Projects Big and Small

Well, our first batch of Black Australorp chicks hatched the other day.  We initially had about 24 eggs in the incubator.  By hatch day, 21 were still in there.  Seventeen eggs hatched.  

The duck eggs were moved to another incubator in order to accommodate the need for higher humidity and longer incubation time.  

After the chicks were removed from the incubator, and placed in the brooder, the incubator was cleaned out and some turkey eggs were put in.  Yes!  Turkey eggs. The hens were laying and I found a nest of 18 eggs.  I left about a dozen under Lacy, the dutiful hen who hatched out last year's chicks.  Then placed a handful into the incubator and started it all up again. As soon as those are done, we will put some more chicken eggs in for the next batch of meat birds. 

As some of you may have heard, Andrew and Rebekah showed up as a surprise on the evening of the 11th.  They came for a visit, but helped Al and I a great deal with all the work they did, thus paying off some debts they owed to us.  Emma, their friend, also came along and she did a great job helping where she could as well.  All of them worked together to expand an acre to the sheep pastures and a 1/4 acre to the buck pastures.  I use the term pastures lightly because actually, it is wooded and full of brush, brambles, and poison ivy.  

The other day, Rebekah pulled out the last two boxes that contained my raised beds and put them together for me.  I was able to get them into the garden Sunday, and fill them with old bedding as well as compost.  I only need to put some more soil on top since the bedding will compact rather quickly.  Sorry the next photo is blurry, but I didn't know it was when I took it. 

Caleb and I worked on bringing some rocks from the buck pen to line a small bed at the base of the trellis in my kitchen garden.  It looks cute and will serve to hold in some of the soil that I place inside.  

I also started filling my two Green Stalks, but ran out of container soil.  So Al purchased some more tonight.  After the rains this week, I plan to fill them and plant seeds!  I am so excited to get started on these gardens.  

And I finally pulled out the dead tomato plant from my large pot and brought the pot to the kitchen garden.  I haven't quite figured out what I will plant where.  

I received my orders for apple trees and berries.  I ordered berries from a local nursery and everything came a week ago.  I bought blackberries, raspberries, grape vines, strawberries, and honey berries.  The apple trees are from Stark Brothers and I am praying they don't get knocked out by fire blight like last year's order.  If they do, I am probably going to give up on apples.  

I did start two very small trays of seedlings for ground cherries, huckleberries, toothache plant, thyme, lavender, rhubarb, and chamomile.  They are such tiny and delicate seeds, I wanted to get them started indoors so the rain wouldn't wash them away.  

Andrew and Rebekah left this morning, but not before I got some photos of them and with them.

This afternoon, I noticed the turkeys were out again, and before I knew it, they went completely around the sheep pen and were up at the road.  The dogs were barking which brought Al out from the office.  I ended up going up and chasing them back down the driveway, but not before I noticed a grey turkey up at the far sheep pen.  I couldn't double back with the other turkeys, so I took them all the way back to their enclosure and locked them in.  I then went back up the driveway to go around the sheep pen in order to chase the turkey back into the woods and into the pen.  While I was calling, I heard the neighbor hollering at me that there was a big turkey at the cabin. 

So I walked through, taking note that the grey turkey was actually in the sheep pen, not outside of it.  After walking through the small patch of woods to the cabin, I found out that their dog got hold of the turkey tom.  The turkey was in a corner, traumatized.  I managed to grab hold of his neck, and carefully grab his feet together in one hand.  Dang that boy was heavy! I carried him a few feet, but then James, the neighbor's father (he doesn't live there) offered to carry it to the sheep pen until I could transfer it to the proper area later. We had a nice chat at the fence about living in Arkansas, the people, and the political climate.  

When I came back later for the tom, the grey turkey had vanished.  So I rather slowly took the tom back to the turkey pen, placing him on the ground every now and then to give my arms a rest.  Dude has to be at least 35 pounds! No sooner had I put him in the enclosure, the other two toms started attacking him.  I kept trying to get them away, but they were merciless.  So I was throwing sticks and rocks just trying to keep them away.  I went to get Al after the injured tom hid partially in the brush.  Meanwhile, the other two continued to assault him.  Al helped me get him out and we looked him over.  Then we took him over to the buck pen to recover on his own.  

Oh, and the grey tom did end up returning to the turkey pen. I knew he would. 

I tell you, there is no shortage of drama on the homestead!  

For Every Matter, An Appointed Time

It's been quiet around Hickory Hill.  As I mentioned in the past post, it is a season of waiting, and a time of doing the little things.  

Most people who do what we do are busy planting seed starts and putting them under grow lights or in green houses. Believe me, I have toyed with the idea of having a green house. I have even done seed starts as well.  Right now, I have two small trays giving a head start to those itty bitty seeds that tend to get lost in the rain or parched in the heat.  

Last year I learned a few things: seed starts are too delicate and need too much extra care when putting them outside.  I found that the time and energy spent to give my growing season a headstart, was more often than not wasted as the majority of my starts died.

Another important thing I learned is simply my opinion, but we as homesteaders make more work for ourselves when we insist on prolonging the growing season and doing things that have not been done for several millennia. I believe it would be better for us all to embrace the idea of growing seasons wholeheartedly, allowing ourselves more time to plan - and prepare.

"For every matter there is an appointed time, even a time for every pursuit under the heavens: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot..."  Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

I believe we need to spend more time and energy in growing those things which grow best locally, learning which pests are common and how to prevent their damage, knowing weather cycles and how to help your plants thrive despite them, and learning to wait for everything in its season.

I know waiting is hard.  I have dealt with that long wait for several years.  I love a good tomato just as much as any other person who spends time growing food.  

But what if we just need to listen to Him speak to us? What if He is saying, "Wait! Just wait!  Trust Me!  Have I not promised to give blessings in due season?" Instead we create blessings for ourselves out of season, content to say He has blessed us, when in my opinion, the real blessing comes in waiting. Watching.  Trusting. Hoping.  

**Disclaimer: These are simply my thoughts and not intended to be an attack against anyone who does grow seedlings or use green houses.