Bucket Gardening

As you all know, my garden was a flop...again....*sniffle*. But, I just learned of this great technique! Bucket gardening! Living in the middle of nowhere its no wonder I have all these animals trying to get at my goodies. There's nothing else around for them to eat. But still, it must end.

I met a lady out here who has a wonderfully thriving garden... When asked how she does it? She showed me each one originated from a bucket. What she does is plant them in a 5 gallon bucket, place a pvc pipe down in it for water, cut some holes in the bottom of it to drain, makes the lid holes and puts the lid on nice and tight. Once their too big to cover with a lid, she cuts a hole in the lids center and lets them grow out and drape down. This stops the ground animals from thinking there's a buffet. She also has this really fine netting she puts over the top of the whole garden area that stops the birds from feasting! How smart is that!

Now, I know its too late to start planting many of my favorites, but there's always fall veggies! But, I think I'll just wait and prepare myself for spring. As busy as I am now working, homeschooling 4 kids, cleaning, cooking, playing good cop bad cop, blogging.... you know I may not have the time just yet to tend to it as I need to.

She also has a cheap and easy way to greenhouse! I'll share that another time!

Food Update!

These pictures are kind of hard to make out, sorry. But if you click on them they'll get a lot bigger. *I used my camera phone*

As far as our "garden" goes.....Well, looks like we'll be eating just green beans *sad face*

Our green beans seem to be the only things popping up. Along with a couple cucumbers. Anthony actually planted this row, so I joked and said he has the green thumb of the family. He ended up replanting for us. But still no other sprouts..Hmmm. Not sure what the deal is there.







And like I said they're hard to see, but if you look closely you'll see two green eggs. One at top and one at bottom. Bad lighting + bad camera = ugh! These we're just gathered today, still living hand to chicken butt... A family of six really needs a minimum of 50 hens I think. We did well last year. Ahh there was enough even to give out. This year with half the flock, please. As much as my kids love eggs, hand to chicken butt I tell you.





Now, I finally got the call our hogs were ready!! WooHoo!! This is how we made out. Two hogs: 493 lbs of meat about 188 lbs in bone and the rest was fat. Which I opted to keep all of the fat. Yum! I make beans darn near daily around here and I love putting pork fat into it. It's a wonder we're not a lot fatter. Total for everything $531.17 that's kill fee, processing and packing fees. Not bad I say. My freezer runneth over. Well not quite it can hold over 700lbs. But still, we are pleased.


I will be dreaming of the ribs, chops, bacon, sausage.....till it gets here! To bad we won't have it til next payday. Figures we get the call at the same time mortgage is due. LOL

Did I make ya hungry??

We Have Sprouted!

Let me just tell you how excited I am To see our first sprouts!! Ahh.... I found the first ones yesterday.
****************♥The pictures are kinda small so click to make them bigger♥***************

This one is going to give cucumbers! Yum or as the kids say "Our first pickle!"




Because the kids helped me...... "helped" .... We have a straggler. Its off where I didn't think we planted yet. The kids dropped a few seeds and I guess this was a survivor.... Can't wait to see what it is!





These are more cucumbers. I have 8 that popped up perfectly! So far so good.


We also had some green beans and carrots that sprouted! But I don't have those pictures yet.
Just so darn excited about this! I hope nothing gets to them. I did find small penny sized holes, but I haven't seen anything come from that. I just crush them down. Hopefully they aren't harvest ants wanting my leaves!

I love this time of year!!! 63 days til harvest!! Woo Hoo!!

Also wondering if it's to late to plant my corn and potatoes??? Anyone know? I'm going to have to look that one up. Pray I can still get them in. I hope I hope! Since our garden is real little in comparison to what needs to be planted Hubbys trying to get the potato area and corn area ready and tilled. Maybe another week til thats good to go. So maybe we'll miss this season and have to wait til next year. I want to have 4 square rows for corn and about the same size for the potatoes........

My Garden Has Started..Finally

Finally we were able to plant a few seeds.. I'm about 2 months behind on this, but I guess better late than never. On top of that since it is so late I decided to start all the seeds directly in the garden instead of inside little cups. We're having a fairly mild June, nowhere near the 100+ temps we normally have, hopefully that helps. It's our first time starting them out as seeds in the garden.

I wanted to get them in the ground before the monsoon hit. I've got okra, green beans, lettuce, peas, carrots, cucumbers and tomatoes. We still need to do the corn, potatoes and pinto beans. Those will go outside the little garden fences.

I've always wanted a corn field. Always. I know that sounds wierd, but theres something about walking through them. I'm also very scared of them LOL. On Halloween we have to do the corn maze in the dark with flashlights. I haven't worked up the nerve to do the haunted corn maze yet but maybe when the boys are older.

We wont have a corn "field" but just a couple of rows of each. I'm so excited. Since our last flop at the veggies growing last year, I've been dying to try again. This will be our first year "knock on wood" we'll have homegrown veggies! WooHoo! I hope we see a sprout soon! And you know me.... There will be pictures♥

Got Seeds? We Finally Do!

I know I'm running way behind on this. So many blogs have already posted sprouts and more! But like I said in one of my February posts we had a lot going on. But most of that is done the kids playhouse is just needing paper and shingles now. Phew! Then they can start paying rent!

But, now that thats all done we can concentrate on making sure our garden completly varmit proof! Probably not completely but I can hope. I really need to know how others do it, last year we lost the entire garden then replanted then lost...etc. It was always at night or the early morning, because by the time I got out there to water in the morning they'd been muched on. I never saw anything. No holes in the garden, so whatever it was climbed over the fence. Also, they chomped on our apple, peach,orange, lemon and lime trees leaves and bark? They like variety I guess. We're a buffet for whatever it is. Little half moons on the leaves the size of a quarter is how it started.... Whats that a harvest ant? Not sure. But also the stalks were eaten so maybe its a combo of things.

In an effort to keep things safe and organic and CHEAP, if you have ideas let me know please. It gets so frustrating. We've tried everything!

Anywhoooo..... after buying the seeds, reading, and drawing up my little pretend garden on paper with measurements. I've come to find out our garden is about 10 feet too short... Hmmmm.. Time to get Hubby out there again! This may take more than a "pllleeeaasseee"!

It's A Comin' It's A Comin' And Hubby Is A Runnin'

As I sit here in my home I can feel it. I can see it. That time of year I just love. Spring time is almost here. Time for cleaning out the old and gettin' ready for the new! I think I'm mildly ADD. Because I'm always looking forward to the next thing. I can never enjoy the now. When, whatever it is, is finally done I have to plan for whats next. But, on to my point because I do have one.

We just spent the end of last year getting ready for Hubby's new job and Christmas. Then, the beginning of this year we've had a lot going on. Had to get house ready for new living room, dining room, and bedroom furniture. (Which just arrived Tuesday. Yipee!) And pack heirlooms away and toss the furniture the kids destroyed. (Which is still piled in our backyard waiting for a free minute) During this, I've had Hubby also building a new pig house and fence it plus building a new coop for the newbie chicks (which are taking over our bathroom flying everywhere YUCK!) Sooooo, yea he's not looking forward towards my next to do.

Well, last year we tried and tried to get our garden going and failed sadly. But, with the new fortress we built mid summer and the home grown fertilizer, I have a good feeling. I'm waiting as patiently as I can to plant my first seed. Last year, we transplanted dozens of veggies, with it failing, boy was that expensive. Hundreds of $$$ lost. For a $1 packet you get lots of chances. I may need them.

I'm thinking of changing the way we water. We have one of those sprinkler thingies that remind me of school for some reason. It covers a pretty descent area. But, sometimes corners are left out. If I use 2, the center becomes too saturated. Next option, not put any in the corners. But, that's a lot of veggies to lose. Not sure. Any ideas? Maybe there's a better waterer I don't know about.

Here's my want list for the new garden:
Bell Peppers
Jalapenos
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Potatoes
Watermelons
Zucchini
Carrots
Radishes
Garlic
Rosemary
Sage
Strawberries
Thyme
Cilantro
Mint
Corn
Whatever bay leaves come from. A Bay?



I'm gonna have to read those packets to see when I can plant some of them. But, I think that all we use. Mmm can't wait. I'm so excited. If you have tricks to get rid of prairrie dogs or rabbits let me know in case our fortress is invaded. Short of sitting out there with a bb gun I just don't know.

I was told and tried and failed:
Cut hair thrown on the ground around it. (It just blew around and looked trashy)
Moth balls (so dangerous with little ones and animals).
Traps (didn't catch a thing)
A certain plant I can't remember.
Chicken fencing. (We buried it 2 feet down and it was 4 feet high off the ground)
A sonic underground sound. (It suppose to give off a noise that tells them 'danger'. But they need to check their human-to-gopher dictionary, because I think it says 'FOOD'!)
Bunny-B-Gone spray (Again I think it attracted more)

This is our year I just know it. I'm so tired of hearing about recalls. Salmonella etc. I can't even give my kids pb&js unless I make it from scratch! It's really getting ridiculous. And down right scary! But, this will mark our last step in supplying ourselves with total food. No more will I need to step foot in a grocery store and spend $400 on food to last a week. I will know whats going in their mouths. More importantly, they'll know and feel the pride in knowing they did that.

To Hubby: Thank you for putting up with all my changing moods and just going with it. You do so much to make me happy and I want you to know, I swear, after our plants are in I'll give you some time off for good behavior. Well, after the pools done and ready and the patio furnitures been... aah nevermind, I got that babe. You amaze me everyday with all your able to do. Love you!!