Square Foot Garden

I went to a couple square foot gardening classes this spring and decided I wanted to try the square foot gardening method. The idea is that you plant in squares instead of rows and you can utilize the space more efficiently. It requires less water and you get less weeds. You start out with perfect soil which is 1/3 compost, 1/3 vermiculite and 1/3 peat moss. It holds in the moisture better and gets air down to the roots. I made my garden boxes 4 feet by 7 feet and I have bird netting over them. The bird netting keeps the birds (and chickens) out of my garden. This year, I am growing lettuce, broccoli, spinach, carrots, beets, corn, cantaloupe, watermelon, sweet potatoes, zucchini and tomatoes. I tried transplanting some of my transplants that I grew this spring, but was too impatient and didn't harden them off properly. So the tomatoes were starts that I had to buy at the store and my pepper plants didn't survive. I may go and get a few other starts to fill in the rest of my garden but this is what I have so far.

Playing house

Alex and Hannah have come to enjoy catching the chickens. The hens are actually not as scared of us as they used to be. They let us pet them and pick them up. Alex and Hannah have actually enjoyed holding them and carrying them around the backyard. Today I walked out onto our deck and saw both of them with the hens on the deck. Hannah had the hen on the porch swing and was swinging her on the swing and Alex was right behind her with "Max". It was not surprising to see the kids with the baby chicks in their rooms playing house but it was surprising to see them with the hens.

Shed progress

We weren't able to work on the shed on Saturday because I was working and it rained all day but we did try and sneak a little progress after Jeremiah got home during the week. We have all of the walls up and now we have to do the roof and then do the door and the siding. It is getting closer. I am hoping that by next week it will be done. Cross my fingers.

3 1/2 weeks

The Rhode Island Reds and California Whites (aka: Henny Penny, Big foot and Ice Cream, Wonder) are 3 1/2 weeks now. The Brown Leghorns (aka: Voltemort and Brownie) are 1 1/2 weeks. Here are some pictures of them today. They are sure getting big! They are not as cute as they used to be. They are at that awkward stage.

Our egg count is up to 32 eggs so far. Each chicken lays one egg a day. At least they are earning their food. It will take a while before they earn their coop but it should pay off in the long run. They are not eating as much food as I thought they would. They like to forage for bugs and weeds. But either way, they are very entertaining. When I am outside weeding they will come up to me and start scratching in the dirt. It is nice having their help. :)

Our Shed

We started working on our shed this weekend. We finished the flooring and got out first wall up. I was kind of bummed that we had to stop working on it at 4:00 pm on Saturday but we had plans that evening. I am hoping that we will get it finished next weekend. Jeremiah will take off Friday so we can finish it up. We won't have much time during the week to work on it with me working and he has a school and a test he has to do so I am crossing my fingers that Friday will be a nice day.

Outside Time with the Chicks

Today the kids and I took the chicks outside to play. All six of them. We have the two white chicks which are California Whites, two Rhode Island Reds which are the light brown color and our new additions are the two Brown leghorns. Those six chicks are in addition to our hens which are a hybrid called "Red Legs" which are a combination of Rhode Island Reds and White Leghorn. The chicks seemed to enjoy being outside. Their feathers are coming in nicely but it will still be a couple of weeks until they can be outside all of the time.