Trying to take care of my little piece of the planet
Chickens are fun to watch (if you have the time) because they are very curious creatures, especially the youngsters. I shot this short piece of edited video last evening at sunset. We had introduced four new Isa Brown pullets, about eight weeks old into the flock, by placing them in the coop the night before. [...]
Posted on April 26th, 2012 by jack-of-all-thumbs
Filed under: Meat, Eggs, etc. | No Comments »
Yeah, I know. Cultural overload to channel Kirk and Kangaroo in the same sentence, but it fits the bill. All crazy on the western front. Work is insanely busy, spring is a month early. We have two new ‘rescue’ dogs, and my wife is squeezing ten years worth of out-of-town travel into six months. So, [...]
Posted on April 16th, 2012 by jack-of-all-thumbs
Filed under: Gardening | 4 Comments »
Our little flock is down to six hens (Delawares and Jersey Giants), so it’s time to ramp back up. Thanks to a local business, Pittsboro Feed, who offers a variety of baby poultry during weekends in the spring, we have added four Hamburg pullets, and four Barred Plymouth Rock pullets. For a break from my [...]
Posted on March 26th, 2012 by jack-of-all-thumbs
Filed under: Meat, Eggs, etc. | 1 Comment »
Crazy warm late winter here in central NC. It resulted in our fruit trees making it through without a late hard frost whackin’ the blossoms, as often happens. Below is a bit of video of the variety of pollinators busy on one of the plum trees. That clip merges in to another, showing what is [...]
Posted on March 20th, 2012 by jack-of-all-thumbs
Filed under: Gardening, Nature Diary | 4 Comments »
Yesterday, was the first full day with a fire in the woodstove, with the floor filled with re-located houseplants and the chairs full of cats, both seeking respite from the chilly wind. The counter was also filled with a premature pepper harvest, since there’s no good way to convince these cold-sensitive plants not to call [...]
Posted on October 30th, 2011 by jack-of-all-thumbs
Filed under: Gardening, Rants and Musings | 2 Comments »
For years we’ve (thanks to my wife) managed to grow our own greens into the early winter, using some wire hoops over our raised beds. But it’s really difficult to cover and uncover each day, when you leave home before sunrise and get home after sunset. So we’re usually successful into early winter, but then [...]
Posted on October 23rd, 2011 by jack-of-all-thumbs
Filed under: Gardening, Rants and Musings | 4 Comments »
Finally got an inch and a half of much-needed rain. The cisterns are now full, and the flowers are much happier.
Posted on July 10th, 2011 by jack-of-all-thumbs
Filed under: Gardening, Rainwater Collection | 1 Comment »
Gave my last lecture this morning; fourth in five days, which taxes my brain and my free time. So, easing back in with a short piece of film I took yesterday, showing typical honeybee behavior on a hot summer evening.
Posted on June 24th, 2011 by jack-of-all-thumbs
Filed under: Meat, Eggs, etc. | 2 Comments »
Just finished reviewing my notes for tomorrow’s lectures and needed to switch gears before bedtime. We have a pretty cocky crop of crows (pardon the pun) who are used to having the run of the garden orchard. So when I saw this year’s blackberries get close to ripe, I was saddened by the thought that [...]
Posted on June 8th, 2011 by jack-of-all-thumbs
Filed under: Gardening | 3 Comments »
Don’t know why I tried to say this in German, other than I like the sound of the word “uber”. Sorry I wasn’t home for the blessed event. Probably audible for a mile or two.
Posted on February 15th, 2011 by jack-of-all-thumbs
Filed under: Meat, Eggs, etc. | 6 Comments »