Tractor Problems

Well, the tractor isn't doing so hot. I've had some trouble starting it lately. Ultimately, I think I've got an electrical problem. I didn't come to that conclusion until I removed the starter to have it tested. And unfortunately when I reinstalled it, I broke the plastic housing on the magnetic switch. So it looks like I'll be spending $480 on a new starter. Parts for this tractor are very hard to come by. I'm considering trading up in the spring for something more easily repaired. Its a shame though, I really like this tractor.

The Barn: Update

The barn project has slowed down significantly. After a bunch of car/truck repairs and many other tasks needing attention as winter sets in, the barn went on the back burner. Hopefully this spring I'll be starting it up again in full force.

Chicken Nugget (to be)!

Well, we reduced our flock down to 9 chickens. They are delicious. And yes, they've final started laying. I actually preformed a C-section on one of the slaughtered chickens to retrieve and egg! And there were like 3 or 4 other shell-less eggs in their too. It was neat.

The Garden

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We decided to go with raised beds this year. Our soil is pretty terrible. Pure, nearly saturated clay. I used timbers milled on site, from the woodlot.We got a good deal on bagged compost from the guy that I bought gravel from. So, were starting small, and testing out the waters this year. So far we have
Tomatoes (big beef, and Cherry)
Peppers (green, and banana)
Lettuce mesclun, butter head
summer squash
zucchini
cucumbers
Broccoli

Peas
Potatoes (grown in old tires)
Celery
nasturtium
garlic
green onion
spinach
and a few others.
Shelley is the real gardener. I take care of the potatoes, but that's about it. I'll do a separate post on them later.