just to say howdy! lol!

The kids and I have been keeping busy these days, but things are slowing
some now. The kids are all doing well, with the baby growing like a
weed...lol!

Tripled the size of our garden this year, we did. Got two main garden
plots, one with 30 rows stretched out lengthwise across 4 acres, and one
smaller one about 1/2 a acre. Got things planted and most are starting
to come up well.

The sweet corn has already grown to average about 2ft high. Cuke plants,
yellow & green squash, and butter beans are a popping up left and right,
all doing well, promising to produce even more than last year. Various
types of peas are showing, but only about 3-4inches high right now.
Tomatoes & peppers, both hot & sweet, are all getting along fine. Went
all out with the tomatoes this year, planting more than ever. Hope to
have lots to put up this summer/fall. Watermelons are a showing as well.
Don't usually have much luck with them here, so keep ya fingers crossed
for me there...lol! Over wintered the collard plants, all have turned to
male plants now, and have brought the most beautiful butterflies out for
a visit.

Rose bushes are full of blooms, as are the hydrangea, some of the lilies
and glads. Weirdest thing happened earlier this year...had a crocus pop
up just outside the flower bed! Always wanted some crocus, but never
planted any, so don't have a clue where it came from, but thankful for
it nonetheless!

Enough of my rambling I guess, the baby's waking up... So, how's
everyone else's gardens a doing?

~Rae

"rachael simpson" writes:

just to say howdy! lol!

The kids and I have been keeping busy these days, but things are slowing
some now. The kids are all doing well, with the baby growing like a
weed...lol!

Tripled the size of our garden this year, we did. Got two main garden
plots, one with 30 rows stretched out lengthwise across 4 acres, and one
smaller one about 1/2 a acre. Got things planted and most are starting to
come up well.

The sweet corn has already grown to average about 2ft high. Cuke plants,
yellow & green squash, and butter beans are a popping up left and right,
all doing well, promising to produce even more than last year. Various
types of peas are showing, but only about 3-4inches high right now.
Tomatoes & peppers, both hot & sweet, are all getting along fine. Went all
out with the tomatoes this year, planting more than ever. Hope to have
lots to put up this summer/fall. Watermelons are a showing as well. Don't
usually have much luck with them here, so keep ya fingers crossed for me
there...lol! Over wintered the collard plants, all have turned to male
plants now, and have brought the most beautiful butterflies out for a
visit.

Rose bushes are full of blooms, as are the hydrangea, some of the lilies
and glads. Weirdest thing happened earlier this year...had a crocus pop up
just outside the flower bed! Always wanted some crocus, but never planted
any, so don't have a clue where it came from, but thankful for it
nonetheless!

Enough of my rambling I guess, the baby's waking up... So, how's everyone
else's gardens a doing?



Nice. 4 1/2 acres of garden is more of a farm... you must have helpers, and
what do you do with so much crop, do you operate a roadside stand and/or do
you sell to local markets. How about some pictures.

On May 13, 6:09 am, rachael simpson
wrote:
just to say howdy! lol!

The kids and I have been keeping busy these days, but things are slowing
some now. snipped

Enough of my rambling I guess, the baby's waking up... So, how's
everyone else's gardens a doing?

~Rae

Hi Rae
Good to hear everything is well with you. Sounds like you are managing
to keep
busy!
I have been busy trying to get my garden ready for a garden tour on
Saturday.
It's sure a good way to get things accomplished that I sometimes put
off.

The veg garden is small, just for 2 people. I am not into that
"putting stuff up"
business.......If I could do it in December, maybe. LOL

Nice to hear from you, keep in touch.

Emilie
NorCal
busi

brooklyn1 wrote:
"rachael simpson" writes:
*snipped*



Nice. 4 1/2 acres of garden is more of a farm... you must have helpers, and
what do you do with so much crop, do you operate a roadside stand and/or do
you sell to local markets. How about some pictures.



well, most that know me, know we farm...lol! the only helpers are family
and we share our garden crop with friends and family, after I'm done
with putting up what we need for the winter.

mleblanca wrote:
On May 13, 6:09 am, rachael simpson
wrote:
snipped


Hi Rae
Good to hear everything is well with you. Sounds like you are managing
to keep
busy!
I have been busy trying to get my garden ready for a garden tour on
Saturday.
It's sure a good way to get things accomplished that I sometimes put
off.

The veg garden is small, just for 2 people. I am not into that
"putting stuff up"
business.......If I could do it in December, maybe. LOL

Nice to hear from you, keep in touch.

Emilie
NorCal
busi


Hey Emilie!

Glad to see an old friend answer...lol! You know, some days, I don't
believe "busy" would be the word for it, lol! I love canning veggies,
making pickles, etc...that's actually fun for me. And it's something I
can incorporate the oldest two in by giving them small tasks to help
them learn this way of life and it's values. It also keeps them busy and
out of too much mischief while I work! lol!

A garden tour, eh? Good for you! I really know what you mean about
putting stuff off...lol!

Thanks for speaking and glad to know you seem to be doing well also,
I've noticed that you have kinda become a lurker like me...lol!

~Rae

"rachael simpson" wrote
brooklyn1 wrote:
"rachael simpson" writes:

Nice. 4 1/2 acres of garden is more of a farm... you must have helpers,
and what do you do with so much crop, do you operate a roadside stand
and/or do you sell to local markets. How about some pictures.

well, most that know me, know we farm...lol! the only helpers are family
and we share our garden crop with friends and family, after I'm done with
putting up what we need for the winter.

That's still a huge amount of veggies, you must have like fifty families of
relatives and friends. I have only a 50' X 50' garden plot and there's no
way I can use all that grows, can barely give away all the extras, and I
don't make any attempt to grow a lot per sq foot, in fact the past three
years I donated about 1/3 of my garden to blueberry bushes and still as each
veggie comes in it's a bonanza. My friend down the road has a 2 acre garden
and he is able to supply all the small grocery/convenience stores, B & Bs,
restaurants, etc. around here. I sure would like to see pictures of your
operation, for a home garden 4 1/2 acres must be really something to see...
please?

And I know very well what 4 1/2 acres is, my back yard is 5 acres of lawn,
takes a good part of two days to mow, I'd hate to think how much work it
would be to tend to it in crops, would take like six families of illegals.
Yesterday for the first time this season it dried out enough that I was able
to mow my 4 acre back field for the first time, used to be a hay field and
it was already in seed, that takes a full day's labor every week just to mow
and keep the forest from growing back.

Gotta start somewhe
http://i44.tinypic.com/110j82e.jpg
Keep going:
http://i42.tinypic.com/34pxerl.jpg
Almost:
http://i41.tinypic.com/2lvb693.jpg
Job well done:
http://i42.tinypic.com/de9x6t.jpg
Tenants:
http://i42.tinypic.com/aw9wdx.jpg
Hummers are back:
http://i41.tinypic.com/x5qjvn.jpg

I planned to start string trimming today but it looks like rain... I sure
hope not as I plan to till my veggie garden this weekend and I need it to
dry out.

brooklyn1 wrote:


And I know very well what 4 1/2 acres is, my back yard is 5 acres of lawn,
takes a good part of two days to mow, I'd hate to think how much work it
would be to tend to it in crops, would take like six families of illegals.
Yesterday for the first time this season it dried out enough that I was able
to mow my 4 acre back field for the first time, used to be a hay field and
it was already in seed, that takes a full day's labor every week just to mow
and keep the forest from growing back.

We mow 6 acres every week and it has 31 hollies, and 42 trees to mow
around and we mow it using 2 mowers in about 2 hours and 15 minutes. We
both use zero turn radius 5 ft mowers. We used to use a tractor with a
mower behind and it took a lot longer.

--
Sheila
http://swdalton.com

brooklyn1 wrote:


And I know very well what 4 1/2 acres is, my back yard is 5 acres of lawn,
takes a good part of two days to mow, I'd hate to think how much work it
would be to tend to it in crops, would take like six families of illegals.
Yesterday for the first time this season it dried out enough that I was able
to mow my 4 acre back field for the first time, used to be a hay field and
it was already in seed, that takes a full day's labor every week just to mow
and keep the forest from growing back.

Gotta start somewhe
http://i44.tinypic.com/110j82e.jpg
Keep going:
http://i42.tinypic.com/34pxerl.jpg
Almost:
http://i41.tinypic.com/2lvb693.jpg
Job well done:
http://i42.tinypic.com/de9x6t.jpg
Tenants:
http://i42.tinypic.com/aw9wdx.jpg
Hummers are back:
http://i41.tinypic.com/x5qjvn.jpg

I planned to start string trimming today but it looks like rain... I sure
hope not as I plan to till my veggie garden this weekend and I need it to
dry out.




You have a very nice view off your back deck and no weeds.


--
Sheila
http://swdalton.com

"Sheila" wrote in message
.. .
brooklyn1 wrote:


And I know very well what 4 1/2 acres is, my back yard is 5 acres of
lawn, takes a good part of two days to mow, I'd hate to think how much
work it would be to tend to it in crops, would take like six families of
illegals. Yesterday for the first time this season it dried out enough
that I was able to mow my 4 acre back field for the first time, used to
be a hay field and it was already in seed, that takes a full day's labor
every week just to mow and keep the forest from growing back.

Gotta start somewhe
http://i44.tinypic.com/110j82e.jpg
Keep going:
http://i42.tinypic.com/34pxerl.jpg
Almost:
http://i41.tinypic.com/2lvb693.jpg
Job well done:
http://i42.tinypic.com/de9x6t.jpg
Tenants:
http://i42.tinypic.com/aw9wdx.jpg
Hummers are back:
http://i41.tinypic.com/x5qjvn.jpg

I planned to start string trimming today but it looks like rain... I sure
hope not as I plan to till my veggie garden this weekend and I need it to
dry out.




You have a very nice view off your back deck and no weeds.


Actually it's all weeds, much is mixed hay but it's green and at a distance
it looks like well manicured lawn grass.

"Sheila" wrote in message
.. .
brooklyn1 wrote:


And I know very well what 4 1/2 acres is, my back yard is 5 acres of
lawn, takes a good part of two days to mow, I'd hate to think how much
work it would be to tend to it in crops, would take like six families of
illegals. Yesterday for the first time this season it dried out enough
that I was able to mow my 4 acre back field for the first time, used to
be a hay field and it was already in seed, that takes a full day's labor
every week just to mow and keep the forest from growing back.

We mow 6 acres every week and it has 31 hollies, and 42 trees to mow
around and we mow it using 2 mowers in about 2 hours and 15 minutes. We
both use zero turn radius 5 ft mowers. We used to use a tractor with a
mower behind and it took a lot longer.


Well, two mowers going at the same time are going to be twice as fast as one
tractor. I have a seven foot rear finishing mower on my larger tractor and
a five foot belly mower on my smaller tractor. I mow a little more than ten
acres... I never timed myself as I mow in sections and how long it takes
depends a lot on the weather, wet ground takes longer as I need to go slower
and when it rains often the grass keeps growing but I can't mow, and tall
grass takes a lot longer to mow, often I need to mow the same section twice
at different heights... once the hot dry summer weather arrives I find it
much easier to keep up, but spring is always a guessing game. Oh, post
pictures.

brooklyn1 wrote:
"Sheila" wrote in message
.. .
brooklyn1 wrote:

And I know very well what 4 1/2 acres is, my back yard is 5 acres of
lawn, takes a good part of two days to mow, I'd hate to think how much
work it would be to tend to it in crops, would take like six families of
illegals. Yesterday for the first time this season it dried out enough
that I was able to mow my 4 acre back field for the first time, used to
be a hay field and it was already in seed, that takes a full day's labor
every week just to mow and keep the forest from growing back.
We mow 6 acres every week and it has 31 hollies, and 42 trees to mow
around and we mow it using 2 mowers in about 2 hours and 15 minutes. We
both use zero turn radius 5 ft mowers. We used to use a tractor with a
mower behind and it took a lot longer.


Well, two mowers going at the same time are going to be twice as fast as one
tractor. I have a seven foot rear finishing mower on my larger tractor and
a five foot belly mower on my smaller tractor. I mow a little more than ten
acres... I never timed myself as I mow in sections and how long it takes
depends a lot on the weather, wet ground takes longer as I need to go slower
and when it rains often the grass keeps growing but I can't mow, and tall
grass takes a lot longer to mow, often I need to mow the same section twice
at different heights... once the hot dry summer weather arrives I find it
much easier to keep up, but spring is always a guessing game. Oh, post
pictures.





This has photos plus some misc.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37909035@N03/3531805187/

--
Sheila
http://swdalton.com

"Sheila" wrote in message
...
brooklyn1 wrote:
"Sheila" wrote in message
.. .
brooklyn1 wrote:

And I know very well what 4 1/2 acres is, my back yard is 5 acres of
lawn, takes a good part of two days to mow, I'd hate to think how much
work it would be to tend to it in crops, would take like six families
of illegals. Yesterday for the first time this season it dried out
enough that I was able to mow my 4 acre back field for the first time,
used to be a hay field and it was already in seed, that takes a full
day's labor every week just to mow and keep the forest from growing
back.
We mow 6 acres every week and it has 31 hollies, and 42 trees to mow
around and we mow it using 2 mowers in about 2 hours and 15 minutes. We
both use zero turn radius 5 ft mowers. We used to use a tractor with a
mower behind and it took a lot longer.


Well, two mowers going at the same time are going to be twice as fast as
one tractor. I have a seven foot rear finishing mower on my larger
tractor and a five foot belly mower on my smaller tractor. I mow a
little more than ten acres... I never timed myself as I mow in sections
and how long it takes depends a lot on the weather, wet ground takes
longer as I need to go slower and when it rains often the grass keeps
growing but I can't mow, and tall grass takes a lot longer to mow, often
I need to mow the same section twice at different heights... once the hot
dry summer weather arrives I find it much easier to keep up, but spring
is always a guessing game. Oh, post pictures.





This has photos plus some misc.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37909035@N03/3531805187/


Your property looks well cared for, lovely trees. Where is your vegetable
garden?

On May 14, 6:56*am, rachael simpson
wrote:
brooklyn1 wrote:
"rachael simpson" writes:
*snipped*

Nice. *4 1/2 acres of garden is more of a farm... you must have helpers, and
what do you do with so much crop, do you operate a roadside stand and/or do
you sell to local markets. *How about some pictures.

well, most that know me, know we farm...lol! the only helpers are family
and we share our garden crop with friends and family, after I'm done
with putting up what we need for the winter.

I thought it was a rather large garden myself, until I went back and
noticed the word “kids”.

Worse then locus for a gardener.

I step on locus, but the kids got me to put out 3 extra rows.

;-)

brooklyn1 wrote:
"Sheila" wrote in message
...
brooklyn1 wrote:
"Sheila" wrote in message
.. .
brooklyn1 wrote:

And I know very well what 4 1/2 acres is, my back yard is 5 acres of
lawn, takes a good part of two days to mow, I'd hate to think how much
work it would be to tend to it in crops, would take like six families
of illegals. Yesterday for the first time this season it dried out
enough that I was able to mow my 4 acre back field for the first time,
used to be a hay field and it was already in seed, that takes a full
day's labor every week just to mow and keep the forest from growing
back.
We mow 6 acres every week and it has 31 hollies, and 42 trees to mow
around and we mow it using 2 mowers in about 2 hours and 15 minutes. We
both use zero turn radius 5 ft mowers. We used to use a tractor with a
mower behind and it took a lot longer.


Well, two mowers going at the same time are going to be twice as fast as
one tractor. I have a seven foot rear finishing mower on my larger
tractor and a five foot belly mower on my smaller tractor. I mow a
little more than ten acres... I never timed myself as I mow in sections
and how long it takes depends a lot on the weather, wet ground takes
longer as I need to go slower and when it rains often the grass keeps
growing but I can't mow, and tall grass takes a lot longer to mow, often
I need to mow the same section twice at different heights... once the hot
dry summer weather arrives I find it much easier to keep up, but spring
is always a guessing game. Oh, post pictures.




This has photos plus some misc.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37909035@N03/3531805187/


Your property looks well cared for, lovely trees. Where is your vegetable
garden?





Thanks you,
All I have are tomatoes and they are in with the Nellies.

--
Sheila
http://swdalton.com

CanopyCo wrote:
On May 14, 6:56 am, rachael simpson
wrote:
brooklyn1 wrote:
"rachael simpson" writes:
*snipped*

Nice. 4 1/2 acres of garden is more of a farm... you must have helpers, and
what do you do with so much crop, do you operate a roadside stand and/or do
you sell to local markets. How about some pictures.
well, most that know me, know we farm...lol! the only helpers are family
and we share our garden crop with friends and family, after I'm done
with putting up what we need for the winter.

I thought it was a rather large garden myself, until I went back and
noticed the word “kids”.

Worse then locus for a gardener.

I step on locus, but the kids got me to put out 3 extra rows.

;-)

lol, yeah, kids can be good for that! last year though, the cows got out
over night and destroyed a good half of our garden, right about harvest
time for the corn...prepared for that this year though...that happens
this time, we just might have a freezer full of beef...lol!
~Rae