tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77376647883476848242024-02-18T23:00:44.976-08:00Foothill FarmGrowing OrganicUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger224125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737664788347684824.post-49217229807082292442016-05-29T22:32:00.003-07:002016-05-29T22:32:34.101-07:00Review of 2015 corns<br />
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<h3>
Corn!</h3>
Because of the drought we planted early, April 19, 2015. This is year 5 of the drought, and we irrigated before planting! There was no residual soil moisture, even in April. I direct seeded 4 corns, Ottofile, Supai Chinmark, Hunhi 60 Day, and Victor Kuyuk Early. Our corn is always planted on drip irrigation, so I let it run 30 minutes before planting, and then 30 minutes after planting.<br />
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These first four photos are from May 15, 2015,<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOCkzZdZmX-bShV1eMexZkNkzriUZ2RqHqqEJyRJFJOar8__XwPLvmu5DTAwa5tDhFq6irL-jFslUJ4QYDwipnVrzq0tF9QhWz6cGW2YBoUaXAMozBOEJRVqjqrrWcZckOGzHFIuXylE/s1600/IMG_3844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOCkzZdZmX-bShV1eMexZkNkzriUZ2RqHqqEJyRJFJOar8__XwPLvmu5DTAwa5tDhFq6irL-jFslUJ4QYDwipnVrzq0tF9QhWz6cGW2YBoUaXAMozBOEJRVqjqrrWcZckOGzHFIuXylE/s400/IMG_3844.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Supai Chinmark</td></tr>
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almost a month later. Note the bird on the green flag just waiting for me to leave. Bird predation<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9J8coCyKvkb87xUmoEfSwud85aSxoBMqf13PhmupZ39geJ_QRId-x1P6nlIf8TgIGQbaC7YKT64-Mj_ugoiycbvt81LJ_eYooHPlvr2Cjjt1A1E59pMFOboA-zdr97RJ94xWTIDeApXE/s1600/IMG_3847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9J8coCyKvkb87xUmoEfSwud85aSxoBMqf13PhmupZ39geJ_QRId-x1P6nlIf8TgIGQbaC7YKT64-Mj_ugoiycbvt81LJ_eYooHPlvr2Cjjt1A1E59pMFOboA-zdr97RJ94xWTIDeApXE/s400/IMG_3847.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victor Kuyuk Early</td></tr>
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was very heavy this year, and we never did get a crop of lettuce. The Victor was especially spotty. Birds or germination? <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5meqNDx3S3q4fT9x8pJKlXw1hcMv56o8QWue_Qr_BzjPwyqPpZwCrF8Z8OtqPkLvR_TFhCP74srqCn1Zs3tYOeYaBxIq1Q9gL4bQ4UHIe-tsxSHlaKJM1EC2WNqzhVozHIZjaBRFB3w/s1600/IMG_3846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5meqNDx3S3q4fT9x8pJKlXw1hcMv56o8QWue_Qr_BzjPwyqPpZwCrF8Z8OtqPkLvR_TFhCP74srqCn1Zs3tYOeYaBxIq1Q9gL4bQ4UHIe-tsxSHlaKJM1EC2WNqzhVozHIZjaBRFB3w/s400/IMG_3846.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ottofile</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7XxXpGF5Ih-_w9Xo0RX2vVdGL6-KSxqceUKTW819QLbCXcvYKC1K2oLlxJjERpEW9KrkfykZWu01b2YKJ1zKc4xZXayWmlPbeDBhX_40cRD2iUq8QpyZ5HrXftCLMDYkBQ_pq__81_bo/s1600/IMG_3845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7XxXpGF5Ih-_w9Xo0RX2vVdGL6-KSxqceUKTW819QLbCXcvYKC1K2oLlxJjERpEW9KrkfykZWu01b2YKJ1zKc4xZXayWmlPbeDBhX_40cRD2iUq8QpyZ5HrXftCLMDYkBQ_pq__81_bo/s320/IMG_3845.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huhni 60 Day</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdXISFSr1Hip1v1LZXyjECkFJrtXqiKet_1QMDR4pNILl7-I9KYo-HZJeNBWdb4WHsK1Hiks1NY5LFn39mRNP4tKkgkyXqMwrv-6nL1vEJ5Kd684OteZasgj6dlcGLeBSvsS7MvZGum0/s1600/IMG_3875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdXISFSr1Hip1v1LZXyjECkFJrtXqiKet_1QMDR4pNILl7-I9KYo-HZJeNBWdb4WHsK1Hiks1NY5LFn39mRNP4tKkgkyXqMwrv-6nL1vEJ5Kd684OteZasgj6dlcGLeBSvsS7MvZGum0/s640/IMG_3875.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ottofile</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCsCk-JrTLoDYePNesRJ2ohxkzb-GQ47wM6RQo54kA91opjeVUfQK3iWeQoAf_X6n9p0Etc-H1yVSIqCXWJH6KyAiMGZfLDZjJ2Ge1N-ULCJ5qbOYM15sGa3gKEmwYpSx-eU0SyyT4lA/s1600/IMG_3874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCsCk-JrTLoDYePNesRJ2ohxkzb-GQ47wM6RQo54kA91opjeVUfQK3iWeQoAf_X6n9p0Etc-H1yVSIqCXWJH6KyAiMGZfLDZjJ2Ge1N-ULCJ5qbOYM15sGa3gKEmwYpSx-eU0SyyT4lA/s640/IMG_3874.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huhni 60 Day</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The boards in the field are what I stand on to plant them. Remember the soil is so dry, that you can sink 6 inches in just the dust! We don't even like to till when it's this dry, as the soil just blows away.<br />
The corn is planted on 18" centers, 24" apart and was irrigated once a week, one gallon per plant.<br />
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Okay so here we are on June 28, 2015 (Next 4 photos).<br />
Note the Huhni is already tasseling!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1MMcx5nfAtD0YybbfGZUjB4uG0WHXhe-qZ3Go-eevwhfzXE6gMfIjaRnusTtJEanH7MsXbI1tdf8cxwxia6N7WMCdikWG4ljNUYutpSC4BR_ddObFK6x_9DNG3xnw7qe3cfE4DngotA/s1600/IMG_3873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1MMcx5nfAtD0YybbfGZUjB4uG0WHXhe-qZ3Go-eevwhfzXE6gMfIjaRnusTtJEanH7MsXbI1tdf8cxwxia6N7WMCdikWG4ljNUYutpSC4BR_ddObFK6x_9DNG3xnw7qe3cfE4DngotA/s640/IMG_3873.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Supai Chinmark</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The Victor Kuyuk Early is also tasseling.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0eY0nxdnzdYwe6RCfkcB8fZhJPs91SD4ll9qqDFBoU_RH7nf0LaxkJ4QtVkED_Rmyj6eiW1aCG2oYKzBU3Y_Cil6r4ySxSaB4mhT-UoVuEmUld0zwT4jFPbPF2mjPzz_JDVWiJMRXUI0/s1600/IMG_3876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0eY0nxdnzdYwe6RCfkcB8fZhJPs91SD4ll9qqDFBoU_RH7nf0LaxkJ4QtVkED_Rmyj6eiW1aCG2oYKzBU3Y_Cil6r4ySxSaB4mhT-UoVuEmUld0zwT4jFPbPF2mjPzz_JDVWiJMRXUI0/s640/IMG_3876.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victor Kuyuk Early</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Note the tomatillos coming up in the corn. This variety isn't called Purple de Milpa for nothing! Also, we haven't really planted tomatillos in 20 years. They just live here now. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5eSMX_iQBmAnnw8-dApeGlMIvpojEsaE-bGfx9CDsgmcyqMEW8bhIL9y_J2sygR8EOm3M0ZK1ql3iD8ACi0TP-yD-CuEp6eEvm65Tv2Kql7XAXfASRJ6SwrOPvdl2jSoRYblC3qtQjE/s1600/IMG_3896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5eSMX_iQBmAnnw8-dApeGlMIvpojEsaE-bGfx9CDsgmcyqMEW8bhIL9y_J2sygR8EOm3M0ZK1ql3iD8ACi0TP-yD-CuEp6eEvm65Tv2Kql7XAXfASRJ6SwrOPvdl2jSoRYblC3qtQjE/s400/IMG_3896.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victor Kuyuk</td></tr>
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Okay, On to July 13, 2015:<br />
Victor Kuyuk and Huhni 60 Day both have silked and the corn is on.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmrbuA3hQSHCpIGjs2Rx-eMNTBEpoCCiD3m4N3DbcvVR8VqQQe9eP0aezTCqrJwZGGIW0jrLqTbE3KBc9V30bMidwsA1-Pjsz_YRN7YQAbuhKorjoe80QdxvrH52yQOItgK5H8dXEduI/s1600/IMG_3891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmrbuA3hQSHCpIGjs2Rx-eMNTBEpoCCiD3m4N3DbcvVR8VqQQe9eP0aezTCqrJwZGGIW0jrLqTbE3KBc9V30bMidwsA1-Pjsz_YRN7YQAbuhKorjoe80QdxvrH52yQOItgK5H8dXEduI/s640/IMG_3891.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huhni</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZwb12ShAIJKNu78UB9GGf5pJdD3y512ECxjRbh_n9mdlVO16rO2XXSWajVQB7Zyhs0doJA8OnIM_uwHn4ZpTwVMh2AQu3QZupKFjCHfvAg4XBeiJ850uCfo0sIyP9AEZGXOjUSWF7cA/s1600/IMG_3892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZwb12ShAIJKNu78UB9GGf5pJdD3y512ECxjRbh_n9mdlVO16rO2XXSWajVQB7Zyhs0doJA8OnIM_uwHn4ZpTwVMh2AQu3QZupKFjCHfvAg4XBeiJ850uCfo0sIyP9AEZGXOjUSWF7cA/s640/IMG_3892.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ottofile</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The Ottofile continues to grow, and has just begun to tassel. The Supai, which is a very short corn is just beginning to tassel. To put this in perspective, those of you know me are aware that I am vertically challenged. The Chinmark and I are the same height! 5' and a few inches. The Ottofile is TALL! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Uiz1bMbeMjRrZ1yGnrRige_NZ0T9sojyMQWCrDpkn5m6Q64JH-QoElVn45lJPCxQyFAbXwFMpK6njijcHyoGGzhL4-Y8aX39tX7rbXzyo9wYzppkdPqLbdLCMoIRnT765k4vRFen4c4/s1600/IMG_3890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Uiz1bMbeMjRrZ1yGnrRige_NZ0T9sojyMQWCrDpkn5m6Q64JH-QoElVn45lJPCxQyFAbXwFMpK6njijcHyoGGzhL4-Y8aX39tX7rbXzyo9wYzppkdPqLbdLCMoIRnT765k4vRFen4c4/s640/IMG_3890.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Supai Chinmark</td></tr>
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At the same time the Chinmark began tasseling, it also became very dense and totally shaded the ground. The Victory was harvested on 8/10/2016, as it dried, the wrappers began to open and the birds began to feast. It was a very pretty corn. I tried some out on the chickens and they went nuts too!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFdQ-bIwUKPsb91u2lK7NPobLkq31A0ZjnoDSpeeLscaKBYCAllmkZYcrUG-RFh-RHGTAcw5xDzb4VIcfciyftRg8V9lMhBur0nDKyzYkJKMXq-39FRf-U0GJAGZg7mjA5THf0XFwdnM/s1600/IMG_4000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFdQ-bIwUKPsb91u2lK7NPobLkq31A0ZjnoDSpeeLscaKBYCAllmkZYcrUG-RFh-RHGTAcw5xDzb4VIcfciyftRg8V9lMhBur0nDKyzYkJKMXq-39FRf-U0GJAGZg7mjA5THf0XFwdnM/s320/IMG_4000.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victor Kuyuk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFONtKlTjBe5daitnwP69E4xtL93VRo76VqiSEeFLWLPU0m-axDagCZXASAAcw_DsM0qPzzy-j4z7-1nHEoagfUvW8ZC06A9P3wJzSvor1afESHwH-QzqYUsUpiJ3vX2OgTn5p0tJIF5U/s1600/IMG_4002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFONtKlTjBe5daitnwP69E4xtL93VRo76VqiSEeFLWLPU0m-axDagCZXASAAcw_DsM0qPzzy-j4z7-1nHEoagfUvW8ZC06A9P3wJzSvor1afESHwH-QzqYUsUpiJ3vX2OgTn5p0tJIF5U/s320/IMG_4002.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victor Kuyuk</td></tr>
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From 130 ears, I harvested 24 pounds of corn! Once the birds got at the corn, the ear worms started as well. I can never figure this out, are the birds trying to get the earworms or are the earworms invited because the birds are nibbling the ends? I did not eat this corn, but put it all in the chicken's rations. There was just too much damage to the corn to chance eating it. The ear worm brings molds, which doesn't bother the chicken, fed in moderation.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcZnoOOoO-faqms9J6AkK-J32VJ5iPbBKCFwZQvxUrLQkZ9ok7sukF55uCVIgauInKSdauDm1mmOMycZYK5sFF_sdrrCV613x46jm3KubzO154065aH5G4AjclvzuEynVavc16gmIEg8/s1600/IMG_4011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcZnoOOoO-faqms9J6AkK-J32VJ5iPbBKCFwZQvxUrLQkZ9ok7sukF55uCVIgauInKSdauDm1mmOMycZYK5sFF_sdrrCV613x46jm3KubzO154065aH5G4AjclvzuEynVavc16gmIEg8/s400/IMG_4011.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huhni</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I harvested the Huhni the day after. The stalks averaged 5'6" tall with 3 stalks per seed planted. This is not a corn to hoe the side shoots on, because each side shoot makes another corn. This is a prolific corn, and I've grown it before. I'll add the harvest weight here soon. This makes a good flour corn. Good, not great, but it is drought tolerant, and fast fast fast. As you can see, it's already dry.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9Rf7uWSOHVGbjJDZcScYHwd3v9-TncPnYRx7sqQ2rBIBq5DanSaznyQEm-3EKy1yBaYcbviKfYa2C905P5OIGgr2zwI_Aypnlszbmc9fxuqJgH8EBDkqiysp-zQMvisqMcB8b-GlCD8/s1600/IMG_4009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9Rf7uWSOHVGbjJDZcScYHwd3v9-TncPnYRx7sqQ2rBIBq5DanSaznyQEm-3EKy1yBaYcbviKfYa2C905P5OIGgr2zwI_Aypnlszbmc9fxuqJgH8EBDkqiysp-zQMvisqMcB8b-GlCD8/s640/IMG_4009.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Supai Chinmark</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The Supai Chinmark is a pretty corn. It's really fat, and I really had to reset the sheller before I got these corn off the cob. I also pulled them out of the field before they were completely dry.<br />
The yield on this corn was 16 pounds. It's a beast to grind, as it's very hard. I haven't eaten it yet, but it's ground and waiting for me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgB17EkrGJEGTotNw1Qf7DHvvRbkhYceUG8g9xTi_ty8m0TepNwloTIlelUU3-PMk0gR5zZ-e6oOq2UCEJndl3fl47LrovDQYfqcSRqQWrFrJNUP6GQZ4mF52EgMT9_PudmQ89fjHez0/s1600/IMG_3995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgB17EkrGJEGTotNw1Qf7DHvvRbkhYceUG8g9xTi_ty8m0TepNwloTIlelUU3-PMk0gR5zZ-e6oOq2UCEJndl3fl47LrovDQYfqcSRqQWrFrJNUP6GQZ4mF52EgMT9_PudmQ89fjHez0/s400/IMG_3995.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ottofile</td></tr>
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<br />
Now the Ottofile. This is a corn that really surprised me. Hard as a rock to grind, but such a delicate flavor. The corn in the photo was not done yet, and it needed a few more days out in the field. The yield on the Ottofile was 20 pounds. This basically does not have a very corny flavor profile. It's very light. No one could tell that they were corn waffles! Now that's a surprise. Ottofile, or 8 row flint is a wonderful polenta corn. Longer to grow, longer to cook, this is the white<br />
corn grown by the Mulino family in Italy. I guess somethings are just worth waiting for.<br />
<br />
Despite the drought, it was a good year for corn. In early, out early. By August 22, all of the corn was out of the field and hung up to dry, and the water to that field was shut off. Nice!<br />
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Once again, thank you to the USDA Grin project and Mark Millard for making these trials possible.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737664788347684824.post-31770348800021527712015-05-10T12:23:00.002-07:002015-05-10T12:23:16.413-07:00Review of Papago Corn<h3>
Papago Corn</h3>
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We planted Papago on July 6, 2014 and boy was it every hot hot and dry. It was 95 degrees the day we planted. Every part of this soil is so dry that it is like dust, anywhere without irrigation.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJghVnMF0IKJlVlhKo4bel_X-Lv2KPmqUVokHGlpIiF24ZOt3-mcW-OH5zYMtxHqW1jWOTXCdsMXjTE5jH9Um-sCPWEWLoMylbCAi-hzEOawnkkQJ0fEl3p_DoRDrNg1URYvRtjmBqm4E/s1600/IMG_2173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJghVnMF0IKJlVlhKo4bel_X-Lv2KPmqUVokHGlpIiF24ZOt3-mcW-OH5zYMtxHqW1jWOTXCdsMXjTE5jH9Um-sCPWEWLoMylbCAi-hzEOawnkkQJ0fEl3p_DoRDrNg1URYvRtjmBqm4E/s640/IMG_2173.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">July 13, 2014</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Planting corn in mid summer and July is pretty late, even for here. I prefer to spring plant everything, so that we can take advantage of residual moisture in the soil. Note that even the weeds have dried up and crisped. These are one gallon drippers and I turned the irrigation on the day before we planted, and then again as we planted.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrhNSlq8aagllwo7Rah0zaGYhU4dr6lesRSUGQFf63n8SyJWDlQipBzWdKijfRZM9hn9ujPW7yJw9_UI4nnHPwvW39KN5EodXO44BUeWAUoHanqI0QJ1yRiElTItYZRJL8BjGrTscybs/s1600/IMG_2380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrhNSlq8aagllwo7Rah0zaGYhU4dr6lesRSUGQFf63n8SyJWDlQipBzWdKijfRZM9hn9ujPW7yJw9_UI4nnHPwvW39KN5EodXO44BUeWAUoHanqI0QJ1yRiElTItYZRJL8BjGrTscybs/s640/IMG_2380.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">August 14, 2014</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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After one month this corn was looking very good. This is my favorite of all the drought tolerant landrace corns that I have tried. This was irrigated once a week (one gallon per corn). This was direct seeded and it was still a great stand. Normally I plant to the field and start a tray at the same time. If the weather is unseasonably cold I may start the whole thing to a tray. Or if the seed is old.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzn3MIMQ37y6nNANbQw38MFY3M1M-TNOAyfIVOC-JgKmfhvQRj5393stnz-HKdki2SEj-Y8wMmrj7Ocg3tKESO9QirAlBwFm2z09N4Lk8ABqmV2E0f3sIdhqdnpRdHKsT20sHHMgLmll0/s1600/IMG_2482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzn3MIMQ37y6nNANbQw38MFY3M1M-TNOAyfIVOC-JgKmfhvQRj5393stnz-HKdki2SEj-Y8wMmrj7Ocg3tKESO9QirAlBwFm2z09N4Lk8ABqmV2E0f3sIdhqdnpRdHKsT20sHHMgLmll0/s640/IMG_2482.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">September 5, 2014</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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By September 5 Papago was in full tassel. Now that was fast! There was very little incidence of disease in this corn until the very end. Corn ear worm broke out. Another reason to plant early.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnoGSGkElYo_vg5yRPS9bAKrpU-tsl8eDIrZJx3McSo8Jihc4CL30H0FLjNlLB3Kh5m9M7cJHvln51RD9X5WFO5BqL2fAtV2WCZfyFiUp9tTTzTRXT4kniTK6zFfIQTISkeL2IwogtyU/s1600/IMG_2823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnoGSGkElYo_vg5yRPS9bAKrpU-tsl8eDIrZJx3McSo8Jihc4CL30H0FLjNlLB3Kh5m9M7cJHvln51RD9X5WFO5BqL2fAtV2WCZfyFiUp9tTTzTRXT4kniTK6zFfIQTISkeL2IwogtyU/s640/IMG_2823.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">October 2, 2014</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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So here's the stand just before I picked the ears on October 2. I like the tassels to be nice and dry before I pull them out of the field. Of course we did not have frost yet and the weather was still hot and dry. We stopped irrigating the week before this photo was taken. During it's growth period I fertilized it once with fish emulsion and added compost to each plant. Which is something I do for every stand of corn. The compost helps hold the irrigation water. These were planted on 18 inch centers. There are 75 plants in this stand.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK43XRgdG4O0d6TPPH2nUXy86yMNmMnxJnpG2PnEv7tgetw6jlCfb-wsaKKWQrI8LVB5fegKZBQQaDuRDZKgrJfjQr9AhZrAH8_GDsdLflQ-_1dv2KvNLKcdMENIKxvYMNlPckqL-3Ufo/s1600/IMG_3518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK43XRgdG4O0d6TPPH2nUXy86yMNmMnxJnpG2PnEv7tgetw6jlCfb-wsaKKWQrI8LVB5fegKZBQQaDuRDZKgrJfjQr9AhZrAH8_GDsdLflQ-_1dv2KvNLKcdMENIKxvYMNlPckqL-3Ufo/s640/IMG_3518.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">February 5, 2015</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Due to the good wrapper, most of the incidence of corn ear worm was at the very ends of the cobs, which I broke off when I hung the corn. I suspect an earlier planting would help eliminate this problem. The bright yellow corn is the Papago. Behind it in white is the Drought Tolerant Hickory King and to the right in yellow/orange is Isola di Este.<br />
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And here we are all done. What I love about corn is that every part is useful. These cobs and the dried husks we used in the BBQ over the winter. So all that's left to tell you about is the flavor.<br />
<br />
This is the best yellow corn flour! Superb taste, easy to grind. I was so impressed with this corn that I sent some to Glenn at Anson Mills and told him he had to taste this!<br />
<br />
Many thanks to the Papago Indians for maintaining this corn and to Mark Millard of GRIN for recommending it for trial. This corn is PI 217410. This one's a keeper!<br />
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<span id="goog_1801428405"></span><span id="goog_1801428406"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737664788347684824.post-54286228997163441032015-04-14T10:13:00.003-07:002015-04-14T10:14:24.317-07:00Favas & Greens 2015<h3>
Favas</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XMgIDEhEHRAmRkC_aYeAfKnQpdACs1R1bfyLnlpJtq9zLBwUuDEFHrmstgMP2Un7Hqc88LJ7tRgh4W4xOWEz54mW8D_-30Sasjyh6GwdKpw7fA9E0mXUWCy8ww13cHFoQF0U1Oy6SP8/s1600/IMG_3826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XMgIDEhEHRAmRkC_aYeAfKnQpdACs1R1bfyLnlpJtq9zLBwUuDEFHrmstgMP2Un7Hqc88LJ7tRgh4W4xOWEz54mW8D_-30Sasjyh6GwdKpw7fA9E0mXUWCy8ww13cHFoQF0U1Oy6SP8/s1600/IMG_3826.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
This year I planted favas three times. Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Unlike last year when we had no rain whatsoever, this year we do have a fava crop! I didn't take any chances this year and put in irrigation. In my previous 25 years of farming, I have never had to irrigate fava beans. I had to irrigate them all 3 times this year.<br />
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So, this is what we know: Halloween favas grow the tallest, Thanksgiving favas will provide seed. Christmas planted favas are just the right height for plowing under.<br />
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Don't forget if you are eating favas, to hull the beans and then steam them and then remove the bean shell casing.<br />
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<h3>
Greens for 2015</h3>
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I planted a lot of greens this spring. To the right is Senposai. Senposai, a cross between Japanese Mustard Spinach (Komatsuna) and
regular cabbage, is sweeter than most mustards and great for a salad,
stir-fry or pickling.<br />
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We've been eating them in tacos! I think I'll start another batch of these. <br />
<h3>
Penne with Senposai & Feta</h3>
<i>serves 4</i><br />
1 lb penne or other short, chunky pasta<br />
2 bunches senposai (about 1.5 lbs)<br />
2 Tablespoons olive oil<br />
1 scallion, finely chopped<br />
2 cloves garlic, minced<br />
pinch red pepper flakes<br />
4 oz. feta cheese, crumbled<br />
1/2 cup pitted olives, coarsely chopped<br />
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley or basil<br />
salt and freshly ground pepper<br />
Bring two pots of water to a boil. Add pinch of salt to each. In
one, cook pasta until done; drain. Do remaining preparations while
pasta is cooking. Remove stems & center ribs from senposai.
Coarsely chop leaves, & blanch in second pot for 5 minutes. Leaves
should be completely wilted but still bright green. Remove greens with
slotted spoon or tongs & plunge into a bowl of cold water to stop
the cooking process. When greens are cool, remove them from the cold
water by the handful, squeezing out the excess water. Heat olive oil in a
large skillet. Add scallion and saute until translucent. Add garlic
& a sprinkle of red pepper flakes. Cook about 1 minute longer,
stirring frequently. Add greens to skillet, breaking up squeezed
handfuls. Saute, stirring often, until water evaporates (about 5
minutes). Place cooked pasta with senposai mixture in a large bowl. Add
olives, feta, & fresh herbs, toss well. Season to taste.<br />
Recipe from <a href="http://monadnockfood.coop/try-senposai/www.bigredfarmproject.blogspot.com" target="_blank">bigredfarmproject.blogspot.com</a><br />
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Above are collards. I haven't grown collards in many many years. This is a new collard for me, Even'star from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange. I'm looking for more drought tolerant, heat resistant greens.<br />
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This is another Japanese green, at type of Choi. It's bolting, but the flowers are edible too. It did not like the surge of heat we just had and will have again this weekend.<br />
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These are great stir fried. I've put in several types of chois this season, and I'll be eating a lot of them!<br />
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This one is Taisai. I've been eating this in a version of Shabu-Shabu.<br />
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Boil chicken broth or vege broth. Add a mixture of veges. (onions, mushrooms, greens, garlic...etc.) I also throw in very thinly sliced left over beef, chicken or pork (if there is any)! We've even eaten this with shrimp, but I put the shrimp in before the veges. At the end I add a splash of ponzu sauce (because I have a lot of it). <br />
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To the right here are several new lettuces and little green onions.<br />
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More Choi!<br />
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The chicken hospital is now closed and thankfully I have my oven back. Sandra was over and raised her eyebrows over baby chicks in the oven. Hey it was the only place both safe from cats and warm enough for them. All of the patients recovered thanks to Zack and have been returned to the flock. Here's the up and coming laying flock. The leetle bitty yellow chick in the front giving you the eye is a rooster! He pecks my shoelaces when I get in the pen. Now I can get back to baking bread, as I couldn't use my oven for two weeks!<br />
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Look at those Greens Go!<br />
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This rose has taken full advantage of being next to a compost pile. Now, this has never been irrigated! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737664788347684824.post-9795982986340184462015-03-27T10:56:00.000-07:002015-03-27T10:56:55.940-07:00Charming Chervil<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I always love it when I find a new herb for the farm. Here's the fennel and chervil. Chervil is wonderful. Fennel is one of my favorite things to eat. But, it has to be put in baskets because it's also the gopher's favorite thing to eat. I'm going to have to make a whole lot more gopher baskets before we get to zuke, cuke and melon season. Our baskets from 3 years ago have finally worn out. To the left are some of the new greens for the season. Upland cress, and Evenstar Collards...and even a few Ottawa Chinese Cabbage. Many thanks to Oxbow for the chervil!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737664788347684824.post-76824936642666953572015-03-22T17:49:00.001-07:002015-03-22T17:50:14.795-07:00A Fine Tomato Season<h3>
Leo Surveys His Empire</h3>
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A 'nuther long hard day at the farm. To the right of Leo's foot is the beginning of the tomato row. To his back left next to the herbs is another row of tomatoes. Oh no that is not all that is not all. There's yet another and another. Onions, chervil, leeks, fennel all were planted too.<br />
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The weather report says it's going to rain. Here's the fringe tree. Look at that sky. Does that look like rain? Only if it's raining blossoms.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737664788347684824.post-84574620619533916792015-03-20T13:36:00.001-07:002015-03-20T13:52:47.873-07:00Keep Planting!<h3>
As fast as I can!</h3>
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Leo always says that the day after daylight savings times the pace quickens from 4/4 time to 2/4 time. Think Punk Rock and you'll know how frenetic things are at the farm.<br />
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Today I started on the hedgerow. At least one of them. These are all quinces, courtesy of Steve, hence they are Steve's Hedge. As you can see, Spatz is assisting, as you never know when I'll turn up a gopher hole. That trip to Chinatown in The City. Yes, San Francisco, is there any other? Besides yielding some interesting veges packets, and some very expensive green tea, brought one more bounty, Smoke Bombs. Now as we all know, Smoke Bombs are nothing more than sulfur. They don't hurt plants and they don't kill anything. But while I was planting this row, I turned up a massive gopher hole. This is a hedge of quinces. <br />
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I promptly went to the barn and got a smoke bomb, lit it, burnt my finger and stuffed it down the gopher hole. The gopher popped up at another hole to see what in tar-nation was going on and was nabbed by a feline. Hah ha ha... Evil laughter. Go cats, go. Get those gophers. Bite off their heads and nibble their tiny feet. <br />
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The gophers have taken half the peas, so I will replant. Again! This is the third time. Gregg has sent us some lovely purple peas from his experiments, so over the weekend, I will put up another trellis, dig in baskets and plant them out. Note in the above photo, the Fringe Tree is blooming. So beautiful, so transitory. Ah, spring.<br />
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The Garlic that Joseph Lofthouse of Lofthouse Gardens sent is really beautiful and disease free. It's coming right along. The favas behind them are now more than waist high and we should have those before long too.<br />
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Behind the favas, the kale, broc, cauli, chard, beets and carrots are also rearing their heads. In the background you can see the chicken cook. That big windstorm on January 1 took the roof and a couple of the windows. Oh boy, something else to add to the list of what must be done this weekend.<br />
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It'll be a frenzy! Pick up the pace, pick up the pace, there's corn and tomatoes to plant. Flowers to transplant! Peppers to pot up. And I need to get this chicken house scrubbed and repaired because....<br />
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it will be time to move these chicks from the little red house on the prairie in two weeks into the big house. Yes, and I have to make it lion proof as well. <br />
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So get out your tizzy's for me to get in. And just think, on the East coast, they're still sipping wine in front of the fire and reading paperback novels.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737664788347684824.post-78019834547365482272015-03-14T19:28:00.002-07:002015-03-14T19:30:55.387-07:0087 Degrees Farenheit! 30.55 Degrees Celcius!<h3>
Folks It's only March!</h3>
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What happened to March coming in like a Lion and out like a Lamb? We are way past lamb here. This is "Lamb Chop!" The wisteria is blooming.<br />
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The potatoes are not only already planted but we've already hilled them twice! Note the Pussy willow catkin the right of the photo. Every tree in our yard is blooming, the oaks, the maples, the achoo.<br />
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And the rose that ate San Martin is in her full glory.<br />
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So, will there be a spring?<br />
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The mulberry is blooming, the roses are blooming. Yikes! June in March.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737664788347684824.post-15339522750377629762015-03-12T10:39:00.001-07:002015-03-12T10:43:24.363-07:00The Chicks Come Home to Roost<h3>
They're here!</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZiH_CrC-SEdHW8snw3fcKcNNtxQ1EynPcRkE2CWT9CWLGyk3y9SHUZpcFY7VMvahU5cjEj0p16sJ0t0pWzJMqTQ9EpX_mZtVJBvlenmGvnkO_IWaW_p6DOFKjTuAIJ4mNi-9MFa0nWg/s1600/IMG_3659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZiH_CrC-SEdHW8snw3fcKcNNtxQ1EynPcRkE2CWT9CWLGyk3y9SHUZpcFY7VMvahU5cjEj0p16sJ0t0pWzJMqTQ9EpX_mZtVJBvlenmGvnkO_IWaW_p6DOFKjTuAIJ4mNi-9MFa0nWg/s1600/IMG_3659.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a>I got a call from the post office at o'dark thirty. My chicks were ready to pick-up. Well I was still in my p.j.s. So I threw on my clothes and went to warm up the chicken house. Oh no, the door won't close. WELL that won't do. Seems the rain has swelled it. The door will have to come off and be trimmed. It's dark outside, and now I'm running around with a flashlight looking for chick alternatives. And where do all baby pets go, when they can't go home? In the kitchen of course. Once I had 2 baby lambs keeping warm in a roasting pan in my oven, until Leo could get back from the vet with syringes to hydrate them. <br />
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I knew right where everything was, as I was prepared for chickens, just not in the kitchen! So I had to scope a box. Lucky for me, my brother had just got a brand spanking new smoker and left the box near the recycling. Home, chickey home, well until Leo comes home and takes a saw to the coop door.<br />
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There are 3 cats at the back door, saying why can't we come in and see the birdie num nums?<br />
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And what do new hatchlings get fed at at the farm? Well they get the same thing we do, fresh ground corn, lentils, quinoa, whole grain rice, and flax seed. I also ran out and got them a fresh egg, straight from under one of the older hens.<br />
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These lovely chicks came to us from Sandhill Perservation. There are some Dorkings, Ameraucana, Kraienkoppe, Rhode Island Reds, Wellsummer, and Jersey Giants.<br />
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Only 2 died en-route. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. The rest are bouncing around, and Zack, the original Chicken Mommy is currently chick sitting. I'm guessing of the 25 that are here, there are at least a dozen hens. It'll be nice to have plenty of eggs again.<br />
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"No Mountain Lions need apply".<br />
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</h3>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737664788347684824.post-83731756316122612172015-03-08T15:10:00.001-07:002015-03-08T15:15:42.805-07:00Isola de Este<h3>
Finally off the cob!</h3>
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Oh yeah that's a lot of corn. This is a polenta corn and there is about 20 canning quarts full or about 32 pounds. It takes a long time to clean corn. This batch took about 4 hours to remove from the cob, winnow and get into jars. From here, the jars will go into the freezer for about 5 days. When the come out, I'll crack and then grind some every week.<br />
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And of course I get a lot of help when I'm taking corn off the cob. To the right in red is the sheller. Spying from underneath is Oatis.<br />
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When I get done, there's a lot of cobs and husks. I set them aside and we use them in the BBQ. They're as dry as paper. Then the ashes with the charcoal go back in the field.<br />
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Of course not every cob gets selected. These were the ones that did not make it into the seed crop. I put all the seed from the bowl into jars. Then I processed this lot. They went into a separate jar. I<br />
will probably eat these first.<br />
<br />
I did not select these because some were off colored. See the purple corn kernels? Highly dubious and all...suspected mild pollen drift from Taos Blue or Kaana Pango. The cobs with inferior germination (spotty germ) were also not chosen. They make a lot of chaff that takes a lot of extra time to winnow out. Finally some of these little corns were tassel ears. I don't know if by not keeping them it will eventually eliminate tassel ears. I'll check with my experts.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737664788347684824.post-42899201778129617562015-02-19T11:56:00.000-08:002015-02-19T11:57:24.754-08:00More Winter Planting<span style="font-size: large;">One Month Till Spring</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionQ8xA4_6j0QCafz_KcniUSVnvWqUX-N3He5auH2KgAx1sJF_a07-bo6QyjGOy3RVprXIsXE3C4TUNFwJYfPFKUfkd4b_w4DsUQI-34k9GJoo3HEtjj7ej1MFwHHGUmq9aBCu1UYETJw/s1600/IMG_3552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionQ8xA4_6j0QCafz_KcniUSVnvWqUX-N3He5auH2KgAx1sJF_a07-bo6QyjGOy3RVprXIsXE3C4TUNFwJYfPFKUfkd4b_w4DsUQI-34k9GJoo3HEtjj7ej1MFwHHGUmq9aBCu1UYETJw/s1600/IMG_3552.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garlic & Lupinis & Favas</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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Well here she is in all her glory, the Valley Oak that lives in the creek. She's putting on her new skirt and the leaves are as big as a squirrel's ear, so that means it's time to get planting.<br />
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She's my faithful indicator tree. <br />
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The soil is still very cool, so my knees tell me, so way too early to plant anything like corn, but that doesn't mean that I've not been busy with lettuce and other greens.<br />
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As you can see, the garlic is looking good. The bed on the right is newly transplanted garlic which I found hiding in the field when we went to plant the willow hedge.<br />
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Behind the favas are another row that I'll be putting cabbages in later today.<br />
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I harvested my first asparagus yesterday, and this morning, more have popped up.<br />
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Row P here, I planted in Mizuna last November. To the right of them are early onions. But we all know the onions take so long that if that was all that was in this bed I'd be weeding every day. So yesterday I planted 2 kinds of Misticanza. One with radicchio and other greens, and one with just lettuce. Today when I pick the Mizuna, the Misticanza will start getting larger. By the time I harvest the Mizuna again, the Misticanza should be just about full grown and ready to pick. Each of these should give 2 pickings unless the weather turns abysmally hot. Please no summer in early spring.<br />
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Joseph's turnip greens need thinning! I also planted these in November, so we should be eating these soon. In the bed next to them are also raddishes that need to be harvested.<br />
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There's also a couple of cabbages lingering about that should be harvested, and the kale is not liking this weather, so out it will come.<br />
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The rhubarb is also up, and won't be long till it's ready to harvest.<br />
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I lost a few rhubarb plants over the winter. Was it too dry, too cold, too hot, too many gophers? I haven't any idea, but they take so long from seed that it's annoying to lose any of them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMkqnC09de45_Xj7dMKc0p5fRMw_U6f5ZOutUdtlsVy2McK7A9R3Rti1U0yGVoCYJNsww7IVmMKVJzKXLWB2a5N6aayi-eyiGswt5FwVIQTg2Ru9uJPe6W2XFm7sdv8FruPLhwmcfMSE/s1600/IMG_3556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMkqnC09de45_Xj7dMKc0p5fRMw_U6f5ZOutUdtlsVy2McK7A9R3Rti1U0yGVoCYJNsww7IVmMKVJzKXLWB2a5N6aayi-eyiGswt5FwVIQTg2Ru9uJPe6W2XFm7sdv8FruPLhwmcfMSE/s1600/IMG_3556.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a><br />
Here's the second bed that I've been working on, row 66. Note at the back of row 66 is part of the chicken coop roof that blew off in that crazy windstorm we had on New Year's Day. We also lost a couple of trees that day. Thankfully, no Eucy trees dropped on us.<br />
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Row 66 has carrots and onions on the sides. But down the middle I planted lettuce, Scarlet Ohno, mild mustard and Baby Choi.<br />
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Scarlet Ohno is a turnip planted just for it's mild greens. It did not do well for us last year, this is its last chance, if it fails to perform I'll send these seeds farther North or East.<br />
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The soil is too damp for tilling, so I can only plant the beds that Leo prepared many moons ago for me.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmP0DqC6WpiBcXvW06jRhHSf4yWq9eIfaspzhoPHbIoBABJ6UlhMqK7xNiYmwyKWrXRf4LLjGU5mEyR4BFa9UUyU4JbHK2brOWvLahTARgyEwwgMC7cf0jYhwhY1oIR3bf8Z-OMRau24/s1600/IMG_3554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmP0DqC6WpiBcXvW06jRhHSf4yWq9eIfaspzhoPHbIoBABJ6UlhMqK7xNiYmwyKWrXRf4LLjGU5mEyR4BFa9UUyU4JbHK2brOWvLahTARgyEwwgMC7cf0jYhwhY1oIR3bf8Z-OMRau24/s1600/IMG_3554.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a>The peas I planted last November are limping along. The birds have eaten them twice!<br />
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These are the lovely Wando Alaska X that I crossed. Which I may call Skado or Doska if they turn out any good this year. These are English Shelling peas.<br />
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I also have some lovely snow peas to plant. Which I'll put in pretty soon. <br />
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The leeks, onions, cress, collards, spinach, and Chinese cabbage are already to transplant. Soon as I get them in, I'll have another tray to start more peppers and onions for later in the season.<br />
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So many greens this year!<br />
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<h3>
Chickens!</h3>
I received a note from Sandhill Preserve that our new flock of chickens should be here in March. And a darn good thing too, because with only 4 hens left from the <i>Mountain Lion Attack</i>, I'm only getting 2 eggs a day. That's barely enough to keep up with the morning ritual. I have to stash eggs to be able to have enough for weekend pancakes and French toast! I actually had to buy eggs last week. Eww. Store bought eggs! I think March chickens will give us eggs by June or July. My Father used to say, "She's no spring chicken" all the time, and by golly I know what he means now. Spring chickens lay early, late fall chickens start laying at the same time, but you have to feed them all winter. Now you know why I didn't replace the flock earlier.<br />
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Hopefully the farm will get a few more inches of rain before we're done for the season. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737664788347684824.post-86925405394067286292015-02-16T12:18:00.000-08:002015-02-16T12:18:51.252-08:00A review of Taos Blue Corn<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1SjzcvbkBoGh-mC2pAaiJzOWj1aIYvzPSeZpjE_5x59ehjPe0CweYaw8Llav40TjXFeFuLws21FN2eUxZt04t9vLqny5bKnqyMUmM8LGvhNaESdH6lxKgRDVTrwH6z1VWWbzy_1qfao/s1600/IMG_2168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1SjzcvbkBoGh-mC2pAaiJzOWj1aIYvzPSeZpjE_5x59ehjPe0CweYaw8Llav40TjXFeFuLws21FN2eUxZt04t9vLqny5bKnqyMUmM8LGvhNaESdH6lxKgRDVTrwH6z1VWWbzy_1qfao/s1600/IMG_2168.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taos Blue on 7/13</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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On June 16, 2014 I planted Taos Blue. This is a GRIN corn, PI 476868. Its from the Taos Pueblo and it's called "Blue Corn". I can't have a corn called "Blue Corn" because hey, lots of them are blue.<br />
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This is a flour corn, and I'm always looking for a good flour corn.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52DRPVKIF6JOiRPSfBL7CVvC9kXJrepAvHv5kz1qZS0hfIYuXTMWok8RIWcwilGVHHX21HuZOrfjlIivMWjPw4o42xPpW43TAGNN6HHVPPpYGFu4q3rR6oPD5q14WZ1d3y03ZDUujQRU/s1600/IMG_2387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52DRPVKIF6JOiRPSfBL7CVvC9kXJrepAvHv5kz1qZS0hfIYuXTMWok8RIWcwilGVHHX21HuZOrfjlIivMWjPw4o42xPpW43TAGNN6HHVPPpYGFu4q3rR6oPD5q14WZ1d3y03ZDUujQRU/s1600/IMG_2387.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taos Blue August 14</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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This is a short season corn and so I knew I had time to plant it before frost. (Which did not come till December in 2014!) The soil was dry, I had to irrigate 2-3 times a week to prevent wilting. There was no residual soil moisture even in the spring, due to the drought.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpgM7LNW6ciQMavJQMh5EzNpVMwvoE6zFoA4b9cZtNygXSxyqRRQOxYwDHrSFmetWyAX7_Po4EwHCQVVhd8ZdjxbBwUr4wDZl8cy5P5ZavkBkgN3YfkbbusckMoZFLDwFF7kv57YrJJ8/s1600/IMG_2826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpgM7LNW6ciQMavJQMh5EzNpVMwvoE6zFoA4b9cZtNygXSxyqRRQOxYwDHrSFmetWyAX7_Po4EwHCQVVhd8ZdjxbBwUr4wDZl8cy5P5ZavkBkgN3YfkbbusckMoZFLDwFF7kv57YrJJ8/s1600/IMG_2826.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">October 2 Taos Blue</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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As you can see, there was lodging. This corn is not very tall and the cobs are not held very far off of the ground. I harvested this right after I took this photo. This corn was the least productive in my field. The Kaanga Pango and the Yellow Papago yielded twice the amount of this corn.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taos Blue & Fusarium </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Note the starburst pattern on the kernels...Its a fusarium. <span style="font-family: inherit;">Fumonisins
are a group of mycotoxins produced by fungi in the genus <i>Fusarium</i>.
The fungus <i>Fusarium moniliforme</i> (<i>Fusarium verticillioides</i>)
is a common pathogen of corn, so common in fact that it is found wherever
corn is grown. <i>Fusarium moniliforme</i> usually appears white to salmon
colored, although it may not be visible on the corn kernel. This fungus
often produces a symptom on the corn kernels referred to as "starburst,"
or a white streaking of the kernel. You can't eat corn with fusarium or feed it to horses. I guess this one will be chicken food. As part of their rations, fumonisins don't bother chickens. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I suspect the very very dry weather, coupled with insect invasions of every known kind are probably responsible for this. I won't be doing any more summer planting of corn. This year the plan is to plant all four corns of the season as early as possible. I'm keeping an eye on the soil temperature. If it continues to warm, I may plant in March! </span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737664788347684824.post-21073766015801679482015-02-01T17:38:00.002-08:002015-02-01T17:38:58.654-08:00Winter Planting 2015The Willow Hedge<br />
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And here's the last of the willow hedge being planted. These last ones are native willows that turned up on the farm last year, so Leo cut them and stuck them in a bucket full of water. They rooted well. They are a pretty red color.<br />
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The rest of the willows we purchased from Dunbar Gardens in Washington. We selected both hedge and basket types. We hope to be able to do a number of farm projects with willow in the future, but for now this is the first of our new windbreaks. Water loss here at the farm is mostly a result of the wind and evaporation. We can't change the weather, so we hope that wind breaks will help mitigate for water loss. Well, at least maybe slow it down.<br />
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In a few years, we hope to have a hedge that looks like this one at Dunbar Gardens. <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737664788347684824.post-64621706465777093742014-12-30T11:26:00.001-08:002014-12-30T11:26:36.797-08:00Winter Blues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8EHs8cJkCEkPNkzyKglRxpZwjuQi2J768NKoXy2oTy-Jnbq1LB2hPhuE1r1xxhXsccv-WnyMQRKeukfYjrBt7s2ZcXveTN0fPeG-SJZjnmxhP5qVfx8wmLv9phcBIv9oBA6ux3k5Fkg/s1600/sad.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8EHs8cJkCEkPNkzyKglRxpZwjuQi2J768NKoXy2oTy-Jnbq1LB2hPhuE1r1xxhXsccv-WnyMQRKeukfYjrBt7s2ZcXveTN0fPeG-SJZjnmxhP5qVfx8wmLv9phcBIv9oBA6ux3k5Fkg/s1600/sad.tiff" height="640" width="608" /></a></div>
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Just in case you wondered what I was doing with all the money I saved this year. And how can I be blue? I love winter! It was 30 when I got up. I guess it's time to drag out some long sleeve shirts and put away my flops!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737664788347684824.post-46631415469412873752014-12-16T00:06:00.000-08:002014-12-16T00:06:04.011-08:00December on the Farm 2014Welcome the light and rain! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWFMiS_9EReD99vomEZv0Lh5xkDpG76sHpvKQKdBvZh2AnDCXRiR-nd6ftC5pXagRBBO1X_N-itXEOLQFIyqSSoySih06J29zmUY5r0aqQ3RlBh1tjeyXq1n7fVp7maiwWy67zQ7glR4/s1600/drought.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWFMiS_9EReD99vomEZv0Lh5xkDpG76sHpvKQKdBvZh2AnDCXRiR-nd6ftC5pXagRBBO1X_N-itXEOLQFIyqSSoySih06J29zmUY5r0aqQ3RlBh1tjeyXq1n7fVp7maiwWy67zQ7glR4/s1600/drought.tiff" height="247" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Down in one of the reservoirs</td></tr>
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Well, it's been a heck of a ride folks. From no water, to wishing I had tanks to put what's falling into! We had a good 5 inches. The creek is running. A darn good sign if you ask me. I know, we need more. About 40 inches more to make up for last year, but I'll take what I can get and be happy about it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">December 15 out my back door</td></tr>
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Just before this rain, I got the favas and lupini's in . (Edible lupines).<br />
I'd planted faro, but I suspect the little tweeters got it all. They ate the lettuce too! But turnips, parsnips, radishes, greens and other crops were planted before the deluge, so I'm hoping that turnips don't come up in the driveway!<br />
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It's halfway through December and I'm just thinking about what to plant next year. It's been unseasonably warm. There are still flowers on beans, and limas and tomatoes in the field.<br />
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Last spring I had one extra Sungold tomato, so I put it out my backdoor. <br />
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About August, Zack had enough of it blocking the path, so he and Julia hacked it back. Well, here it is December and it's flowering and making fruit. That's a first.<br />
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We actually harvested the last of the melons on Thanksgiving and hope to serve them up on Christmas. So you see, seed choosing is not as easy as it once was.<br />
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Will there be bugs? I'm thinking, no frost, lots of moisture....ewwww...there will be bugs.<br />
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I've selected some peppers, tomatoes and eggplant to start for January. Now I have to move onto broc, cauli, cabb, chard, leeks, onions and more peas. I planted peas in early November and they're up, but I really want to plant more.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXeTV82GZhuxD_6MFDAfLIRLs4bRTB2XrpsdSzJEslZqJJxTsF4qOE-QsbC3KWKKPYWZvua8vDbxCIThD4XyQ955erXifp_4Fsa_pvpjVcCY2zdZZw12nsiBdrY4PYPe8WwaDnwFhRNU/s1600/IMG_3397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXeTV82GZhuxD_6MFDAfLIRLs4bRTB2XrpsdSzJEslZqJJxTsF4qOE-QsbC3KWKKPYWZvua8vDbxCIThD4XyQ955erXifp_4Fsa_pvpjVcCY2zdZZw12nsiBdrY4PYPe8WwaDnwFhRNU/s1600/IMG_3397.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>I'll have to rummage the seed storage and see what's out there. We had a lot of problems with brassica bugs at the end of the season, so I'm thinking not as many rows of those.<br />
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Speaking of brassicas, here's a couple of interesting monsters.<br />
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I'm thinking these are cauliflowers. Ones that I harvested and left the plant in the field? Or some new Caulette? Flowerette? Cauliflowerette? Never seen these before. But then again, I've never had mosquitoes in December before either, so, I guess everything is new and different.<br />
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Thank heaven for rain. Thank you thank you, did I say thank you? I'm eternally grateful, as hey look at the garlic! And many thanks to Joseph for so carefully growing garlic for us.<br />
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Joseph, at Lofthouse Gardens grows great garlic. I love his big, easy to peel delicious garlic. The cloves he sent us were huge! Now, if it dries a little, I can weed, otherwise, I'm just not going to worry, the garlic is loving the rain. On the left, the grapes have not dropped their leaves so I haven't even pruned them yet. Well, January is coming. In the back of this photo you can see the favas peeking out.<br />
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There's still kale and chard in the field, so we are still eating home grown greens. I may dry some of these and make kale chips. Might as well, heck I don't have anything to do besides can, cook, bake and clean....<br />
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Zack besides working his regular job has been helping me do tool repairs. Man, he's great at this. It's one of those jobs that I keep putting off, which results in a barn full of shovels with no handles.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmaBYe7oZZVLfoF4ALCS3B_cDpewnaU2yDUgOwzRcOEcAR0LZ3NqgrfgVOkGeesDw8rDrQnCkEfBuFnQZsEcNCw7XQLIIaUPWGyhFGwHQv2Ue_yH5jxFWwUhgY4NfOmFQukUMZTTLN_I/s1600/IMG_3110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmaBYe7oZZVLfoF4ALCS3B_cDpewnaU2yDUgOwzRcOEcAR0LZ3NqgrfgVOkGeesDw8rDrQnCkEfBuFnQZsEcNCw7XQLIIaUPWGyhFGwHQv2Ue_yH5jxFWwUhgY4NfOmFQukUMZTTLN_I/s1600/IMG_3110.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZBMiXWObdQWh6ZmzLmowUngeRm3r4ybkdF21YQl6l9KYRfKCqlcGey_JIXqlpeVs_91H8JjfZLxChrGyoaHG2RaRXfHmaKeLRlZGgELvTRZWHOgdDPRfMTC39CL-yQdcGebpcifg_RzU/s1600/IMG_3118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZBMiXWObdQWh6ZmzLmowUngeRm3r4ybkdF21YQl6l9KYRfKCqlcGey_JIXqlpeVs_91H8JjfZLxChrGyoaHG2RaRXfHmaKeLRlZGgELvTRZWHOgdDPRfMTC39CL-yQdcGebpcifg_RzU/s1600/IMG_3118.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGAGZoxoy9U-cRGflFn_jn8QQVFgQRtyMn51rj-FVFy-4otQ-6da8YZgYeJvlDy36DQgb-zmiL8ayYch2DBcoB0qnOPeDj_HAybKIm2EMZTsnOD2dYaL2mhSE42lWrkbGRBZbC4Z_-HA/s1600/IMG_3115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGAGZoxoy9U-cRGflFn_jn8QQVFgQRtyMn51rj-FVFy-4otQ-6da8YZgYeJvlDy36DQgb-zmiL8ayYch2DBcoB0qnOPeDj_HAybKIm2EMZTsnOD2dYaL2mhSE42lWrkbGRBZbC4Z_-HA/s1600/IMG_3115.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTunBV2x8i3MGWwmy29bEsD63GrFSP9Qr68rWMXIycOBo-S4mx1qVAepzdq6huuVLM4uBQ0y3verFbzvMnTrki43x5OaRoPnPIEzZ8NzUruYaFwteJb3erJVdjFZW0X54rHoxgWENaVc/s1600/IMG_3120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTunBV2x8i3MGWwmy29bEsD63GrFSP9Qr68rWMXIycOBo-S4mx1qVAepzdq6huuVLM4uBQ0y3verFbzvMnTrki43x5OaRoPnPIEzZ8NzUruYaFwteJb3erJVdjFZW0X54rHoxgWENaVc/s1600/IMG_3120.JPG" height="146" width="320" /></a>Take a look at some of these poor tools. These two sledges were really sad...nails put in them to hold the heads on. They're gorgeous now. Cleaned up with new handles. <br />
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And just in time to deal with the Eucy tree that bit the dust, a newly repaired splitting maul. To be fair, I did not break these tools. I tend to break things like forks. I've broken the same fork three times. It's embarrassing. In the summer the soil just gets so darn hard, that I break them. <br />
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My days of using mauls and sledges are gone. I content myself to breaking simpler things like pitchforks. I took the after picture before Zack had time to polish up the metal. But I was just so tickled. Nothing better than a barn full of tools that work, even if I'm getting too old to swing some of them. <br />
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Hope your days are Merry & Bright. I'm just singing in the rain!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737664788347684824.post-69987401170767339592014-11-01T15:58:00.001-07:002014-11-01T15:58:48.737-07:00Faking Halloween Faking HalloweenYou need to sing to Danny Elfman's music to get the tune correct. <br />
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So, since we were kids, no Halloween costume was ever purchased. You could rummage in the spare closet, go to Goodwill and pick up needle and thread. Most of Zack's years were spent combing Goodwill for likely fabrics to be a pirate, a Ninja, a Knight...basically Zack would be anything that allowed you to carry a sword. Now we have a costume trunk, that's fair game for anyone to raid.<br />
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So, Leo was getting tired of being a Wizard every year. It's been too hot for too many years for him to wear his Tigger suit, and I think he was burnt on pirating as well. (You can only do so much Yo Hoeing when you are a farmer). So after a bout of bronchitis and bed rest with Outlander I began channeling Dougal MacKenzie and decided I needed my own BAMF.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BAMF</td></tr>
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This outfit is not exactly correct. And I will say that after months of looking I gave up on finding plaid at Goodwill and settled for Hounds tooth. So, please don't write to me the fact that there was no Hounds tooth in the 1770's. <br />
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Shortly after Leo got his linen shirt and wool waistcoat, he asked me, "What? No ruffles?" So muttering to myself and went back and added ruffles to the shirt.<br />
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The next night Leo said he was just kidding. So, now that Halloween is over, the ruffles are going. They are a nuisance and he keeps dipping them in his pint.<br />
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So, at Goodwill I purchased a Hounds tooth Jacket. (Hey Ralph, how about some plaid?)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_E2BXSPjE81GPaGdTzptLe_twU20sQd_IeG8dQyWEAKTAO41GyDOh5jAGIB1ho4i7NbYy7460MnZMZLMqR3q0k41llrONBlarA2xQhjGe6RCyVU8s77KO50rxVAq-LAp8gwLsrzeQcU/s1600/dougal.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_E2BXSPjE81GPaGdTzptLe_twU20sQd_IeG8dQyWEAKTAO41GyDOh5jAGIB1ho4i7NbYy7460MnZMZLMqR3q0k41llrONBlarA2xQhjGe6RCyVU8s77KO50rxVAq-LAp8gwLsrzeQcU/s1600/dougal.tiff" height="320" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Real Dougal</td></tr>
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There were six brand new Ralph Lauren Jackets. I found one in a size smaller than Leo wears as a jacket and turned it into a waist coat.<br />
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And yes, that was a pain in the butt. Also, the tartan that Dougal wears in Outlander is not a Mackenzie Tartan, but one that was woven just for the film by Anthony Haines Textile. And no, it's not for sale and I do not weave tartan. Nope, never have. I only found one piece of plaid even slightly this color and that was a plaid from Pendleton. So, I had to settle for another fabric.<br />
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For the breeks I found a pair of black leather pants at Goodwill, cut them off, and turned them into breeks and put buttons on the side. I also found a cashmere coat and turned it into an overcoat. I was going to make him a proper Beret/Bonnet, but Leo always wanted one of the caps he's wearing. It's from Scotland and looks wonderful on him. Don't you just love the green wool kilt hose?<br />
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I couldn't get Leo to wear a kilt. He was worried that I'd have my hand up his skirt all evening. ...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0xNH7I79G_8eCiN359FKare-BmnoJOpSfHpfF85oaMyd7V8FxHdL7biruoQ4gWvqnjUN6GsKzYhZmwwhpxAi70Pa3Y1Wz9GsG_DYprXwkzE1QmzJoOJIkY35RMT5PrYrhO7UhX2Bv49Y/s1600/IMG_3006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0xNH7I79G_8eCiN359FKare-BmnoJOpSfHpfF85oaMyd7V8FxHdL7biruoQ4gWvqnjUN6GsKzYhZmwwhpxAi70Pa3Y1Wz9GsG_DYprXwkzE1QmzJoOJIkY35RMT5PrYrhO7UhX2Bv49Y/s1600/IMG_3006.JPG" height="400" width="197" /></a></div>
We had the silk neckstock in my drawer, left over from a dye class. Leo didn't snug it up as he was already wonderfully warm, wrapped in linen, wool and cashmere. He found it to be a most comfy costume. Especially since we had rain! First rainy Halloween Night in about 70 years.<br />
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And of course since Dougal was sleeping with the Duncan Witch, well, I could just go as myself. <br />
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My skirt consists of all the mistakes and leftover bits from previous sewing adventures. Properly shredded and attached to a waist tie. I also have a long green shift dress on. I knitted and felted my hat. The pin on the front says "Black Hat Society, Since 1692". This is my LEED's costume. Since it's all recycled, that makes me a Green witch?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyQ3emVA0y9zXFZxqJ-w1vbL9TDTnhd2J_kahOd4jbtt8htnYaXsc4kMpa6nW3BPc374y8GZP954MapzCWMdeBBEjGBfy6DEuO1tJ4GkEGkPEeVP670cSEvR61k0aBpC2BqqmZSTeaRk/s1600/IMG_2856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyQ3emVA0y9zXFZxqJ-w1vbL9TDTnhd2J_kahOd4jbtt8htnYaXsc4kMpa6nW3BPc374y8GZP954MapzCWMdeBBEjGBfy6DEuO1tJ4GkEGkPEeVP670cSEvR61k0aBpC2BqqmZSTeaRk/s1600/IMG_2856.JPG" height="320" width="224" /></a>We witches do go back a bit don't we?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fjptenJTTmlHdNvoToSuA2sxzNDEDN1gLFEuATqJEd9REQQTUOEgN3H8lNPXksr4f37y8rPANyTQ1ZDMcv9w0PB8IF3c8Ku7q2Q-QzFvQK0M4bPD-oeVQVXiNC2OktTapNLDDwCIiPw/s1600/IMG_2872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fjptenJTTmlHdNvoToSuA2sxzNDEDN1gLFEuATqJEd9REQQTUOEgN3H8lNPXksr4f37y8rPANyTQ1ZDMcv9w0PB8IF3c8Ku7q2Q-QzFvQK0M4bPD-oeVQVXiNC2OktTapNLDDwCIiPw/s1600/IMG_2872.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a>So back to Leo's costume, this is the original jacket. As you can see, I already started removing the sleeves. This was very time consuming as each sleeve was sewed on twice, once at the lining and once on the wool. Plus there's tons of padding in there. At one point I had to actually rip from the outside! Scarey! So that I could find the thread I was ripping from the inside.<br />
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After I got the sleeves off, I took off the collar. Now that was such a pain in the butt, if I were to choose again, I'd leave it on. <br />
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I pinned the lining back to the inside of the armholes and hand stitched the waistcoat openings.<br />
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I used a lot pins in this and eased the lining between the pins.<br />
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When I got the collar off, the sleeves removed and the openings closed, I commenced to make button holes. I have a Viking Sewing machine and it makes SHITTY buttonholes. That made making this many buttonholes on the waistcoat a nerve wracking experience and I had to rip three of them out. As they did not meet my standards even slightly. <br />
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The original jacket had 3 buttons/Button holes. I needed to have 10, so I added 7 more. I left the 3 originals. <br />
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I recycled the buttons from a shirt I made Leo many years ago. I used the excess buttons on his breeks.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnzSyrzRYKHdwGe1x_8SSoeCWd1o2u_SwcPXQLIanY6Ywcs-LFAoZhlqvv9CbSAa-CVOmfwB2hWZqZT6pnhmQecXCMldSdFUeZzvUP8SI-hcw8u3IHbjI5NPtwsu2KkbCC6SBvilCCcw/s1600/IMG_3021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnzSyrzRYKHdwGe1x_8SSoeCWd1o2u_SwcPXQLIanY6Ywcs-LFAoZhlqvv9CbSAa-CVOmfwB2hWZqZT6pnhmQecXCMldSdFUeZzvUP8SI-hcw8u3IHbjI5NPtwsu2KkbCC6SBvilCCcw/s1600/IMG_3021.JPG" height="640" width="371" /></a></div>
I spent as many hours scoping for a coat, that I probably could have made one from scratch and believe you me, if I could have found a tartan, I would have. But Leo loves cashmere and so I settled for this coat. It's not as skirty as I would have made it. Now that Halloween is over, I'm going to move all the buttons to one side, and make more buttonholes, similar to the vest. I had a hard time finding a coat in Leo's size. The sleeves on this one were short, so I had to let them down. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rkw-eVCd3JXOogcSGxn9dEjOrd3RiaRqK051BYIbDK50sbQlGi7xzrEvtmeap8YY0L2eVpyiDUBcWcwJchXBOol74Cg6vMMUeFX52_j9yUfrp7geU7lx-6jtQ4BDUn5KA-WPRf6c3oc/s1600/light+dragoons.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rkw-eVCd3JXOogcSGxn9dEjOrd3RiaRqK051BYIbDK50sbQlGi7xzrEvtmeap8YY0L2eVpyiDUBcWcwJchXBOol74Cg6vMMUeFX52_j9yUfrp7geU7lx-6jtQ4BDUn5KA-WPRf6c3oc/s1600/light+dragoons.tiff" height="181" width="200" /></a>The buttons on the jacket have Leo's initials (LD). These are pewter reproductions of the 3rd Continental Light Dragoons, also known as "Martha Washington's Horse". I found them at Jas Townsend. And yes, you could buy this costume there, and it would be mostly historically correct, but it would cost you.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwxTWc0TZIfDGfdUkeOBvJ696MnhcvOwrUDdfzqMXzlXLtGFftWzyNGmUbd9RqRZPYR4taLG2OUPGH3s52u8BCorguvwJ45s0hmOrFn_69luKxehBG1LNiTiGfXLl_ny1q-LGEFU7O-E/s1600/IMG_3025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwxTWc0TZIfDGfdUkeOBvJ696MnhcvOwrUDdfzqMXzlXLtGFftWzyNGmUbd9RqRZPYR4taLG2OUPGH3s52u8BCorguvwJ45s0hmOrFn_69luKxehBG1LNiTiGfXLl_ny1q-LGEFU7O-E/s1600/IMG_3025.JPG" height="640" width="272" /></a><br />
<h3>
So what were the costs:</h3>
Coat $39.97<br />
Waistcoat $26.26<br />
Breeks $22.08<br />
Linen Shirt $20.22<br />
Hat $12.00<br />
Kilt Socks $18.00<br />
Buttons $8.50<br />
$147.00 total. Not bad for recycling, ehh? I didn't count thread, needles and lace which I already had in my sewing room. I spent zero dollars on my costume. The wool for my hat was leftover from Zack's hat and scarf last year. Zack wanted custom dyed black. Mood fabrics has both the Ralph Lauren Hounds tooth and the Cashmere at $79.00 a yard. I figure that if I had sewed the coat and waistcoat from scratch I would have spent around $700. Time wise, it took me a week for the vest, one day for the shirt and breeks, and one day for the coat.<br />
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The shirt and socks will return to Leo's wardrobe, as he needed knee socks for under his rubber boots anyway. And good wool socks are getting more expensive all the time. The scarf goes back to the dye blanks drawer. And Leo is going to turn this coat into an every day coat, as soon as I shift the buttons. All and all it was a fun project. I'm left with a couple of ruffles, 2 wool sleeves, but I get to keep the BAMF. Hey and mine has more hair that Dougal!<br />
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Happy All Soul's Day.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737664788347684824.post-10947468951414838162014-08-06T17:49:00.003-07:002014-08-06T17:55:11.838-07:00Review of Isola di Este<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivddSNhY1zCriGbQE9U9pPYHOn6lki9kvSYeYl6QSQrMIkR152rdJ1u6b7o8gssreTy97F9tJgGYF1v3-VzBrkXmFPRfAYWMj3BSTehzsZDph6gBwMJMz4_MerGywGm8cLGWatG7v8GjU/s1600/IMG_2332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivddSNhY1zCriGbQE9U9pPYHOn6lki9kvSYeYl6QSQrMIkR152rdJ1u6b7o8gssreTy97F9tJgGYF1v3-VzBrkXmFPRfAYWMj3BSTehzsZDph6gBwMJMz4_MerGywGm8cLGWatG7v8GjU/s1600/IMG_2332.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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PI 433654 Nostrano dell' Isola di Este from Sondrio, Italy<br />
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So in my search for the perfect polenta, I gave up trying corn here and
instead used GRIN to order the most likely Italian corns. First, Italy
is much like California. And Northern Italy is where people eat
Polenta. I think this is the 4th in a series of Italian corn. I've had
a lot of help from the corn curator for GRIN, Mark Millard. Thanks Mark.
I originally planted this corn in 2011 and it was attacked by wild pigs. I was only able to get enough of a crop to save seed to try again. And it here it is, a beautiful golden/orange corn.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggu77isv_oZEUH9d1R-OGpUuE-P-1FthPVugrsnOrv4yVWX8lIBaXGXmkadhyphenhyphen31xSQcACQz71Fxeitg0uCKncGIVhfr_SOY9IGQ_eiIv91JlboJtJxLu0tISAbVQ0SUmLJNGEhON4-f4c/s1600/IMG_2325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggu77isv_oZEUH9d1R-OGpUuE-P-1FthPVugrsnOrv4yVWX8lIBaXGXmkadhyphenhyphen31xSQcACQz71Fxeitg0uCKncGIVhfr_SOY9IGQ_eiIv91JlboJtJxLu0tISAbVQ0SUmLJNGEhON4-f4c/s1600/IMG_2325.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">August 3, 2014</td></tr>
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This is the field at harvest.<br />
<br />
<br />
Planted Mar 27 to trays, Transplanted 4/13. I estimated that it was 122 day corn. I began harvesting on August 2. As you can see about 90% is at the field dry stage. I could have probably pulled this out of the field 15 days ago or earlier. Remember, it's been hot, hot, hot here. How hot? In the 90's almost every day with very very little of our normal 4 days heat and 3 days fog. Someone has stolen the fog.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndBzZcqfyNf_JFkDszS6pIjM0OIh8M5WutFSahwvtSDpgYgyHnt5Lg5QmQ8W4GMV3bFowPIYRy99fgE_jWsfquLoF9wOxdPacEGFk0xGBS5qeWWENedV4RvY4dhbiGuMPxgn9h5o4Ofs/s1600/IMG_2326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndBzZcqfyNf_JFkDszS6pIjM0OIh8M5WutFSahwvtSDpgYgyHnt5Lg5QmQ8W4GMV3bFowPIYRy99fgE_jWsfquLoF9wOxdPacEGFk0xGBS5qeWWENedV4RvY4dhbiGuMPxgn9h5o4Ofs/s1600/IMG_2326.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">August 3</td></tr>
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This is a photo of the corn up close and personal at harvest. This corn has the longest silks I have ever seen. Almost every stalk made 2 ears, one large and one small to medium. A large stalk is 12 inches and a small stalk is 8 inches. The interesting thing is that most of the medium stalks were not long and thin, but short and with more rows. This corn had beautiful tight wrappers. Some of the best wrappers I have ever seen. I'm talking fine enough to be tamale wrappers. The cobs were held at about 3' and 4' from the ground. The stalks themselves were about 7'. Not too tall, not too short. This may be the Goldilocks of all the flint corn I have grown.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZl0TaVCTRjksYZlA1lavOmPW7zQ1FwIiBtb57OwU4emrkxPIM21jZvmnuLyQdUwRVu_XOcNsmmqU8s480qFbFVqu7A45QOw8Lqe5GR5QPkID8Cv7pvCWDsH8EkqcWMgkgZuipWsbELA/s1600/IMG_1940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZl0TaVCTRjksYZlA1lavOmPW7zQ1FwIiBtb57OwU4emrkxPIM21jZvmnuLyQdUwRVu_XOcNsmmqU8s480qFbFVqu7A45QOw8Lqe5GR5QPkID8Cv7pvCWDsH8EkqcWMgkgZuipWsbELA/s1600/IMG_1940.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">June 23, 2014</td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
This corn did not lodge. Nope, not even one stalk. Speaking of stalks, the only problem that I see with this corn is that it makes 1 1/2 stalks. <span align="left" id="dnn_ctr658_ContentPane">Corn is the only major
field crop characterized by separate male and female flowering
structures, the tassel and ear, respectively. However, in most corn
fields it is not unusual to find a few scattered plants with a
combination tassel and ear in the same structure - a "tassel ear." The
ear portion of this tassel ear structure usually contains only a limited
number of kernels. The "Good Tassel Ears appear as miniature corns"<br />
<br />The tassel ears often appear on tillers (suckers) arising from plants with
normal ears and tassels. These tassel ears are produced at a terminal
position on the tiller where a tassel would normally appear. However,
tassel ears may also be produced by individual plants. This is what I call the 1/2 stalk.</span><br />
<span align="left" id="dnn_ctr658_ContentPane"><br />
Tassel ears are a reminder that the male and female parts of the corn
plan are structurally very closely related. Wild progenitors of
corn-teosinte spp. have complete flowers tassels and silks together.
These can be crossed with Zea mays (normal corn). I suspect this is a very old trait. I have rarely seen this in my fields. However, it is a trait I would select against.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgox0CXZNujYgbnDbevOscGbXBTejYfjjOVT70-l9lXjg6pEewMEH8FVxFqvK-S9Si6cBb0siULmQT3o2w7or5_2-WjTR5F2R6VCVyFVEy3u0YSiQDYpSSUt7ZghoM6LExoPVJHF_Yz_jU/s1600/IMG_2327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgox0CXZNujYgbnDbevOscGbXBTejYfjjOVT70-l9lXjg6pEewMEH8FVxFqvK-S9Si6cBb0siULmQT3o2w7or5_2-WjTR5F2R6VCVyFVEy3u0YSiQDYpSSUt7ZghoM6LExoPVJHF_Yz_jU/s1600/IMG_2327.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half stalk with Tassel Ear</td></tr>
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Why? They are so cute! Take a close look, the dreaded Huitlacoche (corn smut) appeared on all but 2 of these tassel ears. Why? The tassel ears have no wrappers. Wee little birds of the seed eating type come and peck these cute leeetle ears. The corn sends out a damage report and huitlacoche steps in. I don't like it, I don't have a market for it, and left uncontrolled can ruin an entire field in short order. So, As these developed, I took a pair of loppers and walked through the maze of maize ad lopped them off. All those years my dad made me take the tillers off of corn, maybe he was onto something? Nope, just trying to keep these idle hands out of mischief.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NTTPIGDw5NznvjwicNfjKIFCNaUoWK7rIAaHxhYpCvYMSbw1qgknmEYcB68wmwNmaSWmIeMjt2ZOEQvVmQM06hFB7ecUNuHYn6kxMW4UcUXRqK2LbqDTDsHyAjh9_t8-XT7xKcg-lKg/s1600/IMG_2341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NTTPIGDw5NznvjwicNfjKIFCNaUoWK7rIAaHxhYpCvYMSbw1qgknmEYcB68wmwNmaSWmIeMjt2ZOEQvVmQM06hFB7ecUNuHYn6kxMW4UcUXRqK2LbqDTDsHyAjh9_t8-XT7xKcg-lKg/s1600/IMG_2341.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">left ear crossed with Kanga Pango. Right ear is a tiller ear.</td></tr>
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<br />
In future years, I would just keep removing the tillers of this corn. I'm also not saving any seed from the tillers. Which leads me to wonder what seed to save.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfkTUXYzChyphenhyphen-8gNCI9yCDiFHrBsCcJ-PX6tKq8lopsOTUYdX4K4hrTHyayn2X5-Fb6-VwJiDyFem6B6irGKjB4zT9lyDHG8iHBzQs9Ui2jIt7rZDjuDEKjLJRN6IqqM63ttJbFeT-nic/s1600/IMG_2343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfkTUXYzChyphenhyphen-8gNCI9yCDiFHrBsCcJ-PX6tKq8lopsOTUYdX4K4hrTHyayn2X5-Fb6-VwJiDyFem6B6irGKjB4zT9lyDHG8iHBzQs9Ui2jIt7rZDjuDEKjLJRN6IqqM63ttJbFeT-nic/s1600/IMG_2343.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
Of course I'll sort the out the corn with spotty germ, incomplete tip fill and probably ears that I think are too fat, plus anything that was crossed (only the very end row). These will all be ground for polenta. All the very long thin perfect ears that dry quickly is what I'm aiming for. (1, 3 & 6 in this photo).<br />
<br />
The corn borers are just beginning in this corn. When I get corn borers, I get pink mold, so I'm in a rush to get this corn out of the field. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8M4wlArnupEHDhT_c45VQQggTyN8HMhEyttWmEGQhSVzbv7UhMqtBHtbPyagRuXCfpHBokY4_guqQ9029Gb3Z7Jc2smf99rXzWmvs6qI3MbJFfmFKJzjgR4sxXD9Hg1hXFtCxac45Wn8/s1600/IMG_2348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8M4wlArnupEHDhT_c45VQQggTyN8HMhEyttWmEGQhSVzbv7UhMqtBHtbPyagRuXCfpHBokY4_guqQ9029Gb3Z7Jc2smf99rXzWmvs6qI3MbJFfmFKJzjgR4sxXD9Hg1hXFtCxac45Wn8/s1600/IMG_2348.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting to get the hang of it.</td></tr>
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The Isola di Este is in the foreground and the Kaanga Pango in the back ground. We had a 90% germination on both. The gophers took a couple so, we ended up with 84 plants. These were placed on 18" emitters and I think that's a good choice for this corn. This corn was not composted at planting, but side dressed on May 11th and given a shot of fish emulsion the week after planting. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2l2-pPDVSa_HL1OTYIeoAtDFlAW4y1mWq0KrR_VBmBcmUia_2-wgjut1Qxc3BBx7X9Sw0eAE_ekhpuiU-k8t5oAcsB_recAHIenDHyaWHjOiFVKlEKGEMW4U-MvNXsFzITngwIlD9rY/s1600/IMG_1406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2l2-pPDVSa_HL1OTYIeoAtDFlAW4y1mWq0KrR_VBmBcmUia_2-wgjut1Qxc3BBx7X9Sw0eAE_ekhpuiU-k8t5oAcsB_recAHIenDHyaWHjOiFVKlEKGEMW4U-MvNXsFzITngwIlD9rY/s1600/IMG_1406.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">May 11th, 2014</td></tr>
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Isola di Este as all our corn was irrigated to the standard of approximately 1 gallon per week.
The temperature throughout the season has been hot 90+ every day and the
evening lows, around 59 F. It's drier than Prohibition here, so I think this is another corn that would be great in a drought. Now, we just have to wait for it to get dry enough to eat.<br />
<br />
Once again, I'd like to thank the USDA GRIN program for the germplasm and particularly Mark Millard for his continuing support and encouragement of our search for drought tolerant flint and flour corns. Viva la Polenta!<br />
<br />
Coming soon. Photos of of the 3 toed Dar's Drought Tolerant, Isleta Pueblo Blue & Papago.<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737664788347684824.post-20181190608216100912014-07-29T18:37:00.000-07:002014-10-12T15:15:27.523-07:00Review of Kaanga Pango CornI'm in the process of harvesting the Kaanga Pango Corn. First, let me say that I know very little about this corn.<br />
<br />
This is a heritage corn from NZ and was from the Wellington Seed Library. I do not know what the Maori used this corn for. The Maori historically used corn to making a fermented corn, they ate corn fresh, they make something that looks like a tamale, and they ate a pudding/mush from corn.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurF2lMb6DPGXGGVxendgIy_dhdgRVR-uqnu8o7TKm9UtPAQ9IeUpdeKQ34A0cyg6CXJy7zaYFvEUXcs5SVcN3VJQLyJd_6Sg1Mm5yK5vJPbeU6BjJpOYQKmriRSxoKchJZuPnDzFC9PY/s1600/IMG_9935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurF2lMb6DPGXGGVxendgIy_dhdgRVR-uqnu8o7TKm9UtPAQ9IeUpdeKQ34A0cyg6CXJy7zaYFvEUXcs5SVcN3VJQLyJd_6Sg1Mm5yK5vJPbeU6BjJpOYQKmriRSxoKchJZuPnDzFC9PY/s1600/IMG_9935.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">April 23 Foreground, Isola di Este, Kaanga Pango - near compost pile</td></tr>
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<br />
It was estimated that Kaanga Pango was 110 days.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdy_Jm7dGgeRcECByx3vFWZpGoNT_aHa0_JZt1c-HM1fIyc-GmOlQcnwu-MiiSraA-hkHYke7TZrrO766oa-AS9kgz1LxrJ-pqsniaZAfJBQPTQX-zE6FJ5b8Od-1Vh1i5uosrqc6sAk/s1600/IMG_1406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdy_Jm7dGgeRcECByx3vFWZpGoNT_aHa0_JZt1c-HM1fIyc-GmOlQcnwu-MiiSraA-hkHYke7TZrrO766oa-AS9kgz1LxrJ-pqsniaZAfJBQPTQX-zE6FJ5b8Od-1Vh1i5uosrqc6sAk/s1600/IMG_1406.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">May 11, 2014 - Corn side dressed</td></tr>
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I planted this corn on March 27, 2014 to flats. It was transplanted to the field on 4/13/14. As you can see the soil as already extremely dry and both corns are up and doing well. I started 100 of each of these in the tray, at transplanting, there was approximately 85 of each. The gophers ate a few and each plot ended up with 80 corn. This field was not composted this year, but the corn was side dressed with compost and fertilized with fish emulsion and endo mychorrizae at planting.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjGlVfCQGiVEetRTLNpkBrcow5mIoqxzP-uDUVZlDZWijDryjIeXlj-I0TRqpUPNtvcR96ySiFi2Fs5er31eGB7rurWPdH5WywoblFyCtj0HLQlhqZvoYnvcJKMYekjpOY-TesGoMntg/s1600/IMG_1882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjGlVfCQGiVEetRTLNpkBrcow5mIoqxzP-uDUVZlDZWijDryjIeXlj-I0TRqpUPNtvcR96ySiFi2Fs5er31eGB7rurWPdH5WywoblFyCtj0HLQlhqZvoYnvcJKMYekjpOY-TesGoMntg/s1600/IMG_1882.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">June 15, 2014 Kaanga Pango Left, Isola di Este Right</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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By June 15, the Kaanga Pango was in full tassel. The Isoa di Este had not tasseled at this point.<br />
Kaanga Pango is about 6' tall. It makes 3-4 tillers, and on the outside edges, each of these tillers made an additional corn. These were planted on 18 inch centers, and by the looks of them, they could have used 24 or even 36" centers. It's Leo's opinion that if I had planted them on 36 er's I would have yielded 4x as much corn. For a not very tall corn, they are very broad. The corn is held at about 2 1/2 feet above the ground.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZ9cY1zbq_oqKVCr0BhLjHkRrgn17jL-boSFPBl3DEwVrOsQpH6uwSXfrFceKNb_sOlUagWLITHWvdJf3gMX0uimE1C1hncnF4xTDoUvIz8EYZTQskxadfxzoVxK1cSFLfqFBQ-MI4VM/s1600/IMG_2173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZ9cY1zbq_oqKVCr0BhLjHkRrgn17jL-boSFPBl3DEwVrOsQpH6uwSXfrFceKNb_sOlUagWLITHWvdJf3gMX0uimE1C1hncnF4xTDoUvIz8EYZTQskxadfxzoVxK1cSFLfqFBQ-MI4VM/s1600/IMG_2173.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">July 13, 2015 Kaanga Pango & Papago Corn in the foreground</td></tr>
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By July 13, the Kanga Pango was ready. I left it in the field until Sunday, July 27. All of this year's corn has been irrigated to the standard of approximately 1 gallon per week. The temperature throughout the season has been hot 90+ every day and the evening lows, around 59 F. We have not had our typical coastal fog once a week. Leo noticed that due to it's tillering nature and the shade associated with that and that it was shorter, it need less water than other corn in the field,.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq68lfYvqAUqAgh6kIglio9z7N1KCnJmkeSFeGan07irGyS7et1PfC5xVychvgsANjmxLgELnxoirHAO89aEiv7BZyCoGnw7rATZ8B7rkvNcW02vCaexdR8rDwK0mwcoKGJgPn86mlT1Y/s1600/IMG_2317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq68lfYvqAUqAgh6kIglio9z7N1KCnJmkeSFeGan07irGyS7et1PfC5xVychvgsANjmxLgELnxoirHAO89aEiv7BZyCoGnw7rATZ8B7rkvNcW02vCaexdR8rDwK0mwcoKGJgPn86mlT1Y/s1600/IMG_2317.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">July 30, Kaanga Pango on the hoof</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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On July 27th, I harvested 2 rows. In the field, I pulled back the husks, the husks were already too dry to braid, so I've just tied and hung them. At this point the Isola di Este is ready to come out of the field as well, but it's 98 degrees, and I'm having a hard time working more than a couple of hours in the heat.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKo0_J_D5roRp4iy-wAp165lpY55o0_40dvX8I5r5RbnqmY5evlEPGsF5QqhmhxJA8JHkifqJVfGknew14UzeO33XXZ2sgyjYwSd3-EL3Ccq2wtw2wUZBwv9I34y467qh6C2qNNf3O1o/s1600/IMG_2319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKo0_J_D5roRp4iy-wAp165lpY55o0_40dvX8I5r5RbnqmY5evlEPGsF5QqhmhxJA8JHkifqJVfGknew14UzeO33XXZ2sgyjYwSd3-EL3Ccq2wtw2wUZBwv9I34y467qh6C2qNNf3O1o/s1600/IMG_2319.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few individual ears. Note the yellow kernel where the Isola crossed with the Kaanga Panga</td></tr>
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The cobs themselves are pretty nice looking, they range in size from 11 to 6 inches. The central leader corns are larger and the tillers make smaller ears.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOTF5bI0ZNnj422OgoW2DmHyrWROpLLmCXjOZXiB2bOkfvShhTXDzEUqo5alx72DbQTMfLg9od2esFO3uurPRMqbhuACjO2Q52Ptk9czew12Wig5JCOHS9uX5_Be7DKRawtW2O4OBM5q4/s1600/IMG_2322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOTF5bI0ZNnj422OgoW2DmHyrWROpLLmCXjOZXiB2bOkfvShhTXDzEUqo5alx72DbQTMfLg9od2esFO3uurPRMqbhuACjO2Q52Ptk9czew12Wig5JCOHS9uX5_Be7DKRawtW2O4OBM5q4/s1600/IMG_2322.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harvest from only 2 rows</td></tr>
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Due to the extreme drought, these didn't get quite as much water as they might have wanted during the flowering stage, which of course leads to some blanks and not quite perfect tip fill. So now I'll let these dry down, while I get the rest out of the field. This is about 50ish corns for 32 plants. After I taste it, I'll get back to you. Flint or Flour? hmmm?<br />
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My son tasted this corn in the dough stage and found it to be very sweet. It may double as a sweet/roasting corn if harvested early enough. The outside husks were loaded with aphids...they know a sweet thing when they see it. As for disease issues, there was some minor corn ear worm damage. With worm damage, comes a frass that causes mold. This occurred only on the tip of the corn, I think it partly because of the tight wrapper.<br />
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So, if we grow this corn again, we will grow at 24" and give it a try as a roasting corn. <br />
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Next up with this, we'll try baking and boiling. <br />
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Yield: Shelled 38 pounds. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737664788347684824.post-29220753434478374192014-07-24T17:49:00.000-07:002014-07-24T17:49:01.378-07:00Dar's drought tolerant corn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOhJtPvIZ9saaajSgWQehN3ny206uzxHPQMbNfe9AecgHj4RtbnLBJ44v5J8_bG1az2J4a5Lw29aebjegbuejf-kXP30RQQjK1PGiBF5VzABpYdhNkz0lJ0KkJoLJmdqfu3bg8SCxbsE/s1600/IMG_2295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOhJtPvIZ9saaajSgWQehN3ny206uzxHPQMbNfe9AecgHj4RtbnLBJ44v5J8_bG1az2J4a5Lw29aebjegbuejf-kXP30RQQjK1PGiBF5VzABpYdhNkz0lJ0KkJoLJmdqfu3bg8SCxbsE/s1600/IMG_2295.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
HOLY MOLY, look at that corn grow. This is Dar's drought tolerant corn. This was transplanted on 5/11. It's got tassels.<br />
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And look at the hooligans running amok in the corn. Of these 3 kittens, 2 will become farm cats.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737664788347684824.post-40154959607976882242014-07-08T17:26:00.001-07:002014-07-08T17:26:52.629-07:00July Corn 2014<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfDyOUf5a1TyFV905Dd7ukQq_93wz5tg_uKnBAwkEEC9jgE8lRPdtdFb1CxaNP7eJDQA6K1VHO7rEt7N1s39o6omFYPHj1yAX2R5HIGKcP29rl_p1JnmYvnzuUpvZnJL1ol7FB20Tf34/s1600/dar's+corn2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfDyOUf5a1TyFV905Dd7ukQq_93wz5tg_uKnBAwkEEC9jgE8lRPdtdFb1CxaNP7eJDQA6K1VHO7rEt7N1s39o6omFYPHj1yAX2R5HIGKcP29rl_p1JnmYvnzuUpvZnJL1ol7FB20Tf34/s1600/dar's+corn2.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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This is Dar's Drought tolerant corn...it's growing really fast. I think I see the first tassel.<br />
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The Isola de Este is almost ready to harvest. The Kanga Pango is right behind it. Both literally and harvest wise.<br />
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Today we are harvesting the shallots, so that I can get these tomatoes trellised. Yikes. The cabbage is looking pretty good, better than the darn broccoli, which the darn gopher is feasting on.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737664788347684824.post-14751784996369028412014-06-23T17:47:00.001-07:002014-06-23T17:48:36.142-07:00Fire!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOw29Twy-sFFotsT6NseQ8Li7JILcM-QG4lrKZTrmsVdqkOpAeJFtlOV9otGY2cCIF06KkUvSM8A4ZHdm3zQlWNnttP8lZnShDIDk3dVEQURa7uWuCk4znFTmAG-eNXw0DuAQHRs-YDg4/s1600/IMG_1955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOw29Twy-sFFotsT6NseQ8Li7JILcM-QG4lrKZTrmsVdqkOpAeJFtlOV9otGY2cCIF06KkUvSM8A4ZHdm3zQlWNnttP8lZnShDIDk3dVEQURa7uWuCk4znFTmAG-eNXw0DuAQHRs-YDg4/s1600/IMG_1955.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
For those of you who aren't used to seeing the farm from the other side, here it is. Alas, it's burnt.<br />
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You can just about see the corn in the distance. For those of you wondering...half the field, about 5 acres. And just way to close for comfort.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737664788347684824.post-10526639822574796852014-06-23T11:50:00.002-07:002014-06-23T11:50:42.444-07:00Corn Porn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dar's Drought tolerant corn is growing so fast, I can hear it.<br />
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And here it is up close and personal. I think this is going to be a tall corn.<br />
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Speaking of tall, here's the Isola di Este. Tassels, silk, corn on! I think another 30 days in the field and this will be dry and ready.<br />
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What's a little corn without tomatoes & beans? So here are pinto beans, surrounded by tomatoes, with the Isola & the Kanga Pango in the background. </div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737664788347684824.post-952692400102970972014-06-21T15:37:00.002-07:002014-06-21T15:40:09.199-07:00From a Distance<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5632IfpHcC5EFHVQKfPgtyR4_RaJ41DR2rbXjo8O8b2Gapgg_Xk_NWl4UrPH1OoUP4CL9pHuKWBrojq6Reg_t1gkpU1Rm5j_4X018IR9ynYa4N78K2vc4pOqwjjUiaO2sNwa5uaIxvk/s1600/from+a+distance.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5632IfpHcC5EFHVQKfPgtyR4_RaJ41DR2rbXjo8O8b2Gapgg_Xk_NWl4UrPH1OoUP4CL9pHuKWBrojq6Reg_t1gkpU1Rm5j_4X018IR9ynYa4N78K2vc4pOqwjjUiaO2sNwa5uaIxvk/s1600/from+a+distance.JPG" height="408" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From on top the hay 2014</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Every year when the hay is baled, one of us climbs on top and takes a photo of the farm. Sometimes it helps to get some perspective. Look at that corn! That's the Italian corn, Isola di Este. How fuzzy the asparagus looks.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How good the creek trees look, how small the traveling chicken house is. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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From this distance, it's hard to see the weeds, the bugs, the voles...or even the kitten monsters. Below I can see the fallow fields, everything beyond the tree. Each time I walk by one of these, I want to plant it. I just cannot get used to how dry everything is.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fallow Fields.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> g</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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How small my world is. A few seeds, a bit of soil, a piece of sky.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737664788347684824.post-64600580105846486702014-06-01T13:34:00.000-07:002014-06-01T13:34:10.763-07:00CornyJune 1, 2014<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dar's Drought Tolerant Corn</td></tr>
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I know it comes to no surprise to any of you that I'm working on drought tolerant crops. We've expected drought for a long time. Mostly I've been working with beans and corn. This is a new corn this year. My friend from the South, Dar Jones has been working on this corn for several years. He sent me some this year. This has literally sprung up in the last few weeks. It's very healthy looking. This of course is not a sweet corn, but a hominy, posole and dried ground corn.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_9YYuCCz8gVusQEWU1IVwf2HweMEMGS7rVuUwatWvGtvlduP89uQeNoOBfMJR2thE0VGxHw-roeUpWdCt7MtbcOo1KpZEqSWraGQeY14-TI8e1RsVUyjFhLqV8URusplJ3s9xFeiUyQ/s1600/IMG_1779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_9YYuCCz8gVusQEWU1IVwf2HweMEMGS7rVuUwatWvGtvlduP89uQeNoOBfMJR2thE0VGxHw-roeUpWdCt7MtbcOo1KpZEqSWraGQeY14-TI8e1RsVUyjFhLqV8URusplJ3s9xFeiUyQ/s1600/IMG_1779.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isola & Pango Kanga</td></tr>
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At the same time the Isola & the Pango Kanga continue to really put on growth. One of these will be a polenta corn and the other hopefully for chicha.<br />
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The translation for Pango Kanga is black corn. It's used to make an alcoholic drink, but I'm guessing it will also make chicha. <br />
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<b>Chicha Morado</b><br /> 1 gallon water <br /> 2 cups of dried purple corn (maiz morado) <br /> 2 cinnamon sticks <br /> 1 tablespoon whole cloves <br /> 3 large lemons, juiced <br /> 1 1/2 cups brown sugar <br /> Skin of a fresh pineapple, use the pineapple for something else.<br /><br />Put everything except the lemon juice into a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 40 minutes. Remove from the heat and strain through a mesh strainer. Stir in the lemon juice. Pour over ice and get in a hammock and enjoy.<br />
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I'm going to try substituting the Pango Kanga, because Maize Morado is very tricky to grow here.<br />
Pango Kanga also makes a good ground corn. If there's enough time, I'll plant one more corn field.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737664788347684824.post-83138051217250819152014-05-15T11:56:00.001-07:002014-05-15T11:57:11.069-07:00Mother's Day 2014<div style="text-align: left;">
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My seeds are coming along. The peas are just about done and I'm thinking of cutting the water to them and planting beans there. It's so hot, I'm thinking limas.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isola di Este Corn</td></tr>
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Most of the fields are planted and I'm just working on keeping everything weeded, composted and watered.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dar's self planting Beans and the Alaska Peas</td></tr>
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Another feral cat showed up on the farm. With her she brought a surprise, I found 4 kittens in the chicken coop, laid very nicely in a nest box.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01Uoi4Oc5rCOtMue957Ic-rStJVVALbPTuEpO7PTgYNzzVVLIRtk2RVnm9ifIduciYDVbA3KHdIvg03Uefwhvb04UqNxL3ZF7e049t-B-RFH85GxhlnO2Bl46QUTAm0wa_KUXDeKtmIs/s1600/IMG_1402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01Uoi4Oc5rCOtMue957Ic-rStJVVALbPTuEpO7PTgYNzzVVLIRtk2RVnm9ifIduciYDVbA3KHdIvg03Uefwhvb04UqNxL3ZF7e049t-B-RFH85GxhlnO2Bl46QUTAm0wa_KUXDeKtmIs/s1600/IMG_1402.JPG" height="400" width="395" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spatz the feral cat</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ft3N9C-qudQZm2LX6CKseGF5Q0m1YLab0u9ykLV0bJ8QdRHnvdt8ei0sTfXB3H0n2_UhiDqGDDGDub8iNBB9OjmnYuauwwfUwmzFt7w4Ta5ohKsIio_cWu3q4Pv9pjQUZIRNL7UIsFE/s1600/IMG_1510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ft3N9C-qudQZm2LX6CKseGF5Q0m1YLab0u9ykLV0bJ8QdRHnvdt8ei0sTfXB3H0n2_UhiDqGDDGDub8iNBB9OjmnYuauwwfUwmzFt7w4Ta5ohKsIio_cWu3q4Pv9pjQUZIRNL7UIsFE/s1600/IMG_1510.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey Kitten</td></tr>
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They'll be ready to rehome in a few weeks. Anyone who wants a kitten, let me know. The tally is 2 Classic Europeans, 1 all black and 1 grey. As soon as she starts to wean these, I hope to be able to catch mom and spay her. As you can see, she's not exactly leaping into my arms. They are too young to sex, I don't like to pick them up before 3 weeks. This little minx was out of the nest box, so I took his photo and returned him to the pile. They opened their eyes on 5/14.<br />
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Look at the beautiful red iceberg lettuce. Drat this heat! I don't want it to bolt. Another 100 degree day at the farm. Yuck.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7737664788347684824.post-20101939683662913472014-04-21T12:28:00.001-07:002014-04-21T12:28:21.191-07:00Drought - April 21, 2014<br />
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Conserving Water has always been a top priority at our farm. Over the years we've tried different approaches, black plastic, compost, drip emitters. Some of these have been very successful. Others have their own problems.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW22hUcMav8sQ1Kbdxd9DMDGjOfByDf7PRQh9px-6G0evtwUX8iXf4jm0iKQd14KrVclScjQZJ6rPxxfoWpk2po9FMUoUoWzqQeAJASRRs7JnHaXaualzOfcGsMfxBTauagqh0tm6qr_E/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW22hUcMav8sQ1Kbdxd9DMDGjOfByDf7PRQh9px-6G0evtwUX8iXf4jm0iKQd14KrVclScjQZJ6rPxxfoWpk2po9FMUoUoWzqQeAJASRRs7JnHaXaualzOfcGsMfxBTauagqh0tm6qr_E/s1600/1.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Planting corn on drip emitters and adding compost to the sides</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Although we have found black plastic to heat the soil and conserve water, as well a reduce weeds, it also has become a habitat for Squash Bugs. Since the CSA is closed, it's my plan to continue to share what works through this drought.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WLoOCv23lrsPNmLWvxTtp-9evEFjO77XbSLnTwY1WqAcR9AUFXA8gr0vZVf9zBsl1O_xRjFeySBrLl1R-AF75_Jaw7g3xSbbNki3yE2Pl9ct5HKTgMs1BIPi6JoQDGWlXfQDql8pR1k/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WLoOCv23lrsPNmLWvxTtp-9evEFjO77XbSLnTwY1WqAcR9AUFXA8gr0vZVf9zBsl1O_xRjFeySBrLl1R-AF75_Jaw7g3xSbbNki3yE2Pl9ct5HKTgMs1BIPi6JoQDGWlXfQDql8pR1k/s1600/1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mixed plantings</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Here is another thing that has worked for us. We call this a now and later planting. In this bed there are carrots and lettuce. About the time that the carrots need more room, the lettuce will already be harvested. The lettuce is growing on the excess water from the carrots. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0