Lemon tree experiment

We found a dwarf lemon tree at the local Home Depot. Both of us decided this would be a neat addition to the garden so were giving it a try. It even had lemons already on it ! They are more sweet than store bought lemons. I call this the lemon tree experiment because the hardiness is to 30 degrees. I am hoping it will thrive here but I know our temperatures do dip below 30 occasionally. This is a drought tolerant plant that grows 4-8' tall and 4-8ft wide. Currently this lemon tree is about 2' tall. I have the perfect place on my little hillside that gets the required 6+ hours of sun and tends to be an area that dries out quickly in the summer.  I am excited to see the results.

Raised bed vegetable garden; getting started

This season I have added some nylon twine to my raised beds for my peas and green beans. My dad and I strung this from the containers to the chain link fence to help guide them up vertically leaving the rest of the bed for more veggies. The twine is wrapped around screws drilled in the wooden raised bed and then strung around the fencing. Last year I used cotton like twine and it only made it one season. So hopefully this will give me at least 2 seasons. I used twine versus letting the beans grow on the chain link because this allows me to pick both sides and helps reduce the vines from getting burned in the summer when the metal fence heats up from the sun.

Here is a photo of the twine and the containers prior to planting.

Last weekend I was able to work the beds. I transplanted my green bean starts along the back of the bed to grow up the twine. I planted two rows. Last year I had peas planted in this first bed so I swapped beans into the first bed because beans do not like to grow where beans were previously grown.  In the front right are leeks that are still going strong from last year.

In the second raised bed I planted cauliflower in the first section. This is another plant that likes rotation. Last year I had broccoli in the very first container and since cauliflower and broccoli are in the cabbage family they should not be replanted in the same spot each year to help reduce disease and pest issues. In the second section I have leeks from last season and celery. Behind them are the green beans that will grow up the twine, this maximizes my space for veggies.

In the second section I planted more celery with the walla walla sweet onions still going from last season. The companion planting, planting celery next to onion, will help repel pests from the celery because onions naturally repel pests. Behind them I have pea seeds sowed directly into the soil. A few are just starting to poke their heads out.

Watering these beds will be from the soaker hoses I have strung along the entire garden. I plan to add a rain barrel later to also assist with watering. More to come.

Container Gardening

Container gardening is great for those who have small spaces to work with. I am trying my hand at it this season with some plastic containers I picked up at Goodwill for cheap. Here's how I have it set up.

1. Find a container large enough for the intended crop. This container was  $5 deal at Goodwill.

2. Drill holes for drainage. I used a drill to get pencil sized holes (1/4inch bit) in the bottom.

3. Fill with dirt. I went to the local bark and dirt place, Clackamas Landscape and Supply.  For $15.00 I got nearly 4 of these containers filled! A much better deal than buying by the bag which would have cost me at least $30.00. I really like this place because you can fill your own containers if you don't have a truck and they sell it by the 5 gallon bucket or by tractor scoops. I used the 4way garden soil. I used this soil last year and my plants LOVE it.

4. Plant ! I planted broccoli in my container and I plan to do containers with corn, and potatoes.

Chickens & Ducks finally moved into their coop today

Tim moved the flock out to their finished chicken coop today! They absolutely love it. The chickens were busy discovering worms in the soil and the ducks enjoyed the grass. Introducing them to the coop was an interesting task. The chickens were introduced to the coop and when placed in, they ran right back out. The ducks pretty much dive bombed out not so gracefully to the ground. But by night fall the chickens moved in to the house with no problem and the ducks were assisted in for the night. More updates to come... here's some pics

The flock enjoying their new home

Swedie, Duckie, Roxie and Buffy

Duckie

Roxie

The chicken coop with extended ladder

More to come: Gardening... I am growing grapes, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, columnar apples, boysenberries, and getting my veggie garden ready for spring. I have some starts in the process of  being hardened off. Here a few photos of how things are looking now. More tips ideas to come.

Spring daffodils finally in bloom

Raspberries and grapes on their new trellis. Raspberries are starting to bud out already.

Veggie garden in the works

Why I'm becoming an urban chicken & duck farmer:

1. Higher in Nutrients ! Fresh eggs from your back yard or even farmers market are higher in nutrients and lower in cholesterol. I am feeding my chicks Layena Omega 3 feed to help increase my omega 3's even more in the eggs we'll get. 

2. Fresh eggs! Store bought eggs can be 30 days old by the time they get to the store !! I don't want harmful chemicals used to clean or de-stain the shells that I eat. The natural bloom (coating on the shell from the chicken when laid) protects the eggs from bacteria naturally and increases shelf life for storage. With this being said, you need to be careful how you wash your eggs. Since the eggshell is porous bacteria like e-coli can contaminate through those pours. Fresh eggs do not need to be washed. I know, shocking right ?! But seriously they don't, unless there's poop or blood on them. Washing eggs can actually push e-coli, if there's any, into the egg itself due to the pours opening up during washing. When your eggs come from your coop or local farmers market they are much more cleaner than the commercial environments and contamination is far far less due to much better living conditions. All eggs sold at the store are washed even the organic eggs and the USDA regulations regarding chemicals used to wash or sanitize eggs is vague. If you must wash your eggs wash them after they have been refrigerated for a while to the pours are smaller and less risk to get e-coli in your eggs. Eat safe, buy local :)

3. Cost. Start up cost is obviously more than purchasing eggs at the local grocery store, but the accessibility and health benefits pay off for me. I will have access to fresh eggs whenever I need them. I will have farmers market eggs that usually sell at $5-6 dollars per dozen for free. I will also have duck eggs that are going for $8.00 a dozen here locally.

4. They make great pets! My duck Duckie (the yellow one pictured above) is our new guard duck. She is the guarder of our flock and lets me know if there is a stranger around, if they need water or food, if there is a chicken away from the flock and so on. The chickens are less maintenance than a cat. The ducks are a little messier than the chickens but still pretty low maintenance. They also are getting along nicely with our two big dogs. Of course Duckie is boss though, the dogs respect that !

While the chicks are adorable and the coop takes a little work to get together the long term benefits will far outweigh the cost. 

Ducks first swim! 

Swedie and Duckie experiencing their first swim in the bath.

Chickens & Ducks

My most recent addition to being more self sustainable and eating more healthy is adding some chicks & ducks for eggs! Wilco & Costal farms still have some in stock if your thinking about raising some of your own. Mine are about 6 weeks old now and covered in their feathers. I have just taken away their heat lamp and helping them acclimate to the outside weather by keeping them in the garage. Their chicken coop is just about done. We have been building one in the backyard for the last few weeks. Our area has lots of raccoons and neighborhood cats so we made sure to make it raccoon and cat proof. Here's some pics..  

 

Roxie at a few days old

Back left: Roxie, Mom's chick, Swedie. Front: Duckie, Buffy

Dad helping build the chicken coop

Dad

Duckie now ! 6 weeks old

Left to right: Buffy, Roxie, Mary, Swedie

Roxie @ 6 weeks

Chicken coop currently. Tim added a door that I can reach in easily to get our eggs :)