Chickens, anyone?

Chickens. I am obsessed with the idea of incorporating chickens into my mini-farm. (I've started using this term for my garden-to-be, as it seems more accurate, as I'm planning for veggies, fruit plants, bushes, and trees, ornamental plants, flowers, and chickens.) I'm currently researching coop designs. The plan is 4-6 hens, breed TBD. (Maybe Silkies, which are beautiful as well as functional!) Free range won't work, with limited backyard space to work with, so a coop and run it is. The website www.backyardchickens.com is the go to place for sharing designs. And this book has been a wonderful resource as well:

Any chicken advice for me? Designs you've found that work well (or not so much), tricks of the trade, I'll take all the help I can get!

Planting in the fall: berries?

Ooh, being the ever-optimistic planter that I am, I just got an email from Burpee suggesting that I can plant fall fruits! I'm excited to include berries in my mini-farm, so of course I jumped to learn more. I need to figure out a space - I was thinking in the front, since the soil is relatively decent (i.e. amended and not the clay and rock I inherited), it gets decent sun - why not? Of course, my eyes usually being bigger than my stomach, I'm interested in blackberry, strawberry, blueberry to start... but how to decide the right variety?? Ah, the joys of gardening. Wish me luck!

Addicted to Planting

So last week I bought seeds (lettuce, etc.) and planted a fall crop. Then this weekend while getting farm fresh veggies, I bought some lettuce and broccoli plants. Of course I did! I planted in 4 areas around the house, including a container on the deck. What I hope to learn is how the different areas, with different sunlight conditions, affect the plants. Well, actually I'm still just desperate for a crop of anoint, and hedging my bets :)

Fall planting

So last night I took my middle son (age:7) out to dinner, and while we were out I took the opportunity to get some seeds. No planning, no strategy, just picked up some seed packets of various lettuce varieties, with visions of freshly picked salads this fall, and in hopes of actually being able to grow something this year at our new house. My husband thinks I'm a little crazy planting so late, and he's probably right. Especially without an actual plan. Now, I've mentioned (ok complained) about the clay, rocks, and slope of the yard. The previous owners actually did do some landscaping, particularly in the front and a bit down one side, so not all the soil is awful. That being said, I did not prepare the soil at all. I'm doubtful anything will actually grow, but hey - you never know, I may get lucky. And when I win the lottery I'll let you know! Happy Friday!

Rain glorious rain

It's raining. Again. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful that I live in a part of the country that doesn't have drought problems. But my plants need sun right now! We move into our new abode the last weekend of May and spent a week unpacking, after which I immediately had to go out of town for a week on a business trip. Needless to say, it was late June before I got seeds in the ground, and even later when I realized I needed to put in plants to even have a chance. Oh, and did I mention my native soil is AWFUL?? It's clay and rock. But still, I didn't want to forgo an opportunity to just get something in the ground and at least see what happens. Not a great strategy, but after 12 years of living in the city and finally having some land to call our own, I was desperate! So I stuck (I mean planted) some lovely heirloom vegetable and fruit seeds in the ground, half expecting a miracle. And no, I didn't get it. Not even half of my seeds came up, and those that did show greenery but no fruit. A little depressing, but not at all surprising. So I was hoping (which we all know won't grow a garden any better!) for a sunny August to make up for my lateness in planting. Well, at least they won't grow thirsty. And summers not quite over. A miracle could still happen! (And when I win the lottery I'll let you know...!)

Gardening blogs

I've been exploring gardening blogs, and wanted to share some of my favorites:

Veggie Gardening Tips: http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/

Kenny from Pennysylvania has been gardening for almost 30 years, and shares his experience and helps others in a well-written, practical, easy and fun read. Thanks Kenny!







Mr. Brown Thumb: http://mrbrownthumb.blogspot.com/

Aimed at newbie gardeners, this blog is full of practical tips for primarily urban gardeners, but truly anyone can learn from (like seed starting - very helpful information!)

Growing the Home Garden: http://www.growingthehomegarden.com/

Dave is a stay at home dad to 3 kids in Tennessee and through his own projects shares learning. Tons of great helpful information about raised beds (of particular interest to me!)

Thanks for being a part of the gardening blog community!

Soil!

Soil is perhaps the most important factor in successful gardening, from what I understand. But what is soil? Dirt from the yard? Broken down compost? Potting soil from the garden center? One book I'm reading (Gardening for Geeks by Christy Wilhelmi) states that potting soil isn't soil at all, but a combination of compost (50%), peat or coir (coconut hulls - 40%), and perlite (10%). The peat or coir hold in moisture and nutrients and perlite just takes up space to keep things light and aerated. So here's my plan to fill my beds.

We are lucky enough in our town that the town offers free compost (!) and since we have a pickup, my plan is to take advantage of living in the town in which I do and bring home truck loads full. Once the plan is in place for the beds (size, quantity, etc.) I can figure out exactly how many loads I'll need. 

The tricky part will be the coir (which I can probably reduce the amount a bit if I mix in some of our own clay soil, which itself is good at retaining moisture and nutrients). So I'll need to scout out sources. And perlite, which I'm guessing is fairly easy to come by at the local garden center.

Any tricks for great soil?