Bottling lager

Hubby has been brewing every two weeks in anticipation for our end of summer BBQ.  This one is a Honey Lager made with the sourwood honey we picked up on vacation.  First taste was promising.  It will be ready in 2 weeks.

Potato Harvest

It isn't much of a harvest, somewhere between a quart and a half gallon of yukon golds and Purple Adirondack potatoes.  It was our own inattention that gave us this meager reward.  Although the back parking area is unused and gets the right amount of sun, it is a hassle to drag the hose to it and as a consequence is often forgotten.  The plants have all died back and we are left with a volunteer tomatillo and what I think is a cucumber.  After I dug these out - the plants had only set just under the top layer of straw - I watered thoroughly, happy to see black dirt and straw teeming with red wrigglers.  I will build the 3rd raised bed before fall and set it up in the upper yard before filling it with this lovely soil.  Then move these two beds up there in the same way.

It isn't much of a harvest, but it is better than last year. 

Garden Pics Friday

Purple bush beans and the first carrots I have ever successfully grown.

The pumpkin vine is planning a takeover I think

I think I will grow the okra in the front yard next year.  It is related to the hibiscus and it shows.

FFA music video

Saw this while I was trolling other garden/farm/poultry blogs the other night.  It is better than the original, which if you don't know, you probably do not want to.

You gonna eat that? Part 1

 7:30 am in Englewood.  Owner of tree did not wish to be bothered with the fruit of her tree.  We cleaned up the windfalls for the hens.  They are now ripening slowly in our basement.

Today in the Garden

Planted:
Climbing Spinach
Bush Beans
Kale

Harvested:
Pinot Noir Peppers

Collected:
Carrot seed (Danvers I think)

So . . what's going on at the Ppatch anyway?

Let's start with the worst.  Here is the hill that Hubby planted wildflowers 3 TIMES.  Nothing came up.  In the back are a few Mammoth Sunflowers (not so big).  On the lower right corner is a few leaves of a small orange cherry tomato plant, other than that, Nada.  So yesterday the girls and I planted the last of the brassicas that were slowly dying in their pots and 6 peach pits (Mesha's new project since her apple tree sprout died)  We have 1 bale of hay left and will mulch this weekend.


Here is the other part of the hill.  Again, sunflowers on top, sweet corn in front.  Between and not really seen is the Greek Amaranth and popcorn (still really small).

Bell Peppers are growing at the base of the straw terraces.  The plants did not get big, but they are producing.

Hubby and I rescued some beige carpet that had been abandoned in the alley for a couple weeks and cut it in strips for the rows - 1/2 our weeding is now eliminated.  The tomatoes are huge, but the heat has halted their blooming.  But we have green fruit.  There is a tripod I erected today - volunteer Grampa Otis Morning Glories.  They are COVERED with bees.  Woo Hoo!

Juju's raised bed is the star of the show.  Her mystery tomato is growing well as are the sunflowers, cosmos, and basil.  The climbing squash has reached the top of the decorative "lattice" and I connected it to Mesha's with some long branches - cross your fingers for a covered arbor in a couple weeks.  There are little J-shaped fruits and everything.

The livestock have really enjoyed the weed from ours (and our neighbors') patches.  I do get funny looks when I point to someones weed pile and say "can I have that?"

BTW - we gave 2 of the new hens to another family, they are thrilled to now have 8 and we are more comfortable with 14.

And what, you ask, was Hubby doing while the girls and I have been working so hard in the yard and garden. . .

Making wood swords for the girls to take to RenFair this weekend - nicer than anything we saw there.

Mesha's short sword and shield - with a wand holder inside the shield (she bought a wand at RenFair a couple weeks ago)  She has since painted them black with a diamond design.

 

One of two Scimitars for Juju.  The handles are wrapped in hemp twine.