Sunday, November 1, 2009

Fall Planting

Yesterday turned out to be a big planting day here at the OAH. Homestead Man was repairing our fence and had to make a run into the big city for cement and pipe. While he was gone, the wee ones and I decided to plant our garlic (perfect timing) in one of the raised beds that I'd just cleaned out. Shortly thereafter, the phone rings...it's Homestead Man saying that I should start digging holes...Lowes had their plants on sale...big time. He'd gotten 7 blackberry bushes ($2 each), 1 blueberry bush ($1.50), 7 white crepe mertyls ($1.50 each), and several other decorative bushes and ground covers ($1 each).

We got about half of the planting done yesterday and we'll finish today. It's a great time to plant berries and shrubs because they are able to establish their root systems before the stifling heat of our Oklahoma summers.

Our cumulative numbers? We're up to 16 blackberries (probably maxed out on these) and 5 blueberries. Let's hear it for antioxidants! LOL! Seriously, berries are power foods just packed with health...we should all beef up the berries in our diets. Both of these berries also freeze well to preserve the harvest oh so easily.

The chickens are only laying an egg or two a day now...some days there are none. I'm so glad I froze some of the eggs for winter baking!

We are having a blast socializing Zoe's new litter of pups. She had four beautiful puppies this time and we are truly spoiling them. Our plan is to skip her winter litter this year if we can stand the huge fit she and Zeke throw when they are separated (especially when she is in heat). Nature has a way of out-howling us mere humans, you know?

Oh, and for those of you wondering about Willow Run, the horses LOVE it out there...plenty of beautiful green grass and room to run and roam. Still working on getting a couple of steers and a pig...Homestead Man's father has been quite ill this Fall and many of his weekends have been spent driving down to Texas to help out. We have tried to ride the horses at least once a week and they are really shaping up with the additional attention they are receiving now that they are so close to us.

6 comments:

Kim said...

I just started reading your blog and I am really enjoying it. We live on one acre in Alaska and we are wanting to be more self sufficient. We are planning on raising chickens this coming spring, so I was very curious about you freezing eggs. I have never heard of that before. Do you freeze them shell and all or do you have to crack them? When you use them in backing how do you thaw them? I would love to know more. Thanks, Kim
sklowry.blogspot.com or nimmymay30@yahoo.com

Dr. White said...

Kim, thanks for checking out the blog!! I will try to do an entry on egg freezing one of these days, but with the chicks slowing for winter it may be awhile. Here are the steps I use:
*Crack the eggs into a large bowl and use a fork to break up the yolks. Add a pinch (or two) of salt.
*Pour the eggs into ice cube trays and freeze.
*Dump the trays into Food Saver bags and vacuum seal the bags to keep Mr. Freezerburn away.
*One cube = one egg...put cubes in fridge overnight before using for baking to allow them to thaw.

I've read that they are not very good eaten scrambled, but they're fine for cooking. This is my first year with the chickens, so this technique is still in it's experimental phase! LOL! But, I've read about other bloggers using eggs that are frozen this way. You wouldn't believe the difference in your eggs next year...I don't know how we're going to go back to store bought eggs this winter, but it looks like we'll have to for fried and scrambled eggs.

Kim said...

Thanks for the comment back. I really appreciate it. It's nice to know that if we have too many eggs they can be frozen. I had never heard that before. I will definately be trying it. Thanks

Survival chic said...

I just found your blog... very nice to find someone getting it done! Would love to link with you. I have been farming, homesteading for about 7 years... with a sense of humor.

Check out my blog and if you like it give me a link?

Kelly said...

Hey there!
I found a bargain on crepe myrtles too! I bought 5 for $1.25 each at Atwoods. Now I need to get them in the ground.
I wished I would have frozen some of my hen eggs when we were overrun with them in the summer. I am getting only 2-3 a day now. We just hatched out 21 Rhodies in the incubator. So hopefully that will mean lots of eggs next summer.
I enjoy your posts and have you under my favorites list on my blogspot.
Have a great day!
Kelly @Katydids

Diggity Dog said...

The name of your blog really attracted me to your site. I too dreamt of buying acreage a bit outside of town and driving in for work but real estate is just crazy expensive within 90 minutes of Kansas City. I've got a half acre now and I think I'm getting to the point where I'll just work with what I've got, much like yourself.

Thanks for writing by the way. I was in a bit of a funk but reading some of your early posts really helped pick me up spirits wise.