Showing posts with label self sufficient lifestyle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label self sufficient lifestyle. Show all posts
Friday, March 16, 2012
Digging in Dirt
One of my goals is to plant more fruit trees for fresh produce. Honey flow is another important consideration - my bees need to eat! Getting the honey flow started in the springtime requires flowering trees. The first trees in our area to flower are the oaks around the end of January, early February and then the elms, maples and finally the dogwood and fruit trees. I need flowering trees for the bees to last throughout the springtime and early summer until there are sufficient grasses and other plants to provide nectar. Finally blocking the ugly metal building that my neighbor put in their side yard that faces my bee yard is another reason for my new pear trees. I'm digging in dirt this weekend. Care to join me?
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Shiitake Mushroom Plugs Planted
I was able to drill holes into the oak limbs and plant the shiitake mushroom plugs finally. I have great hope that we have a harvest that lasts many years as the mushroom plugs spread into the rotting oak limbs. Wikkipedia Shiitake Mushroom
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Langstroth Hive has Arrived
Yesterday I was up on top of our roof cleaning gutters. We have sprung a leak in our kitchen ceiling. This is the same place that the roof debris from winter storms gathers and sits. Our gutters were completely clogged with leaves and sticks. I am not a great heights person: I have a fear of falling but it was a warm sunny day and you could see the creek below the bluff and it was such a gorgeous view.
Still waiting to get out to plant vegetables. My clover is doing great. Hope the nitrogen it adds to the soil really makes the garden take off once planted.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Beekeeping Symposium
Auburn University and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System hosted about 420 beekeepers from across the state on Saturday, 2/4/12. In my opinion, it was wildly successful. They had three tracks in each of the break-out sessions geared to the beginning beekeeper, to the backyard hobbyist and the more commercial beekeeper. Vendors from several companies brought plenty of material for sale and the food was great. I learned much and appreciated, in particular, Dr. Tew's dynamic opening session. Beekeeping Symposium.
Auburn University is about 4 hours away from our home and the drive down through heavy, torrential rain and then again on the way home was made slightly better by the warm and sunny weather that greeted us in Auburn. 75 degrees and sunny is hard to beat. Mike did antique hunting while I attended the beekeeping classes and then met me for lunch in Auburn's AgBusiness arena. There was a live beehive demo during lunch that was great. Beekeepers are friendly folks and love to mentor newbees like myself.
One of the county extension apiary agents will be in contact with me before I make the decision to burn my hive due to American foulbrood. They were doubtful that this disease would manifest itself in a first year hive. Only 2% of all hives contact foulbrood. So I hope the apiary agent helps me rule out foulbrood so I can reuse my hive.
After all the Auburn sessions, I am ready to invest in more hives and bees. My package bees from Draper's arrive the week of April 23rd. I want to order two more top bar hives and at least one Langstroth_hive, which is geared more toward commercial beekeepers. Commercial beekeeper is my description for any beekeeper who wants more honey than they can use themselves and they want to make a profit in producing it.
Mike and I stayed one night at the very well run The Hotel at Auburn University. I highly recommend it to any other travelers to Auburn University. We managed to do a little sight-seeing; we found the Toomer's Corner trees that the man poisoned, Toomer's Corner Oak Trees in the news, and the famed Jordan-O'Hare football stadium and last but not least, Tiger Rags, where you can find unique Auburn Tiger T-shirts not found anywhere else.
All in all, excluding the heavy rain downpours, it was a great weekend! I am armed with knowledge and ready to establish a new bee yard!
Auburn University is about 4 hours away from our home and the drive down through heavy, torrential rain and then again on the way home was made slightly better by the warm and sunny weather that greeted us in Auburn. 75 degrees and sunny is hard to beat. Mike did antique hunting while I attended the beekeeping classes and then met me for lunch in Auburn's AgBusiness arena. There was a live beehive demo during lunch that was great. Beekeepers are friendly folks and love to mentor newbees like myself.
One of the county extension apiary agents will be in contact with me before I make the decision to burn my hive due to American foulbrood. They were doubtful that this disease would manifest itself in a first year hive. Only 2% of all hives contact foulbrood. So I hope the apiary agent helps me rule out foulbrood so I can reuse my hive.
After all the Auburn sessions, I am ready to invest in more hives and bees. My package bees from Draper's arrive the week of April 23rd. I want to order two more top bar hives and at least one Langstroth_hive, which is geared more toward commercial beekeepers. Commercial beekeeper is my description for any beekeeper who wants more honey than they can use themselves and they want to make a profit in producing it.
Mike and I stayed one night at the very well run The Hotel at Auburn University. I highly recommend it to any other travelers to Auburn University. We managed to do a little sight-seeing; we found the Toomer's Corner trees that the man poisoned, Toomer's Corner Oak Trees in the news, and the famed Jordan-O'Hare football stadium and last but not least, Tiger Rags, where you can find unique Auburn Tiger T-shirts not found anywhere else.
All in all, excluding the heavy rain downpours, it was a great weekend! I am armed with knowledge and ready to establish a new bee yard!
Monday, January 23, 2012
The red clover seed has sprouted, my To-Do list and Pesticides
I' m always excited to see any seed that I broadcast sprout. The red clover is up and creating a blanket of green in my future garden. I'm amazed to see the little bright green seedlings in the otherwise dull brown field. The red clover will fix nitrogen back into the soil and is a bee food source.
Winter in North Alabama has been extremely mild. We've had boat loads of rain and temperatures above freezing for most days. Purely from a farmer's point of view, I'm disappointed. Freezing temperatures over several weeks would help control pests this coming spring and summer.
My to-do list for the rest of January and February:
Prune my fig, my red ornamental maple, and my ornamental floral bushes
Spray with a dormant oil to kill over-wintering insects and diseases
Spray with lime sulphur to backup the dormant oil
Sharpen and clean my trimmers, lawnmower and garden tools
Do a soil test.
Resist the urge to till my garden while the ground is so wet (resist, resist, resist!)
Keep my electric lawnmower charged even though I'm not using it (yet)
The urge to use my electric lawnmower to mulch is strong (I may not be able to resist this one!)
Set up my new gardens, which do not require tilling, using my compost and chicken-doo.
My Dad was a child of the 30's. He was born January 21st, 1926, but he was educated in the 30's and 40's. I point this out because he was a strong believer in pesticides and during this time period chemical manufacturers were turning out numerous patents for their chemicals and spending cash on the products' marketing for public use. He used so many different pesticides when he farmed that I cannot believe he did not have any cancers. I sometimes wonder if Mother's cancer was caused by the environmental heavy uses of pesticides in the U.S. during this time.
Dad eventually became a believer in organic farming: picking off bugs from the garden, turning up soil on a mild day prior to a freeze to let the winter cold kill the pests. But I remember white dusted gardens covered in 1-naphthyl methylcarbamate, Carbayl for short, that killed any bad or good insect it touched. The popular name for this chemical is "Sevin Dust" and it is quickly eliminated by vertebrates causing no harm, or so the literature reads. I don't believe it.
I try very hard to limit my use of any chemical in the garden or yard. In 1984, the largest industrial accident in the world occurred. It killed 11,000 people and injured 500,000 people (yes, those zeros are correct), in Bhophal India during the production of this insecticide. Scary.
Lime sulphur found its way on my shelf because it is used by bonsai enthusiasts to age trees by creating white deadwood. It is painted on with a brush. It is a pesticide that when applied carefully kills insects that overwinter on trees and in the soil surrounding the tree. It is also an effective treatment, when carefully diluted, for mange on dogs and ringworm. And it stinks. All pesticides should smell like this one - rotten eggs. The odor alone warns one to leave it alone.
Winter in North Alabama has been extremely mild. We've had boat loads of rain and temperatures above freezing for most days. Purely from a farmer's point of view, I'm disappointed. Freezing temperatures over several weeks would help control pests this coming spring and summer.
My to-do list for the rest of January and February:
Prune my fig, my red ornamental maple, and my ornamental floral bushes
Spray with a dormant oil to kill over-wintering insects and diseases
Spray with lime sulphur to backup the dormant oil
Sharpen and clean my trimmers, lawnmower and garden tools
Do a soil test.
Resist the urge to till my garden while the ground is so wet (resist, resist, resist!)
Keep my electric lawnmower charged even though I'm not using it (yet)
The urge to use my electric lawnmower to mulch is strong (I may not be able to resist this one!)
Set up my new gardens, which do not require tilling, using my compost and chicken-doo.
My Dad was a child of the 30's. He was born January 21st, 1926, but he was educated in the 30's and 40's. I point this out because he was a strong believer in pesticides and during this time period chemical manufacturers were turning out numerous patents for their chemicals and spending cash on the products' marketing for public use. He used so many different pesticides when he farmed that I cannot believe he did not have any cancers. I sometimes wonder if Mother's cancer was caused by the environmental heavy uses of pesticides in the U.S. during this time.
Dad eventually became a believer in organic farming: picking off bugs from the garden, turning up soil on a mild day prior to a freeze to let the winter cold kill the pests. But I remember white dusted gardens covered in 1-naphthyl methylcarbamate, Carbayl for short, that killed any bad or good insect it touched. The popular name for this chemical is "Sevin Dust" and it is quickly eliminated by vertebrates causing no harm, or so the literature reads. I don't believe it.
I try very hard to limit my use of any chemical in the garden or yard. In 1984, the largest industrial accident in the world occurred. It killed 11,000 people and injured 500,000 people (yes, those zeros are correct), in Bhophal India during the production of this insecticide. Scary.
Lime sulphur found its way on my shelf because it is used by bonsai enthusiasts to age trees by creating white deadwood. It is painted on with a brush. It is a pesticide that when applied carefully kills insects that overwinter on trees and in the soil surrounding the tree. It is also an effective treatment, when carefully diluted, for mange on dogs and ringworm. And it stinks. All pesticides should smell like this one - rotten eggs. The odor alone warns one to leave it alone.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
How Green Are You?
Some questions to help determine how green you are:
1) You are cooking and must peel and chop onions and then flat leaf parsley to add to your dish. Do you:
1) You are cooking and must peel and chop onions and then flat leaf parsley to add to your dish. Do you:
- Throw into your garbage the onion peels and parsley stems?
- Throw into your sink garbage disposal the onion peels and parsley stems?
- Throw into your compost bin the onion peels and parsley stems?
- Throw the onion peels into a freezer bag for later use as a natural egg dye and add the parsley stems to a freezer container for a later stew/soup pot.
If you answered # 3, then you are green; if you answered # 4, you are greenest.
2) You are cleaning kitchen counter surfaces and for your cleaner, you are using:
- Bleach?
- A commercial, off the shelf cleaner?
- White vinegar and water with a dab of lemon juice?
If you answered # 3, then you are green.
3) Newspaper can be:
- Disposed of with the daily garbage?
- Separated into the paper bin for recyclables?
- Saved in bulk and donated to the local animal shelter for their use?
- Mulched into your garden, used for craft paper, used for lining your chicken nesting boxes?
If you answered # 2, you are green; if you answered # 3, you are greener; if you answered # 4, you are greenest!
4) When updating your wardrobe, do you:
- Go buy new off the shelf clothes in the latest fashion?
- Go to the local thrift stores and find good clothes even though it may be a previous year's fashion?
- Find something great at a thrift store and modify it to look unique for you?
- Swap clothes with a like-minded, like-sized friend?
If you answered #2, you are green; if you answered # 3 you are greener; if you answered # 4, you are greenest.
Today is beautiful in North Alabama with a bright blue sky and plenty of sunshine. Hope to get out and charge up my electric lawnmower and sweep out my shed and crack some hickory nuts for a hickory nut torte!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Auburn University Beekeeping Symposium
My dearest hubby and I are motoring down to Auburn University to attend a day long symposium for beekeepers. I can't wait to hear about the honey bee's evolving role in the green movement, to get more information about Alabama's new master beekeeper program, to understand the role of bee colonies and have a sustainable backyard (bluff for me) where bees play a vital role. Plus I get to pick the brains of some of the state's best entomologists and plant pathologists. Can't wait.
In the meantime, I've placed my spring order for new bees and their queen. Instead of an Italian honeybee queen, I've ordered an American hybrid called All American Queen. I've also broken a "rule" of the local beekeeping society by ordering my bees out of state: Draper's Bees. We'll see. The last ones failed to clean their hives soon enough to eliminate the cells infected with foulbrood. I'm hoping this hybrid will do a better job. From the Draper web site, here is their description of their All American Queens: Gentle, do not boil out of the hive when it is opened, low swarming tendency, quick build up of the hive, adapted to all weather conditions, keep a very clean, neat and orderly hive.
In the meantime, I've placed my spring order for new bees and their queen. Instead of an Italian honeybee queen, I've ordered an American hybrid called All American Queen. I've also broken a "rule" of the local beekeeping society by ordering my bees out of state: Draper's Bees. We'll see. The last ones failed to clean their hives soon enough to eliminate the cells infected with foulbrood. I'm hoping this hybrid will do a better job. From the Draper web site, here is their description of their All American Queens: Gentle, do not boil out of the hive when it is opened, low swarming tendency, quick build up of the hive, adapted to all weather conditions, keep a very clean, neat and orderly hive.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
More spring time planning
I've decided on a rooster. Finally, after two years I found a rooster that I'm willing to bring into our farm life. It will be a day old chick and delivered about March 19th. Its name will be Fred. Fred the Rooster will actually be Fred the Roosters. I have ordered a straight run, which means about a 50/50 mix of hens to roosters. With the minimum run of 8, I will likely have 4 roosters and 4 hens. This is fine since predators will take over half the new flock. My plan is to put the young cockerel in with the 3 older hens once he is old enough to withstand their dominant personalities. Hens without a rooster tend toward the bossy side. At least one of the hens will take on male characteristics. Penny, my beauty Sussex hen, is the most rooster-like.
I have accepted that roosters are necessary for the health of a flock. Roosters will often turn away a predator, sometimes sacrificing his life for the hens. I also plan to raise babies and then begin to encourage the best characteristics for my little farm flock. I need quiet, friendly, egg-productive birds.
My Dad used to bring home fighting roosters and release them to forage for themselves. This meant turning a corner of the house and coming face to spurs with the rooster attacking you and then running like crazy to escape it. Once I had had enough. I mean, come on, can't I go outside in peace? So I beat that rooster until its wattle and comb were black and it was on the ground with its eyes closed. I was certain I had killed it. Nope, it got up and wobbled away to live another day. I believe we finally did put it to good use by eating it (sorry to offend any vegans but it was one mean, ornery rooster!)
Anyway, my memories of roosters made me very hesitant to introduce any here at 2-Dog Farm. Keeping my fingers crossed that Fred will be a worthy addition to our Farm.
I have accepted that roosters are necessary for the health of a flock. Roosters will often turn away a predator, sometimes sacrificing his life for the hens. I also plan to raise babies and then begin to encourage the best characteristics for my little farm flock. I need quiet, friendly, egg-productive birds.
My Dad used to bring home fighting roosters and release them to forage for themselves. This meant turning a corner of the house and coming face to spurs with the rooster attacking you and then running like crazy to escape it. Once I had had enough. I mean, come on, can't I go outside in peace? So I beat that rooster until its wattle and comb were black and it was on the ground with its eyes closed. I was certain I had killed it. Nope, it got up and wobbled away to live another day. I believe we finally did put it to good use by eating it (sorry to offend any vegans but it was one mean, ornery rooster!)
Anyway, my memories of roosters made me very hesitant to introduce any here at 2-Dog Farm. Keeping my fingers crossed that Fred will be a worthy addition to our Farm.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Red Clover
The next seven days in North Alabama are to be wet, wet and more wet: http://www.waff.com/weather. If I can manage it between rain showers, I'm sowing red clover seed in my pasture/garden area. Clover is critical to fix nitrogen back into the soil after vegetables take it out; you can also fix nitrogen back into the soil by planting peas. Clover is a good food source for bees.
City dwelling people feel red clover is a weed. If one defines a weed as a plant growing in an unwanted area, say a city lawn, then that is correct - it is a weed if it is growing in a lawn of zoysia grass. However, clover is one of the most important plants known to man. It is a much maligned plant in recent years; however, there is an old American saying that "a man who plants clover is a king". Without clover our soil would fail to grow healthy food for us. All mankind would suffer. It is an easy cover crop to grow here in the South and it is a favorite food of foraging animals like deer and cow.
Additionally, red clover is a medicinal plant for humans. Read this article at the University of Maryland web site regarding Red Clover as alternative medicine. If nothing else I hope you try growing some clover just for the fun of it. It is an easy plant to grow and the clover flower while small is still very pretty.
City dwelling people feel red clover is a weed. If one defines a weed as a plant growing in an unwanted area, say a city lawn, then that is correct - it is a weed if it is growing in a lawn of zoysia grass. However, clover is one of the most important plants known to man. It is a much maligned plant in recent years; however, there is an old American saying that "a man who plants clover is a king". Without clover our soil would fail to grow healthy food for us. All mankind would suffer. It is an easy cover crop to grow here in the South and it is a favorite food of foraging animals like deer and cow.
Additionally, red clover is a medicinal plant for humans. Read this article at the University of Maryland web site regarding Red Clover as alternative medicine. If nothing else I hope you try growing some clover just for the fun of it. It is an easy plant to grow and the clover flower while small is still very pretty.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Sewing Machines
I ordered my first computerized sewing machine before Christmas and finally received it (after Christmas!). I am so pumped. This is a machine that will be well used immediately. I have aprons, pj bottoms and quilt tops to make. Not to mention next year's gifts!
I sewed most of my clothes growing up. Being part of a large family, we just couldn't afford to budget much for clothes. I was signed up to take advanced sewing classes in junior high school; these classes were where you made your own patterns. I can't wait to get started sewing again.
I sewed most of my clothes growing up. Being part of a large family, we just couldn't afford to budget much for clothes. I was signed up to take advanced sewing classes in junior high school; these classes were where you made your own patterns. I can't wait to get started sewing again.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
In the light of Christ, I wish you everything good to eat and wonderful family news in the coming year! May your gardens grow tall and give you much produce to enjoy, may you learn more about self-sufficiency and making do or reusing. May you have less trash going to the land fills and give more money and goods to those who don't have. Many blessings to each of you this holiday. Peace in Christ!
North Alabama Farm Girl has made her cranberry relish and is looking forward to sweet potato casserole, fresh green beans, a turkey tenderloin and rice for her Christmas Eve dinner.
North Alabama Farm Girl has made her cranberry relish and is looking forward to sweet potato casserole, fresh green beans, a turkey tenderloin and rice for her Christmas Eve dinner.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Rest in Peace, Mom, and thank you for everything!
My Step-Mom raised me from the time I was five years old. Like any Mother-Daughter relationship we had our ups and downs. She did things wrong as I did. I had a smart mouth and she was quick to punish any sign of it. She believed in corporal punishment and I was beaten regularly between the ages of five and thirteen. I hated her for that. Then at thirteen I discovered how to keep my mouth shut and she started to teach me to cook. She was a superb German-style cook while I lean toward Italian-style cooking. I so appreciate the skills she taught me. I didn't realize until recently that I was a prep chef long before the popular cooking shows featured it. Together we cooked for a large and extended family. We were poor monetarily but my Dad hunted and fished and had a large garden every year. "Mom" made fresh baked rolls that would melt in your mouth. We never lacked for food because we grew it ourselves or Dad caught it. One year she taught me how to can and another year taught me how to make jellies and jams. Summertime at our house was very active preparing for the next winter. She never learned to make decent saurkraut; it was her only failing. Spoiled kraut is bad, very very bad in the house. She also failed to can the fresh sausage correctly one year and it spoiled. The smell was horrendous. Everything else though was so good to eat. I can not eat mediocre food because of her; she set the food standard in my life very high. Here is a picture I snapped on my phone of her during one of her last "good" days. Her mind was clear to the end but her body failed her.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Fall is in the Air
Everytime I work outside, I work with my Dad. Images of him bending over his tractor and banging it when he got frustrated with it or cleaning his tools in an oil-soaked bucket of sand or just standing and looking out across his garden to the mountain in front of the house. His eyes a brilliant surprising blue against a sun darkened face. I loved my Dad so much and I miss him but I thank God for ending his life at the home he built with his own hands with his son and wife beside him when he breathed his last. He was a good, good father and a good man. He loved and was loved. He gave me so much love of the land and nature. God's Blessings to Art Oden this Sunday morning. Love you Pop!
Getting over an ugly virus this weekend so I am staying inside and inactive as much as possible. But I have my office window open and the breeze is blowing cool air into the house and I hear leaves falling and rustling. Ah, Fall is in the air!
So, here is my Fall To-Do list:
Clean up the electric push mower and store it in the shed.
Make sure it is fully juiced for storing and then check each month until spring.
Clean out and organize the shed so something as large as the electric push mower can be stored in it.
Make sure there are shelves and hangers aplenty.
Crack last year's black walnuts and hazelnuts to make a holiday nut torte (yum)
and to provide space for this year's harvest of nuts
Move my farming equipment (including my beekeeping equipment) to my shed from wherever else it is on the property!
Put finished compost into garden
Plant clover for a nitrogen fix into garden soil
Mulch the fig bushes, blackberries and blueberries. Apply some of the finished compost around these plants.
Plant some ornamental dogwoods and fruit trees along our property line. I want some pear trees for pear preserves in a few years.
Clip the chicken's wings.
Cull Prissy the white orphington and Pick the broody speckled sussex hen that is no longer laying from the flock. We'll be down to two chickens for the winter but we'll have lots of good tasting chicken & dumplings.
Order next year's flock.
Start the mushroom logs
Find the copperhead snake that has taken up home around my shed and eliminate him.
Thought long and hard about this one as I hate to kill snakes but a copperhead is bitey critter - no warning, all bite. It has to go before it gets me or one of my loved ones.
Get the big lawn tractor ready for winter storage.
Winterize the chicken coop for Peck and Penny and the new batch of pullets.
Start the bees on syrup for winter food. Once started, I'll have to keep it up all winter.
Look for parasites in the beehive and treat.
Sharpen my garden tools
Clean up my flower gardens.
Open up the bluff from the rotten tree debris and put some sitting benches along the scenic overlook.
Find out the cost for livestock fencing around one acre (through the woods, down hill and uphill)
Reconsider building a "true" chicken house - I have the plans - just need to do it.
All these tasks will take me well into Winter. I'll be lucky to have 1/2 of them done before fall is over.
My summer garden harvest was great. Good year for cukes and cherry tomatos. The heritage tomatoes I tried bombed. I had lettuce almost all summer and it did not get bitter. Next year we'll have a even better garden.
Getting over an ugly virus this weekend so I am staying inside and inactive as much as possible. But I have my office window open and the breeze is blowing cool air into the house and I hear leaves falling and rustling. Ah, Fall is in the air!
So, here is my Fall To-Do list:
Clean up the electric push mower and store it in the shed.
Make sure it is fully juiced for storing and then check each month until spring.
Clean out and organize the shed so something as large as the electric push mower can be stored in it.
Make sure there are shelves and hangers aplenty.
Crack last year's black walnuts and hazelnuts to make a holiday nut torte (yum)
and to provide space for this year's harvest of nuts
Move my farming equipment (including my beekeeping equipment) to my shed from wherever else it is on the property!
Put finished compost into garden
Plant clover for a nitrogen fix into garden soil
Mulch the fig bushes, blackberries and blueberries. Apply some of the finished compost around these plants.
Plant some ornamental dogwoods and fruit trees along our property line. I want some pear trees for pear preserves in a few years.
Clip the chicken's wings.
Cull Prissy the white orphington and Pick the broody speckled sussex hen that is no longer laying from the flock. We'll be down to two chickens for the winter but we'll have lots of good tasting chicken & dumplings.
Order next year's flock.
Start the mushroom logs
Find the copperhead snake that has taken up home around my shed and eliminate him.
Thought long and hard about this one as I hate to kill snakes but a copperhead is bitey critter - no warning, all bite. It has to go before it gets me or one of my loved ones.
Get the big lawn tractor ready for winter storage.
Winterize the chicken coop for Peck and Penny and the new batch of pullets.
Start the bees on syrup for winter food. Once started, I'll have to keep it up all winter.
Look for parasites in the beehive and treat.
Sharpen my garden tools
Clean up my flower gardens.
Open up the bluff from the rotten tree debris and put some sitting benches along the scenic overlook.
Find out the cost for livestock fencing around one acre (through the woods, down hill and uphill)
Reconsider building a "true" chicken house - I have the plans - just need to do it.
All these tasks will take me well into Winter. I'll be lucky to have 1/2 of them done before fall is over.
My summer garden harvest was great. Good year for cukes and cherry tomatos. The heritage tomatoes I tried bombed. I had lettuce almost all summer and it did not get bitter. Next year we'll have a even better garden.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Updates
I've been away for a month or two trying to sort out issues in my life that left me lethargic. My father died in early April, my step Mother fell at the end of April - a stroke and a broken hip. My beloved Aunt succumbed to heart disease and heart failure in June. I have some major life issues to address. Went to my new-old doctor who had been out of practice due to her own serious health issues. Went to her after she sent a letter to her former patients saying she was back and was in full-time practice again. I felt my current MD was not paying attention to my health issues. So I went back to her saying I was depressed and that I had a rapid heart beat and general listlessness. Rather than giving me anti depressants she did a full blood work up and it turns out that I have pernicious anemia. pernicious anemia is also termed Biermer's or Addison's anemia. Thanks WebMD.com, I found out the following information:
"Pernicious anemia is due to an inability to absorb vitamin B-12 (also known as cobalamin or Cbl) from the gastrointestinal tract. Humans get vitamin B-12 from animal products; both meat and dairy products are dietary sources of vitamin B-12. The body is able to store vitamin B-12 for a long time, so inadequate dietary intake must persist for years before a true deficiency of vitamin B-12 is reached. Because of this, the symptoms of pernicious anemia usually do not appear for years. While pernicious anemia is most commonly diagnosed in adults with an average age of 60."
"Feelings of numbness, tingling, weakness, lack of coordination, clumsiness, impaired memory, and personality changes can all occur. Both sides of the body are usually affected, and the legs are typically more affected than the arms. A severe deficiency can result in more serious neurological symptoms, including severe weakness, spasticity, paraplegia, and fecal and urinary incontinence."
"Pernicious anemia is due to an inability to absorb vitamin B-12 (also known as cobalamin or Cbl) from the gastrointestinal tract. Humans get vitamin B-12 from animal products; both meat and dairy products are dietary sources of vitamin B-12. The body is able to store vitamin B-12 for a long time, so inadequate dietary intake must persist for years before a true deficiency of vitamin B-12 is reached. Because of this, the symptoms of pernicious anemia usually do not appear for years. While pernicious anemia is most commonly diagnosed in adults with an average age of 60."
"Feelings of numbness, tingling, weakness, lack of coordination, clumsiness, impaired memory, and personality changes can all occur. Both sides of the body are usually affected, and the legs are typically more affected than the arms. A severe deficiency can result in more serious neurological symptoms, including severe weakness, spasticity, paraplegia, and fecal and urinary incontinence."
"As with other causes of anemia, symptoms related to decreased oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood can include tiredness and shortness of breath. Vitamin B-12 deficiency also interferes with the function of the nervous system, and symptoms due to nervous system damage may be apparent even before the anemia is discovered."
"Symptoms of anemia are due to the reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, and pale skin can all occur with anemia. In anemia, the heart is placed under stress since it has to work harder to deliver enough oxygen to body tissues. This can result in heart murmurs, fast heartbeats, arrhythmias, an enlarged heart (cardiomegaly), or even heart failure."
"Pernicious anemia is most common in Caucasian persons of northern European ancestry than in other racial groups. In this population, 10-20 people per 100,000 persons are diagnosed each year with pernicious anemia."All of these symptoms are getting under control with weekly B12 shots, massive doses of calcium and vitamin D as well as just better health management.
All this time to myself has me thinking about what to do next on the homestead - I had given my chickens a chit for life long support because I raised them as pets. I had thought one could be a broody hen but that experiment failed grandly. She did not take to the fertilized eggs. These pets eat roughly $30 per year of laying pellets plus require significant pasture and time to keep their coop clean - and they lay less and less. So I'm thinking that with the cooler fall weather now in North Alabama it is time to cull the flock and then get a fresh batch of chickens for spring time laying. If I proceed butchering the chickens, I need to do it now.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Booger.
I ordered a broody hen containment system from Hayneedle for 79.98 <.http://www.hayneedle.com/Ware Premium Backyard Hutc>. It looks just like our hen house - cedar tee-pee style. And I ordered six fertile Easter eggs for our broody hen to hatch.
Unfortunately, the containment system is on back order but I received the fertile eggs. What to do?
Improvise. Necessity is the mother of inventions. I needed to get the broody hen out of the nest the other hens use for egg-laying duties and into her own area. I used what I had on hand, an old wire dog crate, poultry wire under the bottom, newspapers over that and a basket turned on its side and then some pine bedding and a tarp to keep the hot Bama sun off them mid-day. Ta-Da!
Now what would the broody hen and her sisters think of it?
 |
| Fertile easter eggers from My Pet Chicken |
Unfortunately, the containment system is on back order but I received the fertile eggs. What to do?
Improvise. Necessity is the mother of inventions. I needed to get the broody hen out of the nest the other hens use for egg-laying duties and into her own area. I used what I had on hand, an old wire dog crate, poultry wire under the bottom, newspapers over that and a basket turned on its side and then some pine bedding and a tarp to keep the hot Bama sun off them mid-day. Ta-Da!
 |
| The new incubation and containment system |
 |
| H'mmm, I don't remember leaving these eggs here. |
Maybe. We'll see what tomorrow brings.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Getting started with beekeeping
The most frequent question I'm asked is why would a woman want a hobby like beekeeping? First, let's take the sex-ism out of beekeeping. Women, men, teenagers and children can all enjoy a hobby as fascinating as beekeeping. Second I don't consider it so much a hobby as an effort to become self-sufficient and know my food intimately. After last summer's fiasco of chicken house sickness, I was totally ready to get back to what I know from my childhood - I know how to raise my own food and process it. Sure you make mistakes but you have many resources locally and via the internet. Here are just a few:
United States Department of Agriculture, USDA, has a free printable 50 page backyard beekeeping publication at http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-0135/.
John Maynard who is the bee inspector for the State of Alabama will answer questions. As a note, every Alabama beekeeper, even if only one hive is started and is for personal use, must register their hive with the State of Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. It costs very little ($10) and your apiary receives a certificate of registration good for one year. You are encouraged to brand your hives and register your brand with the state as well. If your hives or equipment are stolen, your mark identifies it as belonging to you and it can possibly be located again. Let's face it, beekeeping equipment can be expensive and the hives have value.
Your "hobby" is closely monitored due to disease. Alabama is one of the few states not reporting colony collapse. Most states that allow cross border migratory transport of hives to California are experiencing this problem Alabama does not allow colonies to go to California to help pollinate the almond growers trees. It could be caused by the stressed state of the returning bees or by something being passed to the bees. Hard to say right now the exact cause of colony collapse but I'm very glad Alabama is a closed border state.
A wonderful resource for the beginning beekeeper is their local beekeeping club who provides great mentoring and knowledge sharing. In Alabama, check out http://www.alabamabeekeepers.com to find a club near you and join it. At this site are numerous copies of their newsletter, Stinger, that provides a wealth of information. I spent about a year researching different sites and finally taking a couple of beginning beekeeper classes offered by our local beekeeping association.
Finally most of the beekeeping companies market their wares in great catalogs. You can go online to http://www.dadant.com or to http://www.gabees.com or to http://mannlake.com to find solid information about the ins and outs of beekeeping.
The second most common question I'm asked is why did I select a top bar hive or kenyan hive. I am a small woman. My husband is allergic to everything outside (bees, ants, etc.) So I am a single operation beekeeper.
A commercial hive, the hive that most people think of as a hive, weighs anywhere from 100 pounds full of honey in a large hive to 75 pounds in a medium sized hive to 55 pounds for a small hive. Plus you must constantly monitor and move the top down or up depending on the location of the hive and the queen. My back just won't take it. The kenyan hive is at my waist and you can work with the hive without moving square foundations up and down back and forth.
There are drawbacks to the kenyan hive, also known as the top bar hive. First the honey is only comb honey. You cannot borrow the club extractor (assuming you did join that beekeeping club or association) as the extractor works with frames. A top bar hive does not have frames, only a bar across the top where you will extract the honey by cutting the comb and then squeezing the comb for the honey. This is the old fashioned way of getting honey. You also will not get as much honey from the top bar hive. So one has to decide which is most important - what is your reason for beekeeping? For me, it is a backyard, grow it myself movement.
The final question I'm asked is "Is it expensive?" The answer is maybe. Like anything you do, it can be done inexpensively or expensively. Your choice. The full bee suit, gloves and veil will run about $90, the smoker another $45 (tobacco burnt in the smoker will kill mites that are parasitic to bees), woodware (the hive) can run $285 and up. You must purchase a hive tool, which costs a few more bucks. It is always suggested to have two hives. Bees and the queen may be purchased or collected from the wild.
Our club keeps a swarm list for anyone who wants to collect the bees for free. The problem with this method is not knowing the nature of the queen. If you buy a certain type of bee, it should have a certain personality. For example, I have Italian bees and queen for their less aggressive nature.
I did not buy the full bee suit but did feel that the veil and gloves would be good. My hive ran about $300 but is guaranteed to not rot for years and years. I also bought my colony and queen for about $100. All told I have spent about $450 on the bees, including my club membership dues and the state registration of my hive. Did I do this because I wanted something cheap for sugar? No, I did this because I wanted to know where my food is grown. Could you do it cheaper? Absolutely!
United States Department of Agriculture, USDA, has a free printable 50 page backyard beekeeping publication at http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-0135/.
John Maynard who is the bee inspector for the State of Alabama will answer questions. As a note, every Alabama beekeeper, even if only one hive is started and is for personal use, must register their hive with the State of Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. It costs very little ($10) and your apiary receives a certificate of registration good for one year. You are encouraged to brand your hives and register your brand with the state as well. If your hives or equipment are stolen, your mark identifies it as belonging to you and it can possibly be located again. Let's face it, beekeeping equipment can be expensive and the hives have value.
Your "hobby" is closely monitored due to disease. Alabama is one of the few states not reporting colony collapse. Most states that allow cross border migratory transport of hives to California are experiencing this problem Alabama does not allow colonies to go to California to help pollinate the almond growers trees. It could be caused by the stressed state of the returning bees or by something being passed to the bees. Hard to say right now the exact cause of colony collapse but I'm very glad Alabama is a closed border state.
A wonderful resource for the beginning beekeeper is their local beekeeping club who provides great mentoring and knowledge sharing. In Alabama, check out http://www.alabamabeekeepers.com to find a club near you and join it. At this site are numerous copies of their newsletter, Stinger, that provides a wealth of information. I spent about a year researching different sites and finally taking a couple of beginning beekeeper classes offered by our local beekeeping association.
Finally most of the beekeeping companies market their wares in great catalogs. You can go online to http://www.dadant.com or to http://www.gabees.com or to http://mannlake.com to find solid information about the ins and outs of beekeeping.
The second most common question I'm asked is why did I select a top bar hive or kenyan hive. I am a small woman. My husband is allergic to everything outside (bees, ants, etc.) So I am a single operation beekeeper.
A commercial hive, the hive that most people think of as a hive, weighs anywhere from 100 pounds full of honey in a large hive to 75 pounds in a medium sized hive to 55 pounds for a small hive. Plus you must constantly monitor and move the top down or up depending on the location of the hive and the queen. My back just won't take it. The kenyan hive is at my waist and you can work with the hive without moving square foundations up and down back and forth.
There are drawbacks to the kenyan hive, also known as the top bar hive. First the honey is only comb honey. You cannot borrow the club extractor (assuming you did join that beekeeping club or association) as the extractor works with frames. A top bar hive does not have frames, only a bar across the top where you will extract the honey by cutting the comb and then squeezing the comb for the honey. This is the old fashioned way of getting honey. You also will not get as much honey from the top bar hive. So one has to decide which is most important - what is your reason for beekeeping? For me, it is a backyard, grow it myself movement.
The final question I'm asked is "Is it expensive?" The answer is maybe. Like anything you do, it can be done inexpensively or expensively. Your choice. The full bee suit, gloves and veil will run about $90, the smoker another $45 (tobacco burnt in the smoker will kill mites that are parasitic to bees), woodware (the hive) can run $285 and up. You must purchase a hive tool, which costs a few more bucks. It is always suggested to have two hives. Bees and the queen may be purchased or collected from the wild.
Our club keeps a swarm list for anyone who wants to collect the bees for free. The problem with this method is not knowing the nature of the queen. If you buy a certain type of bee, it should have a certain personality. For example, I have Italian bees and queen for their less aggressive nature.
I did not buy the full bee suit but did feel that the veil and gloves would be good. My hive ran about $300 but is guaranteed to not rot for years and years. I also bought my colony and queen for about $100. All told I have spent about $450 on the bees, including my club membership dues and the state registration of my hive. Did I do this because I wanted something cheap for sugar? No, I did this because I wanted to know where my food is grown. Could you do it cheaper? Absolutely!
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