Garden Journal: April 11, 2014

Been busy days here on the homestead. Spring is sprung and that means between our home business and property chores, the journal is lagging. So catching up with some pictures.

Post cleaning cast iron ready for scrubbing.

 We cleaned and re-seasoned our cast iron. We cook daily in old cast iron, family heirlooms. So there were in dire need. Put them in the oven on self cleaning cycle. Once done, they are covered in rusty powder. Then after brushing out doors clean, use steel wool to scrub hard. Then dry in oven. Then oil with Flax Seed Oil. There are lots of sites out there, and we aren't going to do a blow by blow, however, Flax is best. Lots of research on that. Most any food grade oil or fat will work, but flax works due to special chemistry. Use flax.

We did the big seasonal process at the compost areas. Flipped the "Cookin" mass to the neighboring bin, turning in the process. Then, the bin it was in, becomes the new "Feed Me" bin. Over the layer of broke down compost inside, add a thick layer of leaves.

Over the layer of leaves for a base of the new "Feed Me" bin, we add a couple of mixed layers of finished compost. This is an inoculate of bacteria and microorganisms to get the pile going.

 

Just a few days after turning the "Cookin" pile is down over a third of it's mass and still hot. I flipped it back into the center later, and will likely turn it once more. 

In the process of digging into the leaf bin that we pull from for the carbon, I found a surprise. A mass of frozen, ice incrusted snow and leaves. This is from weeks ago. That pile of leaves spends hours everyday in full sun and it had been in the upper 60s F for several of those. A surprising testament to the insulation abilities of leaves. Got us thinking about root cellar type experiments with storage.  

 Everyone is out and enjoying the sun. It has been a very long winter. Rosie the cat on the deck. Of note, our cats are indoor pets. Best of them. Best for the environment. The deck is hers and she spends most of the day there. We do have to watch, as she was semi-wild when we bought the home, and sometimes sneaks out and goes roaming. The trellis is there to dissuade that. As she has aged this is less and less.

With warmer weather we got the growing pullets well situated into their outside temporary quarters. A fence off area of the garden shed. Until they can be moved into a new secondary coop.

 

Some bonding time is necessary. Certain breeds like it more than others. Buff Orphingtons are famous for it. I would call these two who love human lap time an good example of that. 

Ell called this Chicken Yin-Yang. They went to sleep like that. Buffs. Great birds. We have a feeling that there will be more buffs in our future.

 Leah and the growing birds, got into the bonding time as well. Enjoying the sun in the play pen area.

Warm weather mean repairs as well. Broke the wheel barrow handles last year. Bought replacements, never got around to it. Finally. Nice to have it done.

 

 The MOST important warm weather chore. Mucking the coop and run entirely. We do a modified deep litter method. So, thick layers of pine straw, a free resource due to a row of white pines as a wind break. After using the pines so much, I would encourage planting them on any property. They produce prodigious amounts of dried needles. Since they are pine, they are natural bug repellant. I can't be sure, but we have not mite problems. Do research on the best litter method for your birds. We piled it deep, mixed with leaves, and turned it occasionally all winter. Broke down well. In this pic we're pulling it all out, onto a tarp, down to the dirt floor. The litter goes to the compost to make rich additives. The inside was scrubbed with a mild bleach solution allowed to dry for hours. 

The inside after cleaning. Looks good for having birds in it. It wasn't very dirty but very dusty. You'll note the respirator on Leah during mucking out above. Wear one. Don't mess with that. It's easy and your lungs are worth it. Birds are known for their dust, and the cleanest chickens can get you very sick indeed. We wear N95 type dust masks for many interior chores that might stir up dust, or keep us in the area for long. We wear full respirators for mucking. Take the advice.

Warm weather brings out lots of birds. Happy to see an Eastern Towhee. Favorite bird of ours.

Egg smiley face, purely by accident, while making omelets. A friend pointed out how yellow they are, a sign of "Winter Eggs". Soon, as the available greens increase, more bugs, etc, the yolks will turn a bright orange.

 Little John the Rooster, calls out his defiance. His days are likely numbered, but for now, strong wire, and a warning sign keep him in his place, and everyone safe. Behind him, the four original hens, ignore his masculine thunders. Still, he has been a good roo for what roos do.