Welcome back to Homestead Happenings,
where we share what's going on
here on our Piedmont property.
There are still plenty of blooms to cherish,
as we welcome the end of a very dry summer season.
One decision that was fostered by the dry weather
is that I want to do a refresh on the flower beds
and make the switch to mostly (and eventually all) natives.
I'm researching now, using the wealth of information provided
on the Cooperative Extension websites for our state.
It will be exciting to make the changes,
knowing that we will be feeding more wildlife, obliging pollinators,
and doing our part to support Mother Nature as best we can.
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| Baxter |
I've been taking care of these two (see below) sweeties
for the past week.
They are such a delight and allow me to scratch my
"dog itch". We cannot have furry friends at our house,
because of C's allergies, so this is really a treat for me.
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| Smokey |
They keep me company,
and I truly miss them when I go back home.
Thankfully, I still get to see them once a week
when I come back to help with the gardens here.
They will forever have a piece of my heart.
Back at home,
we've had some serious molting!
Two of our olive eggers have lost so many feathers,
and I can't say it bothers me.
I'd certainly rather them go through their molt
in the heat of summer,
when they are surely relieved not to carry so much insulation.
We'll see how the other two do.
In other chook news,
we have combined both flocks together into the large run.
The olive eggers, the Wyandottes and our elder, Henrietta,
are all sharing space.
Each group has their own coop.
Chickens are like us, they don't much like change.
There are pecking order issues,
but we trust that they will work it out.
The spring babies, the Wyandottes,
seem very comfortable around the other girls,
especially if they stick together as a group.
They really enjoy foraging and are very curious.
Unfortunately, because they look so much alike,
their designated names have not been given yet.
They are most often referred to as "the babies" or
"the golden girls".
At 23 weeks, they should start laying anytime.
In our garden, the covers have gone back on the beds,
mostly to keep the chooks from digging in them.
I recently found that some beet and kale seedlings
had been eaten by something.
Our pill bug population is fairly healthy,
so I will probably use the sliced potato method of deterrent
when I reseed them.
I look forward to getting back to fall planting.
The beans I had identified in the last post as Jade green beans,
were, in fact, cowpeas.
I haven't grown them in a few years, so I had forgotten
that they turn purple before harvest time.
Next year I will plant a lot more,
because I find them to be easy to grow
with no pest pressure to speak of.
Overall, I'd like to increase the variety of beans for drying.
The Seminole pumpkin plants have been a bit
disappointing. With only a few fruits, it
doesn't look like there will be many for winter storage.
Other than the drought conditions,
I don't really know why they are so sparse.
They will be planted again next year,
with the idea of giving them more hydration
to see if that increases our volume.
Of course, we can't do much about critters
who help themselves before they are even ripe.
Big K suggested putting wire cages around them
to deter squirrels, groundhogs, or whatever
creature made a meal of this one.
It's the first time we've had this type of damage
with this particular fruit.
There's always another challenge with gardening.
I'll be home for the weekend, so I can check on the family,
the chooks and the garden.
There is a definite shift in the air,
and I have no doubt that autumn is indeed, on its way.
Enjoy the changes the seasons bring.
