tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73972165915190889462024-02-06T21:10:42.493-06:00New Kentucky Homesteaddphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16205051256917210078noreply@blogger.comBlogger140125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397216591519088946.post-59033226492018448272011-10-11T21:02:00.001-05:002011-10-11T21:04:27.591-05:00My first Back to Eden garden<p>Last spring I hauled home 6 dump truck loads of wood chips from the local stock yard. I piled them up after bringing them home and watched them steam on cool mornings. I mulched around fruit trees and berry bushes with them, but most of the pile remained unused. Until this week. <br /> <br />After watching the <a href="http://backtoedenfilm.com">Back to Eden</a> film which details Paul Gautschi’s gardening technique, I was persuaded to give it a try. I had already sowed some fall greens in our main garden, and I didn’t want to disturb them (we’ve been eating some tasty salads for about a week now). One of our smaller garden areas had sweet potatoes in it, but it was time to get them out. <br /> <br />So, after harvesting about 20 bushels of sweet potatoes, and bringing in the basil plants to dry, it was time to create a Back to Eden garden. This particular garden plot is 50 feet by 75 feet. <br /> <br />The first step was to remove what weeds were left and then smooth out the remains of the ridges in which the sweet potatoes were grown. I used the disk to do that, although that wasn’t the only or best option. I wasn’t trying to work the soil up, just level it out a little. <br /> <br />Then, I hauled several truck loads of compost and dumped them on the garden. I used the tractor with a box blade to spread the compost as evenly across the garden as I could. <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UVvIX0_IKVQ/TpT1GPtvWnI/AAAAAAAADpE/Uwt6IQkzDwc/s1600-h/002%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="002" border="0" alt="002" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsLogoREVk3RGlmpDR4fhMk41zMQSbfVxnmEECQ3dBWx8yuN8g2LIouzVR3wu6KPUldiczLHTise_QSvA_M3O-NF7MxzB4rdXNcSOpyDQg-02ot5XnIgJK_n7OpuFuxj3WoMFbvaGowU/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>It ended up being about one inch to two inches thick. <br /> <br />The next step was to haul wood chips. I hauled 6 or 7 truck loads, leaving about one truck load where the original pile was. Then, it was time to spread the chips across the garden as evenly as I could. I used my Bobcat for some of this, but a lot of the spreading had to be done manually, with a rake, hoe, shovel, and wheel barrow. <br /> <br />It took a couple of hours, but I was able to spread the wood chips across the garden to a depth of about 4 to 6 inches. It looks good, I think. Soon, I hope to plant some garlic and a few potatoes in it. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGr5CM3NBPYz7V_TdSMQdiGzA_Tym3R9zitwzuyRMRj9C4AtZN3wV8lQs8nsQghd9o0jQuNzLZeaku1wA5lZLExJkRWz1PZNpxHrOJLDvJSOxGH9HwVUY4E98kck44kLAQ-70adYnnBM/s1600-h/004%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="004" border="0" alt="004" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4AzNfyoWdLo/TpT1LTceIeI/AAAAAAAADpc/HTf9kLiki-E/004_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="454" height="342" /></a></p> dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16205051256917210078noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397216591519088946.post-17931134764745228582011-09-19T11:35:00.001-05:002011-09-19T11:36:52.279-05:00Back to Eden–a must-see gardening film<p>A friend sent me a link to the teaser for a recent documentary called Back to Eden. It’s about the gardening philosophy and techniques of Paul Gautschi. He said that if I watched the teaser that I would then watch the full video (which is available to be viewed online free). He was right. I’ve watched it twice so far, and it is excellent! It’s inspiring. I will be implementing the methods Paul talks about in the film as I am able, starting right now. <br /> <br />If you already grow your own food/garden or are interested in doing so, this is a must see film. Watch the teaser and see if it doesn’t pique your interest and prompt you to watch the full film. <br /> <br /> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:97bc527a-3637-4b85-8145-22001897e582" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="26ae8b58-d5a8-463b-9e4a-81e841b3cd63" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGZ1Wy0WES0&feature=related" target="_new"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OvnE7Dsk70A/TndvTg9Gl1I/AAAAAAAADnw/U7eMrEJ29gc/video52044e36b543%25255B20%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('26ae8b58-d5a8-463b-9e4a-81e841b3cd63'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"578\" height=\"325\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/fGZ1Wy0WES0?hl=en&hd=1\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/fGZ1Wy0WES0?hl=en&hd=1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"578\" height=\"325\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> <br /> <br />Now, follow this link to watch the full-length film: <a title="http://www.backtoedenfilm.com/" href="http://www.backtoedenfilm.com/">www.backtoedenfilm.com/</a></p> <p>Let me know what you think.</p> dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16205051256917210078noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397216591519088946.post-17141279179515148012011-06-18T11:11:00.001-05:002011-06-18T11:15:25.079-05:00Our three gardens<p>It’s been a few days since I last posted. There’s not been a lack of things to do, and I have still been accomplishing much. Once the rain stopped, we got busy in the garden. We set out 50# of seed potatoes, 32 pounds of onion sets, 150 tomato plants, nearly 300 sweet potato plants, a few cabbage and broccoli plants, and about three dozen eggplants. We’ve also planted peanuts, dried beans, green beans, sweet corn, pop corn, squash, melons, okra, and cucumbers. I’ll be planting some more sweet corn and green beans soon. <br /> <br />We’re using three different garden areas this year, more than we’ve utilized in the past. One has the onions, potatoes, tomatoes, and sweet corn in it at the present time. <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hBT8-6qMOQw/TfzNiRyP6QI/AAAAAAAADjY/xkLF4TyCsRI/s1600-h/025%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="025" border="0" alt="025" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8Kw--n9Ozyg/TfzNjAcXR4I/AAAAAAAADjc/D1a3mRNB5FE/025_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>Another has the sweet potatoes and some watermelon. We’ll probably put the next planting of sweet corn in this garden since there is still room for it. The other, and largest, garden has several types of melons, green beans, dried beans, and peanuts in it. <br /> <br />The children have been helping with taking care of the garden. Each year as they grow they are more able to contribute to our food production. <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YlArUx8ZgRA/TfzNlETyBKI/AAAAAAAADjg/fRY1oJmabiU/s1600-h/004%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="004" border="0" alt="004" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HcE_WfUsJjg/TfzNlubz9CI/AAAAAAAADjk/7rl8awLCfgQ/004_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>My boys have really been helpful this year with planting and weeding. I try to not overwhelm them with too much at a time, and they’ve really been doing a good job and with a good attitude. <br /> <br />I think it’s important for children to grow up with responsibilities and learning to work. There are so many things that they can do to contribute to their family, and there are so many valuable things to be learned through the process. Too many children, I’m afraid, are not expected to contribute to their families in meaningful ways. When I was growing up, my family had a very limited income, and our gardens provided a good deal of our food. Each of us was expected and required to participate in the growing, maintenance, harvesting, and preserving of food. I didn’t always appreciate it at the time, but I certainly do now. <br /> <br />One of the challenges we’ve faced with the gardens during the last couple of weeks is the deer. They decided that we’re growing food for them. They’ve eaten on our peas, beans, beets, chard, and lettuce. <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cVIDDDSzrAM/TfzNnvdjtVI/AAAAAAAADjo/Mb3LwZeoIdM/s1600-h/037%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="037" border="0" alt="037" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oofxXNUOws8/TfzNoDftyqI/AAAAAAAADjs/Uh38TA10T4I/037_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>They basically destroyed the beets and chard – I guess they tasted good to them. After they’d eaten on the beans which were just starting to blossom, I put up some deer deterrent: baling twine. I’ve been told that deer don’t like the smell of baling twine, and three years ago we put up a fence of it around our garden because of the deer, and it kept them out of it. <br /> <br />After I fenced off the beans with baling twine, the deer decided to eat some of the younger beans. These deer appear to be very hungry based upon how they’ve been eating. <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UOdPrjys3CM/TfzNqLgsRdI/AAAAAAAADjw/Zb6t89ErGiY/s1600-h/032%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="032" border="0" alt="032" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0LXcN6h0i3vvBkaO4R8H0C60Ztt7M-J9Otk1i2NS4kXNsYFStHjchnDxxpq0NV9tP7tbiy61SelEKoKgAvrfQNn5cNa9Vnxqq0sLm97yEyeoExANTHUfiMPGJ2K0A0plnKS5M1W8qhU/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>So, the boys and I put up a perimeter fence around the bean garden using 10’ poles driven into the ground and four strands of baling twine. We also tied rectangles of aluminum flashing onto each pole to move with the wind and create noise. So far, the deer haven’t been back in the garden, but it’s only been a couple of days. I’m hopeful it will keep them out for most of the growing season. <br /> <br />Yesterday, Malchiah and I worked on getting some of our tomatoes staked up. Last year I used livestock panels in an A-frame configuration – two panels on either side of the row tied together at the top. <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pFAzMYBIWFg/TfzONiMwZrI/AAAAAAAADj4/Rck7vV0HRok/s1600-h/015%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="015" border="0" alt="015" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tl4is2yqqe4/TfzOOdzs3JI/AAAAAAAADj8/z343fui3Mbo/015_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>This year my rows are 30 feet long which requires four panels per row. I have 12 panels and didn’t want to spend the money to buy more. So, to be able to cover more rows (we have 8 rows of tomatoes), I changed the method for this year. <br /> <br />We started with three rows yesterday. I set some cedar posts at the ends of the rows and one post in the middle of each row. Then, we hung two panels between the posts right above the tomato plants. The panels are about 9 inches off the ground. I tied the larger plants to the bottom of the panels and wove their branches them. As the plants grow, we’ll weave them through the panels to the top, or as tall as the plants grow. We’ll tie them to the panels as necessary. It takes more work to set posts in the ground, but this way we have enough panels for six rows. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFsc5UNnt8N6eyO2BoPuBV0Y41H88c4bwCRHcuUicNDJ0OTBTnFvDXZprikp3A1DmABYK3jEVXQkg7BbgrZLwlW_cx0GOM8cfqa8PLnhCyB8irAweYHQOA-TcS9BDiN75hHy4zWzd2w4/s1600-h/020%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="020" border="0" alt="020" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UHPVcI4ejHg/TfzOQRuH-nI/AAAAAAAADkE/O0noZvztDZ0/020_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>I’ll stake up the other two rows differently. <br /> <br />We’ve been enjoying fresh blueberries and black raspberries this week. Soon, it’ll be time to pick blackberries. We usually pick and preserve as many blackberries as we can. Last year we picked around 20 gallons. We’re planning on doing the same this year. <br /> <br />I’ve been teaching two sections of my class this summer. There’s one more week to go in the session. It’s been taking a lot of time, but it’s worth it. My objective is to encourage the students to question the institution of school by considering some of its harmful effects and how it is not designed to promote learning/education as they assume. As one of the authors they read says, “School makes children stupid.” I enjoy the class, but it’ll be nice to be able to focus and devote my time to projects (like finishing our house) here on the farm. </p> dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16205051256917210078noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397216591519088946.post-88492607698458745762011-04-17T18:42:00.001-05:002011-04-17T18:42:00.224-05:00Compost & mulch in the orchard<p>Things are really greening up around here. It’s so pretty with all the new leaves coming out on the trees. Spring is a neat time of year. Around here it’s also a wet time of year. We received nearly five inches of rain during the last week. The ground is saturated, but it’ll dry out before too long. <br /> <br />There are a lot of jobs that need done around the farm during Spring. I keep plugging away at the things that need done. Last week before some of the rain, we composted all of the blueberry bushes and mulched them with wood chips. I worked the compost into the soil around each bush before putting the mulch around them. <br /> <br />Today, I worked in the orchard. Last year I didn’t give the fruit trees the attention they needed. With plenty of compost available this year, I didn’t want to neglect them again. I was going to till around each tree, but the pull rope on the tiller broke. I’m going to have to fix that and a couple of other things on it tomorrow or the next day. <br /> <br />So, instead of using the tiller, I used a grub how and worked in a circle around each tree, working up the soil out to the drip line of each tree (as far out as the branches extend). There were 14 trees, I think (I forgot to count to make sure). Once I had the ground worked up around all of the trees, I mowed between the trees with the bush hog. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLbmbci5nXf0ea6gAfpWA4zn6I138XM1APE9I3_yUK1Oh7M6QrHn3s0Fl-FJUK2LNGuGVTQkMBHLNzlqjmGk9qF71h-TwmnuBw345lYmTbtwwPPMVWfj1-4Y_j-Uuja40VGrJ7SfflZc/s1600-h/010%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="010" border="0" alt="010" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/Tat6vRZphyI/AAAAAAAADgI/Ayqwdq9WjbQ/010_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>Then, I hauled compost to them. I put half a loader scoop at the base of each tree. <br /> <br />I used my grape hoe to spread out the compost. It ended up being 4 or 5 inches deep around each tree. Then, it was time to mulch them. I put a full loader scoop of wood chips at each tree and spread it out beyond the composted area for each one. A few of the trees didn’t need a full scoop of mulch. So, <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/Tat6xOAkdmI/AAAAAAAADgM/N3K3faNNeu0/s1600-h/008%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="008" border="0" alt="008" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/Tat6xoHrYcI/AAAAAAAADgQ/oOt1lLv8qCA/008_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>I put the extra around the little hazelnut trees I set out a few weeks ago and a little bit around the cherry bushes. <br /> <br />The orchard looks nice and neat now, and I hope the compost gives the trees a nutritional boost. The wood chips will keep the weeds down and will provide nutrients as the break down over the next year or so.</p> dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16205051256917210078noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397216591519088946.post-2993392582129010552011-04-17T18:25:00.001-05:002011-04-17T18:25:49.254-05:00Morels<p>The children and I have hunted for morels several different days during the last couple of weeks. We’ve looked for them in previous years, too, but the most we’ve ever found is about 20. <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/Tat2-g_fI6I/AAAAAAAADf8/DJQGDUdD34U/s1600-h/002%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="002" border="0" alt="002" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqja_-rNu0LO4UBBUgB2rK2G-81H1RdaBWuHIreYTEye2gBo5mgBDS6zCUx4x6_hSB4hS72FKB7hP4pfqrMx47ItIhWhXyzXR-qG2kq9-7ozaI5LO28Stlqc3owLE4gxWDiukK3u61zg/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>I’ve read about where to look for them and have tried to note where we find them growing, but there’s been little consistency. Basically, they grow where they want to. <br /> <br />Last week we did find about three dozen of the tasty little buggers. We’d had rain a couple days before with some cool weather. As it warmed up, some Morels popped up. We probably spent two and a half or three hours looking on our ridge to find these. The photo shows a few of the ones that we found that day. <br /> <br />After washing them and cutting them in half lengthways, I sautéed them in butter, and we enjoyed them as a special treat for dinner. They were very good!</p> dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16205051256917210078noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397216591519088946.post-14581698647371643422011-04-08T21:29:00.001-05:002011-04-08T21:29:47.010-05:00Cows on grass and gardening<p>We moved the cows out of the barn and back onto grass this week. They seem happy, and our milk production has gone up. <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TZ_EZALppBI/AAAAAAAADfI/dtCRNmRa-M0/s1600-h/025%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="025" border="0" alt="025" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TZ_EZkMWMbI/AAAAAAAADfM/zyKw-STB1FM/025_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>I’ve provided them with some hay to make sure they have enough roughage as they transition back onto green stuff, and they are doing well. <br /> <br />After I moved the cows out, I started cleaning out the barn. They were in the barn for four months. I used straw and saw dust for bedding while they were there, giving them fresh bedding every day and letting it accumulate during the entire four months. <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TZ_EcBUALUI/AAAAAAAADfQ/ZG6HlORyISw/s1600-h/028%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="028" border="0" alt="028" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TZ_EcwgWgDI/AAAAAAAADfU/99v1CTPUYg4/028_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>Two full grown cows and two young steers can make a lot of manure mixed with bedding in four months time. <br /> <br />I used the Bobcat to start cleaning it out. The way the barn is set up, I can only get the Bobcat straight in from outside and clean a pathway across the cows’ area inside. There isn’t room to turn and clean out the rest mechanically. We’ll have to clean out the other 80% by hand, or at least loosen it and throw it into the middle so it can be moved out with the Bobcat. We’ll complete this work over the next couple of weeks, I hope. <br /> <br />On other blogs, I’ve read about people starting their garden plants inside over the last couple of months, <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TZ_Ee0kiG4I/AAAAAAAADfY/dYy7WFlmAew/s1600-h/015%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="015" border="0" alt="015" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TZ_EfTn3_9I/AAAAAAAADfc/NMncs5jCg6k/015_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>but I didn’t get any of starts going until yesterday. I have no place inside our current home for starting seeds. In the past I’ve started seeds in the basement of a previous home under grow lights or in a greenhouse. I don’t want to use the power to keep a grow light on with our electrical system now even if I had the space/place inside for it. <br /> <br />Without a place for starting seeds and with the length of our growing season, I’ve not worried about having not started my seeds yet. So, yesterday, <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TZ_Egz-n4DI/AAAAAAAADfg/iFSpGBY6EkU/s1600-h/014%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="014" border="0" alt="014" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9w7S6xdi7gLqb9jW39_efcAfQn2RCw0ccQv6z-QktgiTHFdVKV9vFQjeZ9KP3MV62QfFDr_dt1fkBWdmCASZguRjUq0kj2jxK9Mykp7SDwqGuUm9AobS27thNnLai2PvWDkTpWeMyq4/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>I mixed together some growing medium (one part compost, one part peat moss, and one part rich dirt) and planted some seeds: tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant. I put them in some flats I had from last year and set them under a makeshift greenhouse. <br /> <br />The makeshift greenhouse is a metal framework with plastic stretched over it. When I checked it a couple of times today, it was nice and warm and moist inside. I think with the warm weather we’re having, the seeds should sprout fairly quickly. I don’t plan on setting plants out until mid-May. So, if all goes well, they should be ready by then. <br /> <br />Then, today, the boys and I planted some things in the garden. First, I worked up an area about 30 feet by 30 feet. <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TZ_EjeUnMwI/AAAAAAAADfo/tPQSD_uHhuE/s1600-h/020%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="020" border="0" alt="020" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TZ_Ej1dnS_I/AAAAAAAADfs/Igk_gjpTG1Q/020_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>Using my grape hoe (an wonderful tool), I pulled dirt into four ridges. I filled the trenches left from pulling the dirt together into ridges with wood chips about 6 inches or so deep. This makes nice walkways with material that will break down over time, feeding the worms and adding to the soil. Then, I smoothed the tops of the ridges with a rake, making rows about 18 to 20 inches wide for planting. <br /> <br />This afternoon, we planted several varieties of lettuce, spinach, beets, swiss chard, and carrots in these wide rows. <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TZ_ElxYrW9I/AAAAAAAADfw/HQ4N-heXNeM/s1600-h/023%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="023" border="0" alt="023" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TZ_EmSaknQI/AAAAAAAADf0/2UL7_B8mAcg/023_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>We also planted several rows of sugar snap peas in another area right beside the first one. We’ll be planting a lot more things in the coming weeks. <br /> <br />I had an interesting experience while using the Bobcat to the wood chips from the big pile to the garden: a wheel fell off. Apparently, the lug bolts had come loose, they worked themselves out. I hadn’t noticed this was happening. As I made a turn to head into the garden, the wheel fell off, and the Bobcat sat down on its haunches. I found three of the bolts and borrowed one from each of the other wheels to reattach it before continuing with the work. <br /> <br />After finishing the planting, the children and I went for a swim in the pond. It was a bit cool, but we all enjoyed it. </p> dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16205051256917210078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397216591519088946.post-42820585390695923132011-04-05T07:08:00.001-05:002011-04-05T09:53:05.098-05:00The Bobcat M500 back together<p>A few weeks ago, I wrote about working on my Bobcat M500. I had to take it apart in order to pull the engine so I could get the starter off of it. The starter was in need of repair – the brushes were completely worn out. I also had Jack (the local guy who works on starters) check the generator, and it tested out fine, thankfully. That meant that something else was causing it not to keep the battery charged. <br /> <br />While I had the Bobcat taken apart, I cleaned it a bit. It had quite a bit of grease and grime on it. It probably could’ve used a good power washing, but since I didn’t have access to a power washer, I used soapy water, a brush, and a rag. I also purchased some cans of cheap spray paint and gave it a new coat of paint. It was nothing fancy, just something to cover up some of the scratches and places where the metal was bare. <br /> <br />While I had the engine out, I discovered it needed new head gaskets. Amazingly, new ones are still available – Kohler doesn’t support the engine (K662) anymore, but they apparently still have some engines that use the same head gaskets. <br /> <br />After getting the new gaskets installed and the repair starter on it, I completely rewired things. I welded a corner of the operator’s cage which had come apart <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TZsGO0LE8gI/AAAAAAAADdY/IohUoDC2_nQ/s1600-h/0155.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="015" border="0" alt="015" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TZsGPsArpvI/AAAAAAAADdc/P9Vm1UOfRpw/015_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>(it’s home-made by a previous owner) and gave it a new coat of black paint. I also painted the wheels and rear weight red. <br /> <br />Putting it back together went well. I had to replace a few bolts that hold things together. Of course, when I had the engine back in and before I had all the other things put back, I checked to make sure it would start and run okay. It did. <br /> <br />After getting it all back together, I had to run it and check things out. It worked well, but I noticed the batter wasn’t charging. I suspected the voltage regulator, and, when I tested it, it was clear that it wasn’t working (it regulates the voltage from the generator for charging the battery – alternators have built-in voltage regulators). <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TZsGRZ3LZYI/AAAAAAAADdg/jV6jqFxSs2w/s1600-h/0175.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="017" border="0" alt="017" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TZsGRzquFYI/AAAAAAAADdk/Tfww6NL2mH8/017_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>So, I ordered a new one, and when I arrived I put it on. it solved the problem. <br /> <br />The only other problem I had was that the air filter needs replaced. I still have to find one or figure out a way to put new filter material in/on the current one. <br /> <br />Since I got it back together a couple of weeks ago, I’ve used it around here some, and it is quite handy. I’ve moved compost and have loaded some manure and bedding into the truck to haul it to a compost pile. The only complaint I have about it besides that it’s almost underpowered (it is amazingly strong for its size and small engine) is that it drinks gas at an alarming rate. These old Kohler engines aren’t known for being fuel efficient. <br /> <br />Yesterday, I hauled the Bobcat to the stock yard in town. The company that owned the stock yard went bankrupt. So, it’s closed. Anyway, before it closed, the guy who ran the place had the power company tree trimmers dump several loads of wood chips for him to use in their back lots instead of rock (wood chips would keep the cows out of the mud). I liked this idea (it was my idea), because I intended to get the wood chips and manure later on. <br /> <br />However, since the place closed, the pile of wood chips has just sat there looking forlorn and lonely. When I asked, I was told that I might as well get the wood chips if I wanted them. So, I used the Bobcat to load them on my truck and bring them home. I used my smaller truck and trailer to haul the Bobcat, and then after bringing home a small truck load of manure/bedding (all that I hadn’t already gotten – I left it in case anyone else wanted it, but it was still there after four months), I drove my big truck back. <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TZsszeZpvZI/AAAAAAAADeQ/DeScuJhFP98/s1600-h/007%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="007" border="0" alt="007" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TZss0L8iCdI/AAAAAAAADeU/p4Hxjqqlio4/007_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>I loaded and hauled six loads with the big truck, approximately 72 cubic yards of wood chips. <br /> <br />They’re all piled nice and neat here on the farm, now. It’s very satisfying to push things into a nine foot tall pile for some reason. We’ll use wood chips for garden walkways and to mulch around trees. When I get some more manure, it can be mixed with them. If they’re just left to break down, they’ll make some excellent compost on their own. </p> dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16205051256917210078noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397216591519088946.post-58756935057247480532011-03-23T16:50:00.001-05:002011-03-23T16:50:17.376-05:00Spreading more compost<p>It didn’t rain last night (there was a chance). So, this morning, I spread compost on the small field near the orchard, at the end of which I planted the 50 asparagus crowns earlier. My compost spreading process involves two tractors, <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TYpq1Qw_9ZI/AAAAAAAADb4/xcb358SC-VY/s1600-h/003%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="003" border="0" alt="003" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3oQKl1W8bhY0iCL4OOzM5u0aFNehJ34JOfOxHmV-T2cshehU2Pvb7IZH8PrzxaFN7n715y5mFOAqeVicPlQBXCYTWcMJx3mrDtAKmcnyk6xjM9Zdn8tpVon_r3hMh4HJ72gSRvsbPJ1Q/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>a manure spreader, a loader, and a field cultivator. <br /> <br />This is the field before I started. I disked it a few days ago. Last year, we tried to grow corn here, but the crows and other varmints interfered with that. The soil doesn’t have a lot of humus, appearing to be mostly clay. Like much of the other ground on our farm, it was used to grow tobacco in the past. There were tobacco stalks in it when we moved here almost eight years ago. <br /> <br />I took compost from the piles at then end of the field. Yesterday, <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TYpq4f9L1_I/AAAAAAAADcA/VmEr_AGyilg/s1600-h/005%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="005" border="0" alt="005" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TYpq487tp_I/AAAAAAAADcE/WveHqfb70a4/005_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>I used from one of the piles for spreading on the garden. <br /> <br />The manure spreader that I have is an old one that I bought last spring. Of course, it’s not as old as the one I used before I got this one. I’ve only been able to use this one the last couple of days even though I bought it a year ago. Thankfully, it worked fine today. I pulled and powered it with my 1966 International 424. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDK8GNOKzfUBuWTv7njVaKUEZnAH54PLbEVKN4UvrMkdrNy8zjNAFkYl5lU40_ALSVjqu9fOh3c_c3xj10rtHsg7Nc7pAN-vhDJRJlqZ12XWLunQuSYWpbQEcw4nYFRShy2XNIgiOXe4Q/s1600-h/008%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="008" border="0" alt="008" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TYpq7veDghI/AAAAAAAADcM/UesMKrNDUgo/008_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>This has been a very good tractor since I bought it 7.5 years ago. I use it for just about everything. <br /> <br />Part way through the process, I took a photo of my progress. I’d already spread 10 loads at this time, and the first pile was completely removed and I had started on the second pile. I loaded the spreader with the loader tractor. <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TYpq98W60iI/AAAAAAAADcQ/vNFHkPeqKq8/s1600-h/011%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="011" border="0" alt="011" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TYpq-S_acTI/AAAAAAAADcU/51UcYx1QzCI/011_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>I would’ve liked to have used the Bobcat, but it needs the battery charged. The voltage regulator doesn’t work on it. I ordered another one. Hopefully, that will keep the battery charged. <br /> <br />In all, I spread 13 loads on the field. I estimate each load at around 3,000 pounds. Since the spreader is PTO powered, I ran the tractor in first gear to allow the compost to be spread as thickly as possible. I also went over the same ground at least twice. It’s amazing how little it looks like when it is no longer piled up. <br /> <br />Once I finished spreading, it was time to rip the compost into the soil. I didn’t want to leave it on the surface to dry out and lose some of its goodness. <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TYprAmGTDFI/AAAAAAAADcY/DTV5uen6scY/s1600-h/013%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="013" border="0" alt="013" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOtV7zBWbNjzip6zJaKctyprT7OtJDL_RLiy6VY8n7TrYrRKo82W27n8qw-OeduTLb5IdmFvC9ICZbX-b1-TwUYypBXvLG2YR8kYk-8-u2bEfdPE4D1v1MXJDCZ3vhXvFh_pmq8NFk4U/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>Thankfully, most of the time while I was working it was also overcast. <br /> <br />The field cultivator I used has seven shanks and does a really nice job. This ground was a little harder than the garden I worked yesterday. So, I couldn’t get it to go in quite as deep. Almost as deep though. <br /> <br />It started to rain a little just as I finished working the compost into the ground. I considered that a blessing. It wasn’t much rain, but it was nice to have a little to wet the compost into the ground a bit. <br /> <br />The final photo is of the field after I finished. The soil doesn’t look much darker than before in the photo, but it is a little. It will take several years of working in compost to get it where I would like it to be. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TYprEu_O9qI/AAAAAAAADcg/PdChxgv40z0/s1600-h/016%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="016" border="0" alt="016" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TYprF5fhIgI/AAAAAAAADck/Cd-Gnar4AeQ/016_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a></p> <p>We’ll use this field as a second garden area. I don’t know that we’ll use all of it this year. What we don’t, I hope to sow buckwheat or some other beneficial cover crop on.</p> dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16205051256917210078noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397216591519088946.post-60519097546303895712011-03-22T20:39:00.001-05:002011-03-22T20:44:26.311-05:00Warm and dry in March<p>Last post I mentioned how we usually warm up and dry out in March. It happened again. We’ve been experiencing summer-like weather for the last few days, and it’s been keeping me busy. <br /> <br />On Sunday I had 50 asparagus crowns to put in the ground. I put lots of compost into the trenches I had already dug and set the asparagus crowns in it. I was able to get them all bedded, and hopefully they’ll be happy. <br /> <br />I also plowed an area for our field corn. It’s not a very big field, but hopefully we can grow enough for corn bread. Last year the crows ate the seed out of the ground and then the raccoons and deer tried to demolish what the crows missed. Hopefully, we’ll do better this year. I’m going to spread a good bit of compost on the soil before it’s time to plant since this particular plot has some poor soil. I actually plowed it a few years ago but didn’t plant anything in it. So, it’s had a bit of a break. I think it previously had tobacco planted in it, as just about every field here has. <br /> <br />Yesterday, I planted the nine cherry bushes that were anxiously waiting to be set in dirt. I put two in front of the house so that we can enjoy their blossoms in the spring. The other seven I set out in a row near the new asparagus rows – they’re on the edge of the orchard. I used the 12” auger on the tractor to dig the holes which was much easier than using a shovel. I dug them deep and put lots of compost in the holes before planting. <br /> <br />Yesterday afternoon I spent working on the manure spreader. I bought the spreader last spring, and the first time I went to use it, the apron chain broke (that’s what walks the material to the back of the spreader). I’ve been needing to fix it, and it’s been waiting patiently. In anticipation of spreading some compost on the gardens, I decided it was time to get it done. I took the chain out, replaced the floor with some new beech boards I had (it had a plywood floor with a few holes). <br /> <br />After buying the necessary hardware and links for the chain, I bolted the floor boards in, repaired the chain, and put it back in. I wasn’t able to try it out until this morning. It seemed to work fine, though. However, on the second load, another link in the chain broke. So, I had to shovel everything out. It occurred to me that at that point, I had shoveled more stuff out of the<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpLsPA244Pks3rG4RifvdcSbeEzb5oMOumo-1LmAkfDedjGF1CZphUKwuKAttykq7ZqWAop4GLrQJNegBesSThnwIsxo-vGwx01wJHv4W5p5waAJxpSdKoP67I-OtHJLiqkCROKBlViE/s1600-h/010%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="010" border="0" alt="010" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TYlPZgy8LqI/AAAAAAAADbI/Bvw385gNcWE/010_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> spreader than it had actually spread for me. I replaced the broken link and made a few adjustments, and then it worked fine. <br /> <br />I spread the pile of manure and bedding we cleaned out of the barn last fall – that was the accumulation from the winter before. Most of that I spread with the loader tractor and a grader blade after the manure spreader broke. I used a friend’s field cultivator to rip the material into the dirt and work up the ground. Then, I spread several more loads of compost from another pile on the garden and ripped it in. <br /> <br />I’ve got another garden area to spread compost on and to work up. If we don’t get much of the rain that’s possible tomorrow, I’ll see about doing that later this week. <br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7YP2VjwXkR2mp8ONZpSveHt9DxUE08Hr4IuRhOJ6G8uE4HqfPYbVaYF5jIbkMhR90KL2O_fSF64yDp4fiZFrCMTAanZAI4bCR-nyrmIng6pO_FQn69gwvw7Ilnnr5UEJDDXVVIDFaKw/s1600-h/013%5B15%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="013" border="0" alt="013" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TYlQeOUftwI/AAAAAAAADbU/CfRF2g3Z1v4/013_thumb%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="454" height="342" /></a></p> dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16205051256917210078noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397216591519088946.post-74500759071352046362011-03-18T21:25:00.001-05:002011-03-18T21:25:53.842-05:00Putting plants in the ground<p>It felt a lot like summer today. Our high was about 80 degrees. We had rain a couple of days ago, but the warmer temperatures and breeze that has been blowing is beginning to dry things out. Usually, there are a couple of weeks in March/April that it dries up enough to work the garden and begin getting some things planted. It’s till too wet to work up our main garden area, but maybe we’re getting closer to that drying period. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TYQT5rCrylI/AAAAAAAADaU/ChVOJNd84wY/s1600-h/001%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="001" border="0" alt="001" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TYQT7LTd7SI/AAAAAAAADaY/t2S9yUZsKlY/001_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="204" height="154" /></a>I did work in the dirt a bit yesterday and today. A couple of months ago, I ordered some plants. They arrived this week. So, I thought it would be a good idea to get them in the ground. <br /> <br />Yesterday, I planted three Rosa Rugosa plants that Anne ordered free from Gurneys. I planted some in front of the house we lived in before we moved to Kentucky, and we enjoyed them. One of the reasons for getting them now (besides the fact that they were free with the Gurneys’ promotional coupon) is that Rosa Rugosa produce many nice-sized rose hips. We want to harvest them for tea. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TYQT9CmLqtI/AAAAAAAADac/dNsVRr_0Un8/s1600-h/009%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="009" border="0" alt="009" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TYQT_ivvhHI/AAAAAAAADag/s7QmFfke86w/009_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>Also yesterday, I put six hazelnut trees in the ground. We would like a good nut source. The wild nuts around here are hickory and black walnut. Primarily, we’ve used hickory nuts. <br /> <br />I’ve been digging into one of my compost piles, the smallest one actually, for these plantings. Today, I dug into it a bit more for the strawberry beds. I finished my work on the Bobcat earlier in the week and was able to use it for moving the compost. <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TYQUB1gqegI/AAAAAAAADak/k2kCYCFBhO0/s1600-h/005%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="005" border="0" alt="005" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TYQUCjvJVhI/AAAAAAAADao/SbEzFURfsYM/005_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>About three years ago I framed two beds about four feet by 50 feet using some cedar boards and slabs. I added some compost to them and planted strawberries. <br /> <br />We had a few strawberries the next summer, but the deer and weeds were hard on them. Few actually survived. So, yesterday, the boys pulled out all of the old weeds from the beds to get them ready for today. This morning, they dug out the few remaining plants, and I filled the beds with compost. I would say the layer of compost was 6 to 8 inches deep. We then used grub hoes and then the tiller to work it into the soil in the beds a little. <br /> <br />Once the beds were ready, we planted the 100 strawberry plants that arrived two days ago. We also replanted the ones that survived from the previous planting. Later, after they are established, we’ll mulch the plants well to help keep down the weeds. <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TYQUFUqYdcI/AAAAAAAADas/B_YwNKtiOFk/s1600-h/011%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="011" border="0" alt="011" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyK7q0Qg0CVFuDisKsGErEyNr8oKYRfKeQM1L7GvA_ngzs6ovmvI6SkAzbV1Ok3UCSksAcxxtljvmllJRk2s5fW3xNfVJ31tU85tZ9NbuV_JN_j5Bw7ERXhmUXbX6yNFHUtvp8DPCxyb8/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>I think weeds are the greatest problem with growing strawberries. <br /> <br />We still have 50 asparagus crowns to put in the ground and some cherry bushes, too. This afternoon, I disked the area where we tried to grow corn last year. At one end of it, I used the turning plow to dig two ditches. <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TYQUJelnWqI/AAAAAAAADa0/RNOLnuP6Ey8/s1600-h/014%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="014" border="0" alt="014" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TYQUKKM4IHI/AAAAAAAADa4/RkoDnbYG-eo/014_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>On Sunday, we’ll put compost in the ditches and plant the asparagus in them. We’ll also put the cherry bushes in the same area – it’s actually on one side of our small orchard which seems like a good place. <br /> <br />Later, I’ll put compost on the ground I disked today. We’ll use it for garden along with the main area in front of the new house which will also receive as much compost as I can spread on it. I can see already that I won’t have enough compost and that I need to haul in a lot more stuff. <br /> <br />We’re enjoying the spring weather, for sure. Next week, we ought to be able to get the cows out of the barn and back on grass. They’ll appreciate that, I’m sure. It’s really nice to see things greening up and the early spring flowers. One of our plum trees just bloomed today. There will be a lot more blooms on other trees soon.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TYQULfSibPI/AAAAAAAADa8/5lplGY85kgY/s1600-h/019%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="019" border="0" alt="019" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgLx_nh5GMxdhzxFYULzqaUPACs73fd0Zo7dyrhqealtX8rSGWtemZcp8FnU0svfJo3En2SO8Ii6omfhEc3dUBpvUoPGqjnBTqcYqHSIi_yUwqjSNaVGeDRuCTinBfLcY9av2b0SAtQc/?imgmax=800" width="454" height="342" /></a></p> dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16205051256917210078noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397216591519088946.post-74095597911903674662011-03-03T11:04:00.001-06:002011-03-03T15:34:39.890-06:00Mechanical project (Bobcat M500 tear down)<p>Last spring I purchased an old <a href="http://kyhomestead.blogspot.com/2010/03/bobcat-m500.html" target="_blank">Bobcat M-500</a>. The guy I bought it from sold it cheaply because he wanted it out of his barn. I paid to have it hauled from his home in Michigan to here (about as much as I paid for the machine), but I deemed it a good buy since it ran and worked. I was able to play with it a few days and was pleased with it overall. It had some issues, but it seemed like it would work fine for my purposes. <br /> <br />Then, it wouldn’t start. There was a click when I turned the key, but the starter wouldn’t turn. Since I was busy working on my house, I parked the Bobcat in the barn until I could devote some time to remove the starter. Finally last fall, I found time to remove the starter, only I couldn’t remove it without pulling the engine out. I was able to get the solenoid off of the starter without any problem, and I thought that it was probably the culprit anyway. <br /> <br />I took the solenoid to the local guy who works on starters. He said solenoids like that one rarely if ever go bad, that it was probably the starter. If I’d bring it in, he could check it out. I didn’t really want to have to remove the engine, but the machine continued to sit there waiting for me to do the job that needed done. <br /> <br />So, last week, I started on it. It became clear that I would need to remove the lift and everything else off of the Bobcat in order to be able to get to the engine. Although I’ve been working on it at what seems like a slow pace, everything is going well. <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TW_KD5X2geI/AAAAAAAADZs/tWDGaWM6N9s/s1600-h/001%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 15px 5px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="001" border="0" alt="001" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4W-kqUAo5ZP0tm6Hz1Oms8xdwgnU6ggEiVuANZWQx0LK5enr4BWgfpWWrCWJboVLiC11IVYrA-kpIy5J4BuXn0iMQd6UgtyBxmEQWUX_8B1JB1x8Uvb7g6tRZAcy5nWe27IoJu_nJq4/?imgmax=800" width="279" height="210" /></a>I’ve broken a few bolts which I’ll replace with new ones when I reassemble everything. I pulled the engine this week – I have a chain hoist secured to a metal truss right above the Bobcat. That made it easy to lift things up and off. <br /> <br />It was easy enough to remove the starter and also the generator (it’s questionable that the generator has been charging as it’s supposed to). I’ll be taking both of them to have them checked out and repaired. <br /> <br />With the engine out, I could see I’d need to pull the flywheel because a couple bolts on the side were loose. Thankfully, I was able to get the flywheel off without too much difficulty, and I’ll only need to replace the bolts with ones a little longer than the originals. As I was loosening the flywheel, I realized that the head gaskets (there are two – one for each cylinder) weren’t holding the compression – I could hear air escaping from the head when turning the flywheel (the pistons were pushing air out at the heads and pulling air in on the return stroke). I just ordered new head gaskets this morning – I was amazed I could find a set since Kohler no longer supports this old engine. <br /> <br />Before I reinstall the engine and put everything back together, I’m going to give the old machine a good cleaning and spray on a new coat of paint – nothing fancy, though. I’m hoping that the engine will run better when I’m all done without leaking head gaskets and that the Bobcat will prove to be a useful tool around here. The starter problem which prompted this project is <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TW_KFr0WavI/AAAAAAAADZ0/N6HFBPlEtfI/s1600-h/006%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 5px 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="006" border="0" alt="006" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TW_KGJEZ0HI/AAAAAAAADZ4/Ndj9PwdomWA/006_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="229" /></a>a blessing because it revealed other repairs necessary and is resulting in cleaning up and getting the old machine back into the useful shape it ought to be in (I was just going to use it dirty). <br /> <br />On another note, our pond is once again full. We had enough rain at the end of February to top it off. It’s nice to see it full once again – it’s been several months. I’m hoping that the water won’t seep out of the bottom like it did last year, that it will hold water better this year. </p> dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16205051256917210078noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397216591519088946.post-27903265326942362132011-02-12T12:15:00.001-06:002011-02-12T12:15:37.099-06:00Banjo playin’<p>In an earlier post, I shared with everyone my new endeavor: learning to play the banjo. I’m having a lot of fun with it, and have learned quite a bit already. I’ve only begun, of course, but I thought I’d make good on my promise to share some of my progress with you. <br /> <br />The following is a video I recorded earlier today of me playing Wildwood Flower. While it was so cold on Thursday, I spent a few hours learning how to play the tune and have continued to work on refining my playing of it yesterday and this morning. It’s not perfect, I know, but I’m happy with it for now. <br /> <br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hgO32_NjxB0" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16205051256917210078noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397216591519088946.post-91518511753983163782011-02-09T19:48:00.001-06:002011-02-09T19:48:25.393-06:00Root cellar and garden/storage crates<p>If you didn’t know, we’re <a href="http://cedar-ridge-farm.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">building a house</a>. I don’t mean that we’re paying someone to build a house for us. We’re building it. Well, I’m doing most of the work, but I accept help from friends and family. <br /> <br />Anyway, one of the things we designed into our home (and, yes, we designed the house ourselves) is a root cellar. At one point in the process, I was going to build a root cellar separate from the house using the methods described by Mike Oehler in <a href="http://www.undergroundhousing.com/" target="_blank"><em>The $50 & Up Underground House Book</em>.</a> I still like his method (years ago after reading the book, we thought about building an underground house like he describes), and may use it for some structure sometime in the future. If you want to build a fairly inexpensive root cellar, you ought to check out this method. <br /> <br />We changed our plans for the house more than once (it’s been a developmental process, and it’s only gotten better with each change we’ve made to our plans). One of those changes was to make the root cellar under part of the house with access to it from the house. <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TVNDvKJeHcI/AAAAAAAADYE/GxBrN6JUPg4/s1600-h/024%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="024" border="0" alt="024" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TVNDv_r4BYI/AAAAAAAADYI/VZB2RSXwFY0/024_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>So, I dug a hole with the use of a friend’s backhoe and constructed a root cellar. You can read about how I built it <a href="http://cedar-ridge-farm.blogspot.com/search/label/root%20cellar" target="_blank">here</a>. <br /> <br />We haven’t gotten to use the root cellar yet, though. We haven’t gotten to live in our house yet either, but we’re getting closer all the time. <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TVNDyRbyLKI/AAAAAAAADYM/e3mewKWnNbs/s1600-h/031%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="031" border="0" alt="031" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TVNDy1ZnTEI/AAAAAAAADYQ/bUqIaZ8hSFk/031_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>In fact, just this week <a href="http://cedar-ridge-farm.blogspot.com/2011/02/how-to-build-stairs-to-root-cellar.html" target="_blank">I built the stairs to the root cellar</a>.  <br /> <br />The root cellar has two rooms, a larger one and a smaller one. The larger one is about 8’x13’. The smaller one is about 8’x 8’. I still have to insulate in the ceiling and install the exhaust vents in each room. Then, there will be <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TVND0bIPEBI/AAAAAAAADYU/Tn-j_EamGKw/s1600-h/026%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="026" border="0" alt="026" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TVND1MeYT-I/AAAAAAAADYY/1i5Ymo3NTt0/026_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>shelves and bins to build, but I’m looking forward to being able to store some food in it next fall and winter. Hopefully, if all goes well, we’ll also be living in our new house by then. <br /> <br />Earlier this week, I bought some storage crates to use in the garden and root cellar. <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TVND2kh_IiI/AAAAAAAADYc/j4W0xQsHQ5A/s1600-h/025%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="025" border="0" alt="025" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TVND3WmmQ2I/AAAAAAAADYk/q3-AoSMK2VA/025_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>I saw them advertised on Craigslist late last week. They are really very nice. They measure 24” x 16” by 8.25”, and if filled up to the handles, they hold one bushel (based upon my calculations of volume). They are very sturdy and stack nicely. I think they will be very handy. You can buy them new from a few places, but they’re expensive. I’m glad to say I paid well less than retail price for them. <br /> <br />I move them into the root cellar yesterday after I finished the steps. So, they are now waiting for the coming harvest season and the christening of our new root cellar. In the meantime, we have more snow (it won’t last long, though). <br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCakKbI3LJcW5gDmQSwSfUQ6FFFKGHcAhvjj6NSTY1WEZFNH0OUtuE_uPsSllVdqE70vU7uoLmi15W-dA9b6EkMDziIuL_kAWKKJYtAjVuRX4_seiEyj7CtTQ7yDRuON2Ta0kR166Ft8o/s1600-h/040%5B15%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="040" border="0" alt="040" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TVND6H1Rr7I/AAAAAAAADYs/NmJIdC1r0_8/040_thumb%5B12%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="449" height="358" /></a></p> dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16205051256917210078noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397216591519088946.post-43633645070443051742011-01-01T08:54:00.001-06:002011-01-01T09:00:45.509-06:00Skimming cream<p>The cows are staying warm and dry in the barn during the winter, eating hay and dreaming of green pastures (I’m imaging that last part, of course). I didn’t get either one of them bred back this last summer as I intended. It’s been a year since Tilly freshened (12/31/2009) and about 7.5 months since Josie freshened. We’re still milking both of them twice a day, and intend to continue doing so for another year or as long as they continue lactating. I’ll get them bred in early summer, I hope. I prefer that their calves be born in Spring. <br /> <br />If I kept a bull on the farm, it would simplify getting the cows bred, but I don’t really want an extra mouth to feed. With two cows, two steers, and a horse, we go through enough hay. I considered selling Tilly so that we would need to feed less hay, but we ended up keeping her – I didn’t really want to get rid of her. We probably don’t need two milk cows, but we have them and are able to keep them fed. And, the milk is appreciated. <br /> <br />At this time of year while the cows are eating hay – and it’s just grass hay, nothing special – we’re getting 1.5 to 2 gallons of milk a day. The amount varies depending upon how well they like a particular bale of hay and how cold it is. Colder weather requires them to convert more energy into keeping warm, and it affects the amount of milk produced. Now, this quantity of milk is not really much for two cows, but I don’t expect or want extreme production. This is enough milk for our uses and to share with my parents and Danny. It’s also better for the cows’ health since it isn’t taxing them to much to produce this amount, I believe. <br /> <br />During the summer months when the cows are on fresh grass and closer to the time they freshen, we get between 3 and 5 gallons of milk per day. That’s more than we can keep up with, usually. We ought to be converting some of that into cheese, but we’ve not taken on the extra task of doing so on a regular basis. We do make as much butter as we can, and Anne cans it when we have enough accumulated. Canned butter will keep for years. We use the butter as shortening/oil in baking and cooking so that we don’t have to buy oil. It also gets used on hot biscuits, sweet potatoes, and other things. <br /> <br />During the summer months, I skim cream off of the jars of milk on a regular basis. I have to in order to have jars to put more milk into. We also drink whole milk a couple times a day (whole milk is good for you and easier to digest than skim milk). Since the cows have been in the barn, I’ve not had to skim as often. The cream from cows eating fresh grass is preferable to the cream from hay-fed cows. Also, we’ve been mostly keeping up with the amount of milk we’ve been getting. <br /> <br />I know there are different ways that cream can be separated from the milk. The cream naturally rises to the surface when the milk cools. If we’re going to drink the milk, we shake the jar to mix the cream back in with the milk. If we want to use a little of the cream, like for coffee or tea, we can pour some off the top of the jar. If we want it for butter or baking<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TR9AGFWzu5I/AAAAAAAADUc/enCv6C7N77w/s1600-h/DSCF0990%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCF0990" border="0" alt="DSCF0990" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TR9AGifibXI/AAAAAAAADUg/t31vBgweRvQ/DSCF0990_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> (we substitute cream for some of the liquid and oil called for in a recipe – makes good biscuits, for example), then I need to skim it. <br /> <br />We strain the fresh milk through a cloth into 2-quart wide-mouth jars before refrigerating it. The wide mouth is large enough so that I can get a gravy ladle into the jar. My skimming method is quite simple: I use the gravy ladle to take the cream off the top of the milk. I put the cream in a quart jar so it will be available for use later. When I get down to the milk in the jar, it’s visible (you can see the separation between the cream and the milk) as I’m ladling out the cream. That’s when I stop skimming. It doesn’t take long to skim the cream off of two or three gallons of milk. The amount of cream we get varies some during the seasons. We can usually get a quart of cream from 1.5 gallons of whole milk, sometimes from only 1 gallon. If you click on the photo to enlarge it and then look closely, you can see the line between the milk and the cream in the two full jars (just above the “B” in “Ball”).</p> dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16205051256917210078noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397216591519088946.post-19470498170690357682010-12-25T12:44:00.001-06:002010-12-25T12:53:32.626-06:00Some hay, some snow, and a new banjo<p>Some of you may wonder where I’ve been. The answer is, no where really. I just haven’t posted in quite a while. I do intend to rectify that, and this post will be the beginning. <br /> <br />Things on the homestead are going well. It’s winter now, so some things are slower. The fewer daylight hours and weather affect how much time I spend working on different projects outside. There are chores to be done every day. So, I get out rain or shine at least twice a day. <br /> <br />I moved the cows to the barn just before Thanksgiving. I put it off as long as I could. The limited amount of rain that we had during the summer months affected how the grass grew. I could probably have kept them out on grass for another two weeks, but we were planning on <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TRY7eG5opPI/AAAAAAAADUE/QKjhKwkNONU/s1600-h/001%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="001" border="0" alt="001" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TRY7ew4eEyI/AAAAAAAADUI/eXqrketd-e0/001_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>going to North Carolina to visit family for Thanksgiving. Since my dad was going to take care of my chores, I wanted to simplify the process as much as possible, and having the cows in the barn provided that simplification. <br /> <br />I bought a few more bales of hay in order to ensure I have enough to last through the winter months. Usually, we are able to bale enough to feed the animals until grass greens up in the spring, but I only had two cuttings of hay this summer. Also, I was pasturing the cows on part of the ground I usually hay. I hope to not feel a need to buy any next year. <br /> <br />This winter started early with colder temperatures and snow. We’ve had more snow already than we’ve had many winters. We’ve also had temperatures 10 to 20 degrees below normal. <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TRY7g2NapTI/AAAAAAAADUM/-Gv5H2jT5pk/s1600-h/017%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="017" border="0" alt="017" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TRY7htj-dyI/AAAAAAAADUQ/cANVO5AiKMo/017_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>It snowed again last night. So, we woke up to a beautiful, white snowscape. For some, I’m sure, the snow was welcomed as a special blessing augmenting their Christmas celebrations. We don’t celebrate Christmas, so it didn’t add any specialness in that regard. It does add some visual beauty to the Sabbath, though! <br /> <br />I’ve not brought home any new composting material for several weeks. <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TRY7iQa2szI/AAAAAAAADUU/U6hBXkczjdM/s1600-h/007%5B10%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="007" border="0" alt="007" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TRY7i7o52dI/AAAAAAAADUY/QGGFXwhSIEE/007_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="107" height="244" /></a>The large corporation that owns the local stock yard had some financial trouble and wrote nearly 100 million dollars worth of bad checks (not just here, but in the 11 states in which they have facilities). So, the local facility hasn’t been open for business since before Thanksgiving. I don’t know if it will reopen. Besides, the ground has been wet and muddy which would make hauling anything problematic. <br /> <br />I bought a banjo with the intention of learning to play. It’ll take a while, I’m sure, but I’ll learn. It would be great to just be a good banjo-player, but there’s a process for becoming one. I can’t skip the process. I’ve found some good resources online. I’m learning a lot from <a href="http://dailyfrail.com/" target="_blank">Patrick Costello</a> who has written a few books (which are available through <a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Tao-Old-Time-Banjo/dp/0974419001/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1293303031&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a> or for <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/TheHowAndTaoOfOldTimeBanjo" target="_blank">free download</a>) and has a ton of instructional material available online, including a lot of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/dobro33h?blend=1&ob=4" target="_blank">YouTube videos</a>. I bought a Gold Tone CC-OT and am learning frailing/clawhammer banjo. Whenever my skills are good enough, I’ll share some of my playing in a video or two. It may be a few months! <br /> <br />I already play the guitar some. I bought a guitar seven years ago and taught myself how to play. I’m not that good with it, but I’m learning more along with my banjo learning. I’d like to be able to play the guitar better, too. So, hopefully, I’ll become relatively proficient on both instruments. <br /> <br />Well, ya’ll stay warm. I’ll try to keep you updated more regularly on the goings on at our place.</p> dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16205051256917210078noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397216591519088946.post-73431980016009426702010-10-14T21:19:00.001-05:002010-10-14T21:19:47.998-05:00Peanuts and peppers<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TLe6H9ix04I/AAAAAAAADNE/QFD95lgLpTg/s1600-h/016%5B11%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TLe6IxU-KwI/AAAAAAAADNI/uwUa83VarqM/016_thumb%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="454" height="342" /></a> <br /> <p>Last spring I planted peanuts in two different locations. In the first patch, I made ridges to plant them in, and they grew very well. The boys mulched the after the plants got going well. The other patch, however, was decimated by crows. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyp0Z0tFi0c_TWpKLC_4lyG3wdKEWjAOH-PWqDWLI2PRgrd0nZEKDM8vu8QZtC0oWVFW2hbXEJN28iLVRhNFUITOLOcmr09lO-uTilMOS1WkNHoNzQBoT02LyqKVmRW36c8ufTzNZZiew/s1600-h/005%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 10px 5px 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="peanuts in the summer kitchen" border="0" alt="peanuts in the summer kitchen" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2qDmzpWDp3pL-RTwQfSIRLmPPN5fk9N3Fq1wg-yfgupYm8PIw3n7JP6RoNqPdoR9IxYGP_xcWe8IYGHBJMMLRp4B0emb3vhbJJj8_z36l8YhJdSMlHeQPFv75TeewwHTfowWtmkZIo8/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>They picked the seed out of the ground soon after it was planted. Granted, they did leave one or two peanuts that sprouted and grew only to be choked out by the weeds later on. <br /> <br />I dug on row of the peanuts that grew well last week, and the boys dug the other five rows earlier this week. The plants produced well. It was interesting to pull up the plants and find where they <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TLe6MqPYHuI/AAAAAAAADNU/HCiMzA52WzU/s1600-h/010%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 5px 10px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TLe6NEVV53I/AAAAAAAADNY/02pecaxU5Vg/010_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>had rooted from the vines through the mulch and set on peanuts there as well as at the base of the plants. <br /> <br />We fed the vines to the cows who absolutely love them. The boys spread out the vines from their digging so that they could dry, and I feed some of these to the cows when milking. Both Josie and Tilly are eager to eat this treat at milking time. <br /> <br />After picking the peanuts off of the vines, we spread them out on a couple of window screens to dry outside for a few days. We moved them inside the summer kitchen <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TLe6OGJbYKI/AAAAAAAADNc/wdB4JXMyERs/s1600-h/019%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 10px 5px 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TLe6OU5isZI/AAAAAAAADNg/wdNCRiWDQRk/019_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>when we got a little rain. It’s a pretty sight to have screens of peanuts spread out. The peanuts also taste really good. I don’t care for raw peanuts generally, but these are good raw. They’re also good sautéed in a little butter or roasted in the oven. <br /> <br />I also built a frame from which Anne can hang sweet peppers above the wood stove to dry them. I set out a lot of pepper plants in hopes of having a lot to dry. However, the plants didn’t bloom or set on many peppers until September. <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TLe6QOcHd4I/AAAAAAAADNk/hq151R5-eZE/s1600-h/020%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 5px 10px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPH9UDPQO8vivAQgmSib0LfLFHh85nz8fCvx05EUaNiHBMTuDcwXOopk2JUiAT0vNNn5NPsXer9rwjdpLhjNi03Dlg4ycvEUraggUilclSChwxD1WeJsCgTtZyrtXH59m_8MGjGeebX0/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>I’ve had that happen before – really nice plants that don’t produce until the end of the season. <br /> <br />Anne cuts the peppers into rings, runs a string through them, and hangs them up to dry. When they are completely dry, she stores them in jars. They are a nice addition to chili, meatloaf, and other dishes. The children also enjoy just eating them. </p> dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16205051256917210078noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397216591519088946.post-30474364775880431192010-10-07T07:32:00.001-05:002010-10-07T07:32:06.692-05:00Sweet potato harvest 2010<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TK29qczm0QI/AAAAAAAADK4/omIO-haeg7w/s1600-h/008%5B11%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Sweet potatoes" border="0" alt="Sweet potatoes" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TK29rOH9etI/AAAAAAAADK8/Sqpi4QZtUIY/008_thumb%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="502" height="400" /></a> <p>On Tuesday, the boys and I dug our sweet potatoes. We had frost down in the bottom two mornings this week which didn’t hurt anything. A few of the leaves on the sweet potato vines were touched, but I don’t believe the notion that frost will go down the vines into the potatoes as some claim. I an inclined to believe that sweet potatoes can’t stand cool temperatures, and that if they are allowed to chill below 45 degrees they won’t keep well. <br /> <br />Anyhow, it was time to get them out of the ground and into the house. We planted somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 slips last spring. Sweet potatoes are easy to grow, and we’ve had very good success with their production. <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TK29syArsxI/AAAAAAAADLA/cRNnRT0NZoo/s1600-h/002%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 10px 5px 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="The harvest in the bed of the truck" border="0" alt="The harvest in the bed of the truck" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePU2Ci-VkXE-YKWe-GyZk0T6Vtm3BRNKLEaWR4Aq8WzoxsfrAOxInSi_AEJFJIu1vaoYp773sa0KUiKEQtw5vE8CVJ6TattCPEEdySK2zIFnt1W5ME110iqsGrGkPRAj_xxXqpdDiS6U/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>We plant the slips in ridges, mulch them a few weeks later when they’ve gotten going well, and then leave them alone other than pulling a few weeds. The only other chore for the season is digging them out of the ground. <br /> <br />I estimate that we harvested 10 bushels of sweet potatoes this year, approximately 600 pounds of these nutrient-rich little buggers. We sorted out the best ones based upon size and blemishes, <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TK29utdADQI/AAAAAAAADLI/pF55DvBAOcQ/s1600-h/004%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 5px 10px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="In the crates" border="0" alt="In the crates" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TK29vF54eOI/AAAAAAAADLQ/AaOBdNFWOHw/004_thumb%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="155" height="244" /></a>filling 7.5 crates which I stacked inside. I made these crates a few years ago, and each one holds about 1.25 bushels. There was about 2 bushels that we sorted out to use first, the ones with scrapes, vole bites, blemishes, etc. So, there may be more than 10 bushels, but that’s okay. <br /> <br />We’ll eat from this harvest all winter and through the spring, assuming they cure and keep well. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1SL634e-q_yij8o6tr-gd3DMHW29Q29kR_YAsNzRkaOzLs8qYJkoHZHZki0EcWdhCLZjOwE3O0sA_k37rvni4jkSqVxc6n6ken8PhV_b9Yr3wT3LhT45biM7rE4QJpW6LUl6SF5YYKk/s1600-h/005%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 10px 5px 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="sweet potatoes" border="0" alt="sweet potatoes" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TK29xY-GK5I/AAAAAAAADLY/ifwz0yI7F60/005_thumb%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="174" /></a>Generally, sweet potatoes keep very well for us. They are currently stacked in the children’s room, where they will stay for the duration. After they’ve cured for a couple of weeks, we’ll cover them so that they won’t have light shining on them which could encourage a few of them to sprout prematurely. Next spring, we’ll start slips from some of them for next year’s crop. </p> dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16205051256917210078noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397216591519088946.post-44374234888662871642010-08-24T16:42:00.001-05:002010-08-24T16:43:43.914-05:00Solar electric system update and statistics<p> <p> <p> <p> <p> <p> It’s been over six months since we <a href="http://kyhomestead.blogspot.com/2010/02/we-just-threw-switch.html">threw the switch</a> on our off-grid solar system. To refresh, we have 1,250 watts of solar panels, 12 6-volt batteries wired together for 24 volts, a Xantrex XW MPPT solar charge controller, and a 1,100 watt true sine wave inverter providing all of our power needs for our home.</p> </p> <p> <p> <br /> <br />We have had no real issues with our system. It has worked as it is supposed to. We are able to power lights, computer, fans, washing machine, refrigerator, vacuum cleaner, sewing machine, and even occasionally an iron. As you may recall, our refrigerator is a <a href="http://kyhomestead.blogspot.com/2009/12/making-refrigerator-out-of-chest.html">chest freezer with an external thermostat</a>. It has provided the only real challenges. First, there is no freezer for ice cream! Second, it accumulates condensation in the bottom which must be sponged out periodically. And, third, it sometimes surges beyond the capability of our inverter when starting. <br /> <br />This third challenge is not a big deal. When the appliance can’t get started within a couple of seconds, it stops trying. It tries again in about 30 seconds. If it can’t start on that try, it stops and waits another 30 seconds before it tries again. It may take it a few tries, but it always gets started. This is not an all the time occurrence, and the problem would be eliminated if our inverter could handle a surge over 2200 watts. I didn’t realize how much the freezer can surge when starting when I put our system together. When running, it only consumes about 200 watts or less.</p> </p> </p> <p> <p> <p> <br /> <br />Our charge controller keeps stats on the power that is harvested. During the last six months, we’ve harvested 469 Kilowatt hours of electricity. That equals out to an average of 2.43 Kilowatt hours per day. Some of this power goes into charging the batteries and some is used during the day. <br /> <br />Our battery monitor keeps track how many amp hours are charged into the batteries or discharged from them. According to it, we have used a total of 244.8 Kilowatt hours from the batteries during the last 193 days that our system has been online. That is an average of 1.27 Kilowatt hours taken from the batteries every day. <br /> <br />The difference between the 2.43 Kilowatt hours per day average harvested and the 1.27 Kilowatt hours per day average used from the batteries is the extra we have used during the day when the sun is shining. We are able to run ceiling fans and floor fans to keep cool enough to survive the many 90+ degree days we’ve had this summer. <br /> <br />We are able to charge our batteries with our generator if the battery level drops low enough (it’s not good to cycle lead acid batteries too low). We have only hooked up the battery charger three times, and all of them have been during the summer months. The first time it wasn’t really needed, but I wanted to see how well it worked. The other two times followed several days of cloudy but hot weather. Our usage exceeded what we could harvest. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/THQ8vao14zI/AAAAAAAADDM/BHPUXbvTbNU/s1600-h/solar%20harvest%20graph%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 5px 15px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="solar harvest graph" border="0" alt="solar harvest graph" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/THQ8wYM-fGI/AAAAAAAADDQ/FvK4kSAOPCg/solar%20harvest%20graph_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a></p> </p> </p> </p> </p> </p> <p> <p> <p> <p> <p> <p> <br /> <br />When looking at our usage by month, we have harvested a lot more power during the summer months than we did during later winter early spring. This is no doubt impacted by the amount of sun available during the summer, but another factor is our usage. When we do not use as much, the batteries are charged more quickly and the charge controller only harvests enough power to maintain the batteries.</p> </p> </p> </p> <p> <p> <p> <p> </p> </p> </p> </p> </p> <p> <p> <p> <p> <p> <br /> <br />So far, we have not felt deprived. We are able to live our lives normally with our limited consumption (one of the keys to making an off-grid solar power system work). It’s been a great blessing to be able to run fans and to have the convenience of the washing machine and refrigerator. So, I would say that so far, our system has done quite well. </p></p></p></p></p></p> dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16205051256917210078noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397216591519088946.post-76450926687824197122010-07-14T20:57:00.001-05:002010-07-14T20:57:10.081-05:00Keeping raccoons out of the corn<p> <p> <p> <p> <p> The corn that survived the crows in our small field has grown quite well. It started to tassel a couple of weeks ago. <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TD5q2_UkuAI/AAAAAAAAC7c/mSvVT6CSqhw/s1600-h/017%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 15px 5px 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="corn" border="0" alt="corn" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQ64s_lYyGmTALDEkxi761MQhyphenhyphenmNnQE9axJtPIfHpbsHcwnoNxrjeYmhvcapLGkK-xDzQgDa1CtMrlzjzzKTaUE95mmkVMPdvA6fTKo39Zk2W3Zo_aAzKLwYzBofTP06M7ascpr0eZWI/?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>I know that the raccoons would want to eat the corn (they always do), but I didn’t expect them so soon. <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TD5q5wdbj5I/AAAAAAAAC7k/c21GzODcrCY/s1600-h/016%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 5px 15px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Raccoon damage" border="0" alt="Raccoon damage" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TD5q6q8RbDI/AAAAAAAAC7s/orrebaphuTs/016_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>They were in the field a few nights ago checking it out and tearing down plants. They don’t seem to realize that I’m not growing the corn for them to eat.</p> </p> <p> <p> <br /> <br />So, yesterday, the boys and I put up an electric fence to keep the raccoons out. My grandpa used to use an electric fence about 5 or 6 inches off the ground to keep raccoons out of his corn. <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TD5q8g8pojI/AAAAAAAAC7w/-_MbuPqR0LU/s1600-h/013%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 5px 15px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="electric fence around the corn field" border="0" alt="electric fence around the corn field" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TD5q9RG5iuI/AAAAAAAAC70/ajpNNWSXKd4/013_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>I’ve used this method successfully in the past.</p> </p> </p> <p> <p> <p> <br /> <br />We set posts around the field and ran two strands of electric wire. The lower wire is just above ground level and the second one is about 6 inches above the first one. I’ll have to keep the grass and weeds out of the fence so it doesn’t short out and lose it’s ability to work.</p> </p> </p> </p> <p> <p> <p> <p> <br /> <br />The idea is that the varmints will put their noses on the fence trying to get to the corn. The shock they receive will be enough to deter them. I’m sure they’ll look all the way around the field for an entry point, but as long as the fence is charged, they won’t gain access. They do have an uncanny knack for determining when/if the fence is not one or working properly.</p> </p> </p> </p> </p> <p> <p> <p> <p> <p> <br /> <br />Hopefully, we’ll keep the rascals out of the corn!   </p></p></p></p></p> dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16205051256917210078noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397216591519088946.post-45066128855890930392010-06-25T17:39:00.001-05:002010-06-25T17:39:00.403-05:00Compost, garden, and blackberries<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>I hauled two loads of composting material from the sale barn yesterday. It looks like some nice stuff. I dumped it behind the ridge at the end of the pile <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TCSiMo9kSJI/AAAAAAAAC10/VqJqe66b9Qg/s1600-h/0206.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 15px 5px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="two loads" border="0" alt="two loads" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TCSiNbtkH9I/AAAAAAAAC14/NllmNJFsOGE/020_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="224" height="169" /></a>I built back there a few months ago. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWm8Rf5NRv5vftuEy3ZXTpkNnej15SvPGqONdH2ieal-5YC8qxBvkSia4913lhczfHGzkiUZ4AnKg5sePwdT4gGxVKkKb1SHdeVekZFvQ6BqeBmE_gLiIZyjJM7WYj36TThYEE5ayiFFA/s1600-h/0276.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 5px 15px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="pushed into a pile" border="0" alt="pushed into a pile" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TCSiixlIUVI/AAAAAAAAC2A/gnR0DzVh1wU/027_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="224" height="169" /></a>Using the loader tractor, I was able to push it all up together. Now, we’ll let our little bacterial friends do their work, turning the material into black gold, ready to enrich the soil and grow awesome gardens next year!</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p> <br /> <br />The original pile I built behind the ridge has shrunk in size quite a bit during the few months it’s been there. We planted some watermelon at its base a few weeks ago which are coming along fine. <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TCSi6yOwnLI/AAAAAAAAC2E/Nq7bFLfLQIA/s1600-h/0127.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 5px 15px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="butternut winter squash" border="0" alt="butternut winter squash" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4iDc7a2KvkuVh3xxL2HokwQBGmUVweoL1ioOHh6IJqAweFXZTATIWop-O15uXvQZqk2IZYkGKwb3TIU5q1tIfCZdoqV4JjfoH5cwhLZWCJ-t7_NCFXXpnNaf5HbTYEexjgDtpecmBx0/?imgmax=800" width="184" height="139" /></a>We planted some butternut squash at the base of another small pile. It’s looking happy.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TCUv3ks79hI/AAAAAAAAC2Q/xeprrgvkSYs/s1600-h/0157.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 15px 5px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="corn field" border="0" alt="corn field" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvnyml_hW1ICK-V2k3H0Bi-6Tu7c8mrTEfvRCwEN5Xzd8ZxJTqq28okmXG1oUf7gg_0wMd33uIuZ4zCHcXzR9aHprKVelhyphenhyphen0YgbYqIV0U4GzkHkP_2x6E2fkWRVVs2avKUoK0_footAE/?imgmax=800" width="224" height="169" /></a>I thought I’d share a photo of our poor stand of field corn. We were able to hoe a lot of the weeds and grass out of it last week. I still ought to run the tiller between the rows to get rid of a few more weeds and grass. I hope to be able to get at least enough corn out of it for next year’s seed. I hope the crows aren’t a problem again. <br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhJ_sxnT2XnSARzE6m4pYsEFIFtBErCvgUk0JJGbmZ9rv_9hSAErSLDMjv-qCKqtDYx3VZh7gPigMLSos4aLBQRI5h3F_3gRSOd6SLXdh0-DfSjk6EATFeyeAYoXZZGT2wrm21JQAo_I/s1600-h/05019.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 5px 15px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="freshly picked blackberries" border="0" alt="freshly picked blackberries" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TCUv73c8qeI/AAAAAAAAC2g/jlxUBRYJ2PQ/050_thumb17.jpg?imgmax=800" width="216" height="263" /></a>Before lunch yesterday, I went out to pick some blackberries. It’s that time of year. With all of the hot weather and lack of rain, it looks like the berries are going to ripen within a short period of time. My dad has been out a few times to pick berries, and he came along and picked with me and gave us the berries! He’s kind like that. Anne canned nine quarts of blackberries after we brought them in.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TCUv_aAZWtI/AAAAAAAAC2k/VZ2-Mf6fxTE/s1600-h/05212.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 15px 5px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="jars of blackberries" border="0" alt="jars of blackberries" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TCUwAFyFEyI/AAAAAAAAC2s/h8jcUpmc8Js/052_thumb10.jpg?imgmax=800" width="279" height="225" /></a></p> dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16205051256917210078noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397216591519088946.post-76034345881081302832010-06-18T20:39:00.001-05:002010-06-18T20:39:37.736-05:00The work of summer<p> <p> There’s an amazing amount of work to be done every day. We keep plugging away. I’ve been devoting a lot of time to <a href="http://cedar-ridge-farm.blogspot.com" target="_blank">our house project</a>. We’re making some good progress. You can check it out on my other blog, if you haven’t already.</p> </p> <p> <p> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TBwfkxHhbPI/AAAAAAAACzw/-lXwsAZ9Ssg/s1600-h/078%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 15px 5px 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="swimming in the pond" border="0" alt="swimming in the pond" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4c9ueMNW97QHWUafpMAWbDnaV5nvz2UwscmsFl8b1FDCq_d2qNaeOAWqRV0uwlhu8rNNeQB9Lq5hIxdzw3mGovUrq0HbF3mWv0rAhqtc-Bi-Qb19KPlhYXZnZimJFfAtbsvcJcQnRhA/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>The children and I have enjoyed swimming in the pond several times. They actually ask me if they can go in the pond nearly every day. Usually, there is no real reason not to. The pond isn’t holding water as I would like it to. Water seeps out in several places around the dam. I don’t know if this is something that will correct itself over time as the dam settles more, or not. It’s not a fast leak, but the water level has gone down a fair bit. <br /> <br />We’ve been enjoying some produce from the garden. I didn’t get in a hurry to get the garden planted this spring, so we’re not enjoying things like tomatoes and squash yet. But, those things won’t be too long. We’ve had some nice salads, and the sugar snap peas were awesome! We had new potatoes with our first picking of snap peas a couple of weeks ago. The asparagus did quite well this year, especially considering the small size of our asparagus bed. I think I need to set out about a 1,000 plants! <br /> <br />We’ve been eating fresh black raspberries for the last two weeks. We’re also getting blueberries off of our older plants. Soon, it will be time to begin picking blackberries. Some of the early ones are ripening. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TBwfpM19ZEI/AAAAAAAACz4/aq4G45ZySC8/s1600-h/092%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 5px 15px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="tomatoes" border="0" alt="tomatoes" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMS22b8IUngxgGNUa9jqNrZ3zFDDNpVFzDwPmW2desaDW2zSuHUT0po629lhdnzRviL-RgYItCUmOpXT-6i3cDZr-QHz49WCXdAv_BN_Rna-KCG_JP475Q-4RpQUcGqMNQxWSrvaUFvIc/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>Yesterday, we got the tomatoes staked up. I like to keep them mulched and hold them up off of the ground. I used to let our Roma tomatoes sprawl out, but now I stake them up, too. They are so much nicer to pick and do better this way. <br /> <br />I drove small posts in the ground and strung baling twine I took off of bales last winter between the posts to hold up the Romas. I’m trying a new method for the Mortgage Lifters: using livestock panels in an A-frame. I learned about this method from another individual who regularly uses it. It is certainly a quicker, easier way to stake up tomatoes. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TBwftsD06pI/AAAAAAAAC0A/NtJUs8azs98/s1600-h/091%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 15px 5px 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="pole beans" border="0" alt="pole beans" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TBwfu0EzJkI/AAAAAAAAC0I/Bli7z8mkUjE/091_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>We’re growing pole beans this year. Usually, I plant bush beans. I built a frame work using sycamore poles for the beans to climb on. I may add a few more poles. I have one more row to take care of. I’m thinking I’ll use the livestock panels that we had for the peas. I’m going to save the rest of the peas for next year’s seed. So, they are about done with the panels. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TBwf0U_QecI/AAAAAAAAC0M/NUcPAec7T-A/s1600-h/095%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 5px 15px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="mulched peppers and sweet potatoes" border="0" alt="mulched peppers and sweet potatoes" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TBwf2InU32I/AAAAAAAAC0U/TncYTpkPOWg/095_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>The boys have been working on mulching the plants in the garden. They mulched the potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, peanuts, sweet potatoes, and squash so far. There are still some more sweet potatoes and tomatoes to mulch. Maybe this next week. <br /> <br />The children, dad, and I spent some time in our small corn field this week. The crows about ruined our corn crop by eating the corn out of the ground before it germinated. I replanted between what came up the first time that the crows didn’t get, but the stupid birds ate most of that, too. I don’t know how well it will produce, but there is some corn growing in the field. The weeds were threatening to take over, though. I tilled between the rows, and then we all worked in the rows with hoes. It was hot and sweaty work, but we got most of it done. I have 4 or 5 rows to do this coming week. <br /> <br />I was able to haul one load of manure and bedding from the sale barn last week. This is a slow time of year for them. Also, since they had to do a thorough cleaning a month or so ago after the flood, there’s been less need for cleaning out. When I can see myself clear to do so, I’m going to start hauling some of the old sawdust from the sawmill. </p></p> dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16205051256917210078noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397216591519088946.post-64733353195671494682010-06-16T21:36:00.001-05:002010-06-16T21:42:46.030-05:00Rotational grazing milk cows: my method<p>If you observe how a cow eats, it makes sense to rotationally graze them. Ideally, you would give them a new paddock every day with just enough to graze on for that day. They will make the most use of the forage, eating it down more evenly. You can then control their impact on the pasture by not letting them on any area for more than one day every few weeks. <br /> <br />With my milk cows, the ideal is harder to replicate than it would be for a beef herd, because I milk them twice a day. It’s not easy to set up a milking station in a temporary paddock twice a day, at least not for me. I also don’t have water readily available in the pasture where I wish the cows to graze. <br /> <br />Last year, I moved the cows to different paddocks in which they stayed for a few days at a time. This happened in a somewhat disorganized fashion because I didn’t have their movements planned efficiently. I also provided them with access to the barn near which I kept their water trough. I would have to herd them to the barn at milking time every day. Sometimes this involved a walk of considerable distance because their pasture was a long ways from the barn.<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TBmJx8611YI/AAAAAAAACx4/jgwD8y9PTUw/s1600-h/035%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 15px 5px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="milking shed and pen" border="0" alt="milking shed and pen" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TBmJy6-e3RI/AAAAAAAACx8/GSOgd3r9hjs/035_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <br /> <br />This year I fixed up a small roofed structure I built a couple of summers ago. I intended to make it a milking shed near the pasture I wanted to graze the cows. So, finally, this spring I made it a functional milking shed. It has a small pen to hold the cows during milking time and a stanchion to use while milking. It works quite well for me. <br /> <br />After reading about some others’ experiences and methods for rotationally grazing their cattle, all of them beef cattle, I have developed my own method/routine. It involves corridors for grazing that are the length of the pasture and 45 feet wide. These corridors are fenced with a single strand of electrified high tensile fencing. I subdivide the corridor into paddocks for the cows. Ideally, they would only have access to the new paddock each day, but that would necessitate moving their water every day. So, I creep them down the corridor, giving them a new section in the morning and another new section in the evening after milking time. It takes a week to ten days to creep them the length of one corridor.<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TBmJ2xeZOUI/AAAAAAAACyA/zF22Zd-z85o/s1600-h/009%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 5px 15px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="water for the cows" border="0" alt="water for the cows" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5EjCEihmVXDzG6kg-tqghWdMB9XSNnuUTNNELbYirFKN0UV0UT2YtwHpqH3XuHhCTv2P19QRTyvOojxtxJ-ZqHkJnAJm3R7zgHQhXZ_ugklokBcMHICTCyTJrbvK4OPUXLmkg8dOkPlQ/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <br /> <br />I keep the cows water near the milking shed. I haul water in a 325 gallon tote which I fill by siphoning water out of our pond and then move on a trailer. This isn’t a perfect situation since they do spend a fair bit of time near the water trough which concentrates their manure in that area. However, it does simplify things for me. <br /> <br />Here are a few photos illustrating my method: <br /> <br />This is the pasture in which I graze the cows. It’s about five acres in size (my guess). <br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0ahPyu2wXddWMGBTydg-a9CSff3hO4dHJRUDThu6pbh4J_Gu04Sayg5aq91EQD1BtZkvDDE24cFwkizP2Ot_FZJEwtqHWch21kCMOyyIX7MTW35_1h4FhjFOQtiiMhx3GPutwgqzbiE/s1600-h/011%5B9%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px auto; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="pasture" border="0" alt="pasture" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TBmJ6aGiktI/AAAAAAAACyM/Ifk2TZWjQG8/011_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a> <br />Here are three corridors that have already been grazed. The cows finished on the greenest two and a half weeks ago. They were then on the section visible on the right. On Monday I moved them off of the corridor in the center of the photo. I will bush hog it tomorrow. <br />  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TBmLQfFQbsI/AAAAAAAACy8/pc8QIv6xcF4/s1600-h/013%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px auto; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="grazed corridors" border="0" alt="grazed corridors" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TBmJ7DYK_jI/AAAAAAAACzA/x3cBjt-r_7c/013_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a>  <br />This is the last line of high tensile fence I put up. I’ve been adding fence to make corridors as needed. I dig fence post holes at either end and insert cedar posts into them. I’ve found that making the holes about the size of the post, tapering the end of the post, and then pushing it in with the loader on the tractor makes for a tight post that can handle the tension of the fence wire. <br /> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TBmJ9dvR0kI/AAAAAAAACyU/Znvfyp6sZ2E/s1600-h/018%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="high tensile line" border="0" alt="high tensile line" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TBmJ-cRcSNI/AAAAAAAACyY/RinAFdLr3Uc/018_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404" /></a> <br />I use poly wire for creeping the cows down the corridor. I have used solid metal electric fence wire, but it’s more of a pain than the flexible poly wire. I tie it to the high tensile wire with a piece of poly baling twine. <br /> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TBmKDs6pWnI/AAAAAAAACyc/VMM8gEi1ct0/s1600-h/020%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="spool of poly wire tied to high tensile wire" border="0" alt="spool of poly wire tied to high tensile wire" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsFaGA1QO2PZGBT1aTv33yOoLyXwutgtmqUWKlcVv9XMPzMn5vGLmIxXsKcs8JgzTBl4dpj0ln0iAQZr1t1cOEDEnusHCaKWQJow8oBoC9v15xYuj920PBygtAVtdJgD-Bm4Q3cRQvZM/?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a> <br />The spools I use are ones that came with regular electric fence wire. I had three empty spools, so I use them. I put it on a fence post held near the end with an insulator. This allows me to roll it up and move it easily. With the 45 foot wide corridor, I have a fence post with insulator at either end and one in the middle. I have three poly wires up at one time so that when the cows are in a new section, there are two more ready to go. When I take one down, I move it 8 paces ahead of the last one (8 paces has been the right amount for the cows so far). <br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hCkT_rsUUr5OLefmSxxJOxdgjR6lbWT_Ngw_shoSHvuhpdPqRmMnGi5G9BYxudhL3_TpyNi2jxSROeUzlW42CH7DyCo8TCcKSDtnlIyzIF5YFHOTHvUsPQMH-zuChXEmzuIRPQwI55A/s1600-h/022%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="spool on fence post" border="0" alt="spool on fence post" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TBmKFuzKZZI/AAAAAAAACzM/1OjKyZxJtNQ/022_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a> <br />I put the fence post at the end in place so that I can hook the poly wire to it. I formed a hook with electric fence wire to hook onto the insulator. With this method, I can set up the temporary wires while the charger is still on – it’s only electrified when the spool end is wrapped around the high tensile wire. <br /> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TBmKJqRdgpI/AAAAAAAACyo/bHVDRis3IYE/s1600-h/026%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="wire hook" border="0" alt="wire hook" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TBmKL1EEZYI/AAAAAAAACys/LFsaIh8NieQ/026_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a> <br />Since there is no electrical power at my milking shed or near the pasture, I use a solar fence charger. I’ve been very happy with it. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TBmLkZTjbVI/AAAAAAAACzU/EZl-vUOmyFA/s1600-h/033%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="solar fence charger" border="0" alt="solar fence charger" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TBmKM5v-77I/AAAAAAAACzY/pRTV5n63QSw/033_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a> <br />After I finish milking in the morning and evening, I fill the cows’ water trough and then move the temporary fence line to open a new section. The cows quickly caught on to the routine and are ready to get to the new grass as soon as its available. <br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIQgVE2_eJofJyuc0ultQvKV_OAWFx2dRgL2qvxiAKX72WkrXbqqjCU2P_ytZB7BPwuzcZB5i9F48QbOIMSSFSbmqXFcJjuIMn7Z1Fbf9Zf8h7qHIr9n6XzguhpZBRoEe4ZS4RCxs2-s/s1600-h/024%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="happy cows grazing" border="0" alt="happy cows grazing" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TBmKQEvvuOI/AAAAAAAACzk/FLUzZbtXiW8/024_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a>  <br />I will be adding more high tensile wire to define more corridors in the coming weeks. There will be 5 to 8 weeks between grazing time in the same corridor. The corridors are also wide enough that I can make hay in ones that the cows will not be able to get to. <br /> <br />So far, this system has been working well. It’s easy to move the cows to new grass, keep them where I want them to be, and to get them to the milking shed. They’re usually waiting for me at milking time. I don’t let them into the milking shed pen except at milking time.</p> dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16205051256917210078noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397216591519088946.post-90112946100049358482010-06-02T08:28:00.001-05:002010-06-02T08:28:02.992-05:00Gardening and house work<p>We’ve begun another week of work. It is a blessing to have the opportunity to labor on our own projects here on the homestead. It involves a lot of sweat, soreness, and tiredness at times, but there is a simple joy in such work. I think I often take for granted the <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TAZcPkYDtYI/AAAAAAAACwA/Wq2zw2jEjjY/s1600-h/020%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 5px 15px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="The new house" border="0" alt="The new house" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TAZcQI-5dBI/AAAAAAAACwE/HCWBRlZOHq8/020_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>situation we enjoy in which there is no one dictating my activities. Reporting for a “regular job” every day with a supervisor telling me what to do would not be nearly as enjoyable. <br /> <br />I’ve been working on our new house. You can read a little about my efforts on my <a href="http://cedar-ridge-farm.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Cedar Ridge Farm</a> blog. It feels good to be making some visible progress on it. <br /> <br />While I’ve been devoting time to house-building (and more extreme composting soon), the children (all four of them) have been taking on more responsibility for the garden. They’ve been pulling a lot of weeds. The boys mulched some of the potatoes the last two days and will mulch more plants today. They also pick potato bugs off of the potato plants. I do pay them a little for removing the bugs as an incentive. We’ve found that if you pick them off and then keep up with them, the number of bugs is greatly lessened to where they aren’t much of a problem in a couple of weeks time. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TAZcR0uoOZI/AAAAAAAACwI/oHluQTeCY_E/s1600-h/015%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 15px 5px 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="One of the gardens" border="0" alt="One of the gardens" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TAZcSVCicDI/AAAAAAAACwM/duSVE7PMZpA/015_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TAZcUWmDfUI/AAAAAAAACwQ/sXyf4fAprkE/s1600-h/018%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 5px 15px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Mulched potatoes and some salad greens" border="0" alt="Mulched potatoes and some salad greens" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TAZcU-6FLpI/AAAAAAAACwU/tbv6EJb8urU/018_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzdqA7giipmUj7J2WTszpVTtU3F63PMVdXDwlVuxLrv3ddt7jir38RHcwMr6g8eqZ8N1o1Pv3wM7nc7gjzByAM-ZSkkpk-Pf87lDiPl8Rt5-Jh0FzDvLz9f69rTJfFzwsoqn8PMh5zQc/s1600-h/057%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 15px 5px 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="The bean field" border="0" alt="The bean field" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALN3fc2ZvtrF0LZESL-7q2BCPqmvXngLIq5HZbYZELMqXQhJltzZtH2OFuaec900Ora1CJ4nySX3dx-LeEjBgdnendqk0NyalA2JOPAUivxhgzhgrN9PvDrpEK9jEjarUh-fHveTWDik/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>Here is a photo of the field in which I planted the beans for dried beans. It also has squash, winter and summer, and several rows of popcorn that I just planted this week. I also planted a small plot of red indian corn near a compost pile in another place. The Wapsie Valley field corn that I replanted hasn’t come up<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TAZcYOw1-_I/AAAAAAAACwg/fWL3VQe30VQ/s1600-h/062%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 5px 15px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Roses" border="0" alt="Roses" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/TAZcYmRcyYI/AAAAAAAACwk/WN0lGxDbqdg/062_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> yet, and the crows are actively picking the kernels out of the ground. <br /> <br />We have lots of roses blooming. There are some light pink and dark pink ones. The children love picking them and presenting their mother and mammaw with bouquets. These roses apparently were started in years past by the residents in the old cabin and have spread over time. </p> dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16205051256917210078noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397216591519088946.post-44702508490210545962010-05-28T22:01:00.001-05:002010-05-28T22:01:39.965-05:00A welcome rest at the end of the week<p>It’s been a good week. Lots of work. I’m glad that it’s the end of the week and we have a day of rest – a welcome respite every week. Normally, I don’t like to post without photos, but I decided to go ahead tonight, mainly because I didn’t take any pictures this week. <br /> <br />On Monday, my friend Jon came over (he’s coming over on Mondays and Wednesdays to work with me), and we dug footers for the porch and kitchen on the new house. We also planed some boards that will be used for the upstairs subfloor. <br /> <br />On Tuesday, the children and I worked in the garden. The potatoes were really needing weeded. The children worked on weeding Monday and Tuesday. Then, I tilled between the rows. The potatoes in this particular plot haven’t done as well as I would like. I think the wet weather after they were planted didn’t help. In the morning on Tuesday, I also bought 100 80-pound bags of concrete mix in order to be ready for pouring the footers on Wednesday. <br /> <br />Wednesday morning was the scheduled delivery for our coop order. Thankfully, Danny offered to get it for me. I had a few things to do to be ready for when Jon arrived. Once he got here, we began mixing and pouring concrete. Thankfully, I bought an electric powered concrete mixer from Lowes a few weeks ago when we started working on the cistern again. It worked great powered by my Yamaha generator (which is so quiet you couldn’t hear it over the noise of the mixer). <br /> <br />We started with the footer for the kitchen. I ran the mixer while Jon dumped the concrete and tamped it down. It took 54 bags to finish it, mixing two at a time. We used three bags of concrete for each of the porch footers (one for below each post). The mixer was just able to hold three bags worth, and we were able to position the mixer for each one so that we could dump straight into the hole. It all went very smoothly. We mixed 98 bags of concrete and got the job done. I was a little tired at the end of the day! <br /> <br />On Thursday, I cut some wood for the cookstove, and then the children and I worked in the garden. We planted some sweet corn, more green beans, zucchini squash, and cantaloupe and set out another 100 sweet potato slips (we now have 300 sweet potato plants growing). I also bush hogged where the cows have grazed during the last two weeks, mixed some manure with wet hay, adding to one of the compost piles, and tilled the field for growing beans and squash. The children and I ended the day with a swim in the pond, the same as we did on Monday and Tuesday. <br /> <br />Today, I replanted the corn field because it looks like only about 1/3 of the corn we planted two weeks ago came up. I don’t know why it didn’t germinate well. It may have been too wet. I do know that crows ate a good bit of it right out of the ground. I used the garden planter to replant today. It took a bit of work since I didn’t work the ground first (I didn’t want to disturb the corn plants already up). Hopefully, what I planted today will germinate and grow well with little interference by pesky crows. <br /> <br />I also planted our dried bean seeds. The rows in this field are 80 feet long (give or take 15 feet). I planted 4 rows of small kidney beans, 12 rows of pinto beans, 12 rows of red beans, and 12 rows of horticulture beans. I also planted several kinds of winter squash, some pumpkins, okra, and cantaloupe. Then, this afternoon, I went to town and bought some concrete blocks and mortar mix to be prepared for more work on the new house on Monday. <br /> <br />Oh, I also completed some class work (I’m teaching a six-week section during the summer session) in the mornings before everyone else got up. There are a few other things I did during the week, but the ones I’ve mentioned are the major ones. It was a good week with lots of things accomplished, and I’m glad that it’s Sabbath now!</p> dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16205051256917210078noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7397216591519088946.post-51120763886648753072010-05-19T20:55:00.001-05:002010-05-19T20:55:56.300-05:00The cistern, continued: ferrocement construction<p>In March I posted about working on our <a href="http://kyhomestead.blogspot.com/2010/03/work-on-cistern.html" target="_blank">cistern</a>. Since then, I’ve been able to work on it a few more days. My good friend Jon has come over to help in the construction. He’s actually helped with some other projects to and will continue to do so through the summer. <br /> <br />Before the cistern project, I had never attempted the construction of a ferrocement water tank. I first became aware of this type of construction through my dad who found information about it online. It seemed like a neat concept, so I did a little research on it myself. I found a <a href="http://ferrocement.com/tankBook/indici.en.html" target="_blank">book</a> online that provides instructions. The strength of a ferrocement water tank is provided by a steel armature which is the plastered with a cement sand mixture. <br /> <br />At the time of my last post about the cistern, we had completed the floor framework and poured the concrete for the floor. I was concerned that the floor wasn’t going to set up as it was supposed to. It acted differently than concrete I’ve worked with before. But, it did set up quite nicely. So, construction has continued. <br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJ3whINHJiSxyyfF4J5KhfxlZstRlzIJjZp4xwv7W_4s3Q_QHaTAN2q638lCsxSukpT05K4ueGwr-mRWKqK_v8Nb-aQMe4C_J_rcWcacjddxM9ObaHgkfaFFBOsLFyZCTY8_ofEXHNIQ/s1600-h/cistern%20004%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 15px 5px 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="cistern 004" border="0" alt="cistern 004" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/S_SWbtOS1BI/AAAAAAAACug/r96MlkEHCQM/cistern%20004_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>After the floor we began building the walls. The process involved putting welded wire around the perimeter. Then, we added vertical rebar and horizontal rebar. Then, we began framing the roof of the tank. <br /> <br />  The book details the building of a round tank. Because of where I’m building our cistern and the amount of water storage I desired, I decided to build an elongated tank. It is 9 feet wide and 14.5 feet long. I’ve calculated the cistern’s capacity to be 5,300 gallons of water. I changed the plans to suit my application, opting for extra steel in the armature <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZV7w-VjcbxPxnOaCL4OZifJ23xgjgAzOoompENnm6ESyDBJrHrVR44ThMfk24Mc13Strcoqpr0-giuUSeCyTTCR3PFHBbd0YdyDRFOUF945xrAYReHFBLeoO2SS2r8PWmWPa5ifG3Rg/s1600-h/cistern%20003%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 0px 5px 15px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="cistern 003" border="0" alt="cistern 003" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_shAezIdYWkc/S_SWdk3MQ4I/AAAAAAAACuo/TSa_tnp3Zlc/cistern%20003_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>to make sure the strength will be more than sufficient. <br /> <br />For the roof, we bent sections of 1/2 inch rebar that were wired into the frame all the way around. Each of these sections was bent as identically as possible. There will be an opening on top. Rather than make it round, I designed it to mirror the shape of the tank. It will be about 2 feet wide by 8 feet long. <br /> <br />Today we finished installing the rebar in the roof, including horizontal rebar. The next step will be to put another layer of welded wire on the inside of the walls and on the roof. Then, we’ll put on some poultry netting and expanded metal lathe before beginning the plastering process. It’s coming along nicely, but it will still take a few more days of work to complete it.</p> dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16205051256917210078noreply@blogger.com5