Chick to Flock Integration Tips! The 90's Are Here, Reminiscing On Our Gardening

Chick to Flock Integration Tips-
I hear a lot about how to integrate new chicks into an existing flock. I've heard lots of horrors stories and wanted to revisit my success last June! Maybe this will help some other flock owners:) Posts below are about how to set up some temporary housing, then taking it down and having full access. We raise our chicks from 1 or 2 day old in the house, transition to day time only outside in a playpen, then full time outside separated, then integrate into the full coop/run.

Growing Chicks   New Chick Housing   The Chick Drama That Wasn't   Chicks 1st Night In Coop

The 90's Are Here!

It went from the 70's to 80's to 90's in about a week and a half. The 90's is about 10-15 degrees above normal for this time of year. I have a bad feeling, with the mild spring, we're in for a blistering summer! I'm out to do some yard work in a minute as it's 75 and it's only 10. I got a late start! Now it's mostly water, water, water...

Reminiscing On Our Gardening-

Dave and I were sitting out last night, listening to the fountain in the pond, looking at all the green, the flowers, and veggies. We planted ALL of it except the huge maple tree, 2 shrubs in the back, and 2 in the front. Nothing else was here, just turf and empty flower beds. Nothing. It's been a lot of work but it's so satisfying!!! Dave spent the last 2 days resetting our pavers with sand and new gravel too. Looks fab!

My fave delphinium

new beans where the old shed was

peppers already!

After shot, much better!

Posey enjoying the cool grass :)

Independence Days Challenge, Colors At The Little Homestead, Greek Festival- Opa! School's Out!

Independence Days Challenge-

I haven't posted lately so it's time to catch up! 

1. Plant Something-

 Mint (in a pot), all my baby cilantro and basil. My mini greenhouse worked great this year!

Peach tree is doing well too-

Beans ready to plant tomorrow. Too hot last Sunday, our planting day. 

2. Harvest Something-

Kale, kale and more kale!  Collards and chives, and basil soon.

Rosemary, thyme, oregano are ready too-

 3. Preserve/Store Something-

I'll start fermenting more veggies soon, was waiting til school was over. A lot of apples are turning colors already!

 4. Manage Reserves- Get a Good Deal/Barter/Stock Up/Prep-

 We bought a nice $45.00 fence panel for $10.00 to use as a garden gate. Our is falling apart, so we spotted this (a special order return, missing parts) and will use instead. I'll paint it a dark green. We'll add it to the new garden gate post soon and will be all set!

5. Eat the Food- Try New Foods/Recipe-

Using up lots of frozen (buried in the freezer) fish- fish tacos, fish and chips, etc. Will try a new tomato and mint salad recipe like this BBCgoodfood.com when mine are ripe! They'll be early this year with the mild spring/early summer weather. With all of our eggs I'm going to try this soon, since it looks so good!

Chilaquiles With Fried Eggs from Realsimple.com

 6. Build Community Food Systems- 

Done selling eggs for now, will go to the kids, and more egg dishes for us (see above). Will hit a farmer's market later in the summer. They're not very good here so far, as far as my experience goes. Pretty inconsistent.

7. Recycle/Re-Use-

Got some used, FREE shower doors to replace some wood in our chicken "sun room" from Second Chance-

The store supports local sobriety programs. We found some used shower doors for sale, then the clerk said the other ones were free. Works for us!

Since we tore down our shed we have a lot of good lumber left over. Dave wants to replace our green metal stakes in our garden fencing with posts and add some 2 x 4's. It will look much better and be more sturdy. The rest will be donated. We also gave away a ton of leftover shed materials on Craigslist for free. Donated clothing yesterday, with more on the way. 

New fence posts soon!

8. Skill Up-

I just learned how to remove a laminate back splash with thin metal edging. Easy, just use a putty knife and a hammer. Comes off nicely! New back splash coming soon!!! 

9. Regenerate What is Lost/Salvage Something-

Regenerating the soil under the old shed, added lots of compost! Beans go in tomorrow.

Colors At The Little Homestead-

With all the monsoon type patterns lately, warm and rain late in the day, everything has gone crazy blooming! Here's a peek-

Greek Festival- Opa!

Every year we go to the local Greek Boisegreekfestival.com which benefits the Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church. They have live music, dancing (missed that), and tons of very affordable, authentic foods. It's always fun and we needed a break last Sat. Weather was nice and had a great time! Opa!  

Nice church :)

School's Out!-
After growing quite a bit more gray hair (ha ha!) this year than usual I am just so glad it's OVER! More later...

Anya stole my chair! What a cute face :)

My Organic Gardener Podcast Interview Is Up!

My Organic Gardener Podcast Interview Is Up!-

Special thanks to Jackie for the interview and making it pretty painless! Feel free to post any questions or comments!! Thanks! Organicgardenerpodcast.com