What did you do in the garden today?

[fuzzi]

Well I decided to go ahead and dig up my dahlia bulbs since the chickens won't quit digging in that bed... I think I had somewhere between 10 - 15 starter bulbs in that bed last spring. Only found 3 or 4 big clusters and a few random single bulbs here or there. I think most of them rotted.... It was a smallish raised hugelkultur bed too... Oh well, lesson learned. I've got a couple of months to figure out a better place to put them.

I recall reading a hint about how to keep squirrels from digging up tulip bulbs: plant the bulbs but lay a piece of chicken wire over them. The bulb will sprout through the openings in the fencing, but the squirrels can't dig through. It might work for chickens.

 

[Birdsonghill]

Wow! I sure hope yours lasts more than 10 years though! What is an HVAC heat pack system? That seems like a crazy home expense, I don't envy you. Our new boiler has a life expectancy of 20-30 years & part of it has a lifetime warranty.

the "heat pack " is a combined hvac system with both AC and Gas furnace in a "package system" they call it in the trade. It is designed to sit on a pad outside the home/bldg. and connect to the duct air delivery system of the bldg.. Often used in homes converting their heat from old floor furnaces that have no basement and low overhead attic space. They do seem to wear out about every ten to fifteen years! Their cost has risen steeply in the last twenty years or so. They are a bit safer perhaps, due to being outside the bldg. ,so less fire hazard to structure and easy venting of exhaust .

 

[fuzzi]

I really want to get some cattle panels to make some permanent arches in my garden. Maybe hubby can borrow the company truck to bring them home...?

Ok, so I'm thinking 4-5 months in advance. What else can I do in January!

This guy is good. It was through his channel that I first read about Hugelkulture.

 

[Birdsonghill]

I recall reading a hint about how to keep squirrels from digging up tulip bulbs: plant the bulbs but lay a piece of chicken wire over them. The bulb will sprout through the openings in the fencing, but the squirrels can't dig through. It might work for chickens.

It works , we use to do that at a nursery I worked at to keep the squirrels from eating bulbs, tubers , corms and stuff like bottle brush buckeye seeds.

 

[fuzzi]

Amazing results! I'm taking VitaRaw Quercetin Zinc Bromelain; it contains the 5k D.

Agreed!

And I have energy to go outside after work and do stuff. I built my hoop coop last year after work and on weekends, took about 6 weeks:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/fuzzis-chicken-journal.1550586/post-26454653
@Sally PB here is how we transported cattle panels in a pickup truck.

 

[Nym]

Agreed!

And I have energy to go outside after work and do stuff. I built my hoop coop last year after work and on weekends, took about 6 weeks:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/fuzzis-chicken-journal.1550586/post-26454653
@Sally PB here is how we transported cattle panels in a pickup truck.

Wow - that is gorgeous! Amazing

 

[Birdsonghill]

I should of said it works for squirrels, all bets off on chickens. They will shred what ever grows through instead of damaging the bulb.

 

[akroberts1085]

Is anyone on here also on the easy garden site?

 

[TJAnonymous]

I should of said it works for squirrels, all bets off on chickens. They will shred what ever grows through instead of damaging the bulb.

I am planning on putting some decorative fencing around those beds to discourage the chickens and keep the goats from nibbling on the roses over there. Of course, the plan is in the spring.... The soil is soft and loamy so naturally the chickens want to dig through it every time I let them free range.... It just seemed safer to just pull them up until I can get some fencing up.

 

[chickengr]

I have had success with nasturtiums here in old zone 7b near the Mississippi River. Several varieties have done well started early and transplanted out and grown on a low trellis some reaching about 5 feet high. They bloomed well until the worst of the summer heat then suffered . So a early summer show then dwindling out.

they didn't live through summer but came back in september.