Tuesday, February 7

*turning the soil

This morning I knew when I woke up, had my quite time and coffee that I would be heading out the door for some time in the warm sun planting onions, more broccoli and kale.  I had contemplated sewing but these things NEEDED to be done, so I went with it.

 All finished...

Before I got started this is how it looked...

We bought onions last fall and planted I don't know how many, but before they were all planted I was tired of onions, so I put the rest of the bulbs in a nice furrow and covered them with dirt. There they lay all in a crowded pile, until today.  The area where they were coming up looked like one of those little cups you put seeds in and it grows hair (grass) of the head - I don't even know what they are called. At any rate, I picked up the clumps of onions  that I refused to plant in the fall and planted them in a nice row with the others.  I have been trimming off the tops of the onions, chopping them and putting them into the freezer. These will come in hand when I am making soups, topping baked potatoes, sauteing veggies etc. They are already growing new tops back at this point.

Eric and I picked up some broccoli and kale plants this past week when we were out together and today they went into the deep dark rich soil where they will grow beautifully!  We have started eating kale like it was spinach, I believe the goodness of one is just about as good as the other. I have found kale easier to grow. The broccoli will be something we eat as it comes mature, however we did purchase it with the rabbits in mind as well. They love leafy greens and the broccoli plants give off a lot of great large green leaves. 


The goats are fed their grain in the mornings in their stall and then let out in the fenced barnyard area to roam around and forage for food.  I caught them napping, or resting while I was working in the garden. I just love this picture. Cleo is laying up against Bodie and Jazzy is laying in the crook of Cleo's legs. So cute! Each time I went near the garden/barnyard gate all of my sweet chickens would come running as if I was going to let them into the garden area.  It doesn't take long for them to learn a pattern, albeit a bit early in the day for such activity.  I will heed their request a bit later in the day, their work in the garden and around the yard beyond the barnyard is much appreciated!



If you have a small patch of land, whether you live in the rural area, suburbs or urban area you can plant some onions at this point. You can usually find a "bunch" of onions at your local feed store, Walmart or Lowe's at this time of the year. Just turn your soil over with a shovel, level it off and make a hole about 1 1/2 inches deep and plant the onion. These will grow with no help from you other than a bit of watering along the way.  Onions will grow nicely in a sunny flower bed and not take away from the beauty of your flower bed either. What about potatoes.. do you have potatoes in your pantry that have "eyes" on them? If so, cut about an inch under where the "eye" is coming out. Simply slice that piece off, leaving a bit of potato under the eye area. You will leave the slice you cut off on the counter or outside somewhere safe for a day or so. The slice will need to "heal" over a bit and then in a day or two you can plant this in an area where the soil is mulched well.  In a few months you will be able to harvest numerous potatoes from that part you would normally cut off and throw away.

Go ahead, I encourage you, if you have even a small spot - plant a seed, or two. Turn those sprouting potatoes into plants that will produce for your family.



shared at Your Gardening Friend
Rural Thursday

28 comments:

  1. My, you are quite a busy lady! I have never been that interested in gardening but I do love to eat the finished product! Especially the kale and broccoli you are planting. It's still too cold to plant here in SC.

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    1. I think you can plant onions year round. I totally agree, I love the fresh grown veggies. In fact, while I was working out in the garden yesterday I picked 4 asparagus shoots, washed them off and munched there as I worked. They were DELISH!

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  2. Love the photo of the goats and the chicken! So precious!

    You're really coming along in the garden. I need to get my rear in gear! Thanks to your garden posts I've decided to get in the greenhouse tomorrow and get it straightened up and get the few seeds that we have started. Yep, gotta do it!

    I think we're going to try a different strategy this year and use more containers and hanging pots for our garden. Our soil is more like sand down here in Central Florida and we have added cow manure, organic soil, compost, etc. and still have not had much luck. One day, we'll get this gardening thing down (especially if we want to eat), lol!

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    1. Thanks! Cool, I am glad you got some encouragement from that post. Container or raised beds are prob your best way to go I am guessing! Can't wait to see your beautiful produce!

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  3. Beautiful post Lynnie,
    That picture of Bodie, Cleo and Jazzy made my heart skip a beat. It's So sweet. I love your onion plantings and the 411 about potato eye starts. You inspire me to get up and off the couch some days. Thank you!!! Have a GREAT week.

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    1. Some days I have to talk myself into getting up off the couch! And yes, the three of them was super sweet! Have a super week too!

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  4. Love looking at your post. Those goats are too much letting a chicken curl up with them. Too Sweet.

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    1. I know Billie, this is the first time I have ever seen them do this. It didn't last long, but I can see that happening alot. Jazzy is one of the hens who gets picked on for some reason or another.. so she was seeking some refuge, even if brief.

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  5. You are so right. It doesn't take a big area to have a little Urban Farm! Awesome post!

    http://theredeemedgardener.blogspot.com/2012/02/why-grow-your-own-veggies.html

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    1. Clint, that is a great post, thanks for linking it up. Have a super week!

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  6. I can't wait to try that with the potatoes. Thanks! It's the tidbits of information like that I want to know. I would love it if you kept giving helpful hints like that!

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    1. Glad you found an interest in some of my post, may you always be encouraged when you visit here.

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  8. I did this with potatoes last year and then forgot to dig them up!

    I have never seen a chicken snuggle with a goat - that's so funny. Great capture :-) Thanks for linking with Rural Thursday!

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    1. Silly girl, your supposed to dig them up!! Yeh, the goat and chicken pic - I was thrilled to get this!

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  9. Goat/chicken pic is too cute. Looks like a wonderful mornin.

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  10. I love the picture of the chicken with the goats! Your garden is looking great! I keep thinking I need to grow onions but I haven't yet.

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  11. Well, good for you, Lynnie -- you were making progress today!

    Too much snow on the ground and too cold here to do anything in the garden. I'll probably browse through the nursery catalogs to get some ideas for spring.

    Your goat and chicken are adorable buddies. :)

    Thanks so much for sharing with us at Rural Thursdays. Great information!

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  12. Great advice. Just plant something and each year you will plant a little more. I love planting beans ... they are so easy. ;)

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  13. What a sweet photo of your chicken cuddled up against the goat! Absolutely love it. I surely wish we lived somewhere we could start planting this early.

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    1. We are just starting to turn our soil. The things in our garden right now are basically cold hearty plants. We have a really large garden spot, so we try and get started early, so it can all come together in a timely manner. Hopefully you can start soon.

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  14. I have such a hard time imagining planting a garden in February. I still have a good month of winter yet. The picture of the goats and hen is just adorable!

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  15. Love your beginning gardening and your animals! My son is going to be doing some vegetable gardening on a small area this year for his Horticulture class.

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I enjoy your comments. Thanks for taking the time to post your thoughts!