What did you do in the garden today?

[jerryse]

Someone had mentioned worms and brussel sprouts. I have like 1 pound of BT powder to kill off worms, but is it safe for human health? Or do we spray it on every marketable/consumable and I just shouldn't worry over it?

BT no worry . Those white cabbage butterfly eggs hatch into worms .

 

[Farmdog267]

It is crazy how even when you wear some form of safety gear or PPE, the little things still find a way. Murphy can be a backstabber at times. Glad he trusted his gut and got cared for! Hopefully he heals up fast!

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Good morning all. Someone shook the snow globe again because we got a little dusting of snow overnight to "freshen" the old stuff. I'm glad you got your husband to the ER @karenerwin. Hopefully there is no long term damage. Nothing happening in my garden for a while. Just planning and taking inventory. Also keeping indoor plants watered. My sole Meyer Lemon looks like it may be starting to ripen. The green color is less intense for what it's worth. I finally got a coat of paint on my bathroom walls. I did OK with smoothing out the rough parts, not perfect, but it looks pretty good for an old woman. It needs one more coat and then I'll do the trim at a later date. I need to buy more door and trim paint. Thanks for letting me know I'm not the only one just trying to make a dent in my "hobby farming" @WthrLady and @AllenK RGV. I did manage to keep the cost of chicken keeping down a bit since I used an existing shed that came with the house for a chicken coop. I've lost track of what I've spent building raised garden beds but honestly, the trade-off is we are all minimizing our carbon footprint and eating much better than the average American. I've been thinking of raising a few extra pullets then selling them when they are near laying age. Around here a layer will cost $20 to $25 a piece. So that would help balance the feed bill a little. Just a thought. With the additional garden bed this year I should have enough surplus vegetables to sell. A girl can dream, right? Have a great day everyone.

 

[WthrLady]

The problem I have with selling is pricing. People want big box prices but fresh and local. The two do NOT go together. The only place you can break even with price to cost ratio is the downtown farmer's market where the rich people go to spend big bucks on being able to say they're eating/serving local and fresh. BUT the cost of participation in the market, busts any profit you may get from those sales. You are basically working for free, or worse.

I'm getting ready to do this last year's books. I dread seeing how much I "lost" doing what I enjoy. I've kept detailed records this year, as I will from now on for tax reasons. But dang if it's not depressing.

Like I said, the fresh food for us, and the entertainment value is amazing, but people don't have any idea just how much work goes into it.

 

[igorsMistress]

Good afternoon gardeners. Not much time for BYC lately but I've been out to the garden and stopped in to share some pics.
I transplanted this bush out near the mesquite tree. I can't remember what it is but it blooms with purple flowers.

Potatoes!! I ignored them for a bit and some have finally sprouted

Peas and rosemary, artichoke and carrots

Broccoli and mustard

Celery and thyme

Mexican heather and ground cover

And the tomato plant I never did anything with. I harvested about 10 tomatoes from it and there are plenty more plus flowers galore.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Morning or Afternoon where ever you may be gardeners... Maybe tomorrow I can
pull the bag out of the pantry to see what I have for seeds just know my lettuce crop was worse then miserable last year

 

[karenerwin]

I painted the outside of the brood box for my bee hive. I asked a friend to decorate it for me. She said she is going to paint black-eyed Susans on it. Those are my favorite flowers!!
Tomorrow I plan on buying a second brood box ( I know I'll need it and a couple of supers once I get the bees and they start building up. So I may as well as do it now and get them painted while they are empty
I also deep cleaned my refrigerator. It's amazing what all can spill and collect under the bottom drawer with no one noticing.
They are calling for snow here on Saturday. We'll see, it may just be rain.
It's been in the mid 40's the last few days.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Congrats on the job @karenerwin Hope you enjoy it!
Bathroom is gorgeous @WthrLady ... come do mine next. Gorgeous!
Sorry about your hen @Wee Farmer Sarah. ouch.
Would love to see photos @Acre4Me .
Boy lots has happened on this site in the few days I drifted away. Yikes, spiders and snakes and big winds and ice for you folks.
DH had a doc appointment and then there was laundry... I trimmed hedges on Sunday, filled the 2 horse trailer and I'm still not done...
DH retirement party has me skating off in a few different directions plus eye doc appointment for me tomorrow to catch insurance B4 it switches over.
I only raked leaves and watered the last two days but did manage to wash two trucks inside and out and clean my aunties house.
Gathered 12 eggs today- our new record! and spied this on my way back to the house

My Brahma Priscilla was so in tuned to that tomato after I picked it she almost followed me into the house. Thank goodness for chicken proofing my garden!!!
Also have a showing of Zucchini

and a healthy showing of lettuce.
I had the best sauteed Mahi over Arugula salad on Monday. Must plant more!!!

 

[WthrLady]

::Waving:: Thanks @TropicalBabies . I have one more here to do. BLECH.

I'm saving fishing the blue bathroom for Friday. We have one more decent weather day tomorrow, before we head for 0' lows for the next 5 days. YUCK!

I'll grab some lumber for a project that can be done inside for those days and finish the bathroom too.

Friend has a fresh flower business. We discussed what she's planting and when, her new shop on her own farm, and her spring open house, seed blockers, starts, and growlights. That counts as gardening, right?

 

[TropicalBabies]

::Waving:: Thanks @TropicalBabies . I have one more here to do. BLECH.

I'm saving fishing the blue bathroom for Friday. We have one more decent weather day tomorrow, before we head for 0' lows for the next 5 days. YUCK!

I'll grab some lumber for a project that can be done inside for those days and finish the bathroom too.

Friend has a fresh flower business. We discussed what she's planting and when, her new shop on her own farm, and her spring open house, seed blockers, starts, and growlights. That counts as gardening, right?

I forgot to mention how AWESOME the painting on the was is. Bravo!!!