Unexpected Visit
This guy showed up today out of the blue. He came to chill by the cottage. Is not a fan of chicken, but will audibly snap a chicken leg in half. I had no idea that we had alligator snapping turtles in our tiny swamp.

This guy showed up today out of the blue. He came to chill by the cottage. Is not a fan of chicken, but will audibly snap a chicken leg in half. I had no idea that we had alligator snapping turtles in our tiny swamp.
A Confession: I’ve been a bad gardener. I have started beds and abandoned them at the first sign of infestation or disease. I have neglected to water or properly irrigate rows of plants, leaving them to the mercy of mother nature. She’s a cruel master that will sow every manner of pestilence and plague at my plants, negating all the time, effort, and money I’ve invested. It has always been easier to buy produce at the store or decorate with silk plants.
But year after year, I have been drawn to the idea that I should be growing my own vegetables. Every spring, I would spend time browsing the plants at the big box stores, buying a few plants, and feeling a sense of satisfaction as it grew. Then, inevitably, the plants would decline and I would lose interest.
When I began my own research, most of the information and techniques were not accurate for my particular growing zone. Most of the available information pertains to temperate zones, i.e. most of the United States, rather than the subtropical zone 9B where I reside. The techniques, plant varieties, and growing seasons are vastly different. I wasted a lot of time and money chasing the wrong solutions.
This year I began to take courses with the local county extension office. They have great courses on gardening techniques for your area, backed by up- to- date university research. The most important thing that I have learned is to research the care and common diseases/pests associated with each specific plant species. Armed with the correct knowledge, everyone can have a green thumb.
I’m becoming a better gardener. I’m excited to begin documenting my research and experiments. Please join me on the journey and remember to subscribe for updates.
# Permanent link to An Introduction via Confession
And then I sent her back into the world to finish her route, smelling for all the world, like a sewer.
I am %100 positive that anyone who has a pet or a child in the house can relate. You’re going about your business, head in the clouds when you manage to slide your bare foot or hand into something unexpectedly moist. You know well the onset of sheer panic as you try to figure out…
I accept the fact that I am now a crazy chicken lady. I have two incubators that are in constant use. I love hatching chicks. Every 21 days, I can have a new batch of fuzzies. I understand their language now. I am one with my flock. In celebration of my 41st name day,…
While unsuccessfully hunting for a raccoon near my chicken coops this morning, I saw the cat chasing a squirrel in a tree. I have acres full of squirrels and I was not particularly concerned about the cat catching this guy. He was fast. He ducked and dodged. He taunted and chittered. He was outwitting…
Farm Chronicles: I Swear I Only Had One Beer! You wanna here about the most embarrassing moment of my life? Having a family dinner at Rock n Brews in Oviedo. We had a great spot on the patio. Top notch food, good beer. It was a great night. Gabby asked to go to the bathroom.…
I just wanted to play Xbox with my kid. I’ve been anticipating the day when she’d be old enough to play games with me. It’s also an excuse to to buy the new hotness in game systems because it’s for the children… It was a special occasion to me. I’d finally get to share…
Read more Farm Chronicles: A dead chicken, a rooster attack, and copious amounts of vomit.
A chicken was harmed in the making of this blog entry. *This contains a graphic description of a chicken slaughter.* Dingleberries. Chickens are not supposed to have dingleberries but this one did. Prolapse chicken was once again walking the yard with a significant portion of her guts following behind. I tried to remedy the situation…
There is one rooster in my flock that does not get along with anyone. He can’t crow so he just sits around doing this awkward scream every time I come into the coop. None of the hens will mate with him, none of the other roosters respect him, and he just barrels high speed…