What did you do in the garden today?

[TropicalBabies]

Good morning gardeners. We got the new garden area staked. I have an area I need to explore to see what's under the dirt before we begin work but I think our plan is solid. I won't be planting anything in it this year, will build the soil instead. I'm planning to fill it with a bale of hay and some soil, then let the chickens in to poop and stir this summer before I close it off. I watered the last couple days and cut back the last of the bushes. We added a new roost to the coop, I have 8 eggs in my incubator from my older girls and will need the mini coop to grow those out. I have a new layer as of today, 5/11 now. I've also registered with our Dept of Agriculture to sell eggs and ordered a stamp for the cartons. I need to get on nextdoor and advertise still but waiting for the little girls to get going yet. We were walking the dogs the other night and one of our neighbors was just getting home; she complimented us on the trees out front. She thought we had a professional crew come in and do it. Made me feel good! They looked like giant bushes, they're young trees yet, but now people can see what's coming around the corner. I miss the privacy, but it had to be done. The hibiscus still needs trimming and I need to rake all the stuff back into the compost pile. Have a great day everyone!

Congrats on the new layer and garden bed. Great idea. I never thought of posting my eggs on Nextdoor. Brilliant!!!

 

[WthrLady]

12 eggs from 20 layers....not a bad day
did the ranch books from last year to see what I spent on each project and how much was made - barf.

Not including the hens' electricity or building repair etc, just their feed, scratch, grit, calcium, and egg cartons (must be new by law) then I would have to charge 11$ a dozen just to break even on eggs, and that includes the ones I use for use. I charge 3.50 and people balk at that, when they can get them 68-98 cents a dozen from Wally World. UGH. For the work I put in I want to quit selling, but DH said that the money earned brings in SOMETHING to offset it.

Maybe I'll do pick up only. I was delivering (only on times when I have to go that direction only. But I had one lady abusing that like I was an on call grocery. And one guy still hasn't paid his bill from October, I bill twice a year June and October.) Just ugh.

The debt on the garden is huge, but I built the new garden from scratch last year and never counted how much I took out food wise, which was huge.

The alpacas...well they're cute anyway, cheaper than having dogs.

I gave up knitting for others as no one wanted to pay for quality yarn and my time.
If sewing doesn't go well this year, it will be my last for that as well. So it might be the last Summer for garden aprons and orphan pillowcase dresses for toddlers, for those have have bought them in the past.
The bees serve their purpose in the orchard and the honey and pollination pays for them after next year, they're free.

Weaving and custom Tartan design is for my own sanity.

Just UGH.Depressing.

 

[igorsMistress]

12 eggs from 20 layers....not a bad day
did the ranch books from last year to see what I spent on each project and how much was made - barf.

Not including the hens' electricity or building repair etc, just their feed, scratch, grit, calcium, and egg cartons (must be new by law) then I would have to charge 11$ a dozen just to break even on eggs, and that includes the ones I use for use. I charge 3.50 and people balk at that, when they can get them 68-98 cents a dozen from Wally World. UGH. For the work I put in I want to quit selling, but DH said that the money earned brings in SOMETHING to offset it.

Maybe I'll do pick up only. I was delivering (only on times when I have to go that direction only. But I had one lady abusing that like I was an on call grocery. And one guy still hasn't paid his bill from October, I bill twice a year June and October.) Just ugh.

The debt on the garden is huge, but I built the new garden from scratch last year and never counted how much I took out food wise, which was huge.

The alpacas...well they're cute anyway, cheaper than having dogs.

I gave up knitting for others as no one wanted to pay for quality yarn and my time.
If sewing doesn't go well this year, it will be my last for that as well. So it might be the last Summer for garden aprons and orphan pillowcase dresses for toddlers, for those have have bought them in the past.
The bees serve their purpose in the orchard and the honey and pollination pays for them after next year, they're free.

Weaving and custom Tartan design is for my own sanity.

Just UGH.Depressing.

Wow, you're generous! I'm not going to deliver and if the customer doesn't keep the carton for exchange I'm charging for them too. If I don't sell them then I can always donate to the food pantry.

 

[WthrLady]

well, by law we have to use new cartons every time. Even when I buy them 2000 at a time that 25 cents a dozen. Then they must be labeled, by law, in a certain way, so there is the label and glue. Then they have to be washed and sanitized, by law, so there is the soap and sanitizing agent.

Like I said. I only deliver when I am going to that direction anyway. Very few people want to drive clear to my place, but it might come to that.

My best customer is moving an hour away, and might have her own hens next year. I'll be up her direction about once a month, so I'll deliver when I can while I'm up there.

But everyone else might have to come and get them.
It's just depressing, I wasn't expecting to be an egg mogul, but we certainly cannot compete with big box and that's what people want. I had one guy tell me at market last year 'why should I pay $4 a dozen when I can get them at Walmart for 99 cents?" He was trying to talk me down. I told him I don't, and walmart is 2 miles down the road, have at it. No customer is worth that!

 

[pennyJo1960]

I advertise for 4 for a dozen 6 for 18 but also 6 for banty eggs
started on this Next door never heard of it before little nervous
but will try anything almost bakers dozen daily now

 

[hysop]

12 eggs from 20 layers....not a bad day
did the ranch books from last year to see what I spent on each project and how much was made - barf.

Not including the hens' electricity or building repair etc, just their feed, scratch, grit, calcium, and egg cartons (must be new by law) then I would have to charge 11$ a dozen just to break even on eggs, and that includes the ones I use for use. I charge 3.50 and people balk at that, when they can get them 68-98 cents a dozen from Wally World. UGH. For the work I put in I want to quit selling, but DH said that the money earned brings in SOMETHING to offset it.

Maybe I'll do pick up only. I was delivering (only on times when I have to go that direction only. But I had one lady abusing that like I was an on call grocery. And one guy still hasn't paid his bill from October, I bill twice a year June and October.) Just ugh.

The debt on the garden is huge, but I built the new garden from scratch last year and never counted how much I took out food wise, which was huge.

The alpacas...well they're cute anyway, cheaper than having dogs.

I gave up knitting for others as no one wanted to pay for quality yarn and my time.
If sewing doesn't go well this year, it will be my last for that as well. So it might be the last Summer for garden aprons and orphan pillowcase dresses for toddlers, for those have have bought them in the past.
The bees serve their purpose in the orchard and the honey and pollination pays for them after next year, they're free.

Weaving and custom Tartan design is for my own sanity.

Just UGH.Depressing.

Sorry to hear that. It is sad when people rather support big corporations that don’t care about quality and probably import stuff and extort third world country children to make their products, instead of buying quality home grown/made things from small business owners. Maybe then they’d be healthier and not have to replace things of poor quality since good quality lasts a lifetime or close to it.

I never knew how much work went into selling fresh eggs by law. That is insane. Sorry to hear people don’t appreciate the work that goes into it.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Been catching up on yard work and playing with horses the last 2 days. Friends moved into the house next door so taking the 16yo who likes my little "mule" Hombre. Today our ranch sponsored a barrel clinic, so we grabbed 16yo and hung out to watch, debating weather to saddle Hombre up. We opted for a promise to ride this evening instead. Better hurry up and finish my yard work....
Also ordered some new house #'s so will pop off the old ones today- sand, primer, paint... looking forward to the new look. Need to go to town and pick up some Sikkens for the deck tomorrow along with pet meds for auntie and as always... chicken feed. Will be good to get out of the house and away from home improvement mode.

I sell my eggs on craigslist. $6 per 12ct, $9 per 18ct, $11 per 24ct. $1 off if they bring me a carton. I am cheaper than everyone else selling w/ exception of stores- Costco is $9. per 24ct of organic but they are not nearly as tasty as ours. I give away an average of 6+ doz per mo to family. 11 girls laying 6-10 eggs a day. When I get backed up I give away more but I rarely get baked up. Selling absolutely helps with offsetting the feed costs. Organic layer is $28.00 (x4 per mo. for 13 chix) bag of keeper is $22. I deliver if I am going that way but totally relate to people thinking I am a delivery service. What is up with that?!! Cost of gas and all.... go to Costco... and i'll enjoy giving away, eating and buying cheaper feed. I also have neighbors who say they want to buy but never pay or return cartons, so I don't bother with any more. My customers have ebbed and flowed so far, understandable and I'm totally ok with. I just refresh my add and get new customers. I can also sell @ farmers market or to another seller but I don't get enough eggs a day to do that. It is an expensive hobby even with selling for sure. Don't tell DH

 

[TropicalBabies]

12 eggs from 20 layers....not a bad day
did the ranch books from last year to see what I spent on each project and how much was made - barf.

Not including the hens' electricity or building repair etc, just their feed, scratch, grit, calcium, and egg cartons (must be new by law) then I would have to charge 11$ a dozen just to break even on eggs, and that includes the ones I use for use. I charge 3.50 and people balk at that, when they can get them 68-98 cents a dozen from Wally World. UGH. For the work I put in I want to quit selling, but DH said that the money earned brings in SOMETHING to offset it.

Maybe I'll do pick up only. I was delivering (only on times when I have to go that direction only. But I had one lady abusing that like I was an on call grocery. And one guy still hasn't paid his bill from October, I bill twice a year June and October.) Just ugh.

The debt on the garden is huge, but I built the new garden from scratch last year and never counted how much I took out food wise, which was huge.

The alpacas...well they're cute anyway, cheaper than having dogs.

I gave up knitting for others as no one wanted to pay for quality yarn and my time.
If sewing doesn't go well this year, it will be my last for that as well. So it might be the last Summer for garden aprons and orphan pillowcase dresses for toddlers, for those have have bought them in the past.
The bees serve their purpose in the orchard and the honey and pollination pays for them after next year, they're free.

Weaving and custom Tartan design is for my own sanity.

Just UGH.Depressing.

You do beautiful work and i have not even seen your knitting yet. I hope you can stick with it. I think it is totally and completely admirable.

 

[hysop]

Initially I thought owning chickens would be cheaper than buying my own eggs from the grocery store. Then as time went on I realized that is no where near the case. But now I love my chickens even if they’re more expensive than great value grocery store eggs the quality and knowledge of knowing how they’re treated and what they eat gives me peace of mind.

Oh update on my pear seeds. My kids broke the stem off 2 or 3 seedlings thankfully I had a couple of seedlings I needed to transplant, but they are not allowed near my pots now

 

[Farmdog267]

Good morning Gardeners! March is here and so is some nice weather! I work my towing job tonight so I wont be able to do much after work tonight but tomorrow will be enjoyable! I was out cutting firewood yesterday afternoon for about an hour. A co-worker has a log spliter so I'll bring it to his house today and he can split it when he has a chance and let it season and be good for the next year. Cut more wood than my short bed F150 could hold so I'll have another load or 2 later in the week. Going up to 63 today with some rain due in by 10pm tonight into the wee hours of the morning. Have a good day!