What did you do in the garden today?

[pennyJo1960]

I use 5 year chicken manure now the blackest dirt you will ever find the plants love it here

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Speaking of compost: I was thinking about putting some of the chicken poo shavings into my rotating composter. I don't have as many vegetable scraps anymore because the chickens eat most of them, so I thought this might break down the wood shavings quicker. Has anyone tried this?

 

[igorsMistress]

Speaking of compost: I was thinking about putting some of the chicken poo shavings into my rotating composter. I don't have as many vegetable scraps anymore because the chickens eat most of them, so I thought this might break down the wood shavings quicker. Has anyone tried this?

Yes and it works well. I have some beautiful dirt in my tumbler right now. I also throw in whatever the chickens don't eat for scraps along with coffee grounds and spent tea.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Yes and it works well. I have some beautiful dirt in my tumbler right now. I also throw in whatever the chickens don't eat for scraps along with coffee grounds and spent tea.

Good to know, thank you. I have a plan to work in the garden later this week. I have a contractor coming on Thursday and Friday to do a small remodel. While he's working on the inside of the house I can get into the garden. The temperature is supposed to be much warmer. I'm going to empty the compost currently in the bin and put it in the garden. After that I can "feed" it chickens chips. I'll also be putting the fencing up around the garden. I managed to get the posts into the ground last Autumn before the ground froze, so hanging the wire should be a piece of cake. My next trip to any hardware type store will involve a purchase of deer repellent.

 

[igorsMistress]

@Wee Farmer Sarah that sounds a great day in the garden. I use a poop board in the coop and all poop from thete goes in the bin unless I'm out of brown stiff to add with it.

My flock is currently deconstructing the big compost pile for me. I throw their morning food out there and they have a blast, lots of bugs out there. Some of the dirt will be moved over the weekend for pavers, the rest I'll throw on top of the reconstructed pile to help it break down. The aloe I pulled last fall was blooming so I had to stop that.

 

[deepbluesea]

Thanks for the welcome back!
@Wee Farmer Sarah I put it in my tumbler composter and my regular one. It cooks much quicker in the tumbler. I've got a two-part one, so I put in a bunch, wet it, then work on the other one while the first cooks. I've gotten some good rich compost out of it. Right now I'm a little heavy on the nitrogen, so I've gotta get some leaves in there before I add more.

 

[Searsmom]

Wth are walking onions? I have enough trouble taking care of normal veggies. I sure as hell am not going to be chasing them down if they decide to go on a walk about!

And it's not just Cleveland. The general swing towards large boxes eating small business is everywhere. Even out here in hard core farm country. I have HD, Lowes, Ace and two garden centers (all over 40 minutes one way) but they are here. Small garden centers cater to the rich city people that want planters on their deck or stone patios and pretty shrubs and green lawns. The two local green houses run by locals have gone belly up due to people wanting 99 cent 6 cell packs of marigolds.

Funny thing is though, the smaller places have healthier plants and more variety. Our local mom and pop hardware store sells the best tomato starts.

Queer pagan farmer girl? Hello instant new friend! I'm another of that sort.

Who assumes stuff like that? And says it?

I've been slacking last few years. Pulled my seeds out of deep freeze and planted 6 currant tomatoes, parsley, basil and dill. Crossing my fingers somebody pops up.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Speaking of compost: I was thinking about putting some of the chicken poo shavings into my rotating composter. I don't have as many vegetable scraps anymore because the chickens eat most of them, so I thought this might break down the wood shavings quicker. Has anyone tried this?

I do.
I use the fine wood shavings they breakdown faster. I add coffee grounds and crushed egg shells. I’ve used up pretty much every that composted and was kept over winter (gotta let the compost get dryer over winter). I’ve been working dirt for flower beds and my vegetables.
I tried scraps they would clump and rot. I tried putting all the scraps in the food processor for quicker decomposition. It wasn’t until I added the magical chicken poo things started to happen. I made one terrible (almost tragic) decision. I keep a cat litter tray under my composter to catch all that lovely liquid fertilizer that drips out when it rains. OH BOY! I about killed my grapes and strawberries!! Even severely diluted....in liquid form it’s Powerful.
I have a hoop composter that I’ll be opening up in a couple days....I’ll take pics. Last time I tried it was still frozen.
I hope I didn’t waste time and effort and seed by sowing my wildflowers already....the weather is still fickle and in the 30’s at night. Oh well collected enough seeds from last year I could plant a few acres lol.
I’m working my tomato bed with tons of crushed egg shells. I am a Huge believer that it prevents rot-bottom.

 

[igorsMistress]

View attachment 1714883 View attachment 1714873
I do.
I use the fine wood shavings they breakdown faster. I add coffee grounds and crushed egg shells. I’ve used up pretty much every that composted and was kept over winter (gotta let the compost get dryer over winter). I’ve been working dirt for flower beds and my vegetables.
I tried scraps they would clump and rot. I tried putting all the scraps in the food processor for quicker decomposition. It wasn’t until I added the magical chicken poo things started to happen. I made one terrible (almost tragic) decision. I keep a cat litter tray under my composter to catch all that lovely liquid fertilizer that drips out when it rains. OH BOY! I about killed my grapes and strawberries!! Even severely diluted....in liquid form it’s Powerful.
I have a hoop composter that I’ll be opening up in a couple days....I’ll take pics. Last time I tried it was still frozen.
I hope I didn’t waste time and effort and seed by sowing my wildflowers already....the weather is still fickle and in the 30’s at night. Oh well collected enough seeds from last year I could plant a few acres lol.
I’m working my tomato bed with tons of crushed egg shells. I am a Huge believer that it prevents rot-bottom.

Do you just save up, crush and work the shells in when you prep?

 

[Farmdog267]

Good morning Gang! Another somewhat chilly morning here but later this week it should be feeling more like spring! Got some excavation work started on the veggie garden at our new house. Seeds are planted and have been starting to sprout over the past few days. From reading some of the recent comments, it sounds like I need to get my compost game in gear.