It's a zoo around here
By Jen Miller
Daily Journal Online Coordinator
Daily Journal Online Coordinator
Published: Sunday, July 05, 2009
Updated: Sunday, June 28, 2009 7:43 AM CDT
Updated: Sunday, June 28, 2009 7:43 AM CDT
The chickens are growing faster every day. Maybe it’s the heat or a conspiracy to get out of their cardboard box - I’m not sure. They’ve taken to flying up to the edge of the taped up sides, roosting and pooping over the edge. Have I said I’m tired of chicken poop? Not that it’s a hard job, but it’s constant.
I think I’ve gone through half a dozen box changes at least, each time with a bigger box. Half a bag of feed has been gone through and most of the hay. Supplies don’t really cost much, but they go through more and more as they grow.
Keeping up with the demands of a new house has been time consuming as well. Sad to say, I’ve neglected the garden I was so looking forward to growing. Admittedly, the heat is not helping. Who wants to dig and hoe out in 90 degree plus heat and humidity? Not me. I’m lucky just to be able to mow the grass that never stops growing. The corn is doing fabulous though. It’s already up to my waist and thriving in the garden. I have two organic tomato varieties that seem to be doing fine as well. The Italian basil is surviving just outside the dining room door. The seedlings are done for. They fell victim to the dreaded damping-off disease. Not enough air circulation and a bit too much moisture.
As for the rest of the garden, well, let’s just say I need to do some serious weed-eating. All my lovely brown soil that was tilled has had grass somehow sprout up all over it. Today, I need to weed-eat and chop it all out. I’m not looking forward to it, but it needs to be done. I will be planting the sugar-snap peas this weekend in a different area, just out of reach of the future pen of the chickens.
As for the rest of the seeds, I’m not too worried. I’ve been reading Eliot Coleman’s book called “The Four-Season Harvest” and learned there’s always something to be grown all year round. Whether it’s in the ground or a cold-frame, it can be done. So I haven’t been too concerned about timelines or purported “growing season” restrictions.
Have I mentioned I adopted a bunny? Talk about biting off more than I can chew. He’s (at least, I think it’s a ‘he’) adorable and not too much trouble. I was planning to adopt a rabbit this year, just not this soon. The opportunity came up though and now he’s all mine. He’s a lionhead breed, so he’ll be getting a full-maned ruff all around his head. Right now, he looks a little like Don King - with a toupee. Lionheads stay small, 2 to 3 pounds, so I don’t have to worry about size. Right now he occupies my dog Luca’s large crate in the dining room. I’m just happy there’s no detectable smell. My aunt is generously donating her unused rabbit hutch to my cause and that will be set up soon. All of Bosco Bunny’s poo will in turn be generously donated to my garden fertilizer pile.
I think I’ve gone through half a dozen box changes at least, each time with a bigger box. Half a bag of feed has been gone through and most of the hay. Supplies don’t really cost much, but they go through more and more as they grow.
Keeping up with the demands of a new house has been time consuming as well. Sad to say, I’ve neglected the garden I was so looking forward to growing. Admittedly, the heat is not helping. Who wants to dig and hoe out in 90 degree plus heat and humidity? Not me. I’m lucky just to be able to mow the grass that never stops growing. The corn is doing fabulous though. It’s already up to my waist and thriving in the garden. I have two organic tomato varieties that seem to be doing fine as well. The Italian basil is surviving just outside the dining room door. The seedlings are done for. They fell victim to the dreaded damping-off disease. Not enough air circulation and a bit too much moisture.
As for the rest of the garden, well, let’s just say I need to do some serious weed-eating. All my lovely brown soil that was tilled has had grass somehow sprout up all over it. Today, I need to weed-eat and chop it all out. I’m not looking forward to it, but it needs to be done. I will be planting the sugar-snap peas this weekend in a different area, just out of reach of the future pen of the chickens.
As for the rest of the seeds, I’m not too worried. I’ve been reading Eliot Coleman’s book called “The Four-Season Harvest” and learned there’s always something to be grown all year round. Whether it’s in the ground or a cold-frame, it can be done. So I haven’t been too concerned about timelines or purported “growing season” restrictions.
Have I mentioned I adopted a bunny? Talk about biting off more than I can chew. He’s (at least, I think it’s a ‘he’) adorable and not too much trouble. I was planning to adopt a rabbit this year, just not this soon. The opportunity came up though and now he’s all mine. He’s a lionhead breed, so he’ll be getting a full-maned ruff all around his head. Right now, he looks a little like Don King - with a toupee. Lionheads stay small, 2 to 3 pounds, so I don’t have to worry about size. Right now he occupies my dog Luca’s large crate in the dining room. I’m just happy there’s no detectable smell. My aunt is generously donating her unused rabbit hutch to my cause and that will be set up soon. All of Bosco Bunny’s poo will in turn be generously donated to my garden fertilizer pile.
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