What did you do to prep today?

[Lydia Darragh]

Ran down to the LDS cannery (it was an absolute zoo, BTW) and bought 150 lbs of wheat and a package of oxygen absorbers. I don't need the oxy absorbers right now, but all the absorbers I've ever seen come from Japan.... I figured I would just rather buy some now and store them.

Got the 3/4 acre garden tilled today. (Hired it out for $75; it seemed like a good deal.)

Now I need to get the seed potatoes cut up.

[carol b]

Mucked out the coop and tilled the garden. Planted one row of onion sets.

[BrudderT]

Got my taxes done. Does that count as prepping?

Went and got some bee keeping equipment.

Raked up some of the mess in the yard. First day out this spring.
Busted up the dirt in several garden areas / beds, pulled a bunch of weeds.

Tomorrow I'm going to start beating the yard / lawn into submission. Clean gutters, wash the truck. Maybe get to some garden tilling and if so, plant some seeds.

It was sure nice to open the doors and windows and let the house air out for the first time. Great to get outdoors!!! Yeah!!!

BrudderT

[packyderms_wife]

Worked in the yard raked leaves for the compost bins, straightened out the compost bins (three bins that are 4x4 feet each) as much as I could the bottom eight was frozen solid.

Am eagerly waiting for warmer temps!

K-

[ChristieAcres]

Worked in the yard raked leaves for the compost bins, straightened out the compost bins (three bins that are 4x4 feet each) as much as I could the bottom eight was frozen solid.

Am eagerly waiting for warmer temps!

K-

You just reminded me of yet another job- the leaves! We appear to be past the hard freezes, anyway, but I don't count on much these days, except for "the unexpected..." We did get in the 50s, and a beautiful sunny day to break up the torrential downpours, windstorms, thunder & lightening we have been getting. This was a record breaking year for...cold temps, rain (imagine that), and I don't ever remember it snowing this often, either. I am absolutely ready for Spring!!!

Today, I did a garden consultation for a local Massage Therapist and her family. Since I recently took a Permaculture course, and also inhaled a great book on that topic, I integrated some of those principles (along with others) into my design. I was served a homemade lunch of shredded tender pork, coleslaw, and cornbread. During lunch, we discussed "bartering," and here is where the prep connection comes in. I established rapport with the family, discussed self-sustaining (from a gardening point of view), and presented my style of gardening. I have integrated a number of methods into this style and it works very well for our PNW challenges. As we went over what their gardening goals were, we discussed everything they were doing on their acreage (5-6 acres). They have Goats, one for milk, also Llama's for protection, chickens, and pigs. These folks just need some direction, guidance, and support. I was asked for a plan that dictated each growing area, the varities, placement, when to direct seed or start indoors, timelines, planning extension for harvesting, and also succession planting. At one point we discussed a pig as barter (for more than just this work). That is likely to come to fruition as her DH wanted a welding job done by my DH, also crab (we go crabbing in season). Then, adding on the number of plants, bulbs, cloves, and seeds they will be ordering... So, I'll likely get a pig out of this, which we don't have to raise AND massages, too (for me, not the pig).

The other bonus was this led me to think a bit more about the areas on our property we could utilize differently. DH is about half done with our fencing around our garden (re-did it just to get it too high for those naughty deer). Yes, I like venison, especially after my strawberries get attacked... Once he completes this fencing, the outdoor gardening work begins. After we goofed by letting our chickens "free range" we must also fence around my garlic beds before they are released from incarceration.

[ChristieAcres]

DH completed the garden fencing, so that means I can plant. We discussed it last night, and the chickens were provided freedom. They were given the entire garden, and shut in there, partied all day long in all the beds. Of course, I put pots over plants I didn't want messed with. I wish I had taken before/after shots. Those 13 chickens (3 wouldn't go in) did more work than we could have probably close to a week! The timing was perfect, as planting will start in a week or so (cool weather varieties only). I just put all my treated Marionberry cuttings in the soil. The treatment was an organic solution, soaked 24 hours, then planted. I have decided to plant another area in Marionberries, so prepping for that. We had a meeting of the minds this afternoon. We are going to utilize an existing small area, that is fenced, extending that, and Len has made plans to build a little pig barn there. This is far enough away from our home BTW, and we won't be "downwind" of it, either.

[I.C.O.E.B.G.]

Just got my parts to put together a homemade berkley water filter.

[ChristieAcres]

Just got my parts to put together a homemade berkley water filter.

I'd enjoy seeing a pic of that, so please post one when you get a chance!

Besides cleaning house, I "cleaned my potting area" in order to get it ready for more planting. Then, did some work out in a few of the garden beds. I had a barter garden consulting appt this afternoon and she left loaded up with close to 100 E W Onions, the last Red Chokes I could spare (only 6), a few Everbearing Stwbys, sprouting All Blue Potatoes, 100 Martin's Kitchen Garlic Cloves, Scarlet Runner Bean seeds, Dill seeds, 3 Comfrey plants, and a split of my Rhubarb. Of course after a few hours of Q/A session, she appeared overloaded with information. So, I bid her fairwell with a suggestion to not worry about remembering anything. We are doing a longer term consultation, due to their difficulties growing their garden. I am determined to provide the assistance so they get great results. This will also include me visiting their homestead regularly to check on the progress. They are excited and very motivated! I can work with people like that Oh, we get pork & massages in return.

[orion commander]

I'd enjoy seeing a pic of that, so please post one when you get a chance!

Besides cleaning house, I "cleaned my potting area" in order to get it ready for more planting. Then, did some work out in a few of the garden beds. I had a barter garden consulting appt this afternoon and she left loaded up with close to 100 E W Onions, the last Red Chokes I could spare (only 6), a few Everbearing Stwbys, sprouting All Blue Potatoes, 100 Martin's Kitchen Garlic Cloves, Scarlet Runner Bean seeds, Dill seeds, 3 Comfrey plants, and a split of my Rhubarb. Of course after a few hours of Q/A session, she appeared overloaded with information. So, I bid her fairwell with a suggestion to not worry about remembering anything. We are doing a longer term consultation, due to their difficulties growing their garden. I am determined to provide the assistance so they get great results. This will also include me visiting their homestead regularly to check on the progress. They are excited and very motivated! I can work with people like that Oh, we get pork & massages in return.

Do you sleep? We threw out my first attempt at sour kraut as it was moldy. Next batch I am going to just add salt water to just cover right form the start.

[ChristieAcres]

Do you sleep? We threw out my first attempt at sour kraut as it was moldy. Next batch I am going to just add salt water to just cover right form the start.

LOL, yes I do sleep 8 hours/night. I figured out years ago not to fight my driven personality and never took drugs recreationally or via prescription for it. Also maintain a regular workout routine. Oh well, that is just me

Sorry to hear about your sour kraut. I've been meaning to make some, never had, but this year there will be loads of cabbages out there (as long as they don't get nuked).