Now that fall is just around the corner I can honestly say this was the COOLEST summer (ever), well, that I can remember – temperature wise. From June-August there were only two or three “really hot” weeks. So Cal gardeners, how did the cool summer affect your garden? Did you find it an easier or harder growing season?

For us, after 25 years of growing food on our city lot the challenge comes with keeping the soil healthy.   Because healthy soil equals healthy plants.  But with limited space one has to make sure to rotate crops on a yearly basis; however, this is becoming more and more of a challenge with our neighbors enormous pecan tree.  It steals the afternoon shade and limits our moving sun loving crops around.  We hoped that by dosing the beds in nettle tea would help but not sure how long tomatoes can be planted in the same bed.  One might be able to get away with for two growing seasons, but not sure after that.

I think the cool weather help keep the summer harvest at a steady stream instead of a huge tidal wave. We did have to battle with a moderate infestation of the hated harlequin bugs (only remedy we’ve found is hand to hand, er, trowel combat) Also, this summer we had these wee little grasshoppers munch tiny holes in our summer greens. Wasn’t much to do about that either – just wave the white flag and give the greens over to the chickens, ducks or goats. There were some mite issues on the beans and for some beds it was a two pick harvest and then goat food. Our goats love bean leaves which is great because in summer, greens are rationed and hard to come by.

On the canning front, I have to say I am a somewhat behind.  I was doing a good job there for a bit keeping on top of things but then got busy with other projects and now am staring at a good bunch of veggies that need to be dealt with.   Of course part of me panics that brings on a slight case of paralysis of the brain and body, but then I tell myself “just take a deep breath, pick out one veg and put that up and then move onto the next one.”   Or perhaps I could just send out a call to friends “help” and then send them home with jars of goodies for their assistance.  Even with all the new projects and obstacles that got in the way this year, we are putting up more than we did last year.  I couldn’t believe it till Jordanne pointed it out saying, “there’s more can goods than ever and the season isn’t over yet.”  She’s right!  There’s still peppers, more beans, cucumbers, tomatoes and figs to be put up.

We were blessed with a wonderful winter squash harvest and that has grow into a pumpkin sized debate. I want to keep the stash for winter eats (soup, baked, pie, etc) and preserves (pumpkin butter) but the other camp wants to sell a few on the front porch farm stand. I am tempted to stick to my squash but they may be right, although I love seeing the shelves full of squash – there can be too many winter squashes!

The end of August starts a whole new chapter in the garden. Much of the summer crops will slowing come down during the month of September, replaced by cooler weather crops. Already flats of soil blocks are filled with fall sowings.

August Harvest Totals

1,228 lbs Produce

28 Duck Eggs

94 Chicken Eggs

2010 YEAR TO DATE TALLY

4,878 lbs Produce

81 lbs Honey

278 Duck Eggs

597 Chicken Eggs

Growing Your Own Groceries?

So who here’s a Tallier? Care to share y0ur garden harvest totals? Whether it’s just a handful or a couple hundred pounds – all helps towards reducing our food print!

Don’t forget there’s a FREE SEED GIVEAWAY at our one of our sister networks, Freedom Gardens to help you get started

Splish splash we love our water baths!

Hi peoples!

Getting fancy with their water tricks

The ducks help "clear out" an old chard bed

Yummy!

Me love greens

Sprouting tail feathers

Can you spot them? The fluff is giving way to shiny dark brown feathers

The baby ducky episode is quickly coming to a close.  Pretty soon, these “quacker doodles” won’t want to be seen in public and there’ll be less and less pics of them here at LHITC. Well, they haven’t exactly told me, but I can say enjoy all these pics while you can because, pretty soon, they’ll be just ordinary grown ducks — their downy fluff will give way to feathers. Actually, you can already spot the sheaths of khaki brown feathers poking out from under the greenish brown fluff and, pretty soon, they will look rather funky with feathers sprouting up every which way.

Has it already been over three weeks since we got the baby ducklings? Boy, have they certainly grown in such a short time! These ducklings are “Big Girls” now – no more 24 brooder lights and warmth for them. They’ve already graduated to spending days out doors in natural sunlight and sleeping when the sun sets. Yep, we wean them off pretty fast. We like to have them adjusted to natural light and temperature in just a little over two weeks. By three weeks they are completely weaned off artificial light and warmth. The next steps is to introduce them to the other duck clan and we’ve been slowing doing that by bringing them into the animal enclosure under supervision, of course. Our other ducks could care less – rather, they seem bored with the lot; however, a few of the bantie chickens (talk about small chicken syndrome) are a little more curious – even a bit territorial. Lucie, our Belgian bantie, had to come over and make sure the duckies knew she wasn’t going to be dethroned and, to make the point, she gave one of the ducks a little peck on the back. We’ve integrated new babies before, so such jealous behavior is to be expected from some. It won’t be long now till the four new ducklings join the happy menagerie!

Opal , AnnaLee , Lulabelle & Beulah already are trying out their quacking voices – though not quite there yet. Sounds more like they have a frog in their froats. Of course, everyone who comes to the front porch farm stand is inquiring about the babies and sometimes, if they are lucky and I have time, I even bring them out, especially if they bring their kids with them. Where else can you pick up your veggies and get to pet a baby duck at the same time!

Since we are at the four year mark on both the ducks and chickens (1/2 way point, figuring 8 years is about an average lifespan) now that we have a new batch of ducks, we are looking forward to raising another batch of chickens come spring. The problem is : What heritage breed to choose to bring to our ever growing flock?   Hmmmm, choices, choices.

First off, thank you all for the lovely and kind bday wishes, appreciate them very much!

1. In case you missed it there’s a new 5 min video piece of the Urban Homestead, this one from “MY GENERATION” check it out “Self Sufficiency in the Heart of the City” You’ll get a tour of the urban homestead and see what’s it’s like to live like a more simple, self reliant life just stone’s throw from an 11 lane freeway. There’s a cute scene with the goaties playing “head butt u!”

2. Know your food, know your farmer! The front porch farm stand is full of surplus produce and other “homegrown” goodies like apple butter and grapefruit marmalade – if you are local and want to eat closer to home than consider supporting our very own community supported agriculture program. Actually, I think it’s better than a CSA because you are able to get what you want in the quantities you want it. No worries, no waste! Sign up for weekly produce updates at info(at)dervaesgardens(dot)com

3. Winners were announced for the Natural Poultry Supplement – congrats! If you weren’t one of the lucky ones, you can still buy it online here Jordanne’s trying to earn some extra bucks so she can bring some nifty new features to the sites. It’d be really swell if you can help sis out.

Keep your eyes peeled for more GIVEAWAYS at both Barnyards and Backyards and Freedom Gardens

4. This week on Barnyards and Backyards Jordanne wrote about the recent salmonella egg recall and about a survivor “self-grooming” survivor bee found in England who may well be the answer to varroa mite.

Megan wrote an article about Muscovy Ducks and 8 Muddy Boots about her first year raising Goats & Sheep

5. We also been do a bit of cleaning, er upgrading, our Urban Homestead Supply store – so please take a peek as the profits will help our ever growing outreach. Jordanne just added a few new POULTRY PRODUCTS like KELP & PROBIOTIC FEED ADDITIVE

6. Freedom Gardens network has been relaunched! We are really excited about this (and hope you are too!) because the new site will have contributing writers and a nifty new feature called “Ask the Aggies.” Where you can submit your gardening questions. So if you haven’t visited in awhile, come back and dig into FG – it’s (growing to be) a whole new site!

Check out the article about what to do if you have TOO MANY TOMATOES or this one about GROWING PROPAGANDA or this one about FARMERS MARKETS WITHOUT THE FARMER

7. There’s also a new Freedom Gardener of the Month – check out the interview! Not to mention a FIVE FOR FALL Seed Giveaway!

We hope that FG will be the place to find stories, information regarding growing food (seeds, soil, pests, etc) food issues/policies of the day or urban/rural farming related news stories and more!

I’d like to put together some gardening resources like planting guides and zone maps on FG so that, I hope, will come in time. Farmer Justin is head editor at FreedomGardens.org and look forward to seeing him write all about his urban farming experiences.

8. Barnyards and Backyards & Freedom Gardens are looking for sponsors, if you are interested in advertising on any of these social network sites contact jordanne(at)urbanhomestead(dot) org

9. Do you love to write? Consider becoming a contributing writer for BarnyardsandBackyards.org of FreedomGardens.org (click on the links and you’ll be taken to the writer application form)

I’d like to get around to making some nifty images/widgets like “I’m a contributing writer on so and so.” Or “Visit my garden/barnyard at so and so“

Perhaps we should ask for image art submissions? We could use some help.

10.You asked for more information and with these new sites the knowledge and know-how will be passed on to you. Now we need you to help us – start spreading the news! Can you do that for us? All you need to do is tell as many folks as you can, especially if there are favorite sites of yours that you visit – perhaps they’d like to know about these online resources. Many hands make light the work so we’d kindly appreciate some!

Oh and the weather person was right , the temperatures plummeting 30 degrees and we are back to wearing sweaters! Though I am not too confident in saying that we’ve kissed summer goodbye just yet!

I hope to get back around to posting updates from the urban homestead – there’s the weekly meal wrap up, what’s growing on in the garden (the August Harvest Tally) and more! Not to mention the duckies have sprouted tail feathers and a few have started to “quack” – actually sounds more like there’s a frog in their froat!

Feedback is appreciated, so speak up!

LOT OF PLENTY

Meet a family who achieved what most people would think impossible in a big city. On less than 4,000 square feet of land in the heart of Pasadena, California, the Dervaes family gets all the food they need from their own backyard. This family of farmers grows 400 varieties of vegetables, fruits, greens and edible flowers and also raises their own livestock. But as a poster child for self-sufficiency, their green lifestyle does not stop in the garden. Almost all their electricity comes from solar panels and they use recycled cooking grease to fuel their cars. They’ve even found a money-saving method for washing up using water from their toilet. These are certainly not your typical city-slickers.

My Generation’s Val Zavala is welcomed into the home of these unique backyard trailblazers to discover the technique behind this well-sown clan

Courtesy My Generation AARP HOME & GARDEN

Just to clarify: We planted our first city garden back in 1986, killed our lawn and farmed in the front yard in 1990.   Because of the GMO treat, over 10 years we started to take our “hobby” urban farming efforts more seriously when we took on the challenge to grow 90% of our produce on a 1/10 acre.

:: Resources ::

Ollas

Solar Ovens

Homebrew Biodiesel Book

How to Grow More Vegetables

Barnyard in your Backyard Collection of Books

Tromboncino Squash from Freedom Seeds

Toilet Lid Sink

45 pounder!

It’s about time I posted something here this week!  Our apologies to readers if you’ve been popping on over here each morning and seeing nadda new posts.  No, we haven’t been on vacation (sure could do with one though).

There’s a lot on our plates right now (carry a lot of new projects!) and we are just plowing thru a heavy workload at the moment which leaves me little time or energy to bring you updates from the urban homestead.

Don’t think the intense heat and humidity has helped this week either – leaves one little energy to do much expect want to sit in tub all day slurping on juicy oranges.  Urgh.  But the roller coaster weather will strike again.  After insufferable heat we had this week with temps in the triple digits, come the weekend it will be time to bring out those sweaters as temps dip 30 degrees and feel more like fall.  Ahhhh.  That would sure be a welcome relief so I can at least tackle the mountain of produce that’s piling up in the kitchen.  I didn’t do much canning this week because didn’t see the point in torturing myself and the household heating up the kitchen hotter than it already was.

Despite my wanting to make a habit of Friday “Round Ups,” looks like that will be published instead on Sunday.   Then ya’ll can check out what we’ve been up to!

Right now I have to attend to our Front Porch Farm Stand Customers!

I'd like two pounds of oranges and two of grapefruit - please!

No tag for this post.]]> http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2010/08/27/arms-full/feed/ 13 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2010/08/24/growth-spurt/ http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2010/08/24/growth-spurt/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:25:31 +0000 Anais http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/?p=22504 Normally, I would have a 1/2 dozen (or more) posts lined up for publishing here on blog, but the heat has turned by brain to mush or fried a few neurons.   It’s not that there’s lack of material, I, er, lack motivation.  Happens to the best of us, I suppose, and I am blaming the heat and sticking to it!

Behind the scenes, we all have been busy – over the weekend spending time with friends.   Besides it is the lazy days of summer and it feels like some things (like my brain) are crawling at a slightly slower pace.

So ,as I mull thru the doldrums of musings, am going to let some pictures do the talking.

Here are  some really cute photos that Justin took of the now 2+ week old duckies – they certainly are growing fast!

Just to point out, as it seems some folks are confused — this is our THIRD time raising ducklings (started our first flock 8 years ago) and we still have part of our first and second flock living here in the animal compound at the urban homestead.  Hope that sets the record straight.

Spending their days out doors in a mobile tractor of sorts - rotating around the raised beds.

Swimming and dunking for greens in the big pool

Following one of their "mommas"

So many sights to see! Walking around the urban homestead under the watchful eye of momma

Getting bigger and plump!

What, you talking about me?

Quack yourself!

Got keep those feathers clean - walk, eat, preen, eat, preen

Hey I want that green!

...and this one!

Yum, yum - giveme some!

Wow, it’s that time already for another Weekly Round Up? This week we are focusing on our growing outreach as we put out a call for a few know-how and passionate writers to become part of the our social network team. Would that be you?

Here’s some highlights from the week:

- Lea Ann has given LHITC The Versatile Blogger Award (thanks for the nod)

- If you are passionate about all creatures great and small BarnyardsandBackyards.org is still looking for some passionate and know how writers. Fill out the writer application form for the new the City Stock Collective!

- Jordanne’s still plugging away at the B&B site working out all the kinks and bugs.  The other day she got the message board up and photo uploader plugged in so you can upload all cute critter photos to your hearts delight.

- Last few days of the Natural Poultry Supplement Giveaway – grab a FREE BAG!

- Freedom Gardens will be getting a makeover and too is looking for a few passionate folks who would like to share their gardening adventures and write about related food issues of the day. Fill out the writer application form for the new Growing Collective!

- It’s not too early to send in your contributing writer application for Freedom Kitchens. This site will feature simple, in season recipes and how to’s for harvesting, cooking and preserving the earth’s bounty.

We’re exited about all the new projects! If you like to write about your homegrown, homesteading experiences and food issues/policy news of the day we look forward to your writing contributions in this collective effort.

There’s certainly a lot on our plates right now. What about you?

The duckies are keeping us amused with their cuteness.  We make sure to physically handle and interact with them on the daily basis. Handling makes for friendly, less high strung critters.

Working on a new LHITC calendar and it’s a challenge I tell you. Too many pictures to choose from. I could easily make one calendar entirely of animal, another of beautiful flowers and wildlife and another with harvest and garden photos. Last year, I started the calendars too late in the season so hopefully this year sales will be better.

The front porch farm stand is hopping – we have surplus honey, peppers, tomatoes, squash, eggplant, basil and more to sell.

On the canning front: we are putting up tomatoes, peaches and apples. Hoping for the long awaited summer “mother load” of peppers. The cooler than normal summer (we are wearing sweaters till about 10 am and back on they go around 5 pm) had kept the tidal wave harvest at bay at present. There was a harvest all right but was more like a trickle every day. Actually, I am not complaining. In fact, I think it’s better spread out then all at once. Especially for putting up, every day you get a little done and there’s not this mountain of vegetables towering in the kitchen. But the weather’s changed and summer it back so I expect the kitchen counter-tops to be chock a block full pretty soon.

Here’s another round up of pics from the urban homestead. Enjoy and hope all is well on at your home or homestead.

Taking five

Front porch farmstand ready for the day's pick ups

Boxes filled with homegrown produce for the front porch farmstand

Kitchen ready for canning

Water bath!

Putting up the harvest

Jordanne hangs with her girls

Checking in on the hives

Her ladyship

Snoozing

Cuddling

At the front porch farmstand kids enjoy fresh fruit instead of ice cream

Mr Fix It. Justin fixes the neighborhood kids bikes

What did you do this summer? Expand your garden, get critters, were there any new projects on tap, bettering yourself with any new skills? Care to share?

Some of the towering tomatoes are coming down. Started those in late winter and they are on their last legs. Going to fry up a few green tomatoes! Planting the last summer succession of crops and slowing moving into fall crops.

Soil blocks are full of assorted greens.

Harvesting  loads of squash, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers and even peaches. It’s summertime and the garden’s growing fine!  What a blessings!

Seed varieties courtesy of www.FreedomSeeds.org featuring seeds grown by the people for the people

Sunrise touches flowering artichoke

Heirloom pumpkins

Busy bees

Peaches!

Hops

It's an edible jungle

Front yard, edible landscaping

Turning over beds

Herbs, vegetables and fruit

Towering tomatoes, climbing squash and flowering fennel

Tromboncino squash - watch your head!

Lemon cucumbers and peppers

Not to early to get a jump on the fall plantings. Soil blocks with seed starts.

How’s your gardening growing – getting a jump on the fall plantings?

Opal – after the character in the Christy novel
AnnaLee – song sung by Gillian Welch, Dave Rawlings and OCMS
Lulabelle – another purdy southern name
Beulah – another song sung by Gillian Welch

The little peepers are sure growing fast!  They graduated from the kiddie pool to the big one last week and are eating greens.   Now that summer’s returned and the temps are back to “warmer” the duckies are spending their days outside in one of the raised beds.  They can dig in the dirt and splash around their water bowl to their hearts content – better yet they are natural dose of sunshine rather than from the artificial brooder light.  We like to ween them off the light within a week but you have to do it right as they are still small and can get easily chilled.   After an afternoon outside, we bring them back in the house for the evening.   Getting them out and about helps them to develop stronger constitution and resistance to coccidiosis. Not to mention the swimming and letting them walk around  helps develop strong legs.  Of course Jordanne’s specially formulated ducky supplement is added to their organic mash which contains essential minerals,  brewers yeast and tonic herbs.  BTW, over at BarnyardsandBackyards Jordanne’s offering a FREE bag – enter the Natural Poultry Supplement Giveaway

Pretty soon the fluff will give way to feathers and they can join the backyard menagerie.

Jordanne snapped a great bunch of photos during the duckies latest excursions.

We are in the BIG pool now!

Synchronized swimming ducky style

Time to dry off and snuggle

Our new playground

Should we stay or should we go?

Look up in the sky - is it a bird, a plane?

Nestling under the wing - er arm for safety

Or in an apron pocket will do just as well

Marching home again - hoorah, hoorah!

Cute little backsides

Whew, we're pooped

There’s a lot more happenings on the homestead besides the baby ducks. I hope to get around to posting pics from the summer garden, highlighting our meals and kick off another series called “Homestead Helpers”

Stay tuned!