I am 5'8" and the corn is way above my head.
It is even above my outstretched arm. It may actually be a hazard to air craft.
Showing posts with label garden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label garden. Show all posts
Friday, July 18, 2014
The tallest corn in the *world*
My county fair is happening this week and there is a contest for the tallest corn stalk. If this corn weren't part of my Three Sisters garden and supporting pole beans with roots intertwined with pumpkins, I would totally enter it. It is an heirloom, multi-colored dent which will hopefully be tortillas one day.
It is even above my outstretched arm. It may actually be a hazard to air craft.
It is even above my outstretched arm. It may actually be a hazard to air craft.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
In the event that gardening is possible this year...
So? It's like snowing right now? And sticking? I'm trying not to be upset by this, but I would like to remind you we live in Indiana, and not Central New York.
A few weeks ago as we were enjoying a fire in the wood stove after many days of not having any wood (because we ran out, for the third time), just before we had our propane tank filled for the second time this year, Bill suggested we really, really enjoy the fire because we would be missing it come July when it was still cold and there was no wood left in the world. And then we started talking about Ice Ages and how the last one may have popped into being in just six months, rather than over the course of years. Comforting.
In the event that we actually do have a summer again in our lifetime, I have started some seeds: tomato, pepper, eggplant and herbs. I'm using a soil blocker that we purchased for about $30 from Johnny's Seeds. It was easy to use, is a one-time purchase and there is nothing to throw away. It did take a little more time than filling peat pots, but not much. It was also dirtier, but I consider that a plus.
I used Pro-Mix potting soil, which I purchased at a home improvement store. I mixed the soil with a lot of water (much more than the "recipe" that came with the soil blocker suggested), until it was like peanut butter. Then, I made a big mud pie and pressed the soil blocker down over it until I could see water - dirt water! - seeping through the top of the blocker. I then moved to the tray and pushed on the handle allowing the blocks to gently drop out. Ta da!
The blocks have held up well so far. I mostly water by misting with a spray bottle, but also by pouring water on top. I've even had to transfer some blocks from one tray to another and they did fine. There was a little bit of crumbling, but nothing tragic.
The lights are a broad spectrum LED, which the plants seem to enjoy.
We bought very few seeds this year. All of our tomatoes and peppers are from seeds that were either left over from last year or seeds that we saved ourselves from plants we grew. Some of the seeds are now on their third generation, meaning we bought the seeds in 2012, grew the plants and saved the seeds, grew plants from those saved seeds in 2013 and saved new seed from them in the fall and have planted them for use this year. So far, the seeds I've saved have grown the fastest and biggest. It's my own version of natural selection - the stuff that grows well in our soil under my management practices gets saved and will hopefully continue to get better. I LOVE IT!
A few weeks ago as we were enjoying a fire in the wood stove after many days of not having any wood (because we ran out, for the third time), just before we had our propane tank filled for the second time this year, Bill suggested we really, really enjoy the fire because we would be missing it come July when it was still cold and there was no wood left in the world. And then we started talking about Ice Ages and how the last one may have popped into being in just six months, rather than over the course of years. Comforting.
In the event that we actually do have a summer again in our lifetime, I have started some seeds: tomato, pepper, eggplant and herbs. I'm using a soil blocker that we purchased for about $30 from Johnny's Seeds. It was easy to use, is a one-time purchase and there is nothing to throw away. It did take a little more time than filling peat pots, but not much. It was also dirtier, but I consider that a plus.
I used Pro-Mix potting soil, which I purchased at a home improvement store. I mixed the soil with a lot of water (much more than the "recipe" that came with the soil blocker suggested), until it was like peanut butter. Then, I made a big mud pie and pressed the soil blocker down over it until I could see water - dirt water! - seeping through the top of the blocker. I then moved to the tray and pushed on the handle allowing the blocks to gently drop out. Ta da!
The blocks have held up well so far. I mostly water by misting with a spray bottle, but also by pouring water on top. I've even had to transfer some blocks from one tray to another and they did fine. There was a little bit of crumbling, but nothing tragic.
The lights are a broad spectrum LED, which the plants seem to enjoy.
We bought very few seeds this year. All of our tomatoes and peppers are from seeds that were either left over from last year or seeds that we saved ourselves from plants we grew. Some of the seeds are now on their third generation, meaning we bought the seeds in 2012, grew the plants and saved the seeds, grew plants from those saved seeds in 2013 and saved new seed from them in the fall and have planted them for use this year. So far, the seeds I've saved have grown the fastest and biggest. It's my own version of natural selection - the stuff that grows well in our soil under my management practices gets saved and will hopefully continue to get better. I LOVE IT!
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Spring!
I have many posts in my head for you about bathrooms and spring and knitting. But, until they are actually written, here are some teasers.
The lilac leaves are new as of today. The sheep and goats are glad to be eating the grass that's just started growing in earnest as well.
The lilac leaves are new as of today. The sheep and goats are glad to be eating the grass that's just started growing in earnest as well.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Chili and chickens (and goats)
I'm not a very good food blogger and always worry I make things look far less appetizing than they are...but here's what we've been eating this week - local chili:
It's totally time for chili. The beef was purchased directly from the farmer the tomatoes and peppers are from our garden. Bill made the bread and the beer is a home brew. Yummo.
These pumpkins have been dedicated to the highest purpose to which a squash can aspire - pumpkin ale. We bottled it this week and just have to wait a bit while it carbonates. Waiting!!!
This is Minion, the youngest chick we have. He was odd and unexpected and is still totally attached to his mom even though they should really being going their separate ways by now. Basically, he's a big baby.
On the other side of that coin are the Patooties (as in Cutie Patooties), a pair of chickens that were raised by a turkey along with their sister Duck (who clearly has identity issues). The turkey hen is not convinced that her babies are big enough to be on their own yet and is still trying to mother them. The Patooties rather think they are sheep, though, and spend most of their day in the pasture.
The goats are doing well:
Whenever I see these kittens playing or cuddling together it makes me unreasonably happy that we could keep them together. When we went to the Humane Society we knew we wanted "up to two kittens" and chose these guys because they were the only siblings. I mean, all the kittens were adorable and any that we brought home would have been wonderful, but these guys tug at my heart strings. I'm sure they don't remember, but they had a tough go early in life and whenever I think I of the long, cold night they spent together abandoned outside Animal Control, and the illnesses they battled through as result, I am so glad they still have each other for snuggling. And biting. And squirrel watching.
It's totally time for chili. The beef was purchased directly from the farmer the tomatoes and peppers are from our garden. Bill made the bread and the beer is a home brew. Yummo.
These pumpkins have been dedicated to the highest purpose to which a squash can aspire - pumpkin ale. We bottled it this week and just have to wait a bit while it carbonates. Waiting!!!
This is Minion, the youngest chick we have. He was odd and unexpected and is still totally attached to his mom even though they should really being going their separate ways by now. Basically, he's a big baby.
On the other side of that coin are the Patooties (as in Cutie Patooties), a pair of chickens that were raised by a turkey along with their sister Duck (who clearly has identity issues). The turkey hen is not convinced that her babies are big enough to be on their own yet and is still trying to mother them. The Patooties rather think they are sheep, though, and spend most of their day in the pasture.
The goats are doing well:
Whenever I see these kittens playing or cuddling together it makes me unreasonably happy that we could keep them together. When we went to the Humane Society we knew we wanted "up to two kittens" and chose these guys because they were the only siblings. I mean, all the kittens were adorable and any that we brought home would have been wonderful, but these guys tug at my heart strings. I'm sure they don't remember, but they had a tough go early in life and whenever I think I of the long, cold night they spent together abandoned outside Animal Control, and the illnesses they battled through as result, I am so glad they still have each other for snuggling. And biting. And squirrel watching.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Red, Yellow, Green
We've been eating lots of red and yellow meals lately. Wanna see?
Delicata squash soup and tomatoes on garlic bread with NY wine.
Two pots of tomato sauce for canning. Bill was pretty insistent that the yellow pot stay purely yellow. There were two separate spoons for stirring, and the immersion blender had to go into the yellow sauce first, lest some red bits contaminate it.
Not being eaten are these yellow pickling cucumbers. Bill has trepidation about them, and I rightfully know that all cucumbers are vile. So, I've been picking them and they sit on our counter...destined to become chicken food.
Finally, here's what the goats and sheep have been eating. That "grass is greener" thing is apparently not to be taken lightly, as I noticed when we moved some fences around this weekend. The old paddock where the ruminants had been confined is on the left. There is a clear line where the fence was with the "other side" of the fence on the right. Makes you think that maybe we've been using that saying incorrectly for all these years.
Delicata squash soup and tomatoes on garlic bread with NY wine.
Two pots of tomato sauce for canning. Bill was pretty insistent that the yellow pot stay purely yellow. There were two separate spoons for stirring, and the immersion blender had to go into the yellow sauce first, lest some red bits contaminate it.
Not being eaten are these yellow pickling cucumbers. Bill has trepidation about them, and I rightfully know that all cucumbers are vile. So, I've been picking them and they sit on our counter...destined to become chicken food.
Finally, here's what the goats and sheep have been eating. That "grass is greener" thing is apparently not to be taken lightly, as I noticed when we moved some fences around this weekend. The old paddock where the ruminants had been confined is on the left. There is a clear line where the fence was with the "other side" of the fence on the right. Makes you think that maybe we've been using that saying incorrectly for all these years.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
A belated garden update...
Here is how our garden looked about a month ago. My recent life has been totally devoted to canning tomatoes, though we did enjoy some delicata squash soup last night.
(clockwise from top left) Chocolate cherry, Martino's Roma, Wapsipinicon Peach, Opalka and Sungella tomatoes. All heirlooms.
All these peppers have been eaten by a capsaicin -loving bunny.
Reid's (Reed's?) yellow dent corn for feeding the birds over the winter and for making masa flour to keep us in corn tortillas for every meal of every day. YUM!
We've never made tortillas from freshly ground corn, only from the store-bought flour. I understand we are in for a treat.
Squashes - butternut and delicata.
(clockwise from top left) Chocolate cherry, Martino's Roma, Wapsipinicon Peach, Opalka and Sungella tomatoes. All heirlooms.
All these peppers have been eaten by a capsaicin -loving bunny.
Reid's (Reed's?) yellow dent corn for feeding the birds over the winter and for making masa flour to keep us in corn tortillas for every meal of every day. YUM!
We've never made tortillas from freshly ground corn, only from the store-bought flour. I understand we are in for a treat.
Squashes - butternut and delicata.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
The farm in Early June
I have these visions of monthly updates showing the progress of very specific things, like the gardens and animals...but the follow-through has been lacking. But, I'm willing to try again if you are. It's not very exciting in the beginning (a lot of photos are for reference), but there is some serious cuteness at the end.
Here is the state of the farm on June 6, 2013. It's been amazingly temperate and appropriatly rainy. After a few hot summers in a row we are very glad! It was like this the first year we lived in this house and we have fond memories of a friendly summer.
The kitchen garden currently has a mostly-finished drip irrigation system, tomatoes, peppers and 4 eggplants.
Over on this side are mounds of winter and summer squash, plus a few melons.
This time last year, the black caps were nearly done but today they are still very green. This is more consistent with 2009 when we picked two jars full in late June...except this year we have about 100x more plants as we stopped mowing much of the property and the black caps have taken over. These are our cultivated ones with some netting to protect them. Suck it, songbirds!
Our pasture is green! There is a haystack in the middle of hay Bill scythed earlier this week. This is the first year that we're farming grass.
Cauliflower and beets (background).
Carrots:
Dent corn:
Pumpkin patch.
Oymygosh this is so boring!! How about some Martha and Rose to make it more interesting?
Kaylee and Saffron in perspective with some really tall (and yummy) thistle.
Kaylee and her ears.
Saffron chewing on my finger...
...and being a snuggle goat.
This chicken and the two turkey hens are co-parenting four chicken babies. It's odd, but seems to be working.
This chick was born yesterday. The knitted one was completed today.
That's it! Maybe I'll be back with a review of how all this stuff is growing in July. Well, not the knitted chicken obviously...but the other stuff.
Here is the state of the farm on June 6, 2013. It's been amazingly temperate and appropriatly rainy. After a few hot summers in a row we are very glad! It was like this the first year we lived in this house and we have fond memories of a friendly summer.
The kitchen garden currently has a mostly-finished drip irrigation system, tomatoes, peppers and 4 eggplants.
Over on this side are mounds of winter and summer squash, plus a few melons.
This time last year, the black caps were nearly done but today they are still very green. This is more consistent with 2009 when we picked two jars full in late June...except this year we have about 100x more plants as we stopped mowing much of the property and the black caps have taken over. These are our cultivated ones with some netting to protect them. Suck it, songbirds!
Our pasture is green! There is a haystack in the middle of hay Bill scythed earlier this week. This is the first year that we're farming grass.
Cauliflower and beets (background).
Carrots:
Dent corn:
Pumpkin patch.
Oymygosh this is so boring!! How about some Martha and Rose to make it more interesting?
Kaylee and Saffron in perspective with some really tall (and yummy) thistle.
Kaylee and her ears.
Saffron chewing on my finger...
...and being a snuggle goat.
This chicken and the two turkey hens are co-parenting four chicken babies. It's odd, but seems to be working.
This chick was born yesterday. The knitted one was completed today.
That's it! Maybe I'll be back with a review of how all this stuff is growing in July. Well, not the knitted chicken obviously...but the other stuff.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Spring things
Our turkeys are laying eggs...in nest boxes, which is quite a coup. They tend to want to lay out in the field and then we loose them (the eggs and the turkey hens) until a raccoon finds them and that's not good for anyone.
Asparagus is poking up.
AND THE BARN IS BEING READIED FOR SHEEP AND GOATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
6 Southdown sheep (2 ewes and their 4 lambs) are arriving next weekend. At the end of May, we'll be adding two Nubian doelings that are terribly cute and hugable. There will be many, many pictures. Promise.
Asparagus is poking up.
AND THE BARN IS BEING READIED FOR SHEEP AND GOATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
6 Southdown sheep (2 ewes and their 4 lambs) are arriving next weekend. At the end of May, we'll be adding two Nubian doelings that are terribly cute and hugable. There will be many, many pictures. Promise.
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