After Thursday’s great escape, new pig pasture moved to the top of the priority list. In spite of the heat Ken went to work. Friday morning Ken first moved the troughs, so the pigs and Oscar knew where to go. Then I showed up and Ken opened the gate. The pigs meandered and two headed into the new spot. One over shot the fence, so Ken and Oscar herded him around and …
Once you get animals you have fences to maintain. Here we have pigs. Ken moves them frequently so they have new ground to dig, they get exercise and are not bored. This year part of the rotation was to have them dig up the turkey yard. They did a great job and Ken has intended to move them, but weeds, transplanting, appointments and such got priority. Today Ken left for an appointment – even …
Ken has had bees for years. At first having bees was fairly easy – hive checks, routine maintenance, taking off honey, preparing for winter , and such. Then he started losing bees, and it has been a struggle to maintain a healthy hive. Large honey producers ship hives south and west for the winter. People are paid to pollinate crops like almonds in California. Many bees in one location …
Greetings from the Garden! This week’s CSA box has lettuce, summer cabbage, carrots, kale, green beans, radishes, potatoes, bok choy, Walla Walla Sweet onions, and parsley Field Notes. Mulching the garden continues. Ken is cultivating, wheel hoeing and mulching. He also planted six flats of fall crops one evening last week. He transplants in the evening so the plants experience less shock and recover to grow more quickly. Ken is tying up tomatoes weekly as …
Each season Ken makes a decision whether to mulch or not. If he decides not to mulch he plants a green manure crop. When it is hot or dry and the green manure won’t sprout, it’s a good time to mulch. Both mulch and green manures cover bare areas. They retain moisture in times of drought. They moderate the soil temperature to promote microbial life in the soil. The weed germination and pressure on …
Ken has always encouraged broody hens to hatch chicks. A few years back when the price of day old chicks went to $4 each, Ken got serious about hatching out chickens to replace older laying hens. A chick grows into either a pullet (female) or cockerel (male), and then as adult they are hens or roosters. Pullets grow for about six months before they lay eggs. Their first eggs are small and people call them …
We love daylilies. Just as the summer turns beastly hot and the perennial selections seem few, the daylilies start blooming They come in many sizes Colors And even blossom shape varies with splayed petals or a cup shape. They are each so wonderful.
Greetings from the Garden! This week’s CSA box has lettuce, spinach, bok choy, green onions, radishes, beans, cabbage, zucchini, broccoli, anise hyssop and thyme. Field Notes Temperature fluctuations are extreme this week; we had a sweltering day Saturday and a cool easy to work day Sunday. The temperature spread was about thirty degrees. This is stressful on the plants and animals (and farmers). We are hoping for more moderate temperature swings. Ken has been wheel …
Ken planted some bush cherries, called Nanking Cherries, that he got from the county Land Water Department. Cherries are often listed as an alternative remedy for arthritis and gout! With no side effects and as one of Ken’s favorite fruits we always have some juice on hand Nanking cherries are a small fruit with large pit so I steam juice them and can the juice in quart jars for Ken The steam juicer has …
Bok choy, a member of the cabbage family is available just before cabbage forms heads. It is the original ingredient in chop suey. I often use it in a stir fry as either or a side dish or with meat and rice. Today’s midday meal was a side salad, a bok choy stir fry, reheated white rice, and a pork stir fry. I set up some small dishes and start chopping. First onion …
