Catches bugs, mice, birds, feathers, and carpenter bees.
Catches naps.
Seriously, he also catches mice, rats, shrews, rabbits, and chipmunks.
A homestead needs a few good cats. Wouldn't you agree?
The Catchers © May 2014 by Leigh
May 2, 2014
The Catchers
Catches bugs, mice, birds, feathers, and carpenter bees.
Catches naps.
Seriously, he also catches mice, rats, shrews, rabbits, and chipmunks.
A homestead needs a few good cats. Wouldn't you agree?
April 29, 2014
Chicken Door for the Chicken Coop
Checked off from the chicken coop countdown checklist - entry door for the chickens.
In hindsight we should have had the top of the Dutch door swing into the feed room instead of into the coop. For some reason I had it in my head to have it open away from me, into the coop. Dan accommodated my whim, and with genius, I might add!
Continued in "Amish Whitewash."
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| Closed |
 |
| Open! |
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| Closed |
 |
| Open |
 |
| Close-up of the knob and pin to hold the door open. |
In hindsight we should have had the top of the Dutch door swing into the feed room instead of into the coop. For some reason I had it in my head to have it open away from me, into the coop. Dan accommodated my whim, and with genius, I might add!
Continued in "Amish Whitewash."
Chicken Door for the Chicken Coop © April 2014
April 26, 2014
"The Lawn Has Got To Go"
When Dan made that statement earlier this month, it was music to my ears! He had just finished the first front yard mowing of the year. If you've read my blog for long, or my book, then you know that Dan and I think our biggest waste of time and energy is having to mow the lawn. Why have we bothered? Well, because we have neighbors across the street who like the manicured suburban look. It's not that we're trying to impress them, rather, it's a gesture of respect. If we were them we wouldn't want to look at a neglected, unkempt yard across the street.
A traditional front yard is such a waste: a waste of land that could grow food, a waste of time to maintain it, not to mention the fossil fuel used to run equipment and make fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. Add to that the cost to purchase and repair yard maintenance equipment, and it all that adds up to a huge waste of money, for those who care to think of it that way. And all for looks! I maintain that if everyone would devote at least part of their yard or apartment balcony to growing food, we could end world hunger.
Our original plans were for an extensive herb garden in the front yard. I haven't abandoned this idea, but have had a very difficult time getting various herbs established. Some were successes, but I've had many fails as well. Then there's the wiregrass which invades and strangles out everything. Most discouraging.
We actually have several small areas which could be put to better use than mowing: the front yard, the side yard (both upper and lower), and the area in front of the garden where we planted fruit trees. All of these are small, ranging from a little over 1000 to about 5000 square feet. There are lots of annual things we could grow: corn, cowpeas, amaranth, buckwheat, wheat, oats, barley, sorghum, sunflowers for seed, hay grass; the list goes on. No, this will not be a strictly permaculture solution, but it will be a self-sufficiency solution. Or at least a step toward growing more of our own food and animal feed.
The two areas you see above will be planted in corn. Unfortunately, breaking ground with a garden tiller is hard work and rough on the tiller, but even if we had a farm tractor these areas are probably too small for that. Next to till will be in front of the house! I am so happy with this plan.
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| I wouldn't go so far as to call it a "lawn." It measures approximately 46 ft. by 108 ft. I have several herb and flower beds there plus a number of fruit trees. |
A traditional front yard is such a waste: a waste of land that could grow food, a waste of time to maintain it, not to mention the fossil fuel used to run equipment and make fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. Add to that the cost to purchase and repair yard maintenance equipment, and it all that adds up to a huge waste of money, for those who care to think of it that way. And all for looks! I maintain that if everyone would devote at least part of their yard or apartment balcony to growing food, we could end world hunger.
Our original plans were for an extensive herb garden in the front yard. I haven't abandoned this idea, but have had a very difficult time getting various herbs established. Some were successes, but I've had many fails as well. Then there's the wiregrass which invades and strangles out everything. Most discouraging.
 |
| The area to the left of the driveway is bordered with a concrete wall. It was where I planted my first year garden and later, strawberries, comfrey, and buckwheat. Currently there are our almond & crabapple trees & daylilies. |
We actually have several small areas which could be put to better use than mowing: the front yard, the side yard (both upper and lower), and the area in front of the garden where we planted fruit trees. All of these are small, ranging from a little over 1000 to about 5000 square feet. There are lots of annual things we could grow: corn, cowpeas, amaranth, buckwheat, wheat, oats, barley, sorghum, sunflowers for seed, hay grass; the list goes on. No, this will not be a strictly permaculture solution, but it will be a self-sufficiency solution. Or at least a step toward growing more of our own food and animal feed.
 |
| Our front yard area on the side has two levels, upper and lower, separated by a concrete wall. In the upper I have an almond tree, crabapple tree, sand cherry bushes, comfrey, and daylilies. The bottom is bordered by my rugosa roses, red raspberry plants, a hazelnut bush and azaleas, which I transplanted years ago. |
The two areas you see above will be planted in corn. Unfortunately, breaking ground with a garden tiller is hard work and rough on the tiller, but even if we had a farm tractor these areas are probably too small for that. Next to till will be in front of the house! I am so happy with this plan.
"The Lawn Has Got To Go" © April 2014
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