Washingtonians

[jbear]

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The only thing that I know about this is: I want to go see this!! I saw a Youtube video of them.. stunning!

 

[Stumpfarmer]

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In this case, the chicken math goes this way: I have an empty chicken tractor that I'm stripping the plastic from and putting up on blocks, spraying with bleach solution, and setting to dry under a tarp early this week. It'll be modified in the face of experience and put in use for quarantine next spring. Today while I have help who can *lean over* I'll get all the wire cut for the Hamburg Extension (also the lumber for the coop moved up to where I need it)- putting wire up has turned out to be the one thing that's *mostly* easiest to do by myself. My hired hand is probably getting a real grown-up full time job soon, so I'll have budget for hiring My Cousin the Biker's son, who is fast and follows construction directions consisting mostly of diagrams drawn in the air zand reference to fastener lengths. Thus, chicken coops. (Also eradication of plum thicket by chain saw).

Allegedly, my DDILTB is going to take on emptying the barn in the next six months so I can convert that space for something more useful than sheltered rot.

Oh ye of little faith...

Oh that will be great to have that barn to use!!!
There seemed to be alot of stacked lumber in there, as I recall peeking through the blackberries.
That space will be awesome to use!!!
Any of the 'sheltered rot' worth using for building projects?

Actually, yeah- before I got hurt/sick/hurt/hurt/sick it contained my random scraps of usable lumber and some big constructed objects I can turn to chicken purposes (including an old, way over-built 3/4" marine plywood loft bed that's going to be a coop roof), it's just that possessors of the "Why?" chromosome have stacked other stuff in boxes right inside the door, in front of the useful stuff. I am absolutely not supposed to lean over to lift them, given that the last "sick" was inhalation pneumonia from gastric reflux that knocked me out for most of a year, and "hurt" one and three were lower-limb injuries which made squatting and kneeling impossible.

I managed to finish the PVC part of the Hamburg run in the past few days, which was heartening; I'd be further along but most of the daylight part of one day last week was spent blocking my cousin's chickens from getting into my chicken yard, and another had a hole blown in it when I got my teeth cleaned . Oh, and then there was working cattle Wednesday.

 

[Stumpfarmer]

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In a greenhouse? If they have any Russian sweet paprika types or Romanian Kristi that's what I'd choose for a greenhouse or for cloches; they want a little more heat than the Wetside can give unassisted, but are the absolute best flavored red salad peppers ever. I haven't planted regular old bells in a long time, they're almost always so cheap in September that they're not worth the space (the pepper cart at Oly Farmer's Market had them 2/$1 three weekends in a row, for organics, green and red both) and there are so many other peppers to plant that it's harder to find at retail places. I have my theories about peppers, which may well differ from others, but I prefer always to give garden space to stuff that's hard to find/really expensive/better fresh-picked and not mess with what's cheap and easy in season and mindlessly easy to freeze.

 

[Chickielady]

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In a greenhouse? If they have any Russian sweet paprika types or Romanian Kristi that's what I'd choose for a greenhouse or for cloches; they want a little more heat than the Wetside can give unassisted, but are the absolute best flavored red salad peppers ever. I haven't planted regular old bells in a long time, they're almost always so cheap in September that they're not worth the space (the pepper cart at Oly Farmer's Market had them 2/$1 three weekends in a row, for organics, green and red both) and there are so many other peppers to plant that it's harder to find at retail places. I have my theories about peppers, which may well differ from others, but I prefer always to give garden space to stuff that's hard to find/really expensive/better fresh-picked and not mess with what's cheap and easy in season and mindlessly easy to freeze.

I agree, that is how I feel about corn.
here, late in summer, corn gets to be 4 for $1 at the u-pick place.
I use some for making the Texas caviar salsa that I can.
But every year I DO allow myself 1 or 2 "oddities" just to keep my inner child-gadener happy, and this year it is going to be a variety of sweet peppers and the Siberian Banana Melons, and maybe 1 more.
What is really exciting (to me) is the vast collections of heirloom vegetables brought here to the USA every year from all over the globe...melons & cucs from Russia and Timbuktu!
Chinese & asian vegires...that stuff fascinates me.
Sometimes the pack of seed (usually $3) is a waste of money what with our climes, but sometimes it works!
I really want a large melon that will work here, and Siberian Banana looks good.
I also have heat tape IN the soil IN the 10 foot long boxes (18" wide) in my green house, there is 3 of the 10 foot long boxes.
Each is 2' deep, 18" wide, 10 ft long..so heat tape buried about 10" deep keeps the soil very warm & helps warm the entire green house.

http://rareseeds.com/banana-melon-1-oz.html ...................ooh, this is $8 an oz but there is a small packet as well.
Great web site!
Excellent catalog!!

So, occupies the mind all winter!!!

 

[Chickielady]

Check out all these sweet peppers:

http://rareseeds.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=sweet+peppers&searchbox=products

 

[Chickielady]

well, I have to get up & do another couple sets of aerobics & weight lifting.....cannot do yoga as the knee is still too weak..aerobics are basic moves, I do them somewhat stiff legged but can still do it!
getting better everyday!
Later guys~~~~~~~
Oh, and I just ordered 6 Sweetgrass turkey eggs to hatch in spring & add to my Beltsville flock..........

See what happens when DH is gone????????

 

[Chicken Rustler]

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Is this a special heat tape? Where would one find that?

 

[Chickielady]

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Is this a special heat tape? Where would one find that?

DH has yards of it in his shop he gleaned from a job years ago.
It is blue, has dual wires, he cuts off a strip of length needed & seals one end & adds a plug to the other end & I use it.
It is self leveling so to speak, gets to a certain temp & stays there, like a waterbed heater.
I will see if I can find some on line.
It may be the same as pipe wrap tape...next time he calls I will ask him.
Also have some rolled around under sand in the hot frames to start seeds..

 

[SadieSue]

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Great news! Home for Christmas...

 

[SadieSue]

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Aha - so that's where Diane got the thought she needed pocket chickens. That's a nice offer RRF - I hope they take you up on it!