Sectional next steps.

Today I cleaned and straightened, organized seedling rows, removed debris and weeds on lower step.  i also added an arrangement of parsley, arugula, and thyme.

Upper step I planted frost hardy flowers, and two types of carrots.

I also prepped my squash mound for several special crookneck seeds I aquired.

Planted northern beans with a trellis. Tho they say they are Bush beans, they still need a support.

The past week we had over 4" of rain, in my first couple summers of gardening, I would suffer from rsoil run off due to the natural slope and exposure of my yard. So, I've learned that I needed to have raised beds. I've upcycled old window frames and pallets, and even bamboo poles, to help me. Every year I am pleased with myself as I build something bigger and better.

These bags are doing my composting. Left over from feed or seeds, they come in handy after their initial use is over. I love giving things a second life. So, it was time to shovel out the coops, for winter may be great for the deep liter method, but you still need to clean it out come the soggy rainy spring!

Every bag is 3/4 full leaving room for shutting the top and then flipping it over on itself. I gave them the southern facing view. The bags are still warm well after dark!

Tapping trees and the production of syrup.

Not an easy feat. Took about 30 hours of simmering in a crock pot to get two tablespoons  full of syrup. 

Below is my set up. I'm using a jar and lid used for pickling. The vinyl tubing fit perfectly. No mess!

Garden is alive!

I took advantage of the warm February days and prepped a section of my garden beds. I seeded and covered them up. And I now have everything except the beets sprouting .

top: 4/2

Bottom: 4/8

Five months old

November these little ones hatched. And now five months have passed. Try are now upgraded to the large coop with the rest of the flock.

Eight Weeks and Genetics

Nothing quite like the cuteness of these chicks. I have been cross breeding them for a year now. Mabon and her sister are my f1's. mabon is a male orust with a female wells, and sister is a male wels with a female orust. you will see below with opal(f2) she has recessive traits already. Orust, though striking, is subjected to inbreeding, whereas other chickens of Sweden have a larger genetic pool to play with. Photos are surfacing of beautiful black dominated plumage. A contrast from the White dominated that Green Fire Farms has. Hopefully they are able to import a 3 genetic line. Native Swedish Chicken Link or Genetic Diversity of Five Swedish Chickens and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Analysis.

Iggi is heterozygous for the bl dilution gene. Though she has 'black' plumage on her head and neck, the rest of her feathers on her body are significantly more diluted. This is normal to see on a heterozygous bl.

here are the side shots  (not as beaut and dramatic as those above)

\

opal

sophie looking a very proper hen

iggi again, bl dilution is seen very nicely

Two weeks old!

HATCH 11/5/16

 Here are the beautiful chicks!

second from left, and far right brown chick were from the same hen. I will single her out for any further hatching's. they had a pretty easy hatch and are a good size.

brown chick f1 + rj is either a

1. e⁺e^b Coco⁺ db⁺db⁺ Pgpg⁺ Mlml⁺ Cha⁺cha Mhmh⁺ di⁺di⁺ Ig⁺Ig⁺ cb⁺cb⁺ i⁺i⁺ Blbl⁺ Lav⁺Lav⁺ C⁺C⁺ Mo⁺mo b⁺b⁺ s⁺s⁺ Choc⁺Choc⁺

2. Ee⁺ Coco⁺ db⁺db⁺ Pgpg⁺ Mlml⁺ Cha⁺cha Mhmh⁺ di⁺di⁺ Ig⁺Ig⁺ cb⁺cb⁺ i⁺i⁺ Blbl⁺ Lav⁺Lav⁺ C⁺C⁺ Mo⁺mo b⁺b⁺ s⁺s⁺ Choc⁺Choc<sup>+

the black and white chicks are either

F1 + goose f2  1.</sup> EE co⁺co⁺ db⁺db⁺ pg⁺pg⁺ Mlml⁺ Cha⁺Cha⁺ mh⁺mh⁺ di⁺di⁺ Ig⁺Ig⁺ cb⁺cb⁺ Ii⁺ bl⁺bl⁺ Lav⁺Lav⁺ C⁺C⁺ momo b⁺b⁺ Ss⁺ Choc⁺Choc<sup>+

2.</sup> EE co⁺co⁺ db⁺db⁺ pg⁺pg⁺ Mlml⁺ Cha⁺Cha⁺ mh⁺mh⁺ di⁺di⁺ Ig⁺Ig⁺ cb⁺cb⁺ i⁺i⁺ bl⁺bl⁺ Lav⁺Lav⁺ C⁺C⁺ Mo⁺mo b⁺b⁺ Ss⁺ Choc⁺Choc<sup>+

not in this hatch.</sup>
dw mo f1 = Ee^b co⁺co⁺ db⁺db⁺ pg⁺pg⁺ Mlml⁺ Cha⁺Cha⁺ mh⁺mh⁺ di⁺di⁺ Ig⁺Ig⁺ cb⁺cb⁺ i⁺i⁺ bl⁺bl⁺ Lav⁺Lav⁺ C⁺C⁺ Mo⁺mo b⁺- s⁺- Choc⁺-
 
^{wellxorsut lt brown} 
orustxwell med brown