is being posted on Friday evening. Why? I have to pick my husband up from the airport. Haven't seen him all week. He went to Wisconsin, and the S&S plant.
While I am enjoying the reunion, why don't you enjoy these blogs;
The Suburban Farm, is a personal blog on the thoughts of a. . . well, Suburban farmer.
There must be a point to all this, comes to us from. . . ok I just went and read her "all about me" and she introduces herself wonderfully. My name is Teresa.
Irish Sally Garden is the homesteading sister blog of the Irish CraftWorkers good Life, is all about living the sustainable dream in rural Ireland. . .
Jeff's Jetsam II is a personal blog. {not a homesteading blog} A little bit of this and that, straight from the mind of an interesting fellow.
I will see you all on Sunday for Make it from Scratch.
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Friday, March 23, 2007
Question
I was wondering if there was a Homesteading Blog award? I did a search and found nothing. If there isn't, would my fellow homesteaders be interested in something like this? If so, I will be happy to host the first year. Also, I have an in with a local basket making and handmade gift company that would be interested in donating an "award" or two.
Please let me know what you think.
Please let me know what you think.
A new Flower garden
On Wednesday I took all three of my boys to Little River Greenhouse, in a neighboring town. We walked around looking at what they had to offer so early in the spring.
I allowed each boy to pick out some flowers, and we talked about why there were only a few different types of plants and trees available.
Yesterday I took on the task of pulling up some badly done weed barrier, that I previous owner brilliantly put in. From what I see, it looks like all they want was a big pebble garden, and that the dirt that was in it was accidental {the wind blows hard here}.
Once up, I had my oldest pick the spots were each of his flowers would be placed. I had him read the cards to see how they should be planted. Then the whole digging began. My middle boy will do the same thing today, and my toddler gets to use his older brother's old wagon to plant his.
We had small scraps of woods laying about, and I had them decorate both sides. After I clear coat them, this will be their border that separates their gardens. {I have a lot of drawings of evil slugs}
I am sore this morning from trying to get that weed barrier up, but I did enjoy spending time in a garden with my boys and not end up covered in mud, or paranoid that they would step on my veggies.
****************
Cheryl, you will be happy to know that my husband has strung me a clothes line. However it has been storming all week and I haven't been able to use it.
Your grape questions will be answered in the comment section of Great Grapes.
I allowed each boy to pick out some flowers, and we talked about why there were only a few different types of plants and trees available.
Yesterday I took on the task of pulling up some badly done weed barrier, that I previous owner brilliantly put in. From what I see, it looks like all they want was a big pebble garden, and that the dirt that was in it was accidental {the wind blows hard here}.
Once up, I had my oldest pick the spots were each of his flowers would be placed. I had him read the cards to see how they should be planted. Then the whole digging began. My middle boy will do the same thing today, and my toddler gets to use his older brother's old wagon to plant his.
We had small scraps of woods laying about, and I had them decorate both sides. After I clear coat them, this will be their border that separates their gardens. {I have a lot of drawings of evil slugs}
I am sore this morning from trying to get that weed barrier up, but I did enjoy spending time in a garden with my boys and not end up covered in mud, or paranoid that they would step on my veggies.
****************
Cheryl, you will be happy to know that my husband has strung me a clothes line. However it has been storming all week and I haven't been able to use it.
Your grape questions will be answered in the comment section of Great Grapes.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Great Grapes
When I first saw a vineyard here is Kansas, I was surprised. Come one, grapes? Surviving the Heartland winter's? Sure.... How wrong I turned out to be.
We have begun to establish our own small vineyard here on the homestead. Turns out that grapes are the easiest and one of the most adaptive of fruits. And we are ready to enjoy our second year of grapes.
Why am I talking about grapes now? We did discuss peanuts yesterday, and now is the beginning of grape planting season. I saw several plants in the farm store yesterday, and thought I would help out any of you that are thinking about growing grapes, but have never done so. {I will be answering those peanut questions in the comment section on the peanut post}
Grapes can be found growing in just about every type of climate here in the United States. Every garden can be successful with there own private vineyard. Look around your yard, the best site to plant is on a slight slope to help with drainage and air circulation. Avoid areas like low frosty pockets, there is danger of the plant being injured in spring frosts. Grapes need full sun and away from competing trees.
If you have a short growing season, plant them next to your house on the south side, train the vines to climb your wall. The heat radiation will help the grapes ripen a week sooner. No worries, insect {except for a certain caterpillar} are not too fond of grapes.
Stay clear of rich soils, you want the fruits, not the foliage. Grapes vines will produce, if properly managed, for 50-60 years. Be sure to mulch with organic grasses every year. You will want to apply 2-3 lb of crushed granite rock in the winter and a ½ lb of a good source of high organic nitrogen in the spring. Spread these out in an area 6 -8 feet in diameter from the base of the grape vine. {Grape vine roots can extend up to 8 feet out.}
Planting can be done in the spring or fall. Spring planting takes place between March and May. Do not buy anything older than two years old. They don't transplant well, and already producing vines will take longer to produce than the younger vines.
Space your vines out 8x8ft, seven feet is ok as well. Holes should be 12-14 inches deep and 16 inches in diameter. Prune the tops off to just a single cane. and then cut the single cane down until only two buds remain. If you have it, place some bone meal, compost or crushed granite into the hole. Place your plant into the hole, with the two buds at ground level.
You do not need to trellis the first year, but the second year, you will. We will talk about trellis later, if you would like.
We enjoy grape jam here, maybe someday the youngest of my boys will stop eating them off the vine so that we can have enough to make more than a single days serving. {Sorry, I thought I had pictures of my grapes, turns out I don't.}
We have begun to establish our own small vineyard here on the homestead. Turns out that grapes are the easiest and one of the most adaptive of fruits. And we are ready to enjoy our second year of grapes.
Why am I talking about grapes now? We did discuss peanuts yesterday, and now is the beginning of grape planting season. I saw several plants in the farm store yesterday, and thought I would help out any of you that are thinking about growing grapes, but have never done so. {I will be answering those peanut questions in the comment section on the peanut post}
Grapes can be found growing in just about every type of climate here in the United States. Every garden can be successful with there own private vineyard. Look around your yard, the best site to plant is on a slight slope to help with drainage and air circulation. Avoid areas like low frosty pockets, there is danger of the plant being injured in spring frosts. Grapes need full sun and away from competing trees.
If you have a short growing season, plant them next to your house on the south side, train the vines to climb your wall. The heat radiation will help the grapes ripen a week sooner. No worries, insect {except for a certain caterpillar} are not too fond of grapes.
Stay clear of rich soils, you want the fruits, not the foliage. Grapes vines will produce, if properly managed, for 50-60 years. Be sure to mulch with organic grasses every year. You will want to apply 2-3 lb of crushed granite rock in the winter and a ½ lb of a good source of high organic nitrogen in the spring. Spread these out in an area 6 -8 feet in diameter from the base of the grape vine. {Grape vine roots can extend up to 8 feet out.}
Planting can be done in the spring or fall. Spring planting takes place between March and May. Do not buy anything older than two years old. They don't transplant well, and already producing vines will take longer to produce than the younger vines.
Space your vines out 8x8ft, seven feet is ok as well. Holes should be 12-14 inches deep and 16 inches in diameter. Prune the tops off to just a single cane. and then cut the single cane down until only two buds remain. If you have it, place some bone meal, compost or crushed granite into the hole. Place your plant into the hole, with the two buds at ground level.
You do not need to trellis the first year, but the second year, you will. We will talk about trellis later, if you would like.
We enjoy grape jam here, maybe someday the youngest of my boys will stop eating them off the vine so that we can have enough to make more than a single days serving. {Sorry, I thought I had pictures of my grapes, turns out I don't.}
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
It was a cold and stormy night, um morning?
It is one of those stormy mornings were I really just don't want to go outside and do my chores. It's cold, wet, and lightening so close that the thunder shakes the house. There are only a few times a year that I feel on the verge of regret about homesteading, today is one of them. And as I sit here, telling you about my ruefulness, I realize the date. It is not the thought of going out into the almost freezing rain that has gotten to me. Tomorrow my first son would have been 11 years old. I always get a little moody around this time of year.
So we move on, we forge ahead and do the best we can. Or I can.
Tomorrow is the first day of spring. Later, on the food blog I write, I will post a few things that I make to celebrate.
I am sure the animals have become angry with me. Time to go feed them.
Don't forget to check out, Make it from Scratch #5.
So we move on, we forge ahead and do the best we can. Or I can.
Tomorrow is the first day of spring. Later, on the food blog I write, I will post a few things that I make to celebrate.
I am sure the animals have become angry with me. Time to go feed them.
Don't forget to check out, Make it from Scratch #5.
Monday, March 19, 2007
IT'S ALIVE!
My bantams arrived this morning, all alive and all healthy. I am thrilled, but not very prepared. I thought they would be here tomorrow. Oops. They are hanging out with the ducks, keeping cozy.
Faren {no profile to link to} left a comment informing me that there was a local place to get some of my must needed goodies. Fuller Family Farms, I need to head that way sometime this week. Maybe I should tell the KSmilkmaid I'm stopping by. Thanks again, Faren!
And it looks like you have chosen for me to make a vegetable based soaps. Poll is open for one more day. I need to get on that one soon so it will be ready for the first of next month. {need to get the camera working again}
We have been speaking with John over at Centennial log homes. We decided to only buy the material package and build it ourselves. It will take a little longer, but the price has come down {between alterations and labor} $35,000US.
Faren {no profile to link to} left a comment informing me that there was a local place to get some of my must needed goodies. Fuller Family Farms, I need to head that way sometime this week. Maybe I should tell the KSmilkmaid I'm stopping by. Thanks again, Faren!
And it looks like you have chosen for me to make a vegetable based soaps. Poll is open for one more day. I need to get on that one soon so it will be ready for the first of next month. {need to get the camera working again}
We have been speaking with John over at Centennial log homes. We decided to only buy the material package and build it ourselves. It will take a little longer, but the price has come down {between alterations and labor} $35,000US.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Make it from Scratch
Make it from Scratch Sunday presents;
Rooster noodle soup.
This is an older post about my first time making and canning my home made/grown rooster soup.
Warning! It contains pictures.
Rooster noodle soup.
This is an older post about my first time making and canning my home made/grown rooster soup.
Warning! It contains pictures.
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