The dirt hole deepens |
My Rock Pile |
In the new garden box next to the greenhouse I have planted Provider green beans and yellow wax beans. If I am lucky I'll get some beans. In any event, I'll turn the plants under and add some aluminum sulfate because that box is intended as a permanent blueberry planting for Tom next spring.
Future Blueberry Box |
Tom and Ed are making a dent in the big wood pile. They cut and stacked these three rows and added a fourth one today. Tom says he wants to cut one more pile and that should be it for next year's wood. We'll see. Making maple syrup burns up a lot of wood.
Next Year's Firewood |
I always forget it takes my back a while to get used to canning each year. I have tried different work heights, but my back still aches so I suppose it is the repetitive nature of the work that causes the problem. I do love to can so I tough it out until my back stops complaining. Looks like I need to buy a new water bath canner because the pot I have used for the last 35 years has finally warped. It was one of the first pots I bought when Tom and I got married. I think I'll buy a good stainless steel pot that can double for making home brewed beer and use this one for making maple syrup.
The chicken saga continues! My sister stopped by last week and told us that Dad saw a wolf jump over the fence she had around her chicken coop and gobble up six of her chicks, feathers and all. It then jumped back over the fence and dashed off into the woods. She said that since I erected the second fence around my chicken coop the critters thought her chickens were easier pickings. Not so! Tom went for a walk the other day after supper and surprised a fox that was running around the coop terrorizing the chickens. The fence held that time, but yesterday the wolf came and terrorized a chicken into hopping in the space between the two fences. It literally tore the outer fencing off its posts and snatched the chicken. When I went to lock everything up I found a torn up fence, five rattled hens, and a pile of feathers. What was so unnerving about the incident was that Tom, Ed, and I spent most of yesterday working outside and we didn't hear or see a thing. I can't figure out when the wolf made his attack. So, this morning before I started making the pickles I fixed the fence and put some cement blocks down around the base. I ordered some deer fence stakes from A.M. Leonard Tool Supply, too, as they are currently on sale. Of course, like eagles, it is illegal to shoot the damn wolf. Can you see the steam coming out of my ears?
The garlic and onions are curing in the garage, and I hope to make it to the farmers market next week with them and some of Tom's collards and cucumbers, dill and chervil, and my spring planted carrots. I'll take a run out to the field to check on the potatoes and squash. Maybe I'll find some patty pan summer squash. Last week my pie pumpkins and winter squash were just starting to run. There are very few tomatoes on any of the plants. I planted lettuce, beets, and beans for the fall to go with the potatoes at the market. It seems I have better luck with a fall garden these last few years than I do with spring planted veggies.
We have already had some very cool nights in the lower 40'sF and even one night that got down to 38°F. Not good for any sort of fruit set. So far I have flowers but no beans on the Kentucky Wonder Homestead brown pole beans and Scarlet Runner beans that are twining up the ladder fence trellis surrounding the forest garden. I have had poor blooming on Grandpa Ott's morning glories, too. Still, the fence is very pretty and I'll leave you with some pictures. I'm tired.
Kentucky Wonder/Old Homestead Brown Pole Beans |
Scarlet Runner Beans and Grandpa Ott's Morning Glories |
The Worm Fence |
Peace Be and God bless you all!