Homestead Happenings

 

Welcome to Homestead Happenings,

where we share what's been going on in our world.

This week has been cold, but clear and sunny,

lending itself to daily walks in the neighborhood.

I've been working on pushing myself a bit more,

venturing out in colder temperatures. 

For someone who spent over 40 years in Florida,

this is no small feat.

I have also committed to completing

between 6,000 and 8,000 steps every day.

One of the projects we continue to work on this fall,

is creating a large stash of leaf mulch,

to be used in the garden beds all year long.

This backpack mulcher takes time,

but gets the job done.

We've had our first frost (and second, and third),

and so far the garden has done well.

The row covers need to be replaced,

as there are tears which let the cold in,

but they are being held together with clothespins,

which is something that this homestead could not live without.

While the garden beds were watered yesterday,

these lovely broccoli heads were found.

I am looking forward to eating this treat,

as well as all of the shoots that will follow.

If the cold gets any worse,

I may just harvest them early, so that I don't miss out.

The chooks have been enjoying a few of the leaves.

garlic, strawberry and cover crops

We got a dusting of snow this week!

It was unexpected, but very welcome.

We have been lacking winter precipitation

for the past few years,

so I'll take what I can get.

The doves don't seem to mind the snow one bit,

as every morning they gather underneath 

the birdfeeder to see what scraps they can find.

We recently decided to feed the birds only in the colder months,

and provide birdseed and homemade suet to them.

Our chooks are still laying fairly well,

gifting us with over a dozen eggs each week.

It's enough for our needs,

but it would be nice to be able to share them with neighbors.

We may have to consider adding to the flock in the spring,

so that we can provide for others.

Saffron

Preparations have been made for the chooks,

so that they can be as comfortable as possible 

during this cold spell.

Our Omlet coops are insulated, which helps a lot,

but I've also added straw inside,

so that they will be toasty as they sleep.

We've also moved the tarps on the tops of the runs,

so that the sun shines on the coops all day,

warming them before bedtime.

 Cracked Corn is made available in the colder months

so that their body heat is maintained a little easier.

Living with four, distinct seasons is such a blessing.

How's the weather where you are?

Garden Friday

 

 

 

It's Garden Friday

and we are hoping to thaw out from this week's low temperatures!

 With the Winter Solstice still looming,

we've had our share of chilly mornings around here.

Let's see how the garden fared.

 

 

Well, the clover that we use as a ground cover got frosted,

but as soon as the sun was out,

it bounced right back.

 

The beet greens got a bit icy,

but with the roots nestled cozily under ground,

the frost will simply make them sweeter.

 

That's what happened to the kale 

after its close encounter with the frigid conditions.

After sampling some yesterday while picking greens for my salad,

I couldn't believe how much sweeter it was!

 

Under the row covers, I checked to see how the carrots, leek,

lettuce and snap peas were managing.

Turns out, they were just fine and amazingly,

they continue to grow despite what the thermometer reads.

 

The Walla-Walla onions, which are uncovered,

are coming along nicely.

They don't seem to mind the icy temps at all.

We also have red cabbage and parsley growing in this bed.

 

The garlic just keeps on chuggin' along.

The drip irrigation has been disconnected over this last stretch of weather,

but we will monitor the temps and reconnect it when our lows

are back in the mid-to-high thirties.

There should be plenty of garlic for the coming year.

It will be harvested in May of 2021.

 

When working out in the yard this week,

I spied this gorgeous holly shrub,

just loaded with berries.

If that doesn't scream "the holidays",

what does?

I may have to snatch a few to decorate our mantel.

 

Unbelievably, the yarrow has actually had blossoms on it this week.

It doesn't seem fazed in the least by the chill factor.

 

We still have our sweet lil' (free) bush daisy,

 

as well as our salvia blooming.

These are some hearty flowering plants.

 

 

 Yesterday, I began pruning back a lot of dead material

in a couple of the beds.

This work will continue until things are tidied up.

There is still leaf mulching and wood chipping to do as well.

Autumn is a great time to get caught up 

on some foundational chores for the garden.

 

 

And speaking of tidying up,

this was one of three Gator loads of brush and debris

that was hauled off into the woods on one of my jobs.

There is enough left to keep me busy for a few weeks,

and I look forward to the task.

Wintertime can be sad for gardeners,

but it's also the time we need, to plan for future gardens,

stock up on seeds, and give our bodies a bit of rest.

 

As our temperatures have plummeted in recent days,

the chooks' water has been frozen solid when their coop is opened in the mornings.

A gallon-sized jar of warm water easily takes care of that.

Gandalf

 

They've also been getting some warm rice in the morning,

and extra food, which helps them maintain their body heat.

 I will be making a big batch of oatmeal for them,

so that it will be ready for their breakfast each day.

They give us so much,

it's the least we can do. 

 

The Maple Hill Hop 69

Welcome to 

The Maple Hill Hop.

This is a hop for folks who love the outdoors.

Feel free to post about anything that's going on

OUTSIDE

in your neck of the woods,
no matter the season.

(Please share only outdoor posts.)

*Please link back to Maple Hill 101.*

Our winter has been mostly mild this year,
but we recently endured a bit of a chilly blast.
With temperatures predicted around freezing,
measures had to be taken to protect our crops. 
 

The practice of covering up ornamentals was stopped years ago,

when the garden became more Florida-friendly and less at risk for damage with cold temps.

The native plants will take whatever Mother Nature can dish out,

but with all the food we have growing, 
we wanted to be sure that something would be harvested in the next few weeks.

Here's an eggplant that will soon be flowering.

It got bundled up in a sheet and clothespinned to keep the drafts out.

The stakes surrounding the plant help to support the sheet,

so that the plant's delicate leaves aren't stressed.

My lone Roma tomato plant got covered with a feed sack

and anchored with some bricks.

It had just shown the first flower the morning before.

Another feedsack protects a potted eggplant.

It sure came in handy to have these sacks around!

The new border of lettuce was draped in old towels.

The veggies in the square-foot garden and adjacent bed were snug as a bug.

Here's where we have more eggplant, lettuce, broccoli and thyme.

These bricks were taken from a footpath that I had just redesigned.  Oh well...
We also used some filled water jugs and terra cotta flower pots.

You use what ya got!

Looks like some strange stuff growing in this garden, huh?

The next morning, the welcome sunshine was able to
warm us up and dry the covers out,
so that we'll have them for the next time.
With the full moon coming next week,
this should be the last chance of a frost or a freeze for this season,
but it's always a possibility.
A quick check on the garden showed us that everything survived just fine.

We may just get some tomatoes yet!

Although we haven't experienced anything close to
what our northern neighbors have this winter,
we are grateful that Old Man Winter is on His way out.

What's been going on outside where you are?
HOP on!

An InLinkz Link-up

A Few Hearty Survivors

I know it's only the beginning of January, 

but I can't recall a colder winter 

since we've lived in Central Florida.  

Even my relatives up north are willing to admit 

that we are getting some of what they are used to.

It's sad to say, 

but most of our gardens  are a monotone of brown, 

but there are a few

green specimens left to give us hope.

Parsley ready to harvest

The milkweed is hangin' in there.

The delicate allyssum isn't afraid of cold nights.

 

I think Meems over at Hoe and Shovel

has the right idea.  It's a good idea to plant

with the frosts and freezes in mind, instead

of trying to frantically run around covering up

every single thing in your garden.  

I think I'm done with that.  

If it's not hearty, it's not stayin'!

Maybe that's asking a lot 

considering the variance of temperatures 

we have been experiencing as of late,

but I'm willing to take the chance.  

After all, what's the worst that could happen? 

Hmmmm...

Maybe a trip to the nursery for a bit of perusing?

These are like a ray of sunshine, even on the dreariest of days.

One of two rosemary bushes that just keeps on going...

Can't believe these came back!

I'm not even sure what's in here, but I'm sure it'll be lovely!

Frosty

It's a frosty mornin' here in Central Florida.

Most of the yard is brown, so I guess there won't

be much in the way of gardening posts for a bit.

It's one huge, science experiment

to see what bounces back from this frigid weather.

One word springs to mind as the lesson learned-

NATIVES!

Even the grass is crunchy...

That's ice on the lantana.

I guess this is why they're called evergreens, eh?

                                       

This sago palm is probably wondering where it is.