Getting Our Planting On

Today I worked in the yard from about 11 until 3 and then again from about 5:30 til dark. From 3 to 5:30 I was gone getting feed for the pigs and chickens.

I got some weed eating done and some of the trash and debris in the yard picked up.

I bought a foxglove at the store the other day. It was absolutely gorgeous and I had never seen one…I fell in love. It is a perennial and should spread like tulips and such do....next year I will be ordering bulbs that are of a different color…my hope is to have a whole front yard that blooms in different areas over the seasons. If I could do all flowers and not have grass to mow that would be okay with me. Our front yard has a good amount of trees, most of which are fruit trees, so it doesn’t get a lot of sun during summer time so I have to do things that are partial shade there.

One of the garden areas is planted. In this one I have 6 squash plants and 18 different tomato plants…with 3 varieties..large cherry tomatoes, homestead tomatoes, and heck I can’t remember the 3rd one right now. Down at the end where Morgan is standing we planted the grapefruit tree that we bought last year. The colored pots hold green onions, snap peas, jalapenos, okra, and Brussel sprouts.

Gracie, my Chiorkie and one of the Red-Blue Cochin Roosters was enjoying the fresh cut grass this afternoon

Oh this is the veggie salad I made for dinner last night to go with the meatloaf. It was SUPER good…

I bought some Arkansas Traveler tomatoes and we put them in their own little spot today. I didn’t get photo’s of it as I forgot so I will post them tomorrow.

Celery, Peppers, Onions, Eggs....Oh My

Today will be busy. I have started the first of the onions parboiling so I can get them in the dehydrator. I will have to do this process probably 4 times today as I have a lot of onions that need to be done. I will freeze part of them for cooking but most of them will be made into onion powder.

I need to dehydrate some celery as well. I have 3 bunches that need cut, boiled, and placed in the dehydrator. I have 6 bell peppers that I will dehydrate as well so I can use them in soups and such.

The first batch of onions is being brought to a boil.

Into the dehydrator we go.

The celery par boiled and into the dehydrator

Par Boiling the bell peppers

Bell Peppers in the dehydrator

Ready! Set! Dehydrate!

Nothing ever goes to waste here on the farm…so the onion peels will be going to compost. The celery leaves go in a bag to go in the freezer for when I make stock. The bottom shafts of the celery are in a container with water and in the window so they can grow me some more celery.

I have about 6 dozen eggs that need to be dealt with. I will be pickleing them with some jalapeno’s. The first 3 dozen are in the pot and about to start boiling.

For the brine I got a jar of jalapenos, added 2 of the same size jars of water and 1 size of the jars with vinegar. I have them warming on the stove.

6 Dozen eggs gave me 3 1/2 gallon jugs of pickled eggs....

Oh, Let’s not forget..the day always includes someone having to feed Little Man

I guess that is it for the Homestead today....It just turned 9 pm and I have been at it since early this morning!