Devonviolet Acres

Devonviolet

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This site https://garden.org/learn/articles/view/4152/ says 6-10 feet apart. 6' might be a bit more hedge like but there is nothing wrong with that!
Thanks for that link, Bruce. I'll have to check, but I think one of the varieties I got is York. The article says York gets 6' high and 6' wide. That's a good thing. :celebrate

I'll have to check to see what the other variety is.
 

Mini Horses

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I like the drum planting "until" idea. I have a fig tree that I believe I will do the same way. Just can't decide where I really want it long term -- these things are pretty final, once they mature.

Cream separator -- I've checked out Slavic Beauty in past. How do you like yours? Is it fairly easy to clean? Fast enough to use? Like you, I thought I wanted stainless but, cost prohibitive. I love fresh butter and cows have the creamline. However, don't want patties to clean up, too much milk at once AND separator costs far less than hay for one cow. :p
 
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Devonviolet

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I like the drum planting "until" idea. I have a fig tree that I believe I will do the same way. Just can't decide where I really want it long term -- these things are pretty final, once they mature.
We have a fig tree, that we got, in a 1 gallon pot 2 years ago. I LOVE figs!

We couldn't decide where to put it, either. So we left it in the pot. We got 4 tiny figs that year, and didn't see much for growth. o_O We finally decided where we wanted to put it, Spring 2016, and planted it in the ground.

In the meantime, in Spring 2016, we planted 2 apples, an apricot & a peach tree - all in 5 gallon pots.

Last Summer, @Baymule clued me into using Azomite for adding minerals for animals & garden. So, I did some research & we bought a 40 lb bag. One of the things I read, suggested putting Azomite around fruit trees. So, late last Summer we started doing that.

This Spring, we noticed nice increase in size, of all our fruit trees. I was thrilled to see that our fig tree has quadrupled in size & loaded with figs. I was SO looking forward to eating figs this summer. Then a friend (who also has a fig tree) suggested removing all the baby figs, to allow the tree to put all its energy into growth. So, with great sadness, we picked all the tiny figs. :hit

Cream separator -- I've checked out Slavic Beauty in past. How do you like yours? Is it fairly easy to clean? Fast enough to use? Like you, I thought I wanted stainless but, cost prohibitive. I love fresh butter and cows have the creamline. However, don't want patties to clean up, too much milk at once AND separator costs far less than hay for one cow. :p
If you watch the video, on her website, it shows step-by-step, how to wash it. The first couple of times it seemed like a lot of step. But, now its easy peasy. Goes quickly. Making cream is the same. I make sure it has dried completely & have it assembled when I put it in the cupboard. It goes in in 2 sections: the motor, which we screwed to a board (as instructed), and the bowl. Setup is easy. Run one gallon of 100°F water through. Discard the water, set up collection bucket for skim milk & quart canning jar for cream, close the stem valve in the middle of the bowl, pour first gallon of milk in bowl, open stem valve & you are off to the races. Then add remainder of milk.

I usually do 3 gallons of whole milk. But I could, easily, do 4 or 5 gallons. It can, feasibly, do up to 100 liters, which would be more than 25 gallons. Although the motor could get hot doing that, so should be cooled down before continuing. I think 3 gallons takes about 10 minutes, and I get just under a quart of heavy cream.

I'm on the same page, with you on a cow. If I did a cow, I would do a Jersey. But, I don't need the 5-6 gallons a day, that it could produce, and don't want the cost of feed, plus cleaning up all the cow patties. :eek:
 

Bruce

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Then a friend (who also has a fig tree) suggested removing all the baby figs, to allow the tree to put all its energy into growth. So, with great sadness, we picked all the tiny figs. :hit
:hitindeed. If the tree has quadrupled in size, it likely has a good root system already. If it was working hard just to stay alive, it wouldn't have set so much fruit. Certainly could have left at least some, if not a lot, of the figs on it. Next year!!!!!
 

Mini Horses

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Yes, I would have left those figs!! A friend has 2 HUGE tree size figs and doesn't like them! I give her eggs. I get the figs.:)

Oh, my....absolutely a Jersey for me, too. But expensive to buy one in milk, expensive to raise from calf. If we lived close I'd be tempted to co-own one! Again....goats are faster to mature, easier to handle, clean, etc. Plus great milk! Love my goats.

Later this week that fig tree will go into a larger tub. And I will get some azomite...can't hurt the plums, grapes, etc. No elderberries yet -- but, wine? Well, I'm waiting for the 3 bottles I have made on a trial to age a little. Then I may consider more grapes, or? If not to my taste, I'll keep using ole man Beringer. I do get a variety of types/brands from demos.

Thanks for info on cream deal. That may be a next yr deal when I have more time to get back into heavier, regular milking. This year has had too many ups & downs for a good schedule. I'm lucky to get even a little garden in -- but, am.
 

Devonviolet

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A friend has 2 HUGE tree size figs and doesn't like them! I give her eggs. I get the figs.:)
I had a neighbor, when I lived in Lake Worth, TX, back in the 70's & 80's, who had a fig tree, that hung over the fence. She told me I could have any figs, that I could reach from my side. :drool I got the 6' ladder & stretched as far as I could. OMG! I got some amazing figs from that tree! And oh my, the fig jam was delicious!!! YUM! :drool

Oh, my....absolutely a Jersey for me, too. But expensive to buy one in milk, expensive to raise from calf. If we lived close I'd be tempted to co-own one! Again....goats are faster to mature, easier to handle, clean, etc. Plus great milk! Love my goats.

I could buy a Jersey bottle calf for $85 + $1/ day board. Yes! Wouldn't that be cool,,to co-own a Jersey cow with you?!?! But, then I agree about goats. And I love my girls too!

No elderberries yet -- but, wine? Well, I'm waiting for the 3 bottles I have made on a trial to age a little. Then I may consider more grapes, or? If not to my taste, I'll keep using ole man Beringer.
I've never made Elderberry wine. So, what kind,of wine did you make? I can't drink wine. It gives me headaches.

Just this weekend, we went to the local Farmer's Market, and there was a couple, who run a local vineyard. They sell Muscadine grapes, that grow well in our heat. He said if we put up a double cow panel hoop/arbor, it would only take one plant, for each side. If pruned and trained right, would cover the entire arbor.

This year has had too many ups & downs for a good schedule. I'm lucky to get even a little garden in -- but, am.
Well, you have one up on me, there. :( I have seedlings ready to plant, but just can't get the garden dug. It's just too dang humid to work too long outside. :eek: :th
 
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