Out Around the Barn

As any proud homeowner will attest, it takes hard work and dedication to get your lawn and garden up to snuff after a long winter. When the snow melts, there’s an abundance of debris to be raked and cleared away. Flowerbeds must be dug and fresh bulbs planted. With all these tasks and more vying for your attention, it’s easy to forget about the importance of pruning your trees.

The aesthetic advantages of pruning are obvious, but there are significant health and safety benefits to the practice as well. Reduce the likelihood of falling branches and limbs causing injury to you and your family members by getting out the various implements from the garden tool caddy and eliminating the dead patches of trees. Trimming dead branches promotes healthy growth in the future. Lush, green trees and shrubs should be the centerpiece of your well-manicured yard.

It is soon to be garden season and we will be getting out our tools to begin our Spring cleanup and garden preparation. 

It is never good to put tools away dirty.  They can rust and that shortens their life span.  One way that I have always cleaned my tools is to wash them and spray a little bit of cooking spray, a cheap farm supply, on them before  I store them for the winter.  This will keep them from rusting and will be ready to use come Spring. 

I, also, found a way to remove rust and that is to brew a pot of black tea, remove dirt from tool, submerge in the liquid and let set for couple of hours.  Be sure not to submerge wooden handle.  The tea’s tannic acid will remove the rust.  Rinse and dry before use.  If your tools are stored correctly then when Spring comes you can shorten your time by using them right away and not having to clean then before using.

Happy Gardening!

In todays economy we have to make use of all the things that we already have on hand.  We just cannot afford to go out and buy new stuff and put it on our credit cards anymore so we must improvise.  It is amazing what you can find around the barn, house or yard that you can make use of.

On of the things that we have started getting a lot of use out of is a drop sided wagon.  (Look in the background of the above picture in the doorway of the barn, and you will see our wagon.)  If and when we need to haul several buckets of feed at once but really don’t need the truck or tractor, it comes in very handy.  A bale of straw or hay fits in it just perfect and you can pull it with you right into the barn.  This little wagon can go places that other equipment cannot even fit into.    It has rubber tires and maneuvers well.  Having a bad back, it has became one of the farm supplies that I cannot do without.  It saves me from having to carry feed out to the cattle because I can just load the buckets and pull them out to the feeders  in the wagon, unload and dump.  The stress and strain is no longer a problem.

Another item I have made use of is a hard rubber water trough.  I placed it up next to the house under a downspout and now collect rain water in it.  I have discovered that by using rain water on my seedlings and plants  in my green house is better for them than city water with all the chlorine.  I bottle it in milk jugs and plastic bottles and store it to use for my house plants all year round.  It really works great.   Even in the winter, I’ll fill the jugs and keep my supply stocked.  I only have a problem if it freezes. 

Look around, see what you can use out of all the things you already have.  You may be surprised.

Here we are almost a year on our blog.  We have posted over 70 blogs and would appreciate comments from our readers.  We would like to know your opinions and ideas about our blog.  If there is an article that caught your eye, let me know your thoughts on the subject.  We look forward to hearing from you.

If there is a subject that you would like to know about, we can do our best to find an answer to your question.

We are a farm family and enjoy our animals and farm life.  So talking about the farm and all that it requires is a passion of ours.  From equine supplements to chicken coupes, we will discuss just about anything.  Comments welcome.

Isn’t this beautiful?  Winter is just around the corner, are you ready?  I’m not ready for the cold and snow but I do believe I am ready for a break.  As much as I love and enjoy my gardening, I am ready to settle down to a little rest. 

I was  dissappointed with my garden harvest this year, we had way too much rain in the Spring, and three plantings later my garden began to grow.  I had tomatoes early and was really looking forward to a good crop, well that was a flop.  After August, with the weather being so cool, the plants lacked the heat they needed to produce.  My bush and pole beans done well for a fews weeks and then they quit producing.  The squash and zucchini did not do well at all and my peppers only produced half of what they did last year.  Since September we have had below normal temps and my 2nd (Fall) planting was doing well until it decided to fr0st last week.  Now we are done.

I was getting frustrated at worrying all the time if my plants would produce and what I could do to save them.  Now all I have is about seven tomato plants that I saved and put in my greenhouse for the winter.  I am hoping that I can, at least, have a few tomatoes throughout the winter months.  Cleaning the leftover debris of vines and old plants  out of the garden now take precedence in getting everything ready for Spring.

Now that we are at the end of gardening season, the garden tool caddy, tool organizer, tools, lawn mower, wagon, tomato stakes and bean and cucumber supp0rts will all be put away.  I keep out only the few tools that I need for my flowering plants and tomatoes.  All of these plants are in pots so my small hand tools are all that is needed and a  bucket for watering.   

Each year I learn something new to try in my garden.  Last year I started my own herb garden and it has worked out really well.  Being diabetic I have learned a whole new way to cook with herbs and growing my own is inexpensive and healthy.  This year, I mastered growing potatoes in tiers of tires.  That was great!  They did well.

I kept a journal this year of all that I planted, what location, the dates they were planted, what fertilizer, if any, was used,  and how they produced.  Also, I kept track of any problems, such as changes in the leaves color and growth period.  This will help me next year in planning my new garden. 

Looking forward to a new planting season after a much needed rest.

If you do not live on a farm or if you have never been on a farm this question is not that silly.  I was always told that no question is silly if you do not know the answer.  To someone like me, the first time I was asked this, I was surprised.  It seemed so funny that y0u wouldn’t know what is around a barn.

I guess the first thing most of us would say is animals.  Whether it be horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs or whatever livestock we raise.  Then, of course, there is the feed, horse feed, cattle feed, salt blocks, minerals and cat and dog food.  Also, there is the hay for the animals to eat and straw for their bedding.

Then the next thing would be the equipment, such as, tractors, wagons, combines, disks and maybe plows.

Of course, there would be all the neccessities of farm life such as fencing supplies, shovels, rakes, pitchforks, manure spreaders, buckets, log chains, hammers, wrenches and all other kinds of tools.  

It may be surprising what you find out around the barn.  You might find lumber, where someone has been building something or horse shoes lying on the ground where they have just finished shoeing a horse, halters and bridles hanging and saddles on saddle racks in a tack room.  There will be lead ropes and sorting sticks and sorting paddles used for herding the livestock.  You might even find a skull or two of bulls or deer. 

There is just no telling what you may find.  I do know that a farm is a great place for a treasure hunt. 

Any how, these are just a few of the things you will find on a farm, out around the barn.

What is the main reason a person gardens?  Is it because they like the fresh vegetables or they like the exercise and being outdoors?  There are many reasons I suppose.  It is a wonderful hobby for the weekend gardener that likes to work the soil and help make things grow and it is great for exercise but, I like it because I can provide fresh food for my family.  The other reason is I enjoy canning and putting up fruit and veggies in the freezer for winter use.  We have food year round that I know is healthy because I grew it and kn0w exactly how it was grown.

I look forward to my garden harvest.  The fresh tomatoes is unbeatable on taste and the green beans, whether bush or pole, taste much better than from a can.  Corn is so much sweeter when cut fresh from the cob and frozen.  It is so good around the holidays with the turkey and ham.  The cucumbers are even better fresh with their crisp mouthwatering flavor. 

At first harvest we get our fill of the fresh produce and we eat it everyday, then we begin to tire a little of having  the same things so we start trying new recipes and then we start planning for the months ahead.

The first thing is the green beans.  I try to can as much as I can, since I do it for ourselves and our grown children.  Then the corn is ready and we put it up in quarts.  Hopefully with a good harvest we have plenty but this year wasn’t one of them.   Too much early rain, not enough time to grow.  During June through September we can tomatoes into juice, stewed, whole, diced and salsa.  This year nothing.  My tomatoes are just now coming on, we have had a few to eat but, not enough for canning.  The cucumbers are the same. 

I was really disappointed with my harvest.  I am hoping that a late garden will work out better.  I have several late tomato plants starting to bloom,  new bush beans are coming up, my pole beans are just now coming on, the yellow squash and zucchini are beginning to produce and my peppers are doing great.  I believe my best crop is going to be my sweet potatoes, they have just vined and bloomed everywhere.  I did get my first ever crop of potatoes to produce well this year.  Also, my cucumbers are blooming like crazy and I have several little ones coming on. 

So even though my garden is late and is just now beginning, I still enjoy gardening.  I keep my garden tool caddy close at hand and weed out my garden weekly, make sure it gets plenty of water and pray for the sun and heat it needs to produce the food to tide my family over through out the winter months.  I acquired my greenhouse this year so I am anxious to see what magic I can produce in there this winter.   

With my late harvest, I hope to do more canning and put up a few tomatoes and more beans.  We will see how it goes.

So if you enjoy gardening, for whatever reason, I hope your harvest is plentiful and your green thumb blesses you with the wonderful pride you feel while you watch your garden grow.

Spring has sprung and Summer is here.  It is this time of year that we love and enjoy working out in the yard.  If you are anything like me, you’ll find something new that you want to either add or remove from your yard.  It may be some new rose bushes that you want to add or a part of your yard that just isn’t working anymore.

I have discovered my love or preference to Daylillies, the regular and dwarf sizes.  They are so easy to take care of and I have added several to my yard this year and plan on several more.  It is getting late enough in the planting season that I  have a dozen more to set out and the rest are bulbs that I will plant for next year in my greenhouse and then set them out.  

I have found that to plant these, after they are about 4-6 in. high, it is easier to use a spade shovel.  It makes the hole large enough and it is much easier on my back to set the plant in and cover.  I planted over two dozen last year and this summer they are just beautiful.

Another project is my patio.  It is covered with river rock and does have a weed problem in the Spring.  It takes a couple of times of Round Up to be rid of those.  I then keep it nice looking by using a yard rake to keep it leveled out from the dogs and keep the leaves and limbs off of it.  It has a country feel to it when we entertain and has enough sand in the rock foundation to keep it pretty dry even when it rains.  We had discussed pouring concrete but, there are tree roots so close that it causes caution to go through with. 

I have finally decided that the rock foundation is okay and that I can decorate and landscape just fine.  I recently added some hanging plants and will be purchasing an octagon picnic table for the area.  I have a potting table off to one side where I prepare my plants for my garden and greenhouse and a bench that fits around the tree close by to sit on.  I have my water bucket close to my table and a rain barrel that catches the rain water off the house.  The garden hose is hanging within working distance to help with the watering of the garden and plants.  I have surrounded our home with plants and bushes of all kinds.

With my son’s help and my garden tractor and wagon, we were able to bring my plans for a rock garden, at the back of the house, to life.  We hauled several loads of rock to accomplish this task.  My partner was good enough to provide all the rocks I needed in different sizes. It took some laying of weed control fabric and muscle to finish this project but it looks beautiful now that it is done.

The other projects like planting Inpatients, Gladiolas, Marigolds, Black and Blue Sage and etc. required a little help from tools like trowels and small rakes and buckets for water.  You never know what tools you may need so I keep mine in a handy garden tool organizer to carry with me as I go from one job to the other.  The smaller tools fit great in an organizer and the larger ones I can lay in my wagon.  When I am done, I clean and hang up the shovel, rake and hoe and I can then hang up the organizer and keep all the small tools together.

I love the outdoors and can’t get enough of it.  There is always something to do outside in the fresh air and having the right equipment is a major plus.  If you don’t have what you need, borrow from your neighbors or rent from a local garden store.   There are many possibilities.

I was one of the worst, I’ll have to admit.  I would use tools and not think a thing about them once I was done.  I would just put them up and go on with whatever I was doing.  As I became more involved in gardening and working on the farm, I realized that in order to have tools that will last, you need to do a little one on one care with them.

For example;  after using a shovel, do you just store it or clean off the dirt first, or a hoe, rake, spade?  Well, I would just put them away, until I finally realized that if I would clean them off, they would last longer and I wouldn’t have to buy new ones every year or so. 

The best thing to do is a little chore Allen’s dad taught him years ago, clean off the dirt real well, then oil it with vegetable oil or spray.  This will keep them from rusting over the winter months and come spring, they will be ready to use again.  You don’t have to oil them every time you use them but, cleaning them off is a must every time.

The same goes for your wheelbarrel.  Clean it out and don’t let it sit with debris in it.  Especially if water sets in it, it will rust and then need to be replaced.  It wouldn’t be a bad idea to oil it once or twice a year also.  Keep the air in the tire checked and you will be able to manuver it well.  Those tires are hard to change, especially when they have been on for so long.

Another garden tool is the tiller.  It needs to be serviced as well.  The oil needs to be checked on a regular schedule, the gas needs to be drained at the end of the Summer and fresh put in before using in the Spring.  The tines need cleaned and cleared of all debris and sharpened and a little oil on them will do wonders as well.  Check the spark plug, as it may need to be replaced periodically, and clean the outside of dust and dirt.  You can take a leaf blower and blow out any dust from the engine to clear that area also.

Your lawn mower needs the same care and service as well as your weed eater.  Just make sure your weed eater is getting the correct gas and oil mix that is recommended.   I recently learned that mine requires a synthetic oil and it runs a whole lot better. 

Once this is done, a place to store your tools is in a good garden tool organizer or shed.  I have a specific shed for all my tools.  They are organized on the walls and the smaller ones in a tool caddy.  My tiller, wheelbarrel, mower and weed eater all go there as well.

This is not a hard chore or job to complete.  It takes a minimal amount of time and your tools will last for years to come.

Before I begin, I would like to say that there are several farm and garden tools that have dual purposes.  I would like to mention a few.

There is, of course, the hammer.  It is used for a number of  jobs such as;  building fence, repairing the barn, all around repairs and I use one in my garden for driving stakes for my plants or building trellises for my blackberries or flowers.

Another one is the pitchfork, which is used to move hay or straw, clean out stalls and work my compost pile.

Then, there is the water hose.  This particular tool is an essential on the farm and around the house for any one with a garden or flower bed.  Even without these there is the lawn that needs water and of course the swimming pool. 

My personal water hose is three attached hoses.  It goes with me to water every plant in my flower beds and garden.  It reaches all my tomatoes west of my garden to all of my daylillies south of the house to the five flower beds east of the house to my blackberries and plants north of the house and then to my garden itself.  

It is also used to wash down the well and clean it out when mud gets clogged in the lines and to wash the machinery and equipment.  

Another use is to wash/bathe our animals.  The horses get hosed down every once in a while, more when we are using them regularly, to keep their coats clean.  The dogs need a bath after a long work day and we have to make sure all the animals have fresh water to drink. 

So, there are many dual purpose tools out there that we use on a regular basis and the water hose is just one of many dual purpose garden tools.