tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552387675026716797.post3558729495971437004..comments2024-03-28T14:22:58.872-05:00Comments on Two Men and a Little Farm: DECISIONS DECISIONS1st Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04861609647607912193noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552387675026716797.post-47604381311886184772015-04-30T22:17:14.249-05:002015-04-30T22:17:14.249-05:00If you grow a cover crop of cowpeas (blackeye peas...If you grow a cover crop of cowpeas (blackeye peas)you can harvest and dry them. You can harvest the sunflowers seeds (when the heads begin to set seed cover them with netting), when ready to harvest cut the heads, place them upside down in paper bags and hang in your shed or barn to dry. All the plants I listed will grow well in your climate (drought tolerant, erosion control). Yarrow, Mallow, lavender, and stone crop are perennials and could be transplanted to others beds as you work on landscaping. Penstemon is a hardy annual/ tender perennial depending on zone. Technically Yarrow and lavender are herbs. <br /><br /><br /> Tonya @ My Cozy Little Farmhousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12289024681312440621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552387675026716797.post-62356704648537476342015-04-30T22:07:03.827-05:002015-04-30T22:07:03.827-05:00Granted, we don't have a farm, but we have qui...Granted, we don't have a farm, but we have quite a few flower beds, raised veggie beds (8) , a large garden plot (40x40), a grape arbor and 3 peach trees. When we first moved into our house the original garden bed was 50 x 125 and the fools we were, planted it. It was the worst summer of my life! Over the years we have scaled back to the now (sometimes) manageable 40x40. Except this year we have made the choice to not plant the 40x40 plot. I have other things I need to focus on. I can't imagine your struggles to manage 2 homes, work and build your future farmstead.<br /><br />I think it is ok to take a step back and reprioritize. It makes sense to build the infrastructure (outbuildings, land clearing, and house repairs) as opposed to the pretty stuff. You are putting your money and time (the 2 most valuable commodities you have) in exactly the right projects. <br /><br />The beauty of garden is you can establish one in a season. If you don't like it, you can start over the next! I like the earlier suggestion about sheeting your beds to avoid weeds invasion. You could also seed all those raised beds with cover crops (clover, cowpeas) which is great to build soil nutrient or plant flowers/ herbs in all of the beds (sunflowers, stonecrop, yarrow, Globe Mallow, penstemon, lavender, bee balm, dill, sage, rosemary and marjoram) will draw beneficial insects and provide nutrients for the bees.Tonya @ My Cozy Little Farmhousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12289024681312440621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552387675026716797.post-7050747358902481122015-04-30T22:04:44.905-05:002015-04-30T22:04:44.905-05:00I never thought about calling it that, "a goo...I never thought about calling it that, "a good foundation". That makes sense....yep fruit trees and perennials...and now flowers, ha. We need to stop and smell the "soon to be" roses! ha. 1st Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04861609647607912193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552387675026716797.post-70686939157783171672015-04-30T22:01:42.944-05:002015-04-30T22:01:42.944-05:00Money, time, new ideas, that does make it differen...Money, time, new ideas, that does make it different each time doesn't it? Awesome, thanks for the kind words of encouragement. I like the idea of doing low maintenance things and then keep other things for the things that need more care. ;-)1st Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04861609647607912193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552387675026716797.post-68856303422973987282015-04-30T21:53:50.055-05:002015-04-30T21:53:50.055-05:00That's is so true. We work with what we get, ...That's is so true. We work with what we get, right? Ha. Thank you!!1st Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04861609647607912193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552387675026716797.post-7695975840740474732015-04-28T07:13:34.616-05:002015-04-28T07:13:34.616-05:00I’ve started a yard and gardens from scratch twice...I’ve started a yard and gardens from scratch twice - once in the country and 16 years ago in town on 2 large lots. It just takes time. You’re doing it right by building the infrastructure and setting up a good foundation with fruit trees and perennials. Y’all have accomplished sooo much in just a few short years! It’s important to sometimes just sit back and enjoy the beauty you have created so far. Texas Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00547037404676565726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552387675026716797.post-87617954989760139412015-04-28T02:27:17.860-05:002015-04-28T02:27:17.860-05:00We have had so many changes of plan about the hous...We have had so many changes of plan about the house and gardens since we moved here 4 years ago. Some plans were changed for financial reasons, some because we came up with ideas that were better, some were changed becuase of time constraints. We made our back garden very low maintenance with lots of trees, shrubs and perennials which gives us the time to concentrate on our front garden where we grow veggies, and our allotment plot where we grow fruit and veggies.Scarlethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01729719876504930455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552387675026716797.post-17078164274591547492015-04-28T02:23:34.621-05:002015-04-28T02:23:34.621-05:00It's a never ending job living in the country ...It's a never ending job living in the country and living on a farm.<br />Nothing we can do about Mother Nature but to take it just one day at a time and accept the bad as well as the good days. We just have to accept what the Good Lord gives us and be thankful for the things that we are capable of doing.<br />Enjoy your week and stay safe. Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13106960827480062745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552387675026716797.post-1669947853703107502015-04-28T00:13:38.324-05:002015-04-28T00:13:38.324-05:00Thank you for the words of support. We do need to...Thank you for the words of support. We do need to take the time to stop and enjoy the accomplishment as we do it, small as they me be, ha. 1st Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04861609647607912193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552387675026716797.post-67176861331760786052015-04-28T00:05:31.978-05:002015-04-28T00:05:31.978-05:00Wow, thank you for that. I knew that the White Ho...Wow, thank you for that. I knew that the White House had gardens I didn't realize they had bees Thanks!!!1st Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04861609647607912193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552387675026716797.post-54140438776047592142015-04-27T23:55:32.092-05:002015-04-27T23:55:32.092-05:00Yes, great point. Life is life isn't it? We ...Yes, great point. Life is life isn't it? We have to remember that. Thanks!! :-)1st Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04861609647607912193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552387675026716797.post-89947031426049039682015-04-27T23:54:58.251-05:002015-04-27T23:54:58.251-05:00You almost made me spit my Dr. Pepper all over my ...You almost made me spit my Dr. Pepper all over my monitor, ha. True dat!! <br /><br />Hey, that's ok I need to hear that as a reminder, much appreciated!! 1st Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04861609647607912193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552387675026716797.post-13786451375532113722015-04-27T23:44:21.888-05:002015-04-27T23:44:21.888-05:00Evaluate and reevaluate, definitely!!! One thing ...Evaluate and reevaluate, definitely!!! One thing can create another thing. We changed our water heater out a couple years ago and that created other issues, ha. Bad water heaters!!! LOL!1st Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04861609647607912193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552387675026716797.post-25703088110195438662015-04-27T23:42:47.597-05:002015-04-27T23:42:47.597-05:00Wow, that far apart would make things so much more...Wow, that far apart would make things so much more difficult. I didn't think about interests changing...there are times when we're aiming for something then sort of lose interest in doing that particular thing because, to quote Linda above, 'squirrel'! ha. Thank you for the grounding message. Much appreciated!! <br />1st Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04861609647607912193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552387675026716797.post-68021326563209048792015-04-27T23:40:33.902-05:002015-04-27T23:40:33.902-05:00Well hello Jaime! Welcome! Where have you been a...Well hello Jaime! Welcome! Where have you been all our lives? LOL. Love the -able list...awesome!<br /><br />Thank you for these kind (and wise!) words. <br /><br />Happiness right back at ya!<br />1st Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04861609647607912193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552387675026716797.post-76650122400883365552015-04-27T23:39:02.760-05:002015-04-27T23:39:02.760-05:00Yep, the weekends are all we often have (though va...Yep, the weekends are all we often have (though vacation and days off are often spent there too)...we do pack as much in as we can, but then we often have, since it's weekends, friends inviting us to birthdays, or 2nd Man's family inviting us over for dinners, etc. Then we have to balance that too, ha. But you are right, ultimately it's just whatever we want to do, right? Thanks!!1st Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04861609647607912193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552387675026716797.post-1642424897198301532015-04-27T23:36:22.255-05:002015-04-27T23:36:22.255-05:00Amen girl, amen!Amen girl, amen!1st Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04861609647607912193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552387675026716797.post-70042297546608530952015-04-27T23:36:07.787-05:002015-04-27T23:36:07.787-05:00Kymber, hey, you know I've always say if Jam w...Kymber, hey, you know I've always say if Jam wants to work in our heat, and you want to share meals, y'all are welcome here too, ha. I will have to go look at their buildings, I bet they are great. :-)1st Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04861609647607912193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552387675026716797.post-85837729467664477432015-04-27T23:34:19.757-05:002015-04-27T23:34:19.757-05:00DFW, your journey is so much like ours (and you...DFW, your journey is so much like ours (and you've been at it a bit longer than us and have had some of the same issues). Your advice is ALWAYS welcome, from one kindred spirit to another, ha. Funny thing you said about the fire pit, we had 'pictured' in our heads for it to be in one spot, then when we had the sheds put up, it needed to move further away. Now after our rains recently and the standing water in the yard, the area we picked as our second choice is a flood zone, LOL. Sigh, it's a work in progress huh? ;-)1st Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04861609647607912193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552387675026716797.post-86465983226245427622015-04-27T23:30:57.467-05:002015-04-27T23:30:57.467-05:00You have a great thought about the veggie garden, ...You have a great thought about the veggie garden, just covering it up and let 'nature' take its course. And edible crab apples? I had no idea! Will have to google that and see what works best for us down these parts. Thank you for that!!!1st Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04861609647607912193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552387675026716797.post-19749567506951604942015-04-27T22:07:02.852-05:002015-04-27T22:07:02.852-05:00she meant to say "but since adding the buildi...she meant to say "but since adding the buildings that will house kymber and jambaloney, we are changing our minds".<br /><br />have you seen their recent, beautiful outbuildings??? they are on par with yours!!! and we are moving in to either yours or DFW's! i swear! bahahahahah!<br /><br />(just couldn't help myself. oh and DFW actually invited us to move in - she's a good friend!)kymberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02607117635648274823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552387675026716797.post-58368345685599214162015-04-27T21:49:36.965-05:002015-04-27T21:49:36.965-05:00I love the way you think!! Yep, that's it, be...I love the way you think!! Yep, that's it, bees need flowers!! It's food for the bees! I have to feed the bees! Bwahaha1st Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04861609647607912193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552387675026716797.post-8827518685727176542015-04-27T21:48:49.598-05:002015-04-27T21:48:49.598-05:00SO so many!! You are so much like me. Everything...SO so many!! You are so much like me. Everything I do I think "I need to focus on planting food, and stuff we can eat". But then I want color and flowers and fun. We can have fun, right? Ha. I'm going to focus on that now and maybe throw in a few edible perennials (nuts/fruits/etc) and just get some color in the yard. And maybe some of those lilies. ;-)1st Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04861609647607912193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552387675026716797.post-54611585472857156872015-04-27T21:34:00.943-05:002015-04-27T21:34:00.943-05:00Kymber, sweet Kymber, always my voice of reason I ...Kymber, sweet Kymber, always my voice of reason I hear in my head. Maybe I should dub this "the year of flowers"? And perennials (both edible and floral, ha). We kind of have that sense of do it all as fast as possible at times, and we do need to slow down and enjoy along the way, right? Thank you! Luv to you both!!1st Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04861609647607912193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552387675026716797.post-86061989918717119572015-04-27T21:24:51.782-05:002015-04-27T21:24:51.782-05:00LOL! Funny thing I read it as crops, but crows is...LOL! Funny thing I read it as crops, but crows is funny!!! ;-)1st Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04861609647607912193noreply@blogger.com