Someday ...

Someday I want my back garden to look something like the one in this photo. Minimal mowing with maximum production is my goal.

I have made a good start but know it will take me another year or two to be this productive.

This spring/summer I added a dwarf cherry tree (North Star) and a semi-dwarf plum tree (Santa Rosa). Saturday, if all goes well, I will pickup two hazelnut trees and two elderberry vines. Espri from Brambleberry Farm will meet me at Market to bring the plants. I could of ordered the plants online but like to keep my money local. Next year I want to add dwarf apple trees and expand the vegetable garden.

My asparagus is doing wonderfully. Top dressing it with the good stuff from under the bunny hutch has really encouraged new growth. The first stalks were rather spindly but the new stalks are much more sturdy. The six red beefsteak tomatoes are amazing. Keeping them tied up has made a difference. They are full of baby tomatoes and I have only removed one tomato hornworm. My green beans will be ready for picking in a day or two. they are a French filet bean and I can't wait to taste them. I have harvested a few new potatoes and onions in anticipation of a feast.

Closer to fall I am going to try having a farm stand here on the homestead. My veggies will start coming in when everyone else's are winding down. I can sell eggs and maybe some of my yarn too. This venture is still in the planning stages so we will see ....

Take Joy!

Penny

Looking Back & Pushing Onward

2012 was a roller coaster of a year. Some steps were made forward and a few were  made backward. 

I added three Blueberry bushes because the bushes I planted last year did not come back last Spring. Although we had a mild Winter the Grape vines didn't come back either . Daddy and I  made a few raised beds and two of them are planted in Blackberry and Blueberry bushes. 

My little Fig trees came up but didn't do a whole lot with the drought hitting us so hard. I did soak them, and the Peach tree, a few times a week during the driest part of Summer. The Peach tree had a wonderful crop of fruit. The one peach I was able to eat, before they were stolen off the tree, was a perfect peach ... sweet and so juicy. 

Last Fall I added three rhubarb plants and two Currant bushes. I am eager to see how they fare this Spring. I want to make Rhubarb crumbles and Currant jelly, after the bushes mature, maybe Currant wine too.

Late last Fall I added two Dominique pullets and two Welsummer pullets. Unfortunately a raccoon recently raided my hen house and killed my original flock ( Tansy, Rosemary, Frick and Cicely) plus both Dominiques and one of the Welsummers. Losing my original girls was a very bitter pill to swallow. I raised them from chicks and they were like feathery cats. Whatever I was doing they were right there to "help" me. If while I was walking and stopped too quick it was common for Frick to run into me. [sigh]

As soon as the Tractor Supply Co., and Orscheln's, begin their Chick Days I will begin a new flock. I think in addition to the Red Stars I will try some new breeds. We'll just have to see what choices they will be offering.

Looking ahead to a new year of homesteading I've been researching dairy goats. The LaManchas have really caught my attention. LaMancha goats are sturdy animals with very small ears. They originated in the United States and were developed for their delicious flavored milk and sweet disposition. They are suppose to be a quiet breed which is a huge plus since I'm an Urban Homesteader. No one has ever complained about the chickens and I don't want goats to put my neighbors over the edge. [smile]

The new season will also include more raised beds, a few finishing touches on the hen house, more Herbs, Grape vines and Fruit trees.

The greenhouse will be getting a workout this year. I learned quite a bit last season so I'm expecting more plants for my family's use and to sell at Market.

I will leave you with this quote I found buried in my email ... I think it is a good one.

 
Attitude

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company…a church…a home. The remarkable thing is, you have a choice everyday regarding the attitude you will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.

I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you. You are in charge of your attitudes.

-Chuck Swindoll

Tough Summer

Seal in the kitty basket

Indy in the greenhouse

Lenny trying to mess with Sebastian.

I didn't realize how long it had been since I posted until I actually went to the blog to enter this post. Yikes it has been months!

News-wise it was a rough summer. I lost two of my kittens from last September and my Indy cat was a victim of a hit-and-run driver. Losing Seal and Lenny was hard but losing Indy was especially difficult. She was the one who would sit on my lap and begin nursing on my clothes. I wouldn't be paying her any attention and when I would get up from the chair I would have a large soggy spot on my clothes. She was my shadow. (sigh)

The super early spring/summer we experienced messed up my garden plans, as it did most gardeners. Such a crazy season. I learned quite a bit about using my greenhouse. This was first season using one and there is a learning curve. Working full-time makes it hard to keep the temperature regulated. When I work 12-8 it's not too big a deal to check the thermometer and make adjustments. The days I work 8:30-5:00 are a little more tricky. I must come home on my lunch hour to unzip the mesh covered windows, doors and if it is really warm roll up the sides.

My peach tree had an abundance of fruit but I was only able to enjoy one peach (which was fabulous) because someone waited until the peaches were dead ripe then stole every last one of them. Angela and I had planned to make a small batch of peach jam to give as Christmas presents. The loss made me mad then made me sad.

The little fig trees have held their own. They are still pretty small but considering the weather I felt just staying a live was quite a coup for such small starts.

My grape vines and blueberry bushes didn't make it.

I visited Leahy's Greenhouse, a local greenhouse, a few weeks ago to buy a new rhubarb plant. After thinking about it I went back the next day to buy a second rhubarb and three blueberry bushes. The following day I added  2 red current bushes to the mix. Daddy was already planning to pick up my mess of plants. Then I called Mom and told her the number of plants had increased I asked her to let Daddy know the number of plants he was hauling. I didn't want him to be surprised. lol

We were finally able to attend Market today. Between a show, sickness and chances of rain Angela and I had missed the last four Saturdays. I sold a hat, a scarf I had just finished weaving in the ends and one skein of yarn. I have another scarf on the hook and need to dye some more yarn. The skein I sold was dyed using Osage Orange shavings. It made a neat mix of dark and light tones.

My sisters and grandniece and I are having a girls nite at Angela's house this evening. Homemade pizzas, ooey gooey butter cake, a. new Barbie movie for Jaidyn and a little crafting for the sisters ... should be a fun evening. [smile]

Catching Up and Moving Along

Apologies all around. I haven't gone this long with out posting for ages.

Christmas was a blessing. Most of our family was able to be together to celebrate and open gifts on Christmas Eve. Miss Jaidyn was a hoot. Being a four year old is a pretty wondrous thing at Christmas time. A sinus infection took me down on Christmas Day so I spent it in bed with fluids, throat drops and tissues ... not much fun. After a few weeks of yuck I'm much better.

I have a Kindle Touch and am using the Amazon gift cards I have acquired through Swag Bucks to build my library. If you haven't tried Swag Bucks I highly recommend them. It takes 450 points to purchase a $5.00 Amazon card. If you do any searching at all those points will build up quickly. I have a link on the left side bar if you would like to investigate SB. The first title I purchased was "Barnheart" by Jenna Woginrich. While I am really liking the Kindle it is doubtful it will ever beat holding a book in my hand.

January held two birthdays for my family. My niece Hillary turned 25 on the fourth and Angela gained another year on the thirteenth. Yep her birthday was once more on Friday the Thirteenth. We call it her lucky day. =)

Seeds will be started for tomatoes and peppers in two more weeks. I purchased a second greenhouse shelving unit at the Tractor Supply a few weeks ago. It will go inside my "greenhouse-in-a-box" for extra protection when I plant some cold hardy seeds for plants such as lettuces and other greens. I think the double covers will help hold in heat to give a little added protection for germinating seeds and developing plants.

Tomorrow I will sit down with paper, pencil and calendar to plan the rest of the planting schedule. Angela and I want to do some canning this summer so I want to have a plan for succession planting to keep us in produce, plus have some to sell. The plan will also tell me how many more raised beds I need to add. I found some end of the season deals on large flower pots last fall and will use them and a couple of flower boxes in addition to the beds. The pots and boxes can be tucked in here and there to add more growing space. Vertical growing is also something I want to add this year. Homesteading on a small city lot requires you to be creative.

Our temperatures in south central Indiana have fluctuated so much I am concerned about my Peach and Fig trees breaking bud. It has been nothing to have 30 degree changes from day to day. Crazy! I need to research dormant oil sprays for the Peach tree and see if they do anything for the Figs too.

Chick Update:
Tansy ended up raising three pullets and one rooster. They are now four months old and it is past time for the rooster to go! I call him Napoleon. If he was able tuck a wing into his waistcoat while puffing out his chest he would. My co-worker Roni is suppose to take him and I hope it is tomorrow. My lil town has a no roosters allowed ordinance and I'm afraid all the crazy crowing, beginning at 3:30 in the a.m., is going to get us in big trouble. He is a pretty thing but ... I. Am. Over. Him.

Next month Angela and I are vending at a two day show in Kokomo, Indiana. It is the Winter Woolin Workshop. This is a first time show for us so please wish us well and pray for traveling mercies as it is a bit of a drive.

Better get a wiggle on as there are farm chores that need tending to. Have a Blessed Week!

P.S. Napoleon still needs a good home. Roni decided against taking him as she hopes to be moving in the near future.

Garden Plans

I've been giving serious thought to offering a CSA next year. If I can get some of the basics finished this summer (raised beds, berry bushes, herbs, more fruit trees, etc.) then next summer would offer more time for actual gardening.

I thought to offer a dozen eggs, a fresh bouquet of flowers, and herbs along with fresh fruits and veggies. If I can get the grunt work completed this year, use drip irrigation, row covers and copious amounts of mulch I think this project could be very doable.

My niece Heather, the Asst. Chicken Farmer/Asst. Bunny Wrangler, is suppose to pickup up a greenhouse-in-a-box for me at the Tractor Supply. I checked on Tuesday and they had one left and Lola offered to put it back for me. I love TS and the folks who work for them! My friend Sandra, at Thistle Cove Farm, purchased one of these greenhouses and I really liked the looks of it. Saving $20 off and not having to pay shipping sealed the deal for me. =)

I'm spending most of this week with my sisters at the Back Porch Friends quilt retreat. Miss Heather is tending the farm and my Daddy is checking in every now and then too.

Most of my retreat time is being spent with my left ankle propped up wearing an ice pack. I took a fall last Monday and did a number on my ankle. It isn't broken but my Nurse Practitioner thinks I have some ligament damage. This is the same ankle I had a ruptured Achilles with a few years ago. My appointment with my podiatrist isn't until the 31st. =(

Oh Wow! Look at What I Won!!

I'm so excited! I entered a giveaway to win this book on the Backyard Farming blog and won.

Here is a description of the book from Amazon.

"Swap the annuals for edibles, creating attractive beds and containers that both beautify the yard and provide a bounty of fresh produce

As a trained chef-turned-professional kitchen garden designer, Marta Teegen knows what a difference freshly harvested vegetables can make to a meal—and how easy it is to ensure seasonal vegetables are always available when you need them.

You'll find more than 40 top picks for small-space vegetables that yield big and are trouble-free, plus a variety of menus and 50 recipes for fresh and delicious summer dishes."

The book looks very good and I can't wait to read it. I appreciate the folks at Backyard Farming for offering the book. They have a great blog!