What did you do in the garden today?

[chickmom3941]

Well, like I said... That's what we garden for, right? Maybe tomorrow I will go chop some wood. Most of it is split, I even made myself a lil wood rack, but I got really good at wood chopping with my new axe last fall... And there's a good handfull of unsplit ash logs out there. XD I can even dig that second new bed in where the English Ivy is on the side of my garage. Chop chop through the vines with a shovel! Some of them are pretty thick, ya know? So I'll need to sharpen up that spade edge... I have some bunnies that need processing too.... Better get the knives sharp while I'm at it...!

Chopping wood should be a great way to let out some frustrations, while supplying yourself with wood and getting some exercise, also. Sorry to hear about your family issues... I hate stressful situations like that. At least you can feel good knowing you're a good person. Having a good conscience is really important, I think.

We've been buying seeds, and still slowly working on our block garden for next spring. No snow on the ground, so we're still able to accomplish things outside till it snows.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Wow, all of you are buying seeds already! :O I haven't even got how many of what I want to be planted yet! Heck, my 2018 seed catalouge just came in a couple weeks ago.
I think I'm going to expand my new bed to the full 13' of the other beds I have. I might even try to make it 5' across since I have really good access to both sides of the bed.

I was crunching numbers on how much 100sqft of bed space could produce and it's a startling amount of food sometimes. I really want to try to produce as much of my own food as I can each year... So I might be trying to expand as much as I can before spring... But I still haven't cleared the old, dead plants out of my existing garden beds yet! XD Haha!

Out of curiosity... Anyone have any tips on getting Oregano to germinate and grow? I keep having terrible luck with it. ;_; Never once gotten it to take off.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I bought a large plant years ago potted in it has wintered over like 5 years

 

[GardenTillers44]

Tomorrow we are adding 2 more pullets to the flock and Saturday I have to work

What are you adding? I would like a couple more Ameraucanas and maybe a Dominique or two at some point. My wife is talking like she wants to let one of the hens stay broody and let her raise some mutts next spring. We have 7 different breeds so the results could be interesting. All we really want is eggs and some garden companions, so mutts are OK.

My son talked me out of retirement for the holiday season at the shop, so back to working weekends. Got a final mow and leaf mulch in before the weather hit today, and put up the mower and tractor for the winter. We are sitting in front of the fire this afternoon and brainstorming projects for the farm and garden and seed starts for next year.

 

[igorsMistress]

What are you adding? I would like a couple more Ameraucanas and maybe a Dominique or two at some point. My wife is talking like she wants to let one of the hens stay broody and let her raise some mutts next spring. We have 7 different breeds so the results could be interesting. All we really want is eggs and some garden companions, so mutts are OK.

My son talked me out of retirement for the holiday season at the shop, so back to working weekends. Got a final mow and leaf mulch in before the weather hit today, and put up the mower and tractor for the winter. We are sitting in front of the fire this afternoon and brainstorming projects for the farm and garden and seed starts for next year.

I'm adding a couple Naked Neck pullets. I have a blue Australorp cockerel right now and a mix of chickens myself. I'm looking for heat hardiness in my climate.

If we get a broody I hope to hatch some mixed chicks myself some day.

 

[GardenTillers44]

Out of curiosity... Anyone have any tips on getting Oregano to germinate and grow? I keep having terrible luck with it. ;_; Never once gotten it to take off.

We broadcast the fine seeds on the soil surface in a planter or starter plug tray with potting mix and mist it once a day until it sprouts. It doesn't like to be too wet. It is also important to keep it warm to germinate. Don't move it into the garden too early as the cold soil will set it back. We're in southern Ohio and get it in the garden around Memorial Day, you might be a week or so behind us. Patio containers are good after Mother's Day. We've had good luck with both Mexican and Mediterranean basic oreganos. Not so much with the fancy varieties. We start it in our greenhouse under a grow light and move it to our deck or transplant it into the garden. This year we also tried aromatic Cuban oregano and it grew like kudzu, we were literally harvesting and drying it by the 5 gal. bucket. We let the oreganos flower and go to seed late in the season for the bees and to harvest seed. Couple of links below with some info on starting oregano.

https://www.thekitchn.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-growing-oregano-220612

https://www.westcoastseeds.com/how-to-grow-guides/grow-oregano/

Cuban oregano ready for the dryer.

 

[pennyJo1960]

We have so much rain right now rubber boots time not wanting to play in the garden in this

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Thanks bunches for the info! I may have had it too wet in previous years. I usually bottom-water all my seedlings. I will try the mist this year and hope for the best. We have had consistently bad luck with it, so I'll be excited if I can get it to work.

Did another dozen square feet of new garden bed today. We have serious calcium problems in our soil so I am adding a bunch of broken up drywall to it that a friend brings me. It'll help add calcium and nitrogen to the soil. I'm hoping that it'll break down some over the winter and be great for when I till the beds in the spring. Almost everything we plant ends up with some level of blossom end rot so I'm hoping that the drywall will help. I'll also top the garden bed with some straw before the snows hit to try to capture the nitrogen over winter.

 

[CapricornFarm]

I filled another raised bed in the front of the house today with dirt. 2 Mule loads full! No wonder i am tired. I planted 2 bushes , the concrete still needs to be poured around the support post for the steps. I do need to go shopping and buy landscape stones, and mulch to finish up. Maybe tomorrow...

 

[pennyJo1960]

I get a heck of allot more done if it isn't raining