Homesteading Updatery
For the past week we've had a crew doing the dirt work and building foundation forms for what will become Greg's shop.
As we watch these men work in triple digit heat we are torn. It's all we can do not to get in there and help, which is kind of silly because we are paying a hefty amount for this work crew.
It's a strange position we're in.
This is the first time in our lives we've ever hired people to do work we would otherwise do ourselves. Greg built his last shop nearly all by himself. That shop was a testament to his skill and strength.
But this time, 20+ years later, it's a job for younger men. They can do in a few weeks what would take us months to do on our own.
Still, I don't like to see people toil like that in this heat. We bring them ice and constantly ask them if there's anything we can do for them, but they always politely refuse.
***
Garden and chickens: I've been using soaker hoses to water the garden but it's still putting out too much water, so we switched over to sprinklers. Some veggies, like melons and tomatoes need a lot of water, but others can manage on less. We're still experimenting. You can see by the photo the very nice irrigation system Greg put together. It can accommodate both sprinklers and soaker hoses.
I put in a fall garden this week. And since we allow the chickens to free range during daylight hours, we decided to put up one of those plastic fences around the garden to keep them from nipping at my seedlings.
I'm happy with it. Works like a charm.
On the egg laying front, we still only have
two hens laying right now. The others should be starting within a few more weeks. Greg built two sets of nesting boxes. One condo and the other a one-story job. I'll show you more pictures later, but here's a pic of the 1 story nest boxes that we put up only last night.
It's all coming together, one step at a time.
Anyone else putting in a fall garden? How do you water; by hand, sprinklers, hoses? I'm always looking for alternatives.
And...is it me, or do you think it's been unusually hot this year? We got hotter sooner here in Texas and it wouldn't surprise me if we broke a record for triple digits this year. How about where you live?
As we watch these men work in triple digit heat we are torn. It's all we can do not to get in there and help, which is kind of silly because we are paying a hefty amount for this work crew.
It's a strange position we're in.
This is the first time in our lives we've ever hired people to do work we would otherwise do ourselves. Greg built his last shop nearly all by himself. That shop was a testament to his skill and strength.
But this time, 20+ years later, it's a job for younger men. They can do in a few weeks what would take us months to do on our own.
Still, I don't like to see people toil like that in this heat. We bring them ice and constantly ask them if there's anything we can do for them, but they always politely refuse.
***
Garden and chickens: I've been using soaker hoses to water the garden but it's still putting out too much water, so we switched over to sprinklers. Some veggies, like melons and tomatoes need a lot of water, but others can manage on less. We're still experimenting. You can see by the photo the very nice irrigation system Greg put together. It can accommodate both sprinklers and soaker hoses.
I put in a fall garden this week. And since we allow the chickens to free range during daylight hours, we decided to put up one of those plastic fences around the garden to keep them from nipping at my seedlings.
I'm happy with it. Works like a charm.
On the egg laying front, we still only have
two hens laying right now. The others should be starting within a few more weeks. Greg built two sets of nesting boxes. One condo and the other a one-story job. I'll show you more pictures later, but here's a pic of the 1 story nest boxes that we put up only last night.It's all coming together, one step at a time.
Anyone else putting in a fall garden? How do you water; by hand, sprinklers, hoses? I'm always looking for alternatives.
And...is it me, or do you think it's been unusually hot this year? We got hotter sooner here in Texas and it wouldn't surprise me if we broke a record for triple digits this year. How about where you live?
Comments
Have a good Wednesday.
Here's hoping for cooler temps soon.
It does seem hotter this year than others (I'm in DC). I can't wait for fall, when I can take my walks outside again!
I am definitely looking forward to fall. I love the crispness in the air.
No fall garden for us. I'm in MN so the fall is typically a no go for growing things. But we have our summer veggies and they are doing awesome. We're going to collect peas for seeding next year.
Usually we get enough rain for watering, but ocassionally we'll water garden and lawn together with a sprinkler. And yesterday it was 93 degrees, so the garden had to get some hose water.
I hope you post pictures of your harvest on your blog.
I can drool for your veggies and you can pine for my chickens. LOL.
Oh, sorry. I think I've been slush reading too much erotica lately.
Now I can't go back there.
I like your yard. I wish I had a yard that big and nice.
I miss the city though. There's nothing else like Chicago.
Greg still lives on the coast and we still bear the scars from Hurricane Rita.
PS Greg's from Florida too. He always tells me how balmy it is.
I've got a brooder full of little guinea fowl that hatched early this am and a new baby goat. Whew. Busy here.
And my son's 4H broiler chicks arrive on the 20th. We've ordered 50 new chicks. I must have lost my mind.
Hmmm, maybe I should be gardening now!
We have been between 95 and 105 or so this summer here in sunny California. We live in the central valley, near Fresno. Usually, it is a lot hotter and for a lot longer period of time. We've been lucky.
Our family just snuck over to Monterey for three days (central coast). That's Cannery Row for John Steinbeck fans. It was great.
Take care and good luck with everything.
I can't wait to see pictures. And don't leave anything out about the baby goat.
I am waiting until next year to get goats, so I'll be glued to all your experiences.
Ref: Everyone's air conditioners are blowing out...
Knock on wood, ours is still doing good. I can't imagine having to deal with this heat without AC.
:::grumble, stupid weird summer weather, grumble:::
BTW, that nesting box looks good enough to rent out. Maybe I could stay there if I come to visit?
I am waiting a few more days before I put in the cauliflower and cabbage.
Ref: boxes
I'll tell you a funny story about the nest boxes. They were supposed to be a set of four. Greg and I were so busy chatting and joking around, we forgot the fourth divider and built it Taj Mahal size.
We didn't even notice our mistake until it was up. :headdesk:
Chickens don't mind sharing though. I'm sure they'll double up.
The nesting boxes are adorable. I'm looking forward to seeing more pics ;)
Unfortunately, I'm a city slicker so no garden for me. I do have plants inside my apt. which I do take care of. I have a green thumb. At least, we have lots of green space in our neighbourhood and our "mountain" in our backyard.
BTW, do you name your chickens? LOL! It's only fair since they'll have lovely homes.
Ref: chickens
We named a couple of them. Vicky is our victim chicken. She was wrongfully picked on by the bigger birds so we called her Victim. Eventually, to give her a little dignity, we changed it to Vicky.
Then there's Eagle and Little Eagle. They're Americaunas, but their coloring is very eagle-like.
I know. Not very original. But if they have names, there's little chance they'll be dinner.
It's hot here in NJ. The air conditioner just went back on but we're not in the triple digits.
Ref: that's a serious garden.
That little thing? LOL.
It's a good sized garden (20 x 40 feet). Next year I plan to grow corn and soybeans in a field out back to give me more room for other veggies.
(Do you plant them as babies?)
What am I going to do with you?
For all I know, you and Krista are flying down here now. I better warn those guys!
Oh my, I think I'm having a hot flash.
I have four chickens - bantams - (seems I do everything smaller, if I had construction workers, would they be smaller too, I wonder?) - and they love to share the nesting boxes. I have four nesting boxes and they all stay each night together in the same one! Chickens are a good source of giggles - they always make me laugh.
These are still baby steps, but it's getting there.
I cannot wait for cooler temps!!
But 117! I think you had it worse than us. I think the highest heat index we had here was 113.
But really, once you get past 95 degrees, it's all hot, isn't it?