Starting to take shape...

So the Mini Farm is starting to take shape...finally. Work has been super super crazy for me, 5 more days until graduation, and then I should be able to come up for air....hopefully. I plan on transplanting some seedlings into the ground this weekend, and some into pots to try to sell for cheap in our big upcoming yardsale!!

I'm pleasantly surprised by how well the milk jug greenhouses worked out. Almost everything took, some got burnt by the sun but still have some viable ones, some took off, and others haven't sprouted...peppers, mainly, so I'm hoping they are just being slow pokes.

Alyse's egg carton gardens are doing great too, and REALLY need transplanted!!!

We had a few scares with the ducks and chickens. 2 weeks ago when it was super cold, we had them in their coop. I worked late and didn't get home until 1am. Their heat lamp was burnt out!!! Still a concern as most of their feathers hadn't come in yet, so Jeff went and got another one to make it through the night. Fast forward 3 days....woke up, walked outside to water and feed them, and noticed what I thought was steam (from their massive amounts of poop...TMI) pouring out of the chicken wire. Nope. Definitely was on a smoldering fire. Thank goodness I caught it and did the bucket brigade from our rain water barrel until it was out. A huge hole in the floor AND it almost completely burnt through one of the legs. We are so, so lucky it didn't collapse, as our almost finished remodeled house could've gone up.

AND I'm happy to say not one of the birds was injured or died!!!  For a temporary solution, they've been moved into our old, way to small coop, until we can finalize the fix of the new one. They seem happy there, although one of the chickens has since died.

I can't wait to get in the dirt (and get some much needed vitamin D) outside this weekend!!!  Anyone need seedlings?!?!

Starting our seeds!!

So, as I mentioned, we are starting most of our plants in milk jugs and are putting them outside. They *hopefully* act as mini greenhouses, but I've saved seeds of each in case the don't work.  I need to collect some more milk jugs from work to get all of our variety in....

Our Rd has a major yard sale the 3rd week in May - it's always been graduation weekend for me, but this year our school moved it up a week, so we will be able to participate!!  I'm hoping to sell some seedlings..maybe. but we are really hoping to thin out our belongings as we get settled towards the end of our remodel.

I saw these cute all-in-one egg carton gardens online. When I went into tractor supply to get chicken feed, they had them there. I picked 2 up for Alyse's Easter gift and am hoping they work out!! She has loved seeing bulbs grow at my mom's so I am hoping she will really enjoy these. They come with a daily measuring thing too!! Super cute!!

In animal news, all of the new ducklings and chickens are still doing well. Yellow duck - aka buttercup - is huge!!!! They enjoy swimming occasionally, too.

#minifarm #minifarmer #farmtotable #BeTheChange #seeds

2015 Garden Plan!!

Ok so yesterday I had some time to plan out my garden.  Jeff and I talked and made a list of what we want.  I decided to go with a combo of a square foot garden (plant items each square foot) and a companion garden (items that grow well together). 

I used this online Garden Planner for the square foot garden which is AWESOME!!!  I also googled companion garden to search for what items grow well together and used the planner to plant items together. 

http://www.gardeners.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-Gardeners-Site/default/Page-KGPJS

You can save your plan/plans and print them out - they even give you planting pointers for each item you've selected.  You can see that with the corn in one section, we're going to try to plant peanuts and in the other section peas and beans.  (The legumes use the corn stalk when they grow their vines!!)

I also wanted to post these cute pics of Alyse with her Yellow Duck.  : )

 

Check out this video of Alyse telling Sedona "Doh, No, eat the ducks!"

 

I can't wait to start planting!!!  I think that I am going to try some cold planting with milk jug greenhouses.  Has anyone tried this?!?! Let me know!!

Two years....starting new!!!

I'm so excited that my mini me is able to join me to revive the Mini Farm!!!!

Today we went and picked out new chicks.  Well, Alyse saw the ducks and INSISTED we got 2 of those, too. 6 chicks and 2 ducks. I can't wait to actually enjoy the eggs this time (last time I was prego  and then nursing = no eggs for me)

Since Jeff has honed his carpentry skills this winter remodeling almost our whole house (we are almost done), he assures me we will have a pest proof chicken coop when these guys are ready to venture outdoors!!!  I'm sure we will have an abundance of mini-farm  fresh eggs this summer/fall...if anyone in the pgh  area would like some....get on the list now!!!

Also getting ready to start our seeds for the garden. We are downsizing in variety, but not size. I always have leftover seedlings if anyone is interested come late May!!! Planning on: tomatoes, zucchini, peas, squash, corn (fingers crossed), herbs, beans, peppers, pumpkins, peanuts, potatoes, garlic, and probably some fruits for our little fruit lover. Any other suggestions?!?!

I'm still working on Jeff to plant some fruit trees and have a mini orchard....but he hasn't been convinced yet.

Can't wait to keep you up to date on the happenings of our mini farm and to share pictures!!! Hope you choose to follow me and be ready for recipes (written in our NEW kitchen!!!!)

Alyse's first berry picking

A friend made us some raspberry wine out of the raspberries we picked from our hillside two summers ago. Last year berry picking was out for me, either being pregnant or with an infant, and Jeff didn't make it out much either.

The friend that made the wine came over today to check out the berries... Jeff asked me if we wanted to go, and I said sure why not?! We packed up the backpack, put the baby in the bjorn and headed out with the dogs. It was overcast, but nothing too crazy, until we made it to our woods. 1/2 way down, we decided to check the radar (ohhhh modern technology), as it started to rain, and low and behold, we were about to be in the middle of a thunderstorm.  Jeff took off with Alyse back up the hill and I corralled the dogs (they had run off after a deer) and made our way up. We all ended up soaked!!! 

Waited about a half hour for the weather to pass and started out again. The creek was flooded and the trail was SOOOOOO overgrown. Jeff is planning on cleaning it up in a week or so.  The blackberries were starting to ripen and we got a good amount. I only picked 1/2 of the time - the first 1/2 I spent braiding Alyse a daisy crown!!

The over abundance of raspberry plants is exciting, and they aren't even close to being ready!!  We are looking forward to heading back out in a few weeks! And to try new recipes - maybe Popsicles for Alyse or jam?!? Any thoughts?!

Alyse was a trooper, although the sun and steady walking tired her out!  

As for the garden - it's so overgrown, I feel like it may be a lost cause!! Not to mention we've had tons of rabbits this year, so a lot of plants have been eaten already!! : ( I'm in it everyday for a little bit, and once we hang Alyse's swing ill be able to be put a lot more time in, so am hoping we will be able salvage some things!! 

First planting!

About half of the garden is planted!! Today, Alyse and I planted our corn, tomatoes, beans, peas, and peppers!! 

Our cat had used our seedlings as a kitty litter box, so we are, once again, mostly starting from seeds. We have a few tomato, pepper, bean and basil plants...but everything else is seeds...wel will see how it goes!! 

Left to plant: zucchini, squash, herbs, and pumpkins!!! I'm hoping to get a BIG pumpkin for Alyse this Halloween!!! 

My mini farmer did pretty good - played in her tent a bit and then played in (and ate some...wooops) the dirt!! 

Stay tuned!!

2013 starting the seeds...

My mini farmer and I started our seeds today for the mini farm. I only hope she likes to play in dirt, because 2012's garden was a bust! Too much to do with an infant and not enough time to maintain!

This years farm will be without chickens. The two that were left in the fall were killed by coyotes : (. We may get more but a going to try to sure up our coop better before we do.

We are going to try to plant some new things this year: beets, spinach, and more!!

More to come soon!