Saturday 11/16/19

I’m building a new compost pile and collected a bucket of leaves and soil from under some scrub oaks. I try to add a bucketful to each compost pile to add more bacteria and fungi. 

Saving tomato seeds. 

Squeeze or scoop the seeds and gel into a jar. Add a small amount of water and just set a lid on it but not tightened down. Put in a warmish place to ferment a few days. When the pulp has disintegrated but before it gets moldy fill the jar with water and stir. Let it settle then pour off the water with any floaters. Seeds that float are no good. Strain through a fine mesh and rinse well. Spread out to dry then store. Do the same for squash and pumpkins. The fermentation kills seed borne diseases. 

Pepper seeds aren’t in a gel so just spread them out on a paper towel until dry enough to store. 

It was a cool cloudy day so I worked on taking this old shed apart. 

Some bolts were stripped and impossible to remove. When all else fails get the sawzall. 

But in other places my arms were too short and I only have 2 hands. I think it took 3 of us to put this thing together. 

I finally did get 1 piece of tin off the top. By then I was tired and my hands were sore. Time to do chores anyway. 

Giotto on afternoon guard. Poor guy up all night barking off owls, coyotes and pigs. 

And day is done. Time for food and bed. I have no idea why this picture is upside down. I didn’t take it that way. 

Farmer Friday 11/8/19

Rearranging and adding to the soaker hose. Peas and arugula will go down the center. 

And turning compost. 

Picking flowers, herbs , kale, mustard and arugula. 

Giant red mustard and arugula 

All set up at market. Was a nice evening. But I am wore out. Good night. 

Another Wednesday 11/6/19

The compost pile has been sitting steady at close to 150°. So I turned it this morning. 

I made an experimental batch of potting soil. Normally I just do peat and vermiculite but I’ve been listening to the soil scientists and so this batch is 2 parts fine compost, 2 parts peat, about 2/3 part vermiculite with a small amount of gypsum and some kelp. The idea is that germinating seeds need good bacteria, fungi and trace minerals to be really healthy and vigorous. We shall see how it goes. 

I spent some time working indoors as the house is a train wreck. I didn’t get a pic but picked some mums to take to a friend who broke her knee and is having surgery tomorrow. Then I picked up feed and came home. Time for dinner and bed. 

Farmer Friday 10/18/19

Picking for this afternoon’s delivery. Flowers, herbs, Red Russian kale. 

I spread some of the oldest compost on a garden bed. Then cleaned out a small coop to start a new pile. . 

Whoa. The pillow factory exploded out here.  I sure need to get these pens cleaned up and fresh bedding put down. 

Spent the afternoon clearing out weed trees. Going to need the sawzall for some of them. Shredded up 2 buckets full for the compost pile. Delivered produce to Superior customers, bought feed, came home and collected eggs.  Time for food and bed. 

10/10/19 the days work

Little chick is doing better so back to the coop. 

Time for grit for all the pens and oyster shell for the layers. 

Even little chicks need grit to properly digest their food. 

I added holes around the side of the bucket for making compost extract. I also put in less compost so it wasn’t so heavy when wet. 

The bucket with compost inside the barrel. Add water and stir. 

After sitting a bit and a lot of stirring to keep it oxygenated take it out and pour around plants. 

Theses radishes got some today. They are not as dark a green as I’d like to see. 

Time to clean coops. 

And make a new compost pile. 



Mmmmmm. I’d say not all of my sexed pullets are pullets! That one on the right is a cockerel while that’s a pullet to the left. 

Time to get some stuff out of the van. 

Found an old fence panel to cover the last gap. Now to wait for blue stake to mark the gas line so I can set the other post for the driveway gates. Almost there just keep on trucking. 

Spent the afternoon taking Giotto to the vet for his ear infection. It started in his right ear but now it’s in his left. 

Dropped Giotto off at home and went to the grocery store. Then home to do chores. Look a little silkie eggs. Not sure who’s laying in that pen. By the way the white cockerel, a black cockerel with a single comb and the 4 partridge are for sale.  Not show quality (poor crests and red faced) but nice pets or showmanship birds. 

And now it’s time for food and bed.