RIP Sergeant...

Sergeant was killed the other day.  We don't know what happened, only that he ended up on the neighbors' porch.  Their dog had him in his mouth, but we don't know if the dog found him somewhere and picked him up or if the dog did get him.  Anyway, it's a sad reality of farm life...our first farm casuality...

I won't miss him attacking me or the kids, but...

He was a beautiful rooster and I'll miss his morning cock-a-doodle-doos...

Preserving the Harvest at Hickory Nut Homestead

I got to can some bread and butter pickles this week from our wonderful supply of Japanese cucumbers we grew.  We are hoping to enjoy these in the next couple of weeks and through the winter.

I'm hoping to can some banana peppers this week as well, as we've had a lovely crop of those as well.

And, we've had a bumper crop of okra and I'm researching canning okra as well. 

Our tomatoes didn't do great this year.  I've made some mistakes such as planting them too close together.  We also got infested with tomato horn caterpillars..yuck!  I've planted a fall garden this week and hope to get some yummy cabbage(for sauerkraut), broccoli, sugar snap peas, brussel sprouts and such.

Overall, I've learned alot this year and hope to have a much larger garden next year. We plan to fence in the area this winter and make it look more attractive. 

Also, we plan to start clearing some land for some pigs we'd like to get in the spring as well. 

Busy times on Hickory Nut Homestead but it's so  much fun!

Oh, forgot to add...I'll be selling homemade vanilla on the website in the next coming weeks so be sure to be on the lookout.  This vanilla is made from Madagascar vanilla beans and you only use a little bit-it's pure, strong, and makes your baked goods so much better...stay tuned!

Hickory Nut Homestead garden updates

The proof is in the yoke..

When making breakfast on Saturday, we used some eggs purchased from the store with eggs our hens blessed us with..can you see the difference?

Look at how wonderfully dark and rich the farm eggs are compared with the store bought ones.  I know our hens are giving us good, healthy, rich eggs.

Hickory Nut Homestead..updates on the farm..

Our ladies are laying!  We were so excited when we were coming home from vacation and my brother(he was staying at our home) found the first egg!  Ever since then we've been getting a couple of eggs a day-it's so exciting..the boys go out several times a day to check and come running back to the house when they find one.  Hopefully, we'll be getting a bunch soon!

This is our rooster.  We ordered all pullets(or hens) but we got a surprise.  He hasn't been aggressive yet so we are o.k. with having him around.  To be honest, I like his cock-a-doodle-dos in the morning...it makes it feel more *farm-like*.  We haven't named him yet, but I like to call him Sergeant...what do you think?

Our garden is doing well.  We are getting TONS of okra-I 'm assuming it's because of the crazy heat we are having.  I've noticed a ton of squash bugs on our zucchini so hopefully I can save the  plants by picking the squash bugs off.  Our pumpkin vines have started to spread too so hopefully we'll get some nice pumpkins for fall!

My small garden

This is the beginnings of our garden here at Hickory Nut Homestead.  We have two of these  beds so far.  We found the cinder blocks in our woods and they have been great for free raised beds!  I've already filled two of these and am hoping my dear husband can build me another this weekend because I haven't even planted my squashes, eggplant or cucumbers yet.

I'm not sure how much cinder blocks cost in the store, but if you can get you hands on some it's a great way to build a raised bed.  I've read that you can do lots of things with the holes such as pour compost in them and water it, plant herbs or flowers in them  as well. (I may plant marigolds and pennyroyal)   They are also easy to expand if you wish.  Plus, they don't rot like wood.

In this bed I've planted, sugar snap peas, boston lettuce, red lettuce, beets, cilantro, red cabbage and onions.

In the next bed, I've got 4 different types of tomatoes, red peppers, okra and spinach.

I love having our fresh veggies right outside our door (-:

What your chickens don't do this?

 Chickens here on Hickory Nut Homestead ride skateboards.

We seem to have a chicken with Tony Hawk aspirations...

Yes, that's chicken poo-poo...

She must have been so busy practicing her tricks she forgot to go the grass to do her business.

This one is named Peanut.  I have no idea why.  She's not particularly small.  But, the boys named her that and she can always be spotted because she loves to hang out on your shoulders.

Springtime

Hickory Nut Homestead in the Springtime...