compound updates

I have a couple homesteading tasks that I really want to get done this season, one being making a rain barrel. We have a shed near our garden and it would be perfect to set this up. We found a chunk of gutter in the yard, but barrels are expensive! This made us hold off last year, until we could find one. Then "POOF!" just like magic, Husband is driving home from work and sees a house that sells them for $5! He grabbed one and now we are in business! (and yes, it's food quality, not used for chemicals). I will post some photos once it is done and ready to go! This will save us quite a bit on our water bill.

Next task is the 4 elderberry trees we got for the yard as a gift. We have a very close friend who works for a landscape company and from time to time snags us some free stuff. Usually it needs to be nursed back to health, but we all have a green thumb around here, so it works out. Anyway, I plan on planting 2 of the trees on my property and 2 next door at my sisters. I look forward to making jam from the berries in the near future.

The seedlings are doing great, the pickling cucumbers are already up and the regular cukes are on their way. Not nearly as moist this year in the greenhouse as it has been in years past so I have been needing to water a ton. In the end, it will all be worth it!

Lastly, My sister and I have been thinking of really getting into the craft fair circut this year with homemade soaps, jams, pickles, quilts and dried herbs. Maybe even a few other items. We'll keep you posted if we proceed!

Spring fever

Spring does some strange things to me. I get the Spring Fever and I get it BAD! It starts with a warm day or two and I get the seedlings growing in the house. As I mentioned before, I do this too early almost every year, because I am so excited at the thought of Spring. As soon as we get a dry warm day, I am hurdeling over the snowbanks to the clothesline to get laundry out. It gets worse from there. Windows open on 60 degree days, hoeing the garden through ice. I need to get a little control!

Nevertheless, I love the Sunshine and the promise of warm weather to come!

Tonights the night!

Tonight is the night I wait for all winter! I am starting my vegetable seeds! I really love this task every year. To me, its the first sign of spring and a real test of what the growing year is going to be like. Some years I do well, others I do not.

The last couple years I have done this way too early. This year I gave myself some extra weeks. Its been 50 degrees several times here this month and I think we are in for an early spring. Every year my technique gets a little better. Last year I had full size plants on my hands and no room before the weather was ready for the little guys. I lost a bunch. Hopefully, this year plays out better.

I have learned a few rules. I don't start corn inside, that goes straight to the ground in the spring. Beans as well. We really don't eat tomatoes, so I don't waste the space, I just buy a flat from the farmers union. I have some good goals for this growing season. I am doing a large corn crop in a seperate garden, on my sisters side of the lot. Hopefully, I will do well on the cucumbers this year so I can can pickles. (last year the excessive rain killed my whole crop). Watermelon ALMOST made it last year and the rain killed them too, so hopefully we have some success this year. I will try my best to get some photos on this darn blog soon!

Heres the full plan for 2010:
Fruits-

• highbush blueberries (already planted)
• Rraspberries (already planted)
• groundcover strawberries (new this year)
• shortvine watermelon

Vegetables-

• tomatoes
• bush green beans
• salad & pickling cucumbers
• carrots
• rhubarb (already planted)
• corn
• pumpkins
• hot peppers
• bell peppers

Herbs-

• dill
• basil
• oregano
• chives
• mint & spearmint