skip to main content

Organic Gardening

Pics of my Organic veggie garden,,AND my chickens and Dog.

15 years ago

I thought I would share some pics of my newest gardens,,,The vegatable garden in the raised beds were planted May 22nd. All organic.

Here is a link that might be useful: Flowers n Hens

Comments (8)

rosefolly
15 years ago
Lovely gardens, so green and thriving. What kind of chickens?
flowersnhens
Original Author
15 years ago
HI there,,the chickens are buff orpingtons, white leghorns, and I also have Rhose Island reds and Australorps,,but I don't believe they were included in the photos.
Related Discussions
Are we nuts? Thinking of ripping out all my sod for veggies.
Q
Comments (22)
I realize I'm coming late to this party, since the thread has been going for a bit now. I try to put in as many new planting areas each year as I can. Less lawn the better. Last year, when it appeared that gasoline would be maybe $5 to $8 a gallon by now, it was somewhat easier to convince skeptical family members that this was a good thing. It will be somewhat less so this year, but hey, they'll get over it. I'm the one that does all of the outdoor work anyway, so it really shouldn't be a big concern for them. I have my eye this year on an area towards the back of my 2nd acre that's about 80 feet wide by 40 feet long. It's at the top of a hill with fairly sandy, loam soil and a southern exposure, with a slight slope. I do have a bit of a deer problem around here, and I'm considering putting some of my sand-loving, more deer resistant crops like potatos, groundcherries, quinoa, garlic, and tomatillos up there, with drip irrigation and black plastic, so that I can plant some of the more deer vulnerable crops in my lower garden, closer to the house, and fence them off. I'm not at all convinced that the price decline in oil/gasoline is permanent by any means. The theory of "Peak Oil" certainly does explain a lot of the economic turmoil going on around the world. I certainly wouldn't be surprised if gasoline prices climbed right back up there within the next year or two, as crazy as the economic situation seems today. The good news is that I have proven able to grow far more food than I and my immediate family can possibly eat, so I have it to share with others. The bad news on that front is that, last year, I had trouble giving away perfectly good, high-quality produce because I kept encountering an attitude of "we don't like that" or "we don't really cook." I found this rather sad. I would encourage anyone interested to grow as much of their own food as possible. The world is sad enough these days, and gardening certainly seems to bring more than a little much needed joy to the world. Dennis SE Michigan
...See More
Roundup got sprayed on my organic garden.. need advice
Q
Comments (54)
janice, this is an old thread, and you may well find some good info on it, but since you need help fast I'd suggest you start a brand new thread and post your photos and your text above on it. That will get people's attention and hopefully get you some help fast. For the dog I'd suggest calling your vet asap. So sorry this has happened! And I hope that you'll get some good answers soon from folks who know about these things.
...See More
For AnicÃ©e - My GIrls - chickens in 2012
Q
Comments (20)
You're 'girls' are beautiful Annie! I loved having chickens but when we moved to this large acreage I felt it would be risky to have them as there are so many eagles, hawks, and owls so we gave them to a friend. We would have had to use netting over their run and couldn't have let them free-range. On our previous small acreage they were safer and I never lost one to predators even tho I let them free range in the daytime in the warm seasons. They were relatively safe as we had dogs, sheep, horses, and cattle nearby as guards. They had a fenced run but I liked to let them out so the grass would grow back in their run and they could dig through the manure and compost piles for bugs and eat the slugs and bugs in my garden. They had their dust baths and afternoon naps in the back of my perennial beds near the house so I didn't plant anything in that space. They did leave their droppings on the patio but that was easy to 'wash' into the beds daily as extra fertilizer! Mine were Buff Orpington/Bantam crosses altho were still a decent size and laid good size eggs. Hens can become quite tame and make good pets. My daughter used to carry one around and the hen 'cuddled' up to her! I miss having chickens and also their eggs! Jack is a lovely boy! Does he chirp? My tabby Maine Coon hardly ever does anymore altho did when he first came to us. He seldom ever even meows anymore, guess he gets what he wants/needs without! When he first arrived here to adopt us I didn't know much about Maine Coons and found his voice and chirping strange. The Grands love to pet him and he adores them - he's a 'cuddle' cat. He's 16 pounds altho looks bigger as he has such long fur and needs frequent combing or gets mats. I also have a ginger tabby who is not as big being only 12 pounds, currently using my leg as a pillow!
...See More
Ouch! - AKA My new veggie beds
Q
Comments (9)
Thanks, all! There are actually two planted beds right now - the 2nd one is hidden by the 1st one in that photo. So, a total of 5 for next year. Lorna - No dogs at our house, but plenty in the neighborhood. Every so often, one will run across the yard, but none have dug anything up so far - knock on wood. Annette - I'm considering doing raspberries in a raised bed, but not sure where, unless I use one of the veggie beds or something. Ideally, I want to make a long border along where I was standing, to hide the veggies from being the prime view out my living room window, and I don't think I want that border to be of raspberries! Gldno - Yes, I know asparagus is a lifetime planting. I'm pretty excited to finally make one - at our old house, we weren't planning to be there that long, so I didn't want to invest the time & energy. For strawberries, I want to do day neutral ones, which supposedly only live a year or two and don't send out runners as much as normal ones. But, then I can harvest gradually, and not all at once. We're pretty excited about all this stuff to plant up...it's easier to justify spending money on the veggie garden than the flowers, lol.
...See More
tetrazzini
15 years ago
Your chickens are beautiful! I've been thinking about getting some, for eggs, but there are too many issues I can't figure out how to deal with. For instance, if you let them roam freely, how do you protect them from pets and wildlife? That's the main hitch for me, I guess. And what do you feed them in winter? (I'd want to keep their food organic.)
flowersnhens
Original Author
15 years ago
Hi there,,well, the only time I have to worry about anything getting my chickens is at night, but they are closed up in there coops very securely so nothing can get in. I have 3 dogs and 2 big cats. None of them bother the chickens at all. It depends on your pets. Mine have been around them for about 6 or 7 years. You can also keep them penned up around their coop if you don't want them to free range. I do not feed them organically anymore due to the high prices of the feed. I buy regular chicken feed but I also give them watermelon, yogurt, peas, corn, black sunflower seeds, berries, scraps from the kitchen, etc.
My chickens stay in the yard, they don't wander off into the woods or anything. They even stay out of the road. They dont travel like Guinea hens do. Guinea hens will travel up to 1/4 mile away from home. I lost all 10 of mine in one season. If you go on the "farmlife" forum, there are alot of people over there who own chickens and have good ideas.
tetrazzini
15 years ago
Thanks. That's really interesting to me that your pets don't bother them and the chickens don't wander into the woods. We live on 2 acres surrounded by trees which are the remnants of woods....
flowersnhens
Original Author
15 years ago
Yes, well they dont wander into the woods because they prefer to be on green grass where they scratch for bugs. My dogs are 2 female chocolate labs and a male pitbull who are very calm and Layed back. They are well trained and they know that those chickens are our pets too. One of my labs will chase them out of the vegetable garden for me if I tell her to, but she never actually tries to catch them, it is more just entertainment for her than anything.
swjonthebay
15 years ago
Beautiful gardens, flowersnhens! If you don't mind me asking a question WAY OT? DH and I are building a house and the ceiling in your kitchen caught my eye. What kind of wood is that? It's lovely. We have been thinking of v-groove pine and pickling it but now that I've seen yours...well, that may have to change!
flowersnhens
Original Author
15 years ago
HI Swjonthebay: That is birch,,,but I actually wish I had gone with TEAK, because that is what we have put on all of our floors. It would have matched alot better with the floors. We have a supplier up here who is selling it for $3.99 a square foot. That is a great deal,,cuz usually exotic wood goes for atleast $7.50 per square foot. I love teak and was happy to find it at this price.

Sign Up to Comment

Related Stories

FARM YOUR YARD How to Build a Raised Bed for Your Veggies and Plants

By Annie Thornton

Whether you’re farming your parking strip or beautifying your backyard, a planting box you make yourself can come in mighty handy

FARM YOUR YARD Houzz Call: Show Us Your One-of-a-Kind Chicken Coops

By Annie Thornton

Do you have a fun or stylish backyard shelter for your feathered friends? Post your pictures and stories in the Comments!

HOUZZ TV Houzz TV: How to Make and Plant a Veggie Box

By Annie Thornton

See how to start edibles from seed, then transfer the seedlings to a box on stilts to make harvesting more fun

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Grow Your Own Sweet Summer Crops

By Marianne Lipanovich

This guide will help any gardener get started on growing the freshest warm-season veggies and berries for summer

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Chicken Coops That Rule the Roost

By Vanessa Brunner

These 8 chicken coops designed by Houzz users will have you clucking in admiration — and maybe even planning a henhouse of your own

MOST POPULAR 8 Backyard Ideas to Delight Your Dog

By Marianne Lipanovich

Cue the joyous soundtrack. These pet-friendly landscape and garden ideas will keep your pooch safe, happy and well exercised outdoors

GARDENING GUIDES Organic Matters: Thwart Insect Pests With Trap Crops

By Therese Ciesinski

Add a few sacrificial plants to your garden to lure insects away from the harvest

PETS So You're Thinking About Getting a Dog

By Alison Hodgson

Prepare yourself for the realities of training, cost and the impact that lovable pooch might have on your house

PETS Houzz Pets Survey: Who Rules the House — Dogs or Cats?

By Mitchell Parker

New data shows that pets make people happy, and pet owners love spending big to return the favor

LIFE Easy Green: Modern Homesteaders Stake a Claim

By Laura Gaskill

With more options for raising chickens, growing edibles and keeping bees than ever, suburban and city folk are rediscovering a lost art

Sponsored

More Discussions

Protecting apples organically from insect/worm damage

7

What is the effective way to control spider mites?

13

Tissues for earthworms?

4

anyone try "Garden Soup FOR the Soil " product

5

Which bagged compost

2