What did you do in the garden today?

[WthrLady]

In other news, I was able to prune the tomatoes before dinner, but I didn’t get to hilling up my potato tower which is outgrowing the current layer. Was going to go out now but sky is pitch black and wind started up like crazy. Think we are getting yet ANOTHER storm tonight. Just when the puddles finally disappeared in the garden. My lawn is about 8-10 inches high but we haven’t had 2 days without rain in almost a month so it’s impossible to mow.
Went to a livestock auction today and luckily we didn’t bring the truck (just being nosy, planning to buy some animals but not yet). A group of 4 baby goats went for $35. Good thing I didn’t have the truck. There would’ve been goat math in addition to chicken math! My son has been BEGGING for a goat. With the family farm of 100+ acres, a few goats could help with a lot of the overgrown weeds and brush. And after a while...goat milk cheese...

Pffft, you can put goats in the backseat of the car!

 

[oldhen2345]

I don't bother with any pressure canner. I put jars in any pot they fit, fill in with water and simmer for about 20 minutes.

I do water baths too

 

[gtaus]

I made a habanero sauce once, did not wear gloves, and was using my fingers to pick pepper seeds and skins out of a garlic press that I was using to smoosh the peppers in. About 20 minutes later it was, come on baby light my fire. about 40 minutes later I was on the phone with the ER telling me basically, suck it up buttercup, and what EVER you do, DON'T go to the bathroom and touch either hole you own. I will NEVER make that mistake again.

I did a lot of homecare for my father in his last years. I used to buy disposable plastic gloves in cartons of boxes, 100 gloves per box, from Amazon. At that time, prior to COVID-19, the cost was pennies per glove. I used the gloves for hygiene care and disposed of them immediately afterwards, but now that I no longer need them for that, I will reuse those disposable gloves for everyday cleaning chores I might have to do. Those gloves are not only good for things inside the house, but I will use them when working with oil or gas soaked parts in the garage. Better to use the cheap disposable plastic gloves then soak my good leather gloves with gas and/or oil.

Point is, buying those plastic medical gloves in bulk from Amazon for pennies for the glove is much cheaper than buying the same gloves at maybe $1 per pair at the big box stores.

 

[WthrLady]

I don't bother with any pressure canner. I put jars in any pot they fit, fill in with water and simmer for about 20 minutes.

I can a lot of meat. Pressure canner is essential to kill as much toxin as possible for long term safe storage.
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Climbing into the ridiculously HOT range and the humidity and smoke is no joke either.
Garden is plugging along. The grapes are looking nice, I have no idea what variety they are as I had several varieties planted that were moved when the barn went up and they were moved enmasse, and this was the only one that made it through the years. They look like thompson seedless, but many are turning a bit blush pink. Who knows what they are?!

Tomatoes are still slow, but it's still early for canning.

OH, I took the chicken wire fence from around the chicken garden. I meant to weeks ago. It was there to keep them from digging up small plants. Now with all the red cherry tomatoes in that jungle and all the green june bugs, the hens ran in and I may NEVER get them out.

 

[Ascholten]

Yes gloves can be a god sent, BUT if you are working in the garden, you might want to consider the leather gloves anyways. gas and oil, no you are correct, you'd ruin the leather but if you are pulling sticker weeds or other nasties, having the leather to be a barrier between you and that, can help a ton. also AGREED, buy a box of them, they can be washed / reused on occasion and come in very handy. As chicken owners, sometimes we may need to check... 'things'.... where having a glove on is a good thing !!

Aaro

 

[gtaus]

Pffft, you can put goats in the backseat of the car!

I have seen some goats that would be happy just to ride on top of the car! Years ago, I had a neighbor whose goat jumped up on his new car and was chillin' out having a good time on the roof of the car. Of course, the goat scratched the car terribly. Goat was gone the next day....

 

[muddy75]

We did 5 more jars of pickles yesterday…..mr muddy spiced up one jar with his death reaper sauce from last fall

 

[ChanP]

Wow! Must say I'm impressed at the number of replies so I'll add to them.

 

[oldhen2345]

I can a lot of meat. Pressure canner is essential to kill as much toxin as possible for long term safe storage.
======
Climbing into the ridiculously HOT range and the humidity and smoke is no joke either.
Garden is plugging along. The grapes are looking nice, I have no idea what variety they are as I had several varieties planted that were moved when the barn went up and they were moved enmasse, and this was the only one that made it through the years. They look like thompson seedless, but many are turning a bit blush pink. Who knows what they are?!

Tomatoes are still slow, but it's still early for canning. View attachment 2768326

OH, I took the chicken wire fence from around the chicken garden. I meant to weeks ago. It was there to keep them from digging up small plants. Now with all the red cherry tomatoes in that jungle and all the green june bugs, the hens ran in and I may NEVER get them out. View attachment 2768324

My hens loved my garden too- I always had to check it for eggs -lol. But, they also liked to sit in my pot planters and eat the figs from those trees- so they had to be banned to their own yard.

 

[oldhen2345]

Today is hot and humid- will stay inside until this evening and then go weed. The corn has finished for the year and the beans growing up the stalks are blooming, so maybe a few beans later on.