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Garden Gate:  Garden Adventures  |
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violetrose
True Blue Farmgirl
960 Posts
Ruth
Epworth
GA
USA
960 Posts |
 Posted - May 16 2010 : 3:00:23 PM
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Kris, Good to hear from you! What do you do with all the goats milk? I was allegic to cows milk when I was a baby and had to drink goats milk. I seem to be good with cows milk now. I also drink soy milk. Haven't had any goats milk since I can't remember!
Where do your Mom and Dad live now?
Hope your hands don't hurt too bad from all that milking!
We have had rain off and on all day today! But we need it.
Where is hubby off to this week?
Hugs, Ruth
God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us!
St. Augustine |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2010 : 3:18:46 PM
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We drink the milk and I have kefir grains now so am making kefir! Also make a little cheese now and then. And make soap. But soap does not take that much milk. I love goat milk. I just got nearly 2 gallons today.
My parents live in S. Ga. in between Metter and Statesboro. Mom works in S-boro and is planning on retiring again either the end of the year or her birthday in March. She's just turned 78. She loves to work. She works at a women's shelter as a counselor.
And I think hubby's off to Missouri. He needs to get those wheels rolling this week! He doesn't get paid to sit. But it's nice and quiet again. Our DD and SIL and grand came to eat lunch with us before we left. We had baked chicken salad and fresh strawberries.
I am selling a few goats. You should come get them and you'll have good fresh goat milk. It's so good when it's icey cold. I also want to make some ice cream. I found a really good goat milk recipe. SO I need to make some strawberry ice cream soon.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Butterscotch Grove
True Blue Farmgirl
196 Posts
Melissa
Fairbanks
AK
196 Posts |
Posted - May 17 2010 : 11:30:02 AM
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Yippee! Carrots are up! Salad greens are up! It's been such a long time since I even tried to have a garden, I'd forgotten how exiting it is to watch the beautiful little things poke through the dirt. Even the last time I had a garden, I didn't start anything, just transplanted some annual flowers, which never did much. Still too early to transplant anything, but I'll have lots of sunflowers and nasturtiums to put out after the 1st, and I potted up my hanging baskets yesterday, then put them back in the greenhouse to sturdy up before they go out by the door. Blue and white lobelia and red geraniums. I thought I'd show my patriot pride this year (DH is a teacher at a high school where the mascot is the Patriot - so I get to support the kids as well as my country!)
Kris - what are kefir grains? I love kefir, but I have no idea how it's made.
Melissa
My blog:
http://ButterscotchGrove.wordpress.com |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 17 2010 : 3:16:33 PM
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Melossa, you'll have salad before too long. Mine did not do too good this year. I planted a mesclun mix and I will not ever plant that nasty stuff again. I do not like the arugula or whatever it was that stunk so bad. And it was spicy. Didn't like it at all. So next time it will be a straight spring mix for me. And the spinach didn't do well either. All the red white and blue flowers sound so pretty.
Ya know, I really don't know what kefir grains are exactly. They are bacteria maybe! It looks like cottage cheese. I just strain the grains that have been in fresh milk each day and add more milk to them. I love this stuff. I can use it like buttermilk. I make smoothies. It's just really good for the gut. It's expensive when buying it from the store. So I am happy I got some grains now.
I weeded a little in the tomato rows today. I broke my pinky toe on my right foot last night. So it hurts to walk too much. But I have got to go out there and pick strawberries. And mulch the tomaotes. I am soaking my foot right now and do when I am sitting down. So I hope it will get better soon. I hate this.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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violetrose
True Blue Farmgirl
960 Posts
Ruth
Epworth
GA
USA
960 Posts |
Posted - May 17 2010 : 3:17:49 PM
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Kris, I got some strawberries at the local orchard. It's called Merciers, people come from all over to get their fruits. This is the first year they have had strawberries and they are WONDERFUL! Just made a strawberry cobbler - yummy! They also grow, black cherries, blueberries, peaches, nectriens, many, many different varieties of apples and they are only about 7 miles from our house. They also have a very large bakery - fried pies, apple bread, fritters, apple cider donuts, cookies, home made ice cream - YUMMY! We don't frequent the bakery often LOL!!!!! You can smell the fried pies driving by when the weather is just right! They make cherry cidar, muskadine cidar, etc. I could go on and on, but you just need to come for a visit and we'll go! We have to drive by there to get to Blue Ridge!
Would love to have a goat or two! We have a mini aussie that would love to have a goat to herd, plus they could eat all the underbrush in our woods (and my few flowers!) Plus fresh milk. Our neighbors daughter is having allergy problems, and I think they were trying her on goats milk. She home schools the girls -
Hugs, Ruth
God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us!
St. Augustine |
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LadyInRed
True Blue Farmgirl
6740 Posts
PeggyAnn
Vancouver
WA
USA
6740 Posts |
Posted - May 17 2010 : 3:22:45 PM
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Melissa...it is exciting when we begin to see our gardens doing just as we anticipate they will.
Mine is pretty darn pathetic this year. Too much rain. I might have to replant almost everything. This time I will buy plants and forget trying to do seeds at this late of date.
Nothing tastes better than the fruit of ones labor. P.Smith
Blessings,
`peggy
Lady In Red |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 17 2010 : 6:58:56 PM
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Ruth, that sounds so good. Right now I could go for something really sweet. I would love to come up there and visit some day. That would be fun. I wonder how far it is. I'll have to ask my hubby. My middle grand had to have goats milk when she was a baby. She is having all kinds of tummy troubles now and is only 8. I keep saying I am going to give them a few gallons a week but I can't seem to get up there. It really is good for people who can't digest cow milk or who are lactose intolerant. A friend of mine raises Aussies. She goes to dog shows and has been doing really good.
Hey PeggyAnn. I am sorry you are having a hard time with your garden so far. We have not had too much rain. But that last rain we had was a flood. Most of my big garden was under water for about a day. So I will have to replant all that. I had to do the same thing last year. I need ot get a couple truck loads of top soil and add to it to keep that from happening again. My Dd and her fiance bought mostly plants for their garden and they are huge already. mine look pathetic compared to them. But I did all seeds. They cheated! But you have plenty of time yet.
I did get my 2 rows of tomatoes and a row of squash and zucchini mulched today. I feel good about that. I need to clean the rest of the goat barn and mulch some more later. I also got a gallon of strawberries. They are so good.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - May 17 2010 : 8:22:06 PM
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wow all you girls have been so busy.
kris sorry you broke your toe. you must be pretty tough out there weeding. and picking berries with an owee.lol i liking the kombucha.
ruth you make me hungry talking about all that fruit. yum. its hard to grow things here with our weather.happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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violetrose
True Blue Farmgirl
960 Posts
Ruth
Epworth
GA
USA
960 Posts |
Posted - May 18 2010 : 10:40:11 AM
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Kris, sorry about your toe! That hurts! ALOT! Have you tried to tape it to it's "sister" toe, the one beside it? That has helped people that I know quite a bit. Gives it some support.
I'm thinking strawberry ice cream! Toady is DH Happy Birthday!
I think you might be an hour and half from me, but not sure. We are about one hour, thirty min, from Chattanooga, via Rt 64, River Road.
Hugs, Ruth
God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us!
St. Augustine |
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Butterscotch Grove
True Blue Farmgirl
196 Posts
Melissa
Fairbanks
AK
196 Posts |
Posted - May 18 2010 : 10:54:23 AM
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Yum - pie. I have to go buy some stuff from the store for that, but since we all have cold/allergies going on and we are out of drugs I have to go anyway. Hate using otc remedies, but my kiddos are so miserable...anybody have any suggestions for safe, natural allergy relief for the 6 and under set?
Kris - sorry to hear about your toe!
Ack the guys are here to measure the roof gotta go!
My blog:
http://ButterscotchGrove.wordpress.com |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 18 2010 : 12:10:43 PM
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Thanks Sherrye. I am soaking it now. It's all different colors and still puffy. But too much work to do.
Ruth are you near Talulah Falls? My neices went to the boarding school there a few years. Oldest graduated from there. It was a beautiful place. Strawberry ice cream sounds really good. I wonder if I could use straight goat milk without heavy cream? I will try it.
Melissa, have you tried local honey for allergies? Honey and appla cider vinegar is great. It works.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Butterscotch Grove
True Blue Farmgirl
196 Posts
Melissa
Fairbanks
AK
196 Posts |
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violetrose
True Blue Farmgirl
960 Posts
Ruth
Epworth
GA
USA
960 Posts |
Posted - May 18 2010 : 5:44:33 PM
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Kris, I'm about 30 miles from Amacaloa Falls,, near Ellijay, GA. Dave said we come over your way to an antique mall, I think around exit 1, just before the TN line. Haven't been for awhile, but it takes us about 1 hr 30 min if traffic is not bad.
How is your toe tonight - have you tried to tape it to the one next to it???
Hugs, Ruth
God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us!
St. Augustine |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 18 2010 : 7:47:18 PM
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I got some more garden tilled this afternoon. I need to plant more corn and beans and cucumbers in the morning. It looks like it will rain any minute. I think I am going to make trellises from sticks and branches for the cucumbers to climb up. I have plenty of them in piles so that should work. And the maters need staked already! They are growing so fast. Also need to plant more cantaloup where some didn't come up. Oh there is so much to do out there! Is it ever done?
Ruth, I want to go to Fort Mt. and take the camper and leave it there a few weeks and go camping. I could leave it there and come home a few days then go back. I want to take the grands. Also want to go to Fall Creek Falls. Haven't been there in years. So then maybe we could meet somewhere. I love Elijay and Dalonega. I'd like to take the kids to dig for gold. Sounds like fun. They all get out of school this week I think. I know Kansas does. The other 2 might be next week. Anyway, 2 months of kids! Yippee!
I have not tried wrapping or taping my toes yet. But will have to if I don't stop hitting the darn thing every time I turn around.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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marjean
True Blue Farmgirl
3862 Posts
Marsha
Deltona
FL
USA
3862 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2010 : 08:39:01 AM
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Well, I am so happy to report that our garden is growing in leaps and bounds. Our tomato bush is four feet tall and 2 feet wide. Squash is growin and beans then lettuce, onion, carrots, and whatever else we planted. I have my list somewhere.lol
When they start growin fruit then I'll know what in the world the rest was.
My daughter gets most of the credit, I helped plant the seeds but she goes out every morning and checks on them and debugs and sprays organic repellent. We are both working on the merit badge for gardening.
I'll put up pictures on my blog later today.
Farmgirl sister #308
handmade cards, vintage organizer bags and more at www.jeanpatchbymk.etsy.com
http://jeanpatch.blogspot.com
www.fullerdirect.com
id#0920150
www.watkinsonline.com/rjaramillo |
Edited by - marjean on May 19 2010 08:40:59 AM |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2010 : 4:45:03 PM
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Marsha, I would love to see your garden. It sounds like it's really growing good so far. But you are in sunny Florida. My tomatoes are doing really good this year. I am surprised. I grew them all from seeds too. I planted sunflowers between each plant for stakes. It's nice to have help out there, isn't it?
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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violetrose
True Blue Farmgirl
960 Posts
Ruth
Epworth
GA
USA
960 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2010 : 5:22:31 PM
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Hi Kris, That would be great, just let me know when you are heading this way. The kids would love Merciers orchard. Check out their web site. They have up-pick strawberries now, will have cherries soon, then blueberries.
Hugs, Ruth
God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us!
St. Augustine |
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LadyInRed
True Blue Farmgirl
6740 Posts
PeggyAnn
Vancouver
WA
USA
6740 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2010 : 10:52:02 PM
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Marsha...OK, I know I shouldn't be JEALOUS about your garden...but I am. Mine is doing terrible in WA's soggy spring weather. Tonight we had 50 mile per hour wind gusts. When I go outside tomorrow, maybe I won't even have a garden...pathetic as it is. So sad!
crying in WA,
~peggy
Lady In Red |
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violetrose
True Blue Farmgirl
960 Posts
Ruth
Epworth
GA
USA
960 Posts |
Posted - May 20 2010 : 03:57:51 AM
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Peggy, I'm so sorry about your garden, please let us know how it is this morning. You work so hard, then it seems like the weather, critters, etc take it's toll on your labor!
Last week I had a Gerber Daisy bloom, after watching it for many days as the bud slowly opened. Then SNIP something came and took my pretty yellow flowers right off the plant, just left it laying there to die!  made me sad. Looked as though someone took a knife and just cut it right off at the base of the flower, actually cut both flowers off.
Well Peggy, I'm hoping things won't be as bad as you think they might be!
Hugs, Ruth
God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us!
St. Augustine |
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Bart
True Blue Farmgirl
115 Posts
115 Posts |
Posted - May 20 2010 : 06:20:31 AM
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Kris -
I'd love to hear more about planting sunflowers between each tomato plant? I've never seen that and would love to try it. Do you plant the full height sunflowers or the low (~3') type? Do they tend to shade the tomatoes too much? I love the visual effect.. WoW.
Thank you.
quote:
Originally posted by kristin sherrill
Marsha, I would love to see your garden. It sounds like it's really growing good so far. But you are in sunny Florida. My tomatoes are doing really good this year. I am surprised. I grew them all from seeds too. I planted sunflowers between each plant for stakes. It's nice to have help out there, isn't it?
Kris
Happiness is simple.
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - May 20 2010 : 07:47:57 AM
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oh peggy i know the feeling well. i was raised in coos bay oregon. now in bend its usually high and dry. well i gotta go feed everyone outside before the cloud gets here. we are raining AGAIN. so you are probably swimming today. soooooo sorry farm girl.sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 20 2010 : 08:12:15 AM
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Peggy, I hope it's not as bad as you think. But those winds can be devastating on the taller plants. Usually when my corn is about 5-7 feet tall we'll get some storms that knock them all down. But they will pop right back up in about a week. Let us know what you have in your garden. And good luck.
Ruth, I will let ya know. It could possibly be towards the end of the summer break. I have to find someone to come and feed and milk and sometimes that's hard to do.
Bart, I read this somewhere and am just trying it this year. They are the big mammoth sunflowers so I can use the seeds for critters. I can cut the bottom leaves off so they won't shade the tomatoes too much. But want to use the sunflower stalks for stakes. I hope it works. I also am going to plant squash in between some corn. I am also planting sunflowers on the east side of a row of cucmubers and in between them. And they should be really pretty too. I love color in the garden. I have a row of zinnias too. I am going to plant some more today.
I have been in the garden all morning tilling again. I have planted 5 1/2 more rows of Blue Lake beans, 1 more row of crowder peas, 3 more rows of Silver Queen corn 9I need to go get some more to plant 3 more rows) and I am taking a break to eat and will go back out tonight and til for about 15 more rows of Hickory King corn. Most of the 9 rows I planted a few months ago (it seems like) only about half came up. Same with the beans, melons and cucumbers. So I am having to replant those rows then plant more also. I am going to go to the goat barn and get more composted manure and old hay that the chickens do for me and put down on all the new plants out there. They need some fertilizer bad. AND it's supposed to rain here, which we desperately need. So I am trying to hurry up and get this all done. Plus mow the lawn. And wash and hang clothes. I am tired just thinking about all that needs to be done here.
Sherrye, I hope you get all your work done before the rain.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - May 20 2010 : 09:03:41 AM
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well i am going out in a minute for the second time before the rain. looks like we will get very wet. no calves yet waiting is getting hard. ida is 2 days late. i am going there today to check her and see if i need a vet. i doubt it. i think the count must have been off. i am boxing and mailing plants today. its soooo fun sharing. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 20 2010 : 2:44:16 PM
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Sherrye, I hope you had a good day outside and you didn't get rained on yet. We still haven't had any rain. And there's just TOO much for one person to do out there. Shoot! I still need to til some more and plant the Hickory King corn and work in the other garden with mulch. I did mow though. I am taking yet another break til the sun moves on down some more. It's just about where I want it.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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LadyInRed
True Blue Farmgirl
6740 Posts
PeggyAnn
Vancouver
WA
USA
6740 Posts |
Posted - May 20 2010 : 11:17:57 PM
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Well girls...don't feel too badly for me as my garden is postage stamp size...not big farm gardens like most of yours. And when I went out this morning everything was still standing! So, I am thankful for that. I had such a bountiful harvest all last year from April-November, and I guess I just want that every year and I know that can't possibly happen. So, last year I cheered and danced and this year I'm whining and being a baby.
Fresh Veggies just taste so much better from one's own Garden, don't they?
You are right Kris...Happiness is simple, so why am I trying to complicate it?
Blessings,
~peggy
Lady In Red |
Edited by - LadyInRed on May 20 2010 11:19:43 PM |
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Garden Gate: Garden Adventures |
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Garden Adventures
