Week-end Family Visit

     We had a wonderful time visiting with Cathy and Savannah this week-end.  Savannah helped harvest some sweetcorn, potatoes and carrots to take home.

     Hopefully we'll have some pumpkins and acorn squash for them when they come on their next visit this fall.

     I think the family I raised came out much better than any of my gardens.  Of course that's because Amber helped me more with the family than she did with the gardens.

Greenhouse and Watering Sytem Update

     In my previous post on August 10 (Click here), I showed my initial plans for the greenhouse and watering system.  I've concentrated mostly on the greenhouse, as I would like to use it this fall.  The watering system is not as pressing, as I won't be using it until after spring planting.  Nevertheless, here's where I'm at now.

 Greenhouse

     The framing of the greenhouse will be complete with a few more hours of work, but it's too hot to continue this afternoon.  Besides that, my daughter and granddaughter are here for a visit.  I'll probably continue on Monday, after they've returned home.  It's been a slow process trying to make sure the spacing is correct for the panels I have.  Whenever I make a wrong cut, which tends to happen every hour or two, I take a coffee or beer break until my brain clears.  2 beer breaks signals the end of that day's activity.  I should still be able to finish before first frost comes, though I hate to set deadlines.
     Notice the steep pitch of the roof.  Remember that I got the metal framing from a greenhouse that collapsed under the weight of snow on the roof.  I shouldn't have that problem here.

     This shows the current location in the garden, but it's designed to be easy to move, so it will change location from time to time.

 

Water Reservoir and Distribution System

     This is the beginnings of my water holding and distribution system.  No rain gutters are installed yet, but the pool sits under a 6 foot section of the barn roof, and the 1/2 inch of rain we received on August 15, resulted in 2 1/2 inches of water in the wading pool/duck pond/water reservoir.  The rain gutters and additional water storage will probably wait until spring.

     The drain plug at the bottom of the pool is connected to a hose that comes out by the edge of the barn door.

     I tested it out by watering the corn patch a few days after the rainfall.  I still have to figure out how I can get even distribution with the least effort, but I'm not going to worry too much about that until next growing season.

In Other News

     This is the only surviving sunflower after the chicken attack this spring.  They truly loved those freshly planted sunflower seeds.  I put in a hill of pumpkins to take up the space.

A lonely sunflower

     Amber made the best cole slaw out of one of the cabbages today.

Cole slaw and cooked cabbage. Mm-Mm

     Black tomatoes.  They're still hard yet, but should be ripe before frost.  Thanks Gerry and Teri for the plants.  We've gotten about 20 red tomatoes from the Early girl and Roma tomatoes, but they've been small, maybe 2 to 2 1/2 inches in diameter.  The Better Boy tomatoes are still green.

Indigo Rose Tomatoes

     The broccoli is done now, (I think) but it was good.  As we didn't have big production, we usually mixed it with beans and/or peas when they were in season.

Broccoli and late planted corn

     I've only picked 2 ears of corn so far, but we will have a bunch for tomorrow to share with Cathy and Savannah who are visiting this week-end.

Early corn, second picking tomorrow

Poultry Report

     My two setty hens didn't have any chicks.  They each tried on two different sets of eggs, but none hatched.  Our rooster seems to have relationship problems.  It's late in the year, so we'll probably wait until next year to try again.  I think we'll also buy a new rooster next year.
     Comments or suggestions?  Post a comment below.

Plans for Fall, Greenhouse and Watering System

     As I sit in the shade of the boxelder tree contemplating next year's garden, my mind often drifts over a number of things.  Lately, it's been a greenhouse and a rainwater collection and distribution system.

Greenhouse

    I have enough space in the house to start plants in the spring, but when re-potting time comes in April, finding space for these plants has been a challenge.
     2 years ago, I acquired the remains of a small greenhouse that had collapsed under a heavy snow load.  There were a number of bent and broken pieces, but some of the framing is still good and I have 18 panels 77" by 23", 4 panels 68" by 23", 2 doors 32" by 76", and a number of smaller pieces.  With these and a little lumber I am hoping to build a 6 foot by 8 foot greenhouse to put in the space between Missouri and Illinois.  I would also like to make it moveable so that once a year or so when I get a big load of manure, or if I need access behind the barn for bigger equipment, it can be moved out of the way.  I hope to have it ready by this fall's frost so I can save a few tomato plants, and maybe grow some greens for later in the year.

Rainwater System

      I mulch a lot, so the need for watering is reduced.  However, this year and all past years when I've felt the need for watering, I've used well water.  Besides the use of electricity to pump the water, cold well water is not as good for plants as warm rainwater.  For collection of rainwater, I've been thinking of installing new rain gutters on the front of our house, so would be able to collect rain from half of our roof, an area of about 420 square feet.  One and a half inches of rain should produce about 400 gallons of water, which is enough to put a half inch of water over the entire 1200 square foot garden.  If next year I decide I need more, I can put rain gutters on the south side of the barn, close to 1200 square feet, which would almost triple the amount collected.  For holding tanks, I have a 4 foot by 5 foot children's wading pool, most recently used as a duck pond, that holds about 125 gallons, and an old satellite dish, most recently used as a goose pond, that holds about 200 gallons.  We no longer have geese or ducks, but I could set one of the pools in the chicken yard, in case we ever do get waterfowl again.  The other will be an elevated water feature in the Alaska area, which is the highest spot in the garden.
     For distribution in the garden, I've done some experimenting with holes drilled in PCV pipe that should work out.  I'll have to do some more tests because of the low pressure of gravity feed, but I'm sure it will work out.   PCV pipe is quite inexpensive. about $2 per 10 foot section.
     With a little luck, my initial investment will be only a few dollars for hose fittings, and maybe $30 to $40 for lumber for the greenhouse.  First frost will be coming in about a month, a little later if I'm lucky, so I better get to work.  I hope my results look better than my "artist's conceptions."
     Any helpful suggestions or comments, please click on "comments" below, or e-mail me at bemidjidavid@gmail.com.
    

Bemidji Walks

     My daughter and my two grandchildren came to visit for a few days.  It's always great to see them.  We just sent them home with a couple dozen eggs and about 5 pounds of Yukon gold potatoes.  I was hoping our sweet corn would be ready before they left, but not quite.  We did, however, eat up all the broccoli, green beans and asparagus that was ready while they were here.
     My daughter went for a walk on the pathways near the downtown area of Bemidji and painted several area scenes.  I especially liked the ones by the lake between downtown and the campus of Bemidji State University.  Check them out at her website, T Nara paintings and drawings, Bemidji walks