Potato Beetles, Residual Herbicide, and Blister Beetles

It's a 1-2-3 punch for this year's potato plants.  My poor potatoes.  They looked so beautiful when they first came up.  Then they seemed to be struggling.  They had curled leaves and were generally scraggly plants.  Then the Colorado Potato Beetle arrived.  The CPB laid eggs which hatched into pink slugs that tried to eat all the curled leaves.

I knew the curled leaves were not caused by the potato beetle so I did some searching and found that the curled leaves could be from a lack of water on the plants.  Well, okay.  But - we'd had plenty of rain and I'd watered when the rains didn't come.  So, it had to be something else.  It wasn't just affecting my potatoes though.  The tomatoes and the lamb's quarter weeds were also affected.  However, the corn seemed to be thriving.  More research.

And then I found the pictures that looked like my plants.  Herbicide damage.  I don't use herbicide in my garden because that's just folly.  But, the hay mingled with the composting sheep manure that we cleaned out of that barn had been treated with some kind of broad-leaf plant killer.

Now the blister beetles have arrived in the garden for this year.  The striped blister beetle usually arrives in a swarm, descends upon an unsuspecting plant (or twelve), and reeks total havoc.  They can strip a plant in less than 24 hours when it's a healthy plant.

My poor potatoes.

Purple Majesty Potatoes - early sprout

Red Pontiac Potatoes - looking good

herbicide damage

adult Colorado Potato Beetle

Colorado Potato Beetle Larva

Striped Blister Beetle

Purple Majesty Potatoes - now

19 Jun 2014 - Farm Report

Got up early to go blackberry picking today but noticed the red sky just as dawn was breaking and decided to check the radar.  Yup, rain coming in.  Okay, so now what do I do?  It's sometimes very tough to change gears after having a plan for the day.

The animals are all fine.  The coos came for cubes.  The flies are still heavy.  Anyone know where to get dung beetles?  I've been seeing information on how dung beetles are good for a pasture - as long as you don't kill them off with wormer for your cattle.  Ugh.  We have moved so very far away from knowing how our micro-ecosystems work.  The dung beetles move the cow patties into the ground reducing the availability of crap the flies tend to breed in.  So dung beetles work as fly control.  Love it!  They also work as poop-er scoopers.  Tee hee.

Sunny and the baby chicks are doing great.  The babies and their feathers are so cute!  I just love how they are feathering out.  I may decide that the sussex/orpington cross is my favorite color.  I'll keep you posted on the temperament of the chicks.

It's a beautiful day, y'all!  Enjoy!

21 May 2014 - Faith's Cold Tea

I go through about a half gallon of tea each day by myself.  This is better than the Pepsi I used to drink 2 liters of each day.  Maybe by the time I'm grown up, I'll get around to drinking more water than anything else.  Maybe.

I thought I had the best recipe for cold tea.  I'd bring some water to a boil, add the tea bags, let it steep for 5 minutes, add my sweetener, and then pour it over ice or set it in the fridge to get cold.  This method requires my complete attention until it is in the fridge.  I tend to be one of those people that starts half a dozen projects and randomly works on them through out the day.  I might jump from one thing to another without finishing the first.  So this method doesn't fit my modus operandi.

So, now I have a new recipe for cold tea...

Ready to begin...

What you need:

• half gallon jar/jug/pitcher (preferably with lid)
• water
• regular tea bags (two quart sized ones or eight cup sized ones)
• herbal tea bags (two cup sized ones - peach, lemon, raspberry or other desired flavor)
• sweetener (I use 3 tablespoons of sugar)

Steeping...

Instructions:

Fill the half gallon jar with water leaving about 2 inches of space at the top.  Place all the tea bags in the jar.  Catch the strings in the lid and cover.  Set on the counter and let steep while you work on something else.  After a couple of hours (or overnight because you forgot about it), remove the tea bags, add your sweetener and finish filling with water or ice.  Then place in the fridge to chill. 

Enjoying tea in my "redneck" glass.

I have two jars going at a time.  Right now I'm finishing up a lemon tea jar and have a raspberry tea waiting in the fridge.  I'm doing mint tea this time.  :-)  We think tea tastes best when enjoyed in a mason jar.

What's your favorite tea?  Do you have an old family recipe that you've used for generations?  Or, are you one of those hot tea drinkers?

14 May 2014 - Beautiful Sky

Part of this morning was spent working on the vineyard.  We have eight grape vines planted, mulched and watered.  Plus, there is one that might not survive so it has been granted a private space.  This is one of our farm projects.

I stopped to see how things were coming with the vineyard and realized that it was a BEAUTIFUL day.  Yes, the wind is blowing but the clouds are lovely and there's a nice warmth in the air.  After finishing up the work on the grapes, I grabbed the camera and went picture hunting.

Blaire munched contentedly on the sweet new grass.  Oh, how I would love to be getting fresh milk from her with wonderful cream to make beautiful butter.  Maybe next year.  That's another farm project.  :-)

Check out our Facebook page for a few additional pictures of this lovely day.

13 May 2014 - Eggs already?

Two of the Chicklets.  Still so small.

Maroochy has been pacing the fence of the pen for a couple of days.  I mentioned to MM that I think she's ready to go back with the other ladies.  But, I needed her to teach the Chicklets how to roost.  So, this evening as I assisted them all to the roost (which went wonderfully), I found two eggs. :)  She's laying again.  Apparently, she's been pacing because she wanted to get to a nest box.  I'll provide her one tomorrow and leave her with the Chicklets for a few more days.  They are just four weeks old so I'm not quite ready to separate them.

12 May 2014 - Farm Report

Overcast and damp on the farm this morning.  Oh, how we need the rain!  Praying that there is no bad storms coming with this.  I was able to transplant 46 sweet potato plants on Saturday.  Along with that I put in 2 beds of onion sets and 1 bed of garlic.  MM and assistants were able to get the fence posts in place for the bull pasture.  I'm feeling a little worn out today.  Taking it easy and spending a bit of time with the pretty kitty.

09 May 2014 - Farm Report

Good mornin', y'all.  It's kinda cool this fine morning on the farm.  Maroochy and the Chicklets are getting along real nice.  I turned at one point yesterday and caught one of the Chicklets hitching a ride on mama's back.  :)  Even if I'd had a camera, I wouldn't have been quick enough to catch the shot.  Sorry.  In addition, I found that the blueberry bush MM had weed whacked last year has new growth on it!  Whoot!  I'm so glad that the Lord takes care of things.  The blackberries have been blooming and there are several new shoots all around.  I managed to square off the area for the second round of potatoes, the onions, and the sweet potatoes yesterday.  It'll take a few days to get them in the ground tho.  There's much to do and  I'm off to do a little...  Happy Friday!