Magic number 6!

As i walked out to the hen house on Christmas i noticed a Egg in a different spot in the roost house. I think Grey Grey laid her first egg! Yes that makes all 6 laying now! I am getting between 1 and 4 eggs a day... The only problem.. how to keep the water from freezing!

From bag to Pan Blue Oyster

The mushrooms have been inside for a few days and look how much they are growing.

Blues - Yes that is a Blue Oyster

So i learned from the master in Atlanta The mushroom master. We are growing Blue oyster in pasteurized wheat straw. So mine finally sprouted. I took them out of the special bags and out them in some water in a bucket (pictures coming soon) . I should have mushrooms this week if all goes right. It is an amazing sight!! Now - what should i cook?

Final Summer Crop

Look at this nice grab we picked yesterday. There are still a bunch of Peppers on the vine and see what happens if they freeze. Did you see how long that beans is? almost a foot! The Egg Plant looks great as well... Eat up... did you notice the Shiitake ... my logs are fruiting! Fresh Yard eggs and mushroom with some bell peppers added for breakfast --- who can beat that... maybe CoCo Beware!

Things growing better

I promise to try and post more. I post more mentally in my mind then on here.

We are getting about 3 eggs ever 18 hours. Old Yeller has gone broody big time. Do i get eggs for her to do work or just wait it out? Snookums (Flea - is that how she spells her name) still not laying... time is ticking young lady!

The eggs are so dang yummy.

But my biggest surprise is that my Fall crop has started to take off this week all of a sudden. Like a new energy has taken over. It is very weird but i love it. I am about to get my first salad this weekend. Wow how things change so fast in just a short time! Keep growing! Also this Friday we are doing a bunch of Mushroom Logs

Lion's Mane

Chicken of the Woods

Elm Oyster

Yellow Oyster

Still waiting on the blues!

EGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

We Finally got our egg! I think Old Yeller did the deed! We all ate it this morning! SO yummy. But no additional eggs today. I can only hope she does it again tomorrow!

Pictures to come

Full Moon

My cousin and I received some of the final fall seeds in the mail. We planted 5 more rows of yummy crops. As you recall last year fall crop got washed out with all the floods. I am really hoping i have a fall crop this year. If you look at my previous post you can see what was added to the Berk family Garden plot. The Tomatoes are still producing so incredible fruit!

Chickens-- Update - Still no eggs but Esther and Todd both had eggs last week and i think i am a week behind. I can hardly wait anymore! Maybe the full moon will help get this process going!

Fall planting notes

Row 1- TC side - Spacemaster Cucumber, Vates Blue Curled Kale

Row 2- Salad Bowl Green Lettuce, Iceberg Lettuce, Red Romaine Lettuce

Row 3 Purple Broccoli , Purple Vienna Kohlrabi

Row 4 Acorn Winter Squash, Bloomsdale Spinach

Row 5 Bloomsdale Spinach, Acorn Winter Squash

Row 6 Boston Pickling Cucumbers

Fourth to last Row - Grand Rapids Lettuce

Third to last Row Little Fingers Carrots

Second to last row - Spaghetti Winter Squash, Sweet Dumpling Winter Squash

Last Row Red Acre Cabbage, Cabbage Lovers Delight

Mushrooms Mushrooms Mushrooms

i found a very nice Black Oak that was cut up just a street over. man i was so excited. I picked up 15 logs. They were cut perfectly. I know i owe Esther some in exchange for the two chicks she gave me and Todd some for the Spawn he spotted me a month ago for my first inoculation of the Mushroom logs. So over the last 4 days i have been inoculating one log after another. I did Shiitake, Maitake, Lion's Mane and Reshi. I hope i get mushrooms around Turkey day! I had lots of fun making the logs (pictures to come). I also labeled the logs to know what i am growing!

peace to all!

Man oh man home grown matters are so dang tasty. I am having a fight everyday with them stinking squirrels. Going to look now for some ripe ones

ALERT ALERT ALERT

I just got home and the SQUIRRELS ARE INVADING MY TOMATOES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Some how while i was out on holiday the squirrels had a breaking and entering class while i was gone. They are finding a way to get in and eat all my *********************************ing matters. As i report this i am watching how they enter. No signs yet....... but wait! i hear something....... what is that noise.....there he is! Inside the cage! (i am running after the squirrel)... he is trapped. I just found his escape route... the dogs just thought him a lesson. but i have a feeling he and his GANG will be back... I need to see how they are getting in. I am not moving from this spot until i find out. All my big daddy;s are gone@!.. I am so stinking mad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

any ideas? Please help me!

Happy First day of Summer

Man things are going and going well. I have had 3 Mexico Midget tomatoes and they were so dang good! We also harvest 3 squash. I really need to remove 3 big trees soon. I need more direct sun.

I have about 40+ Tomato on the vine.

On a sad and frustrating note.... i have lost 5 or 6 bean plants... something ate all the beans and ate the root so they are so DONE!!!!!!!!!! I had to reseed the beans again,. I hope they take out in the wild wild west garden. More pictures to come.

Still waiting on my first eggs

Slacker......Gardner.

I need to invent a new way to blog straight from my brain. Everything is going really well. The Tomato plants are as tall as me! I have picked the first two yellow squash (bumpy - is this normal) and a bunch of beans are growing very well. The Black Pencil beans are yellow and long, do they have to turn black? Still eating a home grown healing salad most every day. So dang yummy. The Cucs are about to go crazy and the zucchini are just plan ole getting big and doing nothing.

Chickens... getting bigger everyday. Still waiting for that magical egg..... July weekend...

Also looking for someone to come take care of the chickens during July 4th weekend? Any takers? You can come pick lettuce and ripe matters. Any takers?

Yep you guessed it!

After i got home from work I did the LadyBug walk of Shame... i looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and no LADYBUGS to be found.. Not a one.. Maybe they ate all the pest and left for the day and will be back tomorrow..

Lady Bigs

I dropped of 1500 lady bugs off in the garden tonight. They are not suppose to fly at night....BUT i bet i have non in the morning. It is my 10$ donation to my neighbors.. In theory it should work, but they always fly away.... Earth , Love Peace!

First! and Mushrooms Logs

First...... Tomato are showing, i think it is a Stupice. The FIRST yellow squash.... Yeah! SO happy! I still think i need more sun back there.

I also included my new Mushroom logs. ... I should have a crop for Turkey day!

I had a busy 8 hours in the garden Sunday. I implemented a few new non weed ideas. i.e newspaper down then straw on top. i also put some organic preen no weed deal. Hope it helps, i am over these weeds already. I think i need one more bale. The soaker hose is doing well in the tomato cage. In the link below you will see the new Poles for the beans to grow! I am using a metal wire instead of string. Grow baby grow!

Link for the other pictures http://picasaweb.google.com/howiespool/GardenMay17#

Basil and Matters

All good on the Farm (back Yard) this week. I transplanted some different basil in to planters on the deck and 3 or 4 out in the matter cage. Hope no bugs eat them. As for the flea Beatle it seems to have slow down. I had read that they really like the saplings, seedlings. I gave them a bath of Neem (Organic of course) yesterday. My salads have been so tasty with 5 types of lettuce. I am in scramble mode trying to get up the trellis for matters and beans. I might need extra hands.. How about a Crop Mob here and i will cook some good healthy food for the helpers.

The new irrigation is in! I split the garden down the middle, The Tomato plants got a new dripper set up. The first run is tomorrow morning. The other side still has the misters, but a little worried about the squash and powdery mildew will happen with water on those leaves. I will keep a close eye on it. Have a nice night!

changes going on.. Kombucha in the works and Pictures, Pictures, {ictures

Good Thursday Morning,

Happy Birthday Josh!
I finally took some pictures yesterday. I also started a new batch of Kombucha. 10 days from now i should be healing myself and family!

You can see the coop finished and updated pictures of the chickens. Also the two long black bed are the herb gardens and some seeds are finally coming up. The tomato plants are growing stronger and i did another test to prevent weeds by laying straw down on the rows.

I hope to make the sprinkler changes this week. Still need to get parts!

Check out my updated pictures!!!!! http://picasaweb.google.com/howiespool/May52010#

My First..........

I saw our first flower in a Black Zebra! You see it! How beautiful! I promise to post pictures tomorrow. I feel sometimes i can't blog with out pictures. I will do better. I also planted more peppers , Kohlrabi, egg plant and more matters. Things are growing nicely.

OBTW - I just went to Lowes and spent another 30 bones on some sprinkler modification. Hope to implement this week

Bed time..

Bugs... are so so

My bugs are so so, but still there. I am using Neem and a few other organic methods, Garlic spray... i still have a few matters in the grow room until the pest are all gone. Also chickens are keeping warm by sleeping on top of each other. Also why don't they go into the chicken box and not sleep on the floor when it is this cold???/ I have to stick them in there each night.,

more planting and bugs

I planted the pepper seedlings, 4 types of beans, cucs, patty squash, yellow squash, zucchini and some more brussel sports with in the last week. The peppers we in yesterday. We had a nice rain here in Atlanta today.

I have something eating my tomato plants and i think it is a flea beetle ... so mad.. killed about 5 full plants and tons of leaves... errrr i can't sleep at night of thinking about it.

Seedlings... you need any?

These are some Tomato heirloom all organic with special care and love that will grow you the most incredible fruit you had ever had! If you would like one or two please leave me a response and we can arrange to meet for a pick up. I over grew and i have 50 more in the starter room. You will be amazed how much better these will grown and taste then the ones you get a Lowes or HD.. Bring it

Picture time... and first Tomato in the beds!

Pictures of seedlings,Chickens and my first tomato were put in the bed. I hope they have a good night sleep. Water for them in the morning.

First Basil - Home Grown

I was able to pick a few leaves, Yummy yum

My friend Mike came pick up his tomato seedlings - 24 in all. 12 types... going to his house to have brunch!

to plant or not to plant?

What a great busy weekend. The girls and i took the chicks out for a stroll. When they first hit the grass free from their cage they were like "what is this and i am free" after a few min they started to act like chickens and pecking the ground looking for bugs. We had a good time with them.

I spent all day Saturday finishing all the wire for the coupe (killed me), it was really hard work and took hours. I also put in all the doors, egg, clean out and main door. All i need to do is finish the roof and the egg house. I am having issues with the roof cost. I really don't want to spend a 100$ on the roof. So i am trying to figure out what to do...

As for the garden, i have taken out 3 trays of tomato to harden off. I choose not to plant until the soil get a bit warmer. I did however plant a row of Brussel Sports. I am going to plant squash , cucs and beans in two weeks. I will plant a few tomato plants this week for a test.

I promise i will take pictures tomorrow.

Week 2 , Garden Prep, sprinkles coming

I finally got all the rows laid out. 8 rows for the tomato in the tomato cage. I think i should be able to get 15 tomato plants per row. Will see how it goes when i plant on April 10 and the 15th.

One of the chicks seems a little slow. I am hoping she (Thelma) is feeling better tomorrow. She is drinking and eating. Tomorrow is week 2.

I also started another 50 Tomato seeds. I also hooked up the sprinkler to the timer. Yea! Bed time.

Back Yard Fire

More pictures to come this week. I had a very busy back yard weekend. Lots done in the garden. Almost all the rows are up and most of the weeds out. All the seedlings are coming up nice. The sprinkler just had it first run. It seems everything is on track. Chicks are growing.. pictures coming this week.

I am getting hungry..

Hip hip Hooray! - The Chickens are here today

As the timed neared 3pm, i was getting antsy and i want to get the kids and run home to see if we had a package on the porch. But as i turned the corner no box.. I was bumming and the girls were too. They thought i was teasing them, but nope. We all were sad. I took Allie to soccer came home to get ready for my game and...................DOOR BELL!!!!!!!!!!!! it was our babies! Sophia went crazy and could not wait to tell Allie. Both girls rushed down stairs to see the new babies. They could not get enough!!!

Day 1.. they found food and water and in and out of the heat.

All good day 1!

Wood Chips DONE!!! Where my Peep's at?

I got on my horse and cleaned up the final wood chips! 4 days.. too many hours.. but guess what! I did it.. Bring it.. part of my P90X workout!... All this work until the leaves fall again.. very happy one project down and another about to start. No chicks today.. Maybe tomorrow. The girls and i set up the temp house if they show.. But now as i am typing this i forgot to get the temp gauge to make sure we are at 95 degrees. I can run at lunch tomorrow.

It just hit me while I am laying here in my bed this Sunday morning that we will have chickens baby chickens next week. Wild!

seed pictures...

Quick check in.. Pictures of my seedlings.

lettuce and Chicken wire

I am off today and i got another row of mix lettuce in. I also put up the top layer of chicken wire. I will hit Lowes (again) tonight and see if i can get the roof supplies. last night i bought all the door supplies but i left the instructions in my wifes car... what a slacker i am. onto other things today.

Today is watering day. I feed the seedling and they are really starting to grow. Finally more leaves! I am getting pumped for the first tomato.. but when will it come.


Wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow the wood chips are being set out in back.. wow this is lots of work.

Have a great day.. Hope the weather heats up a bit. Still no sign of my direct sowed herbs.

wood chips

I went to pick up my kids down the street yesterday and i see a tree cutting truck filled with wood chips. I asked the guy to drop them off at my house and he did. WOW more than i thought. I spent 4 hours today putting it on the back 40.. Many many many more hours of this long hauling wheelbarrow work.. good workout tho!!

Check out Sophia...

Dunwoody Chickens and Seeds

I think my dear friend Mr pray fixed my Purple stem problems. I think it was a lack of food and too much light. I added food tot he bottom of the seed trays and low and behold i see new small leaves. Yea Yea! I hope this means they will start to grow. This is the worst part for me. Just not knowing if my crop will grow.. I need food!

I went to the Dunwoody City Counsel meeting last night for the final vote about chicken laws. A great turn out and the speakers really did a great job of presenting. BUT the city shot the bill down. It is Illegal to own chickens in Dunwoody. I feel for chicken lovers. They are going to keep fighting. Also 3 news stations were out there! Love the coverage.

My guys should be here next week!

Seeds, Coop and a great day in Atlanta

I had the day off today. I worked outside all day. I painted most of the coop. Pictures tomorrow. I am 80% completed with the frame. I should have the rest of the frame completed except for the door. Then the next step will be to put up hardware fabric. I got a text last night that there was a coyote in my front yard last night... a bit scary. i am going to have to lock down the coop really good.

I did some direct cabbage and peas direct sowing today. We had 70 degree weather. I create a few more rows. I hope to work on the irrigation some this weekend.

I planted a bunch of herbs in the new herb bed. I am getting so excited!

** One problem my Tomato stems are purple .... what does that mean????????HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

Chickens

I received word that the chickens will arrive the week of March 29th! need to start thinking of name. Any ideas?

Grow Room setup

Everything is moving along. all seedlings still have the first two fake leaves. Still waiting on the real leaves to show up. This is my grow room. I have the lights via a pulley system for different plant heights. Any thoughts?

Day off but working the land!

I had a day off today. My seedlings are sprouting everywhere. The grow room is in full action. This is the scariest part for me. Will they grow and will they be to leggy. Sometimes being to leggy is not good. I think i have to start 2 more trays. I also need to direct seed more lettuce and other goodies. My transplants don't look to hot.

I went to lowes yesterday and it made me feel so far behind. The had full size tomato plants and lettuce and this and that... all non organic , but still they have some sneaky way of growing these. It just made me feel like i was behind.

I moved the two raised beds like the wife wanted , but i then created a row in front of the main garden for herbs. I think i can pull this off. I also think i can plant some herbs this weekend.

GNC - Certified Naturally Grown

Wish me luck! i just submitted for my Certified Naturally Grown certificate. Since i don't sell more than 5K (made 5 bucks last year) i don't need a USDA organic certification. I will know in 4 weeks if i passed the test.

Also Chamblee Farmers market foundation meeting is tomorrow night at the library. This is the kick off meeting for people who want to help get the farmers market going. If your down with this show up at 7 tomorrow.

Night night

My Babies are on the way!

Where my Peeps at?

This is what i ordered
Buff Orpington (2)
Australorp
Easter Egger

I think i got a very good mix based on the Chicken Boss recommendation.. FYI Need to come support her cause March 22nd @Dunwoody (more details to come)

Where my Peeps at


www.mypetchicken.com

work work work.. come on seeds!

What a weekend! I tilled the entire plot. I transplanted all the lettuce and peas. Things do not look the best. I hope it was not too cold for the transfer. I will monitor during the week. Also the direct seeds are still not showing up yet. I have a bunch of seeds sitting in the dark room. I did see a few pepper seeds , the will make it to the grow room this week. I am a bit nervous ( think i get this way this time each year) as not all the seeds are starting to pop. Come on seeds sprout baby sprout

Tomato and Basil Seeds started

Good Evening,
My girls and i did a bit of work today. We started about 200 total seeds. Basil and many different Tomato seeds. I am using this peat moss / starter dirt to get the seeds going. I am not for sure how moist the soil is staying. it is making a bit nervous.
We are suppose to get bad weather again tomorrow /tonight . Once this passes i will transplant more lettuce to the main garden.

BTW - the heat mats are really kicking. Still no peak a boo Pepper seeds. Maybe this week

Trasplant / Peepers in the hooper.

I transplanted a few lettuce, Brussel Sprouts and beans to the main garden Friday. it is still getting below freezing here in Atlanta. I am not for sure if i need to cover the seedlings or if they will be fine. When i was at Lowes this weekend i noticed they had their lettuce out. I will take pictures tomorrow. Today they looked pretty good. I have another handful in the grow room if these fail.

I also started the pepper seeds Tuesday. My good buddy Mike is loaning me two heat mats to get the soil up to temp. I planted 121 pepper seeds. One of my goals is to get pepper this year. i think i had 2 last. I forgot to mention that i only have 4 types of peppers. I am so behind on getting my tomato seeds going! I need extra hands. The kids have are really busy helping. this for sure will make the food taste better. *per Anastasia your suppose to put on seeds per type under your tongue for 20 sec so the seeds feels your sole and grows to heal you and your family. The power of seeds!