What did you do in the garden today?

[igorsMistress]

Really?!? I had never heard of that. Filing away for future reference...

I don’t recommend it Sally. The dust from them is really bad. There was a YouTube video from a guy that no longer raises them because the dust has damaged his lungs. Use an N95 mask at all times around them. I also found that it was more work than what it was worth and buy them at Walmart when I want to give some to my flock.

BSFL are actually easy, eat meat and veggies, but do require some climate control. The only reason I’m not breeding them is because the boys are using that room as a bedroom.

Good afternoon gardeners. It finally stopped raining and I’m out with the chickens now. Did a rough draft of carving out new vegetable garden plots. I really can’t do too much than speculate on the exact location of the 500 square foot plot. With the weather clearing up the loggers can get back to work cleaning up the tree debris soon. In addition to some large stumps there are some very large granite boulders popping up here and there. So after I see how much “cleaning up” they do I’ll be able to get a better look at the ground. I did order seeds from Ferry Morse. I’m definitely putting in corn, peas, acorn squash and small watermelons. I also ordered heirloom Blue Lake pole green beans. I’m also planning on potatoes and onions but I’m going to try to find them locally. I checked out the Arbor Society website and I’m liking the prices on their trees so I may get some flowering hardwoods and pear trees from them. The budget is tight and although I may not be able to fence in that former “forest,” I will need to put up enough fencing to keep the deer and turkeys away.

Can’t wait too see some more pics!

Don't know if this will help, but I just posted an idea on my Show Me Your Pallet Projects! thread. Here it is...

Scrap Wood Idea - Making Square Paper Seedling Pots - Quick, Easy, and Biodegradable

I'm currently making seedling pots out of all kinds of materials, like empty toilet paper and paper towel rolls. I have some plastic containers that I might be drilling holes in to see if I can make some air-pruning seedling pots out of them. Just experimenting with anything I have around the house and shop that might be good for planting seeds.

Tangentially connected to Pallet Wood Projects, this following video uses a couple scraps of wood to make a form/jig used to fold the paper pots. It's kind of a two-fer in that it's another pallet/scrap wood project plus you can make square paper pots for early planting of seeds. Since this thread originally spun off the gardening thread, I hope someone here might find this video useful. Here it is...

Thanks for posting that here!

 

[Sally PB]

Indiana berry you might also look at AA vineyards.

DoubleA was sold out of 2 of the 3 I was looking at a few weeks ago. But one of the varieties that was sold out then is back in stock, so

I'm going to check out Indiana berry, thanks!

 

[igorsMistress]

Good morning all. No outdoor work today, it’s raining, another gentle one and we are expecting more over the next couple of days. The cold temps we had not long ago were rough on the first lilac I put out front, I think it’s ok though. The Mexican bird of paradise has been a little trooper as expected. I’m holding out hope for the Vitex, they both dropped all their leaves but the branches are still alive. Took care of the indoor plants today, the spider plant is extremely happy. I think the monstera might be getting too much light, or too much water, or both. I quit watering it and am going to move it off the shelf for a bit and see how it goes. Got the Aerogarden up and running and planted butter lettuce, with successive planting every two weeks. I like it best in place of buns for burgers and do a lot of lettuce wraps for lunches during the week. Finally found the cord to my other grow light! If this initial hydroponic expansion goes well then I hope to squeeze in a few more buckets tucked into corners here and there. Take care all!

 

[TJAnonymous]

I've spent 2+ days mulling over how I'm going to accomplish vertical supports for the melon and sugar pie pumpkin plants. The bed I'm planning to put them in is inside my hoop house. The bed is 3 ft x 10 ft. However I also need to put together a better support for the cattle panels on my hoop house so they don't sway side to side as much. So here's how I think I'm going to kill two birds with one stone.

I'm going to build a 'H' frame that will stand vertically inside the 3 ft x 10 ft bed. This will actually separate the bed into 3 beds - 3ft x 3 ft, 3 ft x 4 ft, and 3 ft x 3 ft. I'll use 2x4 welded wire between the "legs" of the 'H' frame to provide a vertical trellis on each side, one for the melons and one for the pumpkin. The horizontal piece through the center will also have 2x4 welded wire and be used for the melons & pumpkin. The ground portion of the bed in the center will be where I plant lettuce. Anyway the 'H' frame will be positioned to create additional support for the cattle panel roof to keep it from swaying. The only thing I still have to figure out is the vertical height of the 'H' frame legs. Will be somewhere around 6 ft but I don't know exactly. I'll have to measure it.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Good morning Gardeners, Rain the night mid 40's.

 

[Iluveggers]

This no-snow cold weather is killing me! Took down the Christmas Tree & outside lights today. Only had one small stint of snow this season, rare for my area. It’s staying around 25, and I’m itching to get out and do something in the garden! I feel semi-productive when I let the girls bug hunt & eat weeds. It is so cold they can’t scratch anything up even though they try.

DH is working tomorrow but getting holiday pay. Tomorrow I think I’m going to grade papers & peruse my seed catalogs one more time.

 

[Ascholten]

Well it got down into the low 20's last night. Everything is once again crispy. Im pretty sure I lost one of my hives thru this, it's just not very active anymore. I'll check them all monday. oh well, that happens and if I lose only 1 of 4 i did well TBH.

Lots of stuff died off now and picking the branches, debating whether to compost them and they sit in the 'rough bin' for a year or so to break down, or just hunking them on a camp fire later on where I am sitting around the fire, having fun, planning my garden for the coming season, throwing old branches of dead stuff on to keep warm and reminisce in the flames.. Yah, burning is so much easier. Ill move the fire pit closer to the house so maybe some of the radiant heat gives the blood orange a break on the cold weather.

Chickens still not laying eggs. wondering how long before they start.
Also wondering how much more cold before I can start putting stuff out for spring.

Aaron

 

[pennyJo1960]

My birds started again getting like 8 a day now.

 

[TJAnonymous]

I'm getting around 2 dozen a day now. I also have at least one hen who is trying to turn broody. She's not even a year old yet so there's no way I'll let her sit. I did let her keep a fart egg this morning just because she was grumbling so much at the indignity of me taking the other eggs from under her.

 

[WthrLady]

Indiana berry you might also look at AA vineyards.

I've been getting little grape sticks from the farm store. They don't do much year one, or much year two, but year three......lock up your daughters!