Garden Friday

Welcome to our first August edition of Garden Friday.

Over the next few months,

we hope to work on our goals for the new garden location,

(read why we need to move it here),

and create a separate chicken garden area.

As for the existing garden,

it's pretty much been left to fend for itself.

Between getting the news about the drain field,

and then being away at a dog-sitting job for a week,

it's been on the back burner for a while.

The okra is a testament to how neglected its been.

This Bradford family variety still tastes good,

even at this size,

but unfortunately,

we won't be able to eat anything from the garden this year.

The volunteer cantaloupe I found in the huglekulture bed

is massive.

Although we won't be enjoying it,

it gives me motivation to plant this crop again next season.

Someone is enjoying the cantaloupe out there

(pesky squirrels).

Another success this summer is the watermelons.

These are the biggest watermelons I've ever grown.

Again, we won't be able to savor them this year,

but they will be on my planting list next year.

These were both sown in straw bales and left to sprawl.

Not one to give up on the dream of a fall garden,

I've pulled my seeds out and used these homemade pots

to sow a few things.

There's just nothing like the thrill of planting new seeds,

except maybe for the sight of them germinating!

I'm intending to grow beets, broccoli, carrots, chard,

kale, leek, lettuce, onions, and spinach.

Of course, I have a whole bed reserved for planting our garlic.

The plan is to use containers on top of pallets as a temporary measure.

I'll be working on obtaining free 5-gallon buckets and pallets

wherever I can to move forward.

When the weather cools off, I'll take on the task of

relocating beds in the new spot to be ready for spring planting.

The other major change on the homestead will be

turning this area of our side yard

into a chicken garden!

I have so many ideas for this area,

but of course I'm trying to figure out ways to do it on the cheap.

I want to set up some cattle panel arches

so that the chooks have some protection from the weather.

This will also serve as a place to keep their feed and other necessary items.

The idea is to fashion a garden where they can explore, forage for bugs,

hide if need be, take dust baths, and enjoy their "chickeness".

A talented friend is helping me with plant selection,

so that I can create a place they love to roam.

I'm hoping to build an adjoining compost area out of pallets,

to make it easy to add the chickens' bedding to the pile

so that it can sit a good, long time before adding it to the veggie beds.

So far, they are doing well and seem to feel fairly comfortable in their new home.

We recently got this mobile fencing

that can be moved wherever we want them to forage.

I have to say that I didn't think I would enjoy them as much as I do.

It just feels right.

This was our first dozen eggs from the girls!

We have one rooster and three hens,

but we are picking up two more hens this weekend.

"I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."