pod, I forgot to respond to how the stink bugs destroyed my tomato crop. They suck juices out of the outside walls, sort of like a mosquito sucks blood... and everywhere they poke a hole, an area the size of a dime or larger becomes hard and pithy all through the wall. Not very noticeable on the outside except slight discoloration. Most of my tomatoes last year had only about an inch of usable tomato, not worth the effort to salvage... and I had a really good crop of tomatoes.
They feed on apples, peaches, blackberries, sweet and field corn, soybeans, tomatoes, lima beans and green peppers. Up here they mate and lay eggs on the underside of leaves from May through August. The bugs will begin looking for shelter from the winter in September and October, usually in your house or outbuildings.
On the May Homestead
Goodmorning! Lots of sunshine here this morning!
Major stink bug damage on my tomatoes and peppers last year, too.
I have a lot of crows around here and I ran across this idea last year and it seemed to worked in my corn. Put a stake or two (30" or so) in the garden with a piece of black plastic tied to the top. The plastic should flap a bit in the wind, but not be too big. Maybe 6" on either side of the stake. It's suppose to look like a dead crow to the other crows.
I also read that if you take a stake (I used the same size stakes as above) and tie a white grocery bag on the top to flap in the wind, deer see that as a danger signal from another deer's tail. I used several on the wooded side of my garden and didn't have a deer all summer. To be fair though, I know there are deer in those woods and the side of the garden is about 50' away, but only saw deer tracks once in the early garden after a heavy rain. Some people around here have a string around their whole garden 2' high with plastic bags tied on to it every 10'-15'.
We have mostly turkey vultures but I haven't seen them any closer than 1/4 mile from the house.
Pod, great idea on studding the roast! I may have to try the bunching onions. Dh isn't too fond of onions and the sets have so many. This year I planted one set and then my MIL brought me another set...a bit of an onion overload for us.
I want to try leeks this year, Dh does like them. My pack says April, but I don't see seedlings surviving our summer heat. Going to start them in September and hope for the best.
Lots of fish in the freezer! I had an attentive audience of dogs and cats while digging in the remains. I covered the area with cattle panel and so far no digging :0)
I flushed up a few squash bugs today, not the same as Darius posted. I look forward to their arrival, oh goodie :0(
Great score of on the berries! I don't grow any berries other then the black berries.
Ya'll will have to post pics, so I can lick my screen.lol
Pod, got lots of okra seed if you need them.
Ya'll got me thinking about strawberries. I remember how much time and effort my grandfather put into strawberry plant. He would baby and visit them every day. The funny thing ...that just dawned on me...I don't remember eating very many berries when I lived with him...He was holding out!!!
I got the first serving of yellow squash today. I think I'm going to dehydrate most of it this year. I like it "squashed".
Made some dill butter to try with the zuchs :0)
The squash look tasty... I can hardly wait for fresh squash! I haven't much cared for dill in the past but willing to try it again, maybe in a butter like yours.
Yum! Dill butter. I love dill and made a note to myself to start lots more dill next spring. This year I planted two different compact types. The one has not started blooming yet, I am anxious to see how far into the heat of summer it will last. The other one I harvest the blooms from for my salads.
LOL but I'll pass on the okra seed. I have plently of seed when mine are the only lips that will wrap around it. I haven't met a way to fix okra that I don't like!
Worth watching out for the stinkbugs but they weren't my tomato patch affliction last year. Seems if it ain't one thing, it's another!
It was a lovely day here. Hope everyone enjoyed it while I was indoors slaving away. 8 (
It was cloudy and cold here, so I didn't spend any time outside, either.
Cold and drizzly here all day. I woke up with an earache. Still bothering me.
My beans and squash are just about to open their blooms!!!
I need to get some more bags made up for the reat of the vining squash and melons I have seeded. They are still in the house and need to be potted up. The eggplants are potted up and doing fine. I also have more peppers and tomatoes potted up that I need to find containers for.
Have to pick the sugar ann peas tomorrow. I like them raw but will likely make a stir fry. Need to get the chinese cabbage pulled too. It is going to seed.
We were looking forward to a local trail ride this weekend but have opted to stay home because of the equine virus outbreak that is spreading across the country killing horses.
cool and wet here again this AM. Yesterday we set a record-coldest high for May 17th. I walked out to the garden yesterday between the rains. The plants are all doing well and the chard is FINALLY up, as are the first spuds. No Mangels yet, though. The tomatoes and peppers are looking perky, though. And the cole crops are just loving this weather. I am afraid to plant anyting from seed in the garden right now as it is so wet and cold I'm afraid the seed will rot before it can germinate. Not supposed to rain tomorrow, so maybe by tomorrow evening It'll be dry enough for the rest of my tomatoes and peppers. I have the corn and beans and pumpkins ready to plant if it warms up enough. My frustration levels are really high right now.
Same here, Nik. I'm beginning to wonder if I'll even have much garden this year.
My sweet potato slips arrived yesterday, but it's been too wet to make the hills and furrows.
Chuckle for the day...
"Alpha Dogs Come in All Sizes"
I snagged this off a blog I read
http://mausersandmuffins.blogspot.com/2011/05/while-mom-is-on-road-important-message.html
Too funny. It was that way with our BC and dachsund. Those mini weiners are hellacious little fighters.
Sure hope all you guys dry out who need to. It is frustrating not to be able to get crops in. I am glad for my raised beds and containers right now though they do limit how much I can plant. I have things that seem to be at a standstill with all this cold weather. I planted some herbs but don't see anything coming up. I may plant some inside under the lights just for insurance. My corn is up to about 6 or 7" high. My beans are coming up and the ones I planted first are about to bloom. I have lost a few beans and onions to those stupid chipmunks.
My DGSs will be here in 2 or 3 weeks and I can hardly wait. Also, DH's Mom and brother will be coming the end of next month to stay a week. We have not seen them in nearly 5 years so that will be a treat. Gotta get this house in some semblance of order before then. Trying to clean out the clutter.
I took this pic on Mother's Day. It's about 20 minutes from my house.
What a beautiful place to be, Cajun!
I've been hearing about the equine outbreak. How nasty and sad, I think you're making the right choice not go trail riding. Best to be safe and use quarantine measures..changing boots worn to feed stores, etc. Hope they reel this in soon.
Have fun with those grandsons!
I'm useless, done nothing today :0)
I have been going for short walks. Trying to hunt down a chinkapin for ya, Darius. I called the gentleman that grew up in our house and he said 'yes' we do have them on the property. He remembers as a kid, eating them in the fall while squirrel hunting. Just a matter of finding one, without finding snakes.lol
There have not been any cases here in Ky and I am thankful. It seems to be moving in the QH community. I know it's not breed specific but it is being passed by horses in the more QH genres like cutting and barrel racing. Don't see many racking horses at those events. I imagine the little local ride might be safe enough if it was only horse to horse contact spreading it. There won't be any horses traveling to this small ride from any infected areas but the stuff can be carried by nearly anything. May be somebody there who came in contact with it at a sale barn or visiting a farm in a neighboring state and be carrying it on their boots or truck tires. I just feel better keeping my crew at home. I am just getting them back in shape from a difficult move and 2 long, hard winters. I'll wait and see how this thing plays out.
Careful of the snakes. They have started moving around here.
WooHoo, I just got some good news! It's not winning the lottery, but pretty exciting anyway. :)
A couple I know (barely) about 1½ miles from here used to sell eggs so I stopped by there this afternoon. No eggs, but they have goats!
The wife, a school teacher, wants to learn to make cheese, and 2 of her goats are dairy goats. She didn't breed them the last 1-2 years because she has no one to help with milking if she has to be away, or is ill, plus her husband doesn't want to milk. When she did milk summer before last, they had more than they could use. We have agreed to work out something, and perhaps even share in getting a milk cow later, which she has been considering. Right now we need to buy a milk goat or two and make plans to have hers bred; school is out for the summer on June 10 so we'll soon have time to search some farms looking for goats.
They have more than enough space, pens, barns and fencing so I'd be spared the expense of money and labor for those things... which I'd have to do here at home all by myself in order to have a place for a milker, and then buy the milker myself too.
I kinda thought all this rain might have a rainbow!
I'm sure there was a rainbow somewhere!
I have a broody hen and don't know what to do. Can we or should we move her to a seperate pen? And can we slip some more eggs under her when the other hens lay tomorrow?
Darius, that is great news! And so close. I know you are excited. I'd do a happy dance for you, if I had any rythum. LOL
Robin, I'd not move her. She should do just fine. How many eggs are under her?
I forget what kind of dairy goats she has; I didn't pay much attention and it wasn't until later we talked about a joint venture. The meat goats are part Boer or maybe full-bred? Probably fewer than a dozen, total, from what I could see.
Got a recommendation for a dairy goat breed with the best milk? I've heard Nubians... although they aren't the best all-round goat.
I understand African Pygmies milk is the highest in butterfat and also highest in sugar which makes it taste closest to cow's milk. I don't know anything about the others.
My mother raised boers and had a few nubians. It'll be hard getting recommendations, the breed everyone raises is their favorite.lol
I'd look for the healthiest well cared for goats. Preferable the cheaper non-registered pets. A lot of people raise goats just for the enjoyment, but then have too many mouths to feed. They may not be the prettiest or well built in terms of show or production. A goat like that will run 150.00 in my area, compared to a registered dairy-line doe about 400.00.
Then spend your money on a well bred buck. They're a fraction of the cost.
A breed common to your area will be easier to find. Makes a big difference come breeding time.
Another thing to consider, talking about traits of certain breeds, they are talking about the breeds "standards', they only way to ensure these standards are upheld, is usually by sticking to registered breeds where the bloodlines are carefully weighed. Unless your showing, or going into the breeder business, it's not that big of an issue for home milk.
I don't know if I explained that well.
In other words, my ugly cow gives great milk :0) She by no means gives the same about of milk and cream that the 'standards' of a registered jersey would give. But my main priority was health, temperament and price. And I still have plenty of milk and cream! Whichever of her traits I dislike, I look to correct with the bull for the next generation.
I'm so excited for you!
Thanks Linea, and Caj.
I've just spent the last 3 hours searching the 'net, finally went to Craig's Lists in NC, VA, WVa and KY. My first thoughts were a dairy goat in milk. Then the more I thought about it, the farmer's markets around here all have 1 or more vendors of goat cheese, but NO cow cheese or butter. Selling cheese eventually could be an option, even if it's made in an approved facility like a church kitchen for now.
So I looked at Jersey's and Jersey crosses. Actually found two in eastern KY IN MILK, for what seems like a reasonable price. One is bred back to a Jersey bull. Mini jersey's run $3,000 and up, if you can find one at all. These 2 full size Jersey's are $650, and $750 for the one that's bred.
Cow question... how long do you dry them off before calving? (At least I assume that's what one does.)
Darius, I looked up the girls your talking about on Craigs list, Bath right?
Imo, I would pass on them.
Also I don't know if your aware of this site http://familycow.proboards.com/
It would be a good idea to run any purchase ideas past these people, a smart bunch. Lots of different opinions, good to gather an idea of what works for you and what doesn't.
Okay, please educate me on why I should pass...
And what testing is done for $150-200 for a new cow?
Both are underfed and too thin. The fawn looks to be in the better condition, but that's not saying much. She's 6 months bred and if not, should be dried off now. And that's going to be tricky... you have to stop feeding them grain and alfalfa to stop producing milk, but she's not going to gain enough on hay and grass in three months to support calving. She will be too thin at freshening and a lot of hard work to keep healthy during this upcoming lactation. She's going to be a high risk at birthing, for metabolic disorders that can afflict dairy cows, like milk fever and ketosis.
If the black cow isn't bred, she may have a chance of gaining enough weight before being bred. If she is dry and open, pass...she'll be extremely had to breed back. Johne's is a 'wasting away' disease and I would be suspicious of any extremely thin cows.
It bothers me that both haven't been well cared for..If you talk to owner, I would want to know why. It can give you clues as to health problems.
This is just my opinion, and I know there are others that would disagree me on the family cow board. Thats why I mentioned the family cow board. It's better to have many opinions and support of people who may been down the same road. It may be possible to bring them back into condition with great care...I just don't have that experience.
You'll want to test for BLV, BVD, TB, Johne's, and brucellosis and some consider Staph A. testing, especially if they is any issues in the past with mastitis. My quote is probably too high, forgot I'm usually testing two at a time. Half that cost is lab shipping, some vets use more then one lab..so the cost can vary.
Ah, gotcha... Thanks!
No problem. If you want I can post their pics on the family cow forum and get more feedback. I know how hard it is to join and navigate a new site and have a bunch of new words thrown at ya.lol
The plus side,The fawn is a beautiful girl and from what I can see has a nice udder. Her teats maybe short for hand milking (hard to tell from the pic)750.00 is good price if she is disease free. And I certainly wouldn't purchase her without an understanding that she will pass all tests. It's just a shame she hasn't had enough groceries. I don't know how much risk you want to take for her price.
The KFC board also has an "auction barn" section. It's closed to new members (I'm unsure how many posts it takes before it opens). The group is a rather tight knit community, much like DG. Most would rather sell their cows as 'family' milkers and purchase cows from like minded families. It's better for everyone all around, the health records of family cows are usually accurate. They try hard to keep out "resellers". People who go to dairy auctions then sell at a higher price, without any real knowledge of the cows history.
I haven't even talked to Julie to see if there;s any money to buy a cow now, so it's all theoretical for the nonce. However, I wouldn't mind knowing more opinions on the fawn, if you'd post her. Thanks for the offer. I'm pretty sure a cow is in my future, one way or another!
I will join that forum, gotta learn somehow!
I used to have milk goats. The best was a boer/nubian cross. Gertrude looked like a pale coloured boer, but she consistantly gave me about 2-2 1/2 qts per milking. Good sweet milk and her teets were of a good size for milking. I had a pygmy also, but I just couldn't hardly milk her as her teets were so small. She was very unfriendly, too. LuluBelle the Nubian gave good milk, but not a lot of it and she was a lousey mother. I had two alpines the next year and they both were easy milkers. The milk was okay, and with two of them the quantity was there. Then the next door neighbors got a Jersey cow and offered me all the milk I wanted as part of the rent for my back pasture. Now I raise a meat goat every other year.
What a deal on the Jersey milk, Nik! Sure beats milking and feeding your own...
I have 2 AP does. One was a bottle baby so she is gentle to the point of irritating. The other is a bit skittish but getting much better. They are due to kid the end of summer. msRobin sent me info and materials to make a hand vacuum milker. Hoping it does the trick because those teats are very small. I plan to sell the kids. I am going to do the latching method to raise them until weaning time. I need to get another pen built. Hoping I can find another dog kennel to convert.
AP??
All-purpose?
african pygmy goat?
AlPine goat?
alien predator goat?..hehe..just give monsanto some time.
I've spent 10 hours putting boric acid in every kitchen drawer, cabinet, base board, ect...
Somehow after 12 years living here, only now, do I have german cockroaches! I hate these things!
Tomorrow, the rest of the house!
The upside, my cabinets are so well organized, it would make a stepford wife jealous.
Oh, my... I did the boric acid routine many times (in various apts/houses) when I lived in Florida, and again in Maryland. Nasty critters. Bleck.
Just been lurking a bit.
Interesting about the cow testing. Should I also do that when we do get calves we'd raise for meat.
Darius, I sure hope this all works out with your neighbor. That would be perfect for you to have someone to share the work with and they have the fencing and everything already in place.
Cajun, let me know how that milker works for you. Here's the link I found it on, in case I didn't give it to you before. They explain how to use the milker.
Nik, did you get you garden in? I've got everything planted for the first round, except for the corn, and some strawberries and a few herb plants I just bought yesterday. I have lots more seedlings growing for succession planting.
Just went out to take a pic of the snake curled up with the eggs. I think my long handled spoon I use to extend my reach to the corners is going to get a 2' extension. LOL