Spring cleaning has a whole new meaning on a farm. The barns, which have be frozen all winter, all need to be cleaned, the yard somehow accumulates six months of debris including dog bones, sticks, and twine, lots of twine. Bits of tin from the dilapidated tin roof and plastic from torn tarps are part of the debris. But our dump is only open for half a day on Tuesday, the wrong half for me (the morning) and Saturday. It is difficult to coordinate those times when there is so much to do.
The majority of the debris has now been picked up and piled, but needs to be sorted and bagged to get to the dump in several loads. The wire has to be separated from the twine and general yard trash. In past years much of it has been burned but this year there is a fire ban on. We certainly do not want another scene like Fort McMurray, so no burning here.
In addition to cleaning the yard, and the barns, the animals need to be moved to summer residences. The sheep and goats were moved a few weeks ago and the rabbits were moved over the past days. The duck and goose house needs to be lifted and moved as well as the summer coop and the chicken coop needs to be cleaned yet again.
The goat barn was cleaned this morning and the pen raked but a shower came as I was clearing it out and the sheep and goats stampeded into the yard so that was not quite finished. That chore is ongoing.
The best part is the gardening. I have been here for 5 years and have not made gardens at my house. I love flowers, especially roses. I have planted roses every year and lost most of them to the winter. Last year I learned how to cover the roses to winter them over, finally, so I bought a few rose bushes and clematis and some shrubs with berries (blackberry and blueberry) and created a flower bed with garlic and onions. Every flower bed or garden has to be well fenced for the dogs, birds and now the rabbits. They are everywhere. Little ones have started to pop out of burrows too. I have enlisted the services of my friend to bring his 22 and then to butcher them for me, before this becomes the Fat Rabbit Farm.
I meant to plant the main garden created last year, a strawbale permaculture style one with swales to collect rainwater between the beds. But a thunderstorm came and I had to go to Cold Lake anyhow. The rain was incredible there and it has been raining at home for a good deal of the evening too. We need that, though my gardening did not go beyond the yard tonight. There are people who plant in the rain and moonlight . I usually would except the mosquitos are too bad to do that here.
So, some of the flower/vegetable garden is planted and perennial bed too. They are fenced off quite well, but I think the bunnies can get through. I may have to put netting on the fence if that is the case.
My little house will be painted this summer, pink and white, with pink window boxes and the roses should be in full bloom by then. Rose Bloom Cottage. Wait and see.
The majority of the debris has now been picked up and piled, but needs to be sorted and bagged to get to the dump in several loads. The wire has to be separated from the twine and general yard trash. In past years much of it has been burned but this year there is a fire ban on. We certainly do not want another scene like Fort McMurray, so no burning here.
In addition to cleaning the yard, and the barns, the animals need to be moved to summer residences. The sheep and goats were moved a few weeks ago and the rabbits were moved over the past days. The duck and goose house needs to be lifted and moved as well as the summer coop and the chicken coop needs to be cleaned yet again.
The goat barn was cleaned this morning and the pen raked but a shower came as I was clearing it out and the sheep and goats stampeded into the yard so that was not quite finished. That chore is ongoing.
The best part is the gardening. I have been here for 5 years and have not made gardens at my house. I love flowers, especially roses. I have planted roses every year and lost most of them to the winter. Last year I learned how to cover the roses to winter them over, finally, so I bought a few rose bushes and clematis and some shrubs with berries (blackberry and blueberry) and created a flower bed with garlic and onions. Every flower bed or garden has to be well fenced for the dogs, birds and now the rabbits. They are everywhere. Little ones have started to pop out of burrows too. I have enlisted the services of my friend to bring his 22 and then to butcher them for me, before this becomes the Fat Rabbit Farm.
I meant to plant the main garden created last year, a strawbale permaculture style one with swales to collect rainwater between the beds. But a thunderstorm came and I had to go to Cold Lake anyhow. The rain was incredible there and it has been raining at home for a good deal of the evening too. We need that, though my gardening did not go beyond the yard tonight. There are people who plant in the rain and moonlight . I usually would except the mosquitos are too bad to do that here.
So, some of the flower/vegetable garden is planted and perennial bed too. They are fenced off quite well, but I think the bunnies can get through. I may have to put netting on the fence if that is the case.
My little house will be painted this summer, pink and white, with pink window boxes and the roses should be in full bloom by then. Rose Bloom Cottage. Wait and see.
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