Monday, December 23, 2013

Now is the time to start planning for Spring

If you haven't already started now is a great time to start planning for spring.  At least on paper or in your head.  How is your compost bin?  Pile in the last of the garden waste, the freeze and thaw of winter will help make it break down even faster.  Dig up those new beds if you have clay soil.  Again the thaw and freeze will help crumble the clay and make it easier to mix in the organics in the spring.

My plans for spring include a new green house and a second try at an aquaponics project.  I tried last year, but my outside project pond went bad and in an attempt to flush out the excess waste I also killed off the talapia that were growing in there.  Live and learn.

This spring's aquaponics project will consist of using the project pond and a tank in the green house, once it's put up.  It's small only 8x6 (on sale at Harbour Frieght) but it should be plenty big enough to extend the season for the talapia as well as grow a few vegetables and start my seedlings.

This is what it will look like once I've got it built.  Hopefully.
 
 

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

The end of the year

Not much is going on this time of year at my 1 acre farm.  The chickens are still laying of course, though they have slowed down a bit.  But not much.  I have several good winter layers that will keep me and my friends in eggs throughout the cold winter months.

My final harvest of the year were the sweet potatoes.  They kind of went wild and wasn't sure I'd get much since cherry tomato plants kept cropping up in the 2 sq. ft planting is set aside for the sweet potatoes.  But was I surprised.  Over 25lbs of potatoes and one that was 3lbs 11oz.  In plenty of time for Thanksgiving.


Looking forward to spring and planting season.