My oh my how times flies. It seems like only yesterday I was planting seeds into the garden. Then I had to plant all over again but now my tomato plants have lots of Yellow flowers on them. I have had some tomatoes from the older plants but now I am getting really excited to see all these blooms.
But I must say that the weeds are starting to try and take over the garden. It seems like every time I turn around there they are again. Sorta like the dreaded dust bunnies that just seem to multiply themselves over night. So it is time for me to take more drastic measures and enlist help for this one.
We have finally come to a happy ending in the chicken coop. We have 36 chickens if you recall. Well they had all basically stopped laying eggs entirely. We couldn't figure out what the problem could be. We increased the amount of air flow, got another waterier, another 2 feeders, made the yard bigger and still nothing. Well then it occurred to us that they must be missing something. So we changed the feed.
Well let me tell you it has worked. Obviously they were missing something vital to egg creation with the old feed but now it is working really well. We started it on Friday by Monday night we had gone from 2 eggs to 20, Tuesday went up to 24, Wednesday 29, now lets see what happens when we pick eggs tonight.
Well during this lovely transformation we have begun to suspect that at least one of the hens is going broody. Because we are finding a couple of eggs in the corner buried. Now we haven't seen any of them sitting but that doesn't mean it isn't happening. So we are going to keep monitoring it and see what happens.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Garden update
I have come to the conclusion that gardening is the best therapy in the world. We have been working hard at re-establishing a prior garden plot for our garden this year. I will tell you it has been alot of work. My dear husband worked really hard at tilling everything up for us. I have brought my daughter in to help with all the planting, weeding etc...my son too a little but what can I say he is a typical 3 year old...
I looked last night and have to say the onions are growing really well as is the corn. Both of those I started from seeds directly in the ground. Now the green beans are starting to pop up nicely but I have have a feeling that I am going to have to re-seed some of those. My surpise veggie this year is carrots. Not sure if that is a good thing or not and still not sure if they are going to make it.
Now I must say that all my tomatoes, peppers, squash are doing great, as is the broccoli. Just added some snap peas, just a couple of plants as many of the people that are eating from the garden don't like them. So I will see how they are doing and make a decision from there.
Trying to stay on top of the weeds is hard as usual especially since the garden isn't physically at my house and I need to try and fit in times around an already crazy schedule. Really hoping for rain tonight so that I don't have to drag out the hose. But according to the weather man I think that I will have to anyway in the next couple of days since after today there is not rain chance for about 5 days.
I still need more cucumbers going to run over to the garden shop and see if I can get my hands on any. All mine have died. :( So wish me luck.
I looked last night and have to say the onions are growing really well as is the corn. Both of those I started from seeds directly in the ground. Now the green beans are starting to pop up nicely but I have have a feeling that I am going to have to re-seed some of those. My surpise veggie this year is carrots. Not sure if that is a good thing or not and still not sure if they are going to make it.
Now I must say that all my tomatoes, peppers, squash are doing great, as is the broccoli. Just added some snap peas, just a couple of plants as many of the people that are eating from the garden don't like them. So I will see how they are doing and make a decision from there.
Trying to stay on top of the weeds is hard as usual especially since the garden isn't physically at my house and I need to try and fit in times around an already crazy schedule. Really hoping for rain tonight so that I don't have to drag out the hose. But according to the weather man I think that I will have to anyway in the next couple of days since after today there is not rain chance for about 5 days.
I still need more cucumbers going to run over to the garden shop and see if I can get my hands on any. All mine have died. :( So wish me luck.
Monday, July 11, 2011
updates
Hello Everyone,
Well things are growing really well in the garden. Still need to get a couple more cuke plants as I don't think we are going to have enough for relishes and pickles. But might just start going to the farmers market for some. Our chickens are finally starting to catch up with laying. We have about 10 that are still not laying even with 3 feeders, 2 water jugs, and a fan. Not sure yet what I am going to do about them. If they aren't laying by the end of August then into the freezer they will go.
As crazy as this sounds already starting to think about winter prep. From foods, to stockpiling on feed/bedding for the animals. I want to make sure we have enough so that when the winter storms come I don't have to worry about running to the feed store for something. We are also looking at what repairs are needed to help the barn for this winter. We have several farms near us that we are starting to explore to see what options are available for beef this year. We are interested in purchasing either a quarter or half a beef but need more information.
I am also starting to go through all my quilting fabric and trying to get everything organized. I want to put them up on my etsy store or else privately sell them. My daughter wants to get involved this year with the quilting so I am going to try and teach her to make some lap quilts.
Can you believe that July is already here in full swing and the fair isn't very far away? Andrea is getting ready for her 4H presentation at the Cheshire County Fair. She is hoping to have a horse to compete with next year.
So I hope all is well with you and yours and talk to you all soon!
Well things are growing really well in the garden. Still need to get a couple more cuke plants as I don't think we are going to have enough for relishes and pickles. But might just start going to the farmers market for some. Our chickens are finally starting to catch up with laying. We have about 10 that are still not laying even with 3 feeders, 2 water jugs, and a fan. Not sure yet what I am going to do about them. If they aren't laying by the end of August then into the freezer they will go.
As crazy as this sounds already starting to think about winter prep. From foods, to stockpiling on feed/bedding for the animals. I want to make sure we have enough so that when the winter storms come I don't have to worry about running to the feed store for something. We are also looking at what repairs are needed to help the barn for this winter. We have several farms near us that we are starting to explore to see what options are available for beef this year. We are interested in purchasing either a quarter or half a beef but need more information.
I am also starting to go through all my quilting fabric and trying to get everything organized. I want to put them up on my etsy store or else privately sell them. My daughter wants to get involved this year with the quilting so I am going to try and teach her to make some lap quilts.
Can you believe that July is already here in full swing and the fair isn't very far away? Andrea is getting ready for her 4H presentation at the Cheshire County Fair. She is hoping to have a horse to compete with next year.
So I hope all is well with you and yours and talk to you all soon!
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