Homestead goals for 2021

[Chicken lady]

I don’t know who else might have homestead goals, but I figure there are a lot of tendencies toward “local” and “self-sufficient” here. You don’t have to have livestock or be moving off grid - maybe you just want to plant a blueberry bush, can some tomatoes, put up a clothesline, or make some decorations from stuff that grows in your yard.

now that I have some other things under control, I am trying to be more intentional, remember I do not have to do everything at once, and avoid “putting out fires” (by at least not starting them myself.)

my big goals for this year are:

KEEP RECORDS - I started this in February. So far, so good.

Vegetable garden:
finish planting spring/summer crops tomorrow
get as much of my food from it as possible, but remember that I don’t have to optimize the harvest - free chicken food is good too.
plant a few fall veggies
by December - clean off the fence line, remove sagging/rusted fence section, have everything inside the fence planted or under mulch/sheet compost

herb garden (this is new):
Decide what I want to plant in it next year (this year is a few perennials plus “tuck things in randomly”)
finish rock border

fruit garden:
mulch and maintain strawberries and raspberries (both planted this year), elderberry starts (last year) and blueberry bush.
learn to make more elderberry starts.

Chickens:
finish chickshaw before current crop of 43 chicks needs it! (My kids are actually building this - it is half done, chicks are three weeks old.)
prep winter quarters for new layer flock (will not keep all 43 - chickshaw sleeps 40, but will probably cut back to 36.)

Goats:
new pasture fencing for buck pen and new rotational pasture
sell bucklings
Breed all 4 Does (my herd was significantly reduced the last two years by old age - one year I had a lot of pretty doelings and I kept them all.)
buy two goats IF and ONLY IF I find just what I want.

[razz]

Amazing goals, CL.

My goals are very modest. Because of the prevalence of shade from buildings, orientation and trees, I am trying a garden of pots for the 'fruit' veggies - tomatoes, peppers, beans and cukes receiving about ~ 8 hours of sun. The 'leaf and root' veggies are planted in the 3'x16' bed - onions, lettuce, carrots, leeks, kohlrabi receiving ~ 4-6 hours.

I am trying to harvest and dry my lavender bloom this year to make some sachets; just checked when to do this which is now. This is today's project.

I moved my rhubarb this year as the shade was impacting it as well.

I just mulched and added diatomaceous earth to slow down the slugs and snails in the rhubarb and hostas. I had added some crushed egg shells earlier. A kind friend had given me about a gallon bucket of them.

I need to re-evaluate my one perennial bed. The plants that thrive are in front and tall - lilies, echinacea, liatris, peonies overwhelming the hostas. The hostas may simply be moved out completely as the slugs and snails love them to death, literally.

I have adopted a friend's idea to take periodic photos of my gardens to see how the year unfolds to review over the winter to see what needs doing in the spring.

[herbgeek]

Last year, I started rehab of the planting along my front wall. When I was working, it was all I could do to keep up with the veg garden, so now I'm dealing with 20+ years of benign neglect. I just let anything that would grow there do so. Last year I spent a week digging out invasive lily of the valley, lungwort and asters and dividing and adding some hosta. Dug and separated out some daffodill, it was a great show this spring. This year I've divided and added more hostas. I have solid green along the stone wall, and green with white edges near the lawn in asymetrical groupings.

Last year I also put in a flower meadow. I cleared out what felt like mountains of bittersweet and brambles and threw down a bunch of seed, and added some extra perennials from elsewhere in the yard. I used stones from the yard (I grow them ;)) to make paths through it. To my surprise, it was FABULOUS. For about 3 weeks, I had poppies of every sort blooming, it was like a new painting to walk through every day. Unfortunately most of the poppies did not come back this year, but the sweet william did. Its just gorgeous in all shades of white, pink, red, maroon, bi colors. They don't flow in the wind like poppies, but they are pretty in their own way. Some of the invasives are trying to come back, and I realized I also needed to amend the soil some as the soil is really poor there. After taking out the weeds, there are a lot of "holes" in the planting, this will be a multi year project to have it full of flowers that I like and are easy care, and keep some of the natives out only because I don't care for how they look. They can grow wild elsewhere in the yard.

I still have mountains of bittersweet which will require a lot of yanking and digging. I have some nettle which is highly useful but has gotten out of control- that needs to be pulled out some. Its in the mint family, so just cutting back isn't enough, the roots creep around.

In the spring, I pulled out some thugs in one of the perennial beds and got more variety in there. Another victim of benign neglect, if it grew it stayed even if it crowded out everything else.

Inside, I have painting that needs to be done but that will wait for the fall. I'd also like to get new kitchen cabinets- I never liked them when I moved in 24 years ago and everything else I didn't like about the house has been replaced except them. I hate spending the money, but would really like drawers for pots/pans/bowl instead of one big open space that is always a mess, and I would like the self closing ones because I am OCD and hubby often doesn't close them all the way.

[iris lilies]

Herbgeek how I wish my lily-of-the-valley was invasive. After 30 years it spread about 2 ft.². I’ll be digging it up and taking it to Hermann.

Your poppies sound wonderful. It’s odd that at least some of them didn’t seed themselves for this year.


For the first time in decades I have an annual poppy blooming, gorgeous, and of course the flowers don’t last but man is it pretty.

[happystuff]

My goals aren't necessarily outdoor things, except to try to improve my veggie gardening. Inside, I'm still working on my reduction of plastics. I have bar soap for the kitchen and so far the family is adjusting. Will also be making homemade detergent this weekend to replace the bottled laundry soap. Hopefully the family will adjust to that as well. And then all my normal stuff of just trying not to waste things.

[Chicken lady]

Razz, I love the photo idea!

lavender is on my possibilities list for next year - I know where I want to put it, but I am going to do my goals for 2022 in December.

our Lily of the valley is semi invasive - it is at the edge of the woods and spreads only a little under the trees. However, it would like to take over the lawn. It’s Dh job to mow it to wherever he wants it to stop.

herbgeek - I didn’t know how much I would like self closing cabinets! After we redid the kitchen, dd was here and noticed the cabinet closing itself. She looked at her Dh and said “see! This is why I never learned to close cabinets!” And I said “the ones we had when you lived here did not do that.” She immediately said “see, I don’t even pay attention to the cabinets.” As if that got her off the hook for leaving tgem open. Her Dh said “you don’t close the microwave.”

happystuff, homemade detergent counts. I am too lazy/uninterested to make my own detergent. Last August I bought what was supposed to be a year’s supply of septic/eco friendly plastic free laundry tabs in a box. Is still have 40% of the box. The box will recycle. It’s more expensive, but I can’t imagine putting in less effort - buying/measuring/cleaning up drips or dust/rinsing a container/and final disposal all reduced or eliminated. It’s worth the cost to me!

[razz]

I don't close my microwave unless it is in use. I found over the years that the interior of each microwave rusted due to the moisture buildup left after use despite wiping it down each time. The microwave was fully operational but the rust spread very quickly and looked so gross.

Also, the bulb needed replacing too often and is a nuisance to do.

So I leave it slightly ajar, moisture evaporates and I don't replace the bulb. It does drive visitors nuts to see it open. When I explain my rationale, I get nods of understanding.

[iris lilies]

I don't close my microwave unless it is in use. I found over the years that the interior of each microwave rusted due to the moisture buildup left after use despite wiping it down each time. The microwave was fully operational but the rust spread very quickly and looked so gross.

Also, the bulb needed replacing too often and is a nuisance to do.

So I leave it slightly ajar, moisture evaporates and I don't replace the bulb. It does drive visitors nuts to see it open. When I explain my rationale, I get nods of understanding.

Doesn’t a light go on with the door open? I sometimes leave the door to my microwave oven open to let things dry out, but mine has a life that’s fine so I’m using electricity.

[razz]

Doesn’t a light go on with the door open? I sometimes leave the door to my microwave oven open to let things dry out, but mine has a life that’s fine so I’m using electricity.

My microwave light came on when only when in use or door open. Burnt out bulb=no light.

[razz]

OK I went to pick some lavender to start drying; it is slow and tedious work taking each stem sliding down its length and then cutting with scissors. I must find out how the lavender farms are doing this.

Off to sit in the sunshine to slowly cut bouquets for drying...:doh:

[iris lilies]

OK I went to pick some lavender to start drying; it is slow and tedious work taking each stem sliding down its length and then cutting with scissors. I must find out how the lavender farms are doing this.

Off to sit in the sunshine to slowly cut bouquets for drying...:doh:

Oh wow that’s a tough job, sitting in the pretty sunshine preparing lavender for drying! Damn but someone’s got to do it! Haha.just kidding ya.

[herbgeek]

OK I went to pick some lavender to start drying; it is slow and tedious work taking each stem sliding down its length and then cutting with scissors

I have a lavender "hedge" on the south side of my house, about 15 plants I think.

I just spent the last hour and a half trying to make lavender wands before giving up. I made them once, but was never able to do it again. I know now a whole bunch of methods that DON'T work. ;) Its just so much easier to take the flower buds, throw them in a pretty ribbon trimmed bag and call it done. I also experimented with trying to make a lavender stem basket. That was a failure too.

[Teacher Terry]

Herbgeek, my kitchen is self closing and it has big deep drawers that I love. It’s so nice to pull out a drawer and have pans, bowls, etc all arranged neatly and easy to grab one to use.

[rosarugosa]

I have a lavender "hedge" on the south side of my house, about 15 plants I think.

I just spent the last hour and a half trying to make lavender wands before giving up. I made them once, but was never able to do it again. I know now a whole bunch of methods that DON'T work. ;) Its just so much easier to take the flower buds, throw them in a pretty ribbon trimmed bag and call it done. I also experimented with trying to make a lavender stem basket. That was a failure too.

Herbgeek: I've made them several times using these directions, and I always had good results. Are you able to read this attachment?
3834

[frugal-one]

Everyone here is so industrious. I just planted a few flower seeds (which are not doing well because of the drought) and didn't even put flower pots on the deck. My goal is to seed the flower bed with grass next year and be done forever. I definitely have lost my zest for this house. It is time to move.

[razz]

Herbgeek: I've made them several times using these directions, and I always had good results. Are you able to read this attachment?
3834

Didn't know about the wands. They do look like a bit more effort than I am prepared to do.
If I simply strip the blooms from the freshly cut stems, do I toss them into a fine mesh bag and let them dry before using

OR

do I let my 4 bunches of stems completely dry and then strip the blooms for the sachets?

I really don't know what I am doing but always wanted to try it one day. Today is the day.

[herbgeek]

Rosa- that was one of the methods I tried but I was all thumbs today.

Razz- I first go through the lavender looking for long stems. I cut those and tie in bunches and hang upside down. Those go into vases. Then I trim the plants (they need a haircut anyways) and then strip all the flower parts from the stems/leaves and dry that on paper towels on a baking sheet. Those go into sachets or bags.

[razz]

Rosa- that was one of the methods I tried but I was all thumbs today.

Razz- I first go through the lavender looking for long stems. I cut those and tie in bunches and hang upside down. Those go into vases. Then I trim the plants (they need a haircut anyways) and then strip all the flower parts from the stems/leaves and dry that on paper towels on a baking sheet. Those go into sachets or bags.

Thanks for that info. I have to hang them upside down as I didn't do that. That goes into little vases which I must find but will make lovely simple gifts for friends. Now that I think about it, herbs are always supposed to be hung upside down but I needed the reminder.

I have 10 plants and they are just starting to bloom so will collect the blooms to dry for sachets. Do you use any of the leaves in the sachets or just the bloom?
I have the fabric for this so must check on my ribbon supply.

[herbgeek]

I sometimes use the leaves too, if I know it will be in an opaque bag. Else, I just use the flowers for aesthetics.

[Chicken lady]

It’s lunch time and I am done planting vegetables until July!

(I do still need to put up three more tomato stakes, and a bean trellis that I need dh help with.)

[Chicken lady]

The garden is going well, although I am currently swamped in things I need to put up or eat.

Record keeping us also going well.

chuckshaw is almost done, and I’m down to 39 chicks thanks to a raccoon - who did not eat any roosters, so downsizing will be easy. I have at least 3 extra roosters.

I REALLY need to address the fruit plants

and yesterday instead of working on that for two hours, I went to see a baby rabbit, bought it, and drove to town to get it a water bottle (have the cage) a third rabbit has been at the back of my mind and this was either a rare opportunity (very low price, hard to find breed) or a mistake (unknown genetics, not the color I was planning, a little too young - lost the mom, raccoons are bad this year.). Time will tell....

how is everyone else doing?

[iris lilies]

how is everyone else doing?

3849

things need a bit of work around here…

[razz]

With the ample recent rain, my gardens are doing very well. Right now I am pulling all the little shoots of crabgrass in my lawn. Neighbour on my right has the landscaper's dream lawn and neighbour on left who does mow as necessary has lots of plantain and crabgrass right beside my lawn. Fortunately, I like both neighbours.
My 2020 flower bed in a swale area is looking good but the mulch flows when the rain flows so I need to lift the mulch around the plants and flagstones and replace with a crushed granite rocks, I think, when the weather is cooler.

[Chicken lady]

Wow iris, that is a serious gut remodel.

Razz, is it a rain garden?

the raspberries are mulched.

[razz]

Razz, is it a rain garden?
No, I live on a curve so that garden is shaped like a slice of pie and the rain runs from the wide area to the thin part. Heavy rain drains from both my rainspout and my right-side neighbour's as well as the water from the property behind me.
I did look into a rain garden for part of the drainage of my property but the grading of this swale was originally inspected and approved by the municipality with strong direction not to modify.

[frugal-one]

Got shallots and green & yellow beans from the farmer's market today. Prices were comparable to last year even though we have had a drought. Am happy to buy what we need (just the two of us).

[nswef]

The little 8 x 10 wildflower garden I planted is blooming beautifully. I planted the seeds very thickly, hoping to keep out the weeds. there is some grass that I need to tackle, but I am so excited with the colors and variety of flowers, some that I am hoping re seed. I think they are supposed to. I also picked a dozen gladiolas that look beautiful in the vase I use only for them as it is tall and thin with a wide top that is ideal, holds the stems upright. What truly excites me is that they come back every year and we are in piedmont Maryland...didn't think they were supposed to come back so I am very happy!

[iris lilies]

The little 8 x 10 wildflower garden I planted is blooming beautifully. I planted the seeds very thickly, hoping to keep out the weeds. there is some grass that I need to tackle, but I am so excited with the colors and variety of flowers, some that I am hoping re seed. I think they are supposed to. I also picked a dozen gladiolas that look beautiful in the vase I use only for them as it is tall and thin with a wide top that is ideal, holds the stems upright. What truly excites me is that they come back every year and we are in piedmont Maryland...didn't think they were supposed to come back so I am very happy!

Your flower garden sounds nice. I have had Gladiolus come back for a couple of years. I just put some in the ground a couple days ago in the unlikely event we still have warm weather in October and I can bring them to bloom. I got 40 glads for free from a neighbor. They are tiny and do not look healthy but we shall see what happens.

[nswef]

Good luck IL. I have put them in as late as mid June, but not July and they sent up greenery then came back the next year. Here's a sideways picture. 3860

[iris lilies]

Good luck IL. I have put them in as late as mid June, but not July and they sent up greenery then came back the next year. Here's a sideways picture. 3860

nice glads.

[nswef]

Thanks IL. They were from Family dollar and Lowes over the years. Now it's Dollar General and I haven't seen glads there for awhile. The hummingbirds like them, too.

[Chicken lady]

So, I am thinking about what I will plant for fall as spaces open up in my garden - so far I have added carrots and rutabagas.

I have dried some kale and green beans, the chickens are eating well and cheaply, and lunch and dinner dinner feature at least one garden item each day. Plus we eat my eggs and milk/cheese/ice cream.

I am doing well keeping records. Last night I cooked with cumin seed - I should look into growing cumin.

the chickshaw is “done” except that I have realized it needs larger wheels - which I need to order. I think the chicks can wait another 4/5 weeks, but I want to try it out with some extra roosters first for predator resistance.

The goats are on autopilot - milk, feed, water, turn out, bring in, repeat. No fence progress.

strawberries are badly neglected.

the new rabbit is doing well.

[razz]

CL, you are doing well. I am eating the leaf lettuce, green onions, zucchini and cukes from my garden bed. Lots of tomatoes coming, pole beans have been invaded by the Japanese beetles GRRRRRRR. Perennial flowers (lilies, liatris, balloon etc) are unfolding in perfect succession, hydrangeas are blooming and the annuals of salvia and marigolds are huge.
A friend gave me crushed eggshells and I bought some diatomaceous earth to control the slugs and snails and that seems to have helped a lot.
The crab grass is still sprouting and keeping me occupied pulling them out in the evening and will for some time. Enjoying this summer!

[rosarugosa]

CL: Cumin is delicious stuff! We really like cumin on eggs, chicken, and beef. It's probably good on pork too, but we only tend to eat pork in the form of bacon or prosciutto, so no seasonings needed for either of those.

[catherine]

Removed the rotting wood edging from the garden and replaced with cedar edging
Planted more pollinator perennials
Put a cucumber trellis in both DH and my gardens, finally! I love DH's trellis--he used vertical space on the side of his shed and made the trellis out of scrap wood and old paint that matches our trim.
Cultivated a strawberry harvest
Planted three tiny rootballs of forsythia from my NJ house so I think of our lives there everytime I look at it
Planted 5 different varieties of tomatoes--23 plants in total
Planted 3 marijuana plants so DH can cut down on his medical marijuana bill this winter.
Built our own wooden compost bin with slats so we can adjust the level of compost and get into it easily
Developed my Japanese garden courtyard to make a nice "back" entrance into the house--includes ferns and other greens, some statuary and bamboo blinds to cover the crap in the lean-to's adjacent to the house

DH and I are very happy to have completed some of our goals for this year!

[Simplemind]

After our little heat dome incident that decimated most of my yard and garden, we are now getting some produce. The lettuces and sweet peas are all gone. We now have an assortment of peppers, onions, tomatoes, zucchini, green beans, kale, cucumbers, cabbage and cauliflower. We have been eating like rabbits. I'm growing Brussel sprouts for the first time and should have researched more. I didn't realize they are one of the crops that take the longest to mature. I didn't realize they grew so high. I didn't realize I shouldn't have planted next to what I did. Oh well..... every year is a learning experience. We lost several blueberry bushes but those that made it are starting to ripen. Apples and pears look OK.

[Chicken lady]

Razz, that sounds lovely! I would like to do more flowers, but I always prioritize the food and don’t seem to have enough time for that. At the moment my blooms are tiger lillies, blackberries, Queen Anne’s lace, and chickory.

Rosa, I do eat cumin (although I’m vegetarian with occasional pescatarian detours) but usually ground. Somehow whole seed seems easier to do myself.

catherine, you are crushing it! What are your plans for all those tomatoes?

simplemind, I am so sorry about your weather! The nice thing about kate Brussels sprouts here is that we get less cabbage moth damage. I probably won’t harvest mine until after the first frost.

My progress this week is some dried beans and kale for snacking and 17 pints of pickles (12 dill, 5 a new sweet recipe)

[rosarugosa]

CL: That is interesting; I've only had ground cumin myself, and did not realize you are using the whole seeds. May I ask how you use them and how it differs from ground?

[happystuff]

I will confess that the gardening didn't turn out as well as I was hoping at the start. Something got to the kale - leaves are big, but with holes all over. Getting ready to pull them. The spinach didn't come up at all, so I'm thinking the seeds were not viable. The lettuce did okay and we are down to one plant left. Two of the three squash plants too and seem to be doing okay. They are starting to trail across the yard - hoping dh won't mow over them.

I think I will clean out the two boxes and plant for fall. Suggestions? Not sure what seeds I have on hand and will look online for fall veggies.

I'm going to slightly cop-out here and say that the job hours and transitions had me less energized for the gardens. :(

[catherine]

catherine, you are crushing it! What are your plans for all those tomatoes?


The tomatoes are in my DH's garden, and his life philosophy is "if one is good, 100 is always better". This approach to life has led to many arguments, such as when he's taking a pharmaceutical, or spending money.

So, now he's realizing that 23 tomato plants yield a LOT of tomatoes. We are talking freezing (easiest) but we would need a bigger freezer. So you save money on growing tomatoes, and then spend money on something to put them in! We could can them, but we have to learn how to can! Or we can have gazpacho and pasta parties every day for months.

[herbgeek]

I think I will clean out the two boxes and plant for fall. Suggestions?

Fall greens, like radicchio and endive along with more lettuce. The bonus with the radicchio is that if you don't finish harvesting it all, it will come back early in the spring and you can eat it then.

[herbgeek]

Every year, I vow not to grow so many zucchini and cucumbers and this year I didn't and am lamenting that I haven't been able to make pickles or the many dishes I make with extra zucchini. Some people are never happy. ;)

Tomatoes not doing well this year, or sweet peppers. The hot peppers are great - have already fermented a batch of jalapenos. Had a good sugar snap pea crop. I had 2 varieties I'd not grown before and they were tasty but very small. Spring lettuce is mostly gone (bolted). Herbs were off to a slow start but are doing well now except for basil which has little black insect spots on most of it. Just harvested a boat load of garlic, so I'm safe from vampires for another year.

[happystuff]

Fall greens, like radicchio and endive along with more lettuce. The bonus with the radicchio is that if you don't finish harvesting it all, it will come back early in the spring and you can eat it then.

Thanks for the suggestions. I was going to try more lettuce, and I'll look through the seeds and see if I have any other others.

[Chicken lady]

Rosa, the cumin seed was in a green bean dish. It goes into the oil and starts to darken before you out the beans in. It’s a little bit nutty and the flavor is more concentrated/separate than with powder.

I feel like growing spices I am going to use whole is easier than ground spices - I don’t have a spice grinder and the idea of cleaning it adequately between varieties is a lot.

I’m giving away an extra rooster today.

[Chicken lady]

So, it’s been just over a month since I updated this.

I’m doing a good job keeping records and have been looking back at some of them already. I think they will be useful for planning next year.

Vegetable garden:
I finished all my spring/summer planting right at the edge of on time and put in a few things for fall.
we have been eating a preserving a lot from the garden. Not as much as I would like, but a good amount. I’ve tried some new things. I’m trying to be more relaxed about the reality that I am also growing food for the chickens - the garden us supposed to serve me. Not the other way around.

by December - clean off the fence line, remove sagging/rusted fence section, have everything inside the fence planted or under mulch/sheet compost - this one I haven’t really worked on.

herb garden:
Decide what I want to plant in it next year (this year is a few perennials plus “tuck things in randomly”)
finish rock border - no real progress. Keeping it weeded. Dh agreed to move the camomile to a decorative bed.

fruit garden:
mulch and maintain strawberries and raspberries (both planted this year), elderberry starts (last year) and blueberry bush.
learn to make more elderberry starts. - Raspberries done and in good shape, strawberries half done, blueberry mowed around, elderberries lost in the weeds.

Chickens:
Chickshaw done, in test phase with a few “spare” roosters. Chickens will probably start moving in a week.
prep winter quarters for new layer flock (will not keep all 43 - chickshaw sleeps 40, but will probably cut back to 36.) - after chickshaw transition.

Goats:
new pasture fencing for buck pen and new rotational pasture - the fence guy finally came out yesterday and should be sending an estimate, but can’t start until at least February.
sell bucklings - I put a hold on this one as I am rethinking my genetics and might want to keep one.
Breed all 4 Does - exposed two this week - I think one will take but I’m not sure about the other. More breeding will have to wait until October due to the timing of a trip I have to take in February.
buy two goats IF and ONLY IF I find just what I want. - found a possibility, but it didn’t work out.

[Chicken lady]

Yesterday one of the spare roosters got eaten by a hawk - so they are too small to be out.

the fence quote was good, so I asked to be put on the schedule.

[Teacher Terry]

That’s sad CL.

[pinkytoe]

Growing berries are new to me but my black currant finally did its thing and produced lots of berries. I made some refrigerator jam but DH said it was too seedy. The flavor is fantastic though. Some of my squashes cross-pollinated and we got what looked like fat zucchinis but they taste fine. Due to the drought, I am pulling up tomatoes soon and putting in fall lettuce, spinach etc since the temps are finally cooling off.

[Chicken lady]

More jam for you pinkytoe!

I just tried ground cherry jam for the first time, and it was also very seedy.

I got some more mulch put down this morning to. One strawberry bed is now completely surrounded.

[Chicken lady]

Mulched around the blueberry bush today.