Barncast 158 -- Call In show/maple syrup

And there is at least 1 baby.

Edit: err 2 babies

We will just have to see when we get home. :) It's so fun having you guys experience this along with us!

Congrats on the new kids! I missed it of course!

Hey, the barn cat is a grey tiger, huh? He must like the camera too. I keep seeing a whisker or a stripey paw!

Wow, they look great! Congrats and happy birthdays to all the babies!

On killing the ground cover (grass) I just read that putting down two layers of clear plastic with a small area between them (1 in.) in the sun will kill every thing under it using the trapped suns heat.

Some one asked about hardening there new seedlings and I just happened to see this:

CONDITIONING TRANSPLANTS Objective: To prepare plants to withstand stress conditions in the field. These may be low temperatures, high temperatures, drying winds, low soil moisture, or injury to the roots in transplanting. Growth rates decrease during conditioning, and the energy otherwise used in growth is stored in the plant to aid in resumption of growth after transplanting. Conditioning is used as an alternative to the older term, hardening. Methods: Any treatment that restricts growth increases hardiness. Coolseason crops generally develop hardiness in proportion to the severity of the treatment and length of exposure and when well-conditioned withstand subfreezing temperatures. Warm-season crops, even when highly conditioned, do not withstand temperatures much below freezing. 1. Water supply. Gradually reduce water by watering lightly at less frequent intervals. Do not allow the plants to dry out suddenly, with severe wilting. 2. Temperature. Expose plants to lower temperatures (5–10
F) than those used for optimum growth. High day temperatures may reverse the effects of cool nights, making temperature management difficult. Do not expose biennials to prolonged cool temperatures, which induces bolting. 3. Fertility. Do not fertilize, particularly with nitrogen, immediately before or during the initial stages of conditioning. Apply a starter solution or liquid fertilizer 1 or 2 days before field setting and/ or with the transplanting water (see page 78). 4. Combinations. Restricting water and lowering temperatures and fertility, used in combination, are perhaps more effective than any single approach. Duration: Seven to ten days are usually sufficient to complete the conditioning process. Do not impose conditions so severe that plants are overconditioned in case of delayed planting because of poor weather. Overconditioned plants require too much time to resume growth, and early yields may be lower.

A caller asked about pine mulch:Blueberries have a shallow, fibrous root system. Plants quickly become stressed during hot, dry weather. To help retain moisture and control weeds, apply 3 to 5 inches of mulch around blueberry plants. Sawdust, wood chips, pine needles, and shredded leaves are excellent mulching materials.

http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/1996/3-22-1996/blue.html

Also:Mulch, mulch, mulch...pine needles (best!), shredded leaves (no walnut), and shredded pine bark mulch are all excellent mulches for blueberry plants. DO NOT use hardwood bark mulch, hay or straw, as they alter pH and encourage weeds.

http://backyardberryplants.com/plantingguides/index.htm

I think the picture above is the web cam in the barn.

Just a follow up to my call about mulching. I do have a large garden, 3600 square feet. It does require quite a few grass clippings so I have been known to mow the neighbors field to get enough clippings for the garden. Many times you can find others that like to bag the clippings and most people are willing to give the clippings to you. Just make sure they have not used weed killer on the grass.

Here is also a link that is a great resource for canning and country living.

http://www.backwoodshome.com/blogs/JackieClay/

I see a kid lying down...are we at 3???

Hi Guys,

I'm glad everyone is enjoying the goat cam!

Tom,

Link from Jeannine is:

Perhaps you could post the link to my blog for Tom?

http://homewoodgardenplot41.blogspot.com/

Hey Misty and Andrew,

I'm a new listener, but am completely addicted! I am in Houston, TX and am working to buy a plot of land in the country so I can raise goats and chickens and keep a garden. Your show is providing me with tons of great info to get me ready. Congrats on the kids! The goat-cam was a great idea!

I'm waiting- do we have boys or girls? :)

Sorry Sherry! One doe, 5 lbs. One buck, 6 lbs. :)

Hi there, thank you for another great show! I'm really looking forward how your maple sirup is coming along.

I didn't call the farm phone, but wanted to add the links to the farm phone call about the Dervaes family:

http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/ http://www.freedomgardens.org/

Greetings from Germany, Eva