It is Spring time ... lots of work to do
Now that spring is in the air, we have to get to work to get ready for next winter. It may seem backwards with most people as this is the time of year where people make plans for their holidays and time to rest. That is how disconnected we are from the cycles of nature. Winter time is rest time, spring is birth & planting, summer is growth, fall is harvest. When we get back into that cycle we find our bodies start to heal and are far less stressed as well. So how do we know it is spring? Well the snow is gone, but nature also recognizes the urgency to get stuff done. The lady bugs told me it is so, so I better listen!
Now that the baby ducks are getting big, we felt it was time to start hatching eggs. In the past we tried incubating in March and had to run the generator a lot as our solar system could not handle the power load with such little sun. We then moved the process to April and still found a need to run the generator. This year we are doing it in May and have yet to run the generator! Turns out that with the longer days as we approach summer solstice, we end up with a 3 month window for running the incubator. We found the sweet spot. We end up with late season chicks, but at least we found a way to sustain the process. Still would be better if the hens did the work themselves. Our next project!
With the major flooding that happened this spring our greenhouse was damaged and it needs repair. A summer project for sure. So we decided to work on our atrium in the front of our earthship and add more planters. The bench and planter went in a few days ago so that we have much more growing space for food! It also turned the space into something that we now enjoy spending time in as well. The more form I can add the better things go!
The other sign that spring is hear; the potatoes were telling me it is time to return to the garden. So I started planting potatoes yesterday and will continue for the next few days. The plan is to get hundreds of potatoes planted as they are a staple for us throughout the fall, winter and spring. Summer time there is no potatoes, so we tend to lean on eggs and rice instead.
We live north of the 54th parallel, which may seem extreme to some people. However out here, even the beavers can still get a satellite signal for their TV and internet access. lol
While I may not be on line that much right now, I do think of you all and will do my best to share so that we all can find ways to interact and learn from one another. May our experiences inspire others to consider living off the grid, reducing their participation with the violence and find peace with their lives so that they can then pay it forward.
May Creator bless you with peace, freedom, prosperity, joy and love.
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Good day!! So nice to come across your blog post this morning! Your atrium is coming along really well. No doubt that's a nice place to spend time especially when winter comes. Wishing you all the best with your hatching 🐣 and with the potatoes. Too bad about the greenhouse but it is what it is and the rebuild will lead to new and exciting aspects to that part of your homestead. Oh the fun and inspiration is certainly percolating!! Have a wonderful productive day planting 🌱 i am helping my sister start her #growfoodnotlawn garden!! A first for her. It's very invigorating 🐢🍃🌱 catch you next time 🙌
Bravo! I look forward to seeing pictures of that! I have friends in Windsor that just put planter boxes in their whole front yard. I'm excited to see what they grow. Lots of people drop by to ask questions, which is a great thing!
This happening for any aspect of life, gardening and the move towards success is always reason to celebrate!
I planted our potatoes last weekend... got the mounds ready! I did some red gold this year. Last year we had yukon gold. One day I want to find some fingerlings to plant; haven't had any luck yet.
I hope the damage to your greenhouse isn't too extensive. I'd be lost with out the use of mine. They are both getting fuller and fuller right now as I continue adding seedlings out there to harden up for the ground.
We have reds, purples from Peru, purples from Newfound Land that have been here for 250 years and several verities of whites (Yukon and others). We still had snow a few weeks ago, so I'm grateful to get into the garden. lol The greenhouse had significant damage, so I have a lot of work to do. I still have water in the greenhouse as well. It will take time to fix it. Great to hear from you again my friend. I do miss these interactions. I hope your potatoes do well.
In this time of the year we call it the early rainy season by the way we have two seasons here in Nigeria and most part of Africa. though our weather encourages incubation at any time and season without running much of generator [cos we can always use solar energy] we still plant most of our crops in this time of the season as a matter of fact this is a time for work and not rest or holiday. Good post bro upped and resteemed.
Thank you for sharing that. Yes, you may not get 6 months of snow, but the cycles are still very similar. It is great that you recognize that as well. Thank you for confirming what I speak about. Peace to you and may Creator bless your crops for a good season so that we can all prepare for the coming winter ... whether we get snow or not. :)
Oh man! Looks like a nice fishing stream. Forget the farming... go fishing! Love those farm fresh eggs too. Blessings.
There are pike in the Tawatinaw river. It is flowing right now due to spring run off. Later on in the season it will slow down significantly. But there are fish! Hopefully in about 10 days those farm fresh eggs will turn into farm fresh chickens!
No Way! is that where chickens come from? Blessings.
lol. Way! In this cycle, the egg came first. A few weeks ago the chicken came first. That whole riddle is easily answered when we contemplate the time paradox. It all depends on what time you ask the question! How easy was that! hahahaha
This time of year we have two seasons in Nigeria and Africa mostly in the rainy season by the way there are two seasons. Most of the time, most generators encourage euctions at anytime and in the season without running. We still have our most harvested plant plants at this time of season.In these two months the plant yields, so these two months will be beneficial for all types of plants such as mushroom crops should be produced.
Do keep sharing, your experience is really helpful, particularly for those of us who love gardening and nature.
You're right about spring being work time. It's really weird how we humans have distorted nature's calender
I will do my best @empress-eremmy. I am grateful you find value in the sharing.
haha that's a good thing mate, otherwise how would you share your lifestyle with this community?
Living off the grid might be interesting but I don't think it can be done in every country ... well, perhaps this is just me seeing complications :)
:) I know it is tough, but I really do think living off grid has nothing to do with which country one lives in but rather how prevalent the grid is. The grid is entrenched in many areas and it will be tough due to the support it gets from the people. However, when the grid starts to fail, and it will, the ideas that I share will suddenly become more main stream. Of that I have no doubts.
beautiful post
great work man, have a nice day...
Thanks for sharing this..