Tag Archive | homesteading

Landscape Timber Structures: Corrals

Feb18
Fenced In Fig Tree

She Ain't Goin' NOWHERE now!

It looks like I am trying to keep that fig tree from escaping. This creative structure is actually my way to corral the Laying Ladies as they work on the ground, weeding and tilling around my beautiful Fig Tree.

In keeping with my “NO EXCUSES” policy of maintaining my home and property- as well as dealing with what life hands me- I use these timbers in a non-destructive way- meaning I don’t nail them together but stack them carefully.

The Ladies can and sometimes do escape this sturdy corral. In general, they stay where I put them as long as the corral is at least 5 timbers high. Lower than that, they seem to think of it as a roost and hop on and then over it. At five high, they stay in place and work where I put them.

duck and chicken under fig tree

IchaBIRD Crane- the headless birds


In this next image, they seem to have lost their heads. In reality, they are just intent on their chores: removing pests and tilling up the compost around this fruit tree.

Working Women, Part Two

Feb4

Chickens Weeding Olive Tree

Chickens Weeding Olive Tree


The Laying Ladies have been doing more than laying this week. After finishing up the weeding around the peach tree, my helpful hens started around the olive tree. These girls never slack off. Wet or Dry, they are out there scratching out a living. My youngest daughter stands by with her shepherd’s staff to gently prod any ladies that try to move off in the wrong direction but these ladies are too intent on the job at hand, duh, at foot(?) to be bothered with running away. They are such a blessing to me.

Working Women

Feb1

Chickens scratching under a Peach tree

Working Women


The grass under this peach was knee deep when they started. I was worried about ground rattlers -like I found last year here. Not these girls. They made short work of any pests they found. Thanks, Ladies!

Poulty, Corn, Children

May25
Mr. and Mrs. Allen Ashley, Senior

Mr. and Mrs. Allen Ashley, Senior

We’re growing well around here. The corn is up high enough to have little green worms. I’ve just been looking for holy (ha ha) leaves, locating the little tiny green caterpillars and tossing them into the laying ladies.

The girls also like it when I bring the compost out and dump it. They are like garbage disposals with wings and legs. They eat ANYTHING! The girls also like it when I thin the corn, which was growing WAY too close together (Mr. Ashley insisted I put 3 kernels in each spot… he didn’t believe me when I told him ALL my plants grow well-I pray for every plant.) I throw the pulled up stalks in there and the squawking starts. It’s so much fun to watch them snatching the leaf and running around playing chase with it.

The corn stalks will give the ladies shade as well as snacks. I haven’t gotten the sunflowers planted on the end but I will try to get that done really soon. Join me at Freedom Gardens Forum so I can find some more people there from Louisiana. Here’s that link: http://freedomgardens.org/

With the three grandchildren, the household size is up to nine again: seven children and two adults. School (public and home) is out and so we have to get children ready to go to various camps. We are still running into town three or four days a week with family visitations, library trips and, our favorite, church.

I’m reading First Peter this week and also I am meditating: Oppression Vs. Submission.

Oppression says: You will do this. Submission says: I will do this.
I do not want to oppress others, adults or children. I do want to submit to the Holy Spirit.

April Update: Chicks, Ducks, Bunnies, Oh My!

Apr6

The chicks have grown. Seven Chicks Growing
It will be so exciting when they start laying by grandson Kaiden’s birthday (August), as expected.

The ducks are laying every day and since the chicks have taken over the “duck” tractor, Hubby built me a new poultry pen. Poultry Pen
It’s quite a bit larger than the tractor. I put their former shelter (the top to an old dog carrier) in the new pen in case they wanted something familiar but they were quite happy to lay their eggs in the new couch coop. Couch Coop
The couch coop already needs a new top (we knew it would) but was providential so we aren’t complaining. It is filled with leaves (deep litter method) and the duck eggs are so clean now when we pick them up!

Now for the exciting news! We have Bunnies. The new additions were selected by the entire family on a trip to Tractor Supply for more Dumore poultry feed. Rabbit manure is exceptionally good for the garden and Spring Warren at Quarter Acre Farm says that two rabbits can produce as much poop as a steer. That will be a great addition for the worm farms, as well as the garden and compost heaps.

Meet Goldilocks and Peter Rabbit.

Some Bunny loves You

Don’t worry… like Duckling One and Duckling Two, and the seven ladies (chicks)– these bunnies are destined for a long and happy life- not the supper table!

Duck eggs, Worm farms, Aquaponics, Baby chicks

Mar17

Yesterday we collected another duck egg and moved the duck tractor to the right side of the property where the tool shed and pear tree could shade it and the ducks could eat the weeds growing beside the new compost bin. Duck Tractor Moved

We also went by Tractor supply and purchased seven red pullets. Actually two of the chicks are black and five are yellow. There appear to be three breeds as you might be able to tell from the pictures. We also got one bag of Dumore Chick Starter Grower 20%, the same unmedicated feed we bought for the ducks last year. Seven Chicks

We stopped by Mama’s house before church so we could show her the chicks. She had been to get the worms and gave me the worms and the worm farm filled with worm castings so I could divide them and make more worm farms. Worm Farm

Although I purchased a four outlet air pump and six air stones, that is as far as I’ve gotten on the aquaponics until we find barrels and get money for pvc fittings. I’m really looking forward to getting that going so I can have a tomatoes and lettuce shelf as I love salads.

Homesteading has been added as a category to my blog so I can tell you what’s going on with our sustainibilty efforts.

Sustainability is defined by the online Meriam Webster Dictionary as



 
  1: capable of being sustained
2a : of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged
b : of or relating to a lifestyle involving the use of sustainable methods

So our goal is to be able to harvest or use the resources our Heavenly Father has given us in such a way so that they are not depleted or permanently damaged. We want to make this a lifestyle choice and not just a hobby or amusement.