Garden Planning.....sweet potatoes??

The ground is still white with snow, the air is cold and damp but I'm not letting that get me down.  I'm planning my garden now so when the sun finds its way through the clouds, warms the soil and melts the snow I'm ready to go!

I am thinking about growing sweet potatoes in my little garden this year.  The plants are available from Vesey's Seeds.  I am wondering if anyone has any experience, whether it be good or bad, with growing sweet potatoes in their home garden.  And any tips would be appreciated.

Are there any other favourites you have that you grow in your own home garden?  Anything that you plan to try that you haven't grown before?  I would love to hear your plans for your garden this spring.

Looking forward to your comments!

Hey, What About Me!?!

I have spent a lot of time bragging about how well our farm animals are fed and how healthy they are because of it.  It was brought to my attention this week that I have not been taking care to make sure what I am feeding myself is nutritious and good for ME.  My body is now saying "hey, what about me!?!"

I worry more about taking care of everyone else and put myself last.  I also became oblivious of the "extras" I've been eating by finishing off something my Son decided he didn't want.  I realized this the other evening when he asked for a piece of cheese.  He took a bite and decided he didn't want the rest.  I caught myself automatically putting that piece of cheese into MY mouth!  A light bulb went off....that was something I would have eaten even though I wasn't even hungry so it "didn't go to waste".  All along these odds and ends have been going to my waist!

I wouldn't carry a bucket of soda pop to our pigs and chickens, I wouldn't dream of putting that poison into their bodies, but I was putting it into mine!  I wouldn't feed them potato chips and french fries...but I put it into my own body!  Doesn't make sense, does it.

About 7 years ago I joined a well known weight loss program.  I had great success on the program, I went from a size 22 to a size 12.  Since receiving my wake up call this week, I have joined that program again and so far I have lost 5lbs in only 4 days.  I realize this is due to drinking water instead of sugary soda pop but I am still pleased with the result.  This program is fantastic for me because I can still go out to dinner with my family, I just need to plan ahead and account for what I'm going to have.  I can keep track of what I am eating and plan what I will eat next, taking the impulse junk food meals off my plate.  It's all common sense, we all know what is good for us, it's just making the right choice when the wrong choice is staring you straight in the face.

I was scolded when I said I used to be on this program......the Dr. said "they teach you skills for life"...well, my life took drastic changes over the years resulting in ME being the last person on my mind.....until now.

Here's to a new start OR a restart if you will.  I will keep you up to date on how I am doing with my healthier ME lifestyle.

'til next time!

3 Little Piggies.....

Well, there will be 3 little piggies.  One little piggy was very smart and stayed close by his Momma.  Nobody messes with Momma so he's spending another night with her, hopefully he will come home tomorrow.

I had no idea catching pigs would be so hard.  They don't look like fast creatures but they are.  And when you have to consider Momma's emotions it makes it even trickier.

Here's a picture of our two newest additions to the farm:

So, now our meat chickens have competition for our garden vegetable scraps.


'til next time....

My Mind Is Whirling!

As the sun gets stronger, the days get longer and the snow melts away my mind is whirling with plans for our little farm. 

How many layer hens should we add to our flock this year....  How many meat birds do we want to raise for the freezer this winter.....What other additions do we want to add to our farm this year....

One addition we are considering is raising our own pork.  We are considering raising Berkshire pigs.  This is a heritage breed.  They are black and white in color, looking more like a wild boar than the pink pigs raised by commercial producers.    We have been considering this addition for a few years.  We now have some barn space to house the little pigs until they get big enough to be kept outside.  Our goal is to feed them mainly garden scraps but we are well aware they cannot live off only vegetables, they need protein to grow muscle mass. 

One addition is already under way.....we have 11 green shelled eggs under our cranky broody hen.  That should make her happy.....  They are Ameracauna (hen) mixed with Silver Pencilled Plymouthrock (rooster).  Should be an interesting mix.  Mixed breeds are so much fun, such an array of color and size.

We have purchased materials to make the hens some new nesting boxes.  I will post pictures when we get them complete.  They are made using plastic dish pans from the dollar store.  A very neat design which makes them super easy to clean.

I often wonder if we are just plain crazy for taking on all that we do ~ several home based businesses, jobs outside of the home and our little  Farm as well as making sure we don't neglect our most important creation, Our Family.  I believe the home based businesses display work ethic as he enjoys helping us with sorting and creating product, the Farming part of our lives shows him to care for animals, the circle of life and growing our own vegetables.....  Yes, we are busy, yes sometimes I wonder if we are crazy, the answer is probably YES we are crazy, but I also believe being a little bit crazy helps us get through life.  ha ha. 

When it's all said and done I believe our hard work is all worth it.  As long as it adds to our family life and doesn't take away from it.  Now that our son is old enough to help on the farm it makes it a better experience for him and us.  When you have a little one to work your schedule around everything is more complicated.  When you have a "big boy" as he calls himself, you have a helping hand to get the chores done.  And he enjoys doing the chores with us, he takes pride in it.  One thing I have never heard our Son say is "I'm bored".  Life at our house is never boring, there's always something going on. 

To some we appear crazy while others envy us for having the guts and the property space to raise so much of our own food.  So, I guess whether we appear crazy or not is all in the eye of the beholder.  :)

That's an update on our little farm as it stands today.  I have a feeling I will be making many new posts in the days to come as our ideas and plans become reality.

'til next time!

Day #2 of Sprouting.....

Here's a photo of my sprouting seeds as they look today.....

The seed "skin" is starting to crack and little sprouts are appearing.  The larger seeds haven't cracked yet in the "crunchy sprout mix" but the "mung beans" (my favourite sprout) are well under way to becoming a chow mein this weekend.  :)

My Son is loving this new growing adventure as much as I am.  It has awakened the gardener in me a bit early this year, this morning I was combing through the Veseys Seeds catalogue preparing my seed order.  Reading about what's new and trying to decide what to plant this year.  Surely Spring is just around the corner....

'til next time!

Let the sprouting begin!

I have been wanting to make a sprout stir fry for weeks but refuse to purchase sprouts in the store when I have a sprout grower at home.  SO, I decided today is the day to get it out of the box and learn to use it.  We purchased this model on clearance after Christmas, I was disappointed to find out the Company I purchased it from now sells an "improved" model.  But I guess that's why it was on clearance......

I am trying a sprout mix blend as well as mung beans....

It's quite simple to use. Add one or two tablespoons of seed to the tray, fill the upper tray with water almost to the top and that water filters down through all the trays to the bottom catch tray.  You "water" them twice a day.  There's an option of growing them in a dim lit area or give them access to sun for more nutrients.  I have decided to grow in sunlight for more nutrients.

The package says sprouts will be ready in 2 - 7 days.  I suspect the smaller seed produces in 2 days, the seed I am using will probably be closer to the 7 day growth period.  Apparently grown sprouts will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.

I'll keep you posted on my newest growing adventure.

'til next time!

Spring Has Sprung.....

....according to one of our laying hens.  She has decided it would be a great idea to get a head start on expanding the family.  This has made removing the eggs from her nest a little tricky since she is not a happy camper when you reach your hand into her nest box.  I left the coop with a few battle wounds on my hand yesterday....

Poor Momma hen, I see her comb has been bitten by a rooster a few times.  Maybe she's just pretending to want to hatch some eggs so she gets a break from all the "drama" in the coop.....  There were no eggs under her yet this morning.  I am hoping to source some fertilized eggs from another person's flock for her to hatch.  My husband calls it "adding new blood to the flock".

I'll keep you up to date on what's happening with "Momma Hen"

'til next time

UPDATE:  I think I may have sourced some hatching eggs for our Momma Hen, we should have a dozen by the end of the week!  I'll keep you all posted.  :)