March on the Homestead

I am getting better and was able to get some work done yesterday. I put some of my broccoli seedlings out in the #3 bed. It's full now so I'll have to get to work on #4. I potted 3 spacemaster cuke seedlings in hanging pots. I have those in the house til warmer weather. I checked on the 4 raspberry bushed I got from TSC. The red ones have leafed out and are looking very good. Still nothing on the gold ones. The blueberry bushes look good. Stawberries are putting on new growth.

Jay, those carrots look fresh. Good idea. I appreciate that you take the time to let us in on what you read. I enjoy it and have gained by a lot of it.

Robin, things are going great at your place. Your new garden plot looks fine. I read that a raised bed should not be wider than you can reach across. I have found that useful so I can tend everything from one side. My #3 bed is not quite wide enough so I will be sure to fix that on #4. I hope to be able to learn how to preserve more of my harvest this year. I will be gardening with some friends at their place this year and they put up a lot of stuff so I'm sure they will be glad to help me learn. I'll be growing my beans, tomatoes, corn and okra with them.

Lizzard, I would like to have a few rabbits again. They are easy to raise, economical and very tasty. The fertilizer is great too.

Pod, my rhubarb is making an appearance. It is in 2 big pots in the cellar. I have to get some good dirt to refill my 1/2 barrel to plant it in.
Looking forward to pics of your "new" beds.

Do any of you raise sun chokes?

Cajun, I'm going to plant sunchokes this year... we've really been enjoying them roasted through the winter.

It's sunny Today!! So you won't be hearing so much from me... still wet and soggy, but warmer and nicer to work in the GH. Reading the SFJ has gotten me fired up again to work with my donks... my big plan is to at least brush them today. Plant the rest of the sugar pea seedlings... can corn beef.

Here's another quote for y'all. This is another letter from a small farm apprentice... I just love how she expresses herself:

"The work of loving land is a heavy work, and requires from those who undertake it a certain glad acceptance of the weight. Still, whatever the resolute joy found in the task, every load is made lighter by joint effort, and there are some burdens that can only be lifted with joined strength. The offer of your support to willing hands--particularly I speak now for young, serious, hopeful, earnest hands, having so much less skill and knowledge than we might wish--is the greatest kindness and help you could provide us. You tell us that yes, there is a large and difficult thing you wish to do--and we have done it, and seen its value, and now will help you with the fullness of our ability."
Caitlin Thurrell, Maine

Ain't that just the finest thing?
Have a loverly day...
Jay

That's a fine way of thinking. A burden is always lightened by the number of hands and hearts that carry it.

ok i posted this in an old forum so i thought i would transfer it over to this one since its a newer forum....
Uhh i am in nyc and i hate it i wish i had a place i could go to and just live off the land pitch a tent and grow my own garden,,, any takers lol,, I was just going to give you guys a lil secret that i learned from my cousin in western ky, he has a very grassy field in the back of his house, he took an old carpet from his house and threw it out in the field cut a circle in it about 6 inches and dug up the grass in the small whole and placed a small tamato plant there,, and omg that single tamato plant got so huge he didnt use anything to brace the plant up he let it just grow normally, i have never in my life seen a plant get so big or produce so many tamatoes, it just spread out over the carpet and grew like no other, i know at one point the plant was over 6 ft in diametor and was able to count over 100 tamatoes on it,, what made it grow like that i have no idea but the carpet from his house had alot to do with it,,it was able to keep all the weeds away he didnt even weed around the small openning where the plant was at, the carpet kept the ground moist at all times it amazed me

Thanks, Secret... great tip. And welcome to the 'stead!

Homesteading is an attitude... you can start right where you are and begin developing your skills with container gardening, canning, fixing stuff yourself, joining Master Gardeners, making cheese, and beginning to make connections with mentors and resources. Learning how to cut back on outside entertainment, TV-videos-games because A) you won't be able to afford them, B) you won't have time. Read up on small animal raising, visit the state fair, find the 4H people (yes, even New York has 'em)...

It's about self-sufficiency and community and swearing off the corporate rat race... it's amazing what folks are doing in urban areas. So... no more excuses, get up, get going... we all started with baby steps.

What's your set-up? If you're willing, we can get you rolling towards your dream.

my set up sucks here one bedroom place with 4 roommates not outside areas to do anything, i have only been here for a few months and i hateit i want to go back to the country, its a bad ituation that i want to get out of,, i have been talking ppl i know in other areas to see if i could pitch a tent on there land and start my dreams,, i remember when i was 13 and lived in ky( just moved there with family , and 14 sisters from fl ) i went out and created a veggy garden on the property did very good all except the watermelons, and it was simple way of life and i want to do it again, my mother used to can the veggies and she would also make pearhoney,, from the pears that grew there, i know as a kid i was rebelous alot of the time and didnt want to do alot of the work but im 28 now no kids family is far away and with a full house,, so i have grown up alot, i am tired of the way society is and our government, i dont want to say i want to be a hermit but in a way i want to just have a few ppl around and live off the land and get things growing and living life very simple and with ppl that want to do the same thing,, a yr ago i was raising chickens in florida but it was on rented property, but i lost my job and the owner did to so he moved back into the place and i was out with no means of doing anything,, dang economy. lol i even thought about running to the woods or mountains and pitching a tent and doing it that way but its illegal after my extended research fortold me. so it has t be on private property,,,,, uhhhh what a mess of my life, so thats why i want simple

So what are you doing in NYC? Working, going to school?

i also right now dont buy any facial products, i use left over food for that, or an egg yolk and let it dry and its a great anti aging thing,, i have an aloe plant that i will split open and rub on my skin as lotions, intead of buy teeth whitners i will eat strawberries, natural acids whiten teeth, heating up a carrot and mixed with natural yogurt is a great facial moisturizer ( blend it ) also egg yolk is great at preventing acne and sun spots keeps your skin tight and full of vitamines. if you have lavender growing u can take the lavender and put it in a stocking and place nder your pillow it helps with sleeping as i have insomnia. and natural olives u can de pit and crush up olives to make a great amazing natural paste for ur hair root stimulators in it and also keeps hair shiney and keeps from breaking,, i have sooo many tips on ways to use food other then just eating them

well the plan was for me to be in florida working and saving while my boyfriend was up here working and saving we have been together 8 yrs well for the two yrs i was in florida working he was not just working, well after i lost my job and came up here all hell broke loose bc i found out about his unfaithful ways,, and its not exactly a healthy relationship we still live together and its not always a hands off arguement i know it is a lil different circumstance because a guy hiting a guy isnt the same as one hitting a girl but still its not good to be in this relationship and i know what i need to do its just finding a way to do it and where to do it,, he wants to live this lavish life and i am content being outside with nature and making my own life simple and easy ( hard work involved ) but make it with out all the means of money and government and the spirals of our society, i want to grow my own food i look at prices of things i dont mind barter or trading, or working for a meal, he is al about the gucci and coach which i have also but i am trying to sell it all to get me out of here, i dont need it life is not about what you have but what u do with what u have helping others is far more important then boasting and showing off what u have..

Pod – yes I’m still working, have to prowl the dark streets of Houston for 11 more months before I can retire and become just a Good Ol Boy. Plus I’m just naturally lazy LOL.

Cajun – I think keeping small livestock it the key maybe. Not getting any younger and decided that any critter I couldn’t pick up and walk off with was too big. Another plus is that DW and I can eat a whole chicken or rabbit at one sitting. That leaves no left over to worry about and the meat is best kept fresh by keeping it alive till needed. As you said the fertilizer from the rabbits and chickens would make a rock grow. LOL

An, I think, Estonian Proverb: “The work will teach you”

Secret – Welcome to the conversation.

Sorry Jay but I refuse to give up Zelda, Rune Quest or The Gates of Andaron, for any amount of beans. LOL. TV and movies I can do with out though.

Secret, I think there are internships available, mostly on sustainable organic farms and homesteads. They don't pay much, but room and board is included in most cases. If you are serious about this way of life, why don't you do some research to see if you can find someplace you could get to. It's a wonderful opportunity to learn.

i have been lol i have actually be doing research on this for a few yrs now,, and i want to just jump in sink or swim type thing, and i think with me thats when i work best

Keep at it. I would guess this is the time of year when people would really be looking for help. Good luck with your search!

BTW, get out of that relationship. It ain't gonna get any better.

Oh yes, you must... and take up Scrabble. LOL And I think you know what I mean.... I have a horrible penchant for sci fi and fantasy, but it sits and gathers dust during the busy season... unless I can can something, and then I can sit and read, having the excuse that the pressure MUST be monitored.

Secret... I appreciate that you value your good looks, but they're probably going to go right to hell working the land. Not to mention your nails. =0) But... maybe you could set up as an 'aesthetist' (?) or skin consultant in a smaller city or town than where you are now. They've become quite the rage here in our little town... 13,000 people and at least 2 as well as a couple of spas associated with historic hotels.

You can still learn to can, sew, plumb, and volunteer at a community garden... It's also a good time to put together the tools you'll need by haunting yard and estate sales.. They're in a lot better shape in the city, I assure you.

You need to pull your head out of that guy's fist and move on. There are plenty of folks out there who will appreciate and value what you have to offer, but you've got to shuck whatever baggage keeps you near him. That's a dead end, honey.

Now is the time to start hussling on those apprenticeships... it's probably too late in some areas, but up north it's still early for planting. What places have you found?

ty and im working on leaving but finding the means to do so sucks,, where to go is my problem

I am pretty good at Scrabble, ah, as long as they let me use my spell checker that is.

That is why you need to get an apprenticeship lined up... most of them provide room and board in exchange for labor. Some places offer a stipend, some don't, but any of them will get you out of there.

Here's a couple of possibilities... sit down and write them tonight! I don't mean just look at their sites... select some likely farms and contact them. Convince them you're healthy and willing. Sell yourself as the next generation of land steward.

Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Assoc. Farm Apprenticeship Program
www.mofga.org

North American Biodynamic Apprenticeship Program
www.bdtraining.org

Also check out the Rural Heritage site. I think they also list apprecticeships.

ty so much jay i will be checking ito that big time

Woo-hoo! You go, boy! =0)

"Green Acres is the place for me,
Farm livin' is the life for me!
Land spreadin' out so far and wide...
Keep Manhattan, just give me that countryside!"

lol dontwant manhattan here im trying to get out of it, and i will weather its a tent or whatnot imma be out very soon

It's may not be easy, but keep at it. Persistence pays and it proves the measure of a man. Keep us posted!

Wake up jay captain chaos is back!

Msrobin ~ I would love to be your neighbor, I'd join your CSA and still volunteer to work for you. I admire your ambition and drive. I am in awe that you are getting this business off the ground so your husband can come home and help you do the work you are now doing alone. Whew!

My waterbeds sit on top of the ground. All I need to do is level them as we are on a slope. I use landscape timbers for the frame but one guy I know is using PVC here ( I got him started) but small pine trees should work also. The most economical would be to dig down in the soil but I work so chose to pick the lazy route myself.

To those of you that grow rhubarb, I am jealous. I grew up loving it and it is only an annual here. As I am the only fan at this house, I don't bother growing it but eat my fill when I go home for a visit.

I've never tried or read about sunchokes. Describe please?

A friend gave me a packet of Bountiful Gardens seed today ~ Elderberry! I wanted some but would have gone with plants had I ordered. I intend to sprout them and return some to him. Any sprouting tips?

Hello to all our new posters today... Scrabble anyone?

Hey secret if your still here do not drink the kool-ade and do not move to Cleveland Ohio!

I think Jay had too much fun out in the sunshine today!

I've been busy potting up seedlings today. I could be fairly dangerous, if I had the size greenhouse I want. All the seedlings and little plants are doing great, including the tomatoes I moved out to the greenhouse. That tent in the center sure does a good job for added protection on cold nights.

So, Captain Chaos, are you doing this big move by yourself?

Podster, thank you. That means a lot to me. Al and I have only been together for 10 years. Took us a long time to find each other. This is the only option for us to both be able to stay home. You've heard the stories about what happens if I travel with him and there's just no work in his field close to home. So we're giving the CSA a shot. Only other option is for him to be a Walmart Greeter (no offence intended to anyone), but trust me, he wouldn't last long. LOL

I'm going to do a few waterbeds like yours. Those kiddie pools, although they work great, are sure getting expensive. Besides, the dog thinks every one is his and he gets a little indignent when he sees buckets in them.

Pod, Elderberries sound great. I'll have to look into those.

You know, they actually grow wild in most states in the US. They grow in ditches and creeks around here but I never think about taking cuttings till they are blooming and then, I forget to harvest berries before the birds get them. Then there are chiggers and snakes out and I'm not as brave either. I thought it would be great to have a clump in the yard. All the reading I've done says germination is going to be like the gestation period in an elephant. It will take a couple years and lots of patience. The soil needs to stay moist for all that time. I may place that pot in the water bed and try to ignore it but better label it well or by then I'll forget what was in that pot..
Msrobin ~ just know you got my moral support in your business endeavor.
Have a great day y'all...

Have returned to reality.No Jay two friends are going to also escape this hell hole here.it`ll be at least a 2 day drive.with a truck of tools and starting supplys.I`m going to take AMTRAK from Cleveland to Poplar Bluff missouri and bolt up with them there. I`ll chaperone the equiptment onboard the train.From there its roughlt 1-1/2 hr. drive.making 2 trips to get it to the property.

lol i dont drink kool-aid or want to go to cleavland so i am good there, i was thinking more about west va or va and even thought about vermont who knows where i will end up,,

Mornin' everybody, it's a sunny, windy day here today, and for the first time in weeks the ground is dry enough to get my truck down to the barn/greenhouse, so I've already been to the lumber store to get the supplies for a raised bed, and the feed store for straw for bedding and all that comes after that. Have unloaded same and turned compost into small bed w/cold frame. Had to hussle, 'cause tomorrow it's supposed to rain again. But now I've got the supplies to work on that raised bed in the GH tomorrow while listening to it make this place slop again.

Really looking forward to following your migration and 'land busting', East. Have you got a digital camera to give us the visuals?

Those elderberry seeds may be just the thing for winter sowing... I read up on how to start cherries from seed once and thought.... uh-huh, my attention span is way to short for that... moist sand all winter, a certain amount of freeze but not to much, etc. That was before winter sowing hit my radar... now I'm all over it, like a bear on honey. Gonna try some local plums (I don't think they're actually native, just run amok), and chokecherries this next winter. There's a Mexican elderberry tree that is really beautiful, but they won't survive up here.

Sunchokes are also known as Jerusalem artichokes... the plant looks similar to a wild sunflower, but it's perennial and forms tubers underground. Mostly about the size of a lime around here. They look sorta like ginger, same thin skin, but not fibrous inside. We've roasted them and they have a nice artichoke flavor. They also boil up well for soups. You don't peel them, just give 'em a good scrubbing.

The plants can take over, so plant them somewhere that won't be a problem... sorta like mint. The fall is the best time to dig them, like potatoes. And like potatoes, you'll never get them all, so they'll come back the next year. They're a NA native and can survive all the way up to N. Dakota. They're rich in inulin, which is a good thing, though I don't remember why. LOL And that's as much as I know... check back in a year, the planting tubers are coming this fall.

Now you've all reminded me... I've got to get my rhubarb started! And there are other things on my list today, before the rains come again, so tah-tah, see you on my next break!

Jay

PS Captain Chaos.... hah! You don't scare me, but now I know who to holler at when things go south around here... LOL

Uh-oh... we're getting trendy... heaven forbid, I think I might be a prepper...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8587464.stm

Who comes up with these mute posterior terms anyway?

Wow Jay, you are on a roll. Thanks for the info on the chokes. I got some seeds from a trade. Gonna plant them in a barrell.

From seed, huh? It'll be interesting to see how they do started from seed... all the catalogues sell the tubers.

OK, work day's over... winds 15, gusts to 30 mph and snow starting. Glad I got moving early, I got a lot done today, and I'm set for working on that raised bed manana. Provided it's not too cold, just basic misery. LOL It's not particularly pleasant in the tunnel in the wind, the flapping of the plastic kinda gets to a body after awhile, but at least it'll be something.

As you know, I get a little uppity when I'm inside too long.... LOL

Uppity ~ I understand. When the weather dumps on me I call it snarky or testy maybe.

Horseradish ~ does anyone else grow it? I guess it would be a perennial. Cajuns' barrel made me think of it as I have it in a barrel.

I decided to go to town late this morning, figuring by the time I got back it would have warmed up and the ground dried out some. It did warm up to 60, but the new garden was still too wet to work in. I did get a few things done on my trusty little list though, so all was not lost. After tonight, with lower 30's, the next week is suppose to get progressively better, with next Friday predicted to reach 80. It would sure be nice to be able to get the gardens totally prepared before it's time to start to start planting.

Jay, glad to hear you dried up some. That mud and muck can get pretty depressing after awhile. How are your summers out there? Do you have a long enough summer to grow everything you want to? When I lived back in Omaha, we were zone 5 too, but I sure don't remember that season being any shorter than ours here, either 6b or 7a, depending on which map I look at. Actually, I think the spring and falls were a little more predictable.

I need to get busy starting some more seeds, or at least get some soaking to be planted in the morning. When I pot seedlings up to solo cups, I set the cups in kitty litter trays that I bought at the dollar store. That sure works well for bottom watering and they are much easier to move from the house to the greenhouse. Anyway, I've got 5 more ready to move out, so that opens up available space in the house. This fall, I WILL have a big greenhouse or hoophouse!

60* and your testy,uppity,snarky wha-wha-wha-get a grip ace.spend a winter here.Wind raging off the lake,snow cutting your face.Fingers and toe`s colder than a crooked cop.It builds character.Character I got- I`m outta here.

Back off, Capt Chaos, that wasn't me who used those words. I've done my fair share of frigid winters and the words that describe my winter disposition are not allowed on this website. :)

Q: does pvc hold up well/durablility wise? I see what appears to be some type of flexible pipe frame w/your apparatus/wind tunnel

PVC will hold up for a good number of years, but the plastic against the pvc has some kinda weird rxn that hastens the degradation of the plastic. Paint or duct tape will prevent that.

Over time (like years) the pvc will lose flexibility and become more prone to breaking... there's also UV stabilized pvc, but of course it's more expensive and you have to order it.

And at least you don't live in Buffalo. LOL

As for summers here... last year was so dry I never let the donks onto the pasture, it didn't get enough moisture to grow til August, I think. And that was such a puny effort, I just left it alone to strengthen the roots. So hopefully this year will be better. My growing season is something like 100 days. Short. So, nope, I don't get to grow everything I want unless I take extreme measures. But I am getting a reputation as someone who knows how to grow buckets of tomatoes!