Garden update...

The blackberries are blooming...


And the potatoes went crazy after three days of nice, slow rain...


I love this time of the year!!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh...

Of course, I knew spring would come...but it seemed like such a loooong, cold winter for us Okies. Now, if we can just avoid one of those late frosts...

Everything's comin' up roses!!

The fruit trees are just beautiful right now! I couldn't resist taking tons of photos when I took a morning walk around the OAH on Tuesday morning. These are the blooms on the pear tree (above).

This one's the apricot tree you saw in the chicken coop photos.

These bright pink blooms are on a miniature weeping peach tree...the most unique of our four peach trees by far! Aren't the blooms an amazing color?

The blackberries are showing signs of life! Check out these tiny, perfect leaves on that beautiful reddish-brown cane.

Last, but not least, the wando peas! These are really outpacing the other peas we planted. It will be interesting to compare yields from these two so we'll know what grows best in our climate for future garden plans.

We are getting some cold rain this morning...and it's cold enough that it was frozen on the cars when we got out to go to school, so I'll be checking on the trees and garden later today to see how they are faring. Everything we've planted thus far can reportedly take a bit of a freeze...we'll see.

As for the chickens, I moved the bunny hutch in with the little chicks. Ginger's hutch has a ramp that opens down so she can come and go as she pleases...of course, she has never had the opportunity to test this out because I was afraid she'd squeeze under the fence and get away. Now that she is in with the chicks, they are having a great time! The chicks were a bit hesitant at first, but they warmed up quickly. So, Ginger will play with the chicks awhile then hop up into her hutch for a quick nap and snack. I gave the chicks comfy shelter filled with lamb's wool (too short to spin into yarn) and they seem to be handling the cold quite well. I'm keeping a close eye on them today in case they need to come into the garage, but so far...so good.

Keep the comments coming on Tuesday's post! I love the ideas everyone has sent for prettin' up the chicken coop/bunny run. I hope to work on it over Spring Break...so stay tuned!

Lovin' Springtime!!

I am having THE HARDEST time getting anything accomplished indoors lately. The weather today is supposed to top out in the 90s and there is nothing I'd like to do more than get the west garden ready to plant. I took a stroll through the backyard with the garden hose and saw lots of exciting news to report...here goes:

• The apricot tree is blooming with lovely white blooms.
• The pear tree is showing it's first baby leaves.
• The peaches look like they will bloom any day now.
• The peas are looking great! Lots of tiny plants.
• Garlic looks promising...maybe I didn't plant at the wrong time after all!
• Spinach is sprouting.
• Radishes are sprouting.
• Both the lettuce and mesculin mixes are sprouting their first tiny leaves.
• The onions look great...lots of green tops poking through.
• Still no sign of the potatoes, but I know they'll spring into action soon. (Get it...SPRING...:-)
• The apple trees look like they've put on quite a bit of new growth. Not expecting any apples this year, but it's wonderful to see them progressing.
• And out in the garage...I only had a few tomatoes not sprout, so I have several plants each for five varieties of tomatoes. Now if I can just decide where I'll plant them and what type of supports I'll try out this year.

I'm hoping we can put a load of compost on the west garden this weekend and till it in. It's time to plant cucumbers and pumpkins.

I'll try to take some pictures soon!

Spring Plans...

So...the realization that we're not going to find 10 acres in the country that we can afford has hit home /ouch/. I've decided to be happy with what we DO have...one acre of land. The problem? Neighborhood restrictions. No goats...no sheep...no cows...hmmmmmmmm. This really limits the homesteading possiblities, huh?

I've decided to carry on with fruit and veggie plans (in leiu of the goats and sheep...hey, a girl can't have it all!). As of right now, I have five fruit trees in the ground, three blueberry bushes, and two old fashioned blackberry bushes...all planted in November. I also have one established Strawberry bed with oh, about 30-35 plants in it...thriving since last May.

I have PLANS to build four square foot gardens for veggies. We've already purchased the lumber and the soil mix as recommended on http://www.squarefootgardening.com/. I hope to add 2-4 more squares next year, but four seems a good start.

I've been drooling over the seeds from Seed Saver's Exchange (http://www.seedsavers.org/) ...especially the Cherokee Trail of Tears beans (http://www.seedsavers.org/prodinfo.asp?number=36) . They were carried by the Cherokee on the Trail of Tears (hence the name :-P), which appeals to me because I am part Cherokee. Continuing our heritage seems like a good way to teach my girls about their family history.

In addition, I hope to plant some cucumbers and other high yield pole beans on trellis supports so that I can do some canning...pickles and green beans, yummy!

I'll upload photos sometime soon to document our progress!