Garden Update 3/22/14

Tomatoes on the left, and a small hill for watermelon in the middle.

In less than a month, we're on to the second set of tires for the potatoes!

Spinach in a raised bed.  Not sure how they'll do, as I've never had much luck with them here.  They are under a shade cloth.



Pole beans in the background, cabbage, broccoli and brussel sprouts looking good after one week in the ground.  All under shade cloth.



Cucumbers are taking off!

More pole beans, under direct sun.  They definitely are doing better than those under the shade cloth.  I'm trying to see if in the long run, over time, those under the shade cloth will do better after we reach the really hot temperatures.
 

Raising the Roof - Again in 2014

Well, back in 2012 along with the loss of the Hooligans (our first set of chickens) we had some additional challenges to overcome.  One of which was the feeding frenzy by the area wildlife in our pond.  http://www.theschultzcompound.blogspot.com/2012/06/tilapia-protection-honey-bee-larvae-and.html

 

As a result, the Moose created a fencing system to keep them out, and our new Tilapia as safe as possible from the predators.  We showed up one Saturday, and it was standing room only for the Egrets, and Storks!

 

 

It's worked out great!  Only issue now, the fish are large enough for us to eat, but it's really difficult to fish them out.  There's no room to maneuver underneath.   Since we decided to electrify the fencing around the garden to keep the pigs where they belong, and create a larger space for them at this point to dig up and fertilize the garden, the fencing around the pond was dual purpose.  Keep the pigs contained and raise the roof on the pond.  Here are the results;



 

Easily walked under by all of us at The Compound.  

It's About More Than...

It's about more than just prepping.  Way more..

(From our friends at Wikipedia) Survivalism is a movement of individuals or groups (called survivalists or preppers) who are actively preparing for emergencies, including possible disruptions in social or political order, on scales from local to international. Survivalists often acquire emergency medical and self-defense training, stockpile food and water, prepare to become self-sufficient, and build structures (e.g., a survival retreat or an underground shelter) that may help them survive a catastrophe.

Why do you prep really?  I agree with the definition, and yes I do most of these things.  However, and foremost, here is my real reason.

I don't want to end up on the dark side. Too many sheeple are already there, just watch the morning news.   I don't want to be that person that feels compelled to lie, cheat or steal the necessities in life to survive.  I don't want to deal with the temptation that comes from fear, or  lack of food, water, etc. If people are pushed into a corner the part of the DNA that leans towards being animalistic will rear it's ugly head.  I believe it'll be tough enough, and the life I know will no longer exist.  I really, really don't want to go there. 

I think that's what bothers me the most about what's going to happen.  I'm not actually that concerned about the outcome of this economical and political nonsense.  I know where that's leading and I know it's going to happen.  I'm more concerned about our ability to follow the principles God has laid out, once faced with the catastrophe that lies ahead.  Our country the world is already filled to capacity with liars, cheats, manipulators, greed mongers and idol worshippers.  It doesn't bode well for society immediately after we're plunged into darkness. 

That's why we do what we do, prepare as much and the best that we can so we can avoid those living on the dark side as much as possible.  But, I also know that God always makes something good out of the bad.  I am not left hopeless or without comfort.  My future, our future is about so much more, way more.





If you haven't yet read The Hiding Place, by Corrie ten Boom.  It's worth the read.  You'll understand humanity in the face of crisis;  good and bad.

Garden Update 3/8/14

I'll have to add more dirt to these this next weekend.  Once they come up about 6", you're supposed to add more dirt.

Ready to thin these out, and might plant some in the ground under a shade cloth, since this isn't the season for cabbage.



More thinning of these is needed too.  Tomatoes

The start of spinach in one of my raised beds.

Pole beans making great strides.

Heirloom cucumbers, doing just great!

Raised bed with mixed greens and arugula.

Busy, Busy

To say the Moose and I are tired, is an understatement, we're sore all over! (see bengay-to-you-too) We could use some Bengay ourselves!

We had a very long, very busy weekend at The Compound.  We spent the night so we could get as much work in as possible.  You see, the 7 little pigs escaped their confines this past week, so we needed to work on their area, and what was really one project became three-in-one.

1.  We wanted to section off the garden, so we could move the pigs into different locations so they could help till up the soil, eliminate the weeds, grubs, and fertilize the soil.

2.   We need to install electric fencing around the perimeter to keep them where they belong.

3.  We need to build a taller screened room over the pond.  (tilapia-protection)  The one that's in place now, keeps the birds out, but we can't get in very easy to see how the fish population is doing and/or to net some for dinner.

So, after a trip to the local farm and hardware store, and packing of two vehicles to carry all of the materials and overnight bags we headed out to The Compound.  The weather was beautiful, but I'm sure the guys that did the heavy lifting would have liked cloudy 60 degree temperatures, rather than sunny and low 80's. 

They installed roughly 15ea 4x4x10, 14ea 2x4x10, fencing on three sides, buried an auto water hose, and dumped upwards of a hundred loads of gravel to create a walkway all around the pond.   They repaired the overflow drainage from the pond, that will fill in the pig wallows and when that's filled, the water will drain out to the swamp.  It's easily summed up in a paragraph, but trust me, it took all the energy they had to get the holes dug, rocks shoveled, wheelbarrow loads moved, nails hammered, etc.

We had bags of compost and top soil along the edge of the pond holding the orange fencing material in place so critters wouldn't crawl underneath, and those bags have grown weeds and broken open. (I thought compost didn't have weed seeds, or they were killed through the composting process?) Those were pulled out of the way and dumped in the pig run.  They'll rut through them eating the weeds, and I'll go back later and collect the plastic remains.

The posts will eventually hold up the orange fencing material over the pond, and create a ceiling with plenty of room to maneuver inside.  The posts also hold the fencing that section off the garden for the pigs, which by the way, they were totally excited about their new space!  They couldn't eat the pickers (sticker plants) and weeds fast enough! 

 

Work is so rewarding, when you can see how happy the animals are!  Still no electric fence, and I'm sure they won't be happy when that's finally installed.  I'll just have to bring them some extra treats!

 

So, in short order we'll have three projects completed.

Those Little Stinkers

Oh, don't let those cute eyes, or floppy ears fool you!  Pigs are stinkers!  What trouble makers!

The Moose and I stopped by The Compound yesterday to perform our routine chores, and noticed part of the yard all turned over, and left overs from last nights dinner party in the yard (if you know what I mean).  Hey, I thought  "we had wild pigs in the yard"!

Upon further investigation;  we had pigs in the yard alright, our pigs and they were throwing a wild party of their own!  They literally broke open the fencing along the bottom, separated the chicken wire from the welded wire fencing and made their way out.

Once a loaf of bread was thrown in their designated area, they all jumped back through.  Those little devils!  Glad they stayed close to home, but now we have another project slated for this weekend; electrifying their area.  And the Moose is none too happy about not getting more work done on the container.  The pigs won't be too happy either once they realize the fence line is off limits!

Container Update - Wallowing - Gardening (lots of pictures)

We're finally focused back on the container, after a foray into raising hogs and spring cleaning.

Donnie painted a coat of the white roofing membrane over the top, R&B and I painted two coats on one wall in the inside (the roof and opposite wall are next).  We had some leftover paint laying around, we mixed them all together and it came out to a nice cream color.  Sure cleaned it up and we used up some of our "resource inventory".

Now don't go thinking the Moose was a slouch!  He was busy getting us set up, and cleaned up as well as;

 

Digging the 7 pigs a wallow.  Which they thoroughly enjoyed shortly after.  Hot weather and bugs are in the near future, and they need a way to cool off and cover themselves to avoid bug bites.

 

 

I spent part of my day mowing the acreage, and tending the garden.  Things are starting to take shape;

 

The red potatoes are finally popping through!



Even the new citrus we planted in containers are doing well

tangerine

Meyer Lemon



Limes

 





 



The weather was fantastic, and we're looking forward to next Saturdays escapades!