tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post8741488186706375323..comments2024-03-18T22:33:57.339-04:00Comments on 5 Acres & A Dream: Around the HomesteadLeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-32341967091633618252020-08-31T17:43:42.153-04:002020-08-31T17:43:42.153-04:00You are light-years ahead of me in all respects :)...You are light-years ahead of me in all respects :) But I will add a word about having broody hens. I've never successfully added a new hen to my flock -- they were too aggressive. I have a hen or two or three go broody every year, sometimes 2 or 3 times a year! The ones who go broody are early always the part-silkies. In fact, I think all my hens now are part silkie, because I got two half-silkie hens a few years ago, and all my hens have come from them. They go broody easily and they often make very good mamas. Just a thought. It's easy to get a new batch of babies from the store for sure. But having chicks born at home is fun too :)M.K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09205619221345704689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-62711487272363254792020-08-28T05:13:06.479-04:002020-08-28T05:13:06.479-04:00Bettina, that's always the way it is! The thin...Bettina, that's always the way it is! The things we want the least survive the best! I hope you find the seeds you're looking for. It can take time to find varieties that are best suited to an area. I'll be curious as to your success.<br /><br />Jo, they put too much sugar in everything! lol The other thing is the thickeners. Many commercial spaghetti sauces have (to me) a starchy taste to them. That being said, if no sauce, no pizza! Of the options, I don't think Aldi's organic spaghetti sauce is too bad. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-21235133768359619702020-08-27T22:09:04.391-04:002020-08-27T22:09:04.391-04:00Leigh, there's too much sugar in the commercia...Leigh, there's too much sugar in the commercial spaghetti sauce for good pizza sauce. BLEECH!Cockeyed Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12107151148843311635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-34221782647066789142020-08-27T18:45:47.321-04:002020-08-27T18:45:47.321-04:00Leigh - yes, I'd like to try again, maybe with...Leigh - yes, I'd like to try again, maybe with different varieties. we had unexpected problems in getting seeds this spring (covid - everybody seems to have discovered their garden:), but I hope I can find a variety more suitable to our climate. I'll try our seed savers in our neighbouring county - the seeds should be acclimatised by now. and I won't grow butternut squashes again - they need more warmth apparently than uchiki kuri and some other varieties! <br /><br />and bugs are like weeds? the ones you hate the most always survive:( Woolly Bitshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11961632742998726155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-28506938283818635132020-08-25T21:30:02.120-04:002020-08-25T21:30:02.120-04:00Bettina, are you going to try the three sisters ag...Bettina, are you going to try the three sisters again, maybe next year? Regional climate conditions can be so uncooperative, but I like to experiment too. <br /><br />We've seen fewer insects too, or at least they were late in coming out. Except squash bugs! No shortage of those!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-84307130211886690192020-08-25T16:30:48.075-04:002020-08-25T16:30:48.075-04:00I think our highest temp. this summer was 25C in t...I think our highest temp. this summer was 25C in the shade... but only for a few hours, not over days! and we're talking once or twice a year - if at all. more than 20 degC is rare over here - which might account for the problems with my "three sisters"! water shouldn't be the problem, we've had enough rain. maybe I have to start everything earlier, but then I run into trouble with space inside, until it is warm enough for tunnel or even outside.<br />and yes, I had planned to try making pectin this year - we didn't have many crabapples the last few years - and used most of them to make "schnaps" (like sloe gin, just with crabapple and vodka:)- as gifts for parents and MIL:) <br />and hornets are protected here and in germany as well! they are quite rare here, so not really a problem. wasps have a lot of nests in the stonewalls here, but we never had any close to the house, where they would be in the way. and the numbers are going down even with wasps, I think - all insects are loosing numbers, not only bees and butterflies:( Woolly Bitshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11961632742998726155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-38039086344422328262020-08-25T05:28:14.991-04:002020-08-25T05:28:14.991-04:00Ed, that's a lot of tomatoes! Lucky you! Good ...Ed, that's a lot of tomatoes! Lucky you! Good idea to pace yourself; we should all do that!<br /><br />Bettina, but then, we've had a summer with temps hanging around 97°F (36°C)! <br /><br />Hornets are a protected species in Ireland? Yikes. We've left them alone some times, but when they start attacking, they've got to go!<br /><br />I'm sorry your three sisters experiment didn't work, but you don't know unless you try. The beans and pumpkins in my corn didn't produce well either, but it may have been from too little rain and watering. Do you make pectin with your crabapples? My crab tree died this year, and I'm sad to lose it.Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-86602657500073908642020-08-24T13:39:16.179-04:002020-08-24T13:39:16.179-04:00ripe elderberries? ours are still grass green.... ...ripe elderberries? ours are still grass green.... but then we haven't had a very warm summer! not many blueberries either - just a few to snack on, nothing more - I suspect vine weevils, the little blighters:( no hornets here either, but then we'd have to live with them, because they are protected and you have to pay hefty fines if you get caught destroying nests! though we can't complain, we didn't even have problems with wasps this year! I think they get more aggressive the hotter the weather is? <br />and my trial of growing sweetcorn, beans and pumpkins looks like an epic fail!:( the corn doesn't want to grow further, which means it was overtaken by beans - and the pumpkins are snaking around, making leaves, but not a single pumpkin in sight:( on the other hand - the beans are all looking pretty good, can't win them all:) and we're going to have crabapples to feed armies! Woolly Bitshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11961632742998726155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-10179092769718664632020-08-24T10:02:14.326-04:002020-08-24T10:02:14.326-04:00Busy is right! I just got done canning 30 gallons ...Busy is right! I just got done canning 30 gallons of tomatoes yesterday and dropped the kids off for school this morning. Today is a decompression day and then it is back to work for me. Always something needing to be done.Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13214319366049620074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-73193035914459741772020-08-23T21:14:47.095-04:002020-08-23T21:14:47.095-04:00Thanks, Barbara! I'll have to give the backwar...Thanks, Barbara! I'll have to give the backwards proof reading a try. <br /><br />I canned a purple onion chutney one year that was pretty good, but it was no where near a jam. You have some resources I'm not familiar with. I hope they give you some ideas!<br /><br />Nancy, a keyhole garden is an excellent way to water efficiently. I'm definitely sold on the concept!<br /><br />Rain, when you have dairy animals, the milk accumulates quickly! But it's fun to have all that dairy goodness. :)Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-23576438834312736412020-08-23T15:21:20.470-04:002020-08-23T15:21:20.470-04:00Hi Leigh :)) Lots to catch up on! I love the "...Hi Leigh :)) Lots to catch up on! I love the "archenemies" photo lol! Those blueberry tarts look AMAZING...Oh you have so much milk to make cheese!!! So jealous! ;) You guys have set up quite a nice homestead, I'm so happy for you. Your rain catching system is awesome. I love your keyhole garden too!Rain https://www.blogger.com/profile/14377719049819222133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-5505850728434727172020-08-23T12:01:23.766-04:002020-08-23T12:01:23.766-04:00Keyhole looks great! I'm thinking of adding on...Keyhole looks great! I'm thinking of adding one around an existing bed, to add strawberries, will be a fall project. Creative watering, good job!Nancy In Boisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03749272217529362089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-60547194545092782832020-08-23T10:24:53.354-04:002020-08-23T10:24:53.354-04:00Leigh, proofing backward is as you guessed. It go...Leigh, proofing backward is as you guessed. It goes fast because you are just looking for typos, missing punctuation, obvious goofs. All things easy to miss during the first pass through of a document. Hope you have a relaxing and peaceful Sunday. I’m still searching for an onion jam recipe to can. The only recipe I have found so far has ingredients I don’t want in the flavor profile. Maybe there isn’t one safe for canning. I’ll keep looking, and to that end, I have two books coming that may offer something. One book is from the Culinary Institute of America on preserving. The other is an updated classic French preserving book. I’m really looking forward to that one. A different perspective is refreshing. Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10605947945913276509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-13586638652618755622020-08-23T09:43:27.729-04:002020-08-23T09:43:27.729-04:00Fiona, what a neat idea! Thank you for mentioning ...Fiona, what a neat idea! Thank you for mentioning that. Sounds like fun thing to do with kids.Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-44211183593725458682020-08-22T21:38:18.374-04:002020-08-22T21:38:18.374-04:00Oh the keyhole garden is fabulous. I always enjoy ...Oh the keyhole garden is fabulous. I always enjoy your blogs so very much. A tip about the wheat. If you go through the stalks before you cut it you can select the best straws to cut for drinking straws. Trip at tbe growth joints and voila. My mother did this with winter wheat and then stored the "Straws" in a quart jar. If my brother and I were good we could have a straw to drink our milk. I made sone straws this year from our Fall rye a d they are okay but not as durable as wheat straw. God bless you a d keep you safe and well.Fionahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05348495575211204989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-12179722156433057652020-08-22T21:30:59.670-04:002020-08-22T21:30:59.670-04:00Barbara, how do you proof backwards??? Literally b...Barbara, how do you proof backwards??? Literally backwards, as in start at the last word? This sounds useful to know how to do!<br /><br />I've never tried bag gardening, so I have no idea. There must be a way to water them -- tubes?<br /><br />Mary, I'm sorry to hear your garden wasn't a huge producer even with rain! We finally got rain, and almost three inches in one night knocked over most of my field corn. The sweet corn is still standing, but it's long done. If it isn't chickens, it's feathers!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-68739812602528251802020-08-22T21:04:26.232-04:002020-08-22T21:04:26.232-04:00A change in the seasons is definitely in the air. ...A change in the seasons is definitely in the air. It's time to stock up. You have done well despite dealing with dry conditions. We have had ample rainfall this year, but didn't net a lot from our gardens. Just when we thought our sweet corn secured, ravenous fox squirrels took so much of it down. Now, I am in the mood for tarts. And, congratulations on the book!Hill Top Posthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12417478558713036325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-67430214583240688252020-08-22T15:51:05.628-04:002020-08-22T15:51:05.628-04:00It was a sincere comment/compliment. I have this ...It was a sincere comment/compliment. I have this Venn diagram of COVID, the well being of my beloved husband of 46 years and current polarizing politics. There I am in the middle thinking, for crying out loud, enough already. Agree with your political assessment. I amuse myself by reading the comments under my elected officials‘ Facebook posts. It’s like watching Meowy and Katie, lol. The hissing and caterwauling, oh my. You’re right, long view... think I can adapt Ollas for bag gardens? Gonna need bigger bags, lol. A long time ago I had a job proofreading sawdust dry documents. I “read“ for content and syntax. I then proofed backwards. Caught the typos and misspelled words that way. I’ll keep on, keeping on. You too. Thank you again.Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10605947945913276509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-79142662551964443402020-08-22T14:25:22.331-04:002020-08-22T14:25:22.331-04:00Jo, I agree. We do what we have to do! Don't f...Jo, I agree. We do what we have to do! Don't feel badly about the wholesale house - at least you have one! I've resorted to stocking up on ready-made spaghetti sauce for this winter's pizzas! lol.<br /><br />Barbara, I've been thinking about your comment, especially your mentioning an appreciation of a calm voice. You couldn't have paid me a higher compliment. It seems we have two choices about circumstances, to either complain or look for positive actions we can take in spite of them. I think everyone will agree our country is having difficulties. Many people hope that if we just elect ---<i>insert candidate of choice</i>---, then everything will be okay. Many others understand that politics isn't going to save us because it's only a veneer. The social unrest and destruction we're witnessing won't stop no matter who's elected. This pattern has been repeated for centuries, there's nothing new under the sun. No nation lasts forever. For such a time as this, I think the wise will hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-87505551821769411232020-08-21T21:48:20.903-04:002020-08-21T21:48:20.903-04:00Like you, my pantry is almost void of vegetables e...Like you, my pantry is almost void of vegetables except for green beans. But the fruit side is filling in nicely. So far, strawberries, blackberries, cherries and figs are packing the shelves. No blueberries, raspberries, or grapes though. Lo( I'm having to resort to purchasing vegies from the wholesale house. sigh! But we do what we have to.Cockeyed Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12107151148843311635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-57313819024743572252020-08-21T21:25:05.623-04:002020-08-21T21:25:05.623-04:00Ann, never a dumb question! The thermometer is for...Ann, never a dumb question! The thermometer is for the pectin. It's a new kind I got in bulk and the directions say to add it when the fruit/juice reach 140°F. Not sure how important that actually is, but the jam has been turning out very nice. :)<br /><br />Barbara, what a lovely mix of thoughts and activities! I'm very interested in the onion jam. I think focusing on productive activities at home is the best course of action for now. Stress is never helpful. :)<br /><br />Mama Pea, thank you! The days are non-stop busy! I'll be glad when things finally start to slow down, won't you?Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-8236383589792471462020-08-21T19:32:04.854-04:002020-08-21T19:32:04.854-04:00Your keyhole garden has turned into a lovely lands...Your keyhole garden has turned into a lovely landscaping sight! Now I'm really thinking about the deep watering methods you've used and I may give them a try. You've shown that the proof is in the pudding!<br /><br />Your Matt's Wild Cherry plant certainly does look healthy. The last time I planted them, two plants overflowed one 4 x 8' raised bed.<br /><br />Having your own wheat for bread! What an accomplishment.<br /><br />Congratulations on the almost-published sequel of your book. I don't know where you find the time for such. My preserved stores for the winter are adding up, but it seems that's all I'm doing these days!Mama Peahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649357184167949247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-15904721320926367512020-08-21T17:16:08.428-04:002020-08-21T17:16:08.428-04:00What am I doing? Welllll, in no particular order....What am I doing? Welllll, in no particular order. Working on deepening my pantry which is hard as the grocery store shelves are pretty bare. Canning garbanzo beans, black beans and thinking about onion jam. Missed apricot season which is a tragedy because apricot jam makes life worth living. I want a keyhole garden. We have deer. It would just be a All You Can Eat Buffet. I was totally going to do a planting bag garden on my deck this year, but then COVID. Can’t buy plants and seeds seemed a bridge too far during COVID. Auto spell all caps COVID. That’s weird. Bought two cans of Jackfruit. Not sure. Saw a pot roast recipe. That might be interesting? Trying to eat more vegs and fruit and less meat. I’m really behind in ironing. Still can’t watch much TV, too upsetting. Where The Crawdads Sing was a good read. Love reading your blog. Your calm voice makes me feel it’s all going to be ok. Thank you!Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10605947945913276509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-82153240366990899382020-08-21T15:26:53.237-04:002020-08-21T15:26:53.237-04:00Dumb question perhaps but here goes ... What is th...Dumb question perhaps but here goes ... What is the thermometer in the blueberry jam for? I usually just cook it until it seems thick enough, maybe dripping some on a frozen plate to assess gel. I've never bothered with pectin in any of my jams either. Just wondering if there's a more sure fire, less guess way of making jam. Lots of fun stuff in this post. The keyhole garden is giving me ideas!Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988385986854478950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-79357506608426756492020-08-21T14:26:00.410-04:002020-08-21T14:26:00.410-04:00Alex, I agree. And this year's experiments rea...Alex, I agree. And this year's experiments really brought that home. Deep watering works better and requires less water. Deep watering = deeper root system, so a much better survival chance, don't you think?<br /><br />RT, those two! Every now and, we think they might actually be starting to tolerate one another, but it never lasts long!<br /><br />Tpals, glad to hear your olla pumpkin is doing well! Lucky you, to have an abundance of chicks. I'd much rather have raised our own, but our hens weren't all that interested. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.com