What did you do in the garden today?

[Mama Runner]

We have all windows open. 72 terrific degrees out. TV now sits in fireplace as wife is allergic to the smoke. We used to have a fish tank in it.

What are you making it out of? Pictures?

Yes I will put pictures up. It's a wattle fence. I am not sure I spelled that right. For vertical supports I'm using trees that needed thinning from the woods along with trees that had already been cut. For horizontal I weave sticks in between vertical supports, and I started morning glories, moon flowers, climbing beans and passion flower fruit. As they climb and weave they make the fence stronger. As the trees grow you prune the fence so you never lose the integrity of the fence. It takes forever and is hard work but they are really pretty when your all done. I will take photos as it comes along. I wouldn't need a fence if people would take better care of their animals.

 

[Mama Runner]

I had been gathering the wood and trees. I was going to build a barn for all my babies. But we have way too many people who just let their dogs run wild. I not only need to protect all my birds but myself and kids as well.

 

[GardenTillers44]

Yes I will put pictures up. It's a wattle fence. I am not sure I spelled that right. For vertical supports I'm using trees that needed thinning from the woods along with trees that had already been cut. For horizontal I weave sticks in between vertical supports, and I started morning glories, moon flowers, climbing beans and passion flower fruit. As they climb and weave they make the fence stronger. As the trees grow you prune the fence so you never lose the integrity of the fence. It takes forever and is hard work but they are really pretty when your all done. I will take photos as it comes along. I wouldn't need a fence if people would take better care of their animals.

We did a living fence along two sides of our garden and chicken yard a couple years ago. I did the same as you are doing with vertical cuttings and horizontal weaves. We planted Asperagus beans along the perimeter and they grew into a vertical mat. We found out at harvest that the chickens didn't like the beans so much and there were far more than we could eat and even give away. This year we infused tomatoes and herbs and I'm starting some apple trees to espalier permanently. Yours sounds beautiful! Look forward to progress pics.

Feral and free-running dogs are the biggest threat to our flock, and the animal we fear most around here. I actually would rather deal with coyotes because they will run off or kill the dogs if they can catch them.

 

[lazy gardener]

I split and stacked another 1/2 cord of ash which gives us 3 of the 4 cords we need for winter. My wife processed tomatoes and made 2 gallons of spaghetti sauce with herbs, garlic and onions, all from the garden. I could smell it clear up the hill .

I built an indoor fire tonight. Early in the season for that, but hey, it's down to 45 tonight and we love a good fire. Our friends in Ely, MN would give us some line about Minnesotans grilling out in their shirtsleeves at 20 degrees...

We leave the grill on the deck all winter long. Pain to keep moving it to shovel the snow off the deck, but I HATE to cook meat in the house. Yep. In winter, 20* is short sleeved weather... if you're grilling!

I do not miss the leaky aquarium days!

Did the aquarium thing... big. Had a bow front corner 45G in the living room with CO2 infused, high intensity lighting. At the same time, I had a 55G and 20G in the dining room. I pulled a bucket full of plants out of there every month or so to peddle at the pet shops. At one time I had 900 baby angel fish growing out in my basement, with the breeding pair upstairs. While I like the looks of a well managed tank, I don't want to go back to those days. It seems that any hobby I go into, i research the daylights out of it, and can't do it "small".

Fortex pole beans are winding down. With the rains, I didn't get out to pick them soon enough, so they are setting seed. I'll get enough for a few meals here and there, and let the rest go to seed for next year's crop. Not bad: so far, 24 pints in the jar, and about 12 more pints to freeze, can or make dilly beans with. Have yard long purple beans still producing. Will not plant those again. I don't like the flavor of them as much, and they are wimpy producers. But the plants are cool looking. They have an awesome lavender colored flower. Tried Blue Lake Bush this year in the BTE orchard. They suffered from nitrogen depletion, but even so, the beans they did produce are nice and meaty, and juicy. I don't like growing bush beans, but they will make a nice green manure crop for future seasons.

 

[Mama Runner]

Well I made the mistake Sunday of getting in-between a German Shepherd and my ducks. It's been a nightmare ever since. I guess my life wasn't worth the dog's life. It's funny how fast neighbors turn on you

 

[Mama Runner]

Lazy Gardener you sound like me. I researched the Ducks for over a year before I got them. I don't ever want to get into something expecially with animals, that I don't know about. If only because I never want it to suffer if I am not sure of what I am doing.

 

[CapricornFarm]

This is our first house with a wood stove, and for the first few years after we bought it, we never used the stove. Why? I have NO CLUE! Finally, after being here a few years, we thought, why aren't we using the wood stove? DUH! So, we went about buying wood one fall, having no idea how much we needed to get through the winter. We ended up with a LOT of wood, and many of the pieces were just halved (not cut into pieces that would fit in the stove). So once they are cut into smaller pieces, the wood just keeps multiplying! We have made it 2-3 winters so far, and still have enough wood for probably a few more winters! It's so funny that we were worrying if it would be enough for the first winter - lol! The wood stove is great, though, cuts our heating bill down substantially. And it's great for all us firebugs - we all get off on making fires in the stove. There's just something so fun and satisfying about it...

I love starting fires! I got quite good at in TN, the property had been clear cut years ago and the junk wood was every where. I was cleaning it up to make pastures for my goats. Sometimes i had three burn piles going at a time. Fire starting is all about getting good tinder. I am hubbys go to fire starter if he can't get it going.

 

[GardenTillers44]

Have yard long purple beans still producing. Will not plant those again. I don't like the flavor of them as much, and they are wimpy producers. But the plants are cool looking. They have an awesome lavender colored flower.

These are the "Asperagus beans" I was talking about. I thought they were OK and seemed very drought and disease resistant, but the wife didn't like the taste and texture so much, and the chickens wouldn't eat them so they were replaced this year in the garden. Key is to pick them young, thin and tender at about 12".

I'm amazed at all you aquarists out there! That was my first career, and that cable TV show "Tanked" reminds us of what we used to do. Crazy, eccentric clients with crazy ideas for aquariums was part of the day. We specialized in saltwater reef tanks with all the bells and whistles. What they don't show on "Tanked" is that you are on call 24/7 for aquarium emergencies, which happened a lot (man, do we have stories!). Working with wildlife and a hobby farm is relaxing in comparison.

 

[chickmom3941]

These are the "Asperagus beans" I was talking about. I thought they were OK and seemed very drought and disease resistant, but the wife didn't like the taste and texture so much, and the chickens wouldn't eat them so they were replaced this year in the garden. Key is to pick them young, thin and tender at about 12".

I'm amazed at all you aquarists out there! That was my first career, and that cable TV show "Tanked" reminds us of what we used to do. Crazy, eccentric clients with crazy ideas for aquariums was part of the day. We specialized in saltwater reef tanks with all the bells and whistles. What they don't show on "Tanked" is that you are on call 24/7 for aquarium emergencies, which happened a lot (man, do we have stories!). Working with wildlife and a hobby farm is relaxing in comparison.

I was also surprised that so many people on this thread are/have been into aquariums. Maybe people who like aquariums are inclined to love gardening & chickens, as well?

 

[chickmom3941]

Well I made the mistake Sunday of getting in-between a German Shepherd and my ducks. It's been a nightmare ever since. I guess my life wasn't worth the dog's life. It's funny how fast neighbors turn on you

Oh my, doesn't sound good. Did the dog attack you? Did you attack the dog? Are your ducks okay?