AL - Recording baby steps: Newest Addition

[AL]

Deb - about 70' x 70' or so. The leaves were pretty thick in most places, just that sandy / dusty dirt is so bad.
G - yeah, I have 2 horses and I didn't utilize their "contributions" very well. I did put some out on the garden, but then I was told if it isn't thoroughly composted it would burn anything I planted. That made me gun shy so I have a couple of compost piles going with it right now.

We had some high winds yesterday and last night, but fortunately we escaped the rash of tornadoes that swept through the southeast. Friends in Tuscaloosa checked in ok, just a mess to clean up.

We got a little rain, only enough to go a couple of inches deep though - I transplanted my bell peppers today and hit dry dirt digging the little holes.

Buford is at the vet with more ulcers in his eye - I think Rio hits him in the eye with his crazy wagging tail. Otherwise Buf is doing great , he has even gained a few pounds.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

hey AL!

i'm totally chasing you all around today. glad to hear dear Bufford is well!

ps i've been laughing my butt off at your title..... hee hee hee hee our is 80% chance of rain. ha!

 

[Denim Deb]

My garden isn't as big as yours, and I know I have more than 2 truck load of leaves in it. If you can get some from your friends or neighbors, do so!

And, I've put down plenty of horse manure that isn't fully composted and never burned a plant. As long as it isn't fresh out of the horse, but is at least a little bit old, it won't burn the plants. You just might get a bunch of weeds. :/

 

[Farmfresh]

I have also heard of manuring a section of garden at a time with fairly fresh manure and then covering it with plastic for a time. The heat gets intense and will burn up any weed seeds. Of course you DO need to wait a bit before planting in that. Or you could use fresh manure (again in sections) and cover it with the leaves. A lasagna compost in place.

 

[Denim Deb]

I have also heard of manuring a section of garden at a time with fairly fresh manure and then covering it with plastic for a time. The heat gets intense and will burn up any weed seeds. Of course you DO need to wait a bit before planting in that. Or you could use fresh manure (again in sections) and cover it with the leaves. A lasagna compost in place.

That's what I had wanted to have done last fall, I just didn't get it done. :/

 

[Farmfresh]

I used to love to just PILE on fresh manure in the fall. Spread it thick all over the garden space and leave it to overwinter in the garden. When you till it in in the spring it is just about ready and REALLY helps a poor piece of soil.

Of course the winter treatment does leave you with more weed seeds. :/

 

[AL]

I had actually planned to do the leaves / manure / plastic thing , but like Deb I just never go to it. I sure don't need anymore grass or weeds!! Mercy my garden looks like a very successful sod farm instead of a veggie plot!

Took Buford back to the vet today. I thought his lower eyelid was taking its turn rolling in, but they said it was just from the swelling of having his upper eyelid stitched. He is doing better now and sleeping soundly (so he can stay up barking all night ).

It was downright cold last night! I had my fan in the open window and had to turn it down, plus add a blanket!! I think it was 48*? In Florida, right at May's front door? wow.
It, of course, warmed up to 82, but that little cool break was awesome.

Friends in Guntersville Al called and checked in finally - they are without power and have some trees down, but are very fortunately ok.

Pulled up the first few radishes today for my dad and picked some more blackberries. I ended up not feeling like dealing with the berries so I gave them to the chickens - made them very happy!

I have done really well as far as changing my food choices, etc ever since Feb 4, when I started the medically supervised diet for surgery. Today I had a carb-palooza.... seriously. So I am going to feed the horses, round up the chickens and check on my newly outside rabbits and then I'm taking Rio and we are going for a nice long walk in this lovely low humidity!


My compost pile sunflower, early this morning (with a side of oats )

 

[Henrietta23]

I'm glad your friends are okay! It will be a long time before we have blooming sunflowers here. Thanks for sharing the picture!

 

[Farmfresh]

I always just dump my fresh picked un-washed blackberries on a cookie sheet and pop them into the freezer. When they resemble little hard marbles I bag them up in a ziplock. That way I can process them, make jam, or whatever else when I am good and ready.

I am SO excited! I have at least three blackberry bushes that survived me moving them to my yard and another four or five black raspberry bushes. I was really afraid that I would lose all of my berries when I gave up my "allotment" garden space.

 

[AL]

That little sunflower just came up on its own in my compost pile and there is another one out at the edge of the garden. I also have a few squash and a zuke that came up.

I have picked a little over 2 gallons of blackberries already and put them in the freezer (wish I had thought to freeze them on a pan first!). I haven't even started picking along the pasture fenceline, these are just from around the garden and my parents house!! I love berries of all kinds.

I bought a couple of thornless blackberry "sticks" last year and they are still just sticks. Fortunately we have tons of the prickly kind. My raspberry sticks had great leaves and then just died.