I'm still out there...somewhere...

[cReAtIoN gRoAnS]

Hi all!

Been a while since I been on here. Thought I would let those of you who know me know that I am still alive and kickin...(not that you actually wondered where I was...)

Been busy...greenhouse is rockin. Got winter greens growing good in there along with some Tomatos. Still harvesting leeks and the like. Getting ready for Spring...already made several orders from seed companies. Have all the new varieties that I want isolated. Am getting an astounding pepper that I have waited a while to get. "Horn of the bull" is no match for this sweet puppy! Been focusing on resistant varieties in the tomato catagories...due to the wet year last year I had lots of fungal problems and am going to do some experiements this year on some things.

Potato beds are being worked up. A new section of ground that I broke last summer (been ammending it all year.) Has sprung a leak...(wet weather spring right in the middle of it.) Will be transforming it to raised bed area instead of small scale row cropping. )70x100. I am a little over 2 acres of gardens now.

Began a small rabbitry...those little guys are amazing! One doe can produce up to a 100 pounds of meat in a year! With very little work or investment.

Will be running turkeys in the spring. The eastern wild kind. Naragansets. Breaking and sowing major areas for clover, alfalfa, rye, for Chicken tractors.

Still building the kids camp out here...slow but sure process.

All else is to monotonious to mention.

Hope all is well! It would be good to hear how you all are and how the garlic is doing that I sent out!

Take care!

Chad

[Cliff Timmons]

Manit's good to hear from you.
I've been away for a while too.

It sounds like you have everything really going.
It must be a sight.
I'm gonna try turkeys next year as well. First some laying hens and then when they are up, turkey time. <grin>

And of course, bees!!

[bluelacedredhead]

Chad, Welcome Back! Sounds like you've had plenty of reason to be absent. Hope all your new projects pan out.
Narrangansett turkeys are not actually what we here in the East call an Eastern Wild, although they were developed many years ago from the Eastern Wild turkey.
They are a docile breed of turkey, but if you plan on free ranging them, be sure to keep a keen eye for hens that wander away to nest. My Narrangansett is much likelier to stray and stay away than are my Bourbon Reds. So much in fact, that I no longer allow her to range at will. She is allowed pasture, but in an enclosed area where she is also unable to spread her wings and fly.
May sound cruel, but I lose far too many birds a year to predators.
As a matter of fact, Thursday night, I drove up the driveway and an owl was perched in the large spruce over top where I park the truck waiting and watching for any young stragglers who should have been long on their roosts. Thinking this was an isolated incident, I mentioned it to my husband who said he's been followed up the driveway by that same owl several nights this week when he arrives home in the wee hours of the morning....
Full Moon always brings with it something looking for a free meal..GRRRRRRR

[GeorgeSims]

Chad,

Tell me about the kid's camp.

[redbrick]

Wow,Chad, I got worn out just reading about all of your projects! My hat's off to you! I'm super glad to see you're back, been missin' ya!

[Jeannine]

I guess that pretty much explains your absence, wowsers! Glad to know that all is well with you.

[Carolina-Family-Farm]

Howdy Chad"

That garlic is standing up about 6" tall right now and looking good (thanks)

Glad to see you back!

[cReAtIoN gRoAnS]

Hey all! Thanks for the replies!

Bluelaced...I will be running the turkeys in "chicken tractors" No problems with predators in those. Easy to...plus you can concentrate the fertilizer to where you actually want it. Will be working up some green for them on a massive scale.

Sims....The kids camp we are doing (just had a 3 day over Thanksgiving.) is a bible based camp for kids 3rd through 9th. We do all kinds of time frame options. 3 day, 5 day, and 10 day. We also offer a father/son outing. Canoeing, primitive living (starting fires with bow and drill, rope out of fibers, trapping, team building skills, low ropes, archery, shooting, camping, crafts, sports, challenge games, putting in a zip line....etc. Culminated with teaching, songs, and lots of love for em all. We really try to open up to them and make them feel welcome and loved. My brother and I have about 8-10 years experience in the activities mentioned and running camps. We are now trying to upgrade our facilities to a better more up to date camp. We are putting together a DVD on the last one that we did so that we can pass it out. Seeing is believing for most. Check out www.proclaimingjesus.com If you know anyone who is interested let me know.

Glad to hear that the garlic is doing well!!!


Glad to be back aboard...though I might be away from the ship again as I am diving back in to the deep end once more!


Chad

[stonysoil]

glad to hear all the updates chad... and wishing you and family all the best in your cionstructive undertakings

[johno]

How big are the chicken tractors, and what are the bottoms made of? or are they open? You've got me intrigued.

Raised bed over the spring sounds like a good way to deal with that problem.

My father has some good rabbits that he's developed with years of selective breeding to have larger litters, and so on. New Zealands, I think (the white ones...) Let me know if you're looking for breeding stock - he sometimes sells a few.

Keep us posted on the peppers and tomato experiments. I'll be interested to see how things go.

The garlic's doing great, best as I can tell. It's got some green tops, but they didn't get too overgrown befor it started freezing. I mulched them with shredded oak leaves and bedding from the chicken house, feathers and all.

Sounds like a really great youth camp. I'm impressed, as usual.

Hope to see you logged in a lot more!

[Sandbar]

Chad, great to hear from you, again. Hope and pray the Lord blesses your efforts in the camp and garden.

[dirtundernails]

I wondered where you were....