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The Weekly Digs #222

Written byBecky Updated

In the Garden

It’s been a warmer Fall and I am really happy about it! Some years we go straight from 90ºF to freezing at night but not this year. Aside from the patchy frost last week, it’s been warm. I’m not even considering it a real frost because my basil is still alive. 

This week we planted more in the tunnel. I transplanted celery (tango) and 48 strawberry plugs (Chandler).

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celery in the middle, strawberries on the right

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I’m doing an experimental test of strawberries planted in the tunnel vs. strawberries planted outside. I’ll compare yields, disease, bug pressure, etc.

I also planted some spinach in soil blocks and it’s popping up already! I will get those transplanted in the tunnel within the next week or two!

Lots to do still in the garden, which is why I’m happy about the warm weather! Hopefully I can get out there more this week, I spent a lot of time last week editing a video (will be posted on YouTube Monday or Tuesday).

In the Kitchen

I used up the last of the apples and made more fruit leather. We cooked the apples, put them through the sauce maker, then made them into a jam with pectin. The idea is that adding the pectin makes a soft, chewy result. Honestly, it wasn’t as good as I had thought it would be.

It almost tasted like the pectin diluted the apple flavor. So for now we will just keep making the raw version of apple fruit leather.

Cam swooped in to save the day and helped make the Cajun Cowpea Soup. Actually, he is working on it as I’m typing this so that I can get some sleep tonight. It’s not his thing, he doesn’t enjoy it as much as I do, but he helps anyway when he knows I need it. I am very grateful for him! 

Turkey Hen Update

The hen is still sitting on the nest and there aren’t any eggs under her now. Like I mentioned last week, none were fertilized, we think.

We are going to move her night time pen to the second garden area and put her in it so she can fertilize the soil and hopefully that should break her of the broodiness. 

She is looking really rough from sitting on a nest for so long! Oh the things Mom’s will do for babies! 

That’s all for now. Sorry this is short and sweet this week! 

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12 Comments

  1. I am trying to look at your site to see where you are located. It would help me know if we are in a similar growing area. We are 4b and in new hampshire. We are just putting a high tunnel on our property. Before I follow you, I would like to know what state you are located in.

    Reply

    1. Hi Katherine. I’m in Arkansas zone 6b. It’s quite a bit different than your climate but still on the east coast we have some similarity with that. Congrats on putting in a high tunnel, that will be such a benefit to you in a colder climate! We have been loving ours so far!

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  2. I agree, great work! It’s very motivating to see you guys working so much in the garden to provide healthy food for your family. With your new tunnel I was wondering if you’ve ever seen the High Performance Garden show? If you haven’t, she grows organically for restaurants in CO in a tunnel. There might be some good ideas there you can use. I don’t have a tunnel but have found some good ideas from watching her show. Anyway, thanks for all the great ideas you share!

    Reply

    1. Thank you! And thanks for sharing! I haven’t seen the High Performance Garden show, but I’ll look it up! I love to get new ideas.

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  3. I’m so thrilled to have found that you are so close to me so I can follow your planting schedules (I’m N central OK, zone 7a). I grew up gardening in Michigan and it’s SO different down here, I’ve been having a hard time adjusting. I’m so impressed with all you get done in a day, and how your family works together. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy life to educate and inspire us!

    Reply

    1. Awesome! Yes, gardening in a more southern area can certainly be challenging. I grew up in upstate NY which is also quite different from here. We didn’t have nearly as many bugs or disease problems as we do here in AR. Thank you so much for your nice comment!

      Reply

  4. Great work hard working mama!! You are fulfilling all your roles in a superior way! Thank you for motivating us to stay strong and be boss women!

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  5. I Just recently found you and I am so encouraged in my gardening efforts. I’m a total newbie and am learning so much from you. We just recently purchased a 12 acre homestead and are excited to work towards self sufficiency. Our new home comes with a well as its water source and I was wondering what filtration system you use for your well water? I would appreciate anything you’ve learned about well water as it’s a totally new experience for us and we’re a little uneasy about it 😬

    Reply

    1. How exciting! We don’t use a filtration system for our well. Ours is very deep (660 ft). We had it tested prior to drinking to make sure it was good. We have very hard water and should do something about that but haven’t yet. That was our only recommendation of things to change from our testing we did. I love all the minerals and it tastes to good to me compared to the chlorinated city water we used to drink. I wouldn’t be afraid of well water it’s usually way better for you! Just get it tested and that will give you some piece of mind.

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  6. I’m following your blog now for some years, (read every blog from the beginning) and watched all of your videos since you started them. You gave me a lot of information and ideas and even though I’m gardening for over 40 years there is always something new to learn. And technics change. Thank you for all the research you do so I don’t have to 😊
    By the way noticed your “About me” should be updated to five children. It’s amazing how you deal with everything. Keep it up, you’re much appreciated.

    Reply

    1. Thank you! Wow. I’m so honored you are still here reading and watching, that means a lot!! I will definitely make a note to update my about me page 🙂 I forgot about that!

      Reply