Sunday, September 13, 2009

I can't catch you up!

Well, I decided to just post some words today.

I have been busy this summer getting my daughter married off on the farm. Then I jumped back into my routine of spending a lot of time in August getting ready for the new school year. Add to that a new computer and a more complex waay of getting Ruth's photos, and I have fallen off the blog cliff.

I miss all of my blog pals!

Green Barn Update

  • I have 44 hens busily laying eggs and eating grass. You can see from my sidebar the different breed I have. I have opinions about breeds and which ones I would recommend, but you don't want to hear that now.
  • I don't have any roosters now. I am not sure if I will ever have one again, but never say never.
  • I have seven turkeys. I had to butcher one that got injured. After spending two hours doing that job, I am definitely happy to pay the local butcher $7.00 to do that. I have an appointment on November 25 to have the remaining seven "processed."
  • My garden has done a great job! We have been eating lots of sweetcorn, tomatoes, green beans, peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, fried green tomatoes and various herbs.
  • I just received my order of garlic bulbs to plant soon. If you live in a cold climate, order your garlic NOW and get it planted around the time of your first frost.
  • My pumpkin production is way down! I have about a dozen pumpkins in various stages and none of them look all that great. Did anyone have good luck with pumpkins this year?
  • I have several piles of chicken coop bedding composting away right now. I am planning on giving them a few more turns and then I will cover all my beds with about six inches of it and till it in for the winter. I would be happy to give you a bushel or two of coop bedding! C'mon out and get it. BYOBB (bring your own bushel baskets)
  • If anyone is planning on a Hawaii cruise between now and next summer, my son is playing his guitar on the Princess cruise! Let me know and I can hook you (or your cute daughter) up with him! ;)
  • I have vanilla still brewing in the cupboard. I ordered cute little amber bottles to put it in. Nice gifts!!
  • Another Green Barn gift (hopefully) will be popcorn. I have about 100 popcorn stalks out there and it looks like a bumper crop! I hope to fill pint jars with it. Stay tuned.
  • Maybe I need to have a November drawing and give some vanilla and popcorn away.
  • I love beets! I grew one row and they went absolutely nuts. I cooked them and canned them and wish I had five rows. No, I won't give this away.

I need to go blog visiting. I hope to see you soon on your blog!

18 comments:

Mandie said...

Sounds like you have been busy! We planted a hand full of pumpkins and only 1 plant is doing good. I seem to have better luck with the mini ones. Glad to hear the rest of your garden is doing good! Have a wonderful October!!

freefalling said...

Are you pimping your son out??!!

Have you had roasted beetroot yet?
What about raw and grated on a salad roll?
And don't forget you can eat the leaves.

Anonymous said...

There is never enough time for everything, is there?

When you get some time, I'd love to hear your opinions on your various breeds of laying hens. We have Black Stars and Americaunas this year and notice a big difference from our previous Golden Comets.
Ali in Maine

Anonymous said...

I am in St Clair County MI. My pumpkins are turning orange already and I have alot. You are right about the beets. I canned, froze, and gave alot away. They did very well this year. My cabbages are huge. The weather has not been as warm as it should be at night and I think alot of the early spring and late fall plants just grew like crazy. I have been making roasted tomato sauce all day. I have canned a ton!

Susan said...

Yay! You're back! I have certainly missed reading your posts, Don.

On roosters--I sure don't want to have any either--one was enough!

I have my opinions about the different chicken breeds, too, or at least the ones I have experience with. The next time, I really just want Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks and Wyandottes.

You got a much better outcome with your garden that we did. Ours started out great and early and then just kind of fizzled out.

I'm planting garlic,too! There's nothing like it!

Ummm, I love beets (non-pickled) on salads. Our crop was a bust.

See ya in the funny papers!

A Bite of Country Cupcakes said...

We have missed you too.
Though I have been stopping by Ruth regularly.
My Two roosters have been rehomed...Thank goodness.
Gorgeous looking but boy they were vocal and had a Perchant for chasing my Son!
It sounds like though you are busy ,you have wonderful things happening in your world.

lisa said...

I actually DO want to hear your opinion on breeds and recommendations LOL! I just added (well picking them up in a week) 2 silver laced cochin's to my flock. Can't wait!!

Glad everything else has gone well. Sounds like you have been super busy.

Ginnie Hart said...

I read every single word of this, Don, because it all is so very fascinating to me! I love your life as a farmer and wish I could benefit from all that you do. :D Those beets alone will extend your life only God knows how long. Congratulations! I hope you're now off to a great school year!!

Sunny said...

Hi Don, I did not plant pumpkins but my root crops did nothing this year, except for sweet potatoes which we have yet to see how they turn out.
My hubby loves pickled beets so last year I put up alot of pints of them. Fortunately we still have plenty left. Good to see you blogging again. I will be interested to know how your vanilla turns out.

Carole@Fowl Visions said...

Times flies when we are having fun! My summer has flown by just like yours, in a blur. I've been changing my flock around also, going mainly to purebreds even considering showing.

I am going to have to try growing garlic. It has such good health benefits. I'm sure our seasons are so much different I will need to read when to start. Also our pumpkins are doing nothing but I think it is still too hot down here.

Good to hear from you!

Lanny said...

Beets are the bomb. Sounds like you had a great year, you did after all host a wedding, and a great foundation for another year!

Stiggy said...

Welcome back matey!

Sounds like you've had reason to be away, but have missed your posts, and hope to read more!

:D

sandy said...

hey great catching up you did here, enjoyed reading what you have been up to....sure wish I could take that cruise but I only have cute sons.

Unknown said...

You inspire me. Truly...
We are beginning to farm at 45 years old. Kinda scary! But reading your blog makes me think that just maybe we can do it.

I think I am going to try to make vanilla, per your recipe.

We lost our oldest son, Joshua 16, in November, 2003. We have been idle pretty much since then. I'm looking for things to keep me busy when I am at home which is why I love your blog.

Hopefully this time next year we'll have a full harvest and many chickens.

Keep posting!

Nishant said...

I have been making roasted tomato sauce all day. I have canned a ton!

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Country Girl said...

You'll love growing garlic! We will be planting ours this week. Glad you are back at blogging. I have not put much into it lately either. Come visit! ~Kim

Zach said...

How cool. I have always wanted to grow popcorn! But I live in the city so I could not grow that much. Maybe if I hand pollinate?????

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