The Cole Homestead

It been so long

It's been so long that I have written and it seems that all of a sudden I have much to say.  I think it is all tied to the weather.  For so long there was little to do since the weather had been cool and wet.  Well, in a matter of a week that all changed.  We are now having 90 degree days and there is so much to do.

Lets start with everything outdoors.  First the garden.  This year we are planting our biggest garden yet.  Most of our plants are in and most are doing great.  We planted a large area of green beans this year and they seem to be doing great.  I was worried for awhile.  We watered and waited and watered and waited.  My Gram said not to give up till we got some rain.  I did not understand this because I had been watering them quite a bit.  Well not too long later we got a good soaking rain.  A few days later here they came!  Amazing! 

We also planted peas, corn, strawberries, asparagus, rhubarb, dewberries.  I haven't put the tomatoes and peppers in yet.  To wet so far.  No worries though.  Its not like there is not other thing to do. 

All of our grapes, and cherry bushes are doing great.  this is the first year I have cherries on the bushes and we are really looking forward to making a few pies but that is a ways away.  We are working on a few chicken tractors for the guineas and chicken to go down the row between the grapes to keep the weeds down.

We are also letting the chickens out in the evening then putting them back when night falls.  This is keeping the weeds down and giving them extra room to roam.    I ordered 25 leghorn ladies and 50 buff fellas.  So far there are 2 male leghorns and about 6 lady Buff's.  Now to decided who goes on the plate and who gets to rule the roost.  So many decisions.

The guineas will be moving to there new home as soon as we build it.  I say we but it is really my hubby who does all of the building around here.  He did a great job with the goat house though that is not finished yet.

We still need to paint the goat house, install the doors and put the roof up.  He is so crafty.  He came up with a great idea to use the side of an old pool to make a roof.  He did a great job with the fence too.   The goats seem to adjusting well thought hey still pick on the male.  I am sure that will change soon enough. 

Well, that is all I need to update on outside.  I post an update later of all the going ons on the inside.  I also want to post about the pantry soon.  the Intentional Peasant has really got me motivated to really stock up and be prepared.  I am finding that more important now that oil hit 139.00 today.  I also found it interesting that at the end of the article about oil being so high, the Dow being down and unemployment being up was an article about homegrown veggie being more popular.  Who would of thought?