2020 – Homespun

A Chapter on 2020 Homespun, by K. Nesbitt(C)2020

Join Me for a Cuppa!

If you have to garden, do so intensely! Join me and my other readers who have purchased a piece of my garden with this beautiful mug with glorious shots of the garden here at the ranch. Help support me and the ventures here with this blog, while I bring you tips and information on gardening and how it grows for me!

GARDEN INTENSELY DRINKWARE COFFEE MUG
by KBE_LTD_FLORAL

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Some Days…

“Some days are good,

Some days are bad.

So whatever you do

Laugh and be glad!”

~K. Nesbitt~

Well, today is 12-11-19 and my gardening NEW YEAR begins. I have placed my initial seed order for 2020 and I am ready to roll.

And So, It Begins…

Thanks to the URI program I have placed my order and have about 120 varieties of seed for various herbs, flowers, and vegetables for our Victory Garden coming in. They should arrive for me in mid-January and should give me plenty of time to organize them and to get growing. I have already prepared my calendar for what will be sown and when .

2020 Victory Garden Seed Ordered!

I will need to check my seed inventory upon arrival and mark my Calendar planner that they came and sort them for planting.

I got a letter today 1-2-20 that URI is not available to me and I will have to check my inventory for what will be missing on my seed order against the stock I have if any. Then order the seed that a re missing to complete the victory garden,

Sadly, the URI seed program is no longer available to me as they changed their districts and my state is no longer included. So now I will have to order seed through other sources.

My list was as follows:

(The week of 1-5-20, I did make another order through a couple companies on Amazon and will have to adjust this list to reflect that to see what I am missing. This order was received before 1-20-20 and I have been inventorying the new packets.)

01-12-20 – worked on inventorying herbs. Almost finished, but it was getting really late so I have a few for in the morning to do.

01-13-20 – Starting the morning of where I left off on the herbs, then will work on the vegetable inventory

Herbs – Packets

• Basil – in stash
• Calendula – ordered
• Chamomile – in stash
• Chives – in stash, ordered
• Cilantro – in stash
• Dill – in stash
• Fennel – in stash
• Hyssop – raised bed
• Lavender – in fridge
• Lemon balm – in stash
• Lemon Grass – ordered
• Marjoram – in stash
• Mint – in stash
• Oregano – in stash
• Parsley – in stash
• Peppermint – raised bed
• Rosemary – in stash
• Sage “bicolor” – raised bed
• Sage – Clary – blue – rased bed
• Sage – Clary pink – raised bed
• Sage “Salvia officinalis” – raised bed
• Sage – tricolor – raised bed
• Spearmint – stash
• Stevia – need – ordered
• Tarragon – stash
• Thyme – stash

Flowers – 37 Packets

• Alyssum –
• Bachelor Buttons –
• Cardinal Climber –
• Cleome –
• Coleus –
• Convolvulus –
• Coreopsis –
• Cosmos –
• Daisy –
• Forget-me-Nots –
• Four O’clocks –
• Impatiens –
• Marigold –
• Mixed flowers –
• Moon Flower –
• Morning Glory –
• Nasturtium –
• Pansy/viola –
• Petunia –
• Poppy –
• Snapdragon –
• Sunflower –
• Sweet Pea –
• Verbena bonarensis –
• Zinnia –

Vegetables – Packets

• Aragula – swap
• Asparagus – Mary Washington – stash, need roots – received
• Beans – stash
• Beets – stash
• Broccoli – stash
• Broccoli Rabe – void
• Brussels Sprouts – stash
• Cabbage – Stash
• Carrots – stash, ordered
• Cauliflower – stash
• Celery – stash
• Collards – stash
• Corn – stash
• Cucumber – stash
• Eggplant – stash
• Gourds – stash
• Kale – stash
• Kohlrabi – stash
• Lettuce – stash
• Leeks – stash
• Lima Beans – stash
• Melon – stash
• Okra – stash
• Onions – stash
• Parsnips – stash
• Peas – stash
• Peppers – Hot – stash
• Peppers, Sweet – stash
• Pumpkins – stash
• Radish – stash
• Spinach – stash
• Summer Squash – stash
• Strawberries – ordered
• Squash – Winter – stash
• Swiss Chard – stash
• Tomatoes – stash
• Turnips – stash
• Turnip Greens – stash
• Watermelon – stash
• Winter Squash – stash and swap

Link to The Calendar:

https://kbeltd.wordpress.com/2020-calendar-planning-ahead-for-sowing-and-harvest-for-vegetables/comment-page-1/#comment-351

My next step is to start the sowing dates for each of these above on my planting day calendar for 2020

Homespun To Does

• 11-26-19 – New blender quit
• 12-00-19 – New replacement blender came
• 12-31-19 – ACV
• 12-31-19 – ACV
• 12-31-19 – GRAPES
• 12-31-19 – HERBS
• 12-31-19 – HOUSEPLANTS
• Bye Bye 2019!————————————
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•  
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• 01-03-20 – Carrots – Dehydrated remained of a large can – Done
• 01-04-20 – Clean the dehydrator
• 01-06-20 – Water houseplants – done
• 01-11-20 – Update Chickens – some have been re-homed
• 01-12-20 – Water house plants –
• 01-12-20 – Grind orange rinds for cooking
• 01-13-20 – Inventory herbs
• 01-14-20 – Order seed
• 01-14-20 – Inventory veggies
• 01-12-20 – grind orange rings for cooking
• 01-12- 20 – clean blender
• 01-12-20 – dehydrate grindings for 1 hour and store rinds
• 01-12-20 – Oranges – stored – 1 half quart
• 02-14-20 – Time to get the incubator out – 6-7-20 – put up

Dehydrating Works

• 01-03-20 – Carrots – 1 half quart- Done
• 01-12-20 – Oranges – stored – 1 half quart
• 06-07-20 – Onions – Yellow onions – dehydrator

Time to Declutter

• #1 – Clean the refridgerator out
• #2 – Clean out the Pantry, rotate stock, toss old
• #2 – Start new inventory pantry list – Spread Sheet
• #3 – Clean out the Closet – Get rid of clothes that do not fit or are old
• #4 – Empty the junk drawers
• #5 – Gather up the old movie videos to sell
• #6 – Sort tupperware
• #7 – Gater up old books for garage sale
• #8 – Clean out wallet – check for outdated cards and lists etc
• #9 – Clean out purse for same reason as wallet
• #10 – Clean out the bathroom of old make up
• #11 – Clean the shower
• #12 – Clean the bathroom cabinets
• #13 – Get rid of old shoes
• #14 – Clean the linen and linen closet
• #15 – Clean vehicles
• #16 – Clean out the medicine cabinet
• #17 – clean and organize the kitchen, wash cabinets
• #18 – Gather garage sale items
• #19 – Gather items to donate
• #20 – Wipe down the walls and blinds
• #21 – gather eBay items
• #22 – Organize cleaning supplies
• #23 – Vaccume and shampoo carpets
• #24 – Clean ceiling fans
• #25 – Organize pghotographs and meorabilia
• #26 – Clean kids/animal stuff
• #27 – Clean furnace room
• #28 – #Clean out a shed
• #29 – #Clean bathroom
• #30 – Clean office
• #31 – clean a bedroom
• #32 – Clean a craft room, recycle
• #33 –

Seed Swapping – 2020

I have carryover seed from last year and no doubt will have more seed to trade for other seed I would like to get so if you are a seed swapper, follow me here:

https://kbeltd.wordpress.com/seed-swapping/

Chickens – 2020

2020 – Eggs

• 12-31-19 – Egg Tally from last year – 593
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• 01-01-20 – Eggs = 3 +
• 01-02-20 – Eggs = 4 = 7
• 01-03-20 – Eggs = 4 = 11
• 01-04-20 – Eggs = 4 = 14
• 01-05-20 – Eggs = 5 = 19
• 01-06-20 – Eggs = 3 = 22
• 01-07-20 – Eggs = 3 = 25
• 01-08-20 – Eggs = 2 = 27
• 01-09-20 – Eggs = 5 = 32
• 01-10-20 – Eggs = 3 = 35
• 01-11-20 – Eggs = 4 = 39
• Tally for mixed eggs was 39
• The wyandottes and leghorn are rehomed
• 01-12-20 – Eggs = 2 = 41 mixed
• 01-13-20 – Eggs = 4
• 01-14-20 – Eggs = 5
• 01-15-20 – Eggs = 5
• 01-16-20 – Eggs = 3 = 58
• 01-17-20 – Eggs = 3 = 61
• 01-18-20 – Eggs = 2 = 63
• 01-19-20 – Eggs = 4
• 01-20-20 – Eggs = 2 = 69
• 01-21-20 – Eggs = 3 = 72 = 6 dozen
• 01-22-20 – Eggs = 4 = 76
• 01-23-20 – Eggs = 4 – 80
• 01-24-20 – Eggs = 2 = 82
• 01-25-20 – Eggs = 4 = 86
• 01-26-20 – Eggs = 5 = 91
• 01-27-20 – Eggs = 4 = 95
• 01-29-20 – Eggs = 3 = 96 – 8 Dozen
• 01-30-20 – Eggs – 4 – 100
• 01-31-20 – Eggs – 5 – 105
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• 02-01-20 – Eggs – 3 = 108
• 02-02-20 – Eggs – 3 = 111
• 02-03-20 – Eggs – 4 = 115
• 02-04-20 – Eggs – 3 = 118
• 02-05-20 – Eggs – 4 = 122
• 02-06-20 – Eggs – 4 = 126
• 02-07-20 – Eggs – 4 = 130
• 02-08-20 – Eggs – 2 = 132
• 02-09-20 – Eggs – 2= 134
• 02-10-20 – Eggs = 4 = 138
• 02-11-20 – Eggs = 5 – 143
• 02-12-20 – Eggs = 3 – 146
• 02-13-20 – Eggs = 5 -151
• 02-14-20 – Eggs = 4 – 155
• ——————————————
• 02 -14-20 – All the eggs are now purebred Black Jersey Giant Chicken eggs
• ——————————————
• 02-15-20 – Eggs – 2 – 157
• 02-16-20 – Eggs – 2 – 159
• 02-17-20 – Eggs – 2 – 161
• 02-18-20 – Eggs – 3 – 164
• 02-19-20 – Eggs – 5 = 169
• 02-20-20 – Eggs – 3 = 172
• 02-21-20 – Eggs – 3 = 175

The Current Clutch – 2020

• 02-22-20 – Today I pulled out the incubator – it needs cleaning –
  • All clean.
  • EXPECTED HATCH DATE – 03-14-20 or at 21 days there after

• 02-23-20 – Eggs – 2 – 179 – 2 To Incubator (2)
  • 03-14-20 – #1 hatched – 19 days to hatch, this chick was crippled one leg was turned

• ………03-14-20 – #2 – lost one egg, accidentally dropped it in turning.
  • 03-14-20 – got chick starter 2 50lb bags…$40
• 02-24-20 – Eggs – 2 – 182 – 2 to incubator (4) -1 egg drop – 3
  • 03-16-20 – #2 chick hatched – 2 in brooder

3-16-20 – JERSEY GIANT CHICK
KBE(C)2020

• ……….03-17-20 – #3 chick hatched – 3 in brooder

3-20-20 – JERSEY GIANT CHICK
KBE(c)2020

3-2-20 – A full clutch in our incubator
KBE(C)2020

• 02-25-20 – Eggs – 1 – 183 – 1 to incubator (5) – 1 egg drop = 4
  • 03-18-20 – #4 chick hatched
• 02-26-20 – Eggs – 1 – 185 – 2 to incubator (7) less the one egg drop = 6
  • 03-19-20 #5 Chick hatched –
• 02-27-20 – Eggs–3-188 – 3 to incubator (10) – crippled and egg drop = 8
  • 03-20-20 – Chick pix!

3-20-20 – JERSEY GIANT CHICK #6
KBE9C02020

• ……….03-21-20 – #6 Chick hatched – 6 in brooder
  • 03-21-20 – #7 chick peeping, #7 in brooder
  • 03-21- 20 #8 – chick peeping – #8 in the brooder
• 02-28-20 – Eggs – 1 – 189 – 1 to incubator (11)-1
  • 03-22-20 – #9 Chick peeping
• 02-29-20 – Eggs – 3 – 192 – 2 to incubator (13)
  • 03-22-20 – #10 chick peeping

• 03-01-20 – Eggs – 5 – 197 – 5 to incubator (18)
• 03-02-20 – Eggs – 3 – 200 – 3 to incubator (21)

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First Clutch to Big Brooder

4-9-20 – the brooder and feed
KBE(C)2020

4-9-20 – chicks in the brooder
KBE(C)2020

4-9-20 – The heat lamp n the brooder with the chicks
KBE(C)2020

NEW CLUTCH – STARTED 03-22-20

21 DAYS OUT – APRIL 13TH EXPECT FIRST HATCH

• 03-22-20 – Adding more eggs to Matilda –
• 03-24-20 – Added 3 eggs
• 04-14-20 – Chick #1
• 04-14-20 – Chick #2

4-13-20 – egg in incubator peeping
KBE(C)2020

4-14-20 – Black Jersey Giant chick
KBE(C)2020

• 04-14-20 – Chick #3

• 03-25-20 – Added 4 eggs
  • 04-14-20 – Chick#3
  • 04-15-20 – abort
  • 04-15-20 – abort
  • 04-18-20 – peep – #4
• 03-26-20 – Added 1 egg
  • 04-18-20 – Chick -#5
• 03-27-20 – Added 1 egg
  • 04-18-20 – #6
• 03-28-20 – Added 1 egg
  • 04-19-20 – Chick #7
•  04-04-20 –Missed marking the days, but Incubator is full 21
  • 05-03-20 = Chick #8
  • 05-03-20 – Chick #9
  • 05-03-20 – Chick #10
• 04-13-20 – added 4
  • 05-04-30 – Chick #11
  • 05-04-20 – Chick #12
  • 05-08-20 – Chick #13
  • 05-09-20 – Chick #14
• 04-13-20 – added 4 eggs to incubator
  • 05-15-2- Chick #15
  • 05-28-20 – Chick #16
• 04-19-20 – added 2 eggs to the incubator
• 05-08-20 – added 2 eggs to the incubator
• 05-09-20 – added 2 eggs to the incubator
• 06-05-20 – I dumped all the eggs in the incubator, they seemed to be duds

Recalculating

I had a rough couple weeks in the end of April and beginning of May, I was snot able to log all the eggs in the lot and so my chick count is also botched.

As of today there are 2 clutches of chicks together in our chicken stall. Total of 15 chicks all together. There are 6 chicks in the #3 brooder, #2 chicks in the #4 brooder and one peep in the incubator with several eggs that I need to candle to see if they are all still viable. So that makes 24 – 2020 chicks as of 5-28-20. Possibly a few more to come in the next week and then I will be finished hatching for this spring. Add the original 7 adults and we have 31 birds total to date. Not bad for a homemade incubator and two old people with a little time on their hands trying to get a little bit more self sufficient.

By fall we should have eggs coming out of our ears!

Last year we started with 8 chicks which turned out to be 3 roos and 5 hens. We lost one rooster due to a windy day and one of the coop doors hitting him sadly killing the poor guy, but other than that we have been spared any other incidents including the resident foxes who have paid the chick-stall a visit.

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EATING EGGS

• 02-21-20 – Eggs – 3 = 175 FORWARDED EATING EGG TOTAL
• HATCHING EGG 42
• 03-03-20 – Eggs – 3 – 203
• 03-04-20 – Eggs – 3 – 206
• 03-05-20 – Eggs – 3 – 209
• 03-06-20 – Eggs – 3 – 212
• 03-07-20 – Eggs – 5 – 217
• 03-08-20 – Eggs – 4 – 221
• 03-09-20 – Eggs – 5 – 226
• 03-10-20 – Eggs – 3 – 229
• 03-11-20 – Eggs – 2 – 231
• 03-12-20 – Eggs – 3 – 232
• 03-13-20 – Eggs – 3 – 235
• 03-14-20 – Eggs – 1 – 235
• 03-15-20 – Eggs – 2 – 237
• 03-16-20 – Eggs – 2 – 239
• 03-17-20 – Eggs – 1 – 240
• 03-18-20 – Eggs – 2 – 242
• 03-19-20 – Eggs – 2 – 244
• 03-20-20 – Eggs – 3 – 247
• 03-21-20 – Eggs – 1- 248
• 03-22-20 – Eggs – 2 – 250
•  
• 04-05-20-EGGS – 3 – 253
• 04-06-20- Eggs – 4 – 257
• 04-07-20 – Eggs – 3 – 260
• 04-08-20 – Eggs – 3 – 263
• 04-09-20 – Eggs – 3 – 266
• 04-10-20 – Eggs – 2 – 268
• 04-11-20 – Eggs – 2 – 270
• 04-12-20 – Eggs – 2 – 272
• 04-13-20 – Eggs – 4 (Incubator) – 276
• 04-14-20 – Eggs – 4 – 280
• 04-15-20 – Eggs – 2 = 282
• 04-16-20 – Eggs – 4 = 286
• 04-17-20 – Eggs – 3 (to incubator) – 289
• 04-18-20 – Eggs – 1= 290
• 04-19-20 – Eggs – 2 to the incubator – 292
• 04-20-20 – Eggs – 1 = 293
• 04-21-20 – Eggs – 1 = 294
• 04-22-20 – Eggs – 2 = 296
• 04-23-20 – Eggs – 4 = 300
• 04-24-20 – Eggs – 3 = 303
• 04-25-20 – Eggs – 3 = 306
• 04-26-20 – Eggs – 2 = 308
• 04-27-20 – Eggs – 4 =312
• 04-28-20 – Eggs – 2 = 314
• 04-29-20 – Eggs – 1 – 315
• 04-30-20 – Eggs – 5 – 320
• 05-01-20 – Eggs – 4 – 329
• 05-02-20 – Eggs – 3 – 332
• 05-03-20 – Eggs – 3 – 335
• 05-03-30 – Eggs – 2 – 337
• 05-04-20 – Eggs – 2 – 339
• 05-05-20 – Eggs – 1 = 340
• 05-06-20 – Eggs – 2 – 342
• 05-07-20 – Eggs – 2 -344
• 05-08-20 – Eggs – 2 – 346 (2 to the incubator)
• 05-09-20 – Eggs – 3 – 349 (2 to incubator)
• 05-10-20 – Eggs – 2 – 351
• 05-11-20 – Eggs – 2 – 352
• 05-12-20 – Eggs – 3 – 355
• 05-13-20 – Eggs – 2 – 358
• 05-14-20 – Eggs – 2 = 360
• 05-15-20 – Eggs – 2 = 362
• 05-16-20 – Eggs – 3 = 365
• 05-17-20 – Eggs – 4 – 369
• 05-18-20 – Eggs – 3 – 402
• 05-19-20 – Eggs – 2 – 404
• 05-20-20 – Eggs – 5 – 409
• 05-21-20 – Eggs – 2 – 411

5-21-20 – Stall Makeover – The Poultry Palace

We have been working on our multi-purpose calf-chicken-horse-storage stall! Our stall has been getting a make-over so that we can rear chickens in it. When we get it finished it will be so awesome for multi-reasons! We can’t wait to get the first clutch of chicks out of their brooder and free running in it. It worked so great for the calves, but now we have had a change of menu.

5-21-20 – The multipurpose stall
KBE(C)2020

5-24-20 – One of the new roos – golden lacing on its wings
KBE(C)2020

Fox Kit – Sweet and innocent until you find your coop is not e safe place.
KBE(C)2019

Fox!

5-27-20 – Woke up it was foggy and humidly hot already.. now it is sunny and so later we get rain. So much for playing in the garden…

Going to have to set up a camera by the chickens. This morning I was greeted by Milly, our mare as she was coming in the gate to the shelter and momma fox and her kit as they just about ran under the mare as they were leaving the shelter where the chickens are. Momma fox turned back and gave a woof, saw me and then her kit come a helling out of the shelter after her. No chickens were harmed this day. The look on the mare’s face was priceless as the two foxes just about ran right under the horse!

Then I look down by the neighbors and there were 4 more fox running around in their cow pen. Guess the mice are more prevalent over there.

Thank goodness for a predator proof shelter for our birds. My husband and I did a great job! The day before we had just introduced Clutch #2 to clutch #1 and really my main concern was that all the birds would just get along.

5-26-20 – Clutch 1 and 2 together
KBE(C)2020

5-26-20 – Our happy flock in our multi-purpose stall
where we have had cows and horses in it.
KBE(C)2020

5-26-20 – Everybody happy
KBE(C)2020

5-26-20 – Pretty rooster with golden lacing.
KBE(C)2020

5-26-20 – the 2020 flock so far
KBE(C)202

Score Another One For Brother and Sista Fox!

It is a big win for the chickens today at the ranch. Poppa found a dead baby coon at the fox den. Be the second one actually. Last time it was just parts.. this time the whole carcass.

5-26-20 – dead baby coon at the den
KBE(C)2020

Eating Egg Tally Continued:

• 05-22-20 – Eggs – 2 – 413
• 05-23-20 – Eggs – 3 – 416
• 05-25-20 – Eggs – 2 – 418
• 05-26-20 – Eggs – 3 – 421
• 05-27-20 – Eggs – 2 – 423
• 05-28-20 – Eggs – 3 – 426
• 05-29-20 – Eggs – 1 – 427
• 05-30-20 – Eggs – 2 – 429
• 06-01-20 – Eggs – 3 – 432
• 06-02-20 – Eggs – 3 – 436
• 06-03-20 – Eggs- 4 – 440
• 06-04-20 – Eggs – 3 – 443
• 06-05-20 – Eggs – 4 – 447
• 06-06-20 – Eggs – 3 – 450
• 06-07-20 – Eggs –  2 – 452 – Done incubating
• 06-08-20 – Eggs – 

LINK:

Chickens – 2020

Go to https://kbeltd.wordpress.com/animals/chickens/chickens-2020/

Next!

I usually have a couple extra dozen per week to sell or give away!

Please inquire at the contact tab above!

Links

HOMESPUN IN THE KITCHEN 2020

•  https://kbeltd.wordpress.com/food/dry-goods-2019-list/2020-homespun/homespun-garden-to-kitchen-2020/

Here is the link to the first chapter of Chickens in this blog;

• https://kbeltd.wordpress.com/animals/chickens/

Matilda, the $10 Homemade incubator

• https://kbeltd.wordpress.com/animals/chickens-the-incubator-construction-for-about-10/

Updates:

I will update this page as I am able, meanwhile, feel free to leave a question or a comment and like and share my page and blog! Your support is greatly appreciated.

Bookmark

Before you go, be sure to bookmark this page as some links on it may not return you to it or to the blog! Thanks for coming!

2021 Homespun –

Coop Essentials

CHICKENS FACIAL MASK
by KBE_FARMS_LTD1

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Thank you to Camilla in Bad Laasphe, Germany for their purchase of our Egg Carton Label! Happy gathering!

EGG CARTON LABEL
by KBE_FARMS_LTD

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Garden Art

To Order this Garden Flag

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SOW SEEDS WITH KINDNESS GREETING CARD
by CHARLOTTES_SHOPPE

Brought To You By:

KBE_LTD_FLORAL

KBE_FARMS_LTD1

CHARLOTTES_SHOPPE

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Disclaimer Regarding This Blog

Full Disclamer

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PDF For This Page

Coming soon!

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