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Category Archives: Farm Girl Gardening

Junkyard Gardening

05 Thursday Apr 2018

Posted by Dairy Living in Farm Girl Gardening

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"farm girl gardening" "junkyard" "treasures" "fresh greens" "good eating" "grow your own"

        Every farm has a junk pile. Amen! Some may be hidden from view. Others may be in plain sight. Then again…you might find some in the “back forty” dumped on a pile in a low spot. It’s inevitable. What are we supposed to do with all the “scrap metal” that you might use in the next 50 years?! You dare not get rid of it…it might be valuable someday. Then again…the price for scrap iron might go up and we could haul it off and make 30 bucks or so. Or worse…the farmers wife might decide to use it in her garden.    062.jpg        I’m talking about rusty old stock tanks. These are the best when it comes to early spring gardening. My big garden is saturated. Spring is sorta like our “monsoon” season. So these tanks “fit the bill” for all the cool weather greens. Here’s my spearmint tea. Aaaahhhh……it smells wonderful. It stays contained in this tank, otherwise it spreads like wildfire.     060.jpg       Here’s the “big granddaddy”. I planted strawberries in here last summer. I can’t believe they survived our wicked winter. Just look….a nice little patch. The netting is to keep the chickens out. I’m at war with the critters. So, my next project is building a chicken pen ASAP. I can’t function if they scratch around in my flowerbeds. Don’t they realize that my gardening is my life?! Flowers are much more important than chickens. End of story!     061.jpg       I have 5 or 6 tanks in the back yard. I planted lettuce, radishes, spinach, kale, and green onions. I tried potatoes in one as an experiment. Will see how they grow. I’m chompin’ at the bit….can’t wait for some fresh greens. The grocery store produce just doesn’t have flavor. I’ll eat right from the tank. A little dirt doesn’t hurt. Shucks, I’ve had cow poop all over my face and hair and I’m still alive. Here again, the netting is for the chickens AND the cats. Oh the cats….that really gets my goat!       033.jpg           Just wanted to show you my “tomatoes” that I have in the house. Remember I started some seeds to see if I’ve got the touch? Now, I’m begging for a greenhouse. I want it heated so that I can sit out there in the dead of winter and “play” when the going gets rough. And eat boxes of donuts and bags of chocolates and pans of lemon bars. It’ll be my “girl cave”. No boys allowed……………………….Carol

P.S. This is totally unrelated……The boys and I were watching a show a while back and a “busy signal” was mentioned. They looked at me and asked……what’s that? So, I proceeded to explain to them what the old rotary and land line phones were all about. If someone was on the line…a buzzing sound, and you had to call back later. How weird….they couldn’t imagine such a time….haha. Now you know that I’m a 70’s child. They think I’m old.

Seed Starting

13 Tuesday Mar 2018

Posted by Dairy Living in Farm Girl Gardening

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"snapdragons" "seed starting" "gardening" "flowers" "jelly beans"

       So, I decided that I’m going to be proactive and start some seeds on my own. I love snapdragons and so I ordered a few of those seeds plus some sweet peas. These are both cool weather flowers and in my mind I was going to be ahead of the game. Little did I know what kind of surprise I had waiting on me. Another lesson in life. Live and learn. Nothing is ever as easy as it appears.      004.jpg           I gathered together all my supplies and got to work. When I came to the snapdragon seeds……my mouth dropped open. Holy Moly! Have you seen the size of them?! Very tiny! Extremely tiny! I proceeded to gather up my stuff and headed for the kitchen table. This was going to take a little time.   005.jpg     Take a look at that. Yes, that’s a 4 dollar package of snapdragon seeds. What a sucker I am. Well, not wanting to waste any of them I put on my reading glasses, grabbed the magnifying glass, and tweezers. Those little dudes can jump. Every time I got one with the tweezers…..they would pop all over the place. It was maddening!   007.jpg      I really don’t know if any of them made it into the tiny holes. I just did the best I could and called it good. I was eating handfuls of jelly beans throughout the whole process. I was about to have a fit!    014.jpg      I have no idea if anything will sprout. I’ll be sure to let you know either way. It may have been a total bust. So, this is what I felt like doing when I finished…… collapse on the chair and take a nap. But alas, I’m not a dog. Just a wanna be gardener trying something new………………………..Carol

 

Keepin’ It Real

15 Friday Dec 2017

Posted by Dairy Living in Farm Girl Gardening

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"Christmas decorations" bright" "festive" "poinsettias" "farm life"

       I have another tradition I want to share today. This is all about “Poinsettias”! I love them! So bright and beautiful…..and just in time for the holidays, but there’s a catch. What happens with them after the holidays?! I consider myself a die-hard gardener, but I just haven’t mastered the “poinsettia”. So, I’ll go ahead and make my confession right up front. I keep them alive until after New Years Day and then they all get thrown into the dumpster. Yep, I sure do, and I have no guilt about it either. Let me explain……………    041.jpg      I can’t go all winter without real live plants, so I stock up on these beauties. White is second runner up to the red one. This is the way to go when you need fast decorations. Set these all around the house and you’ve got “festive” everywhere. It takes me weeks to get my decorations up and then another couple of weeks to get the storage boxes put away. Now you understand why my decorations stay up until February. Except for the tree….it gets thrown out in January.    040               I try to incorporate them with my other decorations. Keeping them watered is key…..and that’s not an easy task for me. Now I’ve got the tree, and all the poinsettias, besides all my regular chores of cows, calves, cats and dogs. I bring this all on myself and I don’t know why I do it. Maybe because I’ve got Mad Cow?! There is no reason for anything. Just crazy!     036              I like the cute little weenie ones too. They can fit in anywhere. I don’t buy these all in one trip. Oh no, I could never do that. First of all, they wouldn’t fit into my cart, and second, I don’t want to cause a scene. It’s bad enough when I’m trying to pick them out. Pick one up….turn it around….put it back down….pick up another one….turn it around….put it back down. Get the idea? This happens about 50 times before I make up my mind. I hope no one is watching.     043               I like to pick the ones with lots of buds. Nice leaves, and perfect color. Picky! Picky! Just a friendly reminder to drink more milk. Haha 045.jpg            I have to be careful where I set them. It’s a terrible thing if I block someone’s view of the T.V. Have you ever stood in front of the screen when an important play is about to happen?! Can you hear the screams and crying?! Oh yes! That’s my house. Haha There’s all kinds of ways to get their attention.     044        Ok, there you have it. I like to keep things as real as possible with my decorations. I’m not an expert on indoor plants. I do much better with outdoor gardening. I really have no desire to try and keep these poinsettias for another year. I don’t have the time or the patience. Water then dry, light then darkness. It just sounds so complicated. Throwing them in the dumpster sounds so cold-hearted, but so simple. I need simple. So, for now…………..they will go into the dumpster after the holidays………………….Carol

Farm House Porches

05 Tuesday Dec 2017

Posted by Dairy Living in Farm Girl Gardening

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"back porch" "decorations" "hot chocolate" "sleds" "ice skates"

       Well, gardening season is pretty much over. No more sitting on the porch and sipping ice tea. Now it’s sipping hot chocolate. Or eggnog? Whatever it may be, I’m missing my patio already. I am not a fan of cold weather. Dark, depressing winter days. They make me cranky, and a bit sassy. So, to lift my spirits…..I decided to make my back porch a little corner of cheer. It’ll be too cold to sit outside, but I can always walk through it on my to the barn. Then again on my way back to the warm, cozy house. Come along, and I’ll serve you some hot chocolate while I tell you all about it………………058.jpg       I spent days thinking about this, and then I finally got a few spare hours to actually put my idea to work. Seems like every hour of every day is consumed with cows, calves, and cow poop. Some days I’m about to lose my mind. So you see, this “porch” was a very important project. It heals my heart and soul. I’m already sleeping better at night. Haha 013.jpg       Around this time of year I’m always keeping my eye out for nice greens, red berries, etc. Anything I can get my hands on to “whack” and carry home to use for decoration. Aaaah…..look at those beautiful berries! The trailer is loaded down with greens from along the fence row. It smells so wonderful. Almost makes me forget about all my “dirty farm work”. It’s hard work, but worth it.   017.jpg       This was my only helper for the project. What a cutie. We’re keeping this one for ourselves. Like we need another dog. Four and counting. Or is it five? Whatever it is, I’m putting dog food on my Christmas list. Holy Moly! Can they eat!     070.jpg      Yes, I have a concrete cow. Cows can drive a person “mad”, but I still love to use them in my decorations. Inside and out. I am a very complex person. Haha The kids gave this one to me as a gift. I have full intentions of painting her someday. The same pattern as our favorite cow Shooter that passed almost a year ago. I still miss her. I haven’t found any other cow that can replace her. I never will. The little boots……the kids all took turns wearing them, and then those sorry dogs chewed them up. Grrrr…….   037.jpg       Have a seat and rock for awhile. Too bad it’s chilly and windy. I had everything nice and organized and then the wild Oklahoma wind came and blew everything all over the place. So, I stomped my feet and fastened everything down as much as I could. Farm girls can be pretty determined. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.   044.jpg     I always store this in the hay barn, but not this year……I need it for my sanity. Besides, when springtime arrives, gardening takes a back seat. It’s all about chopping feed and doing field work. Springtime is crazy around here. Cows rule….or so they think.   041.jpg      Another little cozy corner. I might be able to sip my coffee here if the weather isn’t insanely cold. On the other hand, it looks cute and that’s what it’s all about. Wonder how long the cheery tablecloth will last with an ornery puppy on the loose?!   052.jpg        I did sit for a spell. Not for long though, the cows were waiting on me. They can be so bossy. I’m wearing my tattered chore clothes. Probably got caught on a cattle panel. That’s what happens when you milk cows for a living. It’s a hard workin’ life. The puppy sure is cute, though.   055.jpg     I did do a little decorating on the front porch. Nobody uses the front door, they always come to the back door. I still had to make it look cozy, it’s the rules. I love my cow bells. They are the doorbell.   054.jpg     Just so you know…..if we get snow the sleds disappear. The kids jerk the ice skates off and head for the hill. We haven’t had snow in awhile, and Marshall is hoping for some good sledding this winter. Lord have mercy! What is he thinking?! Snow and dairy farming do not mix well. It’s beautiful and dreadful all at the same time.  Help me if it snows!  027.jpg     That’s it for the back porch. Hope you enjoyed your “hot chocolate”. Haha I’m practicing for Santa here. Do you think he’ll enjoy these if I have some ready for him? Will he even have time to visit a dairy farm? I better send him a letter……….Carol

The Great Harvest

11 Saturday Nov 2017

Posted by Dairy Living in Farm Girl Gardening

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"sweet potatoes" "holidays" "bountiful harvest" "I love gardening"

      What in the world have I done now?! I have sweet potatoes running out of my ears. I was hoping for a bountiful harvest, but didn’t expect this much. Wow! Just in time for the holidays. Anyone in need of some homegrown sweet potatoes? This has never happened to me before. The harvest was great but the laborers were few…………..because I had to dig them all by myself.   024.jpg       Just look at all that goodness. I had to order these plants because I couldn’t find them local. Of course, they had a minimum order and so I thought “No problem” I can handle that. Well, I guess I learned my lesson. We’ll be eating sweet potatoes for breakfast, lunch, and supper. Farmers eat supper not dinner. I just wanted to clarify that. Haha006.jpg      We’ve had a few “cold” mornings and all the vines were dying, so I knew it was time to start digging. Everyone else was busy, or should I say….pretending to be busy. “If you want something done, do it yourself”…….so I grabbed my shovel and started the daunting task. It was like finding buried treasure. They were huge!012.jpg     I threw them onto the back of the gator and headed for the water hose. I gave them all a good bath to wash all the dirt and grime off. Hmmm…….now what? Where am I going to store these? We use this gator to feed the cows. The “dudes” are going to be mad when they see that I have it loaded down with potatoes. So, I threw them onto the back of the truck and decided they needed to dry for a day or two. Haha I’ll think of a solution later.008.jpg     I love sweet potato fries…..with the magic sauce. Sriracha and mayo mixed together. Holy cow! This is good eating. I’m thinking maybe a sweet potato pie, casserole, cakes, soup, etc. The list could go on forever.  My family is going to be my “guinea pig” trying out all these new recipes. They’re going to hate sweet potatoes by the time it’s all said and done……………………Carol

Extreme Gardening

25 Wednesday Oct 2017

Posted by Dairy Living in Farm Girl Gardening

≈ 3 Comments

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"azaleas" "boxwood" "hydrangea" "pansy's"

       Well, I did it again. I went and totally destroyed my flowerbed. I tore out the old and planted brand new. I’ve been thinking about this project for quite some time and finally put my ideas into action. I always have to roll things around in my head first before I finally put my foot down, hands on my hips, and let Mad Cow take over. Yes, it was quite extreme.  113.jpg       This is the finished product. Ahhh…..so much better. My poor little hostas will finally be able to breathe and get some fresh air. They’ve been smothered by those huge, prickly rose bushes for too long. Just think, I’ll be able to watch the birds while I sit by the window and sip my coffee. Hahaha I just fell off my chair laughing….like that’s gonna happen. 093.jpg        It hit me in a “sudden” kind of way one morning, that today was the day. This is what I was up against. Big, wholly bushes that had turned ugly. It took a little coaxing, before I got anyone to move my direction. I finally said….”Fine, I’ll operate the tractor myself……I’m a big girl”.That got their attention.  103.jpg  This is why a tractor comes in handy with all of my gardening projects. A nice, big log chain and we are good to go. Yes, tractor tires on my front yard. I’ve seen much worse, so I’m not sayin’ a word. I can look the other direction and not see a thing.104.jpg     Good riddance you big, ugly rose bushes. To the burn pile you go. I love roses, but need to find a different spot for them. This was not working anymore.106.jpg     Oh dear……what have I done?! It looks so bare. So weird. Did I do the right thing? So, I forged ahead. Too late to turn back now. Time to finish the project.   109.jpg      I placed everything where I thought I wanted it. I couldn’t go ahead and plant because all I had was a broken shovel handle. Yes, I broke it. It was all very innocent, and I wasn’t even having a temper tantrum when it happened. I guess I don’t know my own strength. Haha So, I went to town the next day and bought not one, but two brand new shovels. Two of everything is the perfect number around here.  126.jpg     I love my “oak leaf” hydrangea. I’ve wanted one for a long time. I can’t wait to see what it’ll produce next summer. I hope it survives the winter.   127.jpg     I bought plenty of pansy’s, so I went ahead and planted around the whole front of the house. I was on a roll. It’s important to get as much done as I can while the inspiration is flowing. Sooner or later the energy level will crash, and then it’s back to milking bossy bovines.  128.jpg     The old wash tub is there to catch all the rain water, but the dogs and cats believe it’s been put there for them. Whatever! I’m too tired to argue. I think I’ll wrap up this project and go take a nap…………………..Carol

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