Michibacy grow log 2016

[Michibacy]

Well I'm back at my old bad habits folks. I've had a real rocky start to the season. Started seeds on time but of course, Mother Nature decides other wise. I'll post photos tomorrow, for now, a quick check in:

started my seeds again this year using Burpee seed starting "soil" folks...worst-mistake-ever.

Let me explain: no, let me summarize: it's not soil. It's cocoanut fiber, and from this point on has no business near my farm. I attribute last years total failure to it, and this years partial failure to it. It has no nutrients (did a deep culture npk test on it) and has a huge tendency to mold.

About 3 weeks back I restarted in new cell trays with soil I harvested locally, new fluorescent lights and a raised table in the basement. I've had decent germination and will transplant in a week with prayers it's not too late.

on the family note, goes turn 1 year old soon, getting some chickens finally and have some awesome updates on my business:

I've been working on some designs for a couple years now and am finally bringing them to life:
I've got a product in the works right now that I think will make a big impact on modern agriculture, I've got MSU interested, local farmers, private investors and a couple other groups already interested.


I'm working on building a device to apply liquid chemical to each and every seed within a broadcast/drop/pendulum spreader, automatically, while monitoring chemical dilution and application rate.



The device is part of a 3 tier product release encompassing bio-diverse/bio available microorganisms for horticulture/agriculture/general botanical uses (Sustinere is the brand name-to-be, officially a Fortified Microbial Inoculate) I'm doing it in micro batches to start, and it's showing very promising results. My initial concept was used on a very fresh compost heap (non environmentally controlled), compared to it's control, it showed bio-availability of organic compounds in as little as 4 weeks versus the control which is around 7 weeks.


Well folks it's time to hit the bed, I'll post more later!

 

[Smokin Harley]

good luck on the design.
I used Burpee starter soil last year and had a ton of damping off /plant yellowing/loss issues . You're absolutely right, its not soil.
I used Mezcla Pro-Mix this year and didn't lose a single plant . Not one yellowed either. Plants grew faster and stronger. Much better looking. I still used Superthrive and Miraclegrow to liquid fertilize as soon as I saw green sprouts. I didn't keep it soaked but let it get that dry look on top before I would bottom water again until it wicked up to the surface. Plants seemed to double in size every day. Add a set of leaves once a week.

 

[Michibacy]

SH, I ended up harvesting soil from our farm, mixed it with some beautiful compost we're culturing and mixed in some aged tilth to get our right mix. It's working really nicely, I've mixed in some of our fortified microbial inoculate and it's doing quite well. (also have a seedling heat mat, forgot to mention that part). I haven't had enough time to make sure everything takes off like I wanted it to but atleast I'll have something.

Here's some photos thus far:

The seeds in the old seed mix. Looked healthy for the first couple weeks but damped, yellowed and died off shortly after. (I'll get current photos tonight), the new plants have wonderful leaves on them!

The effects of my product and design on Atlantic Barley, both photos taken at the same time, planted at the same time.

Our wonderful granary a few mornings ago

The rig I used to spray the field/yard

New engine on the roto-killer (my terminology for front tine tillers). A new engine, belt and pulley and I have a wonderful; purring machine at my disposal.

 

[ProfessorPangloss]

Glad to see you back in the field, brother. Hope you're enjoying life with the minis.

 

[Michibacy]

The forepromised pictures:

Corn

Beans and peas

Butternut, Acorn and birdhouse squash

My weekend project, redoing the bathroom floor that turned into replacing subflooring, doing all new plumbing and a trip to the hardware store (well ten trips)



The tobacco so far. Small amount but it'll be fine for this year.

 

[Smokin Harley]

Michibachy , do you need plants?? I have my starter pots still with healthy back ups. Since my crop is growing so well , I won't be needing them. We have cool weather and rain this week so it'd be optimal for shipping. You pay shipping and I can get you some.

 

[Smokin Harley]

Looks like you need to find yourself a nice old Troybilt Horse tiller. I remember using one of those old front tine tillers, i have no idea how anyone ever tills with them , dangerous beasts and the amount of spilled beer is terrible. I had a Craftsman rear tine but I found this old Horse with a blown Tecumseh , put a Harbor Fright re-power on it and I sold the Craftsman soon after. I love my Horse , I walk beside her at about 3/4 throttle and the depth bar set for all the way down and she just purrs along and does her thing. Garden work shouldn't be hard .

 

[Brown Thumb]

He is busy changing diapers.
Hell of hard worker too.
Looks like things are coming together for you At the new farm.
Looks good too. My best to you and the misses and the little one.
Oh, don't forget about the Baccy

 

[Michibacy]

Smoking; I'll let you know after I transplant these babies. It'll be Thursday probably. I'm not sure how I survive with a front tine but I do, I'm building some out rigger tines for it to stop the jumping. With a new engine atleast I'm not trigger my asthma!

and thank you for the compliments brown thumb, it truly means a lot. My recently late grandfather was my role model along with my mother for hard work. I practice my American spirit with the attitude you get what you work for and try to remind myself not to let anyone take that from me. Ingenuity also comes into play since I don't have a huge income.

this farm has its own struggles but that keeps me young, flooding, storm damage, crops etc. but I've got good family, a good wife, a good dog, a good rifle, a good truck and a strong faith to keep my going.

 

[Smokin Harley]

Smoking; I'll let you know after I transplant these babies. It'll be Thursday probably. I'm not sure how I survive with a front tine but I do,

this farm has its own struggles but that keeps me young, flooding, storm damage, crops etc. but I've got good family, a good wife, a good dog, a good rifle, a good truck and a strong faith to keep my going.

Ok, let me know very soon, they are just about ready to jump out of these pots. I mean they're overdue for field set.
That last sentence...you need to put that to a country tune, in the key of A .

 

[Michibacy]

Haha I might need to send it to HWJR and see what he can do. I'm an avid music lover but I can't keep a tune to save the world. (Unless it comes to blue grass, Russian folk music or Irish folk music where Key is in the mind of the drunken beholder)

 

[Michibacy]

Was given one of those Mantis tillers from the late 80's, I effectively weeded the garden in 20 minutes. Folks, I'm in love with this thing. It lasts for ever on a small tank of gas/oil mix (same as my chainsaw) has a mini honda engine on it and absolutely tears up what ever is behind it (pull it in reverse to work the best)

 

[Michibacy]

Aint it funny how life decides to throw awesome little curve balls?

Nothing major, just entertaining. I had a schedule (my mistake apparently) to get home after work today and finish up the chicken coop, and pick up the new babies tomorrow evening. Well, the co-op called and said my chicks came in a day early. So now I need to rush 40 miles the wrong way after work, get the chicks, come home, finish the coop and get to raising the chickens! Oh well, when life gives you lemons...make omelets!

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

It's funny that you thought things would work out as planned. Good score on the tiller buy the way. I remember looking at the new ones and thinking I'd have to rent a tiller for 15 years before spending the same as buying a new one. Is that the type that spins super fast? If so, I would only use it so often to avoid killing worms.

 

[Michibacy]

I hoped they would work out as planned but alas that's life I guess.

I don't plan to use the fast-blade tiller all too often, when I do it's typically when the soil is dry. Easier to pull weeds, less compaction of soil and the worms have migrated downwards (I only set the dept to 3-5", to this point I've seen no worm parts strewn about).

I plan to add (yet another project) a vericompost system to our farm to help replenish worm life (this used to be quite the booming and healthy farm but has gone down hill in the past 60 years. My goal is to get this to be a nearly self sufficient farm, where fertilizer is organic made on the farm, live stock is healthy, and unmedicated to which extent is best for them, and of course have the family healthy and happy at the same time.


Update on the chickens:
They're doing great! Got them home at 7 last night and got them moved over to their new home. It got quite brisk last night (39*F) so I had the heat lamp on for them.

 

[Michibacy]

Well thanks to BigB for the transplants (and thank you to other who offered plants, I do really appreciate it!)

I'm following a "intensive planting" plan that a fellow at MSU was talking to me about. I'll see how well it works for this years' crop as I have limited space until I get my other chunk of property possibly next year.

spacing for orientals was 10" and on other varieties 12-18" inches which I hope doesn't hinder my plants too badly.

The reason for "intensive planting" supposedly is to A) Keep moisture in the soil via reducing sun exposure to soil (with the help of mulch naturally) B) to produce a lot of growth in one central area C) reduce the amount of weeding after the plants have taken hold and choked out the weeds.

I'm hesitant but hopeful. The plants got a good soaking of water and are getting some nice sun today and tomorrow with a chance of showers. Temps ranging between 70 and 90 degrees. Wish me luck!

 

[chekun]

It's the same weather in France, cloudy & rainy.

Good luck

 

[deluxestogie]

Good luck with your trial.

Bob

 

[Jitterbugdude]

You should be fine. One year I accidentally planted 36 Little Dutch on 8 inch centers in a double row, having confused them with my Turkish. They came out pretty much just like if I had planted them on 3 ft centers.

 

[Michibacy]

Well...money is only temporary. My new (to me) truck (2004 F150 5.4 V3) had a cam shaft phaser collapse a week ago, and it's in the repair shop. $2000 gets me new phasers and a tuner. I'm blocking out the oil fed phasers with a kit and tuning it.

here's the kit below:



Not ideal but it'll give me a good working truck again.

On a side note, the tobacco is green and the ground is moist so I can't complain too much.