The Dirt Calls

I'm sorry that for the last few weeks I haven't posted anything. I am here. I am alive. Better yet, so is the garden!

Today I pulled out the bolting lettuce and replanted. This is normal. Since I plant so early in the spring and then thin and cut it so it regrows fantastic for a few months I am fairly good at getting the spring lettuce crop to last all the way into summer.
What I planted today normally (once grown) will last until late fall. I've been known to brush snow off the top of my lettuce box before finally calling it quits for the year.

I also planted some more tomatoes & winter squash of the Delicata Heirloom variety. I love the flavor and how easy it is to cut. Since I'm not selling it, taking it from garden to table is easy.
Delicata isn't easily found in stores or even farmers markets due to how easy it is to bruise.
The flavor however is between squash & sweet potatos!
Very yummy, very earthy and sweet.
I highly recommend it for any backyard garden! Also due to its white/green colors on the outside and bright orange hue on the inside its a very attractive plant to plate up for guests.
Another bonus is that the skin (again since its so thin) is edible and easily cut with a carrot peeler.

I have one squash in the yard (summer variety) that I will be able to harvest this week! Summer/fall is weeding/watering and trying to keep everything from frying under the hot sun!
Sorry I stopped posting everyday, its been tough to find time for everything!

So far I have carrots seeding, mint seeding & a few cilantro growing up from seed in the ground! I'm pretty exited, now fingers crossed that the cilantro grows back again next spring!
Our blackberry bushes are massive but the raspberry plants are struggling in the heat.

Also we were just able to salvage a ton of fencing material! The same fence we used for the herb garden may end up replacing the chain link in the front yard - we are unsure if we have enough to do the entire front yard but I do know we have enough to replace the yucky section that is falling down - so for now at least one section of the front yard will soon be done!

As for the bunnies we bred Zorro with Misty - but are unsure if she's pregnant or not. In the hopes that she is (and regardless as we will still need it in the future) we are ready to build the grow out cages!
We plan on doing it modular style this time to make it easier as the location is less friendly than the original set up.

I have tons to blog - photos galore and will try to start posting full time again soon!
Until then, remember - its a scientific fact that dirt makes you happier ;)

Summer Time

The peas are doing fantastic - even with the chickens pecking through the fence stealing bits whenever they can!

We also planted Zucchini.

I don't have any gorgeous photos - only lovely dirt water wells that will soon become Zucchini.

 If you live in Northern Utah - Zucchini is a garden MUST.

You can't grow them wrong, they grow like weeds here!

I planted Cilantro in the corner of the herb garden. Hopefully this will be the perfect spot. Its full sun.

Which is why the Mint stopped growing into that area, the mint is massive but is reluctant to grow out into the sunlight, it prefers shade. I don't see that changing greatly no matter how invasive mint can be it really likes it cooler.

The Lavender I was trying start inside only had one seed sprout and then died off, so I will be trying to direct sow the seeds into the opposite corner - again.

I'd also like to add Oregano, Thyme and Rosemary. While I have tons of grand plans for this area - including hanging baskets off the fence for some smaller herbs.We add to our garden slowly. 

One thing at a time and see how it goes.

I've had several people ask me how I managed my gardens, chickens & rabbits and why I would talk about adding even more (bee's, aquaponics & a green house).

Its because we add one massive new thing a year.

Two years ago it was chickens.

This year rabbits.

Adding one thing to everything else makes it manageable for me. I don't get overwhelmed because I have a routine established and have already learned how to care and manage the rest.

Being a newbie on one subject, not all at once.

Being raised in a modern/urban world I didn't grow up with parents or grandparent's that had livestock and kitchen gardens. 

My grandma Thornton grew one plant (really well I might add)
but still only ONE.

I can only hope and pray next year I have enough Blackberries so I can make her Blackberry pie recipe.

That said, many people are coming back to self sufficiency.

Wanting to control their food source to eliminate GMO's, certain grains, chemicals, healthier animals, save money, no matter the reason - America in part - is coming back to nature.

Most of us are doing it alone, searching out books, online help and advice.

Learning by success and failure.

Which is why I will always be honest with you.

I will share my failures, as well as my successes.

Planting the Tomatoes

When it comes to tomatoes we've had a rough time. 

This year we've finally ditched the dumb hanging planters that swear to give you large yields but last year netted us 3 tomatoes on three large amazing plants. This year we've already started out needing to doctor our tomato plants.

We've pulled out all the stops by adding fish heads & bone meal into each hole.

We planted 6 Homestead heirloom & 4 Sweet Million.
The homestead are large beefsteak tomatoes.
Sweet Million are cherry tomatoes that are supposed to vine down. 

Cucumbers

Moving them into full sun - really worked. There have been times I've not noticed a difference between full sun, partial sun and no sun regardless of the recommendations. 

Cucumbers, full sun is not optional, its a must!

I will thin them later - but with the trellis I shouldn't have to thin them as much as if they were fighting for space on the ground.

My worries of not having enough cucumbers this year should now be pointless! 

Whew! 

I really need a massive harvest this year! I want to make butter pickles, dill and sweet pickles. If I have enough pickles left over I want to make homemade pickle relish as well.
Of course starting so late in the year I realize I might not have as much as I would have if I had planted in the right spot at the beginning of summer.

Already these cucumbers with their first leaves are taller than the ones I planted two months ago that have their true leaves growing!

At least I have the perfect spot for growing them next year!

Early Summer Garden

Our carrots are growing amazingly well this year! 

Soon we will start to thin them out, giving some to the rabbits.

Some will go into a salad for us, pretty much any carrot over an inch you can eat!
The two that are flowering and seeding will give me enough seeds for years to come.
Last year I learned an amazing recipe using cut carrots, butter and fresh dill - it was amazing!

Everything including the corn (not pictured) is growing well this year!

Already I'm on my second planting of lettuce 

(the two back boxes of lettuce)

The front sections of lettuce are still amazing!

Even though I've thinned them at least three times so far!

Fresh garden salads are one of my favorite summer dinners!

Toss on some boiled fresh eggs and YUM!

Happy Hens & Eggs

The Happy Healthy Fluffy Butt Club!

So far this summer my girls are doing great!

We've had one small limp, that healed within 24 hours.

Finally I've been able to get a good photo of my olive egg next to one of my light blue eggs!

I know the light one looks white but its a lovely light blue.

So far everyone is doing great and having a fantastic summer!

Re-Seeding the Wheat

Roughly two months ago we cut the rabbits grass for the first time.
To see that blog click HERE

From that day on, we've cut it almost everyday!

Two months of cheap, fresh, healthy feed for the rabbits!

As you can see from the first photo its starting to "stalk" where it grows a thicker dry husk at the bottom.

Checking under it and seeing the amazing root system we cut it as short as we could 

(to get it to grow back green again).

We also added a few more wheat grass seeds on the top and then covered it with the cut thick stalks to keep the birds from the seeds.

Over the coarse of this week we will finish reseeding, cutting and restarting the grass.

Even if we need to do this process every two months into the fall it will still save us a ton of money, keep the rabbits cooler and healthier!