay for a year or two but as the walnut tree grows taller and deeper it will eventually kill all competitors. I have two big ones on the property line and they killed a hemlock tree! What can kill a hemlock? Only thing that grows around them is grass, some scrubby juniper and goldenrod.

So probably why the peach trees on that end of the orchard that are very mature are starting to have more dead branches than live branches on them? They are probably 75ft away at their closest point. The walnut trees are not huge. If we got rid of the couple down near the orchard, would the dead roots in the soil continue to contaminate it? We have plans to add to the orchard down there, and fruit trumps black walnut in my book. It is also a perfect place for the garden and greenhouse.

 

[OHhappychicks]

Wow!!! I am gonna have to catch up here!! This thread goes so fast!

But here is what I did this morning.



Homemade strawberry jam made from fresh strawberries right from our patch! And the beauty of this recipe is I didn't have to use
pectin or processed white sugar!!!

It's just strawberries, maple syrup (which we made ourselves this spring), and chia seeds!
The chia seeds provide the thickening as they absorb liquid. Chia seeds they say are higher in omega 3 than flax seed, so some good nutrition in the mix. The maple syrup is from the first batch we made which is light and has more of a carmely taste than maple. It is soo good and I can't taste syrup and the chia seeds has little to no flavor. I did add extra coconut sugar as my strawberries are a little tart. But it came out sooo good! I never have been able to make jam. It always comes out runny. Use it for icecream topping!

I'm going to put it in the freezer, as I read it doesn't can well, and now I don't remember the reason why.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

So probably why the peach trees on that end of the orchard that are very mature are starting to have more dead branches than live branches on them? They are probably 75ft away at their closest point. The walnut trees are not huge. If we got rid of the couple down near the orchard, would the dead roots in the soil continue to contaminate it? We have plans to add to the orchard down there, and fruit trumps black walnut in my book. It is also a perfect place for the garden and greenhouse.

Not sure about the effect of dead roots. I assume they wouldn't send out toxins if they were dead? Maybe Sallysunshine knows.

 

[Alice28]

Wow!!! I am gonna have to catch up here!! This thread goes so fast! But here is what I did this morning. Homemade strawberry jam made from fresh strawberries right from our patch! And the beauty of this recipe is I didn't have to use pectin or processed white sugar!!! It's just strawberries, maple syrup (which we made ourselves this spring), and chia seeds! The chia seeds provide the thickening as they absorb liquid. Chia seeds they say are higher in omega 3 than flax seed, so some good nutrition in the mix. The maple syrup is from the first batch we made which is light and has more of a carmely taste than maple. It is soo good and I can't taste syrup and the chia seeds has little to no flavor. I did add extra coconut sugar as my strawberries are a little tart. But it came out sooo good! I never have been able to make jam. It always comes out runny. Use it for icecream topping! I'm going to put it in the freezer, as I read it doesn't can well, and now I don't remember the reason why. :/

That looks amazing! I've never made homemade jam, although my mom use to. I want to try and make some this summer.

 

[Tomtommom]

I think it is futile to think of planting anything anywhere near black walnut. It might look okay for a year or two but as the walnut tree grows taller and deeper it will eventually kill all competitors. I have two big ones on the property line and they killed a hemlock tree! What can kill a hemlock? Only thing that grows around them is grass, some scrubby juniper and goldenrod.

We have a local edible forest garden with a lot of black walnuts. Apparently there are some things that like growing with them. Sassafras and paw paw I believe.

Found a page with others: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/fletcher/staff/rbir/blackwalnutcompanions.html

Wow!!! I am gonna have to catch up here!! This thread goes so fast!

But here is what I did this morning.



Homemade strawberry jam made from fresh strawberries right from our patch! And the beauty of this recipe is I didn't have to use
pectin or processed white sugar!!!

It's just strawberries, maple syrup (which we made ourselves this spring), and chia seeds!
The chia seeds provide the thickening as they absorb liquid. Chia seeds they say are higher in omega 3 than flax seed, so some good nutrition in the mix. The maple syrup is from the first batch we made which is light and has more of a carmely taste than maple. It is soo good and I can't taste syrup and the chia seeds has little to no flavor. I did add extra coconut sugar as my strawberries are a little tart. But it came out sooo good! I never have been able to make jam. It always comes out runny. Use it for icecream topping!

I'm going to put it in the freezer, as I read it doesn't can well, and now I don't remember the reason why.

That sounds yummy and fun. I have not tried chia seeds (or coconut oil, or any of those 'hip' new things

).

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
LOL... thanks.... as a Gemini double Air... la lala la.... Born in the year of the goat too. Bwahahahaahah....

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
LOL me too when I heard that one....

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Thanks Lisa.... VBG.

deb

 

[Triple Willow]

LOL... thanks....  as a Gemini double Air...  la lala la....  Born in the year of the goat too.  Bwahahahaahah....

deb

HA! I hope you have a good one AND many more!!

 

[OHhappychicks]

I probably should post this on another thread, but this thread is the busiest!!!

Here is a pic of one of the maran eggs I'm going to put under the broody. It has a tiny chip of shell missing. The membrane is not ruptured, so should I use it to hatch?