Color Me Red
I cooked the very last of the purple cabbages and red beets for our supper last week.
The cabbage was the last thing that came out of my garden from the spring plantings.
The peppers are prolific this year! I have never had such a harvest.
The way they are producing I can't justify pulling out those plants no matter how tired of them I am and replacing them with something else.
From here on out the hot peppers will get canned by pickling or jellied and the bell peppers (as they ripen to red) will be chopped and put in the freezer.
It was nice to say goodbye to most of those spring time plants. It was even nicer to say hello to all the new things I have planted for fall. I still have room in my garden for a few things.
I plan to put in an asparagus patch this fall. Asparagus for fall planting isn't available until October 30th. So I have plenty of time to get the beds in tip top shape while waiting for their arrival.
I also am hoping for a garlic patch. Garlic is available now. I do have my beds ready for planting. I am thinking on a softneck variety that I can braid into long beautiful displays to hang up -and use!
I also plan to expand the artichokes but I think that really has to wait until spring.
Rosemary is in the dehydrator. This is my second batch. It dries out after several hours. Then I strip the stems and seal it in a airlock bag.
Today I will try to work with the peppers getting them harvested. We are still in a drought and my new little garden for fall is so very thirsty. I am watering for 20 min. in the mornings rotating sections by the day. I hope things survive.
In other news, and I have no idea why I am telling you all this - especially YOU, you crazy animal lovers out there. We have been over run by stray and/or feral cats and kittens. I have no idea where all of these beasts have come from. We are setting cage traps and taking them off to the county animal shelter one by one. For all of you who think I should just keep the pretty kitties, kiss my @$$. I mean that in the nicest way. LOL
There are upwards of 15 cats -some with kittens. After the sun has warmed my front porch all day the bricks are giving off radiant heat through most of the night. This is where these strange animals gather after dark. During the day they lay in wait in the hedges and try to ambush birds and rabbits -which is a good thing because rabbits would eat my garden - however, these things breed like rabbits which is a very bad thing.
I am not and have no desire to be a crazy cat lady. This place is not a feline farm either. So, out of here is the way they are going. If you want a cat I have some free ones if you want to try and catch one.
As if you haven't figured it out by now -
I don't like cats. At all.
I do tolerate one for the barns and keeping down the mice population come fall and winter.
In more other news and developing saga I have ordered my meat birds for fall. 25 cornish cross rocks. These birds will grow to giant size in eight weeks and be ready for the freezer. They should arrive next week. I plan to keep close accounts of them because of the speed of their growth. I think charting the development will be an interesting project. These birds when dressed will easily weigh around 4lbs each. Those that have to wait to the end while we process will be 5 -6 lbs. Like small turkeys!
Before you send me bunches of hate mail let me remind you that we operate a small scale farm. Every thing here has a job and a purpose. Animals are part of the food chain. The dog is a pet and if she didn't exist before my time she would not be just a pet. She would be a working dog.
Now I am off to do my weekly volunteer duties at the local food bank.
Well, you won't get any hate mail from me. I don't like cats, either, and I get really pissed when I find strays in my yard eating my lizards! I think it's nice of you to take them to the shelter rather than disposing of them the way a lot of country folk down here would. 'Nuff said.
ALSO, it seems more ethical somehow to raise your own meat rather than just buying it in the grocery store with no idea where it came from. Those birds will have a much better life on your farm than they would if they were factory farmed, and they'll taste better for it!
But you probably knew I would agree with you on all of this!
My dad says we're supposed to plant root vegetables down here now and I'm trying to decide whether I want to put in some carrots. I just pulled out the last of the spring crop yesterday and they're past due but still edible. We had some in a salad but I'll probably cook the rest. Carrot soup, anyone?
Badger! Every point you made is spot on.
Plant some purple top turnips and some rutabagas and sweet potatoes! Groundhogs ate my sweet potatoes :(
Plant some collards, too. Now is also perfect to get in some lettuce. It loves cooler weather.
I'm a huge cat fan and fear becoming one of those old ladies that they find with 107 cats in her house! I will say, though, that it is nice of you to bring them to the shelter - hopefully, it's a "no kill" shelter, which I'll just tell myself it is and we'll leave it at that.
We watered the ferns again yesterday and it appears that some have a little more life in them. I so hope they come back!
As far as pulling the heads of the black eyed Susan's - there's got to be over 200 of them in one patch alone so I think I'll leave them to fall off and regrow next year. That's okay, too, isn't it? (you're so helpful!)
I hope you catch the people who are probably dumping their pets. Funny you should mention not liking cats, just this morning after seeing cat shit on my lawn I remarked damn I must be the only woman who hates cats. Nice to know I am not alone.
We have these wild turkeys roaming the neighborhood. I don't plan on buying them outfits. Is that what you meant by dressing your birds?
I don't mind cats, if they belong to someone else...and stay away from me.
I love that you have gradually turned an 'old house' into a home full of memories and self sufficiency.
The lessons that your children are learning are all too rare: hard work, dedication, and full use of everything available. No waste.
I wish there was a day camp for this sort of thing. I could certainly benefit from it!
KITTIES? I LOVE KITTIES! WHERE ARE THE PICTURES OF THE KITTIES?
Hi- I have known Bill Thomas and his sister Marilyn for MANY years though we lost touch about some 40 ago. It has been one of life's regrets. Today a friend sent me a Van Gogh video tape and all of those Thomas things came rushing back. Now that I am "older and wiser" and have "older and wiser" friends, they took me by the hand to Google and I found you. If you could help me get in touch with Bill or could get this message to him I would be forever grateful and MAYBE send you that pony that you have always wanted.Thanks for any part of this that you might accomplish- OK, you can forget the pony!!
TOM BRADLEY
1003 SHERMAN STREET
WATERTOWN, NY 13601
H-315-782-0434
W-315-782-0547 OR 1-800-814-1123
C-315-783-9407
i aspire to have gardens like you someday.
And cook like you as well. I am working on the cooking part the gardens will have to wait till I have a yard again!
Angie, As you may know, I am a cat lover, but I certainly understand your need to rid your area of the feral ones. Thank you for taking them to the agency (and not drowning them, as some do).
Angie, As you may know, I am a cat lover, but I certainly understand your need to rid your area of the feral ones. Thank you for taking them to the agency (and not drowning them, as some do).