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The first load of laundry is ready to be hung on the line, but I stopped to make a few calls so I can finish our taxes. I am working on finishing these up as we had to file an extension. I am also making calls to lower our monthly expenses. We are still working towards my being able to be home with the children full time. It looks like I'll have to return to work in July for a period of time. If we follow our budget carefully during that time, I believe we can get some debt paid off in about three months so that I can be home full time. Its nice to at least have a target I have finished preparing the canning room and canning kitchen for preserving season. Both rooms needed straightening and I had projects in both that needed attending to. I strained herbal tinctures and put them in dropper bottles, I fed my vinegars, and I strained off my fruit brandies. I still need to rack of the wine, but it won't matter if I don't get to it. We don't drink any of the alcohol, but use it to feed the vinegars. All of my jars are washed and my preserving items are stocked and arranged. I would still like to mop the canning room floor, but it isn't necessary. The "cold" room is almost ready. I cleaned out most of the old food and we gave it to the pigs. I still need to "clean" my sand that stored carrots. I have my freezers in this room also and I have one more to clean. This project of preparing has taken me about three weeks working on it a little at a time. Today we will also be spending time weeding our garden. This is a daily activity. We have a few more items to plant, but at this late date I may have to rely on plants from the local garden center. We had our first salad from our garden last night and enjoyed some peas, a cucumber, and some lettuce in it. In addition to weeding I need to do some spot watering. We have irrigation, but a few items looked like they were not getting watered on the edge of the garden. I will also spend some time weeding my herb garden, which is also a daily activity. After careful consideration I have picked my summer project for DH and I. It will be a greenhouse. I believe we will get alot more out of our garden if we can start our own seedlings successfully and extend our growing season. We have had the spot picked out - close to the garden and the chicken coop and accessible to water and electric lines. I am planning a 12' x 12' structure with clear corrugated plastic siding and a gravel floor. I have asked DH if we can please have it done by the middle of July so that we will be able to start the fall plants in it. I also am hoping to try keeping some tomatoes and cucumbers in it for a few months beyond frost. Has anyone tried transplanting to a greenhouse structure from the garden or is it best to start greenhouse varieties? I am going to leave the south facing corners open with cinder block about 2' high to have a raised bed area inside. I also am planning a cold frame along the front section so that I can put lettuce and spinach in all year long. Well that's our plans around our homestead . . . |
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