Projects of 2012

It seems odd that we will be starting a new year in just a few days.  2012 has flown by.  So what did we do this year???  It is nice to look back and see. (click on the photo to go to the actual post)

Sewed some dresses.  All scrap material I had on hand, cost: a few hours of my time. 



I spruced up a couple chairs with paint and roses.  They now reside in front of my sewing table.  Cost: zero, the chairs came with a table I had bought at a thrift store eons ago and I just had them in storage. 



I crocheted a cardigan that I still love out of bamboo cotton yarn.  Cost:  $30



We made our straw bale mini greenhouse garden.  It worked fantastic last Spring and now I need to toss in some lettuce and spinach seeds to get started.  Cost: 6 bales of straw at $7 each.  The lumber was scrap we had on hand and the plastic was too.  Total = $42.00



I bought an incubator to hatch chicks.  My first batch of Swedish Flower hens.  This was so much fun I did it again with Black Copper Maran eggs.  Cost for incubator about $150 (which worked great!), the eggs ran about $50, this is a new breed to the US so the hatching eggs are pricy, but a hen alone if $50 to purchase so the eggs were the way to go. 



We built a faux pew bench from plywood. 



One of the most popular posts this year was this on of the old buckets stacked and planted.  I did enjoy this all summer.  I think I would like to make a real fountain out of buckets this next summer.  



Another highly popular post was this one on How to Paint a vintage saloon sign.



I also shared tons of signs I shipped out to my wonderful customers.   Now I am working hard on a new website, trying to improve and make it easier to navigate.  

I am looking forward to another productive and exciting year!
Have a great day. 

  





 

Benefits of a straw bale raised bed or a Hot bed.

Back in February I shared the construction of our straw bale raised bed



also known as a hot bed.  I half filled it with chicken debris, some of which was fresh, from our chicken house and pen.  Such useful little gals. The debris will begin to compost along with the wet straw bales and produce heat, heating the soil inside.



Then I topped it with about 6 inches of potting soil.  I planted some Trombetta seeds from Renee’s Garden

The absolutely best summer squash you have ever eaten, it stays firm when cooked and has the most fabulous flavor.  Give it a trellis and ROOM, it loves to climb!

But is also likes a long HOT summer, and ours is not so I improvise with the hot bed. 

I also planted a yummy Brandywine tomato.  I planted one in the hot bed and one in my garden in the back yard. 

We have had some crazy weather the past month or so.  Warm and toasty, even at night then the temperature drops dramatically and we get snow!  All who garden know that tomatoes don’t like snow.
 
Here is my fat and happy Brandywine inside the hot bed.



Yes, that is weeds growing out of the straw bale, I did not get the weed free straw but it is not hard to pull out.

And here is the poor struggling tomato plant outside in the back garden.



I am not sure the photos capture how dramatic the difference is but you can certainly tell in person. 

This tells me I need to put in more straw bale beds.  Last I purchased straw it had jumped to $9 a bale, yikes, just 2 years ago it was $5.  So it is an investment, but they last a few years and if I can get more produce in less time, then it is worth it. 
And how about that squash…



Trombetta is a happy camper too.  In fact, I need to thin out a couple.  I think I have 6 plants that came up. 

I will see if I can transplant some to the back and see how they do.

Though the straw bale bed is not the purdiest thing it is rather disguised with all the flowers blooming their hearts out.



Happy planting everyone!

Backwoods Cottage.com




 Passionately Artistic

A Western Raised Bed

Good  morning all.  With the wonderful weather we have been having I decided to get a raised bed built to start our lettuce and spinach in.  I have a bed in back for that purpose but it does not get much sun right now.  

Click here to go to other post on straw bale raised beds.

So we are putting one on the South side of the house to capture what sun we can at this time of year.  We eat tons of lettuce and it makes sense to grow it since it is so easy.

First off we need to consider snow, we have not had much this year, especially compared to the numerous feet of it we got last year but we can get a good amount up thru May.  That being said we needed to build a cover for the bed to make it like a greenhouse that is strong enough to hold up to the heavy wet white stuff should we get it. 



My husband rounded up the scraps of 2x4’s and some 3/4 inch plywood and made this gambrel shape.  It is quite sturdy and he assures me it will take whatever the weather throws at it. 



A few more angles.





We covered it with some clear plastic, 6 mil I do believe.  Fastened it with staples but not all the way down so I can lift the sides to access the bed.

It reminds me of a covered wagon.



This should heat up whatever bed it sets on just fine and extend my season quite well.



We purchased some straw bales to set it up on, making a hot bed. First I will grow lettuce in it while the weather is on the cool side then use it for plants that like it hot, tomatoes, peppers etc.  Maybe I can get some good home grown tomatoes to ripen for me much earlier!

Also this makes it easier on my back rather than stooping to the ground.  Now to fill up the bed and plant my seeds.  Not today though.



Winter is reminding us that it is still here!

My back deck yesterday..



And now today…



I need to head to my studio, I have sign orders to fulfill.  A good day to spend indoors painting flowers!