Chic Rustler
Super Self-Sufficient
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I'm just wondering what's actually coming up in mine. no planning this year. just through it in. 
Frustratedearthmother's Journaling Journey
- Thread starter frustratedearthmother
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flowerbug
Sustainability Master
it is ok to have a more random approach, as long as you don't expect it to look neat/tidy. i actually prefer the look as to me it looks more like what a field/meadow would look like. the fun begins when you start harvesting. because you pretty much have to either just be happy with what you get in that moment or you have to start traipsing through the field and to see what is ready, but it does teach you a great deal, like what plants will grow together at what spacings, how to keep beneficial bugs happy, diversity in planting, cover cropping, pest management, weed control and patience.
to me the really nice thing about it is that it really just shows you that sometimes you don't have to be that picky and you can still have some great results, but you might have to ignore the things around those great results which didn't do much because they were overgrown, diseased, animal chewed, ...
i've gotten some huge turnips out of my green manure patch, i didn't even eat them, the much smaller ones are easier to cope with/clean up and cook. i know people who eat turnip greens, i've not been able to do that. easy as all heck to grow though. the worms eat them though, that's what i primarily grow them for as a cover crop along with the diakon radishes that help bust some deep holes down into the clay. deer eat them in the winter if they're desperate. i like them when they are first sprouting as a green - much more than i like the radishes. in an emergency rations type of food they'd probably be ok if i tried to cook them perhaps, not going to try until there's nothing else to eat. like all radishes, easy to grow here and i like the flowers. that's the other reason i like turnips and radishes.
um, ok, rambly moi...
to me the really nice thing about it is that it really just shows you that sometimes you don't have to be that picky and you can still have some great results, but you might have to ignore the things around those great results which didn't do much because they were overgrown, diseased, animal chewed, ...
i've gotten some huge turnips out of my green manure patch, i didn't even eat them, the much smaller ones are easier to cope with/clean up and cook. i know people who eat turnip greens, i've not been able to do that. easy as all heck to grow though. the worms eat them though, that's what i primarily grow them for as a cover crop along with the diakon radishes that help bust some deep holes down into the clay. deer eat them in the winter if they're desperate. i like them when they are first sprouting as a green - much more than i like the radishes. in an emergency rations type of food they'd probably be ok if i tried to cook them perhaps, not going to try until there's nothing else to eat. like all radishes, easy to grow here and i like the flowers. that's the other reason i like turnips and radishes.
um, ok, rambly moi...
flowerbug
Sustainability Master
i'm usually trying to work several years or plantings ahead in my plans too. i don't want to risk all of certain seeds on a single season's efforts/weather - especially when i might have only a few seeds and no way to get any more that i can predict (like when i have a new bean cross show up).
i've never been much into cleaning. i'm not a horrible slob in that i don't leave dirty dishes or clothes around, but there is some clutter and dust, but it is all mine here in this room and once in a while i dust the floor and wipe down a few things, but otherwise, the last thing i want to do is clean. it makes my nose run. i figure socks are what are good for dusting the floor anyways...
- Thread starter
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frustratedearthmother
Sustainability Master
Usually between DH and I we keep the place at least tidy. The kitchen is pretty much always taken care of because I use it a lot and can't tolerate cooking if it's not clean. But, DH is usually the kitchen cleaner and I'm the cook. I try to keep up with the mess as I go so all he usually has to deal with is the dishes we actually ate off of and maybe a pot or two. Right now the worst is that the furniture in the living room is all piled in the middle of the room and the dust...oh my. However, the dust is going to be something I'm going to have to live with for awhile. I did make one attempt at cleaning it and it stirred it up so much that I sneezed forever.
I have tons and tons of seeds. But, some of them are probably at the end of their productive life. I had planted peas several times this spring and nary a one came up. Those seeds were about 5 years old. If I find time I'm going to go through some of my seeds and try to do a "test" germination so I'll at least have an idea of what's still viable.
Need to start thinking about re-arranging some of the goats. I need to move some of the ones who seem closest to kidding up into the kidding barn. Problem is I don't have exact breeding dates - argh! Never again!
Have noticed the dogs scratching... Flea season is going to be he// this year. Time to start that battle.
I have tons and tons of seeds. But, some of them are probably at the end of their productive life. I had planted peas several times this spring and nary a one came up. Those seeds were about 5 years old. If I find time I'm going to go through some of my seeds and try to do a "test" germination so I'll at least have an idea of what's still viable.
Need to start thinking about re-arranging some of the goats. I need to move some of the ones who seem closest to kidding up into the kidding barn. Problem is I don't have exact breeding dates - argh! Never again!
Have noticed the dogs scratching... Flea season is going to be he// this year. Time to start that battle.
Mini Horses
Sustainability Master
ME, TOO
Tired of watching so many butts! Not just "due this week" ones.
A FF surprised me with a babe yesterday AM. All ok but --
baymule
Sustainability Master
Much of my seed is old too. I planted some, some came up, some didn't. I NEED a good garden this year. I have cases of empty jars! I love mustard and turnip greens, I have always frozen them. I think I'll try canning them this year.
Chic Rustler
Super Self-Sufficient
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I planted my turnips close this year. mainly for greens. hope we can put up 10 jars or so
flowerbug
Sustainability Master
- Thread starter
- #10,219
frustratedearthmother
Sustainability Master
I was able to get seed orders finished this morning. Buying some things I've never tried just for fun. Any body ever grow kohlrabi? Heck, anybody ever TASTE kohlrabi? Not me - but what the heck - I'll give it a shot. Bought a hybrid winter squash that I accidentally grew about 10 years ago. But, dang, I had several squash that were over 20 lbs, it keeps forever and is delicious. Also got plenty of heirlooms.
Had to do some stump pulling of the shrubs that were in front of the house. OMG - at times like this I am so glad to have a tractor. But, in pulling them up we managed to damage the lowest level of hardy-plank....argh! Gotta try to get that replaced. Always something...
Spent some more time in the garden. Got zucchini planted and some bush beans that I've never grown before. I was given the seeds so what the heck gonna give 'em a try. Getting excited about the garden. Really hope it does well. But, I did tell someone that gardening is a lot more fun when you do it for fun. It's a bit more stressful when you NEEEEEED it to do well.
Found a nest behind a big round bale with 14 eggs in it! I wondered where those hussies were hiding their eggs. Wonder if I should just stick 'em in the incubator? On second thought - nope! Don't need any more chickens! But, wonder if I could sell some? Hmmmmm, lots of folks trying to be SS these days!
Had to do some stump pulling of the shrubs that were in front of the house. OMG - at times like this I am so glad to have a tractor. But, in pulling them up we managed to damage the lowest level of hardy-plank....argh! Gotta try to get that replaced. Always something...
Spent some more time in the garden. Got zucchini planted and some bush beans that I've never grown before. I was given the seeds so what the heck gonna give 'em a try. Getting excited about the garden. Really hope it does well. But, I did tell someone that gardening is a lot more fun when you do it for fun. It's a bit more stressful when you NEEEEEED it to do well.
Found a nest behind a big round bale with 14 eggs in it! I wondered where those hussies were hiding their eggs. Wonder if I should just stick 'em in the incubator? On second thought - nope! Don't need any more chickens! But, wonder if I could sell some? Hmmmmm, lots of folks trying to be SS these days!
tortoise
Wild Hare
kohlrabi is a waste of garden space. Like a cross between a foul turnip and a tree trunk. 
DH loves it though, so we always grow some.
Stick them in the incubator and sell some chicks in a few weeks.
DH loves it though, so we always grow some.Stick them in the incubator and sell some chicks in a few weeks.
