Devonviolet Acres

[Southern by choice]

 

[Devonviolet]

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.

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

 

[Devonviolet]

I will NOT show my elderberry sticks pictures of your elderberries! They would swoon with embarrassment and keel over dead!

Hahahaha!

 

[Mini Horses]

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.

 

[Devonviolet]

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. 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.

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.

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.

 

[animalmom]

Didn't the elderly Aunts in "Arsenic and Old Lace" use elderberry wine? Should we start worrying about @Devonviolet and @Baymule... and who's taking the Uncle Teddy's role?

 

[Devonviolet]

Didn't the elderly Aunts in "Arsenic and Old Lace" use elderberry wine? Should we start worrying about @Devonviolet and @Baymule... and who's taking the Uncle Teddy's role?

​

 

[Bruce]

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.

indeed. 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]

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]

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. 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!

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.