ANOTHER TANK

 

We have expanded our gardens and need to have more water available Yesterday I installed this tank before it got too hot to work outside

The tank holds 1000 liters and sits on a base of building blocks left over from our construction days

This simple gate valve from a RV holding tank directs the water to the tank or to the ground

It's been  above 30*C the past few days and we need the rain desperately

Time to do a rain dance and see what happens

Stay safe and well everyone and thanks for stopping by

GARDEN UPDATE JUNE 7TH

 

Our gardens are in full production now. Every day we are able to harvest enough greens for my smoothie and our salads. 

Mary planted cabbage and broccoli in the garden and it has already grown over the top.

Yesterday we covered the bed with this shade cloth to give the plants room to grow and keep the cabbage moths out of the garden. It is a simple step to modify our gardens to accompany the growth of our plants as well as the changing weather.

No idea when we will be harvesting cabbage but the plants do look healthy.

Our regular potato patch is full of garlic this year so we are using these bags for potatoes. As the plants grow, Mary adds soil to give the tubers room to grow

Our peanut plants are well protected from the chipmunks and squirrels This hardware cloth allows the rain and sun in  while keeping the critters out

Thanks for keeping  eye on us and stay safe everyone

UNINVITED COMPANY

 

We  never know who will drop by for supper This guy showed up just after 8 last week.

He didn't stay long but we did get a few pictures  It was rather exiting  for all of us

Stay safe and well everyone.

INVASION

 

Our chickens are very happy in their new home Unfortunately we have night  critters who are  always looking for a free lunch

The perimeter fence was breached last night in the one spot where we didn't install hardware cloth

They then  attempted to dig their way into the coop without success. We covered the coop with hardware cloth this spring and that project kept our birds safe.

Kate discovered the hole when she took food down to the chickens this morning.  She is a big help feeding the birds and collecting their eggs.

Time to make another repair and secure the perimeter with more hardware cloth.

MARY'S GARDENS

 

We are starting to see more green in our forest these days. The buds have popped and the leaves are beginning to show. 

Mary's gardens are producing too. WE hope to be eating salads from the gardens by the end o the week

The spinach still has some growing to do, but it is looking healthy and productive. We should be picking and freezing spinach well into October.

Not every plant can tolerate our cold nights so these tomato plants will stay indoors for a few more weeks.

Our meat birds are finally out of the house YEA!!! and I'll post their pictures soon.

Thanks for stopping by. Stay safe and healthy.

TRAIL MARKERS

 

We have trails throughout our property that even extend across property lines. Everyone uses them for snowshoeing, biking or just an easy enjoyable afternoon hike.

This past winter our neighbours decided the trails needed adequate markers and designed a different butterfly or moth for each trail. I was impressed.

Penny ignores the markers and follows her own trails; usually into the nearest body of water. She's a retriever so this comes naturally to her. Now if we could just teach her to take a shower everyone would be happy.

Stay safe and healthy everyone and thanks for stopping by.

COOP SECURED

 In another week or two we will move the meat birds into the coop at the back We have been busy making the coop and area safe for them.

The coop was covered with chicken wire when first built and over the years we've added to the cover to make it more secure. Unfortunately we didn't realize that a huge hole was left up near the roof at the back of the coop. Don't ask what happened.

 

Yesterday that problem was solved by covering the entire back wall with heavy "hardware cloth" This stuff is like cow fencing and with all the clips holding it in place I think the little night critters will have to dine elsewhere.

Meanwhile our layers  continue to be pampered. Every day they get 3-4 hours out of the coop to scratch in the gardens and yard They are fed a special organic healthy diet of chia, flax, yogurt,, lettuce, millet,,       which Mary prepares in  the kitchen for them We have 6 birds and they are laying 5-6 eggs a day They are happy and so are we.

Here it is May 1st and we are still getting snow. This won't last but it is still too cold to move our meat birds down to their coop. Mary doesn't want them in the house much longer so we may move them to our porch. 

Stay safe and well and thanks for stopping by.