This site is an archive of ChiotsRun.com. For the latest information about Susy and her adventrures, visit the Cultivate Simple site.
Thank you for all your support over the years!

Snug as Bugs

March 23rd, 2016

My greens are all snug as bugs in the low tunnel in the potager. After I transplanted them we had some really cold nights, down into the teens. I added an extra layer of agribon to my little lovelies and they came through with flying colors.
Low tunnel
When I went out in the morning the temperature under the agribon was 10 degrees warmer than outside the low tunnel. It’s pretty amazing what you can do with a little bit of plastic. Hopefully I’ll be eating lettuce in a few weeks.

What’s the temperature like in your garden?

Not Quite…

March 21st, 2016

Well, spring is officially here….but not quite. It was beautiful yesterday, high of around 40 and sunny. We spent the day working outside, getting a few chores done.
Radar
We’re supposed to wake up this morning to snow, more than a dusting. We shall see how much we really get, thankfully it brings some nitrogen for the garden. It will also give me at least another week of time in the sewing room.

What’s the weather like in your garden?

UGH…..

March 17th, 2016

Well, we found our first deer tick last Friday. I took Tara on a hike on and when we got back this was crawling up her leg. Luckily, all those wild turkeys I see gobble them up.
tick
The cats always end up with lots of them, luckily they don’t get Lyme disease. I pick them off the cats almost daily in the spring/fall here. I guess it’s time for daily tick checks for the pets and for us, that’s the best way to find them early.

Do you have ticks in your garden?

Hey Guys

March 16th, 2016

Yesterday I looked out the back window and saw four wild turkey toms huffing and gobbling away trying to impress our turkey hens. They were out there for a couple of hours, the ladies ignored them all the entire time.
Turkeys
This always makes me laugh, turkeys are funny birds, such a joy to have around! It’s been great watching our flock interact and learning about their nature. The ladies just started laying eggs last week, I’m trying to decide if I want to let them hatch any out this spring.

What wildlife are you seeing in your garden?

Spring Chores

March 14th, 2016

Spring is an exciting time to be a gardener, there are seeds or order, tiny seedlings to tend, gardens to plan, and so much more. Then there are all the chores that come with having a garden. Things that sometimes get put off because they’re not as fun as other things. Like picking up sticks, raking leaves, tidying up, picking up pounds and pounds of rocks, and so many more things.
raking leaves
Yesterday, I spent the afternoon raking all the leaf/grass clipping back under the apple trees. I put them there last fall and the chickens kicked them all out this spring. I could have fenced them early, but I know they’re eating bugs and aerating the mulch. Spending a day raking it back under the trees is probably worth it. I also picked up what seemed like hundreds of sticks, dug all the soil out from around the rocks in the back of the house….all back breaking chores, but things that are perfect on these warm spring days before you can dig into the garden and really get going.

What chores did you get done this weekend?

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

Admin