relocating leeks

last summer our neighbor gave us some of his extra leek seedlings---it was late in the season and they were a bit stunted from being held in a flat so long so they didn't grow much over the summer.  they're looking pretty good now.  i recently read a blog post by larry hodgson about growing leeks as perennials (because they are) instead of replanting every year as is commonly done and i was inspired to give it a try.  today i dug most of the leeks out of the kitchen garden and gave them some more space in the orchard garden in an unoccupied section of the perennial onions bed.

we'll see how they do.

ham detector

as with smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, it is important to perform a routine test of one's ham detection unit...

...seems to be functioning properly.

pink lady

long after all the other fruit trees have let their leaves go our pink lady apple stands laughing at nature's attempt at winter---and she sure is dressed up pretty...

nice.

compost update

things are heating up...

from 46 degrees to 106 degrees in about 48 hrs

masterpiece

got the kitchen garden debris along with some chicken bedding and fresh green weeds into a  new compost pile this afternoon...

a heap as high as a farm dog's ears

we'll see how hot i can get this thing.

start temp about 46 degrees---brrrrr!

getting the garden ready for 2015

we've been having a mock spring---mostly sunny with temperatures in the low 60s during the day---it makes working in the garden quite pleasant.  i've spent the last few days getting the dead bean vines, sunflower stalks, oak leaves, etc. cleared out of the kitchen garden to let more light in to veggies in the raised beds.

here's a before picture:

i hauled out 4 wheelbarrows full of dead vegetation.  i took it out to the area in the orchard garden where i do the composting and over the next couple of days i'll get it started cooking so it will be ready to feed the new plantings.

it's looking much brighter out there now.

the lettuces and other plants are happy for the extra light.

it's been really nice working outside but there are also less physical tasks to take care of so when i can make myself sit i've been going through my seed collection and planning out this year's planting calendar.  
my resolution for this year is to be better organized and keep better garden records.  we shall see.

a strong cup of coffee and a good assistant help with the planning process

i'm still hoping to be able to get some more chickens at some point this year.  happy for the hens we've got and enjoying some lovely eggs.

i've had to resegregate the australorps from my little cornish hen.  i think it's been good for her to have some company but her new coop mates are a bit overbearing and make better company from the other side of a fence.  

it's been mild out but molting in january still seems like a bad idea

i put up a division inside the chicken tractor and set it up to open into the adjoining run.  so when the birds are confined they can see and hear each other but don't have physical access to each other.  they seem to do alright free ranging together though.

the only access to the inside of the chicken tractor are four small doors (one at each end and one in the center of each side).  the doors are something like 15" wide and slightly more than that high---this is when being small pays off---i had to crawl inside through one of the doors to put up the divider.  it was nice and cozy in there---if i was a chicken i think i'd be pretty happy.

time to get back to my plotting and scheming.  or maybe i'll go and get the compost fired up first---i hear the sunshine calling my name.

anniversary outing

took a little drive yesterday afternoon---wound up a little ways out hites cove rd.  hazy day but still some great views.

up on a mountain in the middle of nowhere (almost) with this handsome guy...

...can't beat it.  i love you, staal.