tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30238030004789580882024-02-20T14:09:28.921-05:00Little House in the Big WoodFarm life in Northern Ontario.
Farm Life in Northern Ontario.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557512606416161272noreply@blogger.comBlogger491125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023803000478958088.post-31436425946985692352017-05-11T09:06:00.000-04:002017-05-11T09:06:48.717-04:00WasherI had a washer spin dryer way back when we first got
married. From my first real washing machine I have always missed the
spin dryer. They get so much more water out of the laundry than a
regular washing machine. They were off the market though - no one was
making them, and parts for used ones were really hard to find. And then
I saw one when we were out pricing furniture. I was shocked and
excited by everything but the price. Almost $500!! I didn't buy it.
Came home and googled it instead.<br />
<br />
Reviews weren't good. But then I
found other models, with better reviews and better prices. I had my heart set on a <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00KY5V4M4/ref=s9u_simh_gw_i3?ie=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00KY5V4M4&pd_rd_r=ZRW7Q8EAFQWB3W53N271&pd_rd_w=LMIEC&pd_rd_wg=ZUoNc&pf_rd_m=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&pf_rd_s=&pf_rd_r=8NFJ8C57MKTG2A7FP4KZ&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=b420c7ed-0dc7-4f64-beca-b1a9f89477f6&pf_rd_i=desktop" target="_blank">Panda</a>. Tried to order it 3 times. Amazon wouldn't ship it to me. I found their facebook page and messaged them. They didn't seem to understand that Amazon wouldn't ship it to me and I wanted to order it directly from them. I had pretty much given up hope, and decided to just buy a used washing machine and leave it outside for the summer.<br />
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Then the post office got mad when my hockey bags came in. <br />
<img class="fullscreen" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51rvm34mdYL._SL1161_.jpg" style="height: 297px; margin-left: 235.758px; margin-top: 10px; width: 183.483px;" /><br />
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We use them for travel - Cadet trips, mostly. They're 42 inches long, 18" wide, and about 4" high when empty and folded up. I ordered 5 of them- all at the same time, all from the same seller. The post office called and asked me to come get them now. She had 5 huge boxes and they took up her whole room. We went to get them, and I have no idea what they are. The boxes were 6' high, and 4' wide. They barely fit in the car with the seats folded down.<br />
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We get back home and open them up... Are ya kidding me? Each bag was in it's own box, when 2 would have fit in a box just over half the size. Good thing it was free shipping.<br />
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So, that's when we decided to try Amazon Prime. Husband ordered some tools, and I told him they aren't going to ship those, they're too heavy. But they did. Right to our trailer. Well that's not fair. So he told me to try the washer again.<br />
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I ended up ordering <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00UZRV9MG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">this 'no name' brand</a> instead.<br />
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<img class="fullscreen" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61Z5puT2PEL._SL1200_.jpg" style="height: 297px; margin-left: 169px; margin-top: 10px; width: 317px;" /><br />
It was cheaper, and the reviews weren't bad, and I still didn't believe they were actually going to send it.... But they did. And, hey, look at that, it's only 210 Watts! It could run on solar power. Set it up yesterday - not hard - take it out of the box and attach hoses. I washed my sweaters. Works pretty good. The water was filthy afterward, but I need a scrub brush. I always slop on myself, and there are a couple of spots that didn't come clean. ( SEE kymber? I don't know what I need until I need it, lol). The cycles work the way they should, drain is good - but I'm draining onto the ground. A couple of reviews mentioned problems with the drain, and I can see if you were trying to drain up into a sink or something it could be a problem.<br />
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Today I'm washing socks and underwear. I don't have a clothesline yet - I have all the parts, but they knocked it down with the heavy equipment, so it needs to be put back together - but I can rig up a rope between the trailers for now. I am just so happy not to have to sit in the laundromat for 2 hours at a time waiting for laundry. Love it!<br />
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(And no I didn't get paid or asked for this review - but I would be open to writing more reviews if you wanted to send me free stuff, lol).Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557512606416161272noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023803000478958088.post-1356146213298915012017-05-10T11:31:00.000-04:002017-05-10T11:31:01.995-04:00Insurance Insurance. Hate paying it, 'cause what are the odds that you'll need it? But then if you do, thank the stars you had it.<br />
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Our insurance covers replacement cost on the house. They still haven't given us a budget. They have to figure out the value of the cinder block, drywall, windows, furnace, steel roof, and on and on and on... to rebuild our house as it was. We're not too concerned about the budget covering the changes we want. Cinder block is very labour intensive, and there aren't very many people who do it in this area, so quite expensive. Then we also cut the second set of stairs, and the second story out, so the budget should easily cover upgraded windows, the deck, and an extra bedroom.<br />
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The second part of the insurance covers contents. It's also replacement cost, but to a maximum of $X. $X was fairly generous, so I'm not too worried about replacing stuff.<br />
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And then there's Additional Living Expenses (ALE), which is based on some percentage of the first two parts. ALE covers motel/rent while you are out of your home - because you're still paying your mortgage, as well as additional expenses caused by being out of your home- restaurants for the first few days, extra gas because of all the shopping, propane for us, because we can't heat with wood, etc.<br />
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We got an advance on our ALE to buy the trailers. They gave us a budget based on 5 months rent for a 3 bedroom house in our area. Our requirements for a trailer were a queen size bed, bunk beds, and a couch or fold out bed, big dining area, and good storage. The trailers we first looked at, with those things (generally one or two tip outs), a decent bathroom, and an outside shower, were almost double the budget. The insurance company wouldn't budge on the budget, but they did offer to give us an advance on our contents, which we could recoup by selling the trailer after the house was built.<br />
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I was very uncomfortable with that. We never have good luck reselling anything, and in the grand scheme of things, I didn't want to risk not being able to replace my dining set later because I bought a fancy trailer.<br />
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At the same time we were also looking into buying a sea can for storage, so we had some room to put things we were replacing.<br />
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We started looking at cheaper trailers, but most wouldn't fit us without folding the table down as a bed, which is annoying when you actually go camping, so I can't imagine doing it daily for 5 months. Spring was getting closer and more people were advertising trailers for sale, and some were really, really low prices. A lot of rebuilt hunt camps, some fancy ice fishing huts, old, heavy trailers. I said to Husband, "We could but two of those.." And that's when it all came together. We could buy two of those. Or three of these... And we wouldn't need the extra storage space of the sea can.<br />
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So we bought our trailer - the main trailer first. It was a little over half our budget, and as I mentioned earlier, is technically big enough for all of us. We could go home as soon as the weather broke, even if we hadn't found the boys their own rooms yet. And that's actually what we did, because it took another week after we were back at the farm to get the boys' trailers, set them up, and work out the heat situation.<br />
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#2's trailer came next.<br />
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And then, #3 and #4's. I never took any interior pics of it, and they are messy teenage boys, so you don't get to see right now.<br />
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The three trailers came in a little under budget, although all three were delivered by the former owners, so we haven't paid taxes on them yet. With tax they'll be just a little over budget.<br />
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The insurance company and their contractors are supposed to take care of figuring out the replacement cost of the old house and the estimate for the new house. Then we have options on buying a new house (settlement), building a prefab, or building from scratch, among other things.<br />
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Contents is a real pain in the ass. <br />
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We are supposed to list everything that was in the house. Every single little thing. And the replacement cost of each item. The big stuff is fairly easy. It's not too hard to pick out a new fridge, stove, couch, etc, that's comparable to what we had before. Furniture stores are all too eager to help with that. They want to lead you around and pick out every possible stick of furniture you had. Huge commission.<br />
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The little stuff is time consuming and almost seems petty. But it really adds up. I spent hours in the dollar store writing down thousands of items I've purchased just in the past couple of years. Similarly with the Bargain Shop and Giant Tiger (small Canadian department stores).<br />
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The hard stuff is the old stuff, thrift store/garage sale finds, or the "irreplaceable". Ebay has helped with some of it. There were a few people selling Holly Hobby lamps similar to the one my Grandmother had made for me when I was a child. My tire ashtray on ebay - $135! Apparently it's a collector's item. Who knew? I just put out cigarettes in it. Photo albums and pictures... good luck with that. I am very fortunate to have a cousin with her own printing business. She's been scouring all the relative's facebook pages, as well as harassing them in person, and printing new pictures for me. Most people aren't that lucky.<br />
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Thrift store shopping helps. I've collected a number of items that are the same as what I had before. It's easier to buy them when I see them than to right down an arbitrary price for an item you can't buy new anymore. Well, you could get something similar, maybe, but I've always been resistant to change.<br />
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And Amazon is my new best friend. It was making my post office a little crazy though, so I've just upgraded to Amazon Prime, and now we're even closer. If I think of something I need at 2am, Amazon has it on it's way in the next day or two. If I want to comparison shop, read reviews, price check - it's all right there. I can shop in my jammies, not have to worry about how I'm going to fit everything in my car (like I do on every trip to the city), and now I don't even have to go pick it up, it's coming right to my driveway. It does have it's faults though. Returns are expensive, and sometimes you don't get quite what you were expecting. <br />
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I also really like the Wish List feature, because I can check prices for my insurance list and save the items to my wish list. Then it'll just be a few clicks after the house gets built, instead of going back to the store I thought I found something in, to discover they're sold out, or it's the wrong store.<br />
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Another fault though, is that sometimes I get a little carried away at 2am, and order things I really don't need right now.<br />
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So what do we need? Well, there was the obvious stuff in the beginning. I escaped in my long underwear, nightgown, and sandals. It was about -25°C that day, and we still had about 4' of snow. Obviously, pants, sweater, jacket, socks, boots. Husband and the boys had the clothes they were wearing. We all needed a few changes of clothes, toiletries, boots or shoes. The Red Cross was awesome with that stuff. They gave us vouchers to go shopping, a list of emergency items that we would need, and booked and paid for our hotel room for the first 3 days.<br />
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The next thing we needed was food. I have weird food issues, and waking up hungry anywhere, without something to eat makes me crazy. It doesn't matter if I have money and transportation and Tim's is only two blocks away, I need to have food with me all the time. Furthermore, I need to have chocolate, peanut butter and chips at my disposal pretty much all of the time. <br />
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So the next stop was the grocery store. But I am a mother of 4, who lives in the sticks and buys everything in bulk. I don't know how to shop for two days, let alone two days without a stove. I had a breakdown in the grocery store. Picking things up, putting them back, trying to walk past a really good sale on pasta sauce, where I would normally buy 12 jars... Husband kept saying "What are you going to do with that?" which made it worse.<br />
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We ate a lot of microwave dinners over the next few weeks.<br />
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The first microwave dinner night, I realized we had no salt. The next day I went out and bought salt and pepper shakers. It didn't occur to me to buy salt and pepper to put in them until we ate our microwave dinners that night. The next day I bought the filled cheap salt and pepper shakers in the dollar store.<br />
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The first week or so was a constant haze of moments like that. Constantly running to the store to pick up one or two things that we needed right that minute. People kept asking us what we needed, but we didn't know what we needed until we needed it.<br />
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If you really want to help someone in the face of disaster, don't ask what they need, just pick out a few things that you use every day and give it to them. I didn't have any place to put/use/wash a set of dishes (which I was offered) but a couple of coffee cups were really appreciated. A couple of tea towels, a variety of teas (just a couple of each), hair bands, a comb - all wonderful. Three garbage bags full of clothes covered in dog hair that didn't fit any of us was not helpful. But a clean set of gym clothes from another boy in my son's class - awesome. Small packages were not overwhelming. Big ones were. Furniture will be great after the house is built (or when the person moves into another house) but when you're living in a motel room with one drawer each, it's just another layer of stress. I can't even remember who or how many people said they were going to save a couch or a bed or a dresser for us.<br />
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The other thing, is that everyone wants to help right away. This disaster just happened you must need everything right now. In a couple of days I had boxes full of all sorts of stuff stuffed into every corner of the motel room, and the school wanted to do a spaghetti supper benefit for us and collect donations. I had to say no. No, thank you.<br />
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Now that we're back on the farm, something like that would be appreciated. But the immediacy is over, and people have gone back to their regular lives. It's over now, in their eyes. And that's ok, for us, because we had insurance. Someone without insurance would really be needing all of those things now, that people were so eager to give at first. So it's ok to wait a while, let them recover. Let them find a space where they can actually see and sort and make decisions. <br />
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The next thing we needed was information. We still need information. I'm finding it as I go, but a jar full of business cards would have been very helpful. <br />
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There's a woman on our local buy and sell who keeps posting adds to build her Tupperware sales team. I asked where I could get a catalogue and she told me to go to the website. Seriously? Ok, I haven't been to a Tupperware party in a long time, but they do still exist, right? That is the point of building the sales team, right? I found a Tupperware lady at the Sportman Show last weekend (I was there with Cadets) so I bought two sets of bowls (the colours are terrible!) and got her name and number to replace the stuff I don't need right now later - and a catalogue. Now I have the price list I need for the insurance company, and a reminder of things I had in my kitchen cupboards but forgot to put on my list.<br />
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Local businesses, artisans, crafts people - I need to know who they are. I can't replace my Dad's knives in a store. He bought custom made knives on his travels! How do I find these people?<br />
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So... If you've read my ramblings all the way to here, you are a champ. I'm going to sign off now, because I need to go get propane, and wash a couple sweaters, and my thought processes have wandered off so far I don't even know what I was talking about anymore. Thanks for listening.<br />
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<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557512606416161272noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023803000478958088.post-82677745396380600042017-05-10T07:19:00.001-04:002017-05-10T07:22:06.732-04:00Solar PowerGoing home to trailers with no hydro meant we needed to replace our solar system right away. And building a new house means we get to integrate solar right into the construction. So it was time to go semi-big.<br />
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Bad idea.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMWTz1gIP9aWf4Hq_C0NMwQFTK714obl75g-Y2lCOI_f7tP_m1pwLIKqZ7NnOZarlIK2GWsYQwX3v-cQp6Dvx3GS2BkjLIFedDgPd1SzaVI6ycscUW6xGMP5v21pQ6Wr_s5hH9WU8kxM1/s1600/IMG_20170509_122753-702234.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6418175804620744066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMWTz1gIP9aWf4Hq_C0NMwQFTK714obl75g-Y2lCOI_f7tP_m1pwLIKqZ7NnOZarlIK2GWsYQwX3v-cQp6Dvx3GS2BkjLIFedDgPd1SzaVI6ycscUW6xGMP5v21pQ6Wr_s5hH9WU8kxM1/s320/IMG_20170509_122753-702234.jpg" /></a></div>
The smaller camp starter kit I had purchased a few years back is no longer available. <a href="http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/goal-zero-goal-zero-sherpa-100-solar-charger-kit-42011/10321722.aspx?" target="_blank">Camp starter kits</a> that are available now are mostly smaller than what we had, to charge a phone or a laptop. Bigger systems cost big bucks. Ridiculous mostly, <a href="https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.300-watt-off-grid-solar-panel-kit.1000777305.html" target="_blank">for what you're getting</a>. <br />
<br />
We found the local solar guy and purchased the kit pictured above, set up.<br />
The panels are two 250 Watt panels. We put them on the roof of the trailer.<br />
The charge controller is a 30 amp <a href="http://www.epsolarpv.com/en/index.php/Product/pro_content/id/654/am_id/136" target="_blank">Epever Tracer</a><br />
The inverter is a <a href="http://www.royalpower.com/p/3000-watt-pure-sine-power-inverters-charger-12-volt-dc-to-120-volt-ac-power-inverter" target="_blank">Royal Power 3000 watt pure sine wave inverter.</a><br />
Batteries are <a href="http://www.trojanbattery.com/product/l16e-ac/" target="_blank">Trojan L16E-AC</a> (2 6Volt cross wired to make a 12Volt)<br />
Cabinet and wiring were included.<br />
<br />
So... Right off the start, this guy wasn't making sense to me. I do not understand electricity. It's not hard to lose me. But his answers to my questions were extra confusing. And he kept pushing the Delco (generator). Don't let your batteries drain completely, charge them with the Delco... He couldn't tell us how much power the two panels would produce, or how long they would take to charge the batteries. Just plug in the delco...<br />
<br />
But, the price was better than the other kits we were looking at. And we didn't feel quite ready to piece it together on our own. So we bought it. A little over $3000.<br />
<br />
He wired the battery and solar cables into the charge controller
backwards. He used big fat cables from the charge controller to the
batteries. They didn't fit in the holes, so he cut them down and
twisted them up. He took twice as long to get it ready as he said it
would. And supposedly he "tested" it to make sure everything was
working.<br />
<br />
Husband accidentally touched the cables together somehow when setting it up at home. The charge controller should have stopped the surge, but it didn't. Fried the board in the inverter.<br />
<br />
Took it back for repairs. Should be under warranty. Waiting for parts to come in.<br />
<br />
Bought a <a href="http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/motomaster-eliminator-mobile-power-inverter-3000w-0111846p.html#srp" target="_blank">3000W Eliminator</a> from Canadian Tire - on sale - $139.99. Modified Sine. (It will be our back up in the future as well).<br />
<br />
Solar guy told us we had to find the 12V switch in the trailer
and shut it off so that the inverter wouldn't be charging the trailer
battery. We fiddled with the fuse panel, called him about 6 times,
offered to pay him to come out and help us... No go. Eventually we
wired the trailer battery back to the system batteries, because it
wasn't working any other way.<br />
<br />
The first two days were sunny. Batteries were doing ok, but not gaining. We figured we'd be adding on more batteries and solar panels anyway, so not too worried. Day 3 was cloudy and overcast. No charge. Husband sees the same readings as the previous days. Figures out the wires are backwards. Fixes them.<br />
<br />
We start getting some charge into the batteries. Trailer battery keeps draining. We buy two more deep cycle marine batteries (We lost 2 in the fire, one was just for solar, the other was wired into our solar, but actually for our boat). On sale, under $300. We replace the trailer battery.<br />
<br />
The batteries can hold enough power for our current needs for a couple of days, but they aren't charging properly.<br />
<br />
We go to town on a beautiful, sunny day, come home expecting to be all charged up... Nada. The negative wire from the charge controller to the inverter fell out of the hole. Husband puts it back in.<br />
<br />
Picked up the big inverter ($400 for repairs - but it's a trade with a different one because the parts for ours still aren't in). <br />
<br />
Three more days of snow/rain/cloud... We're using the generator a lot. It's not a Delco. It sucks up gas worse than my car.<br />
<br />
The negative wire keeps falling out, every other day or so. It's driving us crazy. Husband thinks someone is messing with the system. Locks it up. It falls out again, and again.<br />
<br />
I do some research. We don't need big fat cables there, just the same size as the cables from the panels to the inverter.<br />
<br />
We buy new wire. Rewire it. New wire fits the connectors properly. So far so good. (knock on wood!)<br />
<br />
So... Don't believe you can't figure it out on your own - you're probably going to have to anyway. Buy the parts, piece it together, save money.<br />
<br />
__________________________________________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Living Off Grid<br />
<br />
A couple of things I forgot; <br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Always check the wattage of your appliances before you buy - especially the little ones. I bought a 1500Watt toaster. Didn't even look- until I knocked out the inverter.</li>
<li>Power Bars with LED lights on them are draining just as much power as the LED lights on the tv/dvd player, etc, that you bought them to shut off. (Phantom power).</li>
</ol>
Good things;<br />
<ol>
<li>Lap tops - extra power storage.</li>
<li>Portable internet with built in battery </li>
<li>Portable DVD player with built in battery</li>
<li>Rechargeable power tools</li>
<li>Rechargeable flashlights. </li>
<li>Stove top coffee percolator and kettle </li>
</ol>
Propane;<br />
<ol>
<li>Heat</li>
<li>Fridge</li>
<li>Stove</li>
</ol>
Lighting;<br />
<ol>
<li>Solar - cheap garden walkway lights</li>
<li>Solar - motion sensor lights on sides of trailers.</li>
<li>Oil lamps</li>
<li>Candles</li>
<li>Flashlights</li>
<li>Trailer Lights</li>
</ol>
We charge the lap tops, portable DVD players, phones, tablets, tool batteries, etc, through the day. If all goes well, we still have enough power in the system batteries to keep the heat/fan/fridge running through the night. (The fridge has a 12V automatic electric start which is really annoying). If not, we run the generator for a bit.<br />
<br />
Everything gets shut off when not in use, day or night. I know that's logical, but it's a big deal. It's more than leaving the lights on when you leave the room. We shut off the tv/dvd player before. Now we also shut off the power bar that they're plugged into. We shut off the internet modem whenever we're not using it. That's new. We use the internet a lot. There always seems to be somebody doing something, so we never shut it off before. Computers we only used to shut off at night - sometimes. Now it's all the time. It takes a lot of getting used to, especially for the boys. If they forget to plug in in the morning, they aren't allowed to charge after dark.<br />
<br />
After dark electronics are only in use until the internal batteries die. Read more books. Go to bed early. Build a model car. Play a board game. Find something to do that doesn't suck up the power.<br />
<br />
It's not bad, just takes a little getting used to.<br />
<br />
_________________________________________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Living in a Trailer<br />
<br />
It's a little tight. I haven't filled all of the available storage space yet - under the benches and bunk bed. That's space for things that we don't need every day - mostly stuff on sale, or found at yard sale/thrift stores that we'll need/want in the new house.<br />
<br />
Clothing was tricky at first, but not since the boys got their trailers. We have rubbermaid bins on the top bunk for our stuff that won't fit into the tiny bedroom cupboards. The boys are using a variety of cupboards in their trailers, and the kitchen drawers for socks and underwear. We all have under bed storage space as well, so that's where the winter wear will go soon.<br />
<br />
Kitchen storage is tight. There's never enough space for dishes, pots and pans in a trailer. We covered the sink with a piece of wood to make extra counter space. I wash dishes in a rubbermaid bin - outside when it's nice. We're using the bottom bunk as a pantry, as well as the laundry hamper. TV tables to hold the crockpot, and to use for laptops.<br />
<br />
<div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBk1PkhfRjuFdMpFaItR-gBp57ORhaWzbrDBzbZ9N82nYdepjaFvleX4vLklZ9VPXb4V43AV_fxuccNr0pkch5xu-1g0cq9eWZ-Dog_yTLrq63s1c2VXrITW38zaKHs-bm_3q7jgJjSs8/s1600/IMG_20170510_062911-741545.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6418462874843711266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBk1PkhfRjuFdMpFaItR-gBp57ORhaWzbrDBzbZ9N82nYdepjaFvleX4vLklZ9VPXb4V43AV_fxuccNr0pkch5xu-1g0cq9eWZ-Dog_yTLrq63s1c2VXrITW38zaKHs-bm_3q7jgJjSs8/s320/IMG_20170510_062911-741545.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
The fridge is not bad, except that the door only holds little jars. I buy in bulk, so learning to shop for just a few days at a time is hard, and then buying the smallest jars available is a pain. <br />
<br />
_________________________________________________________________________________<br />
Back on the Grid - The Hydro Shed (aka Cheating)<br />
<br />
We will put a real fridge in the hydro shed in the summer, and maybe a
small freezer. Then I can shop for real, and refill those tiny little
jars for the trailer fridge.<br />
<br />
We've been using water jugs up until now, as we did not have hydro to
the well until today. The trailer water pump may require more
batteries/panels.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00UZRV9MG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Washer/Spin Dryer</a> - Will be set up outside the shed, drain on the ground. No more laundromats. I'm not sure what the wattage is, or if I could run it on solar- again I didn't even check. It will be easier for water at the hydro shed, so that's where it's going.<br />
<br /></div>
Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557512606416161272noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023803000478958088.post-53440656016806848692017-05-09T14:05:00.000-04:002017-05-09T14:05:02.237-04:00Demolition, Planning, and Living After weeks of picking through the ashes of our lives, we were able to recover most of my coin collection, a porcelain smelling salt pig that was my Granny's, the first pocket knife my Dad gave me after we moved to the farm, and a bit of jewellery.<br />
<div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzm7I21RtZjHYGacA6VSdqF75ih8VzM8BvT0pFcgJpBc6BxWmxDJ5tFgwQqNFaAi3xZ95GKA_5iDx8lNR5QP0Hqy-LD49MFbYkXdXj4BlT-hnwuSzOI7uX4AMSMJBcb2Ub7z-SuPaIb1bK/s1600/IMG_20170413_101750-710465.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6418181849153019554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzm7I21RtZjHYGacA6VSdqF75ih8VzM8BvT0pFcgJpBc6BxWmxDJ5tFgwQqNFaAi3xZ95GKA_5iDx8lNR5QP0Hqy-LD49MFbYkXdXj4BlT-hnwuSzOI7uX4AMSMJBcb2Ub7z-SuPaIb1bK/s320/IMG_20170413_101750-710465.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I expected to find my knives. The Alaska skinning knife that was my Dad's, the hunting knives, fishing knives and butchering knives. They were in an upper cupboard in the kitchen.<br />
<br />
We found the remnants of the lower cabinets in the basement, with odds and ends of identifiable pots and pans and silverware.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pdgCnJJemeqNIUz9te-vlsUk1JLeUOkMwfNTaHfhCw5sY-OWJFV1P3C5Vsmzzjp63Wtq10O8-YxK4o3XcsuaIHqtk213RvUcVwmthUNi3dVK7uMSEKRhb4HtH4eJIwRgrwh15bznmI6K/s1600/IMG_20170413_102137-712012.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6418181857012826194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pdgCnJJemeqNIUz9te-vlsUk1JLeUOkMwfNTaHfhCw5sY-OWJFV1P3C5Vsmzzjp63Wtq10O8-YxK4o3XcsuaIHqtk213RvUcVwmthUNi3dVK7uMSEKRhb4HtH4eJIwRgrwh15bznmI6K/s320/IMG_20170413_102137-712012.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
The stove was out on the lawn toward the front of the house. Sardines from the cupboard above, to the left of it as well. But the main kitchen cupboards with all of the plates, glasses, cups, and my knives were just gone.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0a9Zr3oJuoo-TqAqGOIdFmoGdW51EK_9F8IBQkhfjiqFwiZWoCAoD0PkU48lr43TBCZwkoe55cGocTLXwksVuqTRxGlJYrQVrAHvRzfEwWDJGYVmwAaf7esAXGKJupmxJP4PGXN5o9h7g/s1600/IMG_20170413_102219-713357.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6418181864921683026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0a9Zr3oJuoo-TqAqGOIdFmoGdW51EK_9F8IBQkhfjiqFwiZWoCAoD0PkU48lr43TBCZwkoe55cGocTLXwksVuqTRxGlJYrQVrAHvRzfEwWDJGYVmwAaf7esAXGKJupmxJP4PGXN5o9h7g/s320/IMG_20170413_102219-713357.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
It was time to move on. Demolition and clean up began. Truckload after truckload of pit rock to fill the hole. Gravel on top. Still working on spreading it. The old house will be the new parking area.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPBg_oOuqQID4Cy5f9pr3DiII6602s8s4qxrdIIxHGed3xpxz9jKg_kTDbHkJDBgoMtrKYDUxB3gNVJwxXByn7AhQgwjvkuqbr768NT73NVRmt0ooK8WDgL0zm02IgsNn_P9TQo1ZgN-tk/s1600/IMG_20170509_122837-757188.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6418175183071288866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPBg_oOuqQID4Cy5f9pr3DiII6602s8s4qxrdIIxHGed3xpxz9jKg_kTDbHkJDBgoMtrKYDUxB3gNVJwxXByn7AhQgwjvkuqbr768NT73NVRmt0ooK8WDgL0zm02IgsNn_P9TQo1ZgN-tk/s320/IMG_20170509_122837-757188.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span>The well guys came and cleaned the well, removed the old pump and wiring (damaged by the heat), and installed new. Yesterday Hydro finally got hooked up to the little shed. We wanted temporary power to the garage right away, but it was too far from the hydro post, and crossed the demolition site. No go on the coop or the barn. Finally they agreed to the shed beside the pole, then spent another month waiting on inspections. Husband has to connect the well to the fuse panel, and then we'll have running water again.
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUMH7r5htTnMJHVhSF6QLoOt_5sH4erDjQIMaQtiQMhiSWd6MlgZHyr3wvK6zNd3G9mmcBtQXVPJ6175txAH33W-VjSdCUPrn3mXKktJehLGJAWvfuYzQBrkzECXoP_WqfPVFi5V4AjCh/s1600/IMG_20170509_122621-758707.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6418175183708729346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUMH7r5htTnMJHVhSF6QLoOt_5sH4erDjQIMaQtiQMhiSWd6MlgZHyr3wvK6zNd3G9mmcBtQXVPJ6175txAH33W-VjSdCUPrn3mXKktJehLGJAWvfuYzQBrkzECXoP_WqfPVFi5V4AjCh/s320/IMG_20170509_122621-758707.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Floor plans are back with the architect. We're on round 3 now. Very frustrating. I draw what I want, he messes it up... I draw it again. Originally I wanted a three bedroom tower. I thought it would be hilarious to have one child on the main floor, one in the dungeon, and the "princess" in the tower. Stairs and roofing were too complicated, and the footprint was too big. The huge basement was getting bigger and bigger, and mostly empty wasted space. </div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Basement
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHM_r7bH7jEtoqBNRBKC0flrIRmfqwoep-5tFRQmtcWtP7sy2Z-0-v7qGbGy3OglQADAiuPe9L1j-mKTCSR8RnOLj52q-CYc5F6aAT73sHH3RZfl8-Xl8blQ1KY0qyYILgFAMz18hSor2/s1600/IMG_20170509_123337-755784.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6418175173854868194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHM_r7bH7jEtoqBNRBKC0flrIRmfqwoep-5tFRQmtcWtP7sy2Z-0-v7qGbGy3OglQADAiuPe9L1j-mKTCSR8RnOLj52q-CYc5F6aAT73sHH3RZfl8-Xl8blQ1KY0qyYILgFAMz18hSor2/s320/IMG_20170509_123337-755784.jpg" /></a></div>
After lots of debate, we decided to put all of the boys in the basement.They each get their own rooms, the three remaining anyway, with the rec room in the centre. The cold room is monstrous and will be under the kitchen.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Main Floor
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYGqRudi1m0Nusefd6ELXhyphenhyphenk5CyCZ1t5NOjyfLqIX3mXjkVdJGHm4BqBhkIOhgflDJUVVhCXOaMT6BI5JA6QqltjT3_9rvYMQMZfeQ0nqOsDE9AyoTMq0_YDxjNm4kf6T4PKvIzuaPMy5/s1600/IMG_20170509_123350-754013.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6418175166325574834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYGqRudi1m0Nusefd6ELXhyphenhyphenk5CyCZ1t5NOjyfLqIX3mXjkVdJGHm4BqBhkIOhgflDJUVVhCXOaMT6BI5JA6QqltjT3_9rvYMQMZfeQ0nqOsDE9AyoTMq0_YDxjNm4kf6T4PKvIzuaPMy5/s320/IMG_20170509_123350-754013.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
The main floor is pretty much the same as it was, except opposite and open between the kitchen and living room, and the stairs used to be between the living room and the master bedroom. Were also moving the sunroom to the south side instead of the west.<br />
<br />
We spent a month and a half in motel rooms, waiting for winter to end. Then we bought the first trailer (in the middle). It has bunk beds and a fold down couch, so technically we all fit. It will be lovely for camping later. For all of us to live in, it's a nightmare. Only one person can walk at a time (no tip outs).<br />
<div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vGU6h_Fef-rp40govt9DY1UMQyrvNSx-5foc2FuqMJQmrOkG-IgXlF5DWm9M6d3B3bqRPGmNqUON1cR72G077ljkVsS7Qjj-Y1ZlT7iKZsXt23x8g9_pIwU_OYhq_o97Wr3wb4LyM8lk/s1600/IMG_20170509_122603-707110.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6418175827004343298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vGU6h_Fef-rp40govt9DY1UMQyrvNSx-5foc2FuqMJQmrOkG-IgXlF5DWm9M6d3B3bqRPGmNqUON1cR72G077ljkVsS7Qjj-Y1ZlT7iKZsXt23x8g9_pIwU_OYhq_o97Wr3wb4LyM8lk/s320/IMG_20170509_122603-707110.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
We got the little trailer for #2, and the medium (green) for #3 and #4. Both of them had been remodeled inside. <br />
<br />
The little one has a tiny composting toilet, a table, and a queen size bed. It has a small electric bar fridge (not in use), and a coleman cook stove. The lights are all battery operated (AA/AAA - not RV battery). It has two regular electric outlets - one for the fridge, one at the table. Easy to plug into a small generator. All of the previous electric/lighting/propane/wiring/etc, has been removed.<br />
<br />
The green one also has a queen (maybe king) size bed at one end and a table at the other. It had no mattress, so the boys are using the bunk bed mattresses from the main trailer. There's enough space between them to keep them from arguing and kicking each other all night long. It has a propane fridge that doesn't work, and a propane stove that might work. They're not original, each requires a separate indoor propane tank. Their table is a small dinette with two chairs on one side, and the original trailer bench seat on the other. They have no bathroom. I offered to make them a bucket toilet to use through the night, but they said they'd rather just pee outside than have to empty it in the morning.<br />
<br />
We bought them Mr. Heater Big and Little Buddy's for heat. They work really well.<br />
<br />
We have the fire pit set up, the BBQ, and a table for outdoor "counter space". I still need to replace my patio table so we can eat outside when the weather gets nicer - 'cause we're still waiting for spring. Temps are mostly above freezing now, but we're still getting a bit of snow every few days. The winds this year have been atrocious, so we haven't put out the awning yet. <br />
<br />
All in all, it's good to be home.</div>
Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557512606416161272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023803000478958088.post-66564753322009141572017-04-30T05:50:00.001-04:002017-04-30T05:50:30.859-04:00And then it was GoneMarch 10, 2017.<br />
<br />
House fire. Probably electrical. Too much damage to tell.<br />
<br />
We're left with a pile of rubble surrounding the basement.<br />
<br />
Alive.<br />
<br />
Lost a dog and two kittens. Yappy, Miniature and Duplicate.<br />
<br />
And Stuff. It's just stuff. It's replaceable.<br />
<br />
Mostly.<br />
<br />
Every little memory tucked away in that house.<br />
<br />
My acorn, knives, photo albums. Everything from my dad. The measuring wall. The crystal vase my brother gave me for my 16th birthday. My seeds. The Boys' badges and medals.<br />
<br />
So much stuff.<br />
<br />
It's just stuff.<br />
<br />
We're alive.<br />
<br />
Broken hearted, but alive.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557512606416161272noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023803000478958088.post-89401461827369326412017-04-30T05:36:00.006-04:002017-04-30T05:36:50.091-04:002016Missing in action.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557512606416161272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023803000478958088.post-23749034133852726312017-04-30T05:36:00.001-04:002017-04-30T05:36:16.161-04:00Harvest 2015<div class="widget TextList" data-version="1" id="TextList1">
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Harvest 2015</h2>
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<li>Butter- Pounds-1</li>
<li>Eggs- (Approximate) -1095</li>
<li>Fruit- Blueberries- 7L</li>
<li>Fruit- Raspberries- 4L</li>
<li>Fruit- Rhubarb Pulp- bags frozen- 8</li>
<li>Juice- Rhubarb- Quarts- 1</li>
<li>Meat- Chicken- 8 whole</li>
<li>Spice- Peppergrass- Jars- .1 </li>
<li>Summer Sauce- Quarts- 3</li>
<li>Tea- Dandelion Root- .1 jar</li>
<li>Veg- Green Beans- bags frozen- 36</li>
<li>Veg- Greens- bags frozen- 3</li>
<li>Veg- Peas- Dry- .3 jar</li>
<li>Veg- Peppers- bags frozen- 1</li>
<li>Wine- Blueberry- 28 bottles</li>
<li>Wine- Pin Cherry- 5.5 bottles</li>
<li>Wine- Rosehip- 4.5 bottles</li>
<li>Wine- Watermelon- 4.5 bottles</li>
</ul>
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Fresh Meals</h2>
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<li>Dairy- Butter- 3 Tbsp</li>
<li>Dairy- Farmer's Cheese- pounds- 1</li>
<li>Dairy- Milk- 72 L</li>
<li>Fruit- Blueberries- 6</li>
<li>Fruit- Strawberries- 1</li>
<li>Juice- Rhubarb- Quarts- 6</li>
<li>Puffballs- 3</li>
<li>Spice- Nasturtium- 6</li>
<li>Spice- Peppergrass- 3</li>
<li>Tea- red Clover- 2</li>
<li>Veg- Beans- 8</li>
<li>Veg- Beat tops- 5</li>
<li>Veg- Brassica Greens- 1</li>
<li>Veg- Broccoli spears- each- 2</li>
<li>Veg- Carrots- 24</li>
<li>Veg- Cauliflower- 1</li>
<li>Veg- Cucumbers- 42</li>
<li>Veg- Lamb's Quarters- 12</li>
<li>Veg- Peas- 11</li>
<li>Veg- Peppers- each- 34</li>
<li>Veg- Potatoes- 3</li>
<li>Veg- Radishes- 9</li>
<li>Veg- Romaine- 11</li>
<li>Veg- Spinach- 6</li>
<li>Veg- Swiss Chard- 4</li>
<li>Veg- Tomatoes- each- 55</li>
<li>Veg- Turnip Greens- 3</li>
<li>Veg- Turnips- 3</li>
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Preserves (from Purchases)</h2>
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<li>Broccoli- Frozen- Bags- 15</li>
<li>Jam- Strawberry- Pints- 7</li>
<li>Veg- Peppers- Frozen- Bags- 3</li>
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Critter Feed</h2>
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<li>Beets- Chopped- .5 cups</li>
<li>Carrots- Chopped- 8 Cups</li>
<li>Mangels- Whole- Buckets- 19</li>
<li>Radishes- Chopped- 4.5 Cups</li>
<li>Silage- Feed Bags- 12</li>
<li>Turnips- Chopped- 2.5 Cups</li>
<li>Turnips- Whole- Buckets- 3</li>
<li>Weeds- 5 G buckets- 180</li>
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Medicine Chest</h2>
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<li>Salve- Plantain-Comfrey-Calendula- 8</li>
<li>Tincture- Pennyroyal</li>
<li>Tincture- Speedwell</li>
<li>Tincture- Thyme</li>
<li>Tincture- Yarrow</li>
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<h2>
Wines Started</h2>
<ul>
<li>Elderberry- 1 Gallon (Mar 26)</li>
<li>Mint- 1 Gallon (July 27)</li>
<li>Peach- 1 Gallon (Jan 2)</li>
<li>Raspberry- 1 Gallon (Aug 9)</li>
<li>Rhubarb- 1 Gallon (July 5)</li>
<li>Strawberry- 5 Gallons (July 7)</li>
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Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557512606416161272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023803000478958088.post-35186257762022711222015-08-31T07:40:00.001-04:002015-08-31T07:40:54.514-04:00Escaping CowsIt never fails, every year as the grass in the pasture peters out, the cows start poking holes in the fence and wandering the country side. Luckily the only neighbour this year is Mom, since the farm down the road is still sitting vacant. In previous years it was a daily battle to keep them out of the fresh cut horse hay.<br />
<br />
This year, the worst they do is walk over to Mom's and trim her grass, which she really doesn't mind except for the fertilizer deposits they leave.<br />
<br />
As the days shorten and the rains come more steadily, the solar electric fence charger weakens to the point that the electric fence is really just a suggestion, not a rule. After several years of use the built in battery just doesn't have the oomph to hold a charge after a couple of rainy days.<br />
<br />
Yesterday morning I discovered the mangels have been decimated. There's been a wayward cow in the garden. <br />
<div class="mobile-photo">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SZ2tknbkkBI7r60ip9srwTNyvh51e9d2XDy8HohcM_9DxdelTyRvSzNZn7fxciuLAwi68p24w4a2H_lWRgkNYdVwPGGKXh8sYPD_fISnHG7tiX5mT1HMWjGH3bhMmMovctpdWSUgzSc-/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODMwLTAyNDQxLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-764310"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6188868199532731202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SZ2tknbkkBI7r60ip9srwTNyvh51e9d2XDy8HohcM_9DxdelTyRvSzNZn7fxciuLAwi68p24w4a2H_lWRgkNYdVwPGGKXh8sYPD_fISnHG7tiX5mT1HMWjGH3bhMmMovctpdWSUgzSc-/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODMwLTAyNDQxLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-764310" /></a></div>
Luckily the mangels are just critter feed anyway, and the human food is ok. A couple of bean plants were trampled, and a couple of romaines. A few turnip tops had been sampled, but obviously didn't taste as good as the mangels.<br />
<br />
Today I am off to buy a new fence charger and try to get the beasts back under control.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557512606416161272noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023803000478958088.post-83597749045770179372015-08-24T09:58:00.000-04:002015-08-24T10:04:04.001-04:00Busy, busy, busyIt's that time of the year now. The garden is in full swing, the rush is on to get everything done before fall, and only one week left until school starts!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0LKHtEOEcUQpzYecyCJ5vpB-KvNMSnRSGzeDwVMNynkuk6w7WkDflC8HL8ydRGI1KEpGmXOx6AC6IP-G8v8pixTa4NxYcrmibDbapahFiImYC6UujxTbn8vUS7NglFRIgFKQ1QVo3z0l/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODIyLTAyMzc5LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-700695"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6185848557508618098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0LKHtEOEcUQpzYecyCJ5vpB-KvNMSnRSGzeDwVMNynkuk6w7WkDflC8HL8ydRGI1KEpGmXOx6AC6IP-G8v8pixTa4NxYcrmibDbapahFiImYC6UujxTbn8vUS7NglFRIgFKQ1QVo3z0l/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODIyLTAyMzc5LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-700695" /></a></div>
I am so pleased with the garden. Even the back half is catching up. It's kind of funny how I've been so focussed on how poorly the back half was doing, rather than on how well the front half was doing. In truth, the back half has been doing almost exactly what it has done for the past eight years. All of those tiny plants will be harvestable, but not great, before frost. I should have been more focussed on how great the front half is, and given myself credit for finally getting the soil amended to produce like this, instead of looking at the back as a failure and a short coming. I see it now!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjdj4H7I8rryzIdbTNJqkJ3rQEHsmAZY0rd4JED3OSlYvLmRMv-l4mKSJmUDasnp1wzxX2FfJqVuVaiKUvL94OvPMiCizSRjbKDu1PJyHHQuK3T-BN0qMDcBdYrQKZybLhj8wAw5_b4PN/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODIyLTAyMzc4LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-767084"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6185848411780239986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjdj4H7I8rryzIdbTNJqkJ3rQEHsmAZY0rd4JED3OSlYvLmRMv-l4mKSJmUDasnp1wzxX2FfJqVuVaiKUvL94OvPMiCizSRjbKDu1PJyHHQuK3T-BN0qMDcBdYrQKZybLhj8wAw5_b4PN/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODIyLTAyMzc4LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-767084" /></a> <br />
The beans are producing like crazy, and I love and curse them as I pick them. I love them, they are my favourite vegetable, and the only vegetable I really ate for years. But I curse them as I'm picking and my back hurts, and I look up and I still have another half row to go... and I'm thankful that there are only two and a half rows growing, and two short rows in the greenhouse, rather than the six or eight rows I used to plant!<br />
<br />
I am seriously considering switching to pole beans in the future though. #2 and I were discussing it the other day. Getting the pea fence in before the peas come up is always an ordeal- they're heavy with four log posts and metal fencing, and require more space to walk between once they start to sag from the weight of the peas. Pole beans would need more fences. He suggested permanent posts at the end of the rows, and removable fencing or ropes between. Intriguing. That could work.<br />
<br />
So my question to all of you- what types of pole beans produce long slender pods, taste like green beans, and grow well in a short, cooler season? What are your favourites and why?<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj801JUu7wquhGtoM59NKdQVgPtzB4I6ZEPM1k8y62bvZZUJVSveIvgAuyU7Gu1NC1cK3-uoYYfXlwnFbD_HRnXHFEaZWj8Q-QdDY78vk-4MofkVk-g-tDR3n-_hDD-xvCebM4W5n3R9ruQ/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODIyLTAyMzgwLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-727616"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6185848675585639058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj801JUu7wquhGtoM59NKdQVgPtzB4I6ZEPM1k8y62bvZZUJVSveIvgAuyU7Gu1NC1cK3-uoYYfXlwnFbD_HRnXHFEaZWj8Q-QdDY78vk-4MofkVk-g-tDR3n-_hDD-xvCebM4W5n3R9ruQ/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODIyLTAyMzgwLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-727616" /></a><br />
The turnips are growing fairly well, though most have long thick roots rather than bulbs.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhYkzj5g5ilvG1YwrrKhwvF-vfRcE-fftyZ5S8M3uuUsmtKqe4exGzQTIvFcQmi9fnQcJoYGkNbiesJwAq_QIRYYGfLZh8vWP1e8w-yoqfSleflQ9vLYA38RigL1VwmUDVtdbtz8kgSsS/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODIyLTAyMzgxLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-758605"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6185848811402499506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhYkzj5g5ilvG1YwrrKhwvF-vfRcE-fftyZ5S8M3uuUsmtKqe4exGzQTIvFcQmi9fnQcJoYGkNbiesJwAq_QIRYYGfLZh8vWP1e8w-yoqfSleflQ9vLYA38RigL1VwmUDVtdbtz8kgSsS/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODIyLTAyMzgxLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-758605" /></a> <br />
I'm pulling 6 to 8 plants per day, intended to be pig feed, but I can't help but add a couple to our meals as well. They're just so sweet and tender right now. We're also eating the tops as greens. They aren't any of our favourites, but they're ok. Mostly, I think the issue is just that they're a little tough. The longer I cook them, the better they taste. Maybe the canning idea might not be so bad after all.<br />
<br />
The greenhouses are looking better and better each day. Sunflowers are flowering, cucumbers are climbing and little fruits are growing. Melons are forming, romaine is making heads, and carrots are getting bigger and bigger all of the time.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdf1FyavC4APyFEbPSPE2gT2VKtbmW6ZTlcmE7eg35c45w_Dwd6pyGCbXDj08oyjVM-BhA_MFOl2umz-wPNszQsyv2wGR3r2DUTUeERyNFetLcH8tZqSvCbMOZnQkevFPvDNnQjotFQso7/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODIyLTAyMzc3LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-781973"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6185846334836377026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdf1FyavC4APyFEbPSPE2gT2VKtbmW6ZTlcmE7eg35c45w_Dwd6pyGCbXDj08oyjVM-BhA_MFOl2umz-wPNszQsyv2wGR3r2DUTUeERyNFetLcH8tZqSvCbMOZnQkevFPvDNnQjotFQso7/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODIyLTAyMzc3LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-781973" /></a><br />
We ate one of the cauliflowers. This is the one still in the greenhouse. It's just starting to get a little purple into it. I think it's cool, the boys think it's weird.<br />
<br />
The one broccoli plant is continuing to produce what seems to be side shoots, without ever really producing a main head. Cabbages are getting big and beautiful, making me half want to harvest them now, and half want to leave them be to see how big they'll get.<br />
<br />
I trimmed off some brassica leaves- the finished cauliflower, some broccoli, and Brussels sprouts- and cooked them for supper one night. Again, far too tough, almost inedible. I'm debating leaving them for frost to see if they improve, or just canning a bunch to see if the long cooking time makes them edible.<br />
<br />
Hungarian sweet banana peppers are doing well, and I enjoy them. There aren't many though, and I don't like to share. The long slims (hot) are producing real well- they're for the boys, and for making salsa and sauce later. The California Bells have yet to produce a single pepper. The plants are big and healthy looking, and they've flowered well, but no peppers. Notes for next year- skip the bells, only 3 hot peppers, and plant more sweet Hungarians.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUtNZwusk7pPu21Cp3r3GXF3O2yJ2s1D1u5UH7jCal13vkzQz3n6MEW70RExKxofxqy0yT5p5I0jKiFPj3h8dxsTHXIW2iMBocByC7UinBCiH3ijE8I9JHdHhVkCxVLYQaUalWsJ_4Gs6/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODIyLTAyMzc2LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-748220"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6185841032697910386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUtNZwusk7pPu21Cp3r3GXF3O2yJ2s1D1u5UH7jCal13vkzQz3n6MEW70RExKxofxqy0yT5p5I0jKiFPj3h8dxsTHXIW2iMBocByC7UinBCiH3ijE8I9JHdHhVkCxVLYQaUalWsJ_4Gs6/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODIyLTAyMzc2LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-748220" /></a><br />
And then there are the wild tomato trees. One thing I really notice this year, is how useless tomato cages are. I know my cages are old, most are small, and I'm far to cheap to buy new ones, but I've never had so many plants just knock the whole cage over before. I've been tying baler twine on the greenhouse beams and looping it over tomato branches here and there to keep them mostly upright. Lots of green tomatoes now, getting bigger every day it seems, and the plants are still flowering. I'm ruthlessly pinching suckers and lower leaves.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYcAXsRmCCfF0B0DKtjTVXGUDk6VTm4m-k9yM4Q5CPDVKJlgzXtHxdDT_09Is-9plBmB27NWaR-c7Frtx40M0rFmYFYdlbRvTaO5AaKmi7XsSGjD7NK0zomdBH4exrmETUuHGkghwWaLo/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODIyLTAyMzc1LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-717112"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6185840900028249762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYcAXsRmCCfF0B0DKtjTVXGUDk6VTm4m-k9yM4Q5CPDVKJlgzXtHxdDT_09Is-9plBmB27NWaR-c7Frtx40M0rFmYFYdlbRvTaO5AaKmi7XsSGjD7NK0zomdBH4exrmETUuHGkghwWaLo/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODIyLTAyMzc1LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-717112" /></a><br />
One of the great mysteries of life in the garden (or is it life in the north?) are these two weird tomato plants with fat leaves. I don't know what varieties they are. The plants are compact, mostly within their cages, and short. They never seemed to be doing particularly well. They have a fair number of tomatoes on them, but aren't over loaded.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSO8QTIpRjEpy5EiGVPEbRCJsOp7Ji-xFI0TyW4xgT3NUPQyzBsHpWe3sLui128J55Mun6Dw1OHRaavZ1ZLPOpoz7nA4pmRaFz0LVu2-WAKklOmf_L_tke5iNpsSYWMNmDjnqq3jZHBaVK/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODIyLTAyMzc0LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-777714"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6185839875328836018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSO8QTIpRjEpy5EiGVPEbRCJsOp7Ji-xFI0TyW4xgT3NUPQyzBsHpWe3sLui128J55Mun6Dw1OHRaavZ1ZLPOpoz7nA4pmRaFz0LVu2-WAKklOmf_L_tke5iNpsSYWMNmDjnqq3jZHBaVK/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODIyLTAyMzc0LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-777714" /></a><br />
But nestled under the leaves, they both have tomatoes turning orange, and I've even picked three already. They're small to medium sized, nicely flavoured, more meaty than juicy. It would take at least two of them to make a tomato sandwich, but by golly, they're ripening in August.<br />
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I'm saving the seed from them, but I don't really know if I'd be happy with a greenhouse full of them. At one time I'd have rejoiced for ripe tomatoes in August (and I am enjoying them), but since I've learned the secret of <a href="http://whishinrecipes.blogspot.ca/2012/01/canned-green-tomato-salsa.html" target="_blank">green tomato salsa</a> and <a href="http://whishinrecipes.blogspot.ca/2014/09/summer-sauce.html" target="_blank">summer sauce</a>... I'm not sure that they would be abundant enough for winter storage.<br />
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I do think it's time that I started 'sorting' my saved tomato seed though. I usually just squeeze juice and seeds from assorted tomatoes into a glass jar and write the date on it. In the spring I plant a mixture of saved seed, as well as several varieties of seed still in my seed box. This is the first year in about six that I have no roma type tomatoes at all. So I will keep these short, potato leafed, early ripening tomato seeds separate from the jungle inducing monsters that crowd the greenhouse.<br />
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Still no quads, and the truck has had a few hiccups, so we're still not into the swing of firewood. The wood we ordered has not arrived. We strung semi permanent electric fence on the hill behind the house, #3 cutting a trail through the brush and bramble. He's becoming quite the young man. A little bit of wood from there. Brother is up visiting and he and #2 have cut a bit and piled logs at the house. There's more to cut in the new pasture, which fortunately is close enough to the house to drag up in chunks.<br />
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Raspberries are winding down now, blueberries are picking up, but neither is high on priority this year. Choke cherries are ready to start picking and will be made into wine.<br />
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Manure clean up is also still behind, with no suitable transportation.<br />
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It feels somewhat overwhelming to be so far behind and not have a plan of action in place.<br />
<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557512606416161272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023803000478958088.post-27225208508032134112015-08-20T11:31:00.000-04:002015-08-20T11:31:38.350-04:00Rainy Weather FunKeeping busy during three days in a row of rain really isn't too hard. There's always the cleaning. The cleaning gets neglected when we're busy outside. The floors have been mopped, the dishes all washed, the boys' rooms cleaned. But then there's the laundry... <br />
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Indoor clothes drying to the rescue. It takes a little longer, but it's free! The heavy stuff I hang on hooks on the bathroom wall.<br />
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The lighter stuff goes on the drying rack. I used this method all winter, rarely turning on the dryer at all. I think when the dryer kicks the bucket, I'll replace it with a big wooden Mennonite drying rack.<br />
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#2 cleaned up the basement and piled the little bit of firewood we've brought in so far this year. We ordered wood - a dump truck load of birch logs - and 5 weeks later we're still waiting. If it doesn't come soon we will be freezing this winter!<br />
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We took a break and went to the Flea Market/Feed Store. They've been doing a lot of cleaning this year, so now you can actually find stuff. Before everything was so stuffed and over flowing, I was afraid to touch anything lest it fall all over the place. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_08NoS_mL3s2r8aVm7iChnbgIIH_GL6saDPJSNrDm54DNV5iboEGQm9ApORtdOYGqU6yHlFU1eMFTGhkOJeDfLl19x1HWyTkT8TSbM5OgR0Gqbm-F892qgj3-DXNav6TX5saO6TLamtp/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODIwLTAyMzMwLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-749867" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6185070524109715298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_08NoS_mL3s2r8aVm7iChnbgIIH_GL6saDPJSNrDm54DNV5iboEGQm9ApORtdOYGqU6yHlFU1eMFTGhkOJeDfLl19x1HWyTkT8TSbM5OgR0Gqbm-F892qgj3-DXNav6TX5saO6TLamtp/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODIwLTAyMzMwLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-749867" /></a><br />
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I bought a bunch of glasses, coffee cups, wine glasses, and measuring cups.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJjLtkRpeM8chQKnp-A1bQfvn36-NE5xBPh7JkuDhIyEZPAUrdlPU8QtXUpZ7rtqAyXTw5-Gwqb7qg0K2LUI8BylpOJvBNxSWNTSECSQv4qXSEFZWjo6Qtgr6zbMCz6nRJ8XdgoKbXGG0/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODIwLTAyMzMxLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-708801" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6185070774174229250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJjLtkRpeM8chQKnp-A1bQfvn36-NE5xBPh7JkuDhIyEZPAUrdlPU8QtXUpZ7rtqAyXTw5-Gwqb7qg0K2LUI8BylpOJvBNxSWNTSECSQv4qXSEFZWjo6Qtgr6zbMCz6nRJ8XdgoKbXGG0/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODIwLTAyMzMxLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-708801" /></a><br />
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A pair of wall candle sconces.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQakhc-V60gvO9uELvh1_FT0UX2CStDtmtq3N7VSm-11cyvN4HSw-i3mMVf-qiInFqzQvNKmt5tlM0rgsnytPbpn9HclPWdy7G8ZQDc1tplF-WOZO-g_cm2cJQRFLc94OOXkxM8QdkZDTw/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODIwLTAyMzMzLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-798306" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6185071160694312898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQakhc-V60gvO9uELvh1_FT0UX2CStDtmtq3N7VSm-11cyvN4HSw-i3mMVf-qiInFqzQvNKmt5tlM0rgsnytPbpn9HclPWdy7G8ZQDc1tplF-WOZO-g_cm2cJQRFLc94OOXkxM8QdkZDTw/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODIwLTAyMzMzLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-798306" /></a> A nice big mirror - which I originally thought I would hang in the livingroom, but after bringing it home I think I will probably put it up in my room. I would like to fill the house with mirrors to reflect more light, and I love the black metal frames.<br />
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Sadly, the Flea Market will be closing in September. They've been struggling since the Mennonites moved into the area and opened their feed store. They're more centrally located, while the Flea Market is out here on the edge, like me. The owners bought a general store in one of the smaller towns to the south, and their parents and son have been running the Flea Market this summer. I'm hoping they will return in the spring. I suggested they turn it into a Flea & Farmer's market.<br />
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I went to a Farmer's market last weekend in one of the bigger towns to the north. I was just killing time, waiting on the boys, and already halfway there, so I thought I'd go take a look. It was truly unbelievable. Most of the vendors were selling hand crafts. There were two vegetable vendors, both with outrageous prices, and both very busy! $2 for a cucumber, $3 for a small bag of lettuce, $4 for a tiny romaine. $3 each for cauliflower and broccoli the size of my fist! $3 for a tiny bunch of carrots, $4.50 for a pint of raspberries, and $4 for a tiny dish of blueberries. <br />
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I admit I don't often buy any of that stuff, since I grow my own, but still, I was astounded by how busy they were. I looked in the grocery store afterward, and sure enough, their prices were dramatically lower. I regret not going to the farmer's market when I was down south. It would have been interesting for comparison.<br />
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Don't get me wrong, I don't begrudge the farmers earning a living wage. I just don't understand where their customers come from. I remember going to the farmer's market with my parents, always looking for deals. We shopped there because it was cheaper than the grocery store. We would get a deal by buying in bulk, and then Mom would can and freeze for winter. If I had to pay $6 for a little basket of pickling cukes, I'd just buy pickles in the grocery store. It's cheaper and the work is already done.<br />
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On the other hand, if I sold my carrots 6 to a bunch for $2.50 (grocery store price), I could make close to $200. That's pretty impressive for my little companion plants. Then I start thinking about all of the extra stuff I could grow... and then my garden is huge again and I can't keep up with the weeds... Maybe someday.<br />
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At any rate, I think devoting some of the parking lot space to a farmer's market would help draw people in to the Flea Market, and help keep them afloat.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLVaj5ob2HvkE17JslyLDJpxHxbcd3B9xi72fT1XCD9QXzYAALmuWlLRI4cFUb4J3Bnw5dK9PL6eGR-7wTTmpes83JNBhhJjuenhJdgCbhJ5J3UzeGKIj1W4tI18YnS3Ywe1eqrxCsqte/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODIwLTAyMzM1LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-756781" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6185073562171287698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLVaj5ob2HvkE17JslyLDJpxHxbcd3B9xi72fT1XCD9QXzYAALmuWlLRI4cFUb4J3Bnw5dK9PL6eGR-7wTTmpes83JNBhhJjuenhJdgCbhJ5J3UzeGKIj1W4tI18YnS3Ywe1eqrxCsqte/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODIwLTAyMzM1LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-756781" /></a><br />
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I made another batch of butter, and a small batch of Farmer's Cheese. That will be used in a lasagna tonight, as it's not too hot to have the oven on today!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuvMaIx0EbbWXAuil77EBd-EEr6VkUpAJOAQwvGDSrZLTKXysRpIrqP7b9dMPNCGclerxszmKna2NHS4ldcc52gUc2s6BaXoQ5b-T1N3GhN_OVc7r1V4uASSr7Vclxpg_UJhq8LbbsoVd/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODIwLTAyMzM0LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-782926" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6185073243311008642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuvMaIx0EbbWXAuil77EBd-EEr6VkUpAJOAQwvGDSrZLTKXysRpIrqP7b9dMPNCGclerxszmKna2NHS4ldcc52gUc2s6BaXoQ5b-T1N3GhN_OVc7r1V4uASSr7Vclxpg_UJhq8LbbsoVd/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODIwLTAyMzM0LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-782926" /></a> And while it's cool, I also thought I'd make a little room in the freezer. These three birds are simmering on the stove and will be ready to can this evening. When we raised turkeys I'd always save a little bit for future soups, pastas, and salads. I rarely get to do that with chickens, since they're gone in two to three meals. I catch myself looking at chicken parts in the grocery store, thinking I should buy something to make taco pasta. It's just not the same with beef.<br />
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The garden has been left to fend for itself. The weeds will be growing like mad again next week. I still go out to the greenhouses daily, and I've picked my second batch of green beans. I'm still getting a few peas, carrots every day, my first tomato!!, nasturtium flowers, peppers, and a couple of missed radishes. <br />
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I pulled a few turnips from the garden yesterday, for Piggy and to thin them, but we ended up eating them ourselves. #2 had asked what to make for supper since we were almost out of potatoes, and I told him I had carrots and turnips on the table. I found him in the kitchen chopping them up. He made a pot of mixed veggies - carrots, turnips, and potatoes. They were delicious. Piggy got the leftovers for breakfast. I'll go out and pick some more roots for her once the rain eases off a bit.<br />
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I also cooked the turnip greens. That was a first for us. I just shredded and boiled them, served with salt and butter. They were nice. I've been looking at canning greens for winter. Everything I've read says 90 minutes for processing, and they turn out like mush. I really don't have a lot of extra freezer space right now, but it seems that that's the recommended way to go. I'm thinking that 36-52 bags of assorted greens would be sufficient for winter. <br />
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So, back to work now. Enjoy the rain!<br />
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Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557512606416161272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023803000478958088.post-5727698194584735032015-08-17T06:56:00.001-04:002015-08-17T06:56:16.245-04:00Beans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh697ot4gXmtcbF9LV8iHHejLZzzvmNok5GnV3jrNZOvtBuPwBR0LVlTtov7DHerVwZSCppIZ4LilFuY48IlnJC0W5jR_A8b8B-h7t-ONz7oniddsDGi55FJG-9Xcrud30JewjUHUgHml3W/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODE2LTAyMzI5LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-732626" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6183637645833404610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh697ot4gXmtcbF9LV8iHHejLZzzvmNok5GnV3jrNZOvtBuPwBR0LVlTtov7DHerVwZSCppIZ4LilFuY48IlnJC0W5jR_A8b8B-h7t-ONz7oniddsDGi55FJG-9Xcrud30JewjUHUgHml3W/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODE2LTAyMzI5LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-732626" /></a></div>
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First pick of the year - beans from Greenhouse#1. Still waiting on the beans in the garden.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557512606416161272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023803000478958088.post-63918699214368517962015-08-16T08:00:00.000-04:002015-08-16T08:00:09.037-04:00Garden ProgressOne of the biggest differences between greenhouse gardening and traditional gardening is the lack of production outside. Every day I go into the greenhouses, pull a few weeds, and harvest a little bit of something. Meanwhile, outside in the garden it's a lot more work (weeds) and a lot of waiting. It's weather dependent and uncertain whether there will be a crop to harvest, fighting late spring frosts, early fall frosts and dry spells.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4dtvK7qSejJKv7KYyvfd2xp9SV0qJs-qDDw9qI71eq5ZHmbJJYECHc3gZWZRC9JhBuOsyotY2UV97hxFBED2XLQBtFK8lBzQWZmR-79ufOdxS6BgpmYl0u1Q8_t32UO65ANIm4siggvX/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjc0LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-701751"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6182452105138518210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4dtvK7qSejJKv7KYyvfd2xp9SV0qJs-qDDw9qI71eq5ZHmbJJYECHc3gZWZRC9JhBuOsyotY2UV97hxFBED2XLQBtFK8lBzQWZmR-79ufOdxS6BgpmYl0u1Q8_t32UO65ANIm4siggvX/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjc0LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-701751" /></a></div>
I'm almost caught back up on the weeding again. I might even manage to get the strawberry bed done before I have to start over. The potatoes are looking good. The Littles hilled them for me for the second time. A few are even flowering.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8cCh0i7ho_mXspBbXxLsw1cV94NsUCyvnjLu6CvPhJjeyVrGxMUNxoW1pUxHMDRYuzpAJGyA9z6aOkxOwXPbV6z6XEMDOKQh4co2qEIie4mcXmzrEgyDLVlh6f93VunacrXamk96NInf/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjc1LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-731988"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6182451800985883474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8cCh0i7ho_mXspBbXxLsw1cV94NsUCyvnjLu6CvPhJjeyVrGxMUNxoW1pUxHMDRYuzpAJGyA9z6aOkxOwXPbV6z6XEMDOKQh4co2qEIie4mcXmzrEgyDLVlh6f93VunacrXamk96NInf/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjc1LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-731988" /></a><br />
I took these pics from the back of the garden to show the size difference and spotty growth better. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ttme5cdso0nz6_TMrt95lGX1pwCMJg_pyheDeQ2mmL_ofM4aoh3-T3hP-gYWeLhVHCVX3dXaTSPTgJjZDvPj30KPMmSh0bJuA-Fq58otqa5D6YV7g66Ak1N8J5mq_yJJWzr_70abM6Ke/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMzA1LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-789351"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6182448613306161154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ttme5cdso0nz6_TMrt95lGX1pwCMJg_pyheDeQ2mmL_ofM4aoh3-T3hP-gYWeLhVHCVX3dXaTSPTgJjZDvPj30KPMmSh0bJuA-Fq58otqa5D6YV7g66Ak1N8J5mq_yJJWzr_70abM6Ke/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMzA1LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-789351" /></a><br />
The beans have tons of flowers and the first wee pods are on their way.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0C4OPsE9f-aRoqDvEe0eVgf0-hGmeR4msUTGtsMJtq2An1DOMJKWgdm35iaopzbyFdhyphenhyphenjHi0khbIQJSCnOyX17wEJ-tdENGTLVl1pFBXL0aO9aUsDSWjgg1jVe1nHdxFiGKyESPrmY3K/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjc3LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-792275"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6182451631018147234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0C4OPsE9f-aRoqDvEe0eVgf0-hGmeR4msUTGtsMJtq2An1DOMJKWgdm35iaopzbyFdhyphenhyphenjHi0khbIQJSCnOyX17wEJ-tdENGTLVl1pFBXL0aO9aUsDSWjgg1jVe1nHdxFiGKyESPrmY3K/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjc3LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-792275" /></a><br />
The mangels at the back are particularly small and stunted. The turnips
are much smaller at the back than at the front, but starting to catch
up. The sunflowers are too tiny to amount to anything, while the romaine is slowly getting there. That's not too bad though, somewhat like succession planting.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJZykwO0_7u-i3zbAVRhACba9C5sR8aTmmEYvTdVVbvPE72Q8SkW5ZB5_k0FcdclAdS23PN4S3FkueD1w8fsaj7va0zT7u6bTuvytsFDSHmDwoyC5mUajtf1BS8X64UaTboGs4MRJTuFP/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMzAzLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-721694"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6182448754756313490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJZykwO0_7u-i3zbAVRhACba9C5sR8aTmmEYvTdVVbvPE72Q8SkW5ZB5_k0FcdclAdS23PN4S3FkueD1w8fsaj7va0zT7u6bTuvytsFDSHmDwoyC5mUajtf1BS8X64UaTboGs4MRJTuFP/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMzAzLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-721694" /></a><br />
The sunflowers at the front are getting ready to flower, and we're harvesting enough romaine from the outside leaves for a salad every 3-4 days.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURWBEAQKRELg92yap3raXSsNreJX_hZq9zd-oetggu1ID2zh1l9JGukmHfF8bo2BnMpJPXSJ4Q222FkMDT9ZXRE1Se2JyaS416OmNFKTGDzraLbMSZxgr5Cyg5OMG9btUpoXcOjxLm7sM/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjc2LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-718773"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6182451745976951794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURWBEAQKRELg92yap3raXSsNreJX_hZq9zd-oetggu1ID2zh1l9JGukmHfF8bo2BnMpJPXSJ4Q222FkMDT9ZXRE1Se2JyaS416OmNFKTGDzraLbMSZxgr5Cyg5OMG9btUpoXcOjxLm7sM/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjc2LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-718773" /></a><br />
Some of the pumpkins are looking pretty good, while others are just as sad and stunted as inside the greenhouse.<br />
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The peas are starting to die off now, despite the cooler weather. I'm still harvesting some, but many plants are dry and yellowed.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0C4OPsE9f-aRoqDvEe0eVgf0-hGmeR4msUTGtsMJtq2An1DOMJKWgdm35iaopzbyFdhyphenhyphenjHi0khbIQJSCnOyX17wEJ-tdENGTLVl1pFBXL0aO9aUsDSWjgg1jVe1nHdxFiGKyESPrmY3K/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjc3LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-792275"><br /></a>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557512606416161272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023803000478958088.post-85598961851973712042015-08-15T08:00:00.000-04:002015-08-15T08:00:06.197-04:00Greenhouse #3Greenhouse #3 is the most productive right now, with the least variety of plants. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-kVWUZhJqi7M_0O_RdQJue7QgC-N6sFTtqb4uzubyQyqPR1kXFujJ50icRKXpnfb_EW7829TgW5gyflkM2m1n9WJkc_SBObHqkDLslz5X1CyBiRtNPOjq-1qnyYEBRJEHMya1flX-VE_/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjc4LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-772068"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6182451546495409362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-kVWUZhJqi7M_0O_RdQJue7QgC-N6sFTtqb4uzubyQyqPR1kXFujJ50icRKXpnfb_EW7829TgW5gyflkM2m1n9WJkc_SBObHqkDLslz5X1CyBiRtNPOjq-1qnyYEBRJEHMya1flX-VE_/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjc4LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-772068" /></a> <br />
The tomato plants have lots of flowers and quite a few small green tomatoes. I've been pinching off suckers for about a week now. Sweet Hungarian Banana peppers are producing slowly. Long slims are producing well. The carrots are crazy! I'm still harvesting 4-5 every day, and they keep getting bigger and bigger. I've started pulling a few from around the tomatoes now, which are smaller, but I'm afraid the tops are blocking too much sunlight from the bottom of the tomato plants. <br />
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<div class="mobile-photo">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GWzNdWbp1gF39hmI1FIfpwbw7IcRuQWOv_JrJ5TyvwpmvhU1bcTs08ZVtODfYZDHY5hxa3LRuAAsVRhL0FUQWEEP0H5GFpuo_JW0utF2elKwKjmQLjihyEIsr9wR-s7sC1oDF5JC675Q/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjgwLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-738392"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6182451399605095986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GWzNdWbp1gF39hmI1FIfpwbw7IcRuQWOv_JrJ5TyvwpmvhU1bcTs08ZVtODfYZDHY5hxa3LRuAAsVRhL0FUQWEEP0H5GFpuo_JW0utF2elKwKjmQLjihyEIsr9wR-s7sC1oDF5JC675Q/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjgwLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-738392" /></a></div>
Cucumbers are climbing and flowering nicely. Peas are good. Radishes have been removed. Nasturtiums are huge and sending runners off into the tomatoes. Lots of flowers to harvest, though I'm leaving everything on one side to hopefully set seed.<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGc7y7cAAF1xTdKLb11PMzg0GYcLDuQ-sT65vsGm7TFaJeDs-5fWw3WWrJCJJciezWUIn5TPGujI2eZ3ecIhw8RrWUxVlpNUQrReORgmIqLGu-LyDz1G3s9VqVI1boMJYSBp8GE_L1c1gq/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjc5LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-753782"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6182451470186647698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGc7y7cAAF1xTdKLb11PMzg0GYcLDuQ-sT65vsGm7TFaJeDs-5fWw3WWrJCJJciezWUIn5TPGujI2eZ3ecIhw8RrWUxVlpNUQrReORgmIqLGu-LyDz1G3s9VqVI1boMJYSBp8GE_L1c1gq/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjc5LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-753782" /></a><br />
And the sunflowers are flowering! I love those beautiful rays of sunshine!Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557512606416161272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023803000478958088.post-70605461104255068712015-08-14T08:00:00.000-04:002015-08-14T08:00:07.400-04:00Greenhouse #2Greenhouse #2 is a funny little mess of contradictions.<br />
<div class="mobile-photo">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBinGPrmg56yJDoo-jM_Om3HOIgta45YpNSlYXv3T9UyMJJI_R7jDb7R4VoJCVq07FsBYSaoWgx6S4ib2os61ehFvTBqrAb9XY1Y5J1KvwEPmxw42X-uQLajmyNklbdZ-i6ru3zjovMX4/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjkzLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-747029"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6182449290228430370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBinGPrmg56yJDoo-jM_Om3HOIgta45YpNSlYXv3T9UyMJJI_R7jDb7R4VoJCVq07FsBYSaoWgx6S4ib2os61ehFvTBqrAb9XY1Y5J1KvwEPmxw42X-uQLajmyNklbdZ-i6ru3zjovMX4/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjkzLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-747029" /></a></div>
The melons are mostly climbing and flowering nicely. There are a couple which are still tiny, and just starting to reach the bottom of the wire.<br />
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Cabbages come in three sizes...<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqkxBSn32xQ-ih-kbYpkSJL9pMEjejqpyz3PfVuAmnPGzYfiWAA6nZImxDI30dDj_lYxHmxunn7Gkqdmr0k6DKOo93BX56FIfSl3iBqR-mIWxqnDJtwnbS2zMEy7Ly-fnM_d-p4eIr0hR/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjg5LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-779172"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6182449856707578578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqkxBSn32xQ-ih-kbYpkSJL9pMEjejqpyz3PfVuAmnPGzYfiWAA6nZImxDI30dDj_lYxHmxunn7Gkqdmr0k6DKOo93BX56FIfSl3iBqR-mIWxqnDJtwnbS2zMEy7Ly-fnM_d-p4eIr0hR/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjg5LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-779172" /></a><br />
Small (with the 'invisible' tomato plant between)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwCMVEFi1UEkTX7PcvMnKfDa-Zs5NBMd1RxDHoi71ro46fPstZ6G2iygMOf7xv0PiXUHj4aqfQlGeFopganXKBgEquS2sJahSCUMP16R_lT6GJN3oxfC9EPCU7tVVRFI2INiWW5RrHe6I/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjkwLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-763174"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6182449792413939522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwCMVEFi1UEkTX7PcvMnKfDa-Zs5NBMd1RxDHoi71ro46fPstZ6G2iygMOf7xv0PiXUHj4aqfQlGeFopganXKBgEquS2sJahSCUMP16R_lT6GJN3oxfC9EPCU7tVVRFI2INiWW5RrHe6I/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjkwLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-763174" /></a><br />
Medium<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPJQA3Pff6LmaT3TrUMivDvVMVQI3KdAXBFRF5kf0TZeQMRVqRid7sRRWGoZ1WMimVSBjq0wmwkdwiWk-EciK3YxwX64SeySXQK5XKe0n6_alS574xrerpQCBKXMf8qsYsNMpxkS8fjfh/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjkxLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-785569"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6182449458221902562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPJQA3Pff6LmaT3TrUMivDvVMVQI3KdAXBFRF5kf0TZeQMRVqRid7sRRWGoZ1WMimVSBjq0wmwkdwiWk-EciK3YxwX64SeySXQK5XKe0n6_alS574xrerpQCBKXMf8qsYsNMpxkS8fjfh/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjkxLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-785569" /></a><br />
Large. I could harvest this one now and it would be the largest cabbage I've ever grown.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOonRzn2Uc2uy_jIkz8O1R3cqrZ_FoHnSsJysB-7luR4n7F2Aj8zaMKyHBa3P1qoiwBjra9NKZ7VGOGGWTqLRcigi8LoBHJTEMZG2YE6hkSx6MyY7XmJW0YBopZDWom0g2M3khb3zgIkb/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjkyLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-760644"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6182449348169059890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOonRzn2Uc2uy_jIkz8O1R3cqrZ_FoHnSsJysB-7luR4n7F2Aj8zaMKyHBa3P1qoiwBjra9NKZ7VGOGGWTqLRcigi8LoBHJTEMZG2YE6hkSx6MyY7XmJW0YBopZDWom0g2M3khb3zgIkb/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjkyLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-760644" /></a><br />
Other cabbages have yet to form heads in the jungle of beets, dill, and kale.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIz50LzOUYpgXHi4UG4DV_yOhyg0JamQ1pFCwng_wH_moe3jmU0tuRJrCF_wX2pcs7N-1Q7smPsCYOeDbRTxFhAcR15UlPr53o8ODL9LWoXXhay1_519rxkOizRRn9CtidI4mcd-EB4Mi/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjg3LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-719163"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6182450026999320162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIz50LzOUYpgXHi4UG4DV_yOhyg0JamQ1pFCwng_wH_moe3jmU0tuRJrCF_wX2pcs7N-1Q7smPsCYOeDbRTxFhAcR15UlPr53o8ODL9LWoXXhay1_519rxkOizRRn9CtidI4mcd-EB4Mi/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjg3LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-719163" /></a> <br />
Two tiny heads of cauliflower are making an appearance, with no signs of the cabbage worms they attracted the last time I planted them. Their leaves are so huge I had thought these were the collard greens and was about to start harvesting them when the first head appeared. So where did I put the collard greens?<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_isZG39sMFmYZq3s9536FqV9y2N-2w5wiG1KU3GFsIu-65IgxMaIF6noF1wba0eaVjiwbhMlfnvY5N2WB4lmo05Aw-ODySxPgz-6FXIb3TxqWo135p04OtLKiXlwopcE4scLdQG0-A7O/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjg4LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-700254"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6182449945883773106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_isZG39sMFmYZq3s9536FqV9y2N-2w5wiG1KU3GFsIu-65IgxMaIF6noF1wba0eaVjiwbhMlfnvY5N2WB4lmo05Aw-ODySxPgz-6FXIb3TxqWo135p04OtLKiXlwopcE4scLdQG0-A7O/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjg4LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-700254" /></a><br />
No signs of heads on either the broccoli or the Brussels sprouts. I need to do more research on Brussels sprouts next winter. I've only had one mildly successful year with them, which seems odd given that others proclaim them to be so easy to grow and high yielding. Obviously there is something lacking in my soil that they need.<br />
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I have a few new shoots of spinach coming up, so some of them managed to set seed before I pulled them. Next year I think I'll just leave one or two plants on each side to go to seed to avoid the overcrowding.<br />
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Radishes have all been pulled.<br />
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I'm still harvesting beet tops and will soon start harvesting brassica leaves and kale for greens as well.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6ZEB5_wXV8AHGO0rvymN96HYQjhgLsO-CpIODA5qg76PGGDdRM8nbohNiOwYuQjlTOPBuHgPlF8Y9sLTFrx8ojX8X9Wusgch46Dp3b4cUMGeZBABvVucDrsoNTeS3VYLCf1Hq-IBFIL0/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMzAxLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-745996"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6182448857205443170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6ZEB5_wXV8AHGO0rvymN96HYQjhgLsO-CpIODA5qg76PGGDdRM8nbohNiOwYuQjlTOPBuHgPlF8Y9sLTFrx8ojX8X9Wusgch46Dp3b4cUMGeZBABvVucDrsoNTeS3VYLCf1Hq-IBFIL0/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMzAxLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-745996" /></a> <br />
And outside Greenhouse #2, the yellow flowers (coreopsis tickseed) are taller than they've ever been. The chickens weaved trails through them when they were smaller, kind of thinning them out.<br />
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<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557512606416161272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023803000478958088.post-79680593203759846482015-08-13T08:19:00.000-04:002015-08-13T08:19:56.617-04:00Greenhouse #1Summer is marching right along inside the greenhouses, while outside, the cool evenings and mornings are a constant reminder that fall is just around the corner.<br />
<div class="mobile-photo">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEEMJR143RmiEZ5TMNg-qeZTj6hVUQOtIEX77w1wUGevc-nrDKU1tNWWzYjL1gA5HRlp6s-CO24LcZ_pQSHkJqv1nVd4O5XHZ0cAUyuqB8QyESp3ibF25M-rxhTK25Ij3DiwYLeyUofdm/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjgxLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-711711"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6182451285081694386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEEMJR143RmiEZ5TMNg-qeZTj6hVUQOtIEX77w1wUGevc-nrDKU1tNWWzYjL1gA5HRlp6s-CO24LcZ_pQSHkJqv1nVd4O5XHZ0cAUyuqB8QyESp3ibF25M-rxhTK25Ij3DiwYLeyUofdm/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjgxLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-711711" /></a></div>
I moved the one pumpkin (top of picture) that might possibly accomplish something. It had started to sprawl into the beans. It has a couple of flowers, so maybe, if we're lucky it might produce something. It's very disappointing after the amazing pumpkin patch I had growing last year.<br />
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The beans are doing great with lots of flowers and the first little beans starting to form. They should be ready for the first picking in about a week.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xm9jNq6erLnXtX5WxgsYKlSCgODt5FQgZ9-_xA4XfzFeZ-WI9LJWyV4cFCKg8OdXi59w0JVPLSfdWlNO8YATvOAwOJMIIi8TIluLRyM8888eNAjfsyvlOhqhjsxNBTGnUDCLNMq1epAJ/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjgyLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-799456"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6182451232800702242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xm9jNq6erLnXtX5WxgsYKlSCgODt5FQgZ9-_xA4XfzFeZ-WI9LJWyV4cFCKg8OdXi59w0JVPLSfdWlNO8YATvOAwOJMIIi8TIluLRyM8888eNAjfsyvlOhqhjsxNBTGnUDCLNMq1epAJ/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjgyLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-799456" /></a><br />
Romaine is kind of bushy in the greenhouse.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2BPmIsM8_7WKK6jhH3Z-AzYjVfnGuWeK09ECv5Cnp0h9VRY4pAS0n1GoLcMFupmacH6P0LTEnhnZKfkGEbYFkKs4XxEi2sXqolOEx4fjaEroiYQkdSRTAriAFtolarDkYC5LcgRKkgf0/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjg2LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-738413"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6182450114804663730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2BPmIsM8_7WKK6jhH3Z-AzYjVfnGuWeK09ECv5Cnp0h9VRY4pAS0n1GoLcMFupmacH6P0LTEnhnZKfkGEbYFkKs4XxEi2sXqolOEx4fjaEroiYQkdSRTAriAFtolarDkYC5LcgRKkgf0/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjg2LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-738413" /></a><br />
The few stunted corn plants that came up are now setting ears. I don't expect to harvest these - I doubt there are even enough plants for proper fertilization.<br />
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Mom's extra cucumbers are climbing well. The nasturtiums are nice in here, not too big, not too small.<br />
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One watermelon plant might set fruit. The others are still too small.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDSS742J6jSbAeZa8qxFpuPXIo05knN1kjUFgovAKJTrlKHCX3gn9zcVhBeG3hZMM3f5as8qXaSGVA01_GJmt1ALXgSP-AVS7J5NeaswbFkreaUrIcnRuNvpjffI8H1j4vOTDd1hLoXKy/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjg0LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-725067"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6182450913350478930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDSS742J6jSbAeZa8qxFpuPXIo05knN1kjUFgovAKJTrlKHCX3gn9zcVhBeG3hZMM3f5as8qXaSGVA01_GJmt1ALXgSP-AVS7J5NeaswbFkreaUrIcnRuNvpjffI8H1j4vOTDd1hLoXKy/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODEyLTAyMjg0LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-725067" /></a><br />
Crazy sunflower, crazy dill. There always seems to be that one sunflower in this greenhouse that reaches the 9' roof. The dill climbing up through it is new this year though.<br />
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I pulled all of the overgrown radishes for pig feed and put new seed behind the corn on the side where the pumpkins never came up. Piggy seems to enjoy the radishes, and they're the fastest growing root crop I know of. I'm debating planting more radishes for future pigs, and fewer turnips and mangels. The first year I grew mangels they were huge, but not since. This year the plants are big but the roots are still fairly small.<br />
<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557512606416161272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023803000478958088.post-80375001280293634272015-08-12T08:00:00.000-04:002015-08-12T08:00:13.669-04:00Butter Day 2Since I'm only able to get <a href="http://whishin.blogspot.ca/2015/07/first-butter-day.html" target="_blank">a small amount of cream</a> from Majesty's milk, I decided to freeze it until I had enough to do a proper batch of butter.<br />
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I thought two pints, plus the cream off yesterday's milk should do it.<br />
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It was still a little skimpy. Next time I'll wait for three pints. Any more than that would be too much for my mixer.<br />
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It made just a little over half a pound. (Forgot to take a picture).<br />
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Making a year's supply of butter from a holstein/beef cross cow would be extremely over ambitious.<br />
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Majesty continues to improve her milk yield for us, as Queenie eats more and more grass. It's just not very high in fat content.<br />
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<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557512606416161272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023803000478958088.post-67542344749377172172015-08-11T11:04:00.000-04:002015-08-11T11:04:13.423-04:00Raspberry SeasonThe raspberry yield has improved dramatically with the recent rains. We're getting bigger, plumper berries now. I filled the 4L bucket in the freezer, then left it out to defrost over night.<br />
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The next morning I put them in a 1 Gallon carboy, along with the juice.<br />
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After boiling and cooling the sugar water was added, and now the carboy sits on the buffet with all of the other wines we currently have on the go.<br />
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The rest of this years' raspberry crop will be turned into juice. I'm continuing with the pick and freeze method. This way there's no rush to get enough berries picked, and no waste from sitting in the fridge too long. Raspberries don't keep well for very long.<br />
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Blueberry yields are also improving, though not enough to try another batch of wine yet. Peas are dying off, which seems odd since the rains bring cooler temps.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557512606416161272noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023803000478958088.post-14897881522836969102015-08-09T09:01:00.001-04:002015-08-09T09:01:54.179-04:00Chicks in the HenhouseIn all of the excitement over Piggy, I almost forgot about the big chicks day out!<br />
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Batch #1 was moved out to the turkey pen three days ago. We put them in the corner pen to test their size versus the wire. The rest of the birds have been doing well staying in the snow fenced area of the garden around the greenhouses, but I wanted to know I could lock them into the turkey pen if these little ones start causing trouble. <br />
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The little pen also gives them a chance to meet the bigger birds without getting beat into submission. The hens were very interested in the newcomers.<br />
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The chicks seemed happy scratching through the dirt and enjoying the sunshine.<br />
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Yesterday I opened the little doorway halfway. The chicks can now come out into the big, wide world, but the older birds should have a hard time getting into the little pen. So far, so good. No chicks in the garden.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557512606416161272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023803000478958088.post-53144720749344744842015-08-07T09:15:00.000-04:002015-08-07T09:15:20.715-04:00This Little Piggy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2hRXphmevYQ5oE_ZF2SecWjqvIVCIqBVTRqbM42PoZvKKgY0i35Jr8Vwmv1Ll5fw2GqtO5x6etVJTEibqMk3lNkVXAWu-7eard7alRWy4v1p-Ou9lqwC705TntjmEsv8uETQEcYjnOG6/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODA2LTAyMjU1LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-761456"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6180250332418018274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2hRXphmevYQ5oE_ZF2SecWjqvIVCIqBVTRqbM42PoZvKKgY0i35Jr8Vwmv1Ll5fw2GqtO5x6etVJTEibqMk3lNkVXAWu-7eard7alRWy4v1p-Ou9lqwC705TntjmEsv8uETQEcYjnOG6/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODA2LTAyMjU1LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-761456" /></a> <br />
Will be on the menu this fall!<br />
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Pending her arrival, I reread all of Ohiofarmgirl's pig posts. She shares a wealth of information and experience about how to raise pigs on the cheap.<br />
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<a href="http://adventuresinthegoodland.blogspot.ca/2010/12/how-to-grow-out-feeder-pigs-on-cheap.html" target="_blank">How to Grow Out Feeder Pigs on the Cheap - Part One</a><br />
<a href="http://adventuresinthegoodland.blogspot.ca/2010/12/how-to-grow-out-feeder-pigs-part-2-feed.html" target="_blank">How to Grow Out Feeder Pigs on the Cheap - Part Two</a><br />
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<a href="http://adventuresinthegoodland.blogspot.ca/2015/02/pigs-pigs-pigs-pigsand-what-to-feed-them.html" target="_blank">Pigs, pigs, pigs, pigs....and what to feed them.</a></div>
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<a href="http://adventuresinthegoodland.blogspot.ca/2014/09/what-im-feeding-pigz-today.html" target="_blank">What I'm Feeding the Pigz Today</a></div>
<a href="http://adventuresinthegoodland.blogspot.ca/2011/05/whatcha-feeding-them-pigz.html" target="_blank">Whatcha Feeding Them Pigz?</a> <br />
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<a href="http://adventuresinthegoodland.blogspot.ca/2012/09/what-im-feeding-pigz-today.html" target="_blank">What I'm Feeding the Pigz today</a></div>
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I've never done a cost analysis of how we raise our pigs before. The price of feed in Canada would scare you, lol. (It scares me). But then, our grocery store prices would scare you too. We're also starting late this year. This little piggy has four months max, before she lands in the freezer.</div>
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Our <a href="http://whishin.blogspot.ca/2013/09/scratch-that-off-to-do-list.html" target="_blank">last batch of pigs (2013)</a> we fed</div>
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4 cups of scratch grain</div>
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1 cup of milk</div>
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1/4 cup lentils</div>
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2 medium potatoes</div>
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boiled in water, twice per day.</div>
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I don't seem to have made any notes on increases or changes to their feed, except that I gave them beets for awhile instead of potatoes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_pDaNH6PYcHH-Pr5OxBzFarDuYqcYkDrbqCUAKOrgDlJc3fye0gM3BcJInCPm9DWuCYLmG8v8HL45sYaGzyRZXlsaoUci4LRL9I0x4c8fuCHIOjMVTSHypFqUMPnThyphenhyphenFKpcEw7_6c8sS/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODA2LTAyMjUyLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-736223"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6179888584796263298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_pDaNH6PYcHH-Pr5OxBzFarDuYqcYkDrbqCUAKOrgDlJc3fye0gM3BcJInCPm9DWuCYLmG8v8HL45sYaGzyRZXlsaoUci4LRL9I0x4c8fuCHIOjMVTSHypFqUMPnThyphenhyphenFKpcEw7_6c8sS/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODA2LTAyMjUyLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-736223" /></a></div>
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This morning I went ahead and started a batch of my feed, with the addition of two whole eggs. It was on the stove cooking before I remembered that it was for two pigs and I'm only getting one this year. Ah well, she's had a long stressful day, and the extra feed shouldn't hurt her.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivP8Wjno5ksj1R5mhx1F-O3oQSxf1oS2oHuowgMjJvGLg9ApmTROHKTY1hAqDceuzDZdG_UFg-eUw1DXsZ0v7bdR8nFx62WTWSTFg9Gjo1gKd2fgcg2el7wMBFGltDkrRnlDNvh-YGsiKj/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODA2LTAyMjU3LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-714267"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6180250127336831570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivP8Wjno5ksj1R5mhx1F-O3oQSxf1oS2oHuowgMjJvGLg9ApmTROHKTY1hAqDceuzDZdG_UFg-eUw1DXsZ0v7bdR8nFx62WTWSTFg9Gjo1gKd2fgcg2el7wMBFGltDkrRnlDNvh-YGsiKj/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODA2LTAyMjU3LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-714267" /></a></div>
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She arrived late in the afternoon and laid in the corner for quite some time, showing no interest in her food or water.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw29rRBdGX2JKSVESIJ5KrNYY_Qz3Ol9iujch8L0X4shw1VQ2MRtmuKrFJUIkwLw-xVr3aEh1qOXpiYqcq3zICwGoDja8-x1LJlPzj2rUn2sIfQvpSYfS10kw-vWsdx4UIUTUJsBHwY2ox/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODA2LTAyMjUzLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-778743"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6180250402658928370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw29rRBdGX2JKSVESIJ5KrNYY_Qz3Ol9iujch8L0X4shw1VQ2MRtmuKrFJUIkwLw-xVr3aEh1qOXpiYqcq3zICwGoDja8-x1LJlPzj2rUn2sIfQvpSYfS10kw-vWsdx4UIUTUJsBHwY2ox/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODA2LTAyMjUzLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-778743" /></a></div>
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Eventually, she got up and started exploring her pen.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi489d5PTR3W24BLe0zYUHcLNEqMBmu3uSNrL1SsMxi9Cp2Yowmn_0ZjhLxt4iqOLGd3AtiBp0hl4EjIoFoOHz5nES4gfGlrOJZWZsDVhjgNA2eDb9Kicy8pNgvxG6KeTdAOBezPYz9leBG/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODA2LTAyMjU2LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-738616"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6180250231270585346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi489d5PTR3W24BLe0zYUHcLNEqMBmu3uSNrL1SsMxi9Cp2Yowmn_0ZjhLxt4iqOLGd3AtiBp0hl4EjIoFoOHz5nES4gfGlrOJZWZsDVhjgNA2eDb9Kicy8pNgvxG6KeTdAOBezPYz9leBG/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwODA2LTAyMjU2LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-738616" /></a></div>
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She's a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorkshire_pig" target="_blank">Yorkshire</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danish_Landrace_%28pig%29" target="_blank">Landrace</a> cross, and she's been raised on scratch grain and garden/kitchen waste. She's from the same farmer that we got our last piglets from- the sweet, friendly piglets. I'm hoping she shares their gentle disposition, but grows fast!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Bring on the bacon! And the Lard. Lots of lard. (I might want the lard more than the bacon...)</div>
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<br /></div>
Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557512606416161272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023803000478958088.post-77988931771817735402015-08-02T08:00:00.000-04:002015-08-02T08:00:08.359-04:00Greenhouse Growth<b>Greenhouse #1</b> <br />
<br />
Green beans in Greenhouse #1 are starting to flower.<br />
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What
little corn sprouted at all is stunted. I blame that on a wayward
chicken who got in and scratched through the soil shortly after
planting.<br />
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Pumpkins are still doing poorly, barely making any headway at all. Radishes are in full bloom. I keep picking off their lower leaves to allow the vines more room and light.<br />
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<br />
I transplanted romaine into some of the empty space at the ends of the
rows. It's doing very well, which is kind of funny, since the romaine in
the garden is also coming along spectacularly this year. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikW257JMkpzjyAOAS2qjXwXr9zUGw-eoBUSG24P2frRfllZO4PJPF_KWKl7AViDyXaoZlBKunIkNrYySkmaN3eJKM8RHdFFh0-uXlU8ey7xN_yguL4u9DZtKPBZdowMxEEYBzNZR3I_OB1/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwNzI5LTAyMjEzLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-765476" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6178022979723272082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikW257JMkpzjyAOAS2qjXwXr9zUGw-eoBUSG24P2frRfllZO4PJPF_KWKl7AViDyXaoZlBKunIkNrYySkmaN3eJKM8RHdFFh0-uXlU8ey7xN_yguL4u9DZtKPBZdowMxEEYBzNZR3I_OB1/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwNzI5LTAyMjEzLmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-765476" /></a><br />
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<br />
More romaine, and wind damage to the greenhouse. This side has been split since winter, but I had it covered with another piece of plastic.<br />
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<br />
The biggest melon beside the first flowering cucumber. The watermelon isn't flowering yet, but starting to
bud. The rest of the melons are only about 3 inches high, and won't
likely amount to anything. <br />
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<br />
The cucumbers are extras that Mom started.They also amuse me. The ones she planted
in her greenhouse are easily 4 times as big. I definitely need soil
amendments in here. <br />
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A bit of an overview. It's quite sparse and unjunglelike. Sad for this time of year.<br />
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<br />
And then, there's a sunflower 'tree'. Obviously sunflowers don't require nearly as much nutrition, as they're aiming for the roof again. The flower isn't blooming yet.<br />
<br />
Wind damage - we had high winds for a couple of days that ripped the plastic off the back wall and roof of greenhouse #1. There was minor damage to Greenhouse #3, and none to Greenhouse #2.<br />
<br />
<b>Greenhouse #2</b><br />
<br />
As the best sealed greenhouse (the fewest rips and tears), Greenhouse #2 is always the warmest. <br />
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It's achieving the jungle effect I'm accustomed to. Sunflowers aren't quite so tree like here, but doing very well. Nasturtiums are in full bloom, radishes are blooming, but less crazed, beats are coming along nicely, despite me harvesting the tops here and there.<br />
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<br />
I bought two melons at a late sale when I thought my Far North Melons weren't going to make an appearance. They're flowering now, but the Far North's aren't far behind.<br />
<br />
The dill is wild and crazy and seems to be everywhere. I think I'll pull the sprawlers next year and try to keep it more contained along the back wall.<br />
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Brussels Sprouts and Broccoli are coming along ok. They might make heads before winter. The Brussels seem to be struggling with the heat a bit. The beats are crazy. They're only supposed to be companion plants, but they came up exceptionally well. I couldn't tell the difference between the beat tops and the chard at first, so just picked here and there. Normally that would stunt my beet growth, but it doesn't seem to be doing them any harm in here. <br />
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The cabbages and kale are stuck in a tangled web of spinach. I was trying to let the spinach go to seed for a fall crop but it started falling over when it got too tall. I've been pulling a couple of plants here and there, trying to uncrowd the cabbages.<br />
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<b>Greenhouse #3</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimejdpzDFqDIE_nWGnedpnL1qjsCsR1SzSuUwC6Oymwe7rIlm_1fVNKlgTWVFBQ8XmCapHtP6-6E8-IrGuQTn2WNrUM-G6sxOtPZ2Hux1_AwgLeha65D6uMRax7fOSJ2wGPg-6O1DkS3tK/s1600/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwNzMxLTAyMjI0LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-733267" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6178022405119049298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimejdpzDFqDIE_nWGnedpnL1qjsCsR1SzSuUwC6Oymwe7rIlm_1fVNKlgTWVFBQ8XmCapHtP6-6E8-IrGuQTn2WNrUM-G6sxOtPZ2Hux1_AwgLeha65D6uMRax7fOSJ2wGPg-6O1DkS3tK/s320/%253D%253Futf-8%253FB%253FSU1HLTIwMTUwNzMxLTAyMjI0LmpwZw%253D%253D%253F%253D-733267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomato/Pepper/Carrot Jungle </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'm quite pleased with the way the tomatoes have filled out. There are still a couple of smaller plants, but I think the overall harvest will be good. The carrots have been overshadowing the peppers even though I keep pushing the leaves away from them. I pulled a few yesterday to give the peppers more space.<br />
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What a shock! I don't think I've ever grown such big carrots, let alone to see them this big in July! I'll be harvesting a few of these babies every day or two for the rest of the season!<br />
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Sunflowers, nasturtiums, radishes, beets, peas, carrots, and cucumbers... A mini jungle in the centre. The cucumbers are just starting to climb the fencing, reaching for the sun.<br />
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<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557512606416161272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023803000478958088.post-6253772335025920702015-07-31T09:36:00.000-04:002015-07-31T09:36:06.840-04:00Hatchery UpdateYes, I do believe my adventures in incubating are now successful enough to call it a hatchery! Batch #3 started hatching last night, and we are at 10 chicks so far.<br />
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We moved the incubator out to the new coop after the last batch because
it was too hot in the house. Not too hot for the chicks - the heat of
the incubator and heat lamp was too hot for the people!<br />
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It's a more streamlined process now, with new chicks going straight from the incubator onto the floor of the pen. There's no overcrowding, and lots of noise from all three batches of chicks.<br />
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I believe we'll be ok to do one more batch outside this year, then probably back in the house in September.<br />
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The first batch is almost big enough to move outside now. I have a few repairs to do to the greenhouses after a bit of a wind storm the other day, and then I think it will be safe to relocate them. (It's safe for them now, but not for my veggies!)<br />
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The second batch is doing well, although I'm surprised by how much colour their showing. Most of them have at least some black feathers, and a fair bit of red. Few are solid white. These are offspring of my crossbreed chantecler/frey's dual purpose hens, same as the first batch. I think the younger ones were laying more eggs when I started this batch than the first.<br />
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The new batch are from after the chanteclers went outside, using eggs from all of my hens with the alternate rooster. I'll be keeping the whiter ones and offering the rest for sale.<br />
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Egg production is up to at least a dozen per day, sometimes as many as 16. <br />
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The black oil sunflower seeds (BOSS) are really paying off. I'm feeding one coffee can of BOSS and one coffee can of scratch grains per night. They get one 500mL sour cream container scoop of sprouted barley in the morning and forage through the day. Although the BOSS are more expensive to buy, they don't require as much feed this way, so it actually saves me money. I plan to continue with it through the winter, which I hope will increase egg production and over all health.<br />
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Eggs will be saved for incubating over the next few days, and batch #4 should be started by Monday.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557512606416161272noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023803000478958088.post-81132930458721317692015-07-28T12:13:00.001-04:002015-07-28T12:13:56.585-04:00More Milking AdventuresWe've kept up the routine for the past few days, letting Majesty out in the morning, keeping Queenie in the milk room pen. They don't seem to suffer any kind of separation anxiety, until Majesty returns bellowing around 6pm. Then she wants in and she wants in NOW.<br />
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We've been taking between 3.5- 4 Cups of milk from her, then letting her in with Queenie to finish the job. After Queenie finishes nursing, I go out to check on Majesty. Her left side udder is still tight and full. <br />
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Last night #1 let her in to the pen to let Queenie nurse first. After she finished, he milked Majesty's left side dry. 9.25 Cups of milk! Half holstein does seem to be plenty of milk for us after all! <br />
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This morning I checked Majesty's udders. They're no worse for wear, and Queenie does not appear to have suffered from lack of milk through the night.<br />
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I think we'll continue this way, draining one side after Queenie nurses unless any problems develop.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557512606416161272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023803000478958088.post-16674513081124175402015-07-28T08:00:00.000-04:002015-07-28T08:00:10.529-04:00PeppergrassOne man's weed is another man's herb.<br />
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I have been weeding these plants out of my garden for eight years, and it never occurred to me to even try figuring out what it was. Then it popped up in front of my nose on <a href="http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2015/07/lawn-weed-party.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LittleHouseInTheSuburbs+%28Little+House+in+the+Suburbs%29" target="_blank">another blog I read</a>.<br />
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Isn't it funny how we don't really know or use the plants that surround us? I've tried growing <a href="http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/peppercorn/how-to-grow-peppercorns.htm" target="_blank">black pepper plants</a>, which is truly ridiculous in my climate. Last year I grew nasturtiums and <a href="http://framboisemanor.blogspot.ca/2013/09/nasturtium-spice.html" target="_blank">ground the flowers for spice</a>. All this time I've had this weed growing in my garden that I could have been using for a peppery spice. Go figure.<br />
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<a href="http://www.eattheweeds.com/peppergrass-potent-pipsqueak/" target="_blank">"The young leaves can be added to salads or soups — they are peppery. The seed pods can be used like pepper. The root, ground and mixed with vinegar is a good substitute for horseradish. The leaves contain protein, vitamin A and are rich in Vitamin C. There are no poisonous look-alikes."</a><br />
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And if you should happen to leave them in your garden over the winter, they're all dried out and crunchy in the spring. <br />
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For now, I've been munching on a few seed pods while weeding. They have a mild black pepper taste. I pulled a bunch out and started drying them whole for winter. I'm also tossing a few into meals as I cook. The roots are very thin and short, and I have more than enough horse radish already, so I won't be trying that part, but as a spice that grows everywhere, and a plant that I don't have to manage, these make the menu.<br />
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<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557512606416161272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023803000478958088.post-18405428321973292852015-07-27T06:15:00.000-04:002015-07-27T06:15:01.600-04:00Return to the GardenWell, I was caught up in the garden...
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This is what I came home to after a week away. It amazes me how well the weeds grow with so little rain. #1 says they only got a little sprinkle overnight, once the whole week.<br />
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All in all though, the garden is doing well. There is a definite size difference between the front of the garden, where we unloaded the manure last summer, and the back of the garden, which did not get any soil amendments. <br />
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My quad is supposed to be fixed this weekend, which means we'll finally be able to get the barn cleaned out. With the snow fence granting the birds access to the far end of the garden we'll be able to unload all of the manure there, amending the soil while giving them access to all of the worms and microorganisms they can handle. <br />
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The trick for next year will be creating a pathway to give the birds access to the front side of the garden. A new summer hen house and yard on the close end of the garden would simplify things, allowing us to rotate the birds from end to end, year by year. I can't see fitting construction plans into the schedule this summer though.<br />
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Even though I had planned to plant a lot more this spring, I'm finding the garden much easier to deal with in it's smaller size. I'm not nearly so far behind with the weeds this year, and I think overall production will be higher. Most of the spring veggies are coming out of the greenhouses as companion plants, as will a fair bit of the fall root crops. The greenhouses allow me to grow more, in less space, with less weeding, than the garden, while feeding the birds and making the soil amending a much easier task.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557512606416161272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023803000478958088.post-81788317164066524392015-07-23T20:02:00.001-04:002015-07-23T20:02:15.725-04:00On with the Milking<b>Day 10 - July 13</b><br />
Again, a very agreeable cow. Again, just a drizzle of milk. <br />
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I decided to let Majesty out in the yard for the day. I slipped the cow halter on her like there was nothing to it. She's so sweet. Then I tried to lead her out of the milk room. Ha! Who was I kidding? First she stood there looking at me like I was crazy, then she pulled me towards her. Once I stabilized myself, I braced myself on the door frame and tried again. This time she nearly ripped my hand off. Ouch. She was content to stand there eating with the halter on, but no way was I going to lead her anywhere. I took the halter off of her with no problem.<br />
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Changing tactics, I decided to halter Queenie instead. Majesty didn't budge as we played ring around the cow. Once I got her cornered I managed to slip the rope on her without too much trouble. Leading her over to the post took a bit of muscle. I tied her up. Majesty didn't seem at all concerned.<br />
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I left the gate open. After a while Majesty finally went outside and noticed it. She ate in the yard with Patrick for a while, then let herself into the pasture and went to visit her mom.<br />
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Queenie tangled herself up a couple of times, but no harm done. By the end of the day she had stopped fighting with the rope.<br />
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Majesty came and went as she pleased until late afternoon. Then she paced around the outside of the pen calling Queenie to come to her. I was willing to let her figure it out on her own, but #1 decided he would push her in. She gave him a run around for about an hour, but eventually he got her back into the pen and untied Queenie.<br />
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<b>Day 11 - July 14</b><br />
1/4 Cup of milk. Better, but not much.<br />
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Queenie was out in the milk room pen this morning. I chased her around for a bit, until she bashed head first into the fence, then bellowed. Majesty ran out of the milk room to see what was going on. Then we played ring around the cow for a while until I gave up. Majesty will stay in for now. I might try again later, or maybe tomorrow.<br />
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#1 separated the pair of them and left Queenie in the pen loose. Majesty came back bellowing in the evening.<br />
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<b>Day 12 - July 15</b><br />
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1/2 Cup of milk. Improving slowly. Majesty was let out again while Queenie stayed in the pen.<br />
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<b>The Next Few Days</b><br />
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I left with Husband for our trip south. #1 got a job. #4 came home from camp.<br />
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#1 let milked Majesty later and later each day, preparing for the switch to night time milking. Not more than 1/2 Cup. They were adapting well to being separated. <br />
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And then, #4 went to let Majesty out. She didn't want to leave right away, so being the impatient 12 year old that he is, he walked away and left the gate OPEN.<br />
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The first day after, #1 couldn't catch Queenie, so he haltered Majesty and dragged her back up to the barn. Majesty went through the fence in the middle of the night.<br />
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The second day, he couldn't find Queenie, so he dragged Majesty up again and tied her in the milk room. He left the gate open for Queenie.<br />
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Finally, the third day, Queenie was back in the pen with her mother.<br />
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I returned from my trip, and we're back to letting Majesty out in the morning and keeping Queenie penned.<br />
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Eager to reunite at the end of the day, Majesty munches some grain outside the gate while we milk. Queenie waits impatiently inside. I would like to build a short fence to block off the pen so we can bring Majesty in to the milk room without worrying that Queenie might escape. This works for now.<br />
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We're taking between 2-3 Cups of milk per day now, once again without effort. Majesty is not quite engorged when she returns to the milk pen at night. <br />
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<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557512606416161272noreply@blogger.com0