Excel's Coffee Shop

[excel]

This is some info I posted on this board................
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=98888405
that I thought might help some one here.
If you haven't visited that board before I encourage you to do so there is lot of different knowledgeable people there.




You can use a tractor or make a movable fence.
You can lead your chickens from their runs to that area if they aren't staying in the tractor after they have got use to the sound of treats in a can or bowl they will recognize that sound & follow you like a crack addict.

The chickens will take care of what ever it is you need torn up for a garden and prepare the soil for you with their poop.

In my chicken runs I throw straw in there.
They eat some of it, poop in it, it starts the process of breaking down.

Then after so many months I throw it in my compost pile or depending on the food grown for family or chickens right into my raised rows.

Same as when I change coops bedding.

If food being grown such as sun flowers, corn, pumpkins, for chickens I don't worry about the poop being fully composted.

If this is your first time with chickens make sure you really ask yourself what are your goals?

In other words when I started out I got two of every breed I liked. I knew I'd have blue eggs, green, dark brown, light brown, almost white.

After so many years of having them realizing the expenses involved I now only buy Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rock, Orpingtons.

Reason for this is I no longer care about having different color eggs such as the green & blues as they just don't lay enough to counter the expense.

If you have kids will then suck it up maybe and buy a couple what are called Easter Eggers which will give you anything from blue to green eggs.

If I had to just pick one breed for best egg layers it would be Rhode Island Reds. Not only are they the best layers imo they are the most personable.

The three main foods I grow for my chickens are sunflowers.
This is like crack to them. They go nuts.

Corn. You can freeze them & thaw them out for winter time besides fresh. Give them something to do on those heavy rainy days so they don't fight plus they get their greens also.

Pumpkins. I cut them in half's or less depending on size.
You want them to be eating the seed as it is a natural de-wormer.
You will notice the yolks get even more orange when they eat them.

Buy food grade DE and place it in their food $ water now and then. I also sprinkle it in their coop floor on clean outs.
This link is one Todd gave me years a go to learn about DE.
http://www.earthworkshealth.com/

As Todd said don't buy it there as you can get it much cheaper at your feed stores. Just make sure where ever you are buying it that it is food grade. I buy 50 pounds for around $22.00 at my feed store. If you go to link you'll be amazed at the different uses. As an example if you store wood for your stove you can use it there also to kill the bugs. Make that Wife Happy Happy Happy!

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Garden size - Don't know what you do for work but be careful not to bite off more than you can chew. It can get real discouraging to grow to much and see your harvest suffer due to lack of care because you don't have enough time or you are to tired after work.

Growing God's food should be a JOYFUL time!

It is real easy to sit there planning a garden with someone else who says they are committed to being out there helping you but reality is another story some times. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

It may be for some people to start off smaller then ones original thoughts and see how work schedule works out, commitments from others, then, based on that season of results adjust accordingly.

Any berries you plan on growing do those right away.

Raspberries are quick returns and very good for you.
Blueberries take longer but also very good for you.
Blackberries - check out the different kinds.
Maybe thorn less to keep the kids picking. LOL!
Grow blackberries in pots if you can so you can control their growth by running a rope or anything from one pot to another and cut the runners that travel back to the ground or loop them back up around rope.

Harvest time - Smoothies all year long freezing your berries.
Ever had a fresh raspberry, blueberry, blackberry pie? Oh my!

If you plant blueberries don't go to a box store.
Don't buy starts.
The marketing on blueberries is ridiculous.
They take time to grow and produce unlike the marketing lies.

It is better to spend the money to get bigger size plants from good stock and your investment will pay off BIG TIME!

It was Eddie that posted this link.
This is where I'm going to go for more this year....

http://www.dimeofarms.com/products.html

If you just buy ten then learn how to graft from this stock in 3 years you can have a 50 plants of the same growth and plenty of berries to sell if you desire.

Don't waste your time with bad stock because of price.

This farm price here is the best I've seen anywhere and I've spent many many hours researching blueberries.

Plan your farm well.
Spend the time to think it through.
Where will I be getting water?
Is there a stream I can pump from?
Collect water from roofs?

Water can be expensive depending where you live.
You don't want to be out there thinking oh man my water bill I better go easy.
That is not a joyful way to grow food.

Where will the compost pile be?
Do I need more of them to reduce the work load of transferring?

Where will I store tools?

You will find your plans will change after the reality of the operation gives you better ideas.
Yet, it is best to plan to at least start off saving work.

Have fun!

Freak out your neighbors and grow some of these.

http://www.robsrareandgiantseeds.com/new-giant-sunflower-28-ft-amazon-sunzilla-cross-hybrid-7-seeds-1257/

We live on a dead end road which at end of road starts a forest and people will walk down our street and stop at my yard to gawk at these plants in disbelief. I love to watch them be it kids or adults most have never seen these before.

I grew some different ones 16 ft last year with my saved seeds I know I can get higher with better care and starting earlier.

All you need to do is buy once then you have more seed then you'll ever need and can give to others to enjoy.

Same with corn I grew some 18 ft ....................

http://www.robsrareandgiantseeds.com/giant-blue-corn-35-seeds-16-24ft-rare-1268/

It's a shame I was late getting both the corn & sunflowers planted cause they didn't have a chance to reach best growth potential.

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Now here is the most important part of your farm...............

Unless you have couple dogs that are YOUNG and stay outside 24/7 you best spend your money and time doing this or you going to be one ticked off farmer.

I had one dog 24/7 outside and for years no problem with deer but he's got older and no longer can chase the deer & they know it. Thus my fence this year is going up. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

Build a deer fence around the area that is your family & chickens food harvest. If you don't you will come out there in the morning to find all your hard work GONE or little by little each night depending on the crop.

There is so many different deer fences out there from electric to field fencing do your research.

Look at what your neighbors have.
Go meet them.
This is a good conversation starter.

If you hook up with decent locals they can give you some growing tips also for your area and resources such as best farm supply places to shop at.

Don't forget online just make sure shipping costs don't counter your savings.

Hope this helps.

ENJOY the Journey!