What did you do in the garden today?

[WthrLady]

Supposed to rain Sunday with the weather dropping like a lead weight afterwards. Highs will be in the mid-30s with lows in the teens. Tried to prep the garden accordingly. I rigged up some frost covers over my brassicas and lettuce. Hopefully it's sufficient to offer some protection.

My Ratinator also came today. I had it in the bachelor coop less than an hour, in the daytime, and already caught a rat! Hoping it catches a bunch of them tonight!

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They catch even more if you leave one in there, as the uncaptured ones have a fear of missing out and try even harder to get IN.
We have the squirrel and chipmonk version as well.

 

[TJAnonymous]

They catch even more if you leave one in there, as the uncaptured ones have a fear of missing out and try even harder to get IN.
We have the squirrel and chipmonk version as well.

Too late... I already disposed of the one I caught. Hoping to get a good catch overnight.

 

[Eagle343]

Had to work late, Drove home in snow, found at least 6in of snow on the drive. About all for today.

 

[karenerwin]

Do you treat your bees for mites? It has been mild so far. So not cold weather.

No, I have never treated for mites. My first year I had planned to but my mentor got too busy with her own bees and life and too be honest I am a bit afraid to try to treat them on my own ( other than using swiffer sheets, which I have tried). I have tried to find a different mentor but haven't had any luck. I even attend our local bee club meetings for a year.

 

[dirkandlorie]

Diddy squat in the garden. Well, I did look at it. It is winter with evening Temps below freezing. I can't stand it. On a positive note, we gain 1 minute of daylight each day since Dec 21st. I ache all over. Ache bad. Pain woke me up 4am. Thank goodness for heating pad, lower back & hip vibration to start the mornings.I'm back on prednisone...typical this time of year.

I see a few rodent holes in the ground around the garden & chicken coops. I put the Chickens & Pigeons in their coops & loft & shut the doors before dusk on my work break, but have window ventilation so no moisture builds up & water heaters for the waterers. I see the fox doing the "tilt head to listen then do a graceful swan dive pounce" routine to catch the mice & moles. Doesn't even try to dig into the flock's pens. You catch those rodents, you're a good little girl Foxy. I know...weird synergy right? I'm grateful.

It has been a brutal holiday season & I apologize for not being on here. I'm working, exhausted & lovely arthritis & fibromyalgia are kicking my butt, my blood levels are wonky but not much they can do, it is CLL from so much chemo 20 years ago, my new normal. That's not what's really got me in a funk though. My poor husband's family...his sister died Thanksgiving week & just a few weeks ago his brother had a 4th heart attack & a blood clot traveled to his brain giving him a serious inoperable stroke, so it has been a stressful, worrisome, depressing time the past 2 mos. Being seriously ill is 1 thing, but when someone you love is seriously ill & you are helpless to do anything, especially due to distance & struggling financially so you can't even go visit, well, it is just utterly sad & draining.

We all get to experience these things at some point in life. It is never easy. I am practicing my daily gratitudes to keep myself going, my own way of kicking myself in the butt, so I do not fall into depression. I am taking extra vitamin D, as I do miss the sunshine. I am grateful I have income, even though our hours have been cut, it could be worse. I am grateful the flock overall is doing well, winter losses so far have been few. I am grateful although I may be late with some bills, we are surviving, the ole heater still heats, the lights are still on, we do have food. I am grateful my truck hasn't broken down. I am grateful to be able to do my job. I am grateful to have love in my life, my man, good neighbors, friends, my flock & my fellow flock lovers here on this site, my Lord & the blessing of nature itself. I know I'm not alone in life's challenges. Thank you for listening.

 

[dirkandlorie]

Sending love and hugs your way! Sorry you're going through so much right now

 

[jerryse]

No, I have never treated for mites. My first year I had planned to but my mentor got too busy with her own bees and life and too be honest I am a bit afraid to try to treat them on my own ( other than using swiffer sheets, which I have tried). I have tried to find a different mentor but haven't had any luck. I even attend our local bee club meetings for a year.

You will likely never overwinter bees without treating for mites. Without a mentor YouTube is a good place to learn. My mentor was my dad. He got out of bees in 1964. No mites or hive beetles back then. I had to learn how to treat on YouTube. Formic Pro is an easy treatment that is honey safe. I use other treatments also.

 

[jerryse]

Some of you are in pain. I will share something that helps me. I have neuropathy in my toes. I started taking B1 250 mg twice a day. That helped. I then went to benfotiamine 300 mg twice a day. It is an oil soluble form of B1 that is better absorbed. As a side benefit my S I pain disappeared. B1 helps nerves heal.

 

[jerryse]

 

[Liz Birdlover]

Supposed to rain Sunday with the weather dropping like a lead weight afterwards. Highs will be in the mid-30s with lows in the teens. Tried to prep the garden accordingly. I rigged up some frost covers over my brassicas and lettuce. Hopefully it's sufficient to offer some protection.

My Ratinator also came today. I had it in the bachelor coop less than an hour, in the daytime, and already caught a rat! Hoping it catches a bunch of them tonight!

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I need one of those