Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[irishrovr]

We've had our best luck with horse manure. We have very sandy gravely ground and could only grow thistles until I made raised beds of straight horse compost. Every third year we have to add new as weeds become uncontrollable although the first 2 we barely have to weed at all. I can ask my daughter as she's is going to college for horticulture and knows alot. She worked as greenhouse manager in high-school 4 years, currently works at Colonial Nursery in Ladysmith and is about to start her second year of college. Never knew a kid her age know so much about gardening. She's at work atm but I'll ask and get back.
Stacy

A friend and local organic farming guru uses goat puckie (I use horse puckie). He says the best way to get rid of all the weed seeds is to spread it out in the hot sun with black plastic over it. A few good, hot, sunny days, he says, bakes most of the seeds away. Once I get the gardens settled in I'll give that a try on the mounds of manure I'm composting for next year.

 

[unkadan]

if you turn the piles of manure in the first year as often as every 2 weeks that will keep the piles aerated and get it cooking, shoot for an internal temperature of 160º that will cook those weed seeds,,,,when the temp drops under 100º after a few turns then cover the pile to preserve the goodness until applied,,,,,horse manure is almost a perfect mix of browns and greens for composting,,,, been using it for years here

(the temp and turning for air holds true with any compost no matter what source of materials you use)

 

[Hens and Roos]

Nevermind, saved you the search.... here it is.....https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/590522/breeding-chart-not-complete-will-add-more
Check out #'s 5 and #7 on his list.

Really sad going to the peafowl threads... everyone misses him ! Ok, coffee break is over.... back to cleaning chick and duckling pens.....

thanks, I'll check it out. I had heard that he had passed away.

 

[vickiw]

I hear you on the slow part..... I need to put one of those slow moving vehicle signs on my Arse !!!  Days aren't long enough for me to get everything done, doesn't help getting up at 9am and sitting in front of the computer until 3pm... have to let the ambien wear off !!! lol  Guess it really doesn't matter cause if I jumped right out of bed and started getting busy i'd be bushed by 3pm or sooner...... All of you young guys wear me out just reading what you have accomplished before 9am !!! Oh and you to TO, Delisha and VickyW.....what vitamins are you on ???? LOL

I am on just about every vitamin there is!!! Fortunately that is one reason I actually survived till I was diagnosed!!! (By the time I was sick enough to stop denying anything was wrong I had zero immune system) stubborn Irish is not always a good thing I could use one of those signs on my rear bumper as well!!! My problem is I will get a little burst of energy, start a project and then force myself to keep going (the Irish again...'') then I can't move for two days, then I do it all over again

Remember I said I had xrays of my head? Well, on the way home my sweet hubby says to me " you need to call your children and tell them you just had your head examined!" And then cracks up .

Got a call earlier and my daughter and family are coming for a quick visit tomorrow from Illinois!!!e. Am I the only one that runs outside and checks to make sure my coop and garden looks good for company before checking the house???

 

[Angiebubs]

tru value usualy has stirup hoes. or a garden center, menards, ace, etc

 

[Bigfamily4me]

Am I the only one that runs outside and checks to make sure my coop and garden looks good for company before checking the house???

Why yes Vic.. I think you ARE the only one! I'm suprised you dont have fancy dress saddles for the girls when company visits!

 

[delisha]

Ok Delisha, I know someone asked what LABS were a few ago but it hasn't settled in my long term memory yet.... what is it? I know I should know this !!! Arghhh !!!

CC, still not sure what sex those dang lavender Orps are !!!! lol I checked and all of them seem to have a sprout on their legs where a spur would be.... but they all don't look like roosters soooooo back to the drawing board or the waiting game...... so so frustrating... not that it really matters but geez.... Maybe I'll have to introduce each one to my buff orp that for sure is a rooster. They are about the same age.


When I see the face off I'll know... or have a better idea !!! lol

Ok, now for real my coffee break is over. To the dump we go if ET put the battery back in the truck.... he took it out and put it in the tractor which is still not running right.... neighor thinks a valve may be stuck, other then needing a complete overhaul..
Don't know why he would take the battery out when he knows we need to use the truck.... Arghhh, now he'll Btch when I tell him we have 45 min to get to the dump !!

LABS-Lactic Acid Bacteria

This might help..this sight has a ton of information and it is compiled in an organized easy to read format.

I make my own using rice water and raw milk.
It is quite easy.
Next time you make rice, add additional water, and save that water..I like to have two cups extra
Measure it and add equal parts of raw milk in a glass container
Cover it with cheese cloth and a rubber band. Set it out at room temp out of direct sunlight
In two week you have made sort of a clump of cheese on top of your labs.
Take out the curds and feed them to the chickens(nice treat) I usually put a coffee filter in a strainer and drain out all the curds
The liquid is your LABS. Put it in a sealed container in your fridge.
ratio to use is 1000 to 1
That means for every capfull of labs you add 1000 cap fulls of water...you do the math..lol
I usually use a capful for every gallon of water.


http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/2013/03/benefits-of-fermenting-feed-for.html

Quote: I always do my kitchen last....lol..chickens first.

Am I the only one that runs outside and checks to make sure my coop and garden looks good for company before checking the house??? Why yes Vic.. I think you ARE the only one! I'm suprised you dont have fancy dress saddles for the girls when company visits!

She probably does

 

[judge]

Do any of you grow blueberries? Wondering how to add acid to the soil?

 

[judge]

Thanks for the wishes on my hatch. The eggs are just my own. I seem to have the best luck with them The daddy is part Ameraucana so I gurss they are EE's

 

[babylady4]

Irish, I would try Jack's Hardware downtown Waupaca (Tru Value) for a stirrup hoe. We had one when I was a kid and I thought it was the best tool ever. I need to get my hands on one (not like I have a garden worth using it in....) Everything is growing REALLY well here, I expect buds on the squashes pretty soon....

Getting excited about tomorrow!!!!! I hope I manage to do everything and NOT get hurt!

And of course, more slide show on the way.... I keep forgetting that all of you were having less than pleasant weather back here...

The family tradition of getting a pic done at Kepler Cascades...





The Cascades









Old Faithful....







One of the thermal pools at the site of Old Faithful.





I posted this pic to show the damage people have been doing to the pools. People have been throwing rocks into this one, causing the bacterial to dislodge and ruin the beauty.





Sawmill geyser. This thing was like the Energizer Bunny...... it never quit!











Fading Glory Pool.







Emerald Pool



Sunset Lake.



This is some of the runoff from the Grand Prismatic spring and the Excelsior Geyser.



The Grand Prismatic Spring. I wish they had an elevated walkway over this one.....





Turquoise Pool



The Excelsior Geyser



The Grand Tetons in the distance on our way out......



Batten down the hatches, another round of storms are making their way here. Everyone have a good evening!