What did you do in the garden today?

[TJAnonymous]

Never thought about growing hops... Hmm. I have tried to add things that bring value from a food or fuel perspective. I've added fruit and nut trees. Also some flowering trees for pollinators. Last year I got some honey mesquite seeds but the drought we had killed that seedling. I have more started which I'm hoping to transplant in the spring.

I just have to be careful about putting out anything that is toxic to horses or other livestock.

 

[fuzzi]

I think I broke my littlest toe this morning. It hurts way, way more than last time thought I might have broken it. Both times, I kicked chair legs as I walked past.

It is warm, dry, and sunny out - almost certainly the last nice day before winter. The forecast is cold, wet, and nasty starting tonight.

I really wanted to get all the outside winterizing things done today. Or, at the very least, put back all the supplies I pulled out of the coop yesterday - cleaning it and getting ready to winterize it.

It took a LOT longer than it otherwise would have but I got the essentials of the coop done: windows in, pool noodles blocking the eaves - leaving only the open side and ridge vent still open.

It was when I started to put the supplies back that I just couldn't do any more. Then I tried to rest it, elevate it for a while and it just keeps getting worse. I can't bear to touch it to the ground now.

Thankfully, dh took a half day today. He will put it all back. I feel bad about; I didn't need clean as thoroughly as I did, I should have just shifted enough to get to the windows. His good attitude about it makes appreciate him soooo much.

And we were going to clean the gutters, get the rest of the leaves off the lawn, store the window screens, burn debris from the garden. We hope burning the debris will mean healthier plants next summer.

It is what it is.

I've done that, broken my small toe. I usually put a cotton ball or square of gauze between the small toe and the one next to it, then tape them together with medical tape (I like paper tape the best).

If you've not done so yet, I'd recommend you elevate and ice it. Sorry.

 

[fuzzi]

We had a mild day so I decided to work on the new raised beds. I'd prepared the ground and started the set up last week.

With help I brought the other raised bed kit out to the location.

I added the additional boards and posts so the beds are 14" tall.

I tried to level the beds and the ground inside.

One of our strays was very interested.

I placed sheets of cardboard in the bottom of the beds, then started adding wood and other debris to start the Hugelkulture process.

I'll add more wood later, that was the limit of my work on the beds today.

I have another bed planted with collards and leaf lettuce. I put a row cover on top to keep the lettuce from frost damage, but it was inhibiting the plants growth.

So I placed my cattle panel trellises over the beds and added the cover.

Pansies are blooming!

 

[gtaus]

I think I broke my littlest toe this morning. It hurts way, way more than last time thought I might have broken it.

If you've not done so yet, I'd recommend you elevate and ice it. Sorry.

Yes. If you are treating your injury at home, then RICE may help.

Staying off your feet as much as possible and icing down that toe might relieve some pain. Hope you have some comfortable shoes to wear for a while. Not the time to wear high heels!

 

[fuzzi]

Yes. If you are treating your injury at home, then RICE may help.

View attachment 3701135
Staying off your feet as much as possible and icing down that toe might relieve some pain. Hope you have some comfortable shoes to wear for a while. Not the time to wear high heels!

Nurse advice!

 

[gtaus]

We had a mild day so I decided to work on the new raised beds...

Looking great!

 

[TJAnonymous]

Anyone willing to make a pact in regards to the Baker Purple Galaxy tomato? I did put my name on the wait list for it... If I happen to be one of the lucky few who scores a seed packet, I am willing to share with anyone else who is also on the wait list if you are willing to reciprocate? Any takers?

 

[saysfaa]

Turns out that about half the websites say to tape a broken toe to the next toe and about half say to not do that. Evidently, that works well for fingers but not so much for toes.

For example, Cleveland Clinic says not to tape it or ice it. They say the usual treatment for a simple fracture of the 4th or 5th toe is a fracture boot. The unbending sole is the important part.

Well, I'm not touching it enough to tape it. Not tonight, anyway. <<<shudder>>>

And I have a medical boot and crutches so I'll try that and elevating as much as possible at least until Monday. Assuming it continues to look like the bones are where they should be. By then, it should either continue to hurt this much if it is broken or not nearly as much if it isn't broken.

It is best to have it checked if it is broken, even if it stays looking like it is aligned.

No chance of high heels. i don't own any.

 

[Acre4Me]

Hello to all you gardeners!

just starting to look at seed catalogs for next years crop.

anyone grow hops here? my father got into beer brewing and was thinking of trying my hand at growing some hops for the fun of it, am in zone 3a or 3b (depending if i plant them where i live or where i farm and have honey bees)

Interesting. Not sure about the cold zone or how long their season is. But, they are typically grown on strings, and they get very tall, but like a vine or pole bean.

 

[Nym]

I'm going to try this for me and the chooks.

I ordered some higher dose ashwagandha supplements (3000mg) from amazon. The ones that I got from my local store only has 125mg, but I can feel some benefits, so I want to try the higher dose ones. This is what my A1 copilot found for me:

Ashwagandha is a herb that has been used in Ayurveda, the traditional system of medicine in India, for thousands of years. It has many health benefits, such as:

• Reducing stress and anxiety. Ashwagandha is an adaptogen, which means it helps the body cope with stress. It can lower the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, and improve the mood and mental performance of people who are stressed or anxious12.
• Improving athletic performance. Ashwagandha can enhance the physical strength, endurance, and muscle mass of athletes. It can also reduce the muscle damage and inflammation caused by exercise and speed up the recovery process13.
• Boosting testosterone and fertility. Ashwagandha can increase the levels of testosterone, the male sex hormone, and improve the sperm quality and quantity of men who have low fertility. It can also improve the sexual function and satisfaction of both men and women14.
• Lowering blood sugar and fat. Ashwagandha can help regulate the blood sugar levels and improve the insulin sensitivity of people who have diabetes or prediabetes. It can also lower the levels of triglycerides, the most common type of fat in the blood, and prevent the accumulation of fat in the liver and abdomen15.
• Reducing inflammation and pain. Ashwagandha can modulate the immune system and suppress the production of pro-inflammatory substances, such as cytokines and prostaglandins. It can also relieve the pain and stiffness of people who have arthritis, rheumatism, or other inflammatory conditions1 .
• Enhancing memory and cognition. Ashwagandha can protect the brain cells from oxidative stress and degeneration, which are linked to aging and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. It can also improve the memory, attention, and learning abilities of healthy people and those who have cognitive impairment1 .
• Improving sleep quality. Ashwagandha can induce a state of relaxation and calmness, which can help people fall asleep faster and sleep longer. It can also reduce the symptoms of insomnia, such as difficulty falling asleep, waking up during the night, and feeling tired in the morning1 .

These are some of the proven benefits of ashwagandha, based on scientific research. However, more studies are needed to confirm the optimal dosage, form, and duration of ashwagandha supplementation for different health conditions. If you want to learn more about ashwagandha, you can check out some of the web search results that I found for you.

I love the Ayuvedic system and have used ashwagandha on / off for some years now.