Spring Projects

Here are dads new boots.

We are putting in posts to keep out the deer from the grapes.  Later we hope to move our blueberries and raspberries into this area as well.  It did not happen in time this year.

Here are the grapes.  Three table grape transplants from the Turners and two more were added from Al's garden center.

The new years blossoms are finely here, ya.

Here is a Honeycrisp apple tree.  It was an impulse purchase, they are the best apples ever.  We put down weed fabric and a thick layer of hog fuel (wood chips) to help hold moisture and deter weeds.  The wire cages are to keep the deer from eating all the new buds off of them and rubbing on the trunks.  Those deer are why we can't have anything nice, well at least one of the reasons.  However it is about time to put in for our controlled hunts, look out!

Evan holding a post.  He had injured a finger, note the blue tape, but he could still hold a post plumb while the dirt and concrete was backfilled.

Clipping the chickens wings so they can't fly over the gate.  In our attempt to keep the chickens in their new pen we clipped one wing of all the offending birds.  Unfortunately this did not prevent them from going under the fence at one location, but we now have that remedied.

We got some pigs again.  Aren't they cute??  They were smaller than the ones we got last year.  We were not excited about the white ones, but that is what was available, and we are pretty sure they all taste the same.  But I we had read that they could potentially get sunburned and we don't want to have lather them up with Banana Boat every day.  There are plenty of shady spots in their pasture so hopefully they will take cover when needed.

Working in the garden.  Tearing things out and weeding.

Grace likes helping out side.

We added four yards of compost/topsoil mix to part of the garden and will do the same with the rest later.  With the hitch on the tractor we can tow the trailer around to the garden and back it right through the gate, which makes it easy to unload.

While dad is working the rototiller I keep getting stuck.  Big red and little red working away.

Baby Chicks & Ducks

Here are some of are chicks, we got 5 buff orpington and 10 Rhode island reds.

We also got some ducks, there are 5.

Here is Golden.

And here is blueberry (Lily named it)

Lily is holding a chick.

And here are the ducks again a little older.

Organizing the Barn

We go through phases of organizing, and reworking layouts in the barn.  We knew we needed to get it cleaned up as it is spring and that is when we usually get a bunch of baby animals.  One stall in the barn contains most of our storage containers with clothes etc in them, and it was just cumbersome to find the right container.  So one rainy day we pulled everything out and started from scratch, trying to reuse some of the materials.  The shelving that was torn out was too deep, so we built the shelving that worked better with our containers.

This was the end result on one side of the stall.  It makes finding the correct container a lot easier.  We don't have a garage, so the barn is it for storage outside the house.  The containers keep the mice out and help prevent things from molding as the barn is slightly moist with the dirt floor, and random drips.

This is the other side of the stall where we built a couple of shelves to hold some  beekeeping equipment, and my two helpers.  Mia also helped out and learned how to use my new impact driver, which I love.

We also built a frame for the Sheetmetal feed bin that Craig had built for us.  The bin is probably large enough to hold 700-1000lbs of feed, I probably should have given him smaller dimensions, but we have it now.  Our frame might collapse if we ever put that much feed in it.

Finished organized corner.  Mia and Lily worked to clean out the chick nursery in the right side of the picture.  We are still looking at trying to pour a concrete slab at the far end of the barn, but the biggest obstacle is finding a home for everything while we work on it.  It would make things a lot cleaner down there, and provide a place for the kids to rid scooters in the winter and allow me to work on the cars easier etc.

Cows

Typically. . . . .  or the last two years, I don't want you to think we have been doing this for 15 years or something, we purchase two bottle calves usually a week or two old.  Then we raise them for 1 1/2 years and then butcher them.  Or at least that was the original plan.  However this year it has been difficult to find a dairy/beef cross like we got last year.  Prices on calves are about double what they were last year, even when you look at the auctions they are showing twice what they were a year ago.  Here are some recent pics of last years calves, Oreo (black one), and Burger (Brown one):

Oreo is pretty friendly and does not mind a neck scratch, but Burger always keeps his distance unless you have something that really looks yummy.

A couple of people have asked why we don't just get a heifer and breed her so we don't have to buy baby calves or do the bottle feedings.  And with the prices of cows being really high right now, we might consider looking into that option.  I have been looking into Dexter cows which are a smaller breed and are a good dual purpose cow.

Note the cows out the window.  During the winter we ran a electric wire up closer to the house and let them eat the grass down, however it is kind of startling to see them right outside the window.
I have found a farm nearby that raises Dexter's and they have invited us over to talk Cows and see what Dexters are like and if they are a good fit for our Homestead.  Hopefully we will be able to take them up on the soon.

Short Vacation

This last weekend we headed over to Eagle Crest for our annual winter outing with the Turner side.  However we did not end up going sledding because the weather was so warm and there was not much for snow.  This made the drive over the Santiam pass very easy and low stress, so that was nice.  On the way over on Friday we stopped at the Detroit Ranger station and used the facilities while Emma got fed.  The kids and I also walked around the parking lot.

Saturday we headed into Bend to check out the Hobby Lobby that had recently opened.  Craft store on steroids.  They have lots of craft stuff and fun decor, and since they are owned by Christians there is a lot of Christian themed stuff.  I did like this sign:

And Jennie did pick this up:

Then the guys took off to Sportsmans warehouse for more manly stuff and Big R.  Then we headed to the pool after lunch.  Sunday was some Church time led by Mark and the off for a little hike down to the Deschutes.  

Back to the pool in the afternoon, and then early to bed for the kids, they were wiped out.  Monday we packed up and headed home.  We are very thankful for our neighbors willingness to care for our animals while we we're gone.  Evan had a few eggs to clean up when we got home and Lily found a quiet place to read her Smoky the Bear book.

Back to work and the routines.

Electric bill

Nothing interesting in the mail today, just our two electric bills.  Why two you may ask, well because we have one meter that serves our barn and one that serves the house.  And we use to have a third that served our old In-law quarters, but we finally had them pull the meter after paying $10 a month for a year.  What is humorous about the barn bill is that it is obvious when we have chicks based on the electric bill.

Notice the uptick in March and then the huge climb for April and May?  That is what happens when you run 3 heat lamps non-stop.  We probably run them longer than we need to.  Once the birds are feathered out they can withstand some cooler weather, but I just feel better about keeping them toasty warm.  Speaking of chicks it is getting close to that time.  We are thinking we might tone it down some this year and only get 15, instead of the 30 we had last year.  Soon the homestead will be full of babies again, Lord willing.  Baby animals that is.  

Garden 2015

Well it is that time of year again, when I start to stress/think about the garden.  We are actually ahead of schedule this year and just received our seed order from Territorial Seed Company out of Cottage Grove OR.  We like to use them, because a lot of the plants have been tested here in Oregon, so hopefully they will grow well in our area.  We also like using them because they are Non-GMO.  They do seem to be getting more Organic seeds, but I can not justify the added cost in my head.  I know how the vegetables are being grown and that no chemicals are being used, so that is good enough for us.
We usually start our planning off by going through our Seed box and cleaning it out, throwing away seed that is too old, and just inventorying what we have left.  We then make a list of what we are going to grow, or attempt to grow.  The past couple of years I have also purchased some seeds through Azure Standard.  They don't have a huge selection, but we can usually get a few things there and the prices are slightly cheaper.  Then this year we placed a small order from Territorial, and then purchased the remaining items from Als Garden Center.  There are some things that don't need to be Non-GMO, like flowers, and decorative pumpkins.  Finally we will need to pick up some seed potatoes and onion sets somewhere.  In the past we have purchased potatoes from Coastal Farm.
So, here is the list for this year, with some notes.

- Sweet Meat Squash - super yummy, thick rind that stores well, Azure.
- Butternut Squash - always a good grower. Azure.
- Buttercup Squash - we fell in love with this, last year we planted a bush, this year we are going with the vine variety.  Territorial.
- Hubbard Squash - huge squash, great for storage.  Territorial.
- Acorn Squash - got some heritage seeds from Als.
- Cinderella Pumpkin - grew these last year and saved the seeds, great for cooking and freezing.
- Decorative Mini-Pumpkin - just fun, Als.
- Pig Pumpkins - we will try and grow these outside the main garden for pig fodder.  just any old pumpkin will do, they are not picky eaters.
- Black Beauty Zucchini - we are going to attempt to grow record numbers, for us and pigs. Azure.
- Summer Dance Cucumbers - these long English cucs are delicious.  we grow them on a trellis.  Azure.
- Parsnips - will try them again this year.  Azure
- Cabbage - will try again as well, really want some big cabbage for kraut.  Azure.
- Beets - Jennie loves these, not sure why. Azure
- Sugar Snap Peas - these don't make it in the house, they are for snacking on when in the garden. Azure.
- Kentucky Blue Pole Beans - these are the ones we can each year, 100+ quarts, from two 50' rows, they taste wonderful.  Azure.
- Carrots - still perfecting these.  Azure
- Potatoes - yukon gold are good, or even small purple ones, just fun to grow.  Coastal Farm
- Tomatoes - we had so many tomatoes last year they probably re-seeded them selves since they went to waste in the garden, we love Beef Steak, or small Sungold.
- Walla Walla Onions - we are going to try these this year, probably get the onion sets from Coastal Farm.

Here is our seed box with list.

Last weekend we also purchase two small grape plants and liberated three mature plants from Jennie's parents to put in our yard.  We look forward to some yummy table grapes if we can keep the deer away.  We also are going to plant some nut trees this year.  We have an almond, walnut, and two filberts to get in the ground.  And in a moment of weakness I bought a Honeycrisp apple tree, because everyone knows they are the best.

Here are the kids in the grape holes, not fox holes.