Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Illia]

Hey all! Don't know if anyone even remembers me, I was told most of the members moved to Facebook but anyway, posting here as I've not been on the forum in a while and want to drop by with a hello and welcome new members, too

Been a nice summer over here, sunny most of the time with a lot of fog compared to others, certainly a lot cooler than the rest of you guys in the Seattle area. My little farm has expanded dramatically since last I was active. Used to just have chickens, now I've got ducks, turkeys, pigs, sheep, goats, and another yak. Used to have goats and a yak before but got rid of them sadly, and just had chickens for a while. My greenhouse I used to talk about from time to time has also gone through changes - It's heated now without my having to pay for heating (non electric, non gas) and I grow a lot more in it now than just bananas and common garden veggies. I've really taken the dive in tropical rare fruits as well as spices and things like sugarcane.

 

[CarolynF]

Hi, I'm from Buckley, WA.

Hi there and welcome to the group. Tell us a little bit about yourself and/or your chickens!

 

[CarolynF]

Hey all! Don't know if anyone even remembers me, I was told most of the members moved to Facebook but anyway, posting here as I've not been on the forum in a while and want to drop by with a hello and welcome new members, too

Been a nice summer over here, sunny most of the time with a lot of fog compared to others, certainly a lot cooler than the rest of you guys in the Seattle area. My little farm has expanded dramatically since last I was active. Used to just have chickens, now I've got ducks, turkeys, pigs, sheep, goats, and another yak. Used to have goats and a yak before but got rid of them sadly, and just had chickens for a while. My greenhouse I used to talk about from time to time has also gone through changes - It's heated now without my having to pay for heating (non electric, non gas) and I grow a lot more in it now than just bananas and common garden veggies. I've really taken the dive in tropical rare fruits as well as spices and things like sugarcane.

Hey... Of course we remember you... And your rainbow dish of eggs! You've been unbelievably busy from the sound of it! Gee I didn't know anyone around here had a yak... Wow! Do you make yak butter? . Are you doing the exotics for yourself or is it a commercial venture? Sounds super interesting.

 

[Illia]

For myself right now but my long-term goal is to educate and inspire others. I want to give people the education and ability to do what I do. It's sad honestly that most people I run across aren't even aware we can grow figs out here. Eventually I'd love to become a nursery and sell my rare stuff, as I do both perfectly-hardy for our region plants as well as full on tropicals. (anything from heritage apples to Biriba)

There's a fair amount of yak owners in WA, most of them centered around the Bellingham area I believe. There's a couple up here, myself included. One in Sequim, two down near Elma, and of course the Olympic Game Farm, not sure if they count.

I don't do dairy with Yaks yet as both mine have been bulls, we don't have the land that we're aware of yet to sustain even a trio of yaks. With the other livestock, we're at the moment testing out to see how much the pastures can take. Thankfully all of our livestock are breeds that are very easy on the land and serious browsers, not grazers. I do/did train the boys to pack, halter, saddle, and of course I collect(ed) their wool.

 

[HoneysuckleHills]

For myself right now but my long-term goal is to educate and inspire others. I want to give people the education and ability to do what I do. It's sad honestly that most people I run across aren't even aware we can grow figs out here. Eventually I'd love to become a nursery and sell my rare stuff, as I do both perfectly-hardy for our region plants as well as full on tropicals. (anything from heritage apples to Biriba)

There's a fair amount of yak owners in WA, most of them centered around the Bellingham area I believe. There's a couple up here, myself included. One in Sequim, two down near Elma, and of course the Olympic Game Farm, not sure if they count.

I don't do dairy with Yaks yet as both mine have been bulls, we don't have the land that we're aware of yet to sustain even a trio of yaks. With the other livestock, we're at the moment testing out to see how much the pastures can take. Thankfully all of our livestock are breeds that are very easy on the land and serious browsers, not grazers. I do/did train the boys to pack, halter, saddle, and of course I collect(ed) their wool.

Hi Illia,
No kidding, you've been away!
The hens I got from you are still doing well and laying such beautiful eggs.
I'm getting a fig tree this fall or spring. Which do you recommend.
I hear Brown Turkey is the way to go.

 

[hallerlake]

Hey all! Don't know if anyone even remembers me, I was told most of the members moved to Facebook but anyway, posting here as I've not been on the forum in a while and want to drop by with a hello and welcome new members, too

Been a nice summer over here, sunny most of the time with a lot of fog compared to others, certainly a lot cooler than the rest of you guys in the Seattle area. My little farm has expanded dramatically since last I was active. Used to just have chickens, now I've got ducks, turkeys, pigs, sheep, goats, and another yak. Used to have goats and a yak before but got rid of them sadly, and just had chickens for a while. My greenhouse I used to talk about from time to time has also gone through changes - It's heated now without my having to pay for heating (non electric, non gas) and I grow a lot more in it now than just bananas and common garden veggies. I've really taken the dive in tropical rare fruits as well as spices and things like sugarcane.

Of course I remember our genetics expert! It all sounds very exciting.

 

[Illia]

Unless it's an English or Vern's Brown Turkey, Brown Turkeys are not the way to go. They're the most common variety available and what you eat when you get fresh figs at the store, but not the best for out here. Edited to add, they will grow fine but good luck getting fruit. For our rather mild summers, some great ones include -

Desert King (tops here) Lattarulla, Stella, Vern's Brown Turkey, English Brown Turkey, Violetta, Negronne (violette de bordeaux) and Tilbury's Turkey.

Figs are incredibly easy to propagate so if anyone is interested in some next year I always do cuttings each winter and start them that winter so they're ready the following spring.

If you want something dwarf for pot culture indoors or in a little greenhouse there's also Petit Negri which I have, and if you have a greenhouse and want a really REALLY good fig with gorgeous unusual coloration I also have Striped Tiger (Panache) fig. Beautiful variegated fruit and branches, sweet oh so amazing raspberry-red flesh, but needs a greenhouse as it likes a long hot season.

Got a little carried away

 

[HoneysuckleHills]

Got a little carried away

No, not at all. Figs are amazing! Thanks for the recommendations. I wish I had a greenhouse.

 

[Illia]

I've done and also seen some crazy and interesting cheap ideas into getting one. A friend up in Agnew uses some sort of weird metal frame from Costco they were giving away, pretty much looked like a frame to a little shed that you really could turn into anything (coop, run, greenhouse, shed, etc) then there's also using PVC or wood, or always keeping an eye out on Craigslist for cheap finds in or near your area, or even supplies to create one or get someone to create one for you. Our big greenhouse started out PVC then over the years was improved with a wooden interior structure to keep it up. Just recently got heating installed for winter.

Plus consider that you could either do a plastic film type greenhouse which works with a lot of greenhouse ideas, or you could scrounge up glass and work with a glass greenhouse, even a little cold-frame can work for smaller plants or as a starter for the first 1-2 years with some plants.

If I started out with nothing and hardly the money I'd get some lumber, clear plastic sheeting, and either wire fencing or both it and PVC and make a simple bottom wood frame, put a little backbone in it for snow weight, then add in the PVC hoops (or just wooden interior frame helped by fencing) and throw the plastic over. Plastic can be secured by screwing down with wood stripes, held down by special fabric strips, or with PVC clamps. It could also have neither and just be kept down on all sides with weight, but wind will eventually balloon it which isn't the best. You'll want some form of restraint on the sides and top. But anyway, this paragraph would work for a small greenhouse tall enough for you to walk in and grow something like a few figs. Figs take pruning really well too, and there's quite a few container-friendly ones that grow slower. Technically no such thing as dwarfs, but, they do grow much slower.

But for the lurking viewers - The figs I listed earlier don't need a greenhouse.

 

[Zgoatlady]

Hey all! Don't know if anyone even remembers me, I was told most of the members moved to Facebook but anyway, posting here as I've not been on the forum in a while and want to drop by with a hello and welcome new members, too

Been a nice summer over here, sunny most of the time with a lot of fog compared to others, certainly a lot cooler than the rest of you guys in the Seattle area. My little farm has expanded dramatically since last I was active. Used to just have chickens, now I've got ducks, turkeys, pigs, sheep, goats, and another yak. Used to have goats and a yak before but got rid of them sadly, and just had chickens for a while. My greenhouse I used to talk about from time to time has also gone through changes - It's heated now without my having to pay for heating (non electric, non gas) and I grow a lot more in it now than just bananas and common garden veggies. I've really taken the dive in tropical rare fruits as well as spices and things like sugarcane.

It has been awhile, sounds like things are going good for you. I'd love to know how your greenhouse is getting is getting heated.