[Apercula]

30+ beets sprouted yesterday and today, should get a few more. I think there wont be any more new radishes, so 70-75 plants. I should get the last few things I need for the garden tomorrow, and have the radishes and beets transplanted, and lettuces, spinach and carrots direct planted by the weekend.

I'm growing the root veggies primarily for the greens, since they tend to be higher in carbs. I'm sure when they are done producing edible greens I can find someone who wants the roots.

I spent most of the day today building a rabbit hutch. We raised meat rabbits when I was a kid. One buck and two does of the high production meat breeds can produce close to 200lbs of meat per year for 3 years before they need to be replaced.

 

[VeeJay]

It's great you are able to garden. It's very satisfying to grow food.

Radishes (the root part) are fairly low in carbs. You could eat them - maybe slice one or two on a salad.

I watch U-tube homestead channels. One I watch is raising meat rabbits. It's fun to watch those rabbits and bunnies running around - they use the colony method rather than cages.

All of the homestead channels are gearing up with planting gardens. Some are still harvesting greens from beds that have been covered throughout the winter. Of course, there's more early harvesting for those who live more southerly. Those in the north part of the country are just beginning to plant indoors under grow lights.

 

[VeeJay]

I l live the life of a farmer vicariously! :laugh2::vs_laugh:

Love to watch chickens and goats - especially right now when there are newly born kids jumping around.

 

[Apercula]

I'm in a small city, we are allowed 6 combined rabbits or chickens. The person from the city I talked to yesterday said they wouldn't be around to check unless someone complained. Then I would have a month to remove excess animals. The rabbit breed I am looking at average 8-10 kits per litter. So I am going to have be in stealth mode from weaning to harvest age so they dont make me get rid of the excess before they are ready. I thought about chickens, but there really is no such thing as a stealthy chicken.

 

[VeeJay]

I thought about chickens, but there really is no such thing as a stealthy chicken.

I suppose so. They are always clucking and when a hen lays an egg she likes to announce it to the world!

A couple years or more ago someone in a residential area kept a rooster! A couple blocks away - could hear it but not too loud from our place. I kept waiting for it to go away after someone complained. It lasted a good six months. .... then there were the ducks! Probably noisier than chickens.

I actually enjoyed hearing the rooster and the ducks. I'm a city girl, but part of me would rather be in the country.

 

[moon]

I'm in a small city, we are allowed 6 combined rabbits or chickens. The person from the city I talked to yesterday said they wouldn't be around to check unless someone complained. Then I would have a month to remove excess animals.

A friend of mine bought a hou$e in a really upscale community. Million$ expen$ive. They had in the association rules no farm animals and a limitation on number of household pets. Well, she had a beloved potbelly pig named Porke (accent on the e, pronounced like a long a). She refused to get rid of Porke and also refused to listen that perhaps it wasn't the property to buy then.

She snuck Porke in when she moved and it was years of hiding her. She managed to pull it off with only those she became close friends with there who knew, and they didn't tell. Hated to think what would happen had she had a falling out with one of them!

 

[PhoenixFire]

I've been writing some stories. :biggrin:

 

[Apercula]

I spent 4 hours today assembling my garden. I bought a small electric rototiller, I put it together and tilled the area I am putting my raised bed at. Then I used an edging tool to cut the shape of the bed in and bordered it with the concrete pavers. I added fertilizer and various amendments to the soil, then topped it off with the bagged soil I purchased. I would like to get another 20 bags of potting soil to add to bed to get it full before I start transplanting my veggie starts.

I got my rabbits yesterday. One doe and one buck. I had waffled back and forth on one or two does, the decision was made for me when the farm store only had one doe when I went to pick them up.

 

[VeeJay]

Apercula - I envy your lifestyle. Today I'm planting pansies into a large pot on the back patio. (Wish it were a full garden, but those days are far behind me.)

I found out that the garden center at Lowe's is open from the parking lot and one doesn't have to go through the store to make a purchase. I'll be heading there again soon for more flowers and mulch.

 

[PhoenixFire]

I'm almost done editing one of my novels. I only have four more chapters to go through.

 

[alamogirl]

i am working from home. I also have been watching a lot of Netflix! I still go out to buy groceries. Panic shopping is slowing down. I went to Walmart last week about 9:15ish, and I found TP. That was unheard of 2 weeks ago!

I've been keeping up with friends and family. I miss going out dancing on Sat LOL! I have been doing a lot of online shopping. I had to reschedule my hair appt. I haven't done my taxes. Thank goodness the IRS extended the date! I found myself going down that dark gloomy hole when the sh*t hit the fan last month. I think maybe it's not that bad when you have someone at home with you who is going through the same thing. When you live by yourself, it gets a little gloomier. I've reached out to other single friends who are in my situation, and together, we have pulled each other out of the dark.

Stay safe everyone!

 

[itissteve]

I've reached out to other single friends who are in my situation, and together, we have pulled each other out of the dark.

I have always considered myself a major introvert, but I'm finding that keeping up with friends has been very good for me. Doesn't have to be much; maybe a quick text conversation or spending a little more time on Facebook or a videoconference lunch. But it helps me remember we all have the same questions and concerns.

 

[rsfletcher]

I've been working from home and saving a ton of money on gas. As I don't have to commute to work I've also been getting an extra hour of sleep each night and living in the country - lots of places to walk in isolation. Also I live on the Island so the Government is monitoring all travel coming in and placing them on a 14 day quarantine so our numbers have been pretty good so far - 22 positive cases - all travelers - no hosptalizations and so far no community transmission. Sure hope those numbers stay that way but time will tell.

 

[Apercula]

Bought lumber today. Two more 4'x12'x1' raised beds built. 5000lbs of dirt being delivered tomorrow. My back hurts just thinking about moving it to the beds.

 

[VeeJay]

Ouch! What all are you growing in the raised beds?

 

[Apercula]

The completed bed has 2 rows of radishes, 2 rows of beets (maybe), 2 rows of peas. I have about 25 green bean plants in the house under a grow light waiting for better weather.

New beds will have 10-15 asparagus and a similar number of strawberry plants in one half of one, 5-6 each peppers and tomatoes in the other half. Second bed will have 4 zucchini in one end and onions and carrots in the other end. Then I will fill in the gaps with some other stuff, if I have extra dirt, which is probable, I will split one or both of the barrels I have and make containers out of them for herbs, I have seeds for mint, lavender, basil, oregano etc..

 

[VeeJay]

It all sounds yummy. I wish you an abundant harvest.

 

[VeeJay]

I found some $2/bag of mulch at Lowe's so bought 17 bags. I'm in the process of opening and spreading some of it in selected places. If I don't use it all up this year, there's always next year.

I'll have a few containers of flowers. I tried peppers and tomatoes in containers on the deck last year - a great failure. Just not enough sunlight with all the trees around here. Up side, though - I have lots of leaves to make compost with.

 

[VeeJay]

I've been watching farmer/homesteader type U-tube videos. It's kidding season - so many cute baby goats hopping around the homesteads. I never tire of watching baby goats.

 

[Apercula]

One new bed filled, will have extra dirt after the second is filled, I think. I was putting tools away, and had second thoughts about stopping when I did. And while I was looking at the empty bed it started to rain.