What did you do in the garden today?

[chickengr]

My parents didn’t get an ac cos they used a lot of energy, anyways, when I grew up in Canada, 22 C was hot we had a black car for 2 years, it really heated up in the summer, but no ac in that either. I‘ve had an ac in my cars since I moved near Berlin, it gets really hot ( I think) here, we’ve had temperatures around 30-38 C really scared when it will go up to 40 C I need a cool place to sleep, when the house starts to warm up to 22C I have trouble sleeping, I usually start sleeping in the basement, but after a while that starts to get too warm too, hubby belongs to the tribe AC is harmful to the environment, so no AC for me… a few years ago I was thinking about sleeping in the car with the ac on, but it isn’t really an option, gas being expensive too and the neighbor would really get pi..ed off at me for letting the car run longer than 1 minute

you can put a big plastic bottle with frozen water in front of a fan.

 

[MotherofOrpies]

LOL! I picked up a bee the other day, he was laying on the deck looking real bad, and put him on the edge of my critter waterer. He was gone a couple hours later so either the birds got him or he got a sip & flew off.

We don't like them here either.

They look perfect!

Morning all. Power went off at 5 this morning - on my day off & I couldn't get back to sleep.

Another hot humid one here. We did get rain last night so I won't have to water, probably. Headed out to walk the garden & water the dog. The crazy mutt won't drink in the house, only outside. He's so weird.

I rescued a bumble bee from a bucket, how did it thank me?! It gave me a hefty bite

 

[littledog]

I'm Amazed - the 2nd batch of hatching eggs in my incubator went into lockdown just yesterday, and we already have an early chick! Wow - it went from a tiny pip to hatched and walking in about 20 minutes!
I'm not ready! Expected to spend my day off tomorrow leisurely securing the door between the small coop and the big coop, putting the big babies in the small coop, and cleaning out the brooder in time to welcome the new set of chicks. "Best-laid plans" and all...hopefully this new little one can hang out in the incubator for another day and not roll around the other eggs too much as we wait for them to hatch.

 

[jerryse]

96 yesterday and may hit 100 today. Weatherman said 2012 was the last time we hit 100. I will not do much outside today.

 

[littledog]

Windrows done. Feels like 110°F much worse in the direct sun. I'll bale next, but this evening.

How big is that field? I'm just guessing by counting the fence posts, but about 3/4 acre? How much hay are you expecting this year, and compared to other years? Did you have to irrigate, and do you usually? Sorry to be so nosy, I'm trying to educate myself about growing hay.

 

[littledog]

Zucchini patties? Shredded zucchini mixed with some egg and flour or cracker crumbs, then fried?

One of our friends here, wish I could remember who, shared a recipe for zucchini fritters a couple years ago, similar to what you describe. So good! I made some fritters, they were a big hit, then froze a bunch of containers of batter, and every so often I pull out a container from the freezer and fry up the fritters - delicious, and the batter stays perfect in the freezer.

 

[Sueby]

One of our friends here, wish I could remember who, shared a recipe for zucchini fritters a couple years ago, similar to what you describe. So good! I made some fritters, they were a big hit, then froze a bunch of containers of batter, and every so often I pull out a container from the freezer and fry up the fritters - delicious, and the batter stays perfect in the freezer.

I think @Wee Farmer Sarah has shared her fritter recipe here.

I have no zucchini this year, so sad, but I have a cucumber cake going in the oven. LOL! I have subbed cucumber for zucchini in bread before & it was fine, but this will be my first time trying it with cake. We shall see!

I refuse to waste anything I grow.

 

[WthrLady]

How big is that field? I'm just guessing by counting the fence posts, but about 3/4 acre? How much hay are you expecting this year, and compared to other years? Did you have to irrigate, and do you usually? Sorry to be so nosy, I'm trying to educate myself about growing hay.

3 acres
1st cut normally 80 bales second normally 20
This year 1st cut 41 bales, no second cut (3rd year of highest level of drought, we were expecting only 20 bales, but some rains came and added bulk to the field)
No irrigation

 

[littledog]

Last night I canned my first ever batch of tomato sauce. I left 1/4 in headspace as my recipe told me to, but it appears a tiny bit of sauce creeped out at some point. I took off my rings this AM & they were a little stuck. You can see the sauce on the lids & rings. All of the lids did seal though. I also cleaned each rim & top of jar before putting tops on. I did not over or undertighten either (I think). Is this ok?

I usually leave a bit more headspace, like 1/2". I also include a tsp of lemon juice per quart, to make sure my sauce is acidic enough to be safe in storage.
Sauce creeping out within the canner isn't a big deal though - you are safe as long as nothing is creeping in! Since your jars all sealed, good job and enjoy your sauce!

 

[Sammster]

So ~ I have these low-acid, Cream Sausage tomatoes that I started from seed. I had no idea how prolific they would be - or I'd have planted 1 - not 4. What in the world will I do with all these yellow tomatoes, with dozens still on the vines? Maybe I'll freeze dry them and layer them into lasagna, occasionally.

Been a great year for pickling cukes! I'm loving my GreenStalk gardens