What did you do in the garden today?

[Sequel]

OOOH! Garden planning!

I need to get my notebook ready with the garden plots drawn out. last year we had 5.5 raised beds....the 5 raised beds were 4'x16', and the 0.5 bed was 4'x4'. We've added tons of dirt (literally) and moved the beds around. Now spouse is willing to add about 6 MORE raised beds. Some will be 16', some will be half that. But, now we have 2 raised beds in an area that remains sunny from sunrise to sunset, whereas the others will all be impacted by the giant Maple tree at some point in the day...but the earliest they get shaded is 4pm and later, so still a lot of sunlight for all beds! Also, we have the option of making a meat bird grow out pen, in an area that used to have raised beds...but that area got shaded the earliest in the day, so we nixed raised beds there. But now have to come up with a plan for a structure for the meat birds....they need shade AND lots of ventilation, so a roof/cover of some kind will be required.

That sounds exciting! I bought some cattle panels last year and grew green beans and cucumbers on them. My plan is to tarp them in the winter so the chickens have more covered work area and then when I’m ready to plant it’ll be weeded and already fertilized. Yes I did say work area because they do work hard at weeding and smoothing out piles!

OOOH! Garden planning!

I need to get my notebook ready with the garden plots drawn out. last year we had 5.5 raised beds....the 5 raised beds were 4'x16', and the 0.5 bed was 4'x4'. We've added tons of dirt (literally) and moved the beds around. Now spouse is willing to add about 6 MORE raised beds. Some will be 16', some will be half that. But, now we have 2 raised beds in an area that remains sunny from sunrise to sunset, whereas the others will all be impacted by the giant Maple tree at some point in the day...but the earliest they get shaded is 4pm and later, so still a lot of sunlight for all beds! Also, we have the option of making a meat bird grow out pen, in an area that used to have raised beds...but that area got shaded the earliest in the day, so we nixed raised beds there. But now have to come up with a plan for a structure for the meat birds....they need shade AND lots of ventilation, so a roof/cover of some kind will be required.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Good morning gardeners. The wind storm finally blew out of here. Lots of twigs and small branches down. I got a little pile of fireplace "logs" that are well seasoned and lots of kindling, LOL. It's storm like this one that makes me glad I opted for the heavy duty shower curtains to wrap the chicken run. I need to anchor them down again but there were no tears. The storm that is moving across the country is set to hit here early tomorrow and last until late tomorrow afternoon. Again, another 4 to 6 inches of snow. I'm doing all my errands today so no travelling until Wednesday. Now that I've planned out my vegetable garden I'll be working on the plans for the herb garden expansion. I want to add another variety of oregano as well as some dill, cilantro and bay laurel. I found some Russian Tarragon seed and will be planting that in a separate pot. Apparently tarragon does not like my soil. Keep the photos coming all of you in more temperate climates now. Although there are still some snowpiles left I can actually see some green grass. Take care and have a great day everyone.

 

[Sueby]

Hey all! Been super busy around here, but nothing in the garden! I peeked in yesterday & saw some critter dug up some of my garlic & I still have green onions growing. I had no idea they'd still be good after being snowed on.

The snow & ice is heading this way - hoping for a day off tomorrow (I work for a college so I get snow days).

 

[Sueby]

Good morning gardeners. No new snow today. Yay! It's cold today, woke up to 15F and temps will stay in the low 30's all day. That's OK, because the sun is shining and that will raise the temperature in the coop and run so my molting chickens will be fine. Rain moves in tomorrow so bye, bye snow until the next round drops in. I got my daily email from the Old Farmers Almanac and they had an article about growing ginger indoors. Sound familiar? They showed a picture of the plant too, so I'm thinking maybe I'll do it this winter. I need advice on when to pick this lemon / lime on my little tree. It's been growing for over a month now. How long do these things hang around on the tree before they are ready for picking? If I can get the hang of successful indoor citrus growing, I would love to add a mandarin orange tree and another lemon / lime tree. (I'm saying lemon / lime because my tree is supposed to be a Meyer Lemon but the fruit never changes from green so I really don't know ). Hope all your holiday preps are going well. This afternoon is my monthly music concert at the music school a few towns over. Have a great day everyone.

I think we've discussed my grapefruit & lime trees - they grow great in the summer & I half kill them in the winter. They never flower, never mind fruit! It's just too cold I think, I don't have a good south facing window except in the mud room so thats where they spend winters - we heat it just to above freezing as the washer is in there. I want to see a pic of your lemon & the tree please!!

 

[Sequel]

I finished setting up the loom and have the dish towels started.

I have dough disks for 6 dozen sugar cookies in the refrigerator. I'll tackle them tomorrow and get them delivered. (If I can stay out of them.)

No garden/yard stuff today. SO Cold.

My neighbor weaves and she gave me a couple dishtowels. I love love love them!

 

[TropicalBabies]

I want pics of the dish towels, please ladies! I bet they are gorgeous!!!

My husbands daughter came by yesterday, DH and I are sick... pretty gross. So I ran... slanked... (that's what you do when sick) out to the chicken run/garden and futzed around in the fresh air. I dumped my compost out of a tumbler and let my girls dig the bugs out. Here is what they left for me.

I think it looks great. Wish they would have left more but this is enough to amend one bed and that is exactly where it is now.
I locked my two Bantam mixes in my mini coop last night (I had it with their hidden nests- blacklight is on order) and there they will stay all week at least to lay their eggs in a nest box and hopefully "get it". Unfortunately it is the flocks two favorite, most used nest boxes so I am positive I am going to hear all of the complaints from the rest of the flock. I will toss some fresh hay in the other boxes to maybe add interest chickens!

I have about 5-7 tomatoes but lots of blooms that should have no problems catching... if all is mild, not too humid or rainy.

I still have not dealt with pressurizing the well pump. Going to town for husbands doc appointment this morning. This ot to be fun. Still feel crummy... at least I wont have to listen to chickens squawk about the nest boxes.
Have a great day all!!!

 

[AllenK RGV]

I want pics of the dish towels, please ladies! I bet they are gorgeous!!!

My husbands daughter came by yesterday, DH and I are sick... pretty gross. So I ran... slanked... (that's what you do when sick) out to the chicken run/garden and futzed around in the fresh air. I dumped my compost out of a tumbler and let my girls dig the bugs out. Here is what they left for me. View attachment 1982504 I think it looks great. Wish they would have left more but this is enough to amend one bed and that is exactly where it is now.
I locked my two Bantam mixes in my mini coop last night (I had it with their hidden nests- blacklight is on order) and there they will stay all week at least to lay their eggs in a nest box and hopefully "get it". Unfortunately it is the flocks two favorite, most used nest boxes so I am positive I am going to hear all of the complaints from the rest of the flock. I will toss some fresh hay in the other boxes to maybe add interest chickens!

I have about 5-7 tomatoes but lots of blooms that should have no problems catching... if all is mild, not too humid or rainy.

I still have not dealt with pressurizing the well pump. Going to town for husbands doc appointment this morning. This ot to be fun. Still feel crummy... at least I wont have to listen to chickens squawk about the nest boxes.
Have a great day all!!!

I would think since you blocked the two favorites you should stand guard for door service and let the other girls show them where to lay!

 

[AllenK RGV]

I think we've discussed my grapefruit & lime trees - they grow great in the summer & I half kill them in the winter. They never flower, never mind fruit! It's just too cold I think, I don't have a good south facing window except in the mud room so thats where they spend winters - we heat it just to above freezing as the washer is in there. I want to see a pic of your lemon & the tree please!!

I'm not sure who that was directed towards, my "Valley Lemon" are getting close, but the sunny south side is still all green:

The Navel oranges are getting there, but slowly:

The west side is all frozen down to junky root stock, but wife soaks the slices in vinegar for cleaning:

This is more root stock, but makes a passable lime flavored addition to koolaide or smoothie type drinks, just we can't over do it or it tends to add bitterness.:


I love it when these go into bloom they are stronger scented than hyacinth but not cloying like the previously mentioned flower. In late Feb they should all be setting next years blooms. I just need to commit to giving them the good deep soak they need every 2 weeks. This year I allowed the drought be a drought and the Navel set fruit poorly.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Morning Gardeners first really dry day in two weeks? may be able to step in the garden .. the way are drive is slop not hill but could pull into the pad tothe left of the drive that was layed years ago

 

[TropicalBabies]

I would think since you blocked the two favorites you should stand guard for door service and let the other girls show them where to lay!

Going to town today so i can not do any ushering. My Bantams would sneak out anyways, strong and tricky little girls. Plus Bantams are super bossy and the three young ones would get stressed anyways. I'm hoping all will be ok. The biddies were poking around the new grass in other boxes. It would not be a bad thing for the young ones to use the main coop nest boxes and they always have the low on the totem pole box by the compost bins.
Oh my goodness... chickens!