What did you do in the garden today?

[BReeder!]

Winter storm coming. Expected rain and sleet later today followed by 3-7 inches of snow tomorrow. I'm not happy about it. I was hoping we were out of the snow. Hopefully this is the last of it. Usually there only a small risk by March.

 

[Sally PB]

Winter storm coming. Expected rain and sleet later today followed by 3-7 inches of snow tomorrow.

We're getting the same thing. It's mid 40s now, and everything is water over ice right now. Very slippery. So glad I'm staying home. I forgot a couple of errands when I went into town the other day, but they can wait.

Sooo ready for spring.

 

[BReeder!]

We're getting the same thing. It's mid 40s now, and everything is water over ice right now. Very slippery. So glad I'm staying home. I forgot a couple of errands when I went into town the other day, but they can wait.

Sooo ready for spring.

Soaking of water over ice, my back patio was layered ice, slush and snow. The house shades it from the sun this time of year, so is always last to thaw. We ended up clearing half of the patio. Wet had to remove the snow and slush first and then the ice in a second pass because it was too hard and we'll insulated under all that snow and slush. Just minutes of being exposed on a 40 degree day and then ice was breakable with a metal shovel scraping along. I stair to break it all up and DW pushed it all of the patio with the snow shovel. That was about an hour or more of work and only half the patio is clear.
The front lawn is snow free though thanks to the sun.

 

[Sally PB]

Next fall, I'm going to look back at this winter and remember that I wish I'd started some projects. I could start one now... Like using up all my feed bags to make shopping bags. Or knitting myself a new hat. To keep my mind off the fact that it's STILL WINTER, darn it!

 

[BullChick]

Last night when I had trouble falling asleep, I had a thought that kept me awake for even longer. I can't take the chickens down to the garden to scratch up/eat the grass and sod that invades from the edges, but I could dig up the sod and take it to them. Piecemeal free range.

The roots don't break down/die in the compost very fast, but the chickens will take care of them, I bet.

Now I just need the ground to thaw.

If you said why, I forget. Because of that, I’m subjecting you to these pictures. Gosh, I hope I don’t look stupid posting this.

 

[Sally PB]

Excellent idea!

Last summer, I was going to build a "chicken moat" around my garden. The summer before, we had the chicken coop about 20 feet from the garden, then moved it up by the house for the winter. It is so much more convenient for me to have the coop by the house that we've decided to leave it there. So a chunnel (chicken tunnel) to the garden and a garden moat is out of the question now.

A moat would have been great, but having the chickens near the house is probably safer for them and a LOT better for me.

But I still like the idea.

 

[TJAnonymous]

@WthrLady - your hoop house design has inspired me. DH and DS accidentally broke mine while moving it so we can burn all the squash-bug-infested mulch. When we redo it in a few weeks, I'm stealing some of your ideas!

My seed starts are now 5 weeks old. I've never been good at getting my starts to thrive and be healthy which is why I usually buy starts instead. But this year I'm really trying to get it right. Here's my starts at week 5. These are various tomatoes, broccoli, lavender, and some tobasco peppers. Notice the black mold on the outside of the seed starter cup? If I sprayed this with a little bleach spray or vinegar, would it hurt my starts?

 

[WthrLady]

63 yesterday and I was in shorts and a tshirt all day working in the sun and wind.
My face and hands are sunburned and I had the sunburned hots and colds last night! lol
Today we won't make it to freezing.
But we'll make it back to the mid 50s and low 60s by Friday and through the weekend. WINDY though.
Still no moisture in sight.
Working on the ends of the hoop house Saturday. It will take two of us to pull it up and brace it.

 

[Sueby]

Just a quick FYI on the chicken tunnels before I finish catching up - I lost a bird to a bobcat in one. It pounced on the tunnel & tore the birds head off but couldn't get the body out. We caught it on it's 2nd try. So, with that said I really liked my tunnel but I can't imagine how I'd make one safe enough to have here again. Just a thought...

 

[BullChick]

Excellent idea!

Last summer, I was going to build a "chicken moat" around my garden. The summer before, we had the chicken coop about 20 feet from the garden, then moved it up by the house for the winter. It is so much more convenient for me to have the coop by the house that we've decided to leave it there. So a chunnel (chicken tunnel) to the garden and a garden moat is out of the question now.

A moat would have been great, but having the chickens near the house is probably safer for them and a LOT better for me.

But I still like the idea.

I no longer have poultry, but I did keep a coop by the house. I was going to keep it riiiight outside the door on the far side of the sun porch (two outside doors), but the outlet is inside. Instead, it’s in an L by the cellar where it has protection on two sides, an outlet right there, and I can get to it by going down, and through the cellar from the house.