Guess I won't get to plant potatoes and onions this week:~{, but we need the rain, snow just north of us. God is good.

-- Cindy (SE In) (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), March 11, 2001

Answers

Got our taters in on the 13th of Feb. Started the maters and peppers in a cold frame on the south side of the house. Everythings up and doing good here in Tx. Got a pound of seed corn to put out this week too,will wait on the cukes and mellons. God Bless and have a Great week.

-- Charles steen (xbeeman412@aol.com), March 11, 2001.

Hi Cindy! Well, another great week startin and as ususal I have lots of plans for next week. By the time Monday morning rolls around I'll have re-thunk my plans and settle for less strenous stuff to do. I still need to clean up after the ravages of winter---twigs, small limbs etc. I walked in restless anticipation couple days ago--in the garden spot. Ole Jeep said he'd bring his Gravely over and plow it for me when I was ready. Well, I"m ready--at least when I think about't. Ground is still too cold and wet to do much right now. I can daydream I guess. Seems I do a lot of that anymore. "The Spirit is willing but the body is weak!!" Ya'll have a most blessed week. Talk to the Father about what He wants you to do. Matt.24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), March 11, 2001.

here we go again......(sigh)........ it's snowing.

-- woodsbilly (coleenl@penn.com), March 11, 2001.

The snow has devoured my mailbox! I get to go dig that out if I want my mail delivered tomorrow. We've got quite the newspaper delivery guy, though. He usually drops off between 3 and 4 am, so I had never even seen his face. Well, he couldn't deliver the paper yesterday because he couldn't find my paper box. I wasn't planning on being able to read the paper with my cup of coffee, but lo and behold in the late afternoon we were digging the truck out when our paper guy came to deliver. He had been retracing his route since 3 am until he found everyone at home and could deliver their papers instead of just tossing them into our yards and having them buried in drifts. I wrote a letter to the editor in appreciation of that. That's dedication! Now we have several feet of snow to melt before we can think about planting. Today is nice and sunny and I love to play in the snow, so I'll just get some plants started in the basement. Blessings...

-- Epona (crystalepona2000@yahoo.com), March 11, 2001.

When I went out to feed the herd this morning I found six, maybe seven, new calves. My previous record was three. I say maybe seven because the calf was laying just inside a fence between me and my neighbor and his cattle were down in that area. Did look like one from my Angus bull though - he has a Bramvieh. As soon as it saw me approaching it ran down to the other end of the field where I had put out round bales. If it is his, it will find its way back home. Oh - five bulls and a heifer. Don't know what the seventh one is. It look like I will get most of my calves within 30 days, which ain't bad.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), March 11, 2001.

Things are looking up here on the farm. After a disappointing start (lost 4 ewes and probably 7 lambs to abortion disease) we've got seven new lambs in the barn. They are all healthy so far and seem to be doing well. Got 7 more ewes to lamb, but doesn't look like it will be today. I'm running out of pen space already.

It's sunny here today (Michigan) and I opened the doors to let the little tykes and their mom's catch a few rays. Just darted to the barn when I hear a baby crying, she crawled out of the gate and was exploring the world, much to her distress, didn't seem to like it much after she got outside. I put her back in with mom and all is well again.

Getting the itch to plant something too. Should be starting pepper and tomatoes this week, cabbage too. Will spring every get here, we're suppose to have 30-40 degree days and 20 degree nights for the week. Good syrup gathering I think. Maybe I'll go out and tap the big maple in the yard and see. Got to vacuum up the ladybugs and flies that are trying to commit suicide in the south windows. Have a good week everybody and stay safe.

-- Betsy K (betsyk@pathwaynet.com), March 11, 2001.

Hi, Well it isn't raining today so have spent some time in the garden, getting ready to plant. We are a little late getting started because of all the rain, but since we've had a drought here for the past three years, I can't complain. Everything is turning green, the grass and the trees too. The dogwoods are starting to bloom and I am planting some tomatoes in the cold frame. Hope all is well and congratulations to all on their newest arrivals. We had one too, a new grandson! So hope everyone has a good week, got to go outside in sunshine!

-- Cindy (Colawson@mindspring.com), March 11, 2001.

well monday started off kinda bad the wet weather undermined the corner pier of my back porch. shoulda had it fixed but you know how it is. ive got it all torn out and this morning about 630 am it looked rainey so i burnt it. out with the old and in with the new. now ill have a new summer kitchen and a new porch. hope by winter there coming the first of the week to frame it up and ill try to finish it. thats where it will take time and money. seems like when ive got time no money and vise verse. got the garden tilled befor it rained tho. but didnt get my onions out yet.Bob se.ks youall be good.

-- Bobco (bobco@hit.net), March 11, 2001.

Hello Cindy, We have tobacco, tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce seeds growing in the greenhouse. Onions are planted and the garlic wintered over and is coming up nicely. Rain is coming tomorrow and it is time to start planting tree seedlings. I guess I will plant the 450 I got from the dept of forestry in the rain. Sincerely, Ernest http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks

-- Ernest in the Ozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), March 11, 2001.

Hi Cindy, here in ohio one day is cold the next warmer,we hope to have spring lambs around april 9th,this will be our first lambing,we are trying to get yard work done on warmer days and hubby want's to side the house as we have been putting up with high bills and drafts for too long.We have ordered the seeds just need them delivered along with warm weather,hubby will try to get his potatoes planted on st.pattys day.God Bless and keep you.

-- julie (nelson3@bright.net), March 13, 2001.

I got done shaving, and came out the bathroom yesterday morning. My wife was gone, my two sons weren't in their beds, (6 a.m.), car wasn't there...everybody was GONE. "Have I been THAT grouchy, lately??", I wondered. Then I spotted the car out by the barn, and everybody standing in the pasture. When I got out there, there were two little white goats standing near their messy looking mama. Cool! We finally got LONG ears on one of them! Those FU MAN CHU goats produce lots of milk, but I always thought it would be nice if people that stopped to visit could actually identify our farm animals. Our old goats always remind me of YODA. The one baby goat was having trouble with his hind legs (kept collapsing), so my DW made little splints, and this morning he got right up. Doing better. Hurray! Oh, and the BEST news, they're both girls.

-- The Action Dude (theactiondude@yahoo.com), March 13, 2001.

Well, I know it's crazy after that monsoon rain storm yesterday in NW FL but I just planted two rows of watermelons. Plan on planting the whole garden spot in melons. This is the year my little farm is going to be in the black, Lord willing. Also planted tomatoes where the rabbits used to be caged over. Very rich soil! Put a few onions in and some squash. Gotta work on the driveway. That rain was a frog strangler! It washed out parts of the driveway down to the "hardpan"! Great to hear from you all. God is so-o-o GOOD!

-- Eve in FL (owenall@lwol.com), March 14, 2001.

Eve, you and I must be the insomniacs of the group. It's 12:45 a.m. and I'm usually sound asleep looong ago. But there is so much going on here right now. The snow is unending. Snow banks 7 feet high just where WE have plowed. Imagine what it's like where the town plows have gone. This morning I had to plow through the 2 foot ridges the town plow left. The poor guys were out in the middle of the night though, trying to keep up. I'm grateful for the old beat-up plow truck. It's a tank. Like Epona, our mail box is nothing more than a tiny door sticking out from a snowbank. Tomorrow I have to take pictures. They say it's a normal winter, but I haven't seen one this "normal" since I was a kid a long time ago.

The chickens think it's spring and are laying 10 eggs a day; many more than we can eat. We have decided who we are going to rent our old place to and are comfortable with the decision. I'm so tired of extremely young, unmarried children who want to play house. They come in with suggestions on how we can fix the place up for them ( never mind that they have no jobs and can't and won't pay the rent). "You should do this and that, and put in a satelite dish, etc., etc. And look how wonderful I am because I'm having a baby..." Poor children.

On the bright side, the new renters seem very nice, both have jobs and are not only literate, but polite and civilized, too. How lucky can you get? And when the sky is clear you can almost reach up and touch the stars. And there are no bugs! And I'm going to be a Grandma for the 5th time within 2 weeks. Life is good. Happy spring to all of you in the south who can actually see the ground. I'm just hoping it's still there- the ground, that is.

-- Peg in NW WI (wildwoodfarms@hushmail.com), March 14, 2001.

Oh my, Peg, I just can't imagine all that snow. I wouldn't do well up there, I just get too cold. I used to live up in the Mountains in Colorado, but even then, it wasn't as much snow as you have.

We've been getting rain some, and I will have to mow the yard this weekend, patches are getting up there. My bushes are showing leaves, little leaves now. I've let the outside woodstove go out for a few days at least, it's a little cool in the AM, 35 this morning, but it's OK inside the house. It's going to be 60 today. My back is sore from cleaning up all the garden rows and walkways, but it feels good to get those muscles back in shape. You stay warm up there.

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@hotmail.com), March 14, 2001.

Hi Cindy,, the winter continues on here in Western Montana,,we got more snow and snow-rain mix Sunday and on into early Monday. But, the temps are staying in 30s and 40s so the snow continues to melt slowly. Spring is persistant also, definitely showing signs everywhere. I got out and raked some of my "clear patches" of land,,it really felt good to be outside raking those leaves and such. I can't wait til I can get at it full blast. :-) ,Need that special exercise. Hang in there all those who got dumped on with snow again,,keep thinking "Spring"...Take care...

-- Patsy (cozyhollow-gal@care2.com), March 14, 2001.

Still a wintery mix here in Northern NY .I can feel spring fighting to come .I have plants started in side .I will be moving my older chicks to the greenhouse , new ones will be in on Thurs.My new calf is doing well and will go to auction today to see if they have pigs . {who am I kidding I'll come home with a calf}I have my new pup home and just love her to death .Still waiting for babies to be born here , probally will start in april.

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), March 14, 2001.

Help it's snowing again !

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), March 14, 2001.

Down side: Pop is recovering from pneumonia very slowly. It's so hard to see this normally vibrant man barely able to drag himself from bed to chair and back again. Next time maybe he'll listen when I tell him to go to the doc - fat chance!! Sis has been out of school for three days with strep throat now, also; so I'm trying to keep the two of them as far apart as possible - wearing myself out with kleenex and bottled water runs to opposite ends of the house!

Up side: Ryan (Sis's sweetie) will be home on leave 3/20 - 3/25 and I believe that we might be announcing an engagement at that time. They are so young, but they are both good kids and it is so much easier to be happy and supportive of their choice than to argue - not that it will do any good anyway, as Sis will soon be old enough to do what she wants anyway. We have had some good Mom/Daughter times looking at kitchen, bath and bed items at K-Mart, and I've caught her coveting some of my kitchen ware - all "old junk" from auctions; so perhaps we'll have a chance to spend some quality time nosing around the local auctions.

The weather is warming up at last - frost on my windshield this morning, then 60 degrees at noon - love this Illinois weather! We moved the chicken house closer to the shed so we can move the baby chicks out of the basement - hopefully soon!! I'm busy building the next section of my raised bed garden, will be picking up more boards tomorrow morning after work. I'm SO ready to garden, but sticking my fingers down joint deep in my garden beds convinced me that it will be a bit longer before I can tuck my seedlings in - BRRR!!

Hoping for sunshine tomorrow so that I can hang my clothes out, as it has been a long stretch of rain and clouds on my days off recently. I really should go out and re-do all the wires and tighten them up - my turnbuckles are already tightened to the max! I got out some of my spring jumpers and have worn them to work the past couple of nights - feels so good to get out of jeans and pants - and my ever-expanding waistline appreciates the extra room too!! Hopefully, it will start to decrease as I can get out in the yard and garden again! Although, If Unc and his buddy Harold keep inviting us down to the cabin for supper......I may need to buy a LARGER size! Chili, with Jelly doughnuts for dessert - just love "man grub"!! Took them down a few fresh eggs to enjoy with their breakfast - now I will probably have to post a guard on the hen house!

Well, off to don another baggy jumper and head for work again - all you folks have a wonderful week. And Patty - the guest room will be empty after the 25th if you need a break from the snow!!

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), March 14, 2001.

Went out to feed the herd yesterday morning and found one small heifer had a small calf with her. Bought her from my neighbor with intent to not even breed her until a couple of months from now, but she was an electric fence jumper so I just let her stay with the herd. She can't be more than about 18 months old. About like a 13- year-old girl having a baby. Very small bag, but then it is a small calf. Either she is going to raise it or she won't. Whatever you do, you will lose some of them.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), March 14, 2001.

Well Cindy with the weather the same here I won't get to plant any peas or potatoes this week either. I did set out some onion sets and hopefully they come up. I started some seeds in my greenhouse this week. I enjoy it sooo much I think I might have gotten carried away and planted too much. ha ha Has anyone out there got any tips on how to get rid of a darn chicken hawk? I tell ya it comes every day and has lunch here. I have lost around 5 chickens so far. Today I am in the mood to bake so I made 2loaves of white and 2loaves of wheat bread. I also made brownie pudding cake. If anyone wants the recipe I will post it just let me know. It is really rich and I usually serve ice cream over it. Everyone have a great day.

-- sara (tshoos@peoplepc.com), March 15, 2001.

Its warmed up a bit this week and we've had some rain. I started some seeds this afternoon in the basement under lights. Trying to get the extension cord free from the ice out by the driveay where it was forgotten was useless. hotwater didn't work. Trying to smash the ice enough to free the cord with a pry bar resulted in a couple of splits in the cord (my aim isn't the best). The ice should have melted under the heat of my cursing and swearing at it and my own stupidity. Bought a new cord today so I can run my grow light. waiting for a quote from a guy to build my barn this spring when things thaw. Might be more like July at this rate! :o)

-- Alison in Nova Scotia (aproteau@istar.ca), March 15, 2001.

Two new baby goats doing well, after 3 or 4 days. The weak rear legs on the one baby have strengthened up and today it's moving around pretty well. Tomatoes and peppers under plexiglass and florescent lights in the basement. (Nothing poking up yet). Getting more antsy to garden as the spring weather moves back in to South Jersey. No wonder they call it "The Garden State". We've all got this fever to grow stuff going on, here. I've got mole traps out catching moles. (saw 1 so far). Death to those little pests!!! They just cleared a building lot near my work, and parked about a cord of wood in front, by the road. I'll be loading all that oak into my truck by 5 P.M., this evening, (if nobody beats me to it). No time like the present to pick up next years heat supply. Enjoy, and have a twitterpated day.

-- Action Dude (theactiondude@yahoo.com), March 15, 2001.

Hiya Cindy,

After protecting my new kitchen garden area for a few monthes with plastic, I peeled some back and made two new beds, with two to go. Planted peas and spinach in one of the new beds. I've started lettuce and tomatoes indoors, as with a few other small plants. Things are up and doing well so far. I'll be getting new rabbits on Saturday, as the neighbor dogs got over my fence and into my hutches a few weeks back.

I hope everyone is doing well, and getting anough sun to keep going up north.

Blessings.

-- Marty (Mrs.Puck@Excite.com), March 16, 2001.

Still fighting the drought here (South Florida). Heard on the radio this morning they are gonna get tougher with the water restrictions. No car/boat washing or lawn watering except once a week now. It used to be odd or even days depending on your address. Lawns all around are parched and brown. Not much of a chance for rain yet from what they've been saying. I still haven't cleared my garden spot or even decided what to try to plant in it this year. Makes me sad to look at it so over grown with weeds etc. I did get a copy of that "Square Foot Gardening" by Mel Bartholomew that you all recommended. It's chock full of some great ideas that I can't wait to try. Main thing is getting the soil ready. From what I understand from some of the responses to other posts I've made here, I may have too much nitrogen in my soil. (Some plants grow tall but don't bear anything, others dont come up at all.) If I remember correctly I should add phosphate - Is that right? Marigolds I planted are not coming up, but the poppies and baby's breath (only seeds I had at the time that some company sent me for whatever reason), are coming up slowly. Good luck to each and every one of you in your Springtime endeavors. Keep the faith Spring will get here for you - eventually.

-- Greenthumbelina (sck8107@aol.com), March 16, 2001.

Hi Cindy It's been raining like crasy here to, but I did manage to plant potatoes and onions. Old tractor tires with compost and dirt work real well for onions. If you don't have any go by a tire repair shop they will generally give them away. For potatos use car tires with small amount of dirt put potatoes and cover with hay. These work great and lets you plant even when you can't get in the gardan.

-- Wynema Passmore (nemad_72039@yahoo.com), March 16, 2001.

Hi everyone! First time posting, and I read all of your letters with great interest. I live in South Florida (Orlando), and yes we are in a pretty bad drought, which is causing havoc for the firefighters who are trying to battle major forest fires. We are fortunate that we don't have to obey the ban on watering twice a week as we have a well. It is not illegal to water with well water anytime. We have less than a 1/4 of an acre, but we have 5 chickens, who are laying enough for 2 families! a dwarf nubian goat, who we want to have bred, but are having no luck in finding a male (any help?), and a large garden that is coming up with peppers, radishes, lettuce, green onions, garlic (planted last year), potatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, about 30 tomatoes plants, lemon & orange trees, blueberries, grapes, mulberries, pineapples, bananas, peach, and loquat. I'm sure I left a few plants out, but you get the idea. We also have a large flower garden with every color imaginable! It's a beautiful day today, and everything is getting a reprieve from the hot sun (cloudy). Great day for watering and enjoying the great outdoors. Take care everyone ­ hope to make this stop more often. Michele

-- Michele Bryant (micheleb@aol.com), March 17, 2001.