What did you do in the garden today?

[littledog]

Our apple trees are sad. I've seen so many trees around that are LOADED with apples, and ours have only produced and dropped a few handfuls of rotten/bug-damaged apples. Do those of you with apple trees have any advice on how to get an actual harvest next year?

We only have one apple tree, that was already ancient 12 years ago when we bought our place, but it keeps producing every year like crazy. Mr. Dog complains about it and wants to cut it down, because it's kind of in the way right off the back porch, especially at this time of year when it's so weighted down with apples, we have to detour into dog-poop land to avoid hitting our heads walking or trying to mow under it.

Apples need constant spraying and fertilization schedule. It.Is ...ENDLESS

If Mr. Dog didn't hate the apple tree so much and wish it would drop dead, or if we had a real apple orchard, I would definitely maintain a schedule following your advice.
As it is, we get hundreds of pounds of apples from this one tree, some have evidence that worms lived there at one time but have since departed - usually some are only suitable for the compost, the chickens get a bunch, but about 50% I take to the barn for me and my fellow boarders to feed to our horses, and about 25% (at least 50lbs) are either pristine for eating, or good for cutting off the bad parts and processing into applesauce.

We never spray it at all, but we do prune it every year in January or February, which would be just a normal chore if it wasn't for having to listen Mr. Dog endlessly hating on the apple tree. Fortunately he enjoys the apple sauce, and by the time we are eating it, the tree is no longer weighed down, it's a normal height to walk under, and Mr. Dog forgets to hate it so much.

Went in the brooder room with the Son. He took all the photos.

Love your chessboard floor - cute fuzzy chicks and your son takes good pictures.

I'm working through picking and processing my crops - tonight I did 3 quarts of tomato sauce and 4 of cuke pickles to complete the canner load, got another load of tomatoes, Thai basil, eggplant and chives going in the crock pot for tomorrow's canning.

My goal for this year, since my garden is the most prolific it's ever been, is to fill every one of my jars - I have my harvest guard lids and gaskets, but going through all my canning supplies, I only have a few rings! I figure rings are safe to order from Amazon...

 

[WthrLady]

I try to get to the local grocery by 9:30. By 10, it's getting busy. By 10:30, very busy, and when church lets out, it's a zoo.

There is a lady who works there that I've talked to several times. She's works in Customer service Sunday am, and I stop by just to say hi and be a friendly face. This place is woefully short of cashiers these days. I was just going into a line and saw her at the far end of the check outs, so I waved. She waved me down, checked out my order, then went back to customer service, because the other woman there had to go to break.

That's why I always look for her when I go in, to see if I can brighten her day. She sure made my trip easier yesterday.

I have that relationship here with the staff. It's the 'well as long as we're all out let's all go to the grocery, target, (insert store here)." Whole families slow the whole process down. The screaming babies, the screaming temper tantrum children or dads.

As for dishes. Sigh. Ya. But NOTHING is 100% lead free really. And acceptable PPMillion is only 90 for a child even, so ... what are you going to do? (I AM NOT bashing her in anyway for replacing her dishes, not ONE BIT.)
My 1930s apple franciscan gets used, period. I don't use it every day, but we use it. The glaze is sound. We don't microwave in it or store food in it. Why? It's heavy lol. And I'd hate to break it.
I have a lot of old pyrex and fire king from the 20-60s. We use that toptions? Store leftovers in questionable plasticware meant for, or only lasts for, a couple uses?
The old corelle was stolen in a move, so we use stuff that's 8ish years old.
I don't trust the modern stuff from China either, submit one thing for testing and sell another.

Some of the testing they are doing online is showing what the dishes are made of, not what comes in contact with the food, so I question some of the results. Just because the equipment is more sophisticated, and expensive, than a swab test, doesn't mean it's more effective for the parameters of the test.

One test I saw said the corelle dish was fine but the decoration on the outside of the serving dish showed high levels of lead and cadmium. Um. OK, my casserole isn't on the outside of the dish.(Not the edge of the plate, the outside of the serving bowl)

Grain of salt.

Heck, with as fast as my family eats, I don't think there is TIME for lead molecules to transfer to the food anyway. I imagine them to be just and shocked and awed at the stampede, inhalation, and poof, gone.

 

[TJAnonymous]

I have that relationship here with the staff. It's the 'well as long as we're all out let's all go to the grocery, target, (insert store here)." Whole families slow the whole process down. The screaming babies, the screaming temper tantrum children or dads.

As for dishes. Sigh. Ya. But NOTHING is 100% led free really. And acceptable PPMillion is only 90 for a child even, so ... what are you going to do?
My 1930s apple franciscan gets used, period. I don't use it every day, but we use it. The glaze is sound. We don't microwave in it or store food in it.
I have a lot of old pyrex and fire king from the 20-60s. We use that toptions? Store leftovers in questionable plasticware meant for, or only lasts for, a couple uses?
The old corelle was stolen in a move, so we use stuff that's 8ish years old.
I don't trust the modern stuff from China either, submit one thing for testing and sell another.

Some of the testing they are doing online is showing what the dishes are made of, not what comes in contact with the food, so I question some of the results. Just because the equipment is more sophisticated, and expensive, than a swab test, doesn't mean it's more effective for the parameters of the test.

One test I saw said the corelle dish was fine but the decoration on the outside of the serving dish showed high levels of lead and cadmium. Um. OK, my casserole isn't on the outside of the dish.(Not the edge of the plate, the outside of the serving bowl)

Grain of salt.

Heck, with as fast as my family eats, I don't think there is TIME for lead molecules to transfer to the food anyway. I imagine them to be just and shocked and awed at the stampede, inhalation, and poof, gone.

Years ago I saw some article that talked about the toxic chemicals that come off of plastic wrap when it is used to cover food in the microwave. Ever since then, I'm a paranoid freak about microwaving plastic wrap. I use it to cover stuff in the fridge occasionally but when it comes to heating up food, I take it over and cover with paper towel instead.

Another side note....I work in the security technology industry. About 6 years ago I was involved in doing some security assessments in the legalized cannabis industry. We were walking through a lab that tests product for that industry. Because I'm a science geek, the lab Director was telling me all about their business, what they test, how they test, etc... She brought up vape pens which are all the rage with kids and Cannabis-users alike. She said that they test the plastics used in the vape pens and found that nearly ALL of them have bad-toxic levels of chemicals in them which people are inhaling into their lungs. She said that this is a big problem because the laws do not govern the vape pens in the same way they do cigarettes or even Cannabis. Anyway, I've never been a smoker of any sort but it just proved to me that "regulations" are nothing more than a political scam like everything else. They govern it under the guise of safety but it's all about who you know and how much you pay them off. Smh....

 

[TJAnonymous]

We need rain SO BADLY! I'm just disgusted that we've had TWO hurricanes come through (Ida and now TS Nicholas) and NEITHER of them brought any rain..... Grrr..... The grass is dead again.

I really need to seed some winter rye grass for the horses but can't do ANYTHING without rain.

 

[WthrLady]

Years ago I saw some article that talked about the toxic chemicals that come off of plastic wrap when it is used to cover food in the microwave. Ever since then, I'm a paranoid freak about microwaving plastic wrap. I use it to cover stuff in the fridge occasionally but when it comes to heating up food, I take it over and cover with paper towel instead.

Another side note....I work in the security technology industry. About 6 years ago I was involved in doing some security assessments in the legalized cannabis industry. We were walking through a lab that tests product for that industry. Because I'm a science geek, the lab Director was telling me all about their business, what they test, how they test, etc... She brought up vape pens which are all the rage with kids and Cannabis-users alike. She said that they test the plastics used in the vape pens and found that nearly ALL of them have bad-toxic levels of chemicals in them which people are inhaling into their lungs. She said that this is a big problem because the laws do not govern the vape pens in the same way they do cigarettes or even Cannabis. Anyway, I've never been a smoker of any sort but it just proved to me that "regulations" are nothing more than a political scam like everything else. They govern it under the guise of safety but it's all about who you know and how much you pay them off. Smh....

Ya. You know that found in almost every kitchen pyrex measuring cup with the painted on measuring increments (and I'm not talking antique or vintage either)? Tested for lead. Yup.

 

[vall]

This morning, the flock was mostly located here! It was a bit windy, so I guess it wasn't so windy here.
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The gourds now. I think I counted 40 gourds (a few around the corner and some hidden in the leaves going up the downspout). And that doesn't count the luffa as it hasn't done much producing.
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Fall planting bed 1: Top half is green beans with beets in the middle. bottom half is 3 types of turnips on the left, and just planted radish seed on the right.
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Fall planting bed 2: beets in the middle (same type as in above pic, just planted later), and green mustard on outer edges.
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Fall planting bed 3: Red mustard
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Brussel sprouts: Planted in June. taking F.O.R.E.V.E.R.
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Fall planting bed 4 (and the first bed to be planted for fall).
Top half is a combo of carrots, green beans, and beets.
bottom half is purple top turnips.
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Fall planting bed 5: Bottom corner is golden beets. Top portion (above the melon ) are rutabaga. The melons finally grew and produced after an application of more fertilizer...not sure if these will ripen, but hope springs eternal!
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Okra in the foreground. It is almost a fall crop as it doesn't really begin to produce here until August sometime. But, The okra is getting pretty tall now. In the background, there are my bean towers for dried pole beans. There is one variety still green and growing (pods are produced, just still completely green).
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This same spider has been in the same spot for about 2 months. I swear it has gotten noticeably fatter. Oh, and its right near the on/off valve for the hose - luckily we leave it on, since the spray nozzle is on the end of the hose.
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What do you do with the mustard? I have a few plants and thus far have only given it to the quail.
Those are the spiders that protect my peppers! They don't scare me as much since they like to sit in that X shape, I think my brain does not register it as a spider..

 

[WthrLady]

I harvest my mustard seed and save it for adding to pickle brine and I grind it for cooking, and last year I made mustard!

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

There are different types of mustard. The yellow mustard seeds makes pretty awesome mustard. You can eat the leaves. Just prepare as any spicy dark green.

 

[vall]

Didn't know that about lead. I have been using pre-2005 decorated corelle plates my entire life, including childhood.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

As for the lead in dinnerware. I think it’s important for people to know what chemicals are leaching into their foods as they are enjoying a meal. It’s a matter of informed choice whether you do or do not care what extra “flavors” are mingling with your grub. However, lead is one of those pesky chemicals ( or elements actually) that accumulates in your body overtime. It especially is not a good idea to serve up too much lead to children and young mothers. Don’t take my word. Look it up for yourself, then decide. It’s kind of the same decision we make whether to use chemical pesticides and fertilizers on the food we grow. Unfortunately, those chemicals don’t wash off so what you use on your garden makes it’s way into your body. I did enough chemicals in the 70’s, I really don’t want anymore.