As I’ve mentioned before, Farmer John loves making soil blocks to start seeds. Typically he uses the 2″ soil blocker, but occasionally he likes to use the mini, 3/4″ version.

MAKING THE SOIL BLOCKS

Farmer John uses the same recipe for the mini soil blocks as he does the 2″ soil blocks. However, the soil for the mini’s needs to be very fine.

The mini soil blocks are so small, that seedlings quickly outgrow the block. Farmer John only uses this size when he wants to maximize the growing space, such as when placing the tray on a heating pad to help the germination process.

POTTING UP THE SEEDLINGS

These seedlings are definitely ready for potting up. Farmer John usually places the mini’s into 2″ soil blocks. He has an insert for the 2″ soil blocker that creates a square hole perfect to place the mini into.

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While I do most of the work in the flowerbeds, Farmer John does most of the food-type gardening. His favorite method for starting seeds is mixing his own soil & creating soil blocks.

The genius idea behind soil blocks is that you start seedlings without needing hundreds of tiny pots. The consistency of the soil is such that it holds together on its own.

MAKING THE SOIL BLOCKS

Farmer John mixes the soil in a wheelbarrow, adds water and gets busy creating trays of soil blocks. He typically uses the recipe from Elliot Coleman’s New Organic Gardener book, or some slight variation.

SOIL RECIPE

3 buckets  – peat moss
1 bucket – rich compost
2 buckets – garden dirt
1 bucket – perlite
1 bucket – sand
1/2 cup – wood ash
1/2 cup – osmocote smart release plant food

This method for planting seeds works very well if you keep a couple things in mind:

1. The soil blocker has 2 interchangeable dimples to accommodate small and large seeds. Pick the size you need to make the seed planting step that much easier.

2. Keep the soil in the wheelbarrow at a consistency of wet concrete. This allows the soil to come out of the soil blocker easily.

3. Lastly, to ensure the soil comes out easily, dip the soil blocker in water between each use to keep it wet and clean. This helps tremendously.

USING THE SOIL BLOCKS

The reason soil blocks work is because the air gap around the blocks prevent the roots from emerging. So, be sure to keep the gap. When the blocks are transplanted to a large container or garden bed the roots will grow into the surrounding dirt.

We place our blocks on aluminum trays. As opposed to watering from the top and possibly damaging the tiny seedlings. We flood the bottom of the tray and the soil blocks suck up the water. With all that dirt exposed to air, the soil blocks dry out quickly. So, we have to water them daily.

Have you tried soil blockers?

What is your favorite thing to start in them?

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Weather

Not much to say except that March was a very wet month.

The door on the Rhode Island Red coop got left open one day & the chickens, of course, got out. They didn’t care that it was pouring down rain. They were just happy to be free. They were soaked to the skin, but still spent the day scrathin’ & peckin’ in the great outdoors.

One particularly stormy day lightning was directly outside our house. That was a weird feeling. We don’t typically get much lightning & certainly not so close. Lucky for us, the only thing it seemed to ruin was one port on the router. This is/was the only port with cables going outside to the satellite dish.

We did have a few nice days, though, & the chickens enjoyed taking dust baths.

Flower Beds

Thanks to a local nursery sale & Costco, one day I came home with many new plants. The next weekend I went back to the nursery & grabbed more of the heather. I have the perfect place for it.

The thistles & blackberries are making an appearance. Damn it! We’ve lived here for 6 years & the Canadian Thistle is still my nemesis.

Gardening for Food

While I do most of the work in the flower beds, Farmer John does most of the food-type gardening. His favorite method for starting seeds is mixing his own soil & creating soil blocks. These little guys were started in a tiny soil block. Once germinated Farmer John moved them to a larger soil block.

The seeds I ordered arrived!
Farmer John ordered the seeds that will eventually turn into food in our pantry. Later, I ordered some fun stuff. I ordered a variety of flowers, including sunflowers, wildflower & rudbeckia. I also ordered 5 different types of pumpkins & gourds. They will mostly be used for autumn decorating, but also to feed the chickens. And, I ordered a bunch of herb seeds. The herbs will be used for cooking, and again, also for the chickens.

Chicken Keeping

Are you going to feed us or just stand there taking our picture?

Blue Copper Marans rooster & Black Copper Marans hen enjoying a nice day in their covered run.

The Littles from our February hatch were moved from the brooder to a raised sectioned-off area in one of the coops.

Another batch of eggs were set in the incubator on March 1st. Three weeks later, we had more chicks, including our first Marans of 2014.

March 27th, I placed yet more eggs in the incubator. This round, we have for the first time this year, Rhode Island Reds. I also added in our bluest Easter Egger eggs. I have hatched these eggs before, but at the same time as all the other EE’s, so I’m not sure which chicks have come from these eggs. I want to see specifically what these chicks look like.

Aquaponics

The aquaponics system is slowly, but surely getting set up. All the tanks are in place.

And, the plastic is covering the greenhouse.

Goats

The big, unexpected news of the month is that we got 2 Nigerian Dwarf Goats. They are super cute, full of personality & have been keeping us busy.

Random Pics of Good Ol’ Country Living

Mr. Quail all fluffed up & ticked off that I’m disturbing him & his lady. He really is a grouchy little thing.

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