Homestead Happenings, End of July 2023

 We have a lot going on right now. We've had gardening successes and failures this year. I am not going to focus on those failures, however, because I would rather use those as a learning experience. I have learned that peanuts are not going to grow or thrive, even in a greenhouse, here in western Washington state. I've learned that I can grow eggplant from seed, but growing them in the greenhouse may not be the best idea. I'll have to figure this one out.
I've had my share of successes, as well. I learned that I will always grow peppers in my greenhouse. They are simply thriving in there. I've learned that even though my tomato plants may be short, they will produce and that's all that matters. We've also learned that we are not immune to predators taking out one of our turkeys and that we need to be absolutely vigilant about protecting our flock of birds.

Before I get into my garden tour or showing you all our birds, I want to say that there was a fire in Longview, at a local paper mill. A pile of wood chips caught on fire. It's right near where ships are loaded with timber for export. It was bad enough to create its own weather. The smoke settled in over Vancouver and Portland. This is what our sky looked like yesterday. Today, we can smell it a bit, so I went out this morning, got my photos and got back inside so that my COPD doesn't get affected by it. It's also a bit overcast, so it was cool enough for me to go out there without getting overheated, which really sends my COPD into orbit.

These guinea fowl are Royal Purples. We met with the person who bred them. The turkeys are a heritage variety called Midget White. The guineas are named Heckle, Jeckle and Freckle.

My little tom likes to puff up and strut is stuff. I understand why some people call others turkeys now. 

Rose loves to look over her flock. We have all the birds in the same run.

We are saddened by the loss of one of our toms. We have come to the conclusion that our resident bobcat got him. We have since fortified the run. It's like a poultry Fort Knox now.

This breed is called Midget White. I was mistakenly thinking that they were Broadbreasted Whites. They are not. Midget White is a heritage breed and it's a rare breed. These turkeys do not get very big. The toms weight between 17-20 pounds. The hens are smaller. I'd like to introduce Tom & Geri.

This is one of my poultry salads that I fix up for the birds. We do feed them produce every single day. This salad contains collards, Roma tomatoes, cucumbers, and kiwi fruit. I realize that chickens shouldn't have an over abundance of fruit, but we do make sure that they guineas and turkeys get fruit daily. They have different dietary needs than the chickens do.

This is Indian sorrel. In India, this is gongura or puli keerai. We will need to get this into the ground as the roots run deep and a 5-gallon grow bag is just not going to cut it. This is also known as spinach dock. The flavor is supposed to be similar to kiwi or sour wild strawberries.
I obtained the seeds for this via trade.

My peanuts are not really growing. I'm going to let them go. I'll have Bob continue to give them some water, but I do not have any sort of aspirations of these producing.

My eggplant are not doing so hot, either. I'll have to go back to the drawing board and figure out where I'm going wrong with these. I have lots of eggplant seeds, so I will continue to try.

My bush bean idea is working out great. I decided to plant 5 seeds of each variety and put them up on our deck. The rabbits cannot get to them. The deer don't come up here. They did get a bit sunburned, but they are flowering and they will produce.

Bob rooted these currants. They are going to be going into the ground. I can't wait to make currant jelly!

I went with hybrid, self-pollinating cucumbers this year. I planted around 20 plants. They are producing. They are throwing off those chunky little cukes that make the perfect size barrel dill pickles. I'm quite happy with these and I'll be planting them again, for sure!

Our rhubarb is thriving! I've put a couple of gallons into the freezer this year.

I can't have all failures and no successes in the garden. My idea of growing peppers in the greenhouse was a great one! I'm going to have a pepper crop like no other!

This variety is called Elephant Ear. These will get really big. They are a sweet pepper.

Every single plant is producing!

I've done the impossible and these are a bell pepper variety called Black Square. I (knock on wood) hope to break my inability to grow bell pepper curse this year.

This is a not too common tomato variety called Wolverine. I can't wait to see this guy fully ripe!

This is a Tom Wagner variety called Butter Apple.

These are one of my determinate varieties. This is KC (Campbell's) 146. This was an actual variety that was used by the Campbell's soup company. I'm on a mission to collect as many of their varieties and Heinz's varieties that I can. 

Thank you for taking the tour with me. I haven't posted a blog before now because I've been dealing with health issues. My breathing took a major turn for the worse, but I think I'm getting back on track. So, until next time, peace!

Homestead Happenings End of June 2023

 We've had some things go on around here on Kelpie Kapers Farms lately. First off, let's talk about poultry. Our flock is growing up fast. We did wind up with a rooster. Twice it's got a guinea fowl by the neck. Today, Bob took a stick to it. It's been pretty docile ever since. Bob didn't hurt it at all, but he did scare it and that's just what it needed. It was pretty comical watching him swat it in the butt with that stick, though. I'm not even going to pretend anything different. It needs to learn that it cannot attack the guineas.

The black and white bird is the rooster. From what everyone is telling me, he is a Barred Rock. I'll be honest in saying that it bums me out because he was supposed to be an Olive Egger. Apparently, I only have one of those now.

Here he is guarding his flock. I've been calling him Walter. I don't know why. He just looks like a Walter to me.

This is one of my favorite chickens. This is one of the Copper Dominants. These are the ones that lay those deep, rich, chocolate colored brown eggs. 

The Copper Dominants and the Novogens. Novogens lay dark brown eggs, as well.

Two Copper Dominants, an Americaunas and a couple of the guinea fowl.

This is a Silver Laced Wyandotte.

This is the Gold Laced Wyandotte. It's a pretty gentle bird.

All in all, I would have to say that I think this flock is pretty happy. I know that our run is plenty big enough for them all, as well.

For the most part, they coexist well with each other.

One of the Americaunas on top of the kennels that we put in there for shelter.

The Novogens have discovered the roosts that we put up.

My little turkeys are growing up. They are quite hilarious when they try to flex and show who is the boss. We let them go at it and watch for blood. If there's blood, we will have to separate that bird until it heals or the others will go at it until they kill it. Chickens act like little raptors, after all.

Here are the guinea keets. I've named them Heckle, Jeckle and Freckle. They should start letting me know if they are male or female fairly soon. Females will make a 2 syllable sound much like "buck wheat". Males are one syllable. Females can imitate a male but a male cannot imitate a female.

These turkeys are so friendly and like to be around Bob so much that we've dubbed them Turkey Puppies. They are Broadbreasted Whites. I would like to get some more turkeys, but I'd like to get some heritage varieties. These were developed for meat production. We'll let them go as long as we can, but they will wind up in the freezer.

Here are the two little toms fighting for who is the boss.

Our friend, Cody, got a new puppy. Koda is an 11 week old Siberian Husky. He brought Koda over to introduce him to us and to Rose. He and Rose just played and played. We are looking for a new brother for Rose now. I've put out a few inquiries about adopting a couple of dogs in the herding class. I figure that out of all the inquiries, one should, at least, pan out for us.

Cody has chickens, so Koda knows about them.

Isn't he the cutest little squirt??

Moving on from the birds and the cute puppy, I've gotten my first tomatoes on the plants. A couple of Heinz varieties and the Cream Sausage have set fruit.

I wound up with 62 plants out on the trellis.

The squash and cucumbers are growing right along. We felt okay putting these out into the raised beds because, for whatever reason, the deer and rabbits leave them alone.

Deciding to grow the peppers in the greenhouse is one of the best decisions, as far as gardening, that I've ever made.

The eggplant are growing well, too. Some better than others, but I do hope to get eggplant this year.
I want to make my own Baba Ganoush. I love that stuff!

This eggplant has far exceeded my expectations. The seeds came from Baker Creek. I think, going forward, I'll use only Baker Creek as my source for eggplant seeds.

Just look at how healthy those peppers are!!

They are setting blooms and...

Margaret's is the first to set fruit!

These are the first successful peppers that I've ever grown out from seed. I'll be really expanding what I grow next year, as far as peppers. I've already started trading seeds for new varieties.

This is what has been going on around here lately. That and we've had some pretty spectacular looking deer that have been hanging out. This guy...I can't even! LOL!