What did you do in the garden today?

[WthrLady]

another day of feeling like well over 110'F. The winds are still howling to 50. I live in a convection oven. The evaporation levels are insane. Watering twice a day is must to to break even.

The 2 month old pullets are free-ranging all day as are the big girls and the roos. They just stay out of each others way at this point. They have acres and acres to do it. I caught one of the roos taking a nap in the chick's grow out pen the other day- the perfect mix of sun, shade, and QUIET! LOL. The littles were perplexed, but just popped in and out of the house around him. Kind of like if grandpa came to visit, but fell asleep in the lazy-boy.

 

[Molpet]

another day of feeling like well over 110'F. The winds are still howling to 50. I live in a convection oven. The evaporation levels are insane. Watering twice a day is must to to break even.

The 2 month old pullets are free-ranging all day as are the big girls and the roos. They just stay out of each others way at this point. They have acres and acres to do it. I caught one of the roos taking a nap in the chick's grow out pen the other day- the perfect mix of sun, shade, and QUIET! LOL. The littles were perplexed, but just popped in and out of the house around him. Kind of like if grandpa came to visit, but fell asleep in the lazy-boy.

My cousin cut the hay yesterday in this heat. They are in their late 70s

 

[MotherofOrpies]

I am sooo behind, still got 21 baby chickens ( turned 4 weeks on Wednesday) and a wedding to prepare, peach tree is so full I am afraid the branches are going to snap off, mulberries are ripe and falling the red currants got picked by friends ( I am not a fan) and the rest went to the chickens, plums are still green, my yellow cherries aren’t ripe yet, since they are yellow, the birds don’t see them as cherries the gooseberries are almost ripe, my cabbage is coming along nicely, just like my chilis, my tomatoes aren’t ripe yet late, haven’t had a tomato yet ( except the one I bought with tomatoes already hanging)

I had 2 physalis salplings, I gave one to a friend who has a greenhouse, it exploded there and has taken it over, already has physalis hanging , mine dwandled in a pot until I finally had consumed enough radishes to put it in the raised bed, it has come along , but no fruits yet, and hasn’t taken over the raised bed either
And, I can’t believe I am writing this! I am running out of stinging nettles!!! I am sorry I pulled so many out! The baby chickens are gobbling them up faster than they grow I have now advertised that I am looking for extra to feed my babies, as I said, 21 baby chickens consume a LOT of food

 

[WthrLady]

My cousin cut the hay yesterday in this heat. They are in their late 70s

Around here, they did second cutting alfalfa Friday morning. It's still too early for the first hay cutting, which usually goes the last week of June at the earliest for horse quality hay. Usually, it's the first or second/3rd week of July, so we can maybe get a second cutting in early September.
We have high rain chances for the next three days, so it wasn't feasible anyway to even attempt haying in this.
PLUS we do small bales, which requires manual stacking at the end, and doing that in a heat index of 110 is downright stupid. PLUS it's day 3 of that weather which means cutting, turning, and raking for HOURS in that heat too. NOPE.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

My husband is baling hay today. Weather station outside says feels like 103'F. His phone stopped working yesterday so I'll have to go check on him in an hour and a half or so.

 

[MotherofOrpies]

What does everyone do with their kale?

I tried some of the smaller leaves off mine today. I was going to use it in salad initially but now that I’ve had it raw I’m thinking cooking it with some garlic and butter might be better, it tastes like slightly-more-bitter broccoli.

Also how well does it freeze? Would I be better off dehydrating it for long term storage?

You can also toss it lightly with oil , salt and crisp them in the oven and eat them as healthy chips alternative

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

What does everyone do with their kale?

I tried some of the smaller leaves off mine today. I was going to use it in salad initially but now that I’ve had it raw I’m thinking cooking it with some garlic and butter might be better, it tastes like slightly-more-bitter broccoli.

Also how well does it freeze? Would I be better off dehydrating it for long term storage?

It’s always better cooked with bacon and onion. If you pick the young, tender leaves they are not bitter and are quite tasty raw. Also the tender leaves are really good mixed with apple slices.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

No real garden work today. Too hot. We were treated to a little drink of sky water this morning. About 1/8 inch. I did manage to get the last of the backyard mowing finished up yesterday. Today may be the first day of our heat wave. I did check on the garden up the hill. Everything is doing well especially the grape vines. The smaller bed with peas growing is starting to produce blooms. I’m looking forward to planting something else in there after the peas. GK’s coming over later. We’ll be making personal pizzas with lots of fresh toppings. I’m baking the home made crusts in my ninja oven then letting the kids create their own fresh ingredient topped pizzas.

 

[jerryse]

I think I am done outside for the day. My mind says go out late,

but my body will say no. Too humid early and them too hot later. I fertilized some things with fish fertilizer. Planted my okra starts. Squash vines are starting to run. No sign of squash pests yet.

 

[Molpet]

Around here, they did second cutting alfalfa Friday morning. It's still too early for the first hay cutting, which usually goes the last week of June at the earliest for horse quality hay. Usually, it's the first or second/3rd week of July, so we can maybe get a second cutting in early September.
We have high rain chances for the next three days, so it wasn't feasible anyway to even attempt haying in this.
PLUS we do small bales, which requires manual stacking at the end, and doing that in a heat index of 110 is downright stupid. PLUS it's day 3 of that weather which means cutting, turning, and raking for HOURS in that heat too. NOPE.

They also do small squares with old equipment. The baler shoots it into the hayrack and then hand stacked on rack and start up baling again. Their retired son helps too.