We're expecting our first real heat wave today. All the salad greens look wonderful right now, so I should probably harvest a bunch in case the heat causes them to bolt. I am afraid that I missed out on the cilantro. I guess I'll let the plants flower to get the home-grown coriander seed, which is stronger than most store-bought.
Just as the spinach was a bit yellowish, I am not seeing a deep, dark green color in the chard or chicory either. I know that these beds are lean on Nitrogen, so I will keep hitting them with the fish emulsion. The Tuscan Lacinato ("Dinosaur") Kale looks like a textbook picture of phosphorus deficiency: small, purplish leaves on stunted plants. The wild kale right next to it looks OK, but clearly could be better. I suspect that low pH could be the limiting factor for the availability of both N and P.
I got a few Abenaki Calais Flint Corn kernels into the S border the other day, in space freed up by the woodchuck. Supposedly only 88 days to maturity. It will only be a few stalks, so I could even haul them inside to dry in early September if I am worried about frost. The area is draped with Agribon fabric against crows.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Friday, June 15, 2007
Bolting
This spring I planted a bunch of things for salad and greens, knowing that some would probably bolt by mid-summer. By the second week of June, I was seeing seed stalks on the following:
Arugula
Daikon radish
Rat-Tail radish (Purple, yellow and white flowers on different plants!)
Wild mustard
Spinach
In the case of the Daikon, I planted it in spring even though the seed packet clearly says for late summer and fall. It has grown right in step with the Rat-Tail radish, which makes sense since the Rat Tail is intended to make seed pods for stir-frying. I got a couple of salads out of the arugula before it went, but what surprised me was the spinach. I don't think I will try spinach again in the spring unless it is advertised as a slow-bolting variety.
Oddly enough, the other mustard (Mispoona) isn't bolting yet, though I should expect it to soon. Either there is a very broad continuum in the brassica family when it comes to growth rates, or some are distinctly biennial. Basically the spectrum is from wild to civilized - at one extreme is the vigorous daikon and arugula, which are ready to flower and set seed before midsummer, and at the other is the highly-bred lacinato (Tuscan) kale and Brussels sprouts, which are still very tiny seedlings. But then again, the Wild Garden kales, another fall variety I planted this spring, are growing well but show no signs of bolting.
The pole beans seem to be pausing for a while at the seed leaf stage before they grow a stalk. I have hilled both types of potatoes again, and the Green Mountains are about to flower already. I have been cutting flower buds off the shallots, but no sign of garlic scapes yet.
There is at least one woodchuck still around. All but three of the Brussels Sprouts replacements have been eaten. I am thinking of trying some dent corn in their place, even though it's getting late.
Ate a fantastic baby chard and Forellenschluss lettuce salad last night from thinnings. Nice and photogenic - no sign of any bugs on either the chard or the lettuce.
Fetilizing: I have been hitting the garlic and shallots pretty consistently with a fish emulsion soil drench, but last night I brought out the pressure sprayer and gave everything but the ready-to-eat-lettuce a foliar feeding: Liquified seaweed for all solanums (tomato/potato/pepper/eggplant) beans and favas. Everything else (Sunflowers/Brussels sprouts survivors/squash/chard/kale/parsley/carrots/garlic/shallots) got seaweed with fish emulsion.
Arugula
Daikon radish
Rat-Tail radish (Purple, yellow and white flowers on different plants!)
Wild mustard
Spinach
In the case of the Daikon, I planted it in spring even though the seed packet clearly says for late summer and fall. It has grown right in step with the Rat-Tail radish, which makes sense since the Rat Tail is intended to make seed pods for stir-frying. I got a couple of salads out of the arugula before it went, but what surprised me was the spinach. I don't think I will try spinach again in the spring unless it is advertised as a slow-bolting variety.
Oddly enough, the other mustard (Mispoona) isn't bolting yet, though I should expect it to soon. Either there is a very broad continuum in the brassica family when it comes to growth rates, or some are distinctly biennial. Basically the spectrum is from wild to civilized - at one extreme is the vigorous daikon and arugula, which are ready to flower and set seed before midsummer, and at the other is the highly-bred lacinato (Tuscan) kale and Brussels sprouts, which are still very tiny seedlings. But then again, the Wild Garden kales, another fall variety I planted this spring, are growing well but show no signs of bolting.
The pole beans seem to be pausing for a while at the seed leaf stage before they grow a stalk. I have hilled both types of potatoes again, and the Green Mountains are about to flower already. I have been cutting flower buds off the shallots, but no sign of garlic scapes yet.
There is at least one woodchuck still around. All but three of the Brussels Sprouts replacements have been eaten. I am thinking of trying some dent corn in their place, even though it's getting late.
Ate a fantastic baby chard and Forellenschluss lettuce salad last night from thinnings. Nice and photogenic - no sign of any bugs on either the chard or the lettuce.
Fetilizing: I have been hitting the garlic and shallots pretty consistently with a fish emulsion soil drench, but last night I brought out the pressure sprayer and gave everything but the ready-to-eat-lettuce a foliar feeding: Liquified seaweed for all solanums (tomato/potato/pepper/eggplant) beans and favas. Everything else (Sunflowers/Brussels sprouts survivors/squash/chard/kale/parsley/carrots/garlic/shallots) got seaweed with fish emulsion.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Tomatoes, and another 'chuck
Padre warned me to watch for young ones moving in once our resident woodchuck relocated to other pastures. Tonight I disturbed a little one grazing right by the tractor shed. Maybe I should say "Marmot Shed", since there is no tractor in there but apparently a first class woodchuck residence underneath. I baited the trap with a red cabbage seedling from the same set that lured his uncle the other day.
In my last post I neglected to report last weekend's solanum plantings. This is the problem with blogging on the internets: worrying about sounding intelligent and how to summarize information that few care about distracts one from recording the real events. We have one each of Speckled Roman paste, Hog Heart paste, Black Cherry, Cosmonaut Volkov, and Pirirform. Five tomato plants seems like enough. I am palming off the extra seedlings onto my co-workers.
Also installed is a mixture of sweet and hot peppers, two "Dusky" eggplant starts, and a variety of purple, lemon, Large Leaf Italian, and sweet basils. The sunflowers, squash, cukes and beans are up in force.
I should also mention that we heard loons tonight.
In my last post I neglected to report last weekend's solanum plantings. This is the problem with blogging on the internets: worrying about sounding intelligent and how to summarize information that few care about distracts one from recording the real events. We have one each of Speckled Roman paste, Hog Heart paste, Black Cherry, Cosmonaut Volkov, and Pirirform. Five tomato plants seems like enough. I am palming off the extra seedlings onto my co-workers.
Also installed is a mixture of sweet and hot peppers, two "Dusky" eggplant starts, and a variety of purple, lemon, Large Leaf Italian, and sweet basils. The sunflowers, squash, cukes and beans are up in force.
I should also mention that we heard loons tonight.
First salad harvest, Small Farm Field Day
How long does it take to grow your own salad greens? Thirty days from sowing? Try three years of soil preparation, experiments, waiting and false starts.
We enjoyed a nice salad last night of lettuce, arugula, spinach, kale and mustard greens. It was heavy on the mustard because those plants are growing so fast. Kavi usually doesn't like hot, spicy or bitter greens, but these were nice and young and mild. Mustard and arugula especially stand up really well to balsamic vinegar.
I like to imagine that the woodchuck who ate my Brussels sprouts and red cabbage last week is settling in nicely at his new home in Litchfield. In other wildlife news, the ducklings were delivered safely to a wildlife rehabilitator.
At the MOFGA Small Farm Field day last weekend I attended sessions on pasture species ID and management, and moveable greenhouses. The pasture talk was not a comprehensive presentation, but I did pick up pointers on what parts of a grass plant to look at when trying to ID it.
The greenhouse talk took place at MOFGA's 30' x 70' unheated greenhouse, and was informative to those of us who think much smaller scale. Primarily we learned that such a high structure is not necessary, or even preferable. Theirs was donated - a former hog farrowing house - and retrofitted to be moveable back and forth over two garden areas. Eric Sideman and the other presenters traded opposing views as to whether a moveable or fixed greenhouse is preferable, with all agreeing that the soil underneath needs periods of time uncovered so that rain can was away salt buildup.
A small hoophouse structure can be homemade out of metal conduit, wood, or PVC pipe, and just has to be strong enough to resist wind and snow load. We were advised that the place to spend our money is on real greenhouse plastic, which is UV stabilized and has anti-condensation coating. There was a lot of "Eliot says, Eliot says" on the topic of season-extension, understandable since Eliot Coleman literally wrote the book(s) on it. One of the session attendees offered this piece of information, which seems to confirm the lower-is-better thesis: in his experience, very young, short plants, covered with fabric row cover, overwinter more successfully than larger, older plants because the young ones are in a smaller volume of air space under the row cover. What little heat the earth radiates on winter nights is therefore concentrated in a smaller space.
Of course the people-watching at Small Farm Field Day was excellent.
We enjoyed a nice salad last night of lettuce, arugula, spinach, kale and mustard greens. It was heavy on the mustard because those plants are growing so fast. Kavi usually doesn't like hot, spicy or bitter greens, but these were nice and young and mild. Mustard and arugula especially stand up really well to balsamic vinegar.
I like to imagine that the woodchuck who ate my Brussels sprouts and red cabbage last week is settling in nicely at his new home in Litchfield. In other wildlife news, the ducklings were delivered safely to a wildlife rehabilitator.
At the MOFGA Small Farm Field day last weekend I attended sessions on pasture species ID and management, and moveable greenhouses. The pasture talk was not a comprehensive presentation, but I did pick up pointers on what parts of a grass plant to look at when trying to ID it.
The greenhouse talk took place at MOFGA's 30' x 70' unheated greenhouse, and was informative to those of us who think much smaller scale. Primarily we learned that such a high structure is not necessary, or even preferable. Theirs was donated - a former hog farrowing house - and retrofitted to be moveable back and forth over two garden areas. Eric Sideman and the other presenters traded opposing views as to whether a moveable or fixed greenhouse is preferable, with all agreeing that the soil underneath needs periods of time uncovered so that rain can was away salt buildup.
A small hoophouse structure can be homemade out of metal conduit, wood, or PVC pipe, and just has to be strong enough to resist wind and snow load. We were advised that the place to spend our money is on real greenhouse plastic, which is UV stabilized and has anti-condensation coating. There was a lot of "Eliot says, Eliot says" on the topic of season-extension, understandable since Eliot Coleman literally wrote the book(s) on it. One of the session attendees offered this piece of information, which seems to confirm the lower-is-better thesis: in his experience, very young, short plants, covered with fabric row cover, overwinter more successfully than larger, older plants because the young ones are in a smaller volume of air space under the row cover. What little heat the earth radiates on winter nights is therefore concentrated in a smaller space.
Of course the people-watching at Small Farm Field Day was excellent.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Memorial Day Weekend
Lots of updates to get down here, after lacking time and a working internet connection over the last couple of weeks. The highlights:
- This May was FAR LESS RAINY than last year. Still, it is too wet to till, and I would not have been able to plant had I not constructed the raised beds last fall.
- Everything planted in the raised beds in April is up and going like (tiny) gangbusters, with the exception of the Golden Purslane. Not bad for a batch of year-old seeds, and kind of ironic considering purslane is actually a weed, and should be easiest of all to grow.
- The chestnuts are in and have funny names. They have already put on a bunch of new leaves.
- Bird action has been non-stop and furious, all the usual: hummingbirds, orioles, bobolinks, goldfinches, tree swallows, red-breasted grosbeak, red-winged blackbirds, woodcock, crows, and eagles. Actually I missed the last eagle sighting. Sharon tried to yell and wave her arms to get my attention from her garden on the other side of the field, but I was too absorbed in digging to notice her or the eagles circling.
- Wild ducklings: captured by Jessie, brooded in plastic box outfitted with chick accessories here since Saturday. Eating, drinking, doing well. I am concerned that they need supervised, protected outdoors time to develop properly, so am working on transfer to a wildlife rehabilitator. If not otherwise employed, would not mind sitting in a lawn chair all day guarding them from foxes.
- Big gardening weekend #2: squash, beans, sunflowers, herbs, cukes. Details to come.
- Chicken coop has not been cleaned yet.
- CSI Richmond: Seems like a long time ago now, but back maybe three weeks ago when Paul Harvey was finishing up fiddlehead season he came upon a fox hole in the woods with a pile of feathers outside. He didn't think they looked like wild turkey feathers. I was able to ID them conclusively as Cuckoo Marans feathers. There was also a pair of Speckled Sussex wings on the ground near the entrance to the burrow.
To wrap up May: The weather guy on the radio pointed out that spring foliage in early to mid-May rivals the fall foliage display. I certainly agree. The new leaves of many trees are reddish when they come out, and the others have that glowing chartreuse quality. It happens fast though, and now everything is fully leafed out and deep green. The lilacs appear just before Memorial Day and smell great. We mow a lot.
- This May was FAR LESS RAINY than last year. Still, it is too wet to till, and I would not have been able to plant had I not constructed the raised beds last fall.
- Everything planted in the raised beds in April is up and going like (tiny) gangbusters, with the exception of the Golden Purslane. Not bad for a batch of year-old seeds, and kind of ironic considering purslane is actually a weed, and should be easiest of all to grow.
- The chestnuts are in and have funny names. They have already put on a bunch of new leaves.
- Bird action has been non-stop and furious, all the usual: hummingbirds, orioles, bobolinks, goldfinches, tree swallows, red-breasted grosbeak, red-winged blackbirds, woodcock, crows, and eagles. Actually I missed the last eagle sighting. Sharon tried to yell and wave her arms to get my attention from her garden on the other side of the field, but I was too absorbed in digging to notice her or the eagles circling.
- Wild ducklings: captured by Jessie, brooded in plastic box outfitted with chick accessories here since Saturday. Eating, drinking, doing well. I am concerned that they need supervised, protected outdoors time to develop properly, so am working on transfer to a wildlife rehabilitator. If not otherwise employed, would not mind sitting in a lawn chair all day guarding them from foxes.
- Big gardening weekend #2: squash, beans, sunflowers, herbs, cukes. Details to come.
- Chicken coop has not been cleaned yet.
- CSI Richmond: Seems like a long time ago now, but back maybe three weeks ago when Paul Harvey was finishing up fiddlehead season he came upon a fox hole in the woods with a pile of feathers outside. He didn't think they looked like wild turkey feathers. I was able to ID them conclusively as Cuckoo Marans feathers. There was also a pair of Speckled Sussex wings on the ground near the entrance to the burrow.
To wrap up May: The weather guy on the radio pointed out that spring foliage in early to mid-May rivals the fall foliage display. I certainly agree. The new leaves of many trees are reddish when they come out, and the others have that glowing chartreuse quality. It happens fast though, and now everything is fully leafed out and deep green. The lilacs appear just before Memorial Day and smell great. We mow a lot.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
1st Hummingbird sighting today
What a difference a year makes. I recall May 2006 to have been constant rain, and here we are this year in the midst of a long, sunny warm stretch. It is forecast to reach 80 degrees in Richmond tomorrow. That is less than a month since we had significant snow cover! I am beginning to think that favas, or any other crop that likes extended mild & cool periods, is NOT for Richmond.
The favas are up and going strong, as are the Brussels Sprouts, radishes, mustards, arugula, spinach, chicory and lettuce. I forgot how strange spinach seedlings look - like grass.
Obtained two horse chestnut seedlings last weekend from Dad's nursery for the offspring of Horatio. They are parked in the shade behind the barn until we get a moment to make up our minds and dig the holes where they will go.
Some peppers are up in the basement.
The favas are up and going strong, as are the Brussels Sprouts, radishes, mustards, arugula, spinach, chicory and lettuce. I forgot how strange spinach seedlings look - like grass.
Obtained two horse chestnut seedlings last weekend from Dad's nursery for the offspring of Horatio. They are parked in the shade behind the barn until we get a moment to make up our minds and dig the holes where they will go.
Some peppers are up in the basement.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Big gardening weeekend
Lots of springtime planting action this fine overcast (but not raining!) last Saturday the 28th. Abbreviations: F = Fedco, J = Johnnys, K = Kitazawa, N = Nichols:
Long South Bed
Brussels Sprouts - Oliver (F)
Rhubarb (transplanted from LY)
Borage (F)
In the two NS SE beds (got to get a better naming system for this...)
Chinese Leeks (K)
Bunching Onion - Red Beard (K)
Kale - Tuscan (N), Wild Garden (N)
Mustard - Mispoona (F), Wild Garden (N)
Radish - Korean Tae Baek (K) and Rat-Tail (N)
Swiss Chard - Argentata, Golden, Ruby Red
Beet - Giant Mangold (N)
Spinach - Giant (N)
Forellenschluss lettuce (F)
Chicory - Wild Garden (N)
Mache, Arugula, Purslane, Parsley, Chervil, Dill, Cilantro (mainly F)
Carrot - Tonda Di Parigi (F)
Crows methodically removed all but two of the germinating peas in the pea/fava bed. Rather than re-plant peas this year, I put the Dutch Shallots (F) and All Star Salad Mix (J) on either side of the favas, which are just emerging now. This and the other newly planted beds are now protected from birds by deer netting draped over stakes.
Green Mountain and Rose Finn Apple split the potato bed. (Fedco/Moose Tubers)
And don't forget the whole 4' x 16' garlic bed planted last fall, growing strong since being uncovered weeks ago!
Sunday was misty/rainy, and Kavi helped me hang the deer netting on the fence. Kavi remarked that the activity of stomping around in the mud on a rainy 45 degree day was "very English." Of course the Red Winged Blackbirds and Tree Swallows were out in force, the swale was running high and everything was green and smelled wonderful. Kavi is a very good sport, and I enjoyed myself immensely.
The tomatoes in the cellar were up as of yesterday - only five days to germination. No peppers yet.
We saw a bluebird yesterday and begged him to move into the white house. I hung the hummingbird and oriole feeders, but no sightings yet. The first dandelions are out today, forsythia has been blooming for a couple of days.
Going to MA this WE and will return with some Horse Chestnut trees. Happy hatch day to the chicks tomorrow! Ten survivors out of seventeen...and people ask me why I don't have kids.
Long South Bed
Brussels Sprouts - Oliver (F)
Rhubarb (transplanted from LY)
Borage (F)
In the two NS SE beds (got to get a better naming system for this...)
Chinese Leeks (K)
Bunching Onion - Red Beard (K)
Kale - Tuscan (N), Wild Garden (N)
Mustard - Mispoona (F), Wild Garden (N)
Radish - Korean Tae Baek (K) and Rat-Tail (N)
Swiss Chard - Argentata, Golden, Ruby Red
Beet - Giant Mangold (N)
Spinach - Giant (N)
Forellenschluss lettuce (F)
Chicory - Wild Garden (N)
Mache, Arugula, Purslane, Parsley, Chervil, Dill, Cilantro (mainly F)
Carrot - Tonda Di Parigi (F)
Crows methodically removed all but two of the germinating peas in the pea/fava bed. Rather than re-plant peas this year, I put the Dutch Shallots (F) and All Star Salad Mix (J) on either side of the favas, which are just emerging now. This and the other newly planted beds are now protected from birds by deer netting draped over stakes.
Green Mountain and Rose Finn Apple split the potato bed. (Fedco/Moose Tubers)
And don't forget the whole 4' x 16' garlic bed planted last fall, growing strong since being uncovered weeks ago!
Sunday was misty/rainy, and Kavi helped me hang the deer netting on the fence. Kavi remarked that the activity of stomping around in the mud on a rainy 45 degree day was "very English." Of course the Red Winged Blackbirds and Tree Swallows were out in force, the swale was running high and everything was green and smelled wonderful. Kavi is a very good sport, and I enjoyed myself immensely.
The tomatoes in the cellar were up as of yesterday - only five days to germination. No peppers yet.
We saw a bluebird yesterday and begged him to move into the white house. I hung the hummingbird and oriole feeders, but no sightings yet. The first dandelions are out today, forsythia has been blooming for a couple of days.
Going to MA this WE and will return with some Horse Chestnut trees. Happy hatch day to the chicks tomorrow! Ten survivors out of seventeen...and people ask me why I don't have kids.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Two Flats on the New Mat
After the initial basement sowing of peppers crapped out, I shelled out for a heat mat with thermostat. Tonight's sowings, by four block row:
Pineapple Ground Cherry - Territorial 2006
Joe's Long Cayenne Pepper - Johnny's 2007
Joe's Long Cayenne Pepper - Johnny's 2007
Joe's Long Cayenne Pepper - Johnny's 2007
Carmen F1 Sweet Pepper - Johnny's 2006
Carmen F1 Sweet Pepper - Johnny's 2006
Carmen F1 Sweet Pepper - Johnny's 2006
Pineapple Ground Cherry - Territorial 2006
Black Cherry Tomato - Fedco 2007
Black Cherry Tomato - Fedco 2007
Peacevine Cherry Tomato - Fedco 2006
Speckled Roman Paste Tomato - Fedco 2006
Hog Heart Paste Tomato - Fedco 2006
Cosmonaut Volkov Slicing Tomato - Fedco 2006
Piriform Slicing Tomato - Johnny's 2007
Piriform Slicing Tomato - Johnny's 2007
My hope is that this yields at least one strong seedling per four block row sown. Thermostat is set to achieve a soil temp of 78 degrees for now.
Pineapple Ground Cherry - Territorial 2006
Joe's Long Cayenne Pepper - Johnny's 2007
Joe's Long Cayenne Pepper - Johnny's 2007
Joe's Long Cayenne Pepper - Johnny's 2007
Carmen F1 Sweet Pepper - Johnny's 2006
Carmen F1 Sweet Pepper - Johnny's 2006
Carmen F1 Sweet Pepper - Johnny's 2006
Pineapple Ground Cherry - Territorial 2006
Black Cherry Tomato - Fedco 2007
Black Cherry Tomato - Fedco 2007
Peacevine Cherry Tomato - Fedco 2006
Speckled Roman Paste Tomato - Fedco 2006
Hog Heart Paste Tomato - Fedco 2006
Cosmonaut Volkov Slicing Tomato - Fedco 2006
Piriform Slicing Tomato - Johnny's 2007
Piriform Slicing Tomato - Johnny's 2007
My hope is that this yields at least one strong seedling per four block row sown. Thermostat is set to achieve a soil temp of 78 degrees for now.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Bed prep, RIP Olivia
Did final prep on two beds last night. Need to plant greens ASAP as well as tomatoes indoors. Seed potatoes are "chitting" in the kitchen - growing sprouts before planting. Peas are just up, red maples are blooming and lilac leaves are coming out.
One of the Marans laid a deformed egg yesterday, presumably due to the stress of the fox incident. I am afraid that Olivia was one of the victims. Definitely Goldie and Runty. The strange thing about Olivia is that I could never tell which one she was for sure by looking at her - I had to watch her behavior. I have been looking at the combs of the survivors to try to see if any of them look like they could be her, but I don't think so. Chickens' combs change shape over time, and these Marans hens don't have big floppy combs like the RIRs did.
In any case, Goldie, Olivia and the Sussexes were the always the first ones out the coop door and would have been the first fox targets. I imagine that a den of little fox pups ate well on Monday.
One of the Marans laid a deformed egg yesterday, presumably due to the stress of the fox incident. I am afraid that Olivia was one of the victims. Definitely Goldie and Runty. The strange thing about Olivia is that I could never tell which one she was for sure by looking at her - I had to watch her behavior. I have been looking at the combs of the survivors to try to see if any of them look like they could be her, but I don't think so. Chickens' combs change shape over time, and these Marans hens don't have big floppy combs like the RIRs did.
In any case, Goldie, Olivia and the Sussexes were the always the first ones out the coop door and would have been the first fox targets. I imagine that a den of little fox pups ate well on Monday.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Fox attack, return to Maine, Spring IS here
We went away for six days and came back to a different Richmond. When we left on April 17th during the tail end of the big North Easter, there was snow on the ground (not to mention a few roofing shingles.) Upon our return the evening of April 22, it was warm and glorious, and the peepers were out in force! I am told that they started peeping some the night before.
I made a fatal mistake with the chickens yesterday. Since they had been cooped up for a week, and yesterday was predicted to be so nice, I decided to let them before I left for work. I opened the coop door at about 6:15 and got in the shower. At roughly 7:00 I looked out the window and saw a fox in the side yard, quite close to the house, with a Sussex in its mouth!
The fox was not too scared of me, so I got several pictures of it trotting away with the Sussex. I ran around in my work clothes looking for other chickens, caught and returned two to the coop, closed the door and went to work - my first day at the new job. Kavi found two more outside when he got home, leaving our total flock count at 10: nine Marans and one last Sussex. The only traces of the missing ones are a couple of piles of feathers in the yard.
Other animals: Tree sawllows have arrived, loons were heard, bats are flying, mosquitos are biting, a woodcock is back in the swale on this side of the road.
I uncovered the garlic bed. A deer tromped across the pea/fava bed, but nothing is up yet. Kavi did some roof repair last night and is stiff today.
I made a fatal mistake with the chickens yesterday. Since they had been cooped up for a week, and yesterday was predicted to be so nice, I decided to let them before I left for work. I opened the coop door at about 6:15 and got in the shower. At roughly 7:00 I looked out the window and saw a fox in the side yard, quite close to the house, with a Sussex in its mouth!
The fox was not too scared of me, so I got several pictures of it trotting away with the Sussex. I ran around in my work clothes looking for other chickens, caught and returned two to the coop, closed the door and went to work - my first day at the new job. Kavi found two more outside when he got home, leaving our total flock count at 10: nine Marans and one last Sussex. The only traces of the missing ones are a couple of piles of feathers in the yard.
Other animals: Tree sawllows have arrived, loons were heard, bats are flying, mosquitos are biting, a woodcock is back in the swale on this side of the road.
I uncovered the garlic bed. A deer tromped across the pea/fava bed, but nothing is up yet. Kavi did some roof repair last night and is stiff today.
Friday, April 13, 2007
More April Snow
Wednesday was gorgeous and melted the last of the snow, giving us a brief window to enjoy the crocus (croci?) before receiving 4-6" of heavy wet stuff yesterday afternoon and evening. Hope to see significant melting today.
The NEXT storm is predicted for Sunday/Monday/Tuesday. That one may have rain in the mix.
The NEXT storm is predicted for Sunday/Monday/Tuesday. That one may have rain in the mix.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
White Easter
After a white Easter, we finally had some snowmelt yesterday. Chickens are outside today doing their thing in the snow-free areas.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Over 1' of snow yesterday
I guess it is not unheard of for mid-April. We woke up yesterday morning to over 1' accumulation of wet snow, and no power. The house being a little chilly and no coffee/tea available, we crossed the road to the Viselli's to find Joe in the driveway, trying to shovel out his Aunt Cindy's Corolla.
Aunt Cindy was determined to be on her way even though the road was a mess and it was still snowing. Kavi had the day off, so he used the snowblower to clear the Viselli's driveway, then joined me inside to enjoy the Viselli's woodstove and company. Electricity came back on about 11am.
I don't know what the robins are doing for food right now. It has been really strange to see and hear the red-winged blackbirds doing their spring thing in a snowy scene.
Aunt Cindy was determined to be on her way even though the road was a mess and it was still snowing. Kavi had the day off, so he used the snowblower to clear the Viselli's driveway, then joined me inside to enjoy the Viselli's woodstove and company. Electricity came back on about 11am.
I don't know what the robins are doing for food right now. It has been really strange to see and hear the red-winged blackbirds doing their spring thing in a snowy scene.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Spring break
Thirty degrees and snowing, with about 1/2" of snow on the ground from last night. This whole week is going to be a Wintry Mix.
The robins were out looking for worms this morning before the snow picked up again. Crocus are up but not open.
The robins were out looking for worms this morning before the snow picked up again. Crocus are up but not open.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Peent
Kavi heard the first woodcock of the season tonight, in the Lillys' field across the street. I heard the twittering flight routine when I came out, but no peents. We hope to hear woodcocks often in the coming weeks.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
2007 Gardening Season Begins
With less than 5% snow cover and the next several days predicted to be sunny, I decided to check out the raised beds I prepared last fall. While the rest of the garden is cold, sucking mud, the raised beds are well-drained and workable.
Planted peas and favas in one bed today, will start to think about getting chard and other greens going soon. Cleaned my boots and tools in a snowbank.
Crocus are sprouting, and the yard is mobbed with robins.
Planted peas and favas in one bed today, will start to think about getting chard and other greens going soon. Cleaned my boots and tools in a snowbank.
Crocus are sprouting, and the yard is mobbed with robins.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Foggy morning
Only 20% snow cover after a warm few days. The girls have been enthusiastically free ranging since 9am. In hopes of deterring any alleged foxes, I put Henry's old radio in the sheep shed tuned to the only station that came in strongly, a God Talk station. The girls are all over the yard today though, out in the open and sticking to the perimeter of the house. I should not assume that they would not venture to an area where a fox would be able to nab one, though.
Lots of robins in the fields here, just like on the lawn in MA last weekend. Apparently this is good maple sugaring weather - days in the 40s, nights in the high 20s.
Lots of robins in the fields here, just like on the lawn in MA last weekend. Apparently this is good maple sugaring weather - days in the 40s, nights in the high 20s.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Wintry Mix
This 10" or so of ice pellets should be the last big storm of the season. I picture some little flurries in early April to give people something to talk about, but otherwise some right quick melting, thawing and springtime action. That is what I picture.
Saw a flock of Juncos in the big maple tree this morning while the ice pellets were still coming down in force.
Saw a flock of Juncos in the big maple tree this morning while the ice pellets were still coming down in force.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
When does spring arrive in Maine?
1st Spring thaw. Yesterday's cold front felt like a tropical breeze. Lots of snowmelt - the swale is swollen, and the raised garden beds are visible. I saw a swarm of honeybeees high in a tree on Upper Pond Road the other day, and a "wooly bear" catepillar on the porch. Today I hear Red Winged Blackbirds in the ashes along Pleasant Pond Farm Lane.
Chickens have been free-ranging since 3/12, one week after Daryl #2's untimely demise. I would say that the first sign of spring that I noticed was the night of 3/2, when I saw a skunk ambling across Brunswick Road near Pleasant Pond Orchard. In subsequent days the skunks have dug up and stunk up around our place as well as the Viselli's, which I consider to be a good omen for job hunting. I did put out a number of rags soaked with red fox urine to discourage skunks from making dens under the ell -- hopefully this does not discourage Hiring Decision Makers.
Though it was forecast to be rainy today I opened the coop door for the eager free-rangers in the morning. By the time I got back from the (failed) truck inspection it was raining steadlily, so I thought I'd close the door. 1,2,3...14. No Daryl #1. Wandered around outside in the rain saying chickie chickie, no result. Crap. After the rain let up in the afternoon the usual free-ranging group made an excursion, but still no Daryl. Crap.
Chickens have been free-ranging since 3/12, one week after Daryl #2's untimely demise. I would say that the first sign of spring that I noticed was the night of 3/2, when I saw a skunk ambling across Brunswick Road near Pleasant Pond Orchard. In subsequent days the skunks have dug up and stunk up around our place as well as the Viselli's, which I consider to be a good omen for job hunting. I did put out a number of rags soaked with red fox urine to discourage skunks from making dens under the ell -- hopefully this does not discourage Hiring Decision Makers.
Though it was forecast to be rainy today I opened the coop door for the eager free-rangers in the morning. By the time I got back from the (failed) truck inspection it was raining steadlily, so I thought I'd close the door. 1,2,3...14. No Daryl #1. Wandered around outside in the rain saying chickie chickie, no result. Crap. After the rain let up in the afternoon the usual free-ranging group made an excursion, but still no Daryl. Crap.
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