Frost + green tomato harvest

Our first killing frost happened a few days ago. I was mostly ready except for a bunch of green tomatoes.

Tomato harvest ready to cook down into sauce:

E-Book review - Weekend Homesteader

As I've delved into the blogging world over the last couple of weeks, one of the sites I read regularly is the Walden Effect, by Anna and Mark Hess.  In addition to regular blog updates about life on their homestead in Virginia, Anna writes a monthly ebook called the Weekend Homesteader. I got my hands on a copy of the November edition and found some very useful information. Anna has articles about garden rotation, storing water, how to cook a whole chicken, and the one I found most thought-provoking, diversifying your income.

Anna and Mark make their living selling a poop-free chicken waterer that Mark invented called the Avian Aqua Miser.

I've always been an entrepreneurial sort, but as Anna points out, you have to be careful that your brilliant idea doesn't end up being just a hobby if it only pays you mere pennies per hour for your time.  Anna and Mark have sold eggs, honey and grapes off their farm, and ended up making less than minimum wage for their effort.

There are two things that Anna says has made the chicken waterer business a success: selling a niche product and cheap internet marketing to an international audience.

Both of those principles are food for thought for me. I have a side business right now selling refurbished laptops on Amazon. I am taking advantage of the second principle, but my product is not very niche - I have a lot of competition.

You can get your copy of the Weekend Homesteader for only 99 cents on Amazon.com, or check the Walden Effect, as Anna posts many of the articles throughout the month.

Thanks for visiting!

John

Painting the Chicken Coop

The cobbled-together chicken coop has a coat of paint! I took advantage of the almost-warm 50 degree sunny day and used up a leftover can of yellow. (See before pics here.)

Chicken lighting

It's time for a new lighting strategy for our chickens. Penny was cackling loudly this morning at 6am - I think she just laid an egg.

I have a light in the coop, which I turn on each morning at 4:30am (the time I leave for work). This extends their 'daylight' to about 14 hours. Unfortunately I don't think our neighbors will appreciate a chicken making noises while it's still dark outside.

Everything I've read says to add lighting in the morning instead of the evening, but this seems to be primarily so that the hens won't be suddenly in the dark at night and unable to find their roost. With 2 chickens, I think I will be able to set them up on the roost myself and then turn off the light for them. If this will keep down the noise and make us better neighbors, it'll be well worth it. I'm going to transition them from morning lighting to evening lighting - dusk to 9pm.

Do you use artificial light for your chickens?

This week I finished my attempt at 2 cold frames / mini-greenhouses. We'll see if I can put them to good use. I picked up 20 free windows on craiglist, put them together with deck screws, and added a 49 cent hinge set from Marc's!

Those 3 black trays have freshly planted lettuce in the them. Is there any chance I can grow a crop of lettuce since it's already the end of October in northeast Ohio? I don't know, but I'm going to try. Maybe if I put a blanket over the greenhouse on the really cold nights?

Jonathan showing off the other completed cold frame with a strawberry plant pot and basil inside:

I took a few pictures of the chickens while I was at it. Fresh leaves were added to the run and the old wet ones were taken to the compost pile today:

Thanks for visiting!

John



Making Applesauce

There are probably as many ways to make applesauce as there are varieties of apples - but here's how I did it this week.

 The apples: Cortlands from Hillcrest Orchard in Walnut Creek. They are similar to McIntosh but sweeter.

 

 The equipment: In the tradition of Lindsay's grandparents, Ann and Merle Brown, I used a cone-shaped ricer. We bought this at the Berlin Antique Mall but you can also buy them new, like this one on Amazon.

 

First I washed the apples, then I used a corer/slicer, and then I put them in a big stockpot.

 After cooking the apples until soft, it was time to use the ricer!

 The finished product went in freezer bags and into the freezer.

Welcome!

Thanks for checking out my blog!

I've decided to do this for two main reasons - as a personal journal of the projects I undertake, and to hopefully make connections with others who love real organic food and are interested in making and growing more of their own.


There is always something new to learn and I would love to hear your comments and suggestions!

 John