Update...

Well,... the upper garden is planted, fenced, and gated! The lower garden is planted, but still need to get the fence and gate in. The Eyeball planter near the faerie sanctuary is planted with purple potatoes! The grapes are in the ground and thriving. We have two root-rot raspberry survivors in the berry patch. Pathways are taking shape! The pond is looking good! Will get an awesome deal on a 300 gallon, caged water tank for storage next week! Whew... out of breath and breaking a sweat!

a little father's day math...

Okay. Wow. I decided this morning, being Father's Day, I would do some math to feel good. I wanted to figure out just how much square footage of planting space we have and are going to plant. First, I started with just the two gardens. Then I realized we have lots and lots of raised beds and planting spaces. Plus the arbor. Plus the greenhouse. Plus the berry patch. Wow. After spending lots of time measuring, then some more time converting and adding, I came up with 135' x 228' of actual planting space. That's veggies and herbs and a few flowers (we don't have many of those! Most of our space is for herbs and veggies!). If I did the math right, that's 30,780 square footage of planting space available. Again, wow. I do feel blessed!

Pond update!

New Video Update From the Garden!

Updates and happenings around the homestead...

The garden is ready for fencing and planting! The row mounds are done!

And I have started digging the pond out! I will be lining it this weekend. The hill is made of the dirt pulled out for the pond. It will create a berm to separate the pond from the main activity of the backyard, so that any wildness will not be hampered by us!

Our grapes, while still in pots, are doing good!

Our green house is full of life, just waiting to be transplanted!

The strawberries are starting to bear fruits!

Even the peas are getting into it!

We set up a small pool for the kiddos, and I am now searching the countryside for a free dis-used hot tub to add to the mix! I was given the 'Stylish Blogger Award' by Leigh from '5 Acres & A Dream' blog. accordingly, I have to pass it on to seven other blogs. Here are seven blogs I find enjoyable! Please visit them!

1. afloat the tributary of sentience - good musing and beautiful photography!
2. Forest Walk Art - good pictures. Enjoyable!
3. Living Our Way - homesteading and homeschooling...
4. Rainwalker Mesa - pictures and thoughts from up on the mesa.
5. Nine Bean Rows in a Bee-Loud Glade - new blog, but from a neighbor here in the Willamette Valley!
6. Wranglerstar - Off grid homestead building project
7. Whose Woods - running through the woods..

Been busy.....

After hand tilling the perimeter of both gardens.. and the fact that the rains have finally subsided... I borrowed Jack's tiller to get the brunt of the work done!

music: Devil Makes Three , "Ten Feet Tall"

A week of finds:

1. Grape vines for the arbor, from the Alpine sharing gardens.

2. Free canopy for Tigger, found on a craigslist ad.

3. Another bamboo pole, another roost for the birds! That's two 8' roosts for 21 birds... more than enough space!

4. We discovered we have to have a pre-hatch tracking system for broody hens. I am developing the system now. Watch for updates!

5. Sunshine! I expect to have the garden tilled by Monday evening!

6. The weed-eater has died,... long live the weed-eater.... found an electric replacement at goodwill for $10. I believe it was donated because the spool was a complete tangled mess. This proved to be an easy, simple fix.

7. Feed store only 8 miles away has the same local feed at the same price as the feed store 18 miles away!

8. Two huge saw horses. Free w/ the truck canopy!

9. Neighbor is looking for locals that will ride her horses! The Queen & Isabelle are really digging this one!