What did you do in the garden today?

[NewBoots]

I watered the garlic and shallot bed, emptied the potato bag (about 15 russets of assorted sizes), sold 3 dozen eggs to one of my regulars and I gave them a jar each of green tomato relish, bread and butter pickles, and red salsa. They insisted on donating to the chicken feed fund beyond the cost of the eggs so I let them. Very nice folks and their gift will get the girls another 50lb bag of feed tomorrow. DP has been working like a demon and has started a ton of assorted greens in a couple open raised beds and a bunch of spare big pots.

 

[NewBoots]

So, carrot ideas? I’ve pickled done and canned some already!

I froze a bunch last year and they were just as sweet and delicious as they had been fresh. I didn't blanch them, just pealed, sliced, bagged up and frozen.

 

[chickengr]

I can still send you some if you want... I know seeds and plants across borders can get tricky but as long as we properly declare, it should make it through. I don't think loofah is considered an invasive species

thank you, I have to check if we can get non commercial seeds. this rule is due to diseases not because they might be invasive.

 

[Ascholten]

Isn't that weird? It's green, but long tough grass. Out here we're having to watch nitrogen levels from drought conditions that is trapped in the stalks. Too high isn't good for the stock.

We have got to break this cycle.

the only reason its long and tough though is because they are not eating it ! I get why the chickens like it, cool, dirt bath, not to mention the only cool semi damp place left alive means the bugs are there. Maybe the animals sense the electrical field or something? do they get wierd if you put down an extension cord?

Aaron

 

[Ascholten]

Ive been thinking on the panels. come up with a few theories.

1. How do you have them coupled to your house? Do they convert to A/C at the panel or do you bring the DC to the house, if it's DC what voltage? If it's high they can sense it and it will leek a tiny bit nd they will NOT like that. If it's A/C then they I bet they hear the inverters running, which will make a whining sound about 43 Khz, some 23, depending on who manu'd it and what chop frequency they are using. YOU can't hear it but your animals sure can, that might be what's running them away from it.

Another hypothethis, solar panels pick up all the crap that's in the air, all the dirt, pollution, pollen, dust etc, WILL collect on those panels. Trust me I know ! when it gets dewey at night, they get moist and the water will run off the panels a bit, not a ton but you'll get some dew drops falling off them, dragging all this concentrated dirt / muck / pollen with them, and dropping it on the grass. Maybe the grass taste icky because of that crap on it now?

Just some thoughts.

Aaron

 

[Liz Birdlover]

the only reason its long and tough though is because they are not eating it ! I get why the chickens like it, cool, dirt bath, not to mention the only cool semi damp place left alive means the bugs are there. Maybe the animals sense the electrical field or something? do they get wierd if you put down an extension cord?

Aaron

Spring & Summer my flock doesn't care what's there, they'll peck & scratch wherever they want. Right now everyone is skittish as the hawks have been here, several daily zooming around & crashing into their pens, pigeons & chickens. During hawk season, when the hose or electric cord is a "new sight" laying there, my flock will avoid. But after sitting still a few hours they meander over & peck it & all around it, seeking bugs...unless a hawk zooms in again, then it's run, scatter, hide & raise a ruckus
I have a few roosters, one literally sounds like he's imitating Woody Woodpecker whenever he sees hawks or other predators. I'll chase off the scary predator to the tune of Rooster voice Woody Woodpecker laughs, makes me laugh & do the laugh back. If my neighbors ever hear me, then look over & see me waving a broom chasing hawks while laughing like Woody Woodpecker, I'm sure they'll think I've finally flipped.

 

[Ascholten]

When the hose or electric cord is a "new sight" laying there, my flock will avoid. But after sitting still a few hours they meander over & peck it & all around it, seeking bugs.

In a weird kind of way. Fireants are attracted to electricity for some reason, but chickens won't eat them, unfortunately. Too bad. That'd be an easy fix for a big problem down south!

Aaron

 

[TJAnonymous]

Carrots.
So many carrots.

And this is only what is left if the first planting of carrots. There is still the later planting to pick, but there is less of them.

After washing them, and bagging them, there are 14 gallon ziploc bags filled to the brims/barely able to zip them, in the fridge.

So, carrot ideas? I’ve pickled done and canned some already!

View attachment 3287453

I'm jealous. The gopher stole most of my carrots.

 

[Liz Birdlover]

In a weird kind of way. Fireants are attracted to electricity for some reason, but chickens won't eat them, unfortunately. Too bad. That'd be an easy fix for a big problem down south!

Aaron

Oh, fire ants...don't get me started, those little bas!@#ds!!!
I bought a few hundred feet of the Zero hose, it's black & those ants think it's their personal highway, so it's really "fun" when I go to roll it back on the reel.
Got the European Fire Ants here, They have extensive tunnel systems over acres, and there are no mounds, so you never know where their home base is, unless you follow them, which I've tried to do, When I sprinkle down the Antixx bait (spinosad), follow them literally hundreds of feet carrying the yellow bait.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Ive been thinking on the panels. come up with a few theories.

1. How do you have them coupled to your house? Do they convert to A/C at the panel or do you bring the DC to the house, if it's DC what voltage? If it's high they can sense it and it will leek a tiny bit nd they will NOT like that. If it's A/C then they I bet they hear the inverters running, which will make a whining sound about 43 Khz, some 23, depending on who manu'd it and what chop frequency they are using. YOU can't hear it but your animals sure can, that might be what's running them away from it.

Another hypothethis, solar panels pick up all the crap that's in the air, all the dirt, pollution, pollen, dust etc, WILL collect on those panels. Trust me I know ! when it gets dewey at night, they get moist and the water will run off the panels a bit, not a ton but you'll get some dew drops falling off them, dragging all this concentrated dirt / muck / pollen with them, and dropping it on the grass. Maybe the grass taste icky because of that crap on it now?

Just some thoughts.

Aaron

Inverters are on each panel... Each panel makes around 2-3 kWh per day and there are 44 panels. Of course that's according to the manufacturer app which never matches what the electric company shows.

But yeah, my theory was that it's putting off some kind of EMF they don't like.