What do you grow to feed the chickens??

[Arielle]

Would kale do well being planted while its hot and maturing when it starts to cool? It's 3 months til November. It MIGHT start to cool in October, if we're lucky. I do have some kale seeds. Would it survive the winter here, do you think? It gets quite cold at night sometimes and we get strong wind often.

In my LIMITED experience: Kale loves the cold, and it actually changes the flavor to a milder sweeter less cabaggy flavor when a good frost hits it. Takes a hard frost to kill it off. I'm braving collard greens this year just for that reason IF I can develop enough garden space.

Quote: Papaclark you only need to wait till they are big enough to slice up and cook 3-4 inches is a good size before they start to turn colors. I hope you enjoy them and a lot of people add a little pepper also.
Sounds like the way my mom served them.

THough green tomatos make good relishes too. or pickles.

 

[lazy gardener]

Does it mention how to keep the water from spoiling over time??

Water in rain barrels: for watering plants? Some folks put gold fish in the barrels. Keeps the water sweet, the fish eat the mosquito larvae, while fertilizing the water, making it better for plant growth. Though, I wouldn't know about that practice, since I've heard that it's not legal to keep gold fish outside.

If using water for human consumption, i'd put it through a home made filter using a 5 gal. bucket, with sand, charcoal, (and I'd also use the ?polyester stuff) that they use in aquarium filters. Then, to be on the safe side, I'd probably boil it.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: You are right that drinking water needs to be handled more carefully. Liquid chlorine or tablets can be used; but boiling would do just fine.

I bet goldfish rules vary. Iknow of several "ponds" that over winter goldfish. Fortunately if I ever had them here it is nearly impossible to get to a mojor waterway. Nearly. Perhaps adding vinegar might be practicle. IDK. It is like most things experience required to verify actualy methods.lol

 

[Arielle]

Fpund my one packet of seeds from BUrgess as everything else was bare root: Huckleberry Solarium guineese

 

[Mermaid909]

I'm envious  that yours fruits; we have a vining wild tpe but never see berries which is odd as the ones in Maine were the best ever.

What? No Eggs???

No eggs yet, but when they get older, I hope I get yummy eggs.

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote: Papaclark you only need to wait till they are big enough to slice up and cook 3-4 inches is a good size before they start to turn colors. I hope you enjoy them and a lot of people add a little pepper also.
Sounds like the way my mom served them.

THough green tomatos make good relishes too. or pickles.
I have never tried tomato pickles. How do you make them?

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Ahhh . . the waiting game. THe first eggs are thrilling!!

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Papaclark you only need to wait till they are big enough to slice up and cook 3-4 inches is a good size before they start to turn colors. I hope you enjoy them and a lot of people add a little pepper also.
Sounds like the way my mom served them.

THough green tomatos make good relishes too. or pickles.
I have never tried tomato pickles. How do you make them?
My mother would make them , some 30 years ago. So I dont have the recipes.

One was pickled tiny green tomatos-- and I only remember those because they were spicy hot and blew your socks off!!!

Generally I fish for recipes on line now-- like a sweet summer squash relish.

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote: Papaclark you only need to wait till they are big enough to slice up and cook 3-4 inches is a good size before they start to turn colors. I hope you enjoy them and a lot of people add a little pepper also.
Sounds like the way my mom served them.

THough green tomatos make good relishes too. or pickles.
I have never tried tomato pickles. How do you make them?
My mother would make them , some 30 years ago. So I dont have the recipes.

One was pickled tiny green tomatos-- and I only remember those because they were spicy hot and blew your socks off!!!

Generally I fish for recipes on line now-- like a sweet summer squash relish.
Ok, thanks. I thought I would try. I also look up a lot of recipes online.

 

[Arielle]

Ok, thanks. I thought I would try. I also look up a lot of recipes online.

I will try to remember to ask her when I see her this week. Though my impression from past conversations is that she has been cleaning out and tossing some recipes. Made me feel sad.