Happy Harvest Blog
A lot of pictures, for a day I didn't take any pictures
All the things I didn't take pictures of today: Moving the piggies into some lush new jungle land. I paid for it in bug bites, but they're piggy pleased. Chris and Cream Puff canoodling. They really are always together. Two new chicks, little Silkie chicks. Two new broodies, and wooo Nelly, one of them is vicious! This one was broody without eggs. I wasn't sure she was broody because she was sitting, but not on eggs, and she didn't know what to do with herself because she didn't have eggs,
Ripening
The tomatoes are reddening up. The chickens have even already gotten to enjoy some overripe ones.If all these come red at the same time, I'm gonna have a real glut. Despite the load of tomatoes on these, I'm disappointed with this variety (Earlirouge). It's like they can't decide if they're determinate or not. And the peppers are coming. And the eggplants seem to be doing even better than usual.The first Silkie chicks are on their way. Two so far, both white, and she has three more eggs. There's one tiny beak poking out there from under Daisy. It's always a surprise how teeny tiny the Silkie chicks are compared to full sized chickens.
Seems like I've learned some things.
How to grow sunflowers and corn...Ugh, I've had little luck with either the last few years. And lettuce, yay! Uhoh, these heads are starting to protrude in the middle - going to seed. I'm good now for a salad a day for the rest of the season, I think. I really like this Merlot red lettuce.
Poppies and peanuts close at night
I've got some varmint taking out my beans. It's really annoying. I suspected a vole, but, would a vole cut down the beans and then drag them under the overhanging thyme and sage in the next bed? I've got something like a tiny beaver, felling beanstalks, and then hauling them to the adjacent garden bed to hide under herbs. These stalks are freshly wilted! I thought I already had scapes. These are the second round of late or postponed scapery.
Teenage chicken
The tomatoes are all strung up now, in the greenhouse. They're looking good, despite our wack weather. There's a fair number of green tomatoes. The cucumbers on the other hand have just decided to get off the couch and grow. The orphan chicks learned how to let themselves today, squeezing through the orange mesh of the doors. Happily, they let themselves back in, too, and we're ready to go to bed. Two more days in for this bunch. I want they controlled for the rain coming on Friday, so I can keep them dry in the GH.
Bloom
The quince is a blaze of hot pink. I have one little tiny magnolia bloom starting to open. Cute. I'm pleased that it survived the winter. It's covered with little green buds. Outside, the chickens are doing very well at large. Even the wretched roosters are acting less like weirdos, finally. The Colonel keeps them at bay from the hens, but they are part of the general flock now, and have even been observed food clucking (which the hens totally ignore). I got something good! I really do! Why doesn't anyone listen to me? Actually, there's been a surprising usurpation!
The shuttle
Every night there's a risk of frost I bring in the seedlings from the tomato safe. Now, most of the tomatoes are planted in the GH, so there's only one wheelbarrow load, plus two flats of peppers etc. Since the big Benadryl freeze fiasco (well, and before), I carefully check the weather and if it's dipping, it's shuttle time. There's also a pile of flats occupying the windowsills in the house, and they get set out on the deck during the day, which is a short commute.
Apples helps with potting up
Oh no! I took a pile of pictures of Silkies, feathers glowing backlit by the evening sun, and expecting to post them, I find none of them are there! Some error. :( It was a sunny day and the birds were fuzzy and adorable hopping around in the grass. Still potting up some small starts, and little Apples gets excited. Every time the dirt comes out, so does she. She likes to knock over a pot and kick it around (I give her one to play with). She has developed some extravagantly feathered feet. Little chamomiles
Ready for rain
Tomorrow is greenhouse planting day, so today I reinstalled the famous greenhouse gutter (ok, it's not famous, I'm just smug about inventing it). Or at least, the framing for the gutter. That's the part that requires walking around inside, that needed to get done before the plants go in. I put it off after moving the greenhouse. The gutter will just clip on afterwards. It went very well. Smooth, just took time. All sealed up, chicken tight. I'll be happy to not have to remove it again for a couple of years.
Sprouts emerging
I'm going to make it. I'm better today. There's so much to be done! The first broody hen of the year needs some privacy and coddling; calls, emails, cleaning; starts need to go out, get potted up, and divided, galore... things have been growing even while I've been down, and there's been much emerging. The peanuts are popping up. Most amazingly, these cells of pie pumpkins are TWO DAYS OLD! 3" tall! Astonishing, nay, aggressive seedling vigour. Yesterday I saw them break ground like these just did. Outside, it's pouring rain and grey.
Seedling disaster
If this happens to anybody else, that you think your tomato seedlings might have frozen in the night, although they look ok in the early morning, supposedly if you splash them with water or dunk them before they are thawed by the warming day, they may survive!
Instagram.
I may not make a blog post every day, but at least I Insta.
Bite size.
