Homestead Happenings

 

Welcome to Homestead Happenings,

where we share what's going on 

here on our Piedmont, North Carolina homestead.

I recently made a garland out of these harvested

marigold blooms.

It is featured at the end of this post.

It was an easy and fun way to bring a bit of summer inside.

We were fortunate to have had a minor impact

from the recent Hurricane Helene.

Our neighbors to the west were not so fortunate.

Much of Western North Carolina has been

absolutely devastated.

We were inconvenienced with a few hours of pioneer living,

and a few days without internet,

and about 10" of rain over two days.

Feeling so very fortunate.

It's been over a month since my last post,

how did that happen?

There was a pup sitting job that took me away

from the homestead for a good while.

I am playing catch up on all things gardening,

and relishing the time spent with the chooks.

This week, I took the time to sift through our compost.

This is done every 6 months,

and I get enough to fill about five 5-gallon buckets.

This meets my needs for compost,

so there is no need to purchase it.

Our handy neighbor Joe,

made me a screen that just happens

to fit perfectly over this garden cart.

Works like a charm!

Several Seminole pumpkins were picked earlier this week,

and I look forward to roasting one soon.

Seeds will be saved, as I am very impressed

with their lack of pest issues.

There are still a few that are ripening on the vines.

The sweet potatoes were also harvested.

The results were a bit disappointing,

but I am grateful for what we got.

The last two years have not been the best for spuds.

One crop that never disappoints is 

Red Ripper beans.

They are a drying bean and once they get going,

they produce pods for months.

I allow them to dry on the vine,

and shell them for storage once completely dry.

The herb garden is rockin'!

Periodically, herbs are picked for drying

in paper sacks.

The pollinators have been enjoying the basil.

Some cool weather crops have been transplanted.

In this bed we have cabbage and kale,

and in another bed we have broccoli, lettuce and more kale!

(I am a kale junkie!)

Once all the beds have been topped off or constructed,

(I have Birdie's beds to put together and place in the garden),

more brassicas will be planted,

as well as carrots, onions and turnips.

The fall planting season is my absolute favorite!

These girls love roosting!

Our "baby" chooks are doing well

and laying up a storm.

Since they are so young,

they did not have a first molt yet,

and so their eggs have been coming regularly.

They are all so gentle and seem to get along well.

I'm thinking it is because they were hand raised,

and that makes a world of difference.

Matilda!

Baxter and a friend.

May your week be filled with simple gifts.