In the ground and some new additions

[xdpatriot]

Well, I turned the dirt over again and am putting potatoes and onions in the ground. Is anyone else doing the same? If so, what else are you planting? We're also going to add more laying hens and some goats in the next couple of weeks. Right now we're thinking of going with pygmy goats or African Nubian or a cross of the two. We have about 1/2 an acre to play with on this project so we figured the smaller breeds would be better. With a family of five, 4 nannies and a billy should provide us with enough milk and after a year or so, enough meat as well. We won't butcher but maybe one a year. (hopefully) Am I thinking correctly here or do I need to go with a larger breed? Also, what are yall planting right now? Any comments are appreciated. Thanks

[tech]

A Nubian doe can put out a gallon/day + in her prime...and a cross with a Toggenburg billy gives some good tasting offspring.

Good luck and be real careful of mastitis. Goats seem to be rather prone to it.

[xdpatriot]

Thanks a lot. We definatley will.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

We got 4inches of snow so we are a bit out from planting season just yet, soon though, real soon

[motesjm]

So far the only garden plantings ive done are onions. I took up my bunching sets and divided and replanted them around the house. I should have a yard full of them in a few years.

We did a large expansion in the orchard this year:
15 apples, 3 Fuyu persimmons, and replacements for two pecan trees that finally gave up last year.

We are expecting new calves in a few weeks - crossing my fingers for heifers. My luck I'll get all bulls.

I'm also about half way finished fencing in half an acre for a chicken yard. They've been free ranging for the past couple years. Last year they wreaked havok in the garden, and it was mighty tempting to put a few out of my misery. This year should be less of a headache with them out of the equation.

In the latter half of the year I'm putting in propane to the house, and installing a propane cooktop.

There are a few other projects that were started last year to be completed or used for the first time this year - rainwater collection for garden irrigation, digging out a seasonal pond in hopes of keeping it year round, and a homemade auto coop door opener. I also have to completely revamp my grape arbors. The trellis I built for them last year didnt work out very well so its back to the drawing board for that. Its non stop project for us but I love it.

[protus]

im trying new veggies for this spring summer and got some taters as an experiment. cut in half and planted,,they are 6-8 inches high already. gonna start a dedicated herb garden as well vs our planter style we have and use all of our planters for starter plants instead.
hopefull if we get brave enough well build a small coop /tractor to hold 2-3 birds for eggs and to wet our feet in the chicken deal

[xdpatriot]

We just put up our chicken coop. No more free range birds in the night.

[SeldomSeenSlim]

I have starts in the greenhouse. It snowed last week and hasn't all melted yet. Lot of snow this year, at least for around here. Hoping the water continues to fall out of the sky like this all year.

Protus you might consider adding a few more birds to your starter plan. Especially if you are looking to start from chicks. The little ones like to huddle up and be part of the group. The difference in feed and room for 6 chickens as opposed to 3 would be minimal and I think you'd have happier birds. And chicks die, get loose, get snatched up by a dog, etc. A few more will help your odds.

[thedreamers]

added some grapes to our little garden. since we still live in the campground we are trying to grow them in big buckets with a 7ft x 24in trelice i made. looks cool. trying to fine tune what we can grow in containers, you never know when you need to leave.

[Benn Gleck]

Too early for the garden here, you'd need a pick and spud bar.;) Starting seeds for some of the garden plants in three weeks.

Been planting some spruce and pine seedlings all winter for windbreaks/privacy. Last week we cut and burned a BUNCH of multiflora roses.

[Bama]

I have taters,carrots,onions,english peas, broccoli.cabbage, and spinach in the beds. I have tomato and pepper sprouts up under my grow lights. I am planting in raised beds for the first time, I have researched alot and like the idea, we will see how well it works. I just installed my pvc water lines to my beds for drip irrigation.

[dilli]

peas, spinach, collard, kale, onions are in the ground... remainder of cool season crops will be goin in over the next two-3 weeks (taters, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, and more of the above... greenhouse has lettuce greens, peas and plantlings.. tobacco tomatoes n peppers will be started in the next week or two ... this is my last week of slothdom

[wwdnet]

Broccoli (2 plantings and 3rd waiting), brussels sprouts, cauliflower (2 plantings and 3rd waiting), onions, taters, Romaine & curly lettuce are in, maters and peppers waiting in the wings...and the weeds are ridiculous this year! We tilled but only drove them underground for a little while. Has anyone tried killing veg. garden weeds with vinegar or some other non-chemical solution? (No problem with chemicals if it's something that won't kill or contaminate the veggies) Too late for black plastic or underground mesh, and it's going to be a long garden season if I have to pull weeds every three days! I used weed net last year, but it was more trouble in the end than it was worth.

[Chief]

I am trying to learn the art of the green thumb, right now I am just leaving a brown thumb. It is better then when it was black.

I put in a Lychee tree and a Cavendish banana tree. Last week put in 3 wild black raspberry plants