What did you do in the garden today?

[FaithsFlock]

I picked some cherry tomatoes my chickens go crazy for them they love them so much.

 

[Sally PB]

Another gorgeous day today! I'll be doing something in the garden, probably with a shovel. Other than that,

But that's enough to make a good day, so I'll take it!

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Man I'm behind on here!
No rain in sight still so guess I better water.
Pumpkins are all doing what the squash and zucchini has done all summer...nothing but male flowers. Had 2 females and a critter ate one growing lil Pumpkin and I think the only remaining one is done growing as it hasn't changed size in a week. So had to have been the small ones.
I'm really tempted to pull the vines up today cuz the entire area under the deck is covered with vines and male flowers intertwining in hardware cloth !
That's gonna hurt getting out...may just let it compost in then it'll plop out on its own lol!

raised bed question:
are any of yall planting a cover crop in your raised bed to aid the soil til spring?

No. I add compost and dry fallen leaves. That's all.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I might see if some clover will grow or not, but that's the only cover crop I have on hand.

About sourdough starter... Mine is actually living in the fridge. This works for me, may not work for all. My go-to recipe is a sourdough discard biscuit recipe that I make once or twice a week. If I want to make a loaf I take the sourdough out and feed it the night before, leave it on the counter to do it's thing, and the next day get that loaf going. Then feed it, pop it back in the fridge till I need it again in a couple of days. I keep it in mason jars with the hard plastic, gray lids. Fingertip-tight, then loosen a quarter turn. Allows gas exchange.

My EWO are coming up! Yay! Today going to get out, harvest more okra, and finally pull the watermelons. Might have enough lettuce for a salad too!

I always kept mine in the fridge but covered only with cheesecloth. Never had any problem with fruit flies. Before I neglected mine to death it was 14 years old. It gets more tangy with age.

 

[Ascholten]

Oof that reminds me, I need to get some totes ready. The trees will be dropping all their leaves soon and Ill need to start blending from the summer's worth of grass Ive been saving to make up 'ready to go' totes to cure for a month or so before it;s spring time and I can do the spring planting in them. It also helps let them compost down more so you don't plant your seeds in 16 inches of nice foofy compost, only to towards the end of the season have the plants all root snooting through 5 inches of root bound, finally rotted out compost. some plants really do not like it when you add soil to them and you have to go slow.

It's amazing how much things really compress once they compost out. I bet 30 inches of grass / leaves will finally compost down to about 4 to 6 inches of ready to go dirt after all is said and done in the process.

Aaron

 

[WthrLady]

Worked all morning to get the cattle panel roof off the hoop house. I don't know who built the damn thing, but it sure was a pain to pull apart. LOL
Now I can work on the new framing at my leisure as weather and mood permits.
Came across a funny chicken post today. Her chicken wandered off and then wandered back with a batch of babies. DH said the audio sums it up.
Too Many Clucks in the Chicken || ViralHog

via @YouTube

 

[muddy75]

We have a high probability of frost this week so I better start picking anything I want to keep

 

[Sueby]

I planted hairy vetch one year - what a mess to clean up in the spring since I don't till. I covered it with black plastic while it was frozen still & it killed off most, but I spent the next summer pulling hairy vetch from all over. I won't do that again. I top with compost & cover with straw (baked, so no weeds). Then I pull the straw aside in the spring to plant & use it for mulch the next summer.

raised bed question:
are any of yall planting a cover crop in your raised bed to aid the soil til spring?

Ya'll make me miss bread!

 

[WthrLady]

I will be putting down either rye, red clover, or buckwheat. I haven't decided yet (meaning I don't remember what is down is the shed) Actually I think there are no seeds in the shed. Might have to grab some from the guy next door. So probably rye.

 

[jerryse]

Did some mowing and removed supers of honey from the bees . 4 total one from each hive . Need to dig the one coleus that is in ground . Beautiful weather here .