This got delivered today, I figured for the price the full spectrum was good. We're starting seeds Saturday, I'll report back. (Edit- $50.00)
Two more ewes had lambs in the last week, including the free ewe we picked up. Brings our total up to 19 lambs (with 4 additional dead).
Bromance. Also, should be having a second wave of lambs starting this weekend. We now think the cat did bring in something that caused a wave of early abortions and then those ewes got pregnant again.
Had two more lambs born today to bring us up to 22. Also, the chickens have started laying in the middle of the round bale where the sheep have eaten out the center.
We've got around 20 ewes plus the ram right now. All of the lambs we have will be sold off. My wife is planning to reduce down the adults some so we can work on improving the pasture a bit. Once that's better, we'll probably stay in the 20 ewe range. Right now we have 26 lambs with 3-4 more ewes to have lambs.
Beautiful, billdozer. I can't show wife your pictures, she wants sheep or goats in the worst way. I'm content with our chickens and garden for now.
I just got done reading about mason bees, apparently they are attracted to the foxglove beardtongue im about to plant the number of different species in the Osmia genus seemed to be quite high, and i saw a photo of a block of wood, with drilled holes, that people were using for a little habitat this probably isnt super helpful
anyway i got the following seeds in the mail as part of a 'native seed distribution' from UNC, if anyone has knowledge of these plants lmk Yellow crownbeard (Verbesina occidentalis) Wild indigo mix (Baptisia spp.) New York ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) Marsh pink (Sabatia angularis) Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) Eastern red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) Blue mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum) Eastern needlegrass (Piptochaetium avenaceum)
I don’t have a big garden but am really excited about my haul today. Parsnip, beet, beans and carrots Im all going to roast with a chicken tomorrow and then picking the artichoke as an appetizer.
Three more ewes had lambs in the last week. We have 2 more that are pregnant, but my wife is looking to sell those, so we may be done for the season. I also checked the bees for the first time this year. First time I've had all of my hives survive the winter, so that something. Found varroa mites on some of the drone brood, so I treated the hives for mites as well. Varroa mite is one of the main drivers for honeybees dying off.
Not unlike other vehicles, it's a valuable tool that also is thousands of $ in repairs waiting to happen. It's between cars (higher/lower) and boats (lower/higher) on the Funshot scale of necessity vs. Repair cost scale. Thankful for diesel mechanic buddies. I blew up the 4wd on one side of the front axle a year or two ago, and I still cuss the pine root that got me bound up every time I see it. The dickered gear/bearing combo is on display in the tractor barn, to remind me that I'm not invincible, and failing to keep that in mind comes with a dollar figure attached.
February was cold and wet in DC, March has been Sahara dry (my main garden is a few blocks from my house and the water doesn't get turned on by the park service until May, so I either have to carry or drive water over to my garden). Despite the sunny and warm temps lately, it's been tough to get spring stuff going so far. Also, I was elected president of my garden association. I thought it would be more of a figurehead position when I agreed to run last year... as it turns out it's been like a second job. There's a couple of real weirdos among the people who have plots
I'll get a picture of it next time I'm at the shop. Would make a good homesteader trophy of shame. I was told at the time that one of the nearby parts, a large cog gear in the lower hub, was pretty much unobtanium. Think he said there was one left in the U.S. at the time. Can't wait to fuck that up....
Nice billdozer . I bought a quonset hut for our place, but haven't had/taken time to build it. Kit has been sitting for 18mos. Thinking about selling and "trading" those funds for something similar. Thinking it might be closer to an even trade. Not to mention the speed of just having it completed. Would free up firewood storage in 1/4 of current tractor barn.
Yeah, we had been storing round bales under a storage area around the garage where my wife's horse trailer and tractor usually are. This will free that up and let us store more bales. This was 26'x22'. Ran around $2500. Plus we can store the tractor implements there and free up other areas closer to the house.
Damn That's cheaper than I thought they were I need a boat shed just about that size, I've just never priced em out
I'd make you a deal on the kit, but full disclosure, that isn't a finished cost. Needs concrete footings with a unique form feature at a minimum, not to mention it's a haul from TX to VA...... 20'w x 24'long. 12' ridge. This is a straight wall with gable as opposed to half round style.
Hell if the price is right, I'll come down there and build it for you. Gonna take a lot of beer, BBQ, bourbon, and benjamins.
Planted 22 seedlings - 16 tomatoes and 6 eggplants (not shown: 2 pots with eggplants) from the garage today. Tried a few things different this year. First, building on my learning from last year that crowding helps shade the ground and retain moisture in 105 degree Texas summer drought, I planted everything about 20 inches apart. Also tried these tomato mulch trays that direct water to the roots (12 pack to try out). And then decided to use garden stakes and the attachable arms since tomato cages aren’t tall enough and the extra tall ones are super expensive. Not looking to spend $30 to cage a plant that gives me $40 worth of tomatoes. Went more basic with the tomato varieties this year - Creole as always, San Marzano, and Arkansas Traveler. Last year I didn’t have great luck with black krims and brandy wines, and my wife wasn’t a big fan of the lemon boys. Eggplants are Hansels, which are 3-4” black variety that should be perfect to halve and grill all summer. Tried to raccoon proof with stakes and low cages since the one that comes every night to eat the food my wife puts out for feral cats loves fresh cedar mulch. He dug up half of my tulip and daffodil bulbs this winter the night after I planted, but last summer he didn’t mess with any plants that had stakes or cages around them. Also I hope he appreciates that I filled the empty bed in the background up with mulch since the squash aren’t ready to plant yet.
Did a quick search and couldn’t find anything on here so I’m sorry if I missed it, but has anyone gone the hyrdoponic route? I am looking into the lettuce grow farm stand and am curious to any experiences with it. https://www.lettucegrow.com/
Anybody can identify this plant? 7 year old grew it from seed in school and he's very proud of it, but he said the teacher just had some random seeds that she didn't know what they were Trying to decide if I need to put it in the garden in the ground or a pot or what
I have a cub cadet riding mower that is about 6 years old. The last two times I’ve mowed the grass is has had trouble turning occasionally. The engine runs great and doesn’t sputter but when I make sharp turns it really loses momentum. It doesn’t seem like the engine is under load or stress, so I’m guess it’s an issue with the hydrostatic transmission? I’m pretty handy but don’t really know too much small engine stuff.
I can't imagine teachers having redbud seeds laying around. Looked like a bean at first glance to me. Beans germinate quick. Easy plant for kiddos.
That was my first thought But now I'm hoping the expert is right and we are growing a tree to enjoy for years
Leaf is similar but sharper to redbud. Multiple stalks and those little offshoots makes be think climber (beans, cukes) or creeper (squash, pumpkin). Really narrows it down eh? Sorry. Maybe One Two
Definitely a bean variety. You can see the seed split from germination on the stalk. You’ve got three separate plants and could very carefully shake the soil loose and repot in a larger container with more separation. As far as bean variety I’d ask the teacher bc tough to tell but I’d guess some sort of green bean.
Hi all, warmer weather up in Wisconsin. Took the winter cone off my rose and want to know how to prep it for spring. I assume the black stems are likely dead? Or is it canker disease? Should I cut the black stems off at this point? Spoiler
I finally found some jalapeño plants today to transplant (have lots of other peppers, just no japs and that just doesn't feel right) Called my neighbor who was looking for some too, ended up buying 2 for me and 6 for him :lol