I have learned how to make videos using lots of pictures and how to upload it to YouTube. Now I have learned how to take a video, edit it, and enhance it, then upload it to YouTube. I have a video of Deaf Dog Hope - my sweet baby girl, entertaining herself in an empty kiddie pool. Click the link below. I hope you enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqrCgoaG0VU&feature=youtu.be
Showing posts with label Around the Farm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Around the Farm. Show all posts
Saturday, July 1, 2017
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Starting Vegetables and Perennials
Sometimes you learn the best through trial and error. I have done this while starting plants, and would like to pass on what I've learned to speed your progress in starting your own vegetables and flowers.
The items you will need to purchase:
* Grow Light
* Starter Soil
* Pots
* Seeds
* Fertilizer
* Container to hold pots
Grow Light - I purchased a 4 foot fluorescent light fixture that holds two tubes (bulbs). You don't have to get an expensive fixture, but I do recommend that you make sure it is UL approved for safety. You will need to purchase the correct size growing lights to put in the fixture. (Growing lights are different than regular fluorescent lights.) I use a small-linked chain to hold my light. This allows me to adjust the height of the light from the plants.
Starter Soil - This is different than potting soil or top soil. It is lighter, making it easier for seeds to germinate and roots to grow down. I use organic starter soil.
Pots - I like to use 3 inch peat pots to start my plants. These pots allow you to transplant your plant into your garden - pot and all. This reduces the shock transplanting causes. As the pot breaks down, it adds nutrients to your soil. (When I am ready to transplant, I make vertical cuts in the side of the pot in the lower section. This allows the growing roots to get into your garden soil quicker and deeper.)
Seeds - your choice. If you want to grow perennial flowers, check the growing zone the perennial is rated for, making sure it is for your zone. If you get something that is for a warmer growing zone than you live in, the plant will not survive the winter - it basically becomes an annual. (Example - if you live in zone 4, and you buy perennial seeds rated for zone 6 and higher, it will grow the first year, but will not come back the next year. It will freeze out during the winter.) When it comes to vegetables seeds, they come in organic as well as non-organic. Organic seeds will not be genetically modified and will not have traces of harmful chemicals like pesticides on them.)
Fertilizer - Since I grow organically, I purchased fertilizers for organic use.
Container to hold pots - I use a plastic sweater totes. You need something because of watering pots/plants.
Now you are ready to get your seeds started. The starter soil must be moist. I pour it into a 5 gallon bucket and add water, mixing it around. This is the quicker method. You can just add water and wait for it to absorb into the starter soil, but it takes a lot longer.
Next fill your pots to just below the top, but don't pack the soil tightly.
Now it's time to add your seeds. Each variety of vegetable and flower has a different depths to plant the seed. You will have to read the planting instructions. Some seeds need light to germinate, others do not. In addition, seeds have different number of days it takes for them to germinate. This will all be on the planting instructions. (Starting plants should be done 6 to 8 weeks before frost for most plants. You can also start plants in the summer for fall planting.)
Since I start about 48 plants, I use a Popsicle stick to label each pot. You can keep it with the plant even after transplanting in your garden. The wood will decompose.
Once all your pots are ready with seeds planted, all you can do is wait for the seeds to germinate. Keep the pots moist, but not overly wet. You can add water to the whole tote and allow it to soak up through the peat pot.
Once your plants are visible, you will need to have your grow light just a couple of inches from the pots - this is what most people do not understand. Plants will reach for the light. If the light is far away from the plants, all growing energy will be put into the stem to get the leaves closer to the light source. An extremely long stem is thin and weak, so keep the light source close to the plants. As the plants grow, raise the light, but still keeping it close to the top of the plants. By doing this, your plants' stems will be thick and strong.
When it comes to tomato plants, their first leaves are not the "true leaves". Once they get their true leaves, you need to start fertilizing them. All plants need fertilizer, but I use my tomato plants as a predictor of when to start using the fertilizer. (The starter soil doesn't have all the nutrients to keep plants growing strong. This is why you need to fertilize them.)
Lastly, once your area is frost free, you can transplant your plants into your garden. Remember to make the vertical cuts in the side of the peat pot in the lower section to allow the roots to grow into your soil quicker.
Happy Planting!
The items you will need to purchase:
* Grow Light
* Starter Soil
* Pots
* Seeds
* Fertilizer
* Container to hold pots
Grow Light - I purchased a 4 foot fluorescent light fixture that holds two tubes (bulbs). You don't have to get an expensive fixture, but I do recommend that you make sure it is UL approved for safety. You will need to purchase the correct size growing lights to put in the fixture. (Growing lights are different than regular fluorescent lights.) I use a small-linked chain to hold my light. This allows me to adjust the height of the light from the plants.
 |
| Fluorescent Light Fixture with Grow Light Tubes (bulbs). Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2016 |
Starter Soil - This is different than potting soil or top soil. It is lighter, making it easier for seeds to germinate and roots to grow down. I use organic starter soil.
Pots - I like to use 3 inch peat pots to start my plants. These pots allow you to transplant your plant into your garden - pot and all. This reduces the shock transplanting causes. As the pot breaks down, it adds nutrients to your soil. (When I am ready to transplant, I make vertical cuts in the side of the pot in the lower section. This allows the growing roots to get into your garden soil quicker and deeper.)
Seeds - your choice. If you want to grow perennial flowers, check the growing zone the perennial is rated for, making sure it is for your zone. If you get something that is for a warmer growing zone than you live in, the plant will not survive the winter - it basically becomes an annual. (Example - if you live in zone 4, and you buy perennial seeds rated for zone 6 and higher, it will grow the first year, but will not come back the next year. It will freeze out during the winter.) When it comes to vegetables seeds, they come in organic as well as non-organic. Organic seeds will not be genetically modified and will not have traces of harmful chemicals like pesticides on them.)
Fertilizer - Since I grow organically, I purchased fertilizers for organic use.
Container to hold pots - I use a plastic sweater totes. You need something because of watering pots/plants.
Now you are ready to get your seeds started. The starter soil must be moist. I pour it into a 5 gallon bucket and add water, mixing it around. This is the quicker method. You can just add water and wait for it to absorb into the starter soil, but it takes a lot longer.
Next fill your pots to just below the top, but don't pack the soil tightly.
 |
| Peat Pot with soil just below the top. Photo By T.R. Simmons 2016 |
Now it's time to add your seeds. Each variety of vegetable and flower has a different depths to plant the seed. You will have to read the planting instructions. Some seeds need light to germinate, others do not. In addition, seeds have different number of days it takes for them to germinate. This will all be on the planting instructions. (Starting plants should be done 6 to 8 weeks before frost for most plants. You can also start plants in the summer for fall planting.)
Since I start about 48 plants, I use a Popsicle stick to label each pot. You can keep it with the plant even after transplanting in your garden. The wood will decompose.
Once all your pots are ready with seeds planted, all you can do is wait for the seeds to germinate. Keep the pots moist, but not overly wet. You can add water to the whole tote and allow it to soak up through the peat pot.
Once your plants are visible, you will need to have your grow light just a couple of inches from the pots - this is what most people do not understand. Plants will reach for the light. If the light is far away from the plants, all growing energy will be put into the stem to get the leaves closer to the light source. An extremely long stem is thin and weak, so keep the light source close to the plants. As the plants grow, raise the light, but still keeping it close to the top of the plants. By doing this, your plants' stems will be thick and strong.
 |
| Grow Light just above the tomato plants. Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2016 |
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| Banana Pepper and Perennial Flowers Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2016 |
Lastly, once your area is frost free, you can transplant your plants into your garden. Remember to make the vertical cuts in the side of the peat pot in the lower section to allow the roots to grow into your soil quicker.
Happy Planting!
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Blog Posts to Go Biweekly
To all who enjoy reading my posts, which are mostly about animals. I am working on a book right now, and posting every week has and is taking away from my writing. I will post every other week now (Biweekly). Upcoming posts will include - Chicken Fever, Baby Peeps 101, Animals with Disabilities, Demodectic Mange, Honeybee Keeping, and more. Please come back next week for a new post. Thank you for understanding and come back.
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| Photo by adamr www.freedigitalphotos.net |
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Friend + Neighbor = "Freighbor"
When I was a young child, I lived in a small midwest town, where neighbors looked out for one another and all the neighborhood children. The neighbor behind our house fixed our bikes, because he knew Dad was busy trying to start a new business and was putting in a lot of hours. Once an elderly neighbor beside us made cookies and brought them to me while I raced my Big Wheel up and down the sidewalk. Dad asked me if I'd thanked her. I was brought up with manners, and I had thanked her.
Then we moved to a small farm where Dad could also have his business. This was paradise for me. Trees to climb, a tree that held our tire swing, a playhouse, other farm buildings to play in, and fields to run in. We, also, had a huge wooden barn that had hand hewed posts and beams. It was solid, and housed our animals, along with lots of cats. The cats came from all over, finding shelter in the haymow, and food we'd put out. It was a place of happy memories for me. It was also another home were others looked out for us.
This closeness and friendliness is what I've looked for as an adult, but for the most part haven't seen it. I, unfortunately, have lived in a metropolis city, something I detested. Neighbors were just people who live around you. You didn't make friends, because you didn't know if they would rob you. City life was like living in a concrete asphalt jail. That's a heck of way to live.
I was deseperate to move to the country. I felt country life would bring me all the positive things I'd experienced as a young child. We have moved to the country, but the world has changed - some neighbors are not friends, and some have been quite nasty and mean.
Thankfully, it is not all negative. This post is for all those people who still believe in looking out for your neighbors, checking to make sure you are okay, watching to make sure whomever is on your property is suppose to be there and not there to rob you, and not being afraid to call you or the police when something doesn't look right. These people are more than just neighbors - they are Freighbors which means friends and neighbors. And when you have these, it does make the world a better place. Thank you to all my freighbors!
Then we moved to a small farm where Dad could also have his business. This was paradise for me. Trees to climb, a tree that held our tire swing, a playhouse, other farm buildings to play in, and fields to run in. We, also, had a huge wooden barn that had hand hewed posts and beams. It was solid, and housed our animals, along with lots of cats. The cats came from all over, finding shelter in the haymow, and food we'd put out. It was a place of happy memories for me. It was also another home were others looked out for us.
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| Photo by Vlada/FreeDigitalphotos.net |
This closeness and friendliness is what I've looked for as an adult, but for the most part haven't seen it. I, unfortunately, have lived in a metropolis city, something I detested. Neighbors were just people who live around you. You didn't make friends, because you didn't know if they would rob you. City life was like living in a concrete asphalt jail. That's a heck of way to live.
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| Photo by tiramisustudio/FreeDigitalPhotos.net |
Saturday, January 2, 2016
New Year's Resolutions Vs. Just Making Goals
Making New Year's Resolutions is something that goes back thousands of years. It is not a tradition that I do. This year I am going to make goals to accomplish this new year.
1st goal - to laugh more. I believe that Pippin and Spritzen will be very involved with this goal. Undoubtable, they will have me laughing with their playfulness and joy of having each other as best buddies throughout this year.
2nd goal - to get my honeybee hives going. When I started this adventure in 2013, I created a nice area for the hives to sit, but they are close to the road. I had trouble from day one. Nobody who knew anything about honeybee keeping could figure out what was causing the troubles and loss. A non-bee keeping friend thought that maybe by being near the road, the hive deaths were from carbon monoxide. I was told carbon monoxide stays low, and my hives sit lower than the roadway. I will be moving the hives back a lot further. With the move, here's hoping I became a beekeeper! This has been a long time dream!!
3rd goal - expanding my flower beds. With the help of two people, my green thumb gets greener every year. I have learned to start my own flowers and vegetables. My flower beds are filling in each year. My plan is to have all space in the following picture filled with perennial flowers touching one another, choking out all weeds.
4th goal - start a jar of good experiences. On FB, I have read about getting a canning jar and writing the good things that happen throughout the year. Then, at the end of the year, you open it and read all the little slips of paper, reminding yourself of all the good the year held and being thankful.
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| Pippin and Spritzen playing tug-of-war. Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2015 |
2nd goal - to get my honeybee hives going. When I started this adventure in 2013, I created a nice area for the hives to sit, but they are close to the road. I had trouble from day one. Nobody who knew anything about honeybee keeping could figure out what was causing the troubles and loss. A non-bee keeping friend thought that maybe by being near the road, the hive deaths were from carbon monoxide. I was told carbon monoxide stays low, and my hives sit lower than the roadway. I will be moving the hives back a lot further. With the move, here's hoping I became a beekeeper! This has been a long time dream!!
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| 2013 Honeybee Hive set up - flowers filled in around the pavers. Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2013 |
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| Purple/Pink Flower Bed. Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2014 |
5th - to send out children's books I've written to publishers. I have dragged my feet on doing things after having a very negative experience. I am not going to let those who wanted to cause harm to keep me from accomplishing a dream that I believe God gave me. With God, all things are possible!
What are your goals for this new year? Share them here, and Happy New Year.
Saturday, November 28, 2015
What I Am Thankful For...
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| Photo by Tracey R. Simmons This is how Hope looked before we found out she had EPI. |
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| Hope entertaining Miss Pippin O'Chi Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2015 |
I am thankful for Diane who runs www.enzymediane.com a business started to help those who have an animal like Hope, whose pancreas don’t work properly. She provides the enzymes needed for these animals to digest their food at a lower price, much lower then pharmaceutical companies whose only intention is making a profit. (Both get the pancreases from the same slaughterhouses.) She does it to help people who would be otherwise forced to put their beloved pet down, because they can’t afford several hundred dollars a month to keep their animal alive. Plus, her product works much better than the pharmaceutical companies – I know this to be a fact, because Hope started out on the prescription enzymes and now uses EnzymeDiane’s product.
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| Baby Pippin just after adoption Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2015 |
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| Just a few of my favorite Christmas DVDs and CDs |
Lastly, I am thankful for Christmas
movies and music. Break out the DVDs and the CDs!
Saturday, November 7, 2015
Fall Creativeness
The season has changed, and Fall is here. A bit of Indian Summer visited for a few days with warmer temperatures, but some cold has blown in. With temps in the 30's last night, the woodstove was finally fired up. Aaahhhh, it's nice and warm in the house, and Pippin O'Chi can run around without a sweater, T-shirt or sweatshirt on. She is running around as a "naked Chihuahua."
With fall comes leaf raking. When you live in a heavily wooded area, leaves are like a crunchy, brown carpet that covers thickly over the grass. Some neighbors can't deal with a single leaf on their grass. One neighbor has been creative lately, giving me an oppportunity to tease him.
Last weekend, I heard him out using his lawn tractor, but the funny thing was when I saw how he was using it. He wasn't mowing the leaves to mulch them. He had his snowblade on the lawn tractor and was pushing the leaves. When I asked him about it, he said, "I can move more leaves quicker than I can raking or blowing them."
Yesterday, I heard him using his leaf blower. Okay, maybe he needed to get into smaller areas, like corners between the house and porch, to get those pesky leaves out. No way - he was on the garage roof blowing the leaves off the roof.
Hummm, do you think the leaf blower would get all the leaves out of the gutters if used?
Happy Fall to you all!
Thursday, July 23, 2015
July Farming Days
Torrential rains keep hitting the Midwest. The tomato plants should be producing wonderful tasting tomatoes, but they can't ripen because of the amount of rain and lack of sun. The leaves are dying from the bottom up. These plants actually look like plants at the end of the growing season rather than in the middle.
There is a volunteer pie pumpkin plant that is doing quite well. I have allowed it to grow beside, up, and over the top of the chickens' fenced area. The seed was from last year and must have been flipped just outside the protective fence by the chickens. The big leaves are creating a natural shade. Baby pumpkins are starting to grow.
Is there a difference between pie pumpkins vs. Jack O' Lantern pumpkins? The answer is yes. Pie pumpkins are small vs. what most people know of - the carving pumpkins. Pie pumkins have more "meat" and are not as watery as carving pumpkins. There are various websites which can provide more information if you desire to learn more.
Once again, I have a broody Golden Lace Wyandotte chicken. Since I have three Golden Lace, I cannot tell them apart. This means I do not know if it is the same chicken being broody.
When I encountered this broody behavior back in May, I wasn't sure of the situation and what I was seeing. I am a newbie chicken owner, as of a year ago this past May. Anyway, this chicken growled at me.
The chicken books and magazines talk about 'breaking up' a broody chicken. It means separating her from the others. This keeps her from laying on the other hens eggs. If she is allowed to sit on the other hens eggs, she may not get off the nest to eat or drink and this can lead to her death. During this broody time, this hen will not lay eggs. Once separated, it will take a few weeks before her body will start producing eggs again.
Off to "broody jail" this chicken goes, but she can still see her sisters on the other side of the fencing. Hopefully, she will start laying soon.
There is a volunteer pie pumpkin plant that is doing quite well. I have allowed it to grow beside, up, and over the top of the chickens' fenced area. The seed was from last year and must have been flipped just outside the protective fence by the chickens. The big leaves are creating a natural shade. Baby pumpkins are starting to grow.
Is there a difference between pie pumpkins vs. Jack O' Lantern pumpkins? The answer is yes. Pie pumpkins are small vs. what most people know of - the carving pumpkins. Pie pumkins have more "meat" and are not as watery as carving pumpkins. There are various websites which can provide more information if you desire to learn more.
Once again, I have a broody Golden Lace Wyandotte chicken. Since I have three Golden Lace, I cannot tell them apart. This means I do not know if it is the same chicken being broody.
When I encountered this broody behavior back in May, I wasn't sure of the situation and what I was seeing. I am a newbie chicken owner, as of a year ago this past May. Anyway, this chicken growled at me.
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| Two of my Golden Lace Wyandotte chicks 2014 Photo by Tracey R. Simmons |
The chicken books and magazines talk about 'breaking up' a broody chicken. It means separating her from the others. This keeps her from laying on the other hens eggs. If she is allowed to sit on the other hens eggs, she may not get off the nest to eat or drink and this can lead to her death. During this broody time, this hen will not lay eggs. Once separated, it will take a few weeks before her body will start producing eggs again.
Off to "broody jail" this chicken goes, but she can still see her sisters on the other side of the fencing. Hopefully, she will start laying soon.
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