Lessons Learned This Spring

Many things were learned this spring on the homestead. Like free range chickens and gardens don't mix, and having an infant really puts a damper on production and the 25 projects that you thought you could get done are probably not going to get done till she's in high school.

First off let me just say, I love having the ladies roam free, they're happy eating bugs and I'm happy cause there's less bugs. But if you spend lots of time and money on flower and veggie gardens, then you will not be happy when your plants get torn up while said chicken is looking for said bug and you will not be thrilled that all the mulch you put down around the plants is spread all over the lawn.  

That being said, if you want to keep your sanity and your hens alive and safe from you and predators then keep them in a run or get a chicken tractor and do yourself a favor and clip their wings so the don't hop the fence or cover the top of their enclosure too. 

This a a lesson I learned too late. Wanda the wondering Silver Laced Wondatte wondered away, hopefully not out foxed by Foxy Loxy, or fallen prey to some other predictor. Maybe by some miracle she'll wonder back home. Although I've almost made her into chicken soup several times for hopping the fence and tearing up my garden, I still wouldn't want her to be fox food. Here's to hoping you'll return, you've always been my favorite ever since you were a chick.  

Starting plants from seed indoors under lights just isn't the same as starting them in a greenhouse, another lesson learned. I'm not wasting my time and energy on the majority of seeds until I get a green house cause it's just not worth it. Most plants got leggy and just didn't preserver the way they would in a greenhouse. Plus I hate the way the seedlings end up taking over the house and it all ends up everywhere. 

Some things did good like the lettuce that survived the little greenhouse stand toppling over, another lesson learned, and the squash plants but other things like peppers and eggplants just did crappy. Nothing beats genuine, all natural sunlight and that's that and the greenhouse stand doesn't quite cut the mustard. So until I get a greenhouse plant production is only specified to a few things and that is that. 

Tasks that seem like they'd be easy to get done generally aren't, especially when you have an infant at home that won't take a bottle and wants constant attention. Gardening only gets done while baby is sleeping or for the little while toys are entertaining or when daddy is holding the little stinker. Oh we're going into July and the gardens still aren't done being mulched and the rows that seeds were planted in that never germinated and are still laying empy because you can't seem to get back out there cause your teething monster of a child won't stop screaming?  Oh yeah that's just all part of it. 

Expanding the garden and starting a small homestead business with a new baby is tougher than you think it will be before you actually have a baby, lesson learned. Babies are a lot of work, especially this little punk-in of mine. 

Projects like setting up a farm stand also prove to be one of those things that in my mind I think of as being nothing, a piece of cake right? All you've got to do is set up a little stand and put your produce and stuff in it with a cash box and you're all set right? Wrong. 

Apparently you need a permit and before you can get a permit you've got to get approved by the building inspector and see if you're properly zoned for it. And to make it that much easier for you the building inspector is only in one day a week and so isn't the town clerk and it's not the same day either. And to think I just thought I could put my veggies out front like it was nothing. Still dealing with this little farm stand lesson, what a bureaucratic nightmare. 

Thinking that you will be able to attend multiple farmers markets with a baby is also another thing that is just not going to happen unless you've got an easy baby that can be without mommy and her boobies for hours multiple times a week and daycare. I can only seem to get daddy daycare one day a week and even that's a challenge. Maybe next year when she's older I'll be able to do more. Also not all markets are created equally some you just do better at than others and some cost more to do than others and trying different ones out to see how you do really is the best thing to do when deciding on which you will attend regularly.  Also regularity is key to success at markets as well people like to know you'll be there and will be more likely to frequent your booth when you're there every week.

Another good lesson is to take help when offered. I'm always trying to be so independent, not wanting to put anyone out or have to rely on someone but you know help is great and when it's offered just take it! You don't need to be super woman and you've got nothing to prove,  so when the kid at Chipotle asks if he can help you carry your food over to your table take it, instead of saying no I've got it while juggling your wallet, keys, change, baby in her car seat, and your tacos and drink cup, to then turn around and dump the damn tacos all over your poor child in her car seat. It's much easier to take the help then to then go get the diaper bag out of the car and change and clean taco out of said seat and off baby on the bathroom floor of Chipotle because they don't even have changing tables, thank god for the changing mat in the diaper bag, and then go and get more tacos.  So yeah take the freaking help when it's offered please and save yourself the headache. 

This just about sums up the big lessons learned over here at Mother Hen's Homestead this spring.  Hopefully reading some of my mishaps will keep you from having to learn these same lessons on your own.

Best.

~Megan~

How to Take Care of Air Plants

As some of you may know, I've been selling some of my harvest and crafts at the local farmers market.  With that I've been also selling air plants and keep getting the question, well how do I care for them and what do I do with them? Well I've got the answers for you!!

First off let me tell you a little about air plants, or tillandsia, the scientific name for them. Tillandsia are part of the bromeliad family and do not need soil to grow. They are native to some of the southern states, central and South America and use their roots only to hold onto the trees, shrubs and rocks that they live on.  They get all of their water and nutrient requirements through their specialized leaves.

They are a tropical plant and there for like warm humid environments with temperatures no lower than 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Air plants do best in bright indirect sunlight and will get sunburned when left exposed too long.

I have some hanging air plant terrariums in the window over my kitchen sink, which is north facing and they do very well there because they still get a lot of indirect sun light and there's more moisture in the air from cooking and doing dishes. If you're the forgetful plant caretaker a situation like that is best. 

Tillandsia do best when soaked in water for 15-30 minutes once to twice a week depending on humidity levels and a misting a day when it's dry. A low nitrogen fertilizer mixed weakly can be used once a month to encourage new growth. 

 

After soaking them shake off excess water and set out to dry for a bit before putting them back into their globe or any where else that would restrict air flow.

 

We sell the Tillandsia in hanging terrariums, and sea urchins, or on their own. It is best that how ever you choose to show case them, that they have good air circulation and that water doesn't pool under them, as to mimic their natural environment. 

With all the different species of tillandsia, 650 of them to be exact, you'll surely have an architecturally pleasing show piece to add to your home design.  

Enjoy these very interesting little creatures and be creative with how you use them. I hope this gave you a better idea of how to care of your tillandsia. 

Best. 

~ Megan~

Life on the homestead

Things are really starting to come together around here. The weather is finally warm enough to plant the gardens without danger of frost. I pushed it a few times with my flower barrels and the potato vines got a little frost bit but they're coming back nicely. The new flower garden I put in around the weeping cherry tree my mom got me for Mother's Day is all planted, I just have to get out there and sheet mulch it. 

The lower veggie garden got an expansion, thanks to my uncle Dale for coming down and tilling up more of the lawn, or what we call a lawn, into more garden space. I think I'll need all the extra space I can get. My veggie starts weren't the biggest hit at the markets so I may as well plant them and get something out of them. 

Once the weather cools down a bit I'm going to get out there and add compost to the new beds and mulch the walkways and put the rest of the plants and seeds in.  I finished planting my raised beds the other day and have been chipping away at mulching them too. 

I can't wait to see and try some of the new stuff I planted.  I planted some sun berries, goose berries and ground cherries all of which are in the nightshade family that I have yet to try. Hopefully they are a hit cause I planted a ton of them. 

My peony bushes have about 50 buds ready to start blossoming. For anyone who knows me they know that this is very exciting for me, peonies are my absolute favorite flower. Not only are the absolutely gorgeous but they smell heavenly! 

I love to cut them and make arrangements for all over the house and especially next to my bed so that I can take a big wiff of them before I go to bed at night and first thing in the morning, there's no way you can have a bad day after waking up to that. 

My little peanut has been so good the past few days doing things on her own so that mommy can get things done. If this hadn't occurred nothing, I mean nothing could get done. She's finally gone from wanting to be held even while sleeping to actually being stoked to go in her swing for a long nap. She's so cute you turn on her tunes and give her her blanky and she gives you a huge smile and just chills out and takes a snooze. I can't wait to start feeding her the food from the garden and see what she likes and doesn't. She's really starting to get big and show some personality, it's pretty neat this whole being a mom thing. 

All in all things are pretty good and starting to pick up around here. Excited for what summer brings and hopefully it will bring a few more customers to the market too, along with beautiful flowers, scrumptious fruits and veggies, and a growing happy girl. 

~ Megan ~

First Farmers Market of the Season

Yesterday was our first Farmers Market of the season. I've been getting ready for it for weeks now, tending to my plant starts and buying all the gear needed for selling, like a tent, tables, cash box and receipts. It hasn't been easy with a newborn or the many set backs that I've endured, like my cold weather starts all getting knocked over or the chicken pecking at what was left and the one and only time we set up our tent it got broken pieces from the wind, but the time finally came and I was somewhat ready for it.

After forgetting to bring chairs and to get change for the cash box we made due and I had to run to the bank while my mom watched Mila. We set up the broken tent with help of our neighboring vendor and pulled my moms truck up and used the tailgate as seating. 

It was a slow day and not sure it was worth the headache really but we had a good time and I had a few friends stop in and chat is up so my only making the market fee of $5 in sales wasn't so bad. I'm hoping that the coming weeks will be better once there is actual produce to sell and people know the markets have started. 

Here's to hoping today's market will be more profitable. A new town and a new outlook 

Spring has sprung

Warm weather has finally come and the snow is receding. The spring bulbs are coming up and the chickens are in heaven searching for bugs around the yard. And I have been one busy bee cleaning up the gardens that never got finished last fall, starting seeds and planting early crops. 

I'll tell you it is a whole lot easier to do garden work without having to carry an extra 10 pounds of baby while doing it. Not sure little miss really has an appreciation yet for growing things but soon enough she will whether she wants to or not. 

I'm still trying to figure out how to get as much as I used to get done, although I'm not so sure I ever will. Things take twice as long but at least they get done and I'll tell you, you tend to really get upset when all that hard work gets ruined because it takes you twice as long as a normal person without a baby and you really have like zero free time to re-do it. So when the wind knocks over your little greenhouse stand with all your cold weather starts it feels even more devastating that you lost half your starts than it would normally. 

I'm hoping to still have some plants to sell at local farmers markets, even though the wind tried to ruin my parade, and I'm hoping my little girl will pursuade buyers to buy our goods over others just because they want to see my beautiful little sweetie. 

Only a few more weeks till the markets start and I feel like I'm moving at a snails pace in getting it all done but I have to remind myself to just be proud of the progress I've made, I mean it is hard to do it all with a newborn and I've gotten a lot accomplished. 

Everyday I try and get one more task out there finished along with the endless loads of laundry and housework that also needs tending to. But every once and a while  you just need a day to rest and lounge around on the couch and you especially need them when your little one thinks its party time at 3 in the morning and you get all of 4 broken hours of sleep. 

Even with things taking far longer to get done, I am so happy for spring and warmer weather. Just getting outside puts a whole new prospective on things and sharing them with my little peanut is so awesome. She's in awe by all the new sights and sounds. I love watching her experience it all. It's a real trip but I wouldn't change a minute of it and before I know it she'll be out there helping me. 

So for now I've got to try and be realistic about how much I can do and not go crazy at the local nusery buying tons of plants, like I normally do. I've had to reel myself in a few times already and learn to ask for help when I wasn't able to contain myself, not an easy task for me. 

There is definitely a learning curve to having a new baby and doing the things you do normally and we're still working on it. But spring has sprung and we're making the best of it and enjoying every minute. 

5 Things to do During the Winter to Ease your Gardening Blues

1. Take inventory-  go through last years seeds and take an inventory, see what you've got and what needs to be ordered. I make a list of the seeds I have and how many are left so I know what needs to get ordered and also so I know what needs to get planted first before any new seeds.

2.  Order seeds-  one of my favorite things to do is go through the all of the gorgeous seed catalogs with a sharpie and circle all of the seeds I want to try out. I always go over board and more than half of the 6 catalogs have been circled and then I've got to go back and narrow it down some and still way over order, there could be worse things I suppose. 

3.  Organize seeds-  This was one project that my OCD was craving for quite some time now. For the past few years my seed packets have been unceremoniously been jammed into the paper bag in which I purchased them from and stored that way, making it very hard to see what I had for seeds and how much was left. Not to mention it definitely is not the best way to store seeds leaving them open to the elements.  So I've decided to organize and label them in a sealed Tupperware container to make them less susceptible to the surrounding atmosphere. I also color coded them to the time they need to be started and planted and organized them alphabetically and by type, veggie, fruit, or flower. Now my mind is at ease knowing exactly what I have for seeds and where they are and how much I have of them and when they need to be started and planted, it's pretty great.

4.  Create a garden plan-  This one is actually not my fortes. Every year I make one by the time it actually comes to planting it all goes out the window. The one thing that I have stuck to however is the planning of my raised beds and the placement of my garden beds, the placement of plants is a different story. I always inter-plant differing species and find the by the time everything is to its true size that I've planted things far to close to one another. So this year I'm going to actively try and plan out my spacing better and figure out some more companion planting to help minimize pest issues. We're also adding some more beds and getting a new fence so putting it on paper will be helpful to see the whole picture. You can do this the old fashioned way like I usually do on paper or there are some pretty cool garden planing apps for your phone or tablet out there now that you can always check out too.

5.  Start seeds-  Starting your own seeds indoors is a great way to ease those gardening blues and help you save money. Buying plants that have been starting can add up real fast and let's face it there really isn't much variety usually out there for them either. When you start your own you choose what varieties to plant and you know exactly where they came from and what was used when starting them. Plus you get to put your hands in the dirt and have the joy of watching them grow. Starting them indoors without a greenhouse can be somewhat of a challenge and can leave your starts off to a bad start because without proper light they can become spindly and can die due to dampening off. So having adequate lighting, humidity levels, air circulation, and not over watering are key to healthy plant starts but are a small price to pay.

Hope this gets you through till spring!!

~Megan~

Motherhood

The wait is finally over, after what seemed like an eternity, we finally got to meet our little girl a whole week early even. As I anticipated she came during a big snow storm along with 7 other girls that night. It's been a crazy mix of emotions and let me tell you motherhood is all consuming, filled with sleepless nights, and complete physical and mental exhaustion but like everyone tells you it's totally worth it, hours and days just fly past gazing at her endless amount of expressions and listening to all squeaks and groans she makes, I just can't get enough. Even in the godless hours of the night when my little angel turns into a nocturnal terrorist I still am so in love that even that doesn't get me regretting my decision to have her, well one or two really awful nights I may have questioned it but when the angel came back the next day I forgot all about it.

When I say it's consuming I mean it in every sense. I thought that I'd be able to do all of these things while she slept and that my life wouldn't change that much but I was wrong. My life is completely different and I honestly never thought I could care so much for someone else but I do. Those first few weeks you're so exhausted that even the thought of cooking dinner or cleaning wipes you out and if she's sleeping you better try to too or you'll regret it at 2 am while your little girl is screaming bloody murder and you've only had 4 hours of broken sleep to keep you going. 

You then start to wonder how you'll ever get your taxes done, or when you'll feel like writing a blog post, or even baking yourself something yummy. Slowly I'm starting to get used to the complete lack of sleep and am able to cook a nice meal or even go out for one. These moments are so fleeting and sometimes I'm grateful of that but they really are something to be treasured as well and I couldn't be happier to be able to experience them for myself, we are truly blessed despite all the poopie diapers and sleepless nights. Welcome little miss Mila, mommy and daddy love you to the moon and back.

~Megan~