WooHoo! We finally have (most) everything in the ground (or pots or bins). There is still space for a few dozen more plants. We’ll either use that for something we haven’t tried yet or use it for 2nd crops later in the summer.
Here’s is what we are anticipating:
On the front porch (in pots and bins):
Oregano
Thyme
Rosemary
Echinacia
Basil
Peppermint
Dill
Nasturtium
Garlic
In the garden:
Sweet Corn
(Sunset Runner) Beans
Kale
Broccoli
Snow Peas
Snap Peas
Carrots
Cucumbers (several varieties)
Radishes
Peppers (several varieties)
Beets
Jalapenos
Onions (green, white and yellow)
Cabbage (several varieties)
Sage
Lettuce (several varieties)
Arugula
Cilantro
Romaine
Cauliflower
Celery
Calendula
Lemon Balm
Tomatoes (several varieties in 10 bins)
Watermelon
Pumpkins (2 varieties)
Cantalope
Black Oil Sunflowers
Last year, we were tentative – not knowing what would be successful and what wouldn’t so we only planted about a 1/3rd of the available space. This year, with last years surprising success, we mostly filled it out but are still not sure if it will all thrive. Like everything here, we are learning as we go.
Now, we need to develop our “canning” skills. Hopefully, we’ll be extremely busy come this fall.
I’ve been asked about how we keep everything watered. It’s not as easy as it sounds with everything spread out and only a single water source available but I’ve been working/adjusting/tweaking this for over a year now and is getting just about ideal for us now.
As Sherry knows, I am pretty anal when it comes to this and am not a fan of constantly hooking/unhooking/untangling hoses and dragging them around. Added to that is the absolutely terrible quality of most products sold for this purpose. I’ve rarely ever had a nozzle, sprinkler, hose or any other component of these last more than 2 years so my goal was to eliminate their incompetence by doing as much on my own as possible.
Everything (in pots/tubs) on the porch is watered by hand using rainwater collected in tubs below the downspouts so no big deal but for everything else, we needed closer sources to get the water.
The problem is, THIS is our only source for water outside of the house. This freeze-proof spigot is located by the old well head just off the back porch.
So, immediately I split this single hook up to 5 new ones using PVC valves and 3/4″ piping.
The blue valve at the bottom is used for filling buckets but doubles as a “drain” of that valve system when the water is shut off. Moving up from that valve, the next connection on the left is where the water comes from the source and enters the system. Up from there is a hose running to the outdoor shower (that this is mounted to). The next one up (turned on) is the hose that feeds the line that covers the garden as well as other locations. Up from there is the hose reel (pictured) and the top valve controls a simple 10′ hose and nozzle that hangs on the shower for general use.
The line that covers the garden and other places runs on the ground over to the front of the chicken coop. As of now, it is a simple garden hose but will eventually be “piped” when I complete a mud free walkway back there.
Once there, it screws into a PVC fitting and traverses up to the top of the door where a “T” connection sends a line to the left for inside the barn, as well as another that runs to our camper stored under the lean to. The other line (to the right) continues towards the garden.
The line is up so high because of the gate between the chicken runs. I’m not crazy about this arrangement and may move it to the ground but I’ll wait for it to break and force me to. Actually, this section between the runs will all be redone but works ok for this season.
On that first post by the gate is the first faucet available. This spigot previously drained the whole system but I had to change that behavior when I added the additional footage circling the garden as it is just too much distance overall to get the slope exactly right for that distance.
The next post down the run also has a spigot, which is connected to the birds 2-sided waterer. It takes about 15 seconds to refill by turning the valve. The older girls get their water via nipples on the bottom of the larger PVC section. The newer girls on this side are smaller so I built them a bench to reach the nipples.
Finally reaching the NE corner of the garden. Here is another “T” with one side continuing straight south towards the shop and then turning along the south side and the other turning westward along the north side of the garden.
At the shop, there is another access gate so I dropped the line to the ground and used “water supply” hoses (typically used to hook up your washing machine or dishwasher) to hook up the south side line. There is an extra splitter valve there on the ground that will drain this “bridging” line when needed. The green hose going left is watering the sunflowers at the back of the garden.
And here (going west on the south side) is the first of 6 “stations” surrounding the garden. The blue valve at the bottom drains the PVC (for freezes) but has a simple 10′ hose and nozzle for general use at the shop (where we do all of the seeding and planting preparations).
Each of the 6 stations in the garden contains a single sprinkler head that covers that section as well as 2 additional spigots for hoses and drip lines. I might have screwed this up by slanting these downward because a little water could still be trapped above the valves after the lines are drained. I may revise next year.
Moving westward, this is the station at the middle of the garden.
And, at the end of the line (for now) is another station in that corner.
When you step back and see that entire line, you can easily see the slope that drains everything in that zone to the SE corner, where it can be drained away safely to prevent freeze damage. These sections each have their own section shut off/bypass valve so during the colder months, only the sections that are actually used need to be drained.
Returning to the split at the NE corner of the garden, we’ll now cover the north side.
This north side is a duplicate of the opposing south side. Simply 3 more stations – 2 at the corners and a 3rd in the middle.
I like the convenience of not having to enter the garden to “water the birds” so I moved the first station on this side to the edge of the chicken run and mounted the station to a makeshift piece that is banded to a T post.
The middle station.
And the final station at the NW corner. This is also the low point in this zone so it has a spigot to drain the line (or use otherwise).
But, instead of terminating, you see the line continues further to the right (because there is more to cover).
Exiting the garden, the line has to traverse another gate opening so it elevates up over the top of the posts. That elevation creates a 3rd zone going downhill now towards the garage and then turns along side it towards the front. The spigot at the garage front will be the low/drain point for this 3rd section.
As soon as it comes down again after the gate, there is a valve for another hose reel. This is used for brush fires or other needs out towards the field.
The next stop along the line is the compost piles and worm pit so there is a spigot there before the line turns north along the garage.
And then FINALLY at the front of the garage is the final spigot for this line for washing vehicles or other garage uses.
We’re not sure what we have at the moment but our feral cats have been busy. It seems more than 1 have been impregnated by their “brothers” and one “Caz” was certainly showing so we were expecting some little ones. Sherry set up a maternity room (box) in our feed room in the barn.
We were surprised to see not “Caz” in there but instead learned that “Mister Fatty Pants” is actually a “Missy Fatty Pants” as she was lounging in there with 6 not so new kitties. She must have birthed them elsewhere as they suddenly appeared in the box and look to be at least a week old already.
Knowing Caz still had to pop, Sherry set up another box. MFP moved her family back into the barn under the steps and has since disappeared with all of them.
Caz finally started popping them out but I believe she is having great difficulty. A few were born dead and we think a critter might have gotten a few as well (maybe the lurking possum family). We need to remember, none of these ferals had a mama around for very long as she died while they were still quite young and Caz seems overwhelmed with it all – not knowing what to do.
Then, Sherry noticed this one all alone, freezing cold, near death and no mama in anywhere to be found so she took it inside and started caring for it. We named it “Yoda” and while only a few days old, she is already doing much better.
Considering the shape she was in when she found it, I am really surprised she survived but now a few days into it, she seems like she’s going to make it.
As for the others, we do not know. Maybe we’ll never see them again – and that would be OK with us. Either way, we’ll take whatever comes our way. We heard many folks in the area welcome new kittens (especially the Amish) so not too worried about being overrun… yet.
I knew it would happen eventually. Actually, we’ve been pretty lucky so far with very few threats.
However, last night about 8 or so, the dogs did their job and quite vigorously announced that they had a critter cornered up against the barn and chicken coop. It ended up inside the enclosure in front of the barn, where the feral cats are free from being harassed by the dogs. The trouble is, this area is just a few steps away from accessing the barn with a flock of 12 young laying hens inside.
We brought the dogs inside and I opened the gate to the enclosure hoping to chase it off but it stayed in the corner snarling at me and wouldn’t budge. It was actually pretty big but then again, my only comparison was a smaller one that snuck into our house in Lakeville through the doggy-door while we were on vacation years ago. It took up residence in our main bathroom behind the toilet. That one I coaxed into a bin and release out back by the RR tracks. This one didn’t fare as well. With no other options, I ended up “dispatching” the varmint with a 22 rifle.
With no want or need for it, I posted on a local FB group and 2 or 3 said they were interested. It would make a neat Daniel Boone hat for somebody so it’s out at our gate awaiting pick up – 1st come, 1st served.
If it’s still there in the morning, I’ll toss it out back in the woods.
I am proud of Lyddie and Cooper for doing their jobs though! Such good guardians they are protecting their birds.
UPDATE: A couple of local trappers picked up the possum this afternoon and warned that it was wise to get rid of it. If it knew there were chickens around, it would keep at it until it killed the entire flock. That got me thinking about strange marks we’ve suddenly noticed next to the door to the “older girls” coop out in front. Granted, these are simple painted pine boards but I can see where these marks might be something trying to claw its way inside. I think we’ve eliminated the problem but still plan to rig up a motion light there just to be sure.
UPDATE 20240312: After 2 more evening encounters, I decided we might have a problem. The dogs do a really good job of patrolling the farm yard and thankfully, do not engage with the vermin. They simply corner them and bark. But, it’s happening enough that I worry there is a local possum family hanging around. I read that they breed like rabbits so I set out a trap.
This might be the only other one as this is about the same (smaller) size as the 2 most recent encounters but I’ll keep putting this out for a while just to be sure.
Now, to decide what to do with this guy. Most advise against releasing them during the day. Well, it’s 8am now…
After checking with the Amish (they didn’t want it), I asked Frankie (at the General Store), who picked up the dead one a few weeks ago. Since the gentleman stops in there frequently, Frankie told him I had another and the guy pulled into the driveway about an hour later. This time he brought a cage and said this one would be set free in the woods by his home as he wants to establish a family of them nearby (to him) since they are so scarce around here right now. He also mentioned he would take any others so I’ll reset the trap and see how many more there are lurking around here. At least now, I can save a bullet and wish it well in it’s new environment miles from here.
For control of ticks, snakes, moles, mice and other rodents, they are great to have around. Just not when we have chickens. The common line I hear is they will decimate your entire flock by eating ONLY the heads of every bird. Luckily, our birds are locked in at sundown but can’t take the chance of one sneaking inside the barn before lockdown.
UPDATE 20240314: And here is number 3, caught in the trap overnight. This will also be turned over to the local trapper. However, it will live on as he is releasing them in HIS woods. With their scarcity, he is trying to establish a nearby colony so I’ll wish them (both) well. I’ll set up the trap again and see if there are any more.
UPDATE 20240321: No pic as #4 is pretty much the same as 2 and 3. I was alerted that it was in the trap by the dogs as the trap is set up (out of sight) back under the lean to by our camper. As with the previous 2, I transferred it from the live trap to another cage and alerted Frankie to tell “Trapper Cliff” to stop by and pick it up (Cliff doesn’t have a phone). He usually shows up by noon but by around 2pm, there was no sign of him. Feeling bad for the little guy, I slid in a bowl of water and a tub of cat food. I also cover the cage with towels to keep it calm.
By 7pm, there was still no sign of Cliff and I wasn’t going to keep it in the cage indefinitely so loaded it into the truck to be released somewhere. I was conscious to NOT make it a problem for another farm but luckily, just north of us are thousands of acres of national forest. Our highway (K) terminates at the Current river so drove down to the end and released it there in the river bottoms. I would have preferred it joined its siblings in Cliffs woods but not interested in lodging possum long term. Plus, there’s probably more. Looking out the window now, there might be number 5 out there, the way the dogs are behaving. It’s getting harder to tell as the dogs are almost getting used to the routine by now.
I believe we took delivery of the new generator in October and just now getting around to hooking it up properly. Since Sherry is up in MN visiting family and friends this week, I figured this was a good time to get it hooked up to the house.
I do relish these projects when she is gone. Once, when she went to CA to see her brother, I took down a wall between our kitchen and living room. That was quite the mess to come home to but it was all worth it in the end.
This storm shelter sits about 40′ out behind the house. With the basement dug out in the house, the shelter was no longer needed and sits unused.
I was also surprised to learn that generators are NOT weatherproof and need to be protected from the elements so I put 2 and 2 together.
I mounted an access box to the exterior stairwell enclosure. The generator will plug “in to the house” here.
This will handle 120v/240v and 50 amps. From this box, I ran 6/3 NM-B, Non-Metallic, Sheathed Cable back to the main fuse box in the basement.
Here, I’ve got the new cable entering the box, all the 4 leads cut to length and stripped and the new 50 amp breaker wired up and hanging loose in front. I had to do this all VERY CAREFULLY with the power still on. However, at this point there was no going any further so turned off the main breaker and ran a long extension cord from the barn to light up what I was doing next.
I shouldn’t be surprised that the only 2 available spots to mount the ground and common wires were in slots with stripped screws so had to combine a few of the smaller gauge wires to free up room for the big fat 6 ga wires. But, I got them all securely installed.
Then of course, because of the lock out device, I had to install the new breaker on the left side just below the main breaker, which meant everything else on the left side had to slide down 2 slots to make room. Luckily, they all had enough wire “play” available to easily move them down a few inches to make room.
This “lockout” device protects power company linemen from getting zapped while working the lines during outages. It assures that power you are generating is NOT sent out to the grid and is isolated to your house only.
This is a temporary solution as the goal is to energize the entire farm (4 buildings). For that, I’ll need a similar hook up box for the power pole where our meter is located. That will be coming in April from our electric cooperative.
Now, I’ve got to figure out that secure door to the shelter.
Glancing out the front door last night, I saw a “shape” out in the driveway in front of the garage. Knowing the dogs were inside, I thought it was a stray so was ready to chase it off when I saw it turn a bit and take a few steps. There was no doubt what it was – a PIG! Before I could grab a light and have a closer look, it meandered down the hill behind the garage and disappeared into the pasture.
This morning, I went out to take a closer look and saw many prints around the firepit but the ground wasn’t disturbed so it’s doubtful an entire sounder of ferals was wandering through and was more likely a domestic that got loose. I believe the Amish neighbor across the road has a few pigs so will ask him about it.
Regardless, reading up on it, feral pigs/hogs are quite a problem in Missouri and many other states. A farmer friend a few miles up the road had quite a problem with them and had the conservation department come to run them off. Even though they are considered pests and invasive nuisances, they recommend NOT shooting them as that action is detrimental to the goal of eliminating the whole group.
It’s an interesting read and likely something we’ll have to deal with sometime in the future so it never hurts to be ready. I thought it would be interesting to set up a few trail cameras anyway – just to see what wonders by.
Back when we graduated High School, I helped a friend (Martin) “process” a pig that he raised for a pig roast at his grad party. I wish I would have paid better attention back then. My only “processing” so far has been a single rooster and is something I’ll need to work on. But, I’m sure those chances to improve those skills will come soon enough.
It’s looking to be an interesting spring. At least the chickens will be happy. We even may get a head start on the WEF’s plans for us all. YUMMY!!!
“Get ready for the rarest of rare cicada events. Thomas Jefferson was President the last time this happened and Michigan wasn’t even a state. And no one alive today will be around the next time this happens. Not one, but two different cicada broods will emerge this year, reports NPR.
We’re talking billions and billions of the insects. They will be all over the place from late April through June. One of the broods of cicadas lives on a 13-year cycle. The other lives on a 17-year one. Both will emerge at the same time this year, something which hasn’t happened since 1803″.
We’ve “organically” settled into our roles here on the farm. Nothing was pre-decided or dictated either way but after 40 years, we (luckily) know our strengths and “our chuthers” strengths as well.
SHE naturally pursued healthy, organic ways to grow our produce and raise our critters, so has taken the lead in those areas. I jump in enough to stay abreast of things but she’ll often do all the chores herself.
HE (I) contribute in other ways. Usually more (physical) effort jobs or infrastructure related to the whole operation. Building, electrical, plumbing, fencing, gates etc. There is always another project I need to complete.
NEITHER of us are into ornamental stuff (flowers, shrubbery etc.). I am more likely to pull healthy stuff out if it’s in the way, and my input on such matters is simply limited to how I would mow around it.
Now, since Sherry headed north to see family and friends, I decided it was a good opportunity to document the daily todos that need to be done. Even though these are laid out by time, it is more related to sunrise, sunset etc.
0500-0600: Wakey time. Let Jack and Cooper out. After starting the coffee, step out the front door and feed our 2 domestic cats their kibble, who are by now peering at you in the window awaiting breakfast.
0700: Wake up the puppy (Lyddie) and let her out of her kennel in our bedroom. She immediately runs to where my socks are laying, grabs one and proudly parades around the house with it.
0701: Retrieve sock and let Lyddie out to pee.
0702: Feed the 3 dogs their kibble.
0705: Open all 3 of the chicken coops. The birds all rush outside. While doing so, take inventory (count to be sure all present and accounted for) and collect any eggs.
0800: Prepare breakfast by cracking 3 or 4 eggs (w/shells) in a pan w/butter and lightly scramble. When nearly ready, mix in 1/4 stick of creme cheese and mix thoroughly.
0815: Take pan to the coop “narthex” in the barn to mix up with their feed. Using an oil drain pan, scoop 2 coffee cans full of feed into the pan. Sprinkle in a teaspoon of cayenne pepper and then dump in the pan of eggs/creme cheese. Again, mix thoroughly breaking up the cheese and eggs as much as possible.
0820: Measuring 1 cup per bird, scoop out the mixture into 2 trays for the established coop (6 scoops) and set down in their run.
0822: 1 tray for the bachelor roosters (2 scoops).
0824: The remaining (should be 10 scoops) goes into 2 trays+ 1 frisbee. The 2 trays go down first and the frisbee is for the picked on bird in her safe space. Remain for a few minutes to protect the picked on bird from the mean girls. Once she slows down and has had her fill, you can leave.
0830: Check all water dispensers. 1 in the main coop, 1 with the boys, another with the new girls and another for the ferral cats in their kennel.
0835: Feed the ferral cats their kibble.
1400: or middle of the afternoon: Give all 3 groups of birds their treat for the day. Sometimes mealworm grubs, sometimes scratch grains, sometimes something special and is often something too spoiled for us to eat.
1600 (while still light out): Collect all eggs you can find.
1700: Feed the dogs. For evening meals, they all get a smaller portion of kibble plus we add coconut oil (guard against worms) and some hot water (melts the oil and hydrates them). Then, all 3 share a single can of wet food mixed into everything. Jack (the old man) also gets a capsule of Deep Blue mixed in to alleviate his aching joints.
1715: Feed the domestic cats. They also share a single can of wet food in the evening. Once in a while we also give the ferals a treat but don’t want them to get lazy and need them to feast on mice as much as possible.
1720: Typically by this time, the sun is down, the yard lights have come on and the chix have all gone inside so we walk through one last time and close the coop/barn doors and shut/latch the windows. After a quick rendition of “Goodnight Sweetheart“, we turn out the lights.
Update 12/28/2023: With the new hens now moved in with their guardian roosters, mealtime is slightly easier with only 2 flocks to feed instead of 3. The new flock still gets 3 dishes in the morning, since the roosters were used to sharing a single tray and the hens always had (at least) 2 available. We no longer need to watch out for the picked on hen. With her special treatment, she healed up quickly and grew into one of the prettiest of the bunch, who no longer seems to be intimidated by the mean girls as she is right in there with the rest getting her fill at mealtime. Unfortunately, she seems to have lost her “broodiness” so we’ll continue our search for an egg-sitter.
As agreed, we left yesterday morning to go p/u Cooper from the vet. Along the way there, we received a call from them. The gist of their message was they wanted to keep him an additional couple of days but encouraged us to stop in and visit with him and learn what they are doing. So we stopped in and got to see him. What a shock! But, ignoring the initial nervous pee, he was SOOO happy to see us.
Then, they explained how they were making good progress with his healing UNTIL… They let him out to go potty (unattended again) and returned to find him dragging his swollen sack across the ground. And where do the kennel animals relieve themselves you ask? In a GRAVEL lot behind their storefront. THAT combined with the fact the kennel was noisy (maybe 20 dogs?), chaotic and not very calming, we decided we could do better at home and got him out of there.
Insisting on keeping them overnight “for observation” loses its appeal when they don’t do any observing.
It’s usually always a struggle getting him into any vehicle. But this time he leaped right in and was eager to get the hell away from there. Sherry sat in the back with Cooper’s coned head resting on her lap and he let out the loudest heavy sigh you’ve ever heard.
On the way, we discussed what to do with him at home and were planning on making a quiet space in Sherry’s office. When we got home however, Cooper had his own plans and IMMEDIATELY made his way back to HIS bed in the corner of our room and laid down. It’s actually a perfect situation for him. Quiet, calm, comfortable and he feels safe.
Medically, his offended organ is about tennis ball sized and very raw (from the gravel) as well as patches on his back legs that were also worn away. He is getting some oil treatments to his wounds as well as a hot compress 4 times a day. Now seeing him so much more relaxed, I think we made the right move. With the treatments, drugs and the fact that we will actually keep an eye on him, I’d say he’ll pull through just fine.
It’s nice to have him back with us.
Epilog (Nov 2023): After a week of sleeping on the floor with him (with my hand inside his cone to detect when he’s trying to get at the offended organ), he finally healed up nicely. Unfortunately, he’s gotten too used to the extra attention and now can be demanding at bedtime when he stretches out in (our) bed.
Has anyone EVER had a pet that was spayed/neutered and did NOT wear the “cone of shame”? We went to p/u our Cooper Curtis on Friday morning after the procedure was done – only to learn they left him alone overnight in his pen without a cone.
Being the licker he is, by the time morning came, his scrotum was severely swollen and they now needed to keep him a few more days to treat it. Luckily, they aren’t charging us for the extended stay and treatments but something the vet said has me questioning their mindset.
She stated that less than 5% of dogs lick their wounds post-surgery. If that’s the case, we must have had quite a line of exotic dogs as I’ve never seen one go through that WITHOUT the cone.
I am seeing more and more of these stories lately. Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are… Read more: Gov’t Overreach!
UPDATE 3/21 (#4)UPDATE 3/14 (#3)UPDATE 3/12 (#2) I knew it would happen eventually. Actually, we’ve been pretty lucky so far… Read more: STILL Playing Possum
Repeating this from Facebook. I really need to escape that cesspool. Anxiously awaiting the return of my lovely bride this… Read more: Ain’t No Sunshine
Headlines below from Real Clear Politics, a news site with policy headlines from all perspectives presented side by side. An ideal site to illustrate the blatant malfeasance rampant in the MSM today. However, that depends on your ability to discern and seek more information and then recall what they've stated in the past to determine their credibility.
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I posted a bit of a feral cat update on the Gods Creatures page. Or click here.