what to do with soiled chicken coop straw

for lack of anything better, this year i decided to use the straw out of the chicken coop on my potatoes. a few weeks ago i built a compost, but ended up only being able to put 2/3-3/4 of the soiled straw from this winter into it. while i will certainly not be short any compost (its so lovely warm!), i still had plenty to be rid of at some point. cue the potatoes! let's hope it works.

(...let's hope it doesn't burn the plants.)

because if it does (work), then my plan is to place some garbage cans right next to the coop next year and grow my potatoes right there, making it a quick trip with soiled hay. i'm quite proud of myself and already eager to try it next year.

maybe i'll try sweet potatoes in a black garbage can as well.
should help with the heat they need, and the deep can will provide well.

i think i will try to work some in when i plant the corn as well (hopefully this weekend, i am behind!) corn are such heavy feeders, as are the squash that will be going there, that it can't be a bad idea.

and if all else fails, i could probably squeeze a little more into the compost pile. :)

they just need to grow now

i will fess up to my unfortunately long silence.
luckily for my plants, silence does not equate lack of activity.

a big push of activity before company arrived last weekend. shed is looking good, yard is neat, plants are holding on. said company last weekend led to a discernible lag in productivity but i am looking forward to this upcoming weekend to make up for lost time.

on the vegetable front the peppers are struggling, the seed-grown eggplants almost non-existent, and my inattention did a number on the squash, cukes and melons. may be a late, outdoor, seeding in my future this weekend. all the greens have finally come into their own, the beans are plugging right along and the tomatoes are holding on. garlic is up, leeks are growing some lovely scapes for me and some belated broccoli raab is making a good showing.

i have a compost built and am looking forward to the luscious benefits i will reap from the beautiful compost now brewing in my backyard. how it is that in june i am already thinking about the fall?

this weekend i will work on getting corn, sunflowers, melons, cukes, and squash into the ground. i'll admit that i am disappointed in myself for letting so many amazing things die on me, but i have faith that some will succeed when planted by seed. we are lucky to have a long, warm growing season here. besides, how many zucchinis do i really need?

i am also incredibly bummed that my digital camera got swiped from my car a few weeks ago. summer is one of my favorite times to take pictures and i would love to be documenting the garden and the progress on the portable chicken coop (started last sunday, going out to take a look at it in a few!)

digital camera, definitely high on my list of priorities.
getting the seeds in the ground, even higher. at least i have some things straight.

manual labor. tangible results.

i dug all my own fence posts. i'm pretty damn proud.
its hard work and my body is paying for it now.

the compost is built. a little ragtag but it will do the job.

tasks left?

ceiling fan installed.

beds ammended.

plants bought on sale, planted.

yard debris picked up.

side fence installed.

driveway gate built.

yard supplied put in order.

things are looking good. what will i do in the winter?

the fence

tomorrow, the fence will be done.
it has consumed me in thought or act every day this week.
i'm proud that i've dug all my own post holes. by myself.

in other news, i have four chickens laying now.
sophie (formerly brigette), io, odette, and heloise.
heloise's egg is so tiny. today, io's egg was the biggest yet.
odd, that one of each pair is laying...

today i failed in finding patio furniture but was unexpectedly successful in finding an aparatus useful for my compost pile. that was a lovely surprise.

busy, busy, busy, busy.
i can always find something to do. and always find a distraction.