What did you do in the garden today?

[jerryse]

Finally got my chickens' nipple waterer made and hung up.

The chickens know there is water there but they haven't quite got the knack yet of getting the flow going. They are just pecking at them in a frustrated fashion. I'll see how they are getting on in the morning.

Per @jerryse 's suggestion, I hammered some rebar through the trap. Hoping to see something by morning. There was digging around the blueberries again, but nothing destructive, happily.

I am wishing I had the skill and drive to butcher out whatever I catch. I like gaining skills, especially ones that have been lost and that we may need in the future, but hate doing a bad job of something when it comes to a creature.

What do opossum, raccoon, and groundhog taste like...?

"Tastes like chicken?"

I was pondering a little butchering area. I think I saw @BReeder! post a pic of his.
I know if I am prepared, I am more likely to do butchering, rather than feeling like it's too much.

Growing up, we had a stump, and some baling wire strung between trees in the backyard for the chickens. It was messy. I'd rather have a designated and organized area that I don't have to set up and put away.

I did a little watering of seeded areas and new transplants, and little picking up around the chicken run.

It feels like I did more today, because I'm so tired, but I guess I didn't.
Can't wait to be over this bug.

I no longer use cage traps for coon. My go to is a dog proof coon trap.

 

[jerryse]

I have a rant to share. About 2 weeks ago I bought a Bauer impact tool $129 at Harbor Freight. I get it home and unbox it to charge it. Only the tool as charger and battery sold separately. Grrr. So today while out fishing in a different town with a Harbor Freight I thought I better buy a charger and battery. Nice lady tried to help me. About 30 feet from tool here is the charger. What about the battery? Oh we are out of those. Well I still can't use the tool. Well we have a kit that has the tool, battery and charger. $99. I will return the one I have. I had no idea they are selling the tool only. Sneaky price hike IMO.

 

[Swiss]

Frost warning tonight. It looks like the last one! Everything is covered that needs to be, and everything else is coming inside.

I finished weed whacking in the garden yesterday, and it looks SO much better! I plan on staying on top of all the weeds this year! Last year, they got ahead of me... I still need to till up the last garden bed, but I MIGHT just leave it and use the bed that is going to be empty...... hmm.... that sounds way better than my current plan of tilling it up for half of it to be empty...... then, I have all of this year to get that done..... yes... I like this plan as I don't have to dig right now.

I want to get blueberry plants next year, but have NO idea what variety to get. I'm in zone 5b, and prefer a tart blueberry. Any suggestions?

 

[Jenbirdee]

+water +water +water
put out tray of leftover tomato plants marked FREE at end of drive
weed whacked
garden fence repair
planted 4 sunflowers into their big pots YaY

 

[Smokerbill]

I no longer use cage traps for coon. My go to is a dog proof coon trap.

Unfortunately, those are illegal to use in Washington state. No leg hold traps of any kind are allowed, I think for the last 15 years or so.

I have a rant to share. About 2 weeks ago I bought a Bauer impact tool $129 at Harbor Freight. I get it home and unbox it to charge it. Only the tool as charger and battery sold separately. Grrr. So today while out fishing in a different town with a Harbor Freight I thought I better buy a charger and battery. Nice lady tried to help me. About 30 feet from tool here is the charger. What about the battery? Oh we are out of those. Well I still can't use the tool. Well we have a kit that has the tool, battery and charger. $99. I will return the one I have. I had no idea they are selling the tool only. Sneaky price hike IMO.

Dang. I still prefer corded 120VAC tools.

Frost warning tonight. It looks like the last one! Everything is covered that needs to be, and everything else is coming inside.

I finished weed whacking in the garden yesterday, and it looks SO much better! I plan on staying on top of all the weeds this year! Last year, they got ahead of me... I still need to till up the last garden bed, but I MIGHT just leave it and use the bed that is going to be empty...... hmm.... that sounds way better than my current plan of tilling it up for half of it to be empty...... then, I have all of this year to get that done..... yes... I like this plan as I don't have to dig right now.

I want to get blueberry plants next year, but have NO idea what variety to get. I'm in zone 5b, and prefer a tart blueberry. Any suggestions?

Can't help with the variety you're looking for, but I do know that with blueberries you need to have 2 or 3 different varieties that bloom at the same time growing together for best results.

I was going to plant blueberries this spring, but just didn't have the time. I need to prepare a planting spot this summer or fall for next spring and make sure the soil has the right balance of acid.

 

[WthrLady]

What do opossum, raccoon, and groundhog taste like...?

"

Funky, off, and greasy and chewy, in that order.

 

[Smokerbill]

While my chickens were enjoying their free ranging experiencing today, a couple of them worked up the bravery to jump up into one of my raised beds. I'm sure my squash seedlings looked pretty tasty. I shooed them out pretty fast so they'd get the idea that that was an off-limits place to visit.

I need to put together some chicken fencing around my garden beds now.

So....

Would a 2 foot tall fence around the bed be high enough for Barred Rocks? Around 9 weeks old right now.

 

[Smokerbill]

My bedroom windows are on the west side of the house and get harsh sun all afternoon until the sun sets behind the trees. The bedroom can get pretty warm, and I sleep better when it's chilly.

I want to build some quick and easy trellises a few feet out from each window and plant some kind of quick growing vining plant from seeds that would climb to a height of 8 or 9 feet and create a shade wall to keep the sunlight from hitting my windows.

Any ideas? Something non-invasive preferred. Thanks.

 

[BReeder!]

Finally got my chickens' nipple waterer made and hung up.

The chickens know there is water there but they haven't quite got the knack yet of getting the flow going. They are just pecking at them in a frustrated fashion. I'll see how they are getting on in the morning.

Per @jerryse 's suggestion, I hammered some rebar through the trap. Hoping to see something by morning. There was digging around the blueberries again, but nothing destructive, happily.

I am wishing I had the skill and drive to butcher out whatever I catch. I like gaining skills, especially ones that have been lost and that we may need in the future, but hate doing a bad job of something when it comes to a creature.

What do opossum, raccoon, and groundhog taste like...?

"Tastes like chicken?"

I was pondering a little butchering area. I think I saw @BReeder! post a pic of his.
I know if I am prepared, I am more likely to do butchering, rather than feeling like it's too much.

Growing up, we had a stump, and some baling wire strung between trees in the backyard for the chickens. It was messy. I'd rather have a designated and organized area that I don't have to set up and put away.

I did a little watering of seeded areas and new transplants, and little picking up around the chicken run.

It feels like I did more today, because I'm so tired, but I guess I didn't.
Can't wait to be over this bug.

I toss a rope over a low tree branch or from a hook in the former shed and use it to hang the bird from the feet for plucking. A 5-gallon bucket or garbage can under the bird catches most of the feathers.
I always do the kill outside, in the past with a log and ax or hatchet to decapitate quickly and this last time by slicing the jugular. Decapitation is less messy, but either way I just use the garden hose to water the blood into the ground where the nearby peach tree's roots will appreciate it. I have done 3 ducks in one sitting before and no smell of blood later after I house the area for a few minutes.
The other part of my "station" is a folding table, which is where I do the butchering after the bird is plucked. A few bowls are handy always - desirable organs and scraps such as neck and cleaned feet go in a bowl to add to a stock bag and another bowl is good if I am segmented the bird to hold the pieces as I cut them off the carcass.

 

[BReeder!]

+water +water +water
put out tray of leftover tomato plants marked FREE at end of drive
weed whacked
garden fence repair
planted 4 sunflowers into their big pots YaY

I love that you put extra plants at the end of your drive. I was struggling with what to do with a few extras - not a bad idea.