When Thousands of Garden Seeds Isn’t Enough

First breakfast. You look ready to go. Ready to go, Teddy? He's upset. Mom's in there. Why don't you go with us, Teddy? Definitely at milking time. Those aren't your shoes, my man. Those are your mom's shoes.

Am I walking around in them?

No, let's find your shoes. Town shoes. Look at that, he came without a leash. Can we get him off the porch? There are your shoes, my man.

I think we shouldn't even put Tay on a leash because this, this, let him be out here.

Let's try it, see if he'll stay out with us. Mom's, uh, mom's herb garden looked good from yesterday. Her new garden looking good. I don't know if she's gotten spring fever or this is just a new, healthier, thriving woman. I'm thinking it's the latter, actually. We've kept the rogue chickens in. This fence is working. You want to come, Teddy? You want to see the chickens? Come on, Teddy. No, he wants to play with the cat. Lily, can I let out your birds? Okay, you want to do it? Lily has let them out. I don't think we need 2 feeders, Lily. Do we need 2 feeders? No, that's a lot for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 chickens. 6. How you doing, Penguin?

My chickens are giving me 5 eggs a day.

That's good. So you may have noticed somebody missing here. Donald. One too many attacks on the chickens, and it was a sad day. We had to say goodbye to Donald. He's a good guard goose, but when the guard goose attacks the chickens It just doesn't work out. So we're gonna miss Donald. We liked him. I think we've known him and had him for 5 years. His job though was to guard chickens, and, uh, mainly he's gonna guard the sea monsters when they go out into the field. And they're not out in the field, it's a seasonal thing. And so we stationed him up close to the house when he was on duty out there, and we figured the ones close to the house don't need like the hawk protection because it's so close to the house and gets a lot of activity. There's not a lot of threats there. You want to check the chicks with me, Mr. Brown? Oh yeah, look, they're, they're eating. Look at that, they're starting. Look, they've like doubled in size already. You want to give them some? Okay, can you pour it in?

Yeah.

Can you set it in, my man? Good deal. Any casualties? Everybody's making it. What about under the brooder? Sometimes they like to die warm. Oh, nobody under there dead.

Nobody under there dead.

Mr. Brown, will you check the other one? Okay, just lift it up right there. It's fine. Everybody alive and well?

Oh yeah, cool.

Hey, they're out of water. Will you get them some?

Sure.

Okay. Here, bring it up here and I'll turn it on for you. Carry it upside down. Yeah, look at them going nuts over that fresh food and barely even see the feeder. Wait, how many people we're gonna get in there? You guys got to be very careful. Okay, good. Thank you, Jonah.

Can I go do the Isis and the fat hens?

Yeah, for sure.

Oh my gosh, Papa, look at that!

Are they thirsty or what?

Thirsty. We didn't pick up my icing net or the pigshaw.

That's true, man. Add it to the long spring list. The animals fed, and if we have time, we'll get that stuff up. Buenos días, luchadores. Where were you?

Right there.

You didn't come with? Yeah, I did.

I'll just—

you— shall we shut this for when we bring the cows down? They don't go in there. Yeah. What's going on, Jonah?

I'd feel a little less of skim milk to the big pigs because we're about out. You can go see when you go.

Okay. Who's that? A little piglet. Yeah, let's give them less milk. It's okay, man, it's not a problem. Uh, just rationing. Okay, yeah, so that needs to last us— it's Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, so it only needs to last 2 more days. So yeah, he did right, he did right. He rationed that much and then we can split that up twice and then we'll be in skim milk again Friday.

I'm getting paid for my lesson.

Good for you. Hey, is it gonna rain today? If not, we need to turn on our water. Kind of hustling today because I've got a chiropractor appointment. Leaving the homestead is hard. Hey, Rebecca, is— was I gonna ask you? Oh, is it gonna rain today? Okay, I want water then. Sure.

By the way, I got a notification that McMurray sent our turkeys. So they're coming.

Turkey time!

Turkey time. Where are we gonna keep them?

We got to start them in the brooder downstairs.

Next to the chickens?

Yeah. Okay. So we need to get some lights, get real warm, because aren't they extra sensitive turkeys? Yes. Okay, or did you want to keep them in the house again? No. Do you want to be crazy turkey people? No. No. I mean, maybe for like the first week, but after that I'm done. I'd rather not because then we have to set up two brooder stations and move them. That's stressful. Yeah.

Should we—

in a week? Yeah, supposed to warm up.

Some people say don't keep them near chickens. Some people say they raise them with chickens. So we're just gonna put them next to the chickens.

They'll be neighbors. They'll be neighbors. Oh, dropped an egg!

I just had to bring the egg inside. And then Teddy went inside.

Okay, well, I'm glad he's seeing Mom and not this broken egg. We got to clean that up. That's a bonus for the pigs.

Can I take Teddy on a bike ride?

How are you going to get him to stay on your bike?

Put his leash on my hand?

Yes, that's fine. What in the— what in the— hey, we need more fluid in this spray! I hate to keep adding the tasks on you, but we need some thieves in that spray bottle. Or you just want to tell me where it is?

Okay, she gave that look.

She gave me that look. Like, I can't believe you're asking me to do another thing. I'm asking a lot of her today. This is why I ask her, because either she doesn't tell me where this stuff is or I don't listen. No. Oh boy, you said above the dryer, right?

Yeah.

These thieves.

It's in a white bottle.

Okay. She had said above the dryer. This is the dryer. Where is it? I don't know. Will you get me a stool? What are you looking for? Thieves. Uh-oh, I'm in trouble. Okay. Now that I look at it, that should be spraying. That's not like empty, empty. It is spraying. Why wouldn't that spray when I need it? I am just gonna go ahead and fill it up just for kicks and giggles since I've already started in motion. Food scraps for the pigs. Beauty, bless her heart, but you had to ask her to do the member text. She's working on that now. And, and, and edit today's vlog.

I can't get out.

There we go.

Where's the biggest ears? Look. Put Lily's bike in the back.

Why? You want your bike in the back?

Yeah, because I can ride it in the access road. She can ride it on the access road. And it'll be so I can't keep up to you by going up the hill.

Oh, okay. We're missing one key ingredient. Jonah. Oh, look at him. He's getting the pig port up. Are you gonna ride your bike too? Yeah, we gotta wear a helmet, bro. Now why is it this year— why didn't you bring your pedal bike?

I'll bring it.

You want to get it? Okay, look at that kind big brother, got you the bike and the helmet. Well, Teddy escaped. Lily's gonna catch him. Oh, she got him. I don't want to stand here too long. Come here, Josiah. He's gonna stand here with the camera. What'd I do to get this shot, guys? We're gonna just feed them their skim first since that's what they look for. Gosh, can't even pour it all out without them knocking it over. Oh, they're out of it right there. Don't come after me. Oh, I do have a bucket, but it's over here, guys. Right there. Rebecca and I were talking last night, these guys are getting there. They're like 6, 7-month-old gals, I should say. To harvest. So I'm thinking Fourth of July special meal, Fourth of July barbecue meal for us, huh?

They're white, as long as from here to here.

Ah, well, we'll measure them tomorrow, see how much they weigh, and we're probably looking at a June harvest. Next up, let's get their feed in there, and then let's get the pig, uh, on there, right?

We're just gonna lift it up.

I think we'll roll it through. We'll open it up right here. All right, Josiah's gonna feed them Feed them on the ground for tealing. Josiah, if you will please feed them further away, and then while you're feeding them, I'm gonna get the pig shaw in. Excusez-moi, Senor Brown.

What?

Or you can just catch a ride. Yeah, Mr. Brown, try to pet them when they're eating. They're not having it. Let's check out their mineral program. So we have some kelp out. They've eaten a little bit of it. That is rich in minerals. Another thing, another thing I think often forgotten, overlooked, is charcoal. We have burnt wood. Charcoal is just straight up minerals. It smells kind of nice, and they will eat, nibble on this. If they want to and need to. It looks like they have a little bit.

I'm pretty sure that they've been getting on that because it's killed around where it is from them still.

Yeah, it's spilling there and they've made a little wallow out of it. Hopefully they don't get wise to that and start doing that. We're at the top of the hill on the access road. Have you guys ever rode on the access road? Okay, okay, let's remember it's Okay, let's have some fun. It's okay, it doesn't matter. Let's have some fun now. Go! I can't keep up. They got one on the old man here. Oh, don't blame them though, go down this hill. Gideon, are you in control? He's in good hands. Worried Papa. Hey Gideon, were you in control? Yeah. Okay, good. All right, one adventure to the next, I see. At least you got your helmet on. Teddy, don't leave us. Stay. I think he sees the house. It's pretty far away though. Come on, Ted, you've been doing so good. There you go. Yeah. All right, I'm glad you spread it on that patty. One of my favorite things to do, free the birds. So the bird man's getting turkeys. Oh my word, Teddy's way down there. Where's his leash? Jonah can't catch him. Don't worry about it, just let him go home. Come on back. We playing it cool. He's coming, look, just come, Jonah. He's coming with you. You want to run home as long as Jonah's chasing him. Now that Jonah comes back up, he's coming. But anyway, in news, you know, what are we going to do about the— how we're going to have a hard guard goose when our Cornish Cross go out the field? They have to have a guard goose. Or they'll get eaten. They'll just be out in the middle of that field all alone. Owls, hawks. Look, Teddy's coming back. Okay, yeah, check the sheep, see if they need water. I'll come over there. Come on, kids. How'd you get him back? Grab his leash.

He knows his name now.

Hey, don't let him just drag his leash.

Oh, I got it.

Okay, good. Did you say they're okay on water? Guys, I can't hear. Hey guys, can you be quiet for a second? I gotta hear Jonah. Are they good on water? We're back. Look where he goes straight to. Hey, there's your best buddy. So I want you guys to pick up your phone, call the Inquirer. I'm doing real good on We call you Eagle. Thank you, my man, for switching my cows. You're welcome. Hey, will you change out my ice packs please? Yeah, let that milk filter. Hey, Miss Thang. Hey, how are the members?

They're great.

Good. Um, let me ask you a question. Carrots. We were thinking about maybe, well, you were thinking about maybe trying again on carrots.

Yes.

Today.

Yes. Well, yeah, I bought more carrot packs to replant and so—

Because our carrots didn't germinate.

No, they were really old seeds and I think that was my problem.

Okay, so—

Because I know the seeds went in the ground. The other thing that I didn't do that I will do today is I didn't put Agribon over right away.

Let's do it. But what about the rain? Isn't it gonna rain this afternoon?

It's gonna rain this evening.

Okay.

So my plan will be we'll plant it and we'll put the Agribon on it.

Okay.

And then the rain will come and germinate them.

Well, you're busy in here on members and the editing this morning, so let's shoot for this afternoon. Maybe the boys can move the sheep. It's an easy move. Do you think you and Josiah can move the, the cow and the sheep this afternoon? I mean, I might be able to help you some, but it just depends. Mom and I are gonna plant carrots.

Yeah.

Okay. Did go get our net out of the field. We got our pig shaw out of the field this morning. We're winning. Let's roll it up though for storage. I just realized something. Turkey start. If those chicks are coming like this weekend— chicks, pulps, turkey pulps— they're coming this weekend. Is it Keats? No, I think a guinea is a Keat. I think turkeys are pulps. Um, this weekend we gotta get some turkey starter feed. Can't keep you out of your greenhouse too long. No.

Okay, I'm gonna start hardening some stuff off.

Okay, good. What's that?

This is, um, marigolds. They're Lemon Gem.

Smell them. They smell nice. Doesn't that—

it's so— it's my favorite marigold. I just love it. It's just like amazing.

Hey, they went the wrong way. Didn't we shut that gate this morning for that very reason? All right guys, come on, party's over. Now where are they going? All right, shut that gate. How'd that gate get open though? Come on, come on guys. Let's make sure they get across the road to the lane. So far so good. No, no, no, no. Yeah, yeah, that's right. Thank you, buddy. We just slammed a farm fresh breakfast. Watch this. Of course Teddy will eat an egg.

Bye-bye tomorrow.

But will Teddy eat a strawberry?

Oh yeah, he's a fruitarian.

That's like his fruit, doesn't he? Just like an apple. But watch, here's the test. Will he eat kale?

He's the best.

That's our kind of dog. You eat everything. Oh, I'm sure, I'm sure they eat a waffle, but we could try it. Here, you try it. Okay, there you go. I think they'll eat anything. But what about tomatoes and onions? We're gonna find out.

He's eating it.

He ate it all. He ate it all. Good boy. Tomatoes and onions. I've never seen a dog do that. On the road again. It's been a while.

Let's see, last time you came was a month ago.

That's my normal life. But what we're gonna do, like any good homesteader, if you gotta go to town, you're gonna knock out 2, 3, 7 birds with one stone. Going to the chiropractor. Yes. And gonna go pick up chick or turkey starter. I found some locally. Yes, so we can order bulk. And then, well, I don't know how much bulk we'll need. What are we raising, 24 turkeys?

I don't even know how many turkeys we bought.

Oh boy, I think it was like 24. It's not that many because we want 12. Yes, so I think we want to give away some as gifts and we want to have a margin of error.

Correct.

And, uh, we're going to check out that garden store and for the feed and see what else they got.

Well, I need to get some tomato starts.

We're going to look—

I forgot to start Sungold tomatoes.

What's so special about Sungold tomatoes?

They're just a variety. Okay. But they're delicious.

Alright.

And I was like looking through something the other day and I was like, Sungold! And so I could, if they don't have starts, if they don't have starts then I'm going to get seeds and I'll just start seeds and it'll just be a little while until we get some but they'll grow till October.

So it's, we're not like, it's not, we don't live in Alaska. Just got done with the chiropractor. That felt good. This always feels good. It's always relaxing. Can't say it takes away the back tension, but the back tension is definitely from something else, not out of alignment, right? Anyway, let's go into this store and get us our turkey start and look around a little bit. Hey, do you want to try this biochar? You want to try a bag or two? Experiment? Yeah, maybe half your row and carrots. Yeah. What else you looking for, Rebecca?

Aragonite here?

They might. All right, babe, let's get with it. Let's have an experiment. Okay, half of your carrots with biochar and half of your carrots without biochar. It says I help with germination. Been doing a little research today, finding out that biochar is where it's at. We'll see. Stop 3, another garden store. Do they have your tomatoes?

I don't know, but they have a lot of tomatoes.

They have tomatoes out. I'm so excited.

I'm so excited. Okay, I just love me some plants.

Start your tomatoes, you crazy plant lady.

Oh, I'm getting seeds too.

What? Your greenhouse is full of seeds growing.

I need, I need some more.

Nate.

Okay, so I wanted— I want to get some— I tried some yellow squash seeds, I tried to germinate them. I had some yellow squash seeds, I tried to germinate them. Okay, they didn't. They were old seeds because I haven't grown yellow squash in a really long time, but I want to try again. Try to—

it's yellow squash, let's be honest.

Try to—

I'm only growing one plant.

I just want one plant. Okay, we're just gonna have a little bit. I like cream Yellow squash is so good. I gotta get them before that man gets my stuff.

Oh no, they got some sunflowers too, Beck.

I know, but I have plenty of those.

Okay, so did they have it? Do they have your special Sun Gold tomato? What's so special about a Sun Gold tomato?

It's good.

All right, how many are you gonna get? The whole tray?

No.

Oh really? Content? Just controlling yourself?

Just like 3 or 4.

They have zucchini but no yellow squash. They've gotten the memo. Nobody likes yellow squash. Don't you know that zucchini is the new yellow squash?

Listen, I'm just gonna have one plant. You act like it.

Can't you just buy one seed? No, no, can't just buy one seed. You gotta have to buy 100, you know. No, they don't.

There's not that many Oh, okay, good.

I got your yellow squash. Okay. Hey, look, Gideon would enjoy that for watering his garden. I know.

Which ones would he like?

Which would he like? Well, maybe the pig.

Oh, he'll like that. He'll like that very much.

There's the fish, maybe. I think he'll like the pig. The flamingo is kind of cool.

The pig is much bigger, right?

Gideon's been watering the garden. It's his garden now, the instant chicken garden. So that'll make it more fun for him, I think. You getting your jalapeño?

Yeah, I want one jalapeño.

What are you gonna do with it?

I'm gonna grow it.

I know, but how are you gonna eat it? Well, we haven't been—

we put it in, we put it in some things. Okay, um, sauerkraut. Okay, it's been the taco sauerkraut, put a little bit in there.

Nice.

So one plant will do us just fine.

Well, Beck, it might rain on us, honey. 3:20. It's a 30-minute ride home and the storm is looming. But is it really going to take us that long to plant carrots? Think we can do it?

We'll see.

As long as it's not raining, we can do it. Uh-oh, Beck. We didn't beat the rain.

I got distracted in the garden store.

So projects like, well, planting carrots have to be put on hold.

Yes.

Well, Rebecca, there's Jonah. And the cows are out. I guess he's trying to get hamburger in and they're not cooperating. But it's raining in our hauler. Bum deal. Okay, let's help these guys. They've moved the sheep. I'm gonna let this lane down and you can bring it right here.

I'm gonna plant my yellow squash.

You go, girl. Gideon, I got something for you. Here's a pig. Do you know what that's for? Yeah, it's for watering your garden. Is that more fun than a regular watering can? Yeah. Okay, leave it right there. Look at this guy! You've been working out hard in the rain. Yeah, who's been working out? Who's got the bigger spike? Who's been working harder in the rain?

It's me.

Are you soaked? I'm soaked. Oh, we changed. But was it worth it? Yeah, for homegrown food.

Yes, those pears, man.

I'll go out in the rain, do chores. It beats going to the grocery store.

Mama, get Teddy! Get Teddy quick before Teddy gets on the cake!

Wait a second, huh? We're gonna play checkers. Come on, man. No, I wasn't giving you a belly rub. I was trying to move you. All right, set it up. Is what it's all about. This is what— why it's worth it, work it in the rain. Look, our pork, guys. Our pork. Soon to be kale. Soon to be potatoes. The wild hair. It's worth it.

We already have—

you joining us? You got you a little puzzle with little treats under it. He's got— he's got a scavenge— scavenge— scavenge for it. Scavenge.

Yeah, but can he get to it?

Because he's strong.

Hold on a second.

Look, Beck, he figured it out. What'd he get?

Food.

He already ate it. I can't tell what it was. She put a little bit of our food in there. Our pork, our— did you give him potatoes?

I gave him a potato. It fell on the floor.

And we know he ate kale. You gave him some kale. All right.

It's to make him eat slower and, um, have the foraging that he needs.

Buys us some time.

So yeah, and it makes him eat slower.

We can have a more peaceful supper without him trying to get up on our table.