What did you do in the garden today?

[Smokerbill]

If you look close you can see the tiny leaf lettuce plants around the perimeter of the bed, and there are six clumps of watercress at the far corner. All I know about watercress is that it likes lots of water. Never grew it before. A row of beet seeds are planted in the near end of the bed.





Pea seeds are planted at the far end of this bed, opposite my October-planted potatoes experiment. I'm tempted to dig down into the dirt below the leaves and see if the taters are sprouting yet. Or rotten. LOL




Garlic survived the deep freezes...



I forgot to take a picture of the new compost pile I layered together, but I did get it watered in really well.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Do ducks get bumble foot, and do they lay eggs in a nest box or all over the place?

Mine have gotten bumblefoot a time or two...

I actually have 2 with eye infections currently. They are not gracious patients.

I have Pekins (heavy) , Silver Appleyard (heavy), and Welsh Harlequin (medium). Ducks lay eggs at ground level. I had a nesting box for them at ground level a few years ago. A couple of ducks would use but most wouldn't. I decided to remove it. My ducks have thick pine shaving bedding in their coop. They usually just "dig" themselves a nest in the shavings in a corner of their coop. Then they push shavings over the top to "hide" their eggs. If I throw a flake of straw in a corner, they WILL attempt to use it to create a nest. However I generally don't like it because ducks poop A LOT and poopy straw is disgusting. It's just not absorbant. Shavings alone are much easier to clean. After picking up eggs, I use a pitchfork to "flip" the shavings every day. This allows the poop to mix in the shavings which helps keep them cleaner longer. Once the shavings continuously come out wet or dirty after being flipped, it's time to remove them and put in fresh. Usually lasts about a month. (I have 11 ducks in an 8 ft x 10 ft hoop coop, for reference.)

 

[TJAnonymous]

I picked up a half load of garden soil to top off my raised beds. In the process of checking them all over, I decided to tackle the strawberry barrels (see below). The soil level had dropped over a foot and the strawberries in the top section were WAY overcrowded. Not sure if the soil is washing out of the holes or just compacted. I used netting on the inside to keep the soil from coming out so I'm not sure.

Anyway, I dug up all the strawberry crowns in the top and refilled the soil back to the rim. I replanted about 5 - 8 strawberries in the top of each barrel. That left nearly FIFTY crowns with no home.

Sooooo... I made the impromptu decision to build a 2x4 frame (8 ft x 42") with an A-frame chicken wire cover to keep the chickens, goats, and birds out. I think I am going to make it a hugelkultur bed with some pine tree logs in the center and then soil mounded on top... Should be fully finished tomorrow.

 

[akroberts1085]

I picked up a half load of garden soil to top off my raised beds. In the process of checking them all over, I decided to tackle the strawberry barrels (see below). The soil level had dropped over a foot and the strawberries in the top section were WAY overcrowded. Not sure if the soil is washing out of the holes or just compacted. I used netting on the inside to keep the soil from coming out so I'm not sure.

Anyway, I dug up all the strawberry crowns in the top and refilled the soil back to the rim. I replanted about 5 - 8 strawberries in the top of each barrel. That left nearly FIFTY crowns with no home.

Sooooo... I made the impromptu decision to build a 2x4 frame (8 ft x 42") with an A-frame chicken wire cover to keep the chickens, goats, and birds out. I think I am going to make it a hugelkultur bed with some pine tree logs in the center and then soil mounded on top... Should be fully finished tomorrow.

View attachment 4062321

I adore your strawberry barrels. I have an orange barrel that my mom gave me so I may have to use it for a strawberry barrel. I have 2 really thick PVC pipes that I want to use for strawberries as well, I just gotta get some time to get everything together. I will post pictures after.

 

[TJAnonymous]

I adore your strawberry barrels. I have an orange barrel that my mom gave me so I may have to use it for a strawberry barrel. I have 2 really thick PVC pipes that I want to use for strawberries as well, I just gotta get some time to get everything together. I will post pictures after.

Here's how I made mine, along with some lessons learned...

I put a drain tile in the bottom to create a water reservoir. I have 2 one-inch overflow holes about 6" up from the bottom.


I lined the inside with insect netting to keep soil from falling out of the big holes. I put a ring of chicken wire in the center and filled it with wood mulch. The purpose of that was because wood is very absorbant, it would help hold water in the center like a sponge. The soil would then wick from the wood in the center.

Lesson learned: this idea has partially worked. However, I should have put a small PVC with drain holes in the very center of the mulch column for easier and more even watering from the top during dry spells.



The barrels work great... But once my strawberry crowns got really big, I've had to take a utility knife and basically cut out all the netting in the big holes. Otherwise the strawberry leaves and growth tend to get stuck in the netting. It's not hard to fix. Just have to pay attention...

Also, these barrels are REALLY heavy. I've got them on a platform because I kept getting runners coming down and rooting in the grass around the barrels.

Lesson learned: Because I don't have free access to all sides since my hoop house is directly behind the platform, I am building some heavy duty turntables to put under the barrels so I can just spin them for access (like a Greenstalk).

 

[WthrLady]

Today I am officially a duck mom. I wanted more chicks but they were sold out so I got 4 ducklings.

Have you tried one of those masks that goes in the fridge? When my eyes feel like they’re going to pop out of my head it really helps me after the Navage until the Tylenol sets in.

I use becool stick on patches, but yep.
And the powdered tylenol works really fast.
My mistake was NOT using my nivage after working outside in the wind and cleaning bird houses for three hours the day before. NOT using it before bed, and flat out running out of water for it.
Now I have water, and I'm down to 3 pods.
All out of stock in town, but pharmacy ordered me some to pick up Monday.
BTW the menthol ones are the devil. LOL

 

[WthrLady]

My pleasure. It’s an eye mask but it helps so much!

I have the massive one that does the whole forehead and eyes and nasal sinus cavity. I find it panic inducing.

 

[WthrLady]

I will have to get some stuff for them. For now I'm dealing with waking up with tension/sinuses almost every morning.

OH that's awful. I feel for you.
Why I nivage every night before bed (when I don't run out of supplies).

 

[akroberts1085]

Here's how I made mine, along with some lessons learned...

I put a drain tile in the bottom to create a water reservoir. I have 2 one-inch overflow holes about 6" up from the bottom.
View attachment 4062335

I lined the inside with insect netting to keep soil from falling out of the big holes. I put a ring of chicken wire in the center and filled it with wood mulch. The purpose of that was because wood is very absorbant, it would help hold water in the center like a sponge. The soil would then wick from the wood in the center.

Lesson learned: this idea has partially worked. However, I should have put a small PVC with drain holes in the very center of the mulch column for easier and more even watering from the top during dry spells.

View attachment 4062336

The barrels work great... But once my strawberry crowns got really big, I've had to take a utility knife and basically cut out all the netting in the big holes. Otherwise the strawberry leaves and growth tend to get stuck in the netting. It's not hard to fix. Just have to pay attention...

Also, these barrels are REALLY heavy. I've got them on a platform because I kept getting runners coming down and rooting in the grass around the barrels.

Lesson learned: Because I don't have free access to all sides since my hoop house is directly behind the platform, I am building some heavy duty turntables to put under the barrels so I can just spin them for access (like a Greenstalk).

I will definitely use the turntable for it. I only have one barrel but the PVC pipes are going to be on a V-type stand that will allow easy access to all around. I was thinking about using some chicken wire for keeping the soil in but don't know if it will really do much more than rust and cause problems. My husband has a hole drill that's like 2 inches so that won't be a problem. I think I am going to get those done tomorrow

 

[akroberts1085]

@TJAnonymous, I was wondering if you could share a picture of the pond area you have for your ducks. I'm really trying to make sure I have all my ducks in a row , a little pun intended. I just really want to get everything set up good before they need to be outside. Thank you