Sunday, February 3, 2013

How one thing leads to another and another...

I didn't have any big plans today.  After scouring the town of Sturgis yesterday, my husband and I finally found a fabric shop I had heard about.  I now have the back and batting for my quilt, but I didn't want to work on it today.  We had omelets this morning for breakfast and that led to many different projects.  Before I explain how one thing led to another I have to show you my farm fresh eggs...

Can you say WOW?  I get my eggs from a co-worker and I can't get over the egg production they have been getting this winter.  They have 60 some hens, provide extra lighting, and kick them outside during the day.  To say that is a large egg is a bit understated.  Cool huh?

Anyway, after making bacon omelets, I had a lot of bacon fat and egg shells leftover.  I decided to get some small projects out of the way.  I used the bacon fat to make suet for the birds.  Pretty simple: bacon fat, sunflower seeds, cornmeal, and peanut butter.
The next project wasn't so pretty.  I took the egg shells and raided the leftovers.  I blended egg shells, coffee grounds, bananas, bread heals, a bad pear, and other green things past their time.  I then took an old milk pail added some used potting soil, shredded paper, and my leftover smoothie.  A smoothie appetizing for worms only.
After mixing the soil, paper, and smoothie all together, I then added a new stack to my worm bin.  The worms are supposed to move up to the next stack leaving the stack below with rich castings.  The little winter worms are really working their way through my leftovers.  They have already accumulated a good amount of compost.  I feed them about once a month.  This is the second time I've added a stack.
The thought of all that compost for my veggie beds started me on planning my vegetable garden beds for next year. I am going to use the square foot gardening method, as that is what. I have been using in the greenhouse with great success.  I sat down with my computer, the Territorial Seed Company Catalogue, and the Square Foot Gardening Book.  I have my order form filled out and my plan diagramed on the computer.  Ready for the first sign of spring.  That is how omlets became bird and worm food, which in turn became a morning of garden planning.  Hope your day turned out as productive.
 

14 comments:

  1. Fascinating stuff...go worms go! :)

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  2. Wow!!!! Those are some large eggs......How interesting making worm food, Thanks, Francine.

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  3. I like your suet! The birds will be loving you! Also, your compost bin is looking good. You will probably have a fantastic garden this summer! I haven't even started to think about my garden...but I need to. We didn't garden last year and now I am really looking forward to it!

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  4. What an awesome worm bin! Never saw one of those before!

    That egg is humongous. I feel sorry for the poor hen who had to lay it!

    PS - Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting!

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  5. I want a worms garden! That looks so cool.

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  6. Whew! I'm tired just hearing about your day! A worm garden will make such happy compost for the vegetables that I can't wait to see you grow, XOXO

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  7. Love it! You can not beat farm fresh eggs!

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  8. that so cool! that would be fun for our little people to do...you are so crafty and inspirational...

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  9. there is nothing like the flavor of farm fresh eggs!!

    i like your homemade suets. we buy them for .95 cents and my birds just love them!! they are probably the favorite food amongst my feeding station!!

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  10. I like how you've worked your "castaways" into some very useable items. Good for you!

    I hope my day is 1/2 a productive. :)

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  11. I need to be more invested into my compost bin! Love the large egg.

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  12. I am going to be really interested in your worms! I have yet to set up a new composting system here at the new place and have been strongly leaning towards worms. Keep us posted as to how they fare! Cheers, Jenni

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