Season's Greetings on this Garden Friday!
Today we celebrate our fifth year in North Carolina!
We moved here 5 years ago on December 31st,
so that we could start the new year in our dream state.
We have a few things to report this week,
and I'm happy to say, it's all good news.
We got our first load of free wood chips dropped off,
just before Christmas day.
I've been on the list for Chip Drop for almost 3 years,
and this was the first time we have been graced with a load.
This mountain of mulch was put to work
as soon as it cooled down enough to move.
It's also been offered to several neighbors,
should they need them for projects.
The trees will savor the extra insulation
and utilize the nutrients to enrich the soil below.
I'd like to eventually plant some bulbs
around the base of some of the trees,
but at the moment, the ground is heavy clay and
nearly impossible to penetrate.
Some of the chips were added around the two raised beds
from the former garden location.
These beds didn't have to be moved,
and they are in their permanent spot.
The mulch will help to keep weeds down.
Another area near the old garden area
is dotted with birdhouses.
This may become an ornamental area in the future,
so adding the mulch helps me visualize the parameters.
Great news on the chook front!
Gandalf is feeling more himself
and has even started crowing again on a regular basis.
Of course, this means that he is back to "bothering" the ladies,
but I guess it all goes with the territory.
So grateful that he has healed well from the dog attack
a few months ago.
One thing recently discovered was that the chooks
love turnip greens!
We will have to make a point of buying them regularly
to add to their mix of cabbage, kale and lettuce greens.
I finally got the bulbs planted this past week.
These were gifted us by the local Extension Center,
and I just couldn't get to them until now.
New tulips and crocus will be a welcome addition come spring.
Piedmont Farmstead is a local farm that sells their produce and personal care products
at the farmers' market during the season.
On the off-season, they sell from the farm directly,
so I paid them a visit to purchase some Christmas gifts.
I'm hoping that I can pick up some of their lettuce and kale
on a regular basis.
They are good folks, doing what they love.
Back at home, I've covered most of the raised beds
for protection from the winter chill,
(although there hasn't been much of it),
and found that using t-posts works well to weigh down the sides.
The lettuce has been doing well under the covers,
and is finally big enough to pick for salads.
It feels fantastic to be able to harvest during the winter months.
The chooks go through quite a bit of water each week,
so I decided to fashion a 5-gallon waterer
out of an old bucket I had laying around,
and these poultry nipples purchased at our local hardware store.
So far, so good.
It saves me from having to fill it so often
and keeps debris out of the water as well.
Several other improvement projects are lurking
to make the chicken run a bit better.
Hopefully, the weather will continue to cooperate
and I can find the time to get it done.
Wishing you a multitude of blessings in the New Year!
~daisy
