Rabbits Update

Raising meat rabbits is enjoyable, and I'm glad I took the plunge last year! So far our rabbitry us producing meat for us to eat, breeding stock to sell and loads of manure for our veggie garden.

New House, New Urban Farm

My new 102 year old house, working on the urban farm. Rabbitry, Aviary and gardens are all up and running aftrer the move and happily producing

New Fence and Monarchs!

Our front / side yard vegetable garden is doing well. the raised beds I brought with me from the old house are in, we've harvested a bit of food but I wanted to add a fence to the front area to divide it visually / screen it a bit for the neighbors sake.  As we all know, gardening ain't always pretty so I thought by adding a front fence it would help avoid any possible complaints from the neighbors. (Although seeing as how we bought the empty for years hoarders house the neighbors have been nothing but grateful that we've fixed up the place and we get compliments every week from our neighbors)

So we were at the new Starbucks Drive through and saw some great landscape and fencing panels.  My hubby said he could build it and he did.  Now normally that could be a period of months or years before he feels like getting it done, but this time he had it done in a few hours! Wow!

So here's the new fence.  He used pressure treated lumber since the color and thickness was right and sunk the posts in some quickset concrete.  I love how it turned out

View from the front

View from the Back after we planted milkweed, bay laurel, sedum, etc. and added more bark nuggets to give it a finished look

And look here, just a few weeks later and my milkweed plant is being decimated in a good way by monarchs!  There are at least 30 of them on the plant and it doesn't look very pretty anymore but I can't wait to see the butterflies!

Garden Update Spring 2014

More garden goodness

Artichokes-they are perennial here in Zone 10 but the Santa Ana winds have been pushing them over, so I have plates under the plants kind of propping them up. I think I'll add rocks and gravel around their base to help anchor them from the wind

Annie over the Dragonfly built me these two potted arrangements a few years ago and they are still going strong.  I give the pot a haircut every 8 weeks or so in the spring / summer and less frequently in winter but it's always trying to escape the pot :)

Dusty Miller, Pink Polka Dot Plant, Chocolate Mint, Rosemary all getting lush and full

Late Winter Cabbage, definitely had a few cabbage worms that I had to hunt down and squish!

But we still ate a lot of coleslaw, next year Saurkraut

Kale has gone gangbusters this year!

Our sod is recovered from the horrors of chemicals

And my best friend in the garden :) MooPooTea from Annie Haven

Chicken Salad Bar 3 Month Update

My hubby built me a Chicken 'Salad' Bar out of scrap lumber and chicken wire a few months ago and here is an update on how it worked.

I used the Omega 3 Forage seed mix from Peaceful Valley and scattered seeds under the wire and watered for a few days.  It grew quickly and very lush and the chickens enjoyed it for about 6-8 weeks before it needed re-planting.  I moved it out of the area, let them dig up the remaining plants and just re-planted it.  I love this because it is a great way for them to get fresh greens when they are locked up in Chicken Park.

The outside of the chicken salad bar is surrounded with random bricks and it is about 6 inches tall which is perfect.  We tried it about 2 inches off the ground but the chickens weight smashed the wire down and they ate the roots of the plants quickly, so lesson learned on that one!

Worm Composting

I am officially the caretaker / owner of two new worm farms! I took a class at Dragonfly on worm composting a few weeks ago, enjoy the pics.  In about 8 months, I'll have my first batches of compost!

Strawberries in November-I love Orange County

When you can pick and eat even just a few of these beauties in November, you've got to pinch yourself for being blessed enough to live here in Orange County. I wish it was less crowded and less expensive but the weather really is great all year and I get to garden year round because of it.

Moo Poo Tea how I love thee!

I've been using moo poo tea from Annie Haven's ranch for a while now and it is truly the best thing ever...but to really see the difference in my houseplants is incredible!

This was a single left cutting from a pothos just a few months ago.  The root system is bursting forth from the 4 inch pot and look at this deep green healthy foliage!

Quick Pickles-National Pickling Cucumber

I am growing the National Pickling Cucumber and have 2 plants so there are a few cucumbers a week coming off of the plants.  Mine are growing especially well this year after I started feeding them their Moo Poo Tea from Annie Haven's ranch! (You can get your own at this link: http://www.manuretea.com/)

decided to make a Quick Pickle last Monday afternoon.  The difference between canning cucumbers and making a Quick Pickle is that you don't have to go through all of the different stages of sterilization, etc.  You merely need a clean jar and you don't have to process it in a water bath.

These pickles last in the fridge for a few weeks, but really they are so good, you'll eat them up!

First slice up a few cucumbers, this was 4 of the National Pickling Cucumbers which are about half the size of the traditional cucumber.  4 of them made 2 pint jars, which is plenty.  Then sprinkle salt on them and let them sit for a while.  This draws out the excess moisture so that when you pour the spicy brine on them they absorb the flavors more quickly.

Absorb the excess moisture with a paper towel, then

Grab a clean canning jar and start stuffing them in.

Keep stuffing

Stuff until it is full to the top

Or not, I just had the right amount to fill two jars.  

On the stove top in a non-aluminum pan mix up the following:

1 cup of water

1 cup of vinegar (any kind works)

1/2 cup of sugar

1/4 cup of salt

1/4 cup Pickling Spices

Boil for 10 minutes and then pour it over the cucumbers in the jars.

That's it! Wait until it is cool or 4 hours (but it is better at 24 hours) and then eat!

Refrigerate them within 24 hours.