Rural Living

M

Marie Mallory

Well-known member
2 days ago after being cooped up in the house because of cold weather I got out and busy.
I first raked more leaves for compost pile and used kitchen scraps and chicken manure. Turned the pile with pitch fork ,mixed in leaves,scraps and manure.
I wanted to clean out chicken pen, and start seeds soon as I have a place for the seeds. Looks like Jake will be doing that.
Then I went to the vines around fenceline.BAD MISTAKE! It was the bending that injured me ,bending to cut small trees too close together and of course vines going up into trees.
I hear it takes months to heal pulled or torn muscles ,finally I realize it's true. I couldn't walk without walker yesterday and was up all night hurting in calves, thigh's knees and lower back.
I got the compost done and some clearing. Although I won't be doing that again for a while.
I was first injured my legs doing squats in late November paying for it every since.
 
My compost pile is about 6' x 5' wide and about 5-6' high, although that changes. Here in Maine, with single-digit temperatures or those in the low teens, turning the pile over isn't happening; since it's in a frame, I don't turn it over anyhow. Instead, I use an auger to create holes in it that I fill with compostables. When things aren't frozen, I layer it, adding auger holes now and then to stoke it up.

That's what I did yesterday. Given that my pile had collapsed in the center, where it is still steam hot, that involved removing the snow from the top of the tarp, unfastening the tarp along the long side, then folding it over. Under the tarp are a couple of layers of cardboard, which was frozen to the shredded paper and cardboard under the sheets of cardboard.

Then, it was a matter of screwing the auger into the pile and extracting material, down to where is is hot, then adding the new stuff, topping it off with shredded cardboard, another sheet of cardboard, and replacing the tarps. It's easier without arthritis, but some days are easier than others.
 
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I just moved one of the little tomato starts out of the aerogarden and into a small pot because it is outgrowing the aerogarden. I am going to start more of the dwarf cherry tomatoes soon, and once they get big, it should be warm enough to put them outside in pots in the front yard, where we can nibble on them when we want to once we have tomatoes on the plants. I have two different kinds of the dwarf cherry tomatoes.
I miss living in the country, and being able to have chickens and farm livestock, but i know that it would be too much for me to try and care for them now, so it is better to just be here in town and grow our small container garden.
 
Beth Gallagher said:
You have been a busy bee, @Marie Mallory . You need to email me some of your energy. :D

I grew up in the country but I don't miss it much. When I go to visit my farming relatives I can't imagine living that life again, but it was a great life for a kid. I can barely take care of this house and my yard these days so I know my limitations.
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Mine is more out of desperation than hugging trees, ;) I do love the forest but also miss the city life I also had. The isolation is not good. None of our plans we had for the move here came to pass, No ranch, no organic nursery.
Of course, now city's are no longer a place most want to visit now.
 
Marie Mallory said:
Mine is more out of desperation than hugging trees, ;) I do love the forest but also miss the city life I also had. The isolation is not good. None of our plans we had for the move here came to pass, No ranch, no organic nursery.
Of course, now city's are no longer a place most want to visit now.
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I am not a "city gal" by any means. We live in the suburbs outside of Houston and I like it. Things like shopping and medical care are conveniently close. We have good neighbors and a quiet neighborhood. I'm not a social person but I like having occasional conversations over the fence and waving at my neighbors. I know we could depend on them in an emergency.
 
Ken Anderson said:
My compost pile is about 6' x 5' wide and about 5-6' high, although that changes. Here in Maine, with single-digit temperatures or those in the low teens, turning the pile over isn't happening; since it's in a frame, I don't turn it over anyhow. Instead, I use an auger to create holes in it that I fill with compostables. When things aren't frozen, I layer it, adding auger holes now and then to stoke it up.

That's what I did yesterday. Given that my pile had collapsed in the center, where it is still steam hot, that involved removing the snow from the top of the tarp, unfastening the tarp along the long side, then folding it over. Under the tarp are a couple of layers of cardboard, which was frozen to the shredded paper and cardboard under the sheets of cardboard.

Then, it was a matter of screwing the auger into the pile and extracting material, down to where is is hot, then adding the new stuff, topping it off with shredded cardboard, another sheet of cardboard, and replacing the tarps. It's easier without arthritis, but some days are easier than others.
Click to expand...
That compost pile makes our 2/3 seem small. Ken that more work on you than our's, we have plenty of leaves, stems, etc..
Weather here isn't a problem unless it's storms or draught which we are in now, even the storms don't put out much rain like before.
 
Yvonne Smith said:
I just moved one of the little tomato starts out of the aerogarden and into a small pot because it is outgrowing the aerogarden. I am going to start more of the dwarf cherry tomatoes soon, and once they get big, it should be warm enough to put them outside in pots in the front yard, where we can nibble on them when we want to once we have tomatoes on the plants. I have two different kinds of the dwarf cherry tomatoes.
I miss living in the country, and being able to have chickens and farm livestock, but i know that it would be too much for me to try and care for them now, so it is better to just be here in town and grow our small container garden.
Click to expand...

I'm less and less able to do things around here, but I do plan to start back walking.
So much to do and we are old, me older than Jake, may not even have a veggie garden this year. We need the dogs for protection and hens for eggs.
 
Marie Mallory said:
I'm less and less able to do things around here, but I do plan to start back walking.
So much to do and we are old, me older than Jake, may not even have a veggie garden this year. We need the dogs for protection and hens for eggs.
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I hear ya, Marie. We got rid of all our raised beds after last year's garden. I'm always enthusiastic in the springtime but by May/June when the heat hits I am tired of dealing with weeds and insects. I love a garden but I'll just have to stick to Aerogardens in the dining room.
 
Our chickens have begun laying once again now that the days are getting longer and the temps are milder. Chickens are the only livestock we still have I haven't begun planting/starting anything yet as we are going to San Diego for a week and don't want to rely on a house sitter to care for plants. We do count on them to irrigate gardens and greenhouses though should we travel in summer. We will be going to the Seattle area in June, so someone will do garden care then.

When we moved in here 30+ years ago, it was basically wilderness. We could see no other houses and we were the last house on the road. As the roads improved and the tax conditions in Anchorage and elsewhere have deteriorated, more people have moved out into the country and things have been developing. There are more conveniences now, so that is a bit nice.
 
Marie Mallory said:
2 days ago after being cooped up in the house because of cold weather I got out and busy.
I first raked more leaves for compost pile and used kitchen scraps and chicken manure. Turned the pile with pitch fork ,mixed in leaves,scraps and manure.
I wanted to clean out chicken pen, and start seeds soon as I have a place for the seeds. Looks like Jake will be doing that.
Then I went to the vines around fenceline.BAD MISTAKE! It was the bending that injured me ,bending to cut small trees too close together and of course vines going up into trees.
I hear it takes months to heal pulled or torn muscles ,finally I realize it's true. I couldn't walk without walker yesterday and was up all night hurting in calves, thigh's knees and lower back.
I got the compost done and some clearing. Although I won't be doing that again for a while.
I was first injured my legs doing squats in late November paying for it every since.
Click to expand...
I'm jealous. The closest thing I have to rural living is a guy comes and scoops dog poop out of our yard once a week.
 
Dave Earl said:
I'm jealous. The closest thing I have to rural living is a guy comes and scoops dog poop out of our yard once a week.
Click to expand...

Rural living is great but it also has it drawbacks, like isolation is what get to me the most. Especially when you move 500 miles away from family, who at the time were suppose to also be moving, one did move 1009 miles away ,the other 2 stayed.
 
Marie Miller said:
SO wants to move back onto a rage. We have agreed on a bardominium plan and a builder. Last hurdle - he wants 50+ while I want city water:)
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We watched this family sail around the world for several years, now they are building for future off shore, barndominium is what reminded me,
They are about finished with theirs now.
 
@Marie Mallory somehow I have missed this thread.

How are you feeling by now?

1. I have a gallon of cooling gel that works so amazingly, it never made it to the barn for the horses. I had a handful of my outdoor friends try it some years back and they still use it.

It is produced by Cox Laboratory. There are knockoffs but don’t buy them as the ingredients are different. The one Tractor Supply sells is a knockoff.

N’Ice-N-Cool – Cox Veterinary Laboratory

coxvetlab.com coxvetlab.com

Start out with the small jar. This stuff is as close to a magic bullet for muscle aches, arthritis aches as one can get, that isn’t prescribed.

2. I live pretty rural. A barely 1-1/2 lane road with mostly beef cattle for neighbors. I do have county water, aka city water if one lives closer to town.

I am a person who likes the real world isolation and always have. It’s not for everyone. Even though I look like I live in Deliverance Land, I am only 15 miles from a town in either direction, plus two hospitals with helipads to a major hospital 90 minutes north.

The few humans that do live on this road are great and honest folks, but everyone has a weapon(s). One neighbor through the woods is a deputy sheriff in my county; his wife checks on me frequently. I have guard dogs, but I was raised on a small dairy farm and we always had big guard dogs. This is my nirvana, I have no desire to come off this hill🤠

I am so sorry your move to the country is such a huge disappointment. Hopefully you can turn things around..

3. I tip my hat to you for composting. I have no desire to do that. I can barely get around and my horses keep me plenty busy, getting them cared for. The closest I get to composting is taking a 17CuFt dump cart full of old hay out to one of the pastures, pulling it off the cart and running the belly mower over.

I have a manure pile in another pasture that continues to grow.
 
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Marie Mallory said:
Rural living is great but it also has it drawbacks, like isolation is what get to me the most. Especially when you move 500 miles away from family, who at the time were suppose to also be moving, one did move 1009 miles away ,the other 2 stayed.
Click to expand...
I like isolation. Of course, not all the time. My oldest daughter said she was coming out to visit in June if I could get her plane tickets. Easy enough to do in January. But in emailing and talking to her, I realize we are from two different planets. Will have to see what we can do together while she is here. She used to be good at weeding. ;) Maybe I will just give her a car to use.
 
Connie Bennett said:
@Marie Mallory somehow I have missed this thread.

How are you feeling by now?

1. I have a gallon of cooling gel that works so amazingly, it never made it to the barn for the horses. I had a handful of my outdoor friends try it some years back and they still use it.

It is produced by Cox Laboratory. There are knockoffs but don’t buy them as the ingredients are different. The one Tractor Supply sells is a knockoff.

N’Ice-N-Cool – Cox Veterinary Laboratory

coxvetlab.com coxvetlab.com

Start out with the small jar. This stuff is as close to a magic bullet for muscle aches, arthritis aches as one can get, that isn’t prescribed.

2. I live pretty rural. A barely 1-1/2 lane road with mostly beef cattle for neighbors. I do have county water, aka city water if one lives closer to town.

I am a person who likes the real world isolation and always have. It’s not for everyone. Even though I look like I live in Deliverance Land, I am only 15 miles from a town in either direction, plus two hospitals with helipads to a major hospital 90 minutes north.

The few humans that do live on this road are great and honest folks, but everyone has a weapon(s). One neighbor through the woods is a deputy sheriff in my county; his wife checks on me frequently. I have guard dogs, but I was raised on a small dairy farm and we always had big guard dogs. This is my nirvana, I have no desire to come off this hill🤠

I am so sorry your move to the country is such a huge disappointment. Hopefully you can turn things around..

3. I tip my hat to you for composting. I have no desire to do that. I can barely get around and my horses keep me plenty busy, getting them cared for. The closest I get to composting is taking a 17CuFt dump cart full of old hay out to one of the pastures, pulling it off the cart and running the belly mower over.

I have a manure pile in another pasture that continues to grow.
Click to expand...
We let the animals stay loose in the pole building much of the time. No bedding. Everyday we picked horse apples etc and took it to the garden. Once a year, we turned it over. It wasn't too hot for our garden needs. We did not use the chicken manure. That we put on a pile. Will look into your nice and cool! Thanks
My little farm is my heaven although I don't keep big animals here any more. I leased out the pasture and they planted it to hay. They are neighbors and don't cause any problems. The sheep pasture is mowed by my sheep. The pond is kind of worthless but I still like it...
 
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