Farmer in the City

Friends

Location: Jacksonville, FL

The Digs: Backyard, Front yard

Crops: Garlic, Jalepeno Peppers, Mustard Greens, Potatoes, Squash, Tomatoes

Animals: Bees, Cats, Chickens, Rabbits

Why I'm Getting Dirty: I mostly garden because it's fun. I also wish to provide myself and my family with "real" food. SAFE "real" food, that is.

Posted by: on June 1st, 2011 at 01:08 pm
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Posted by: Groundbreaker on October 13th, 2010 at 07:21 am
I posted progress pictures... ...my Summer labors... ...chicken yard with log-cabin style chicken coop... ...used rounded garden timbers for body and recycled playhouse roof for roof/lid... ...rain shelter on side with old mimosa limbs for perches... ...chicken yard built around fruit trees... ...fence edged with yellow lantana...

Posted by: countrygirl615 on September 6th, 2010 at 03:47 pm
Actually, they're like weeds where I live. I've never tried harvesting the seeds though.

Posted by: Groundbreaker on September 3rd, 2010 at 06:47 pm
This is a great chart/guide for using companion planting when setting up your beds: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Companion_Pla- nts
Most of what I have listed is in the early stages. Only my figs and my spices/herbs/mint are mature. My favorite animals are my hens. I have 2 free-range Rhode Island Reds. I love having fresh eggs every morning...

Posted by: Nebraska Dave on July 24th, 2010 at 05:55 am
Congrats on being Farmer of the Day. I raised rabbits once. I can't remember what kind they were as it was 30 years ago but I remember they got really big. Like 8 pounds big. They were both males and eventually died of old age.

Posted by: Bzquiltn on July 24th, 2010 at 04:45 am
I now have a beehive! Bees are so cool. As I said about the chickens when I'd had them long enough to figure out they weren't just "egg laying birds" - who knew!!!
I harvested honey last week - my first batch. Netted between 4 - 5 gallons. That was a great surprise.
I'll split the hive in February and have 2. Come spring, I'll have even MORE honey.
This is so exciting.

Posted by: Bzquiltn on July 13th, 2010 at 05:17 am
Thanks. The hen (Otter) is a partridge silky x. She's really cool looking when she stands up. The baby is "adopted". Otter went broody so I had to get some eggs for her to set. This is one of the little ones. It's a "showgirl" silkie. Hmmm - MOST DEFINITELY a face only a mother would love! :-)