Chickens frost and a recyclable row cover

I put of moving the chickens Sunday due to weather. I did not want to put them down on soaked grass and the cooler night time temps. So I waited till this evening the grass was dry but they are calling for frost again tonight and I always worry about how they will handle the first night without a heat lamp. Kenny ray and I laid in the grass and watched them for about 30 minutes,they are

interesting to watch especially when they fight over a bug or a blade of grass. We have 3 Bronze turkey's in the pen with them as of tonight I have had no losses, knock on wood. This is the first year I tried to raise turkey's. My dad always told me they hard, so I am anxious to try. I had to cover my tomato plants last night as it came a frost and Kenny ray covered for me tonight I am glad I only had 3 out right now. I cabbage is looking good I have it under a row cover this and so far the rabbits have not ate it. I read on the deliberate agrarian a blog that I really like about growing cabbage and squash completely under the row cover, as it is suppose to keep the bugs away also. So I scrounged thru my collection of saved recyclable materials { my junk according Tari} and came up with everything I needed to put the system together. I will post photo in a day or two depending on time. Kenny Ray has a big Boyscout camp this weekend and I volunteered My enclosed trailer and agreed to tow all the gear.

On your mark get set go

I rushed home Friday night from work trying to beat the rain that was forecast to begin. I broke down and bought some tomato plants and some more cabbage plants and I wanted to get them in the ground. I know it is early and there is still a chance of frost for another good 3 weeks , the cabbage will be OK but I might have to cover the tomatoes but they are 3 nice plants about 30 inches tall and one is blooming if it does not frost I will have tomatoes in mid June to eat, as I refuse to pay 4 dollars for a flavorless foreign tomato. I can not believe how comfortable it has been this spring for garden work I have most of my garden in here at the house, usually I do not get nothing planted until end of May as my ground lays to wet to till. Here it is April 25 I have beets, turnips lettuce, onions carrots , spinach , radishes, Green beans cabbage and now tomatoes. I still plan for about 100 tomato plants yet as well as sweet corn, cucumbers , squash and with more beans. Most of it will be over in New Carlisle , me and my crew Kenny Ray and my nephews will start all that this week unless the weatherman is right, he hasn't yet this week been right the amount or time of rain. We plan of moving the chickens to grass Sunday after church all 40 looking good and starting to pick it up a notch in eating, all 3 turkeys gaining weight also still 0 losses.

Tari started helping me with my book this week I have done a lot of writing the last month , she is transferring my chicken scratch to the computer and editing what I have already typed myself.

I do have to keep reminding her not to take out all the briar out of the stories as it changes the feel of the story to much in my opinion. I have enjoyed her help this week.

I am what I am, the Appalachian American man

I want to apologize to the readers of my blogs for incorrect use of the literary word. I would also like to assure you that I am not the one teaching English and grammar to Kenny Ray, that job is done by my wife and sister, God help them both as he tends to be a bit stubborn { just like his mother}. When I start writing my fingers some time write faster than I think or I think faster than I type. I am not sure which it is, as I type the hunt and peck method with two fingers though not one. I would like to tell you that I will improve but I can not. One of the biggest complements I have received, is that I write like I talk and I like that. I am very flattered

at the number of people that have told me how much they enjoy reading what I have to say. I have spent more time writing this little entry than I have any other trying to be correct. I have concluded this is not me. I am not a correct person, politically or personally. So in closing I take back the above apology and will go back to being just an old Appalachian American. As Popeye

would say " I am what I am"

Sore muscles and dry weather

Kenny Ray woke up very sore in his arms and legs this morning. He tried to run the rototiller thru the rest of my garden area at home, he has never been able to handle in the past. He did give it a good effort. My ground has a lot of clay in it and it can be a chore it will even wear me out. I will have to go over again as he did not get it deep enough. The weather here in Dayton as been very dry for this time of year and I am about a month ahead on getting the garden in. Although I fear this summer is going to be hot and dry. I have been avoiding the temptation of setting some tomato plants, I might take a chance on 1 or 2 this weekend. I have been trying to work out away to get my tractor from the farm up to the ground I use in New Carlisle. The trailer I have used in the past belonged to a friend of mine, He sold it as he was having some finance problems. I hate to buy one as I only need 2 or 3 times a year and I already have storage problems for my equipment.
chicken update - all still happy and getting fat

Why do you home school

I am often asked why we home school Kenny Ray. And I tell them that we teach from a christian point of view, as well as wanting to be in control of what he is taught. When we first decided to do so was apprehensive, it was not about the quality of education that I was concerned about it was his development socially that concerned me. As I looked into it I was shocked to learn how many families were doing it. It has been one of the best decisions Tari and I ever made. It has been difficult at times and the thing that I feared most has never been a problem. In fact I think his social skills are better for it as his self esteem is very good. A couple of the parents in his boy scout troop could not believe that he was home schooled as he his very out going and confident as are his cousins. Tari has done a good job and when we need help my sister Lisa has a teaching degree is always there. It's kind of weird as I listen to other parents complain I hope my child doe's not get Mr. or Mrs. so and so next year they are a mean teacher or they complain that their child is failing this or that class. When Kenny Ray has a problem understanding a concept we can spend a day or week until he doe's understand. It is amazing at some of the answer's that I hear from other parents, but the one that really stands out in my mind was a parent said I could not stand to be with my child all day I felt really sorry for that person. It is always on my mind as how can I spend more time with my son.I cherish every moment, and I am sad to think

that my time with him is almost over it has gone by so fast. As a parent we owe it to our children to teach them to take care of themselves and their families and be kind to others.

Dad have you read your Bible?

In the last couple of weeks I been a little down and irritable and when I get this way my family
tries to tip toe around me. At times I feel like the hole world is on my shoulder's and that I have so much to do that it will never get done. I had some problems with my old truck the other night while Kenny Ray was helping me put my tools away he asked me a question now I am use to him asking questions, but this question hit me like a bullet between the eyes. He said Dad " have you read your bible in the last couple days? And the answer was no son I have not had time. He said dad you will feel better if you read it and he went and got it for me. He broke my heart with his words.
I told a friend that I work with about it and how hard it was trying to change and doing everything right. And he told me that I was not going to do everything right and that it was the adversary telling me I was not good enough and to why bother living the way God wants it, that its to hard. That I need to listen To Kenny Ray and just read the word. It just that simple. So I put the bible back in my truck to read while I am at dinner.

Kenny Ray the man child

Our next door neighbor stopped Tari yesterday to tell her a great a boy we had. They always have Kenny Ray get their mail and newspaper when they go out of town. Well she has noticed that he also puts the trash out for the widow across the street and puts her trash can after it has been picked up. That he always cuts the grass and works with me in the garden and is responsible for keeping firewood in the house and he tries to split sometimes. I do have to admit that he is a good boy but not everything he does is always without effort from his mother and me. My mother tells me that sometimes I expect to much from him as he is only 12 years old,
And I know she is right. But I know what he is capable of since he was 3 years old he has helped me , when I was building the cabin he drove nails, got tools and was an extra set of hands.We spent so much time together just me and him working that when he was 8 I taught him to drive my truck just in case I got hurt he could go for help. This past spring he learned to drive the tractor and he plowed and disced the garden for me. So you see he is very capable and yet at time he drives me crazy he has to be reminded to take out the trash and to brush his teeth. I know these are typical teenage traits it just annoys me sometimes. And I have to step back and remember even though he is as tall and as strong as a man he is still my little boy. I think every father wants his son to be a better man than he is.

School lessons and onion plants

I was finally able to get some of my garden in the ground last night. Although the weather has been good most of my ground has a lot of clay in it and tends to hold a lot of moisture, which is good when it's dry but it makes spring planting tough. Usually I plant some the early stuff down at the farm but this year I am just going to be planting in the backyard and over at the ground I
use over by the shop where I work and keep my chickens. It is much easier for me to take care
of and requires much less fuel there by reducing my cost. They are calling for thunder storms
here this afternoon so I decided to try and till last , it was a little wet but I was able to do enough
to plant a 100 onions plants and plant some lettuce radish's and turnips. If it's not raining tonight
I will set some cabbage plants and plant some spinach. I should say Kenny Ray planted the onion's and will set the cabbage , as he will do more of the work this year as I plan on being the supervisor as he has to learn how to do it all. He has always helped me but real school begins this year, he can take care of the chickens as good or better than me. But he enjoys that and he loves driving the tractor and the plowing and discing part not so much the planting and weeding part.
This is one of the things I like about homeschooling I get to teach science, math in a practical real
life setting and it is year round school. He learns one of life's most needed skills responsibility and the ability to take care of himself and family and dependent on no one but God.
As of this morning we have lost no chicks or turkey poults.

First batch of chickens and turkeys and no bees

Friday night Kenny Ray and I went to Germantown Ohio, about 45 minutes from the house to pick up our first batch of broilers for the year 40 of them. I like to get them there as they are .98

cents cheaper per bird plus no shipping. While we were there the man had also just received some turkey poults so I told Kenny Ray to pick him out 3 turkey's. Will see what happens my Dad always said they were hard to raise. It frosted here Friday night and they all came thru ok.

I usually do not start them this early but the weather has been so nice and warm, although a little wet I thought I might get an extra batch in this year. I do have an order placed for some Freedom Rangers for May 12. I am a little nervous this year as I have some new neighbors, I hope they do not complain even though I move the chicks in about 15 days to another piece of ground,

It could be a problem. I checked my other bee hives today at the farm and it's now official i lost all 3 hives that I had left. it was a hard winter. Have not made up mind if I will replace or not.

A spring work and play day

What a beautiful day! Kenny Ray and I went down to the farm for the day. The grass needed cut

as it was starting to look like a widow woman lived there as my dad used to say. My apple trees that I ordered came in last Wednesday and had to be planted. I got them from Fedco Seeds out of Maine. We planted a Fireside and a Macintosh right where dad wanted to but we never seem to get it done, so me and the little boy got it done today. About 3 years ago Kenny Ray and dad

planted 4 Cleveland pears in front of the cabin they are still alive and looking good despite an attempt by a Buck this past fall who used one as a rubbing post for his antlers. I went for a walk in the woods and along the fence, kind of a combination walk as I was also looking for Morels mushrooms, no mushrooms but did find plenty of May apple and startle a big ole Gobbler.Every time I find May apple in the spring I get a chuckle I always kidded Dad and Uncle Ken about getting back in the May apple business, they used to dig the root as kids and sell it to My great Grandfather on my mom's side for a little pocket money. They would sell the root after it dried, you would have to dig a truck load for a dollar today.My farm is about an hour and 10 minutes southeast of my home in the city amazes me how much farther along spring is there. The apple and peach trees on the farm are in full bloom and leafed out and in my city home the same type trees are just in bud stage at least a week or a week and a half behind. Kenny Ray and I went to visit my Uncle Ken this afternoon, he will be 71 in May. He still cuts firewood, although he does not garden or hunt much anymore as he doe's not see very well, I miss all those day's that we hunted together, for almost 20 years we hunted every Saturday through squirrel , rabbit and deer season. My farm I got from him and he bought it in 1968 I believe. Kenny ray and I got a sandwich and started back up the hill to the farm , we swung by the graveyard to visit my Dad

for a few minutes as I always stop and talk for a couple of minutes every trip down. This was his favorite time of year, life springing up everywhere and every thing turning green. Kenny Ray and I finally got back up to the farm and we sat down at the picnic table and had dinner, our conversation was about things that had to be done around the farm , but mostly he kept telling how he was going to kick my butt fishing. We finished dinner and went fishing and as he predicted he beat me 4 fish to 3 he caught one nice channel cat about 4lbs. It was a great day

for work and play, and as usual it ended much to soon and we had to head home