What did you do in the garden today?

[TJAnonymous]

Years ago my father got a really bad case of poison ivy all over his body. He had to go to the doctor for stronger medication. The next year, he got some kind of a shot and never had a problem with poison ivy again.

My case of poison ivy was only on the lower half of my legs around my ankles above the sock line. And, a little bit on my hands. But I was able to prevent it from spreading and just treated it myself with creams and Band-Aids on the worst spots that I wanted to scratch. It did not stop from doing anything I wanted. But I'm glad all the itchy feeling is gone and don't want to get exposed again.

I have been wearing long pants the past few weeks, despite how hot it might get, because I am cleaning and clearing those areas that the poison ivy is growing. I'd rather sweat a load then to get reinfected. But it's nice to get some of those neglected areas looking better.

If I mow down the poison ivy, and keep that place mowed,, will the poison ivy die off in that area? I think so, but I'm not sure.

When I was a kid, I got poison ivy from going pee in a field. Never. Ever. Again.

 

[karenerwin]

My helper and I loaded the trailers full of mulch and then unloaded half of it on the paths at the Farm garden. It rained this morning while the weather reports told us it was a sunny, rain free day.
It was overcast almost all day with a cool 77 degrees for our high temperature.

 

[Smokerbill]

When I was a kid, I got poison ivy from going pee in a field. Never. Ever. Again.

Did you get a poison ivy rash where I think you did? Ouch!

 

[Smokerbill]

My garden looked pretty good today during the 101 degree temps. I guess my watering paid off.

 

[chickengr]

My view from the deck. Pic 1 parents old cabin, pic 2 cucumber bucket garden, pic 3 tomato getting lighter green and another view of the lake.View attachment 3608981View attachment 3608983View attachment 3608992View attachment 3608998

I am jealous

 

[gtaus]

View attachment 3610465View attachment 3610466
My helper and I loaded the trailers full of mulch and then unloaded half of it on the paths at the Farm garden. It rained this morning while the weather reports told us it was a sunny, rain free day.
It was overcast almost all day with a cool 77 degrees for our high temperature.

Sounds like you guys were having fun. Good for you!

I'm sure you could move all that mulch with a spade, but a fork would be so much easier. Something like this 5-tine fork...

I also move a lot of wood chips and compost with a 10-tine fork like this...

Looks like that young man was having a good time in that trailer. But I'm an old man and have learned that it's a lot easier on me moving compost with a fork. I did not have one fork before I got composting chickens and started making compost. I quickly learned that my trusty old spade was a lot of work moving mulch. That's when I started buying forks and they work much better for me. I have three, maybe four different forks now. Each one has an advantage over the others depending on the job at hand.

Dear Wife looks at my tools and has no idea why I have all kinds of shovels, forks, saws, pliers, hammers, etc... When I try to explain that each tool is specialized for certain tasks, she tunes me out and does not want to hear anything. She understands why a person needs more than one kind of screwdriver, flat head or Philips head, but that's about it.

Loved your utility trailer. Wish I had one like that. I do have "Gorilla" carts like the size in your picture, and one even bigger. I use my "Gorilla" carts all the time. 4 wheels are so much better than my old one-wheeled wheelbarrow.

I used to help my grandpa all the time when I was growing up. Those are still some of my best memories. Love to see kids out helping instead of sitting in the house playing games on a smartphone or game console. Life is so much better outside. Good for him.

 

[chickengr]

I wouldn't be surprised that in the not so distant future, everything will be delivered. Stores can hardly afford to keep operating as usual with all the theft going on.

That might be part of the reason so many places are pushing delivery; Walmart, grocery stores, etc. It is probably cheaper to deliver than to suffer all the in-store theft.

it is not only theft. paying rent, electricity bills, taxes, etc. forced many stores to close. at least that happens here.

 

[chickengr]

What do you use your cement mixer for?

I modified my cement mixer into a compost sifter to sift out black gold compost. So, my cement mixer is worth a lot to me. I also made my modifications so they could be reversed, and I would still have a fully functional cement mixer.

If you use your cement mixer for something other than cement mixing, I'd like to know what other things I could be doing with mine. I only sift compost a couple times a year, so I'm looking for addtional uses of my cement mixer. Thanks.

a friend of mine buys ingredients, vitamins, etc. and puts them in a cement mixer to make chicken feed.

 

[chickengr]

Definitely the two legged version. After they got all of their stuff moved in she realized she needed a bigger car. She went to the dealership today and upgraded to a bigger SUV. Two kids, two dogs and all their stuff. Yeah, she needed to do this.

congrats granny!

 

[fuzzi]

That's exactly what I was talking about. But I did not feel it was worth my time or effort to bake my chicken run compost to sterilize it, so I just bought some commercial sterile potting soil in a bag and used that. One bag was more than I needed this year, but next year I plan on starting more plants indoors.

I don't think Dear Wife would be very happy with me if she saw me baking chicken run compost in "her" oven. Game over for me at that point!

My mom used to bake soil to sterilize it for seed-starting. I was a young child, but remember how bad it stank.