Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Digging for water
We're getting around to putting in a spigot for the garden and now the pig pen. Eventually we'll run lines the opposite direction out to the pasture but right now, the hoses go through the pig pen from the main barn spigot and it's not all that convenient to walk all the way out to the barn to control the garden's water.
As you can see the garden is doing really well, mostly due to the amount of water its getting from the well! They-whoever they are, probably the same people who are controlling the weather!- are saying this is another year to go down in the record books. We're expecting highs well over 100 every day for the next week at least and the chance of rain they were expecting has dwindled to nearly nothing. It's beyond desperation at this point.
Fortunately, we're stocked up on hay. We didn't take chances and started calling about hay early! I've sold several milkers (does in milk) and just one doe kid. We're keeping most of the others.
Jeremiah and I primed the chicken coop & pig shelter two nights ago and painted them yesterday evening. Now all the coop needs is white trim. It's nice to finally have 2 little red buildings in the barnyard instead of plywood ones.
The heat is taking it all out of all of us. I was up early this morning at 7 working in the garden pulling weekds to throw over the fence to the pigs.
Snow had 2 pups yesterday but they were both dead on arrival. I'm not sure why. Such is life on the farm. The kitten are all doing well, mischievous little devils they are.
As you can see the garden is doing really well, mostly due to the amount of water its getting from the well! They-whoever they are, probably the same people who are controlling the weather!- are saying this is another year to go down in the record books. We're expecting highs well over 100 every day for the next week at least and the chance of rain they were expecting has dwindled to nearly nothing. It's beyond desperation at this point.Fortunately, we're stocked up on hay. We didn't take chances and started calling about hay early! I've sold several milkers (does in milk) and just one doe kid. We're keeping most of the others.
Jeremiah and I primed the chicken coop & pig shelter two nights ago and painted them yesterday evening. Now all the coop needs is white trim. It's nice to finally have 2 little red buildings in the barnyard instead of plywood ones.
The heat is taking it all out of all of us. I was up early this morning at 7 working in the garden pulling weekds to throw over the fence to the pigs.
Snow had 2 pups yesterday but they were both dead on arrival. I'm not sure why. Such is life on the farm. The kitten are all doing well, mischievous little devils they are.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Friday, July 13, 2012
Heavenly view from the garden
We're short on rain again in a bad way. Several storms passed by here last weekend, here at the house we barely saw a drop. It's depressing, really. Today, with the weather prediction saying ZERO, NADA, NONE, NULL, and ZILCH chance of rain, 'round about 4 PM the clouds started to build and the downpour ensued. We got about 1/4" of an inch...not a lot, but I am not complaining, that's for sure. The temperature cooled to about 74 degrees, down from 95 and it was glorious to be out in the garden this evening.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
It's like a furnace
Summer has reared its ugly head in a quick and bold way. It went from really nice to sweltering overnight. Seems vaguely familiar of last year too! We've lost 4 squash plants. No matter how much we water we just can't seem to keep them around. The garden is growing really well in the heat though for the plants that are able to get through the peak heat of the day. Next year the squash will have to be planted in a different location of the garden so they are shadded sooner from the heat. But then, the past 2 summers are very out of the ordinary.
Despite the heat, we've been keeping busy. 2 days ago we put up about enough hay to fill the barn. We're probably good on hay but I'd like to pick up some more alfalfa. Fortunately we've gotten enough rain to keep the pastures green, but just barely. It's difficult to get out so early in the morning when we're up late into the night taking advantage of the cool temps but early morning and late evening are the only times when we won't melt outside.
Our tomatoes are our pride and joy...well, my pride and joy anyway. I think even more so because they were started from seeds and anyone who knows how long it can take tomato- or pepper for that matter- from seed probably feels extra special about them. The garden seems to be so late but has really shot up the past 2 weeks! We've not gotten anything but one yellow squash out of it so far and I was so excited to finally have something of eating size I ate the thing raw myself right there in the garden. There's lots of green tomatoes and beans just starting, lots of blooms on the cuke and melon plants so we just have to be patient.
Our compost pile is looking so gorgeous! I can't wait to get another year of goat manure & bedding on the garden and keep building up that compost pile! Next year I hope to have an even bigger garden and this fall I'd like to set out some fall crops too. It'd be nice to get strawberries in as well.
The fence has done really well at keeping the chickens out. They love to go wandering in the woods and Jeremiah mentioned last night they psych him out when he walks up to the house on occasion (and I won't lie, they do me too!) because they'll be hidden amongst the bushes and such and the scratching they make is kind of spooky =). You half expect a wild animal to jump out =).
Despite the heat, the girls like to be out in the pasture most days. They come in several times for water and I fill the bucket several times a day with new clean cool water. I try to time it so they're coming in just as the new water is going in so they get it at well temp. It really seems to get them to drink more.
This time of year our town puts on "Hutchfest"- a five day celebration leading up to the 4th of July. Sunday evening we went to "Gospel in the park", had cake and coke at 7 PM while there and then headed over to Salt City Splash (our town's water park), for a free family night.
Despite the heat, we've been keeping busy. 2 days ago we put up about enough hay to fill the barn. We're probably good on hay but I'd like to pick up some more alfalfa. Fortunately we've gotten enough rain to keep the pastures green, but just barely. It's difficult to get out so early in the morning when we're up late into the night taking advantage of the cool temps but early morning and late evening are the only times when we won't melt outside.
Our compost pile is looking so gorgeous! I can't wait to get another year of goat manure & bedding on the garden and keep building up that compost pile! Next year I hope to have an even bigger garden and this fall I'd like to set out some fall crops too. It'd be nice to get strawberries in as well.
The fence has done really well at keeping the chickens out. They love to go wandering in the woods and Jeremiah mentioned last night they psych him out when he walks up to the house on occasion (and I won't lie, they do me too!) because they'll be hidden amongst the bushes and such and the scratching they make is kind of spooky =). You half expect a wild animal to jump out =).
Despite the heat, the girls like to be out in the pasture most days. They come in several times for water and I fill the bucket several times a day with new clean cool water. I try to time it so they're coming in just as the new water is going in so they get it at well temp. It really seems to get them to drink more.
This time of year our town puts on "Hutchfest"- a five day celebration leading up to the 4th of July. Sunday evening we went to "Gospel in the park", had cake and coke at 7 PM while there and then headed over to Salt City Splash (our town's water park), for a free family night.
T
Last night it was a car show and that's not my thing so my friend, Michelle, and I watched the kids play on the playground in the park.
Jeremiah will be off again to New Orleans for several days toward the middle of the month. And, by the way, his students won 4th place for the SKILLS USA National contest. Not bad aye? Fourth place, pretty snazzy! That was a long trip.
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