JUSTUSNAK...Summer coming to an end!?

[keljonma]

I've never had turkeys, but the only time our broody hen has left eggs in the nest is when they were duds.

Great find on the wood! It seems that around here most people try to sell their stuff rather than give it away. Doesn't even seem to matter what shape it is in. One of the motels in the city was remodeling and they sold the fixtures and wood. I don't think anything was given away.

I did see some "free" wood a couple weeks ago. When dh and I stopped to look at it, it was all rotted. So good for the burn pile or compost heap, maybe, but definitely not for building.

 

[homesteadmomma]

I just love reading your journal, I think it is so interesting, thank you so much for sharing!

 

[Farmfresh]

What do you use for fly spray?

We usually made our own.

2 cups +/- Apple Cider Vinegar
1 or 2 Tablespoons Citrus dish washing soap
1 quart water or so

You want it to smell vinegary.

Works great on flys - very cheap but ... it can bleach the color of dark animals (not for show stock) and sometimes a heavy down pour can cause some suds!

 

[justusnak]

13 June 09

Got up a little early, I wanted to get an early start in the garden. I was out the door by 07:30. Coops open....animals fed and watered..and in the garden by 08:00. Started weeding...and was coming right along, untill my BIL pulled in the drive....about 12:00. So, the day was done from there. He and his little girl have a tendancy to pop in. I love haveing them here...gives me a reason to stop working! So, I got cleaned up a bit..and we all sat at the picnic table and had a great chat. BIL mentioned they hadn't had breakfast..and niece asked if they were going to have lunch at our place....to which he replied..no, but maybe dinner. :/ Guess I better throw something together. So I had hubby get the grill out of the barn...get it cleaned up, and we had hamburgers and hotdogs. Didnt really have time to throw alot together....some macoroni salad...and cucumber/tomato salad...and chips. Not a biggie..but filled the tummies. We had a great visit,( 5 hrs ) Niece helped gather eggs..played with the dogs and barn kitties a while...and the garden didnt get finished.:/ Guess I will tackle it in the morning.

Tanks....yes, I sell turkey poults every year. This year I was "blessed" with a second batch. Had someone come by today and buy 2. She wanted the little silver one, and a barred one. Not sure what they will look like when they get older. ( the barred ones) Hopeing Royal Palms.! I think I messed up tho...I sold all from the first batch. I was going to keep a few for the freezer. Hopeing the second batch will grow out fast enough by Thanksgiving.

homesteadmomma Thanks....my life reads like a comic book sometimes! Never a dull moment. Hubby and I was talking tonight...even when we THINK we are going to have a restfull weekend...we find something to do. Of course, this time of year, there is always firewood to get layed in. Last winter we went through 11 ricks. So far, we have about 5 put in....need at least 6 more, going to try for 7 or 8. My sister has an old black walnut tree....she thinks is dead and wants us to come get it. SWEET! She has 2 more black walnut trees, they are alive, but she wants them gone. I guess we will oblige her! Then she asked if we would be interested in taking out a "few" ( like 6 or 7) Hawthorn trees. Ummmm, NO!! OUCH!! Those things have 4 inch thorns on them. I think they are older that the mountain she lives on! LOL

FarmFresh Thanks for the recipe on the fly spray. This has been a TERRIBLE year for the flies. I dont usually spray anything...but the sheep were literally going NUTS....running, throwing thier heads from side to side, kicking up thier heels...then falling to the ground and tucking thier legs under themselves. I HAD to do something..and fast! They are doing MUCH better now..but I will make up a solution of that spray, and try it. Thanks again!

 

[justusnak]

15 June 09 ( so far)

Yesterday was another day spent in the garden. :/ Got up and tended the animals, then headed into town. Just HAD to go to the Wal Mart. Picked up some weed stop fabric then continued to look around the garden area. Roma Tomatos..Hmmm..I AM planning to make my own tomato paste this year...so I better get a few in the ground. I just happen to have an extra place where I was going to plant zinnias and sunflowers. Oh well....tomatos it is. Grabbed a few other things...then rushed home to get started. Just as I was walking out the front door...here comes BIL..again, with niece in tow. :/ He came back to pick up a lawn mower hubby gave him...and brought a few tomato cages he had laying around and didnt need. We talked a few minutes...got the mower loaded, then he asked if niece could stay here for a little while. He had to take the mower to KY, to a friend that needed it. In haste I said sure...whats a few hours? ( 2 or 3) Then he said great, it might be about 8 pm before I can get back this way. Guess I will have extra hands in the garden today. So he left, and she and I got started. I bought 2 packs of petunias, to plant in pots by the chicken coop. We got them planted, and set in place...then headed to the garden. Now, my niece is 8 yr old, only child, and city. I explained what we were going to do with the fabric, she helped me cut and place it around the first row of tomatos....and when we got to the end she stood up and said. " I dont like to sweat" I was trying not to laugh out loud, so I said..ok, lets go take a break at the picnic table, in the shade for a few minutes. We got our water, and sat for a bit...but I knew I had to get this done today. 15 minutes later, back to the garden. We were able to get 3 rows covered, and tomato cages in place. Next project was to get the lawn tractor, and wagon, and get a load of dirt to place over the plastic, just enough to hold it in place. We walked over to the shop, I got it all hooked up, and told her to climb in the wagon. She hesitated...but I assured her it was OK. Finally got her in the wagon, and we headed back over to the garden area..and the dirt pile. Her laughing and giggling the whole way, over every bump.
Huby was out there by this time, so he loaded the wagon for us. I asked her if she had ever driven a lawn tractor before, ( knowing she hadn't) I asked if she wanted to. " Oh, no, I cant" was her reply... So I said, "YES, you CAN, get on" She finally climbed on, I walked next to her the whole way, very slowly. By the time we got to the garden, she was haveing a good time with it. I started throwing dirt...she collected rolly pollys to "save them" Hubby got out the tiller, for the last area in the garden so I could get the new tomatos in the ground. Layed the plastic first, then planted the tomatos. Another break at the picnic table...resting and refreshing. We came inside to clean up, and she ran to the incubator. One of the turkeys is just about hatched! So, she stands vigil over the bator, watching, whistling to it, and waiting. I threw a roast in the oven...then headed back outside to clean up our little mess. Get out there, and her parents are sitting there at the table..chatting with hubby. Niece came running out...." IT HATCHED...THE BABY IS OUT!!!!" Of course I had to go back inside..to see. We had a great chat with the inlaws for about an hour...then they headed for home. Hubby and I came in..he got a shower while I finished supper. A small little beef roast with taters and carrots, a few radishes from the garden.. Yum yum!
Today we are going to TRY to get the grass mowed..at least some of it. So, I better get off of here..and get outside. Have a great day everyone!!!

 

[Farmfresh]

The "saving the roly polys" part sounded like my sister.

To this day we will all be working hard on a project (AT HER HOUSE none the less!) and we will come upon a frog or another cute little crawly and she will have to stop ALL of OUR work so she can save it!

I notice we can keep right on working if we find a spider... AFTER it is DEAD!

 

[justusnak]

17 June 09
OK, so I have never been called the "brightest crayon in the box" more often than not...I have been more like the dull grey one. I have been racking my brain...and everyone elses to find good garden compost. Called friends with barns full of animals...to late, they cleaned months ago, and spread it out....called home improvement stores...nothing..I was getting desperate! So, yesterday...I was sitting on the porch...feeling a bit down on my shortfall...watching the chickens scratch in thier yard. Then it hit me! For the last 2 years...I have been cleaning the soops, and throwing the bedding and all out in thier yards. What great little composters they are!! So with that thought, I ran to the coops....VIOLA!! Thier yards were FULL of the best looking compost ever! I started rakeing, shoveling, filling buckets..( 8 to be exact) and spreading it on the taters. No "land mines" in the compost...it should be safe for the garden.So then...I thought, there must be a TON if that in there...thier yards are about 3 inches taller than when started! I get the lawn tractor..and wagon, and start shoveling. I was able to get 2 FULL loads..and there is still more! The rain stopped my progress. Wow, why didn't I think of this earlier?? :/ Now I am sure...everyone I have been calling will start calling back. Thats they way it goes. But, if they do, I will gladly take them up on it, and just start another pile. My compost pile I tried last year...well...lets just say its a nice green hill. I got lazy...weeds took over..and its growing quite nicely.
Another reason to have chickens.. great composters! Ohhh, I hope there are no " chicken labor laws"
Here is the compost...

Im headed back out there today, to scoop up another few loads...and finish the garden.

 

[Farmfresh]

Well ... better late than NEVER justus!

I swear you sounded just like me! So many times I have done things just like that!


Fortunately as time wears on you learn through little Ah ha moments - like the one you just had - an soon you are thinking in a whole new (weird) way. You begin to see things you never saw before and find interesting ways to do many things.

I personally HATE turning compost piles.

I hate digging it. I hate moving it.

Yet I LOVE compost.

What to do.

I now over winter my City Biddies directly in my garden spot. :bun
Since my coop is mobile, I spread a deep layer of straw over the whole garden and roll my coop over into it. I DID have to build a chicken proof fence around the garden, but that works all summer long too - to keep the little buggers OUT! Since it is in the sunniest part of my yard - it helps to keep the Biddies warmer in the winter as well.

After a winter of them digging through that straw every day, looking for weed seeds and bugs, I start off each spring with that same compost in your picture! The straw is completely gone, in fine pieces and well worked into the soil. If they have a spot that is getting ignored I sprinkle in a little whole corn into the spot and the "tillers" come a runnin'! I never have had any corn volunteers, so I guess they always find it all.

I just don't have ENOUGH hens! (Plus I can not house them in my main garden)
So in my main garden I make compost piles. I use a cattle panel cut into three pieces and loosely hooked at the corners. Typical? No - not quite.

Remember how I HATE to move compost? If you can't (or won't) take Muhammad to the mountain ... take the mountain to Muhammad! Now I just move the compost bin! (yes, I realize that saying was backwards)

I place the bins (I have two) in strategic spots in the garden. Actually IN the garden.
I spend all season filling them with blackberry stems (chopped fine) and big old weeds. I just pile them smoothly in.

Next year - I move the bin a bit and plant a climber (pumpkins, beans etc.. ) all around the old pile (year two) allowing the vines to ramble up on it. (It is usually not so tall by now, since it has been settling for a year).

Year three the old pile is tilled in like any other garden spot. This IS a slow way to good organic matter compost, but with my arthritis I am liking it better and better!

 

[BeccaOH]

I read in Backyard Poultry magazine about letting chickens compost. I'm going to purposefully give them a mix of trash to mulch once I get them started in their enlarged yard. On the "to-do" list.

 

[justusnak]

OK, so all day, I was thinking of my earlier post. Just in case there are some wierd "Chicken workers Union people" out there reading... My chickens DO work for me. They are the greatest composters in the world, except they keep eating all the worms! :/ Now, before any union members get in a tiffy...I pay them to work...then they ask me kindly to take thier pay...and go get thier feed, scratch, and bedding, since they can not drive, and dont have oposeable thumbs to count thier money out. So, it all works out, in the end. And of course, the SMALL profit from thier eggs...is MY pay, for all the running I do for them, and cleaning, hauling water and feed...and of course the "personal time" they get. And yes....the "new mothers" get 6 to 8 weeks of "maternity leave" I do not expect them to work.