Everything but the Tomatoes

     We've been eating peas, broccoli, carrots, potatoes, zucchini, cabbage and lettuce.  Just picked our first green beans and sweet corn.  Looks like tomatoes in the next few days.  Of course the pumpkins and winter squash won't be ready til fall.  All in all, it's been a good year.

A Few Tomatoes are almost ready

First Sunflower Bloom

Cabbage and Broccoli has been great!

Lots of nice tender young Carrots

Late Planting of Lettuce and Swiss Chard

Pumpkins still growing

Poultry Report

     I spent the last month remodeling the machine shed next to the granary into a poultry house for the guineas and the peacocks.  I still have more to do before winter, but Tuesday I moved the guineas in.  The peacocks will move in when they're a little older.  The big project is to build a sliding door with windows that will slide shut along the track above the opening in cold weather, and open for air circulation when it's warmer.  Repairing the broken siding on the granary and a little paint won't hurt it either.

Poultry House still needs work, but the Guineas were anxious to move in.

2 month-old Guineas: Spacious.  Let's check out the Corners.

Kinderpoult Room inside the Garden House

1 month-old Peachicks checking out the New Digs

Chickens Doing Fine

       Although everything is still running about 2 weeks behind, most things have done really well.  The cabbage, carrots, lettuces and broccoli have been super successes, the sweet corn, potatoes and onions have been okay, but not great yields   Egg production has been adequate but low. Losing chickens to varmits has been disappointing, but a part of life.  (When Skunk and I met in the Henhouse)  Still, as I walk out to gather eggs and feed the chickens, or pick the beans, I can't imagine a better way to spend my time.

Peachicks Arrive, Garden Still 2 Weeks Behind

3 day old peafowl

     On Sunday, Amber, grandson Alex and I made another trip to Sharon and Earl's farm to pick up our 3 baby peachicks.  Sharon and Earl are such nice folks and have such a pretty and picturesque farmstead. It's always a pleasure to visit.

The Guinea Choir

     It's been 3 weeks since we were there to pick up our 6 guinea fowl.  At 4 weeks of age you can see that they're already learning how to sing in a choir.

Our 2 Roosters watch over the remaining flock

      Of course we can't forget the chickens.  After the stress of losing 7 of their fellow hens to varmit violence, they seem to be recovering.  With the 10 remaining hens, we're coming back to 6 or 8 eggs on most days.

Other Garden News as of July 20

     We continue to run about 2 weeks behind due to the cold spring.  I know you're tired of hearing that, but I'm not complaining, it's just a fact.

East Garden Tomato and Pepper Patch

A Few Small Green Tomatoes

Tomato Cage Factory

     A roll of woven wire fence that I got from a friend who was cleaning up an empty lot makes better tomato cages than the commercial ones I bought previously.  Cost a lot less too.

Home made Cage in Use

South Garden, Cabbages, Broccoli and Sweet Corn

     No flowers on the broccoli yet, but cabbage heads are beginning to form and the corn is beginning to tassel.

New Garden Cart in front of Beets and Beans

     I made my new garden cart out of  a discarded gas grill.  I just removed the grill portion and added a platform on the bottom to hold a sack of compost, and a box on the front to hold small tools and seeds.  The long handled tools are held in place with the same holder that formerly held the gas bottle in place.  Whatever the project may be, I just load up with what I plan to use, a few things I might use, push the igniter button to get me going and the job gets done in half the time.
     The beets are almost ready, but the beans haven't blossomed yet.  The pumpkins and sunflowers in the back have a ways to go.

3 Sisters with Arugula in Front

      The 3 sisters, corn, beans and squash, have a ways to go.  The arugula in front is something I just discovered this year.  It's easy to grow and a few leaves added to a salad, a sandwich or a stirfry, adds a little peppery seasoned taste that just makes life a little nicer.  If you see me in your neighborhood next year with a sack on my shoulder and throwing something in your yard, you'll know it's just Johnnie Arugulaseed, adding a little spice to life.

     It's often the little easy things you can do that make the biggest difference.

Guinea Keets Arrive, and Deer for Dinner

     For some time Amber has been singing the praises of Guinea fowl.  They announce the arrival of visitors (or intruders) with their "goodle goodle" cry and they wander about the yard devouring insects and weed seeds, without doing significant damage to the flowers and plants.  We have enough ants, woodticks and other insects to keep them happy for a long time.  They also produce eggs at almost the rate of regular laying hens.  Though the eggs are about half the size of regular chicken eggs, they are edible and good for home use.

Guinea Keets about a week old

     A while back, Amber's friend Sharon told her that she had some excess guinea keets available.   Last Tuesday Amber, my grandson David and I made a field trip to Sharon and Earl's farm near Shevlin to pick up some week-old guinea keets.  We decided 6 was a good number to start with.

Compost sifter on top keeps them from jumping out

     Before we brought them home, I had fashioned a nursery for them out of a cardboard box, which I set on the porch.  We already had a feeder, waterer and a heat lamp, but were told we needed a cover because they can easily jump out of the box, even when they're that young.

     The cover shown in the picture is a homemade compost sifter; a wooden frame with chicken wire nailed to one side.

     In two or three weeks, they'll be moving out to their new home, a four by twelve foot section of the garden house, formerly used as a chicken house before we enlarged our chicken flock.  None too soon, as I understand the peacocks are about a week away from hatching on Sharon and Earl's farm.  Amber and I were both eyeing them longingly while we were there, and they'll be ready for transport about a week after hatching.

Our Dinner Guest

Sunflowers for Dinner

     We had Deer for dinner Friday night.  Not as a main course, but as a guest.  You can see from the pictures that he ate his fill, and then left his calling card, so I would know he was here.

With a Side Dish of Tomato Leaves

     Friday at dusk when I went out to close up the chicken coop, I saw a deer standing in our garden.  It was my own fault as I had left the garden gate wide open.  He left as soon as he saw me, without a thank you or a fare thee well.  Like some other unwelcome guests, he left a mess behind.  

Deer's "Business Card"

     I think these plants will recover as long as they don't get attacked again.  Last year the chickens ate almost all the leaves off my young cabbage, but they recovered and produced a fine crop of cabbages. I'll try to keep the gates closed, and may try some of the garlic,cayenne,soap mixture that I use as a spray for cabbage worms.  It sounds like something that might keep other unwanted guests away.

Skunk and Me

     I haven't seen any evidence of Skunk since we last met in the chicken house about a week ago.  Maybe he heard that I bought a 22, and decided to cross us off his nightly hunting route.  At any rate, I'll be watching for him.

     I don't know who our next guest may be, but let's remember in this hot weather to keep our animals watered and our powder dry.

When Skunk and I Met in the Henhouse

     Monday night at dusk, about 9 PM, I went out to close the henhouse.  As usual, I first closed the north door from the outside, then went into the coop from the west.  The chickens were all on their roosts, but walking on the floor below them, looking up, was Mr. Skunk.  I told him he wasn't welcome, and should leave, but I don't think he was listening.  I went outside, re-opened the north door so he would have 2 exits available, and quickly returned with a stick in my hand.  I threw the stick at him, which got his attention.  He looked at me, but even after I told him again, he refused to leave.

Scene of the Skirmish (after window reenforcement)

     I left to get another diplomatic tool, my air rifle, and quickly returned with rifle in hand.  It isn't powerful enough to kill, but could offer further encouragement for him to leave.  When I returned, he was gone.  No chickens were lost, and there were 3 eggs from late afternoon that were unharmed.

     2 weeks ago, there were broken windows in the coop.  As it was summer, and we hadn't had trouble for several years, I put off the repairs while I worked on other projects.  After I lost seven hens over a period of a few days, I repaired the windows and started closing up the coop at night. That stopped the mass killings, but I didn't know until Monday night what kind of predator I was dealing with.

Tweety is stationed on the South Fence

Battle Plans

Buckethead guards the North Perimeter

     Pictured on the right are two of the sentries who have been rather successfully guarding the main garden for several years. However, they have their hands and talons full protecting the tomatoes and the carrots. Buckethead has some effect on the North side of the henhouse, but is in need of re-enforcements.

Left to right: Peekachu and Charmander, new recruits

     Below that are two new recruits, coming out of retirement from the back of the garden shed. They will be stationed on the north side and the south side of the henhouse.  Almost 20 years ago, I cut them out of plywood and Amber painted them.  Their previous employment was to entertain my youngest son, Jeremiah, when he was going through his Pokeman phase.  I believe that qualifies them for their new mission.



     I hope that Skunk becomes discouraged and takes us off the route for his nightly hunt, but we will remain vigilant.  I also plan to buy a 22 rifle.  I don't wish to kill Skunk, but if it comes down to him or the chickens, we must act.

     30 years ago I shot a skunk next to my house and thought nothing of it.  He was just a varmit. Today I know that all God's critters have a reason to be.  If I do kill Skunk, I won't regret it, but I will respect him in his passing as a worthy opponent.

Midsommer

     Thanks to my grandson Al for the beautiful photo of Amber's garden in front of our house, and thanks to Amber for making it happen.

Amber's Garden:  Thanks for the Photo, Al.

     Every year in the spring, Amber makes hanging baskets that bloom throughout the summer and early fall to compliment whatever other perennials that are in their season.  This year there are five baskets hanging along the front of the house.

One of the five hanging baskets Amber made this spring next to the wild roses in full bloom

Vegetable Garden, Blame it on the Weather

     Here it is, only one week left in June, and everything is way behind schedule in the vegetable garden.  I guess I'll keep blaming the cold, wet spring for the rest of the year.  The cabbages don't look too bad, the broccoli is a little spindly, and the corn will have to concentrate to be knee high by the fourth of July. 

South Garden: Cabbages and Broccoli with corn in the back.

The Cutworm Cometh

     I used to cut both ends out of a tin can and put it around each tomato when I planted it to protect it from the cutworm. For the last few years I haven't done that, and I paid the price this year.  They just eat the stem next to the ground and move on to the next one.  After losing about a third of my plants, I put cardboard collars around the stems of the survivors and replanted.  I still have high hopes for a descent crop.

East Garden: Tomatoes and Peppers off to a slow start.

Taters and Peas

Potato and Pea Patch in the East Central Garden

    I planted three kinds of potatoes in the potato patch.  The red potatoes in the front were from last year's potatoes.  Rejects that were still in the bin this spring because they were only an inch to an inch and a half in diameter, and no one wanted to peel them.  The sprouts on them were all longer than the potato itself.  I wasn't sure how they'd do, but they look like they're doing OK.  I saw a flower bud on one of them yesterday.
     I bought seed potatoes for the Yukon Gold in the middle and the Kennebec in the back., which I planted in late May, about 4 weeks later than the red potatoes.  The Kennebec look fine, but the Yukon Gold is not progressing as well.
     In the middle, I planted peas next to the sunflower stalks from last year.  I figured I wouldn't have to build a support for them to climb on like I've done in previous years.

Siesta Time

     More on the other gardens and crops in a future post, but it's time for a break under shaded awning in front of the garden shed.  I have plans for the future to contemplate.

Shaded Break Room

Future Expansion to the North

Me and the Garden, We're Both Running on Slow

     I don't know if it's because of the weather, distractions from other projects or if I'm just groggy after waking from last winter's nap, but the garden is off to a slow and jerky start.  Except for a few warm days it's been a lot cooler than usual for this time of year.  I didn't keep very good records this spring either.

As Near As I Remember

Around April 1st,  I started lettuce and spinach in boxes in the greenhouse.  The spinach is OK, but the lettuce came up very sparse.  They're both coming slower than they should.

Mid-April,  I started a number of plants in the house.  The tomatoes are doing well, some of the pumpkins   and broccoli are OK, but the watermelon, squash and cabbage just didn't make it.

Spinach in a movable box

     In late April, I started planting cold weather crops directly in the garden.

About April 20th,  Planted French breakfast radishes, Spanish onions, carrots, red potatoes and garlic.  The  radishes sprouted about 2 weeks ago, the others are just now starting to sprout, one month later.

Around May 1st,  Moved the boxes of lettuce and spinach outside and planted some more.

About May 10th, planted peas, both little marvel and edible pod

About May 20th, more carrots, white onion sets, Detroit red beets and potatoes, Yukon and kennebec.

Mid-May, the 18 hens started laying regularly and we're getting about a dozen or so eggs a day.

Coming Soon, Lord Willing and the Creek Don't Rise

     That's about where we're at right now.  Hopefully soon both me and the soil will warm up, wake up and get busy.  May 21st the moon entered the last quarter, so it's time to go outside and clean up the weeds in the flowers and strawberries and any place else I find 'em.  In about a week with the new moon I should be planting some more salad crops and some corn.  In two weeks with the second quarter the beans and maybe a few other things will go in.  With the frost danger gone, and the full moon about the second week in June, I should be able to transplant the tomatoes into the garden.  During this time, I'll probably be buying some other plants, like cabbage, watermelon and squash to replace the ones that didn't make it under my grow lights in the house.

     You can see if it wasn't for my Lunar Calendar, I wouldn't get anything done.  Happy gardening, and may the sun and the moon shine down brightly on your lives.  

Ahhhh Spring 2014

     Friday the temperature finally got up to 50 degrees F, and Saturday went over 65.  Two days ago I hit frost with the spading fork at a depth of 3 inches, while today it went down to at least 8 inches.  Deep enough to do some tilling anyway.  Pictured below is the Central Garden.  The hoops on the right are 10 foot sections of conduit pipe marking the ends of a shelter that will cover some early plantings of carrots, onions and radishes that will be planted within the next couple of days before the last moon quarter starts.  More conduit pipes will be installed every 2 or 2 1/2 feet between these hoops, which will then be covered with plastic to warm the ground.  The whole structure is designed to be easily moved, so as the weather warms, it can be used with less hardy plants like tomatoes after these hardier plants can go it on their own.
     The Sunflower stalks in the center and on the left in front of the barn were left from last year, and I hope to use them as supports when I plant peas and pole beans later on.  I left some corn stalks standing in the East Garden for the same reason.

Mother Nature Gives Us Our Tools

     When one of our Black Spruce trees fell over in a windstorm about 2 years ago, it left this exposed but well anchored root in our grove.  And so nature gave us our perfect conduit bender.

Conduit Bender

Conduit Bender in Action

Grow Light in the Basement

     These are the tomatoes I started in flats on March 14, and transplanted to pots on April 18.  Burpee Heirloom Brandywine Red on the right with Ferry-Morse Abe Lincoln Heirloom and American Seed Large Red Cherry behind them.  Barely visuable in the rear are the Broccoli and Cabbage started on April 5.

     Planted on April 12, some not yet sprouted pumpkin, squash, cucumber and watermelon are still sitting on the dining room table upstairs.

Poultry Palaver

     Our 19 hens and 2 roosters are enjoying the spring weather.  During the last quarter of the moon is a good time for cleanup.  As the last quarter starts on Wednesday, I plan to do the spring cleaning in the chicken coop.  With clean straw, a change in diet from corn to laying mash, worms, insects and greens, the eggs should start rolling in.

Scratchin' and a Diggin'

Goin' out for our Morning Constitutional

      According to meteorologic records we've had colder winters, but I don't remember any of them.  It seems like my bones froze up in November, and I haven't felt really warm until today.  But spring brings us a new life, a new beginning.  We look forward to new experiences and new friends while we treasure our old wins and losses, and old friends as jewels in our crown.