February 4 -
Have two full buckets of vermicompost so I started two trays. I seeded 56 cubes with fukuda's east west mild mix, 28 cubes with cilantro, seed harvested from my plants. Did 28 cubes of fukuda's mesclun mix and then 8 cubes of stevia, 4 cubes of birdhouse gourd and 4 cubes of straight eight cucumbers.
In bed number 4 I planted more straight eight cucumbers, birdhouse gourds and sunflowers.
T. transplanted cucumber seedlings to hills in garden.
Asked T. and J. to focus on removing grass on the higher areas, the ground is still soft from the recent rains, grass pulls out easily. Also, to remove grass from areas between beds. Explained to T. how we need to re-shape the beds, moving the soil from center area to increase the height of the bed. Learn from flooding...
February 6 -
Wow. T. not only pulled grass but she understood my explanation of re-shaping the beds and simply did it. Now have two beds ready for transplants and safe from the next five day rain session.
Added kitchen waste to the compost piles.
I actually washed out the water and food containers used in the chicken coop, it was too disgusting. Need to obtain proper water dispensers for chickens, using a open bowl wastes a lot of water as the water becomes so filthy it has to be tossed.
Transplanted tomatoes and green onions to raised bed in garden.
I asked T. and J. to place mulch around the tomatoes and papaya. I asked T. if she could drive the pick up, then she would not have to carry the barrel of chips so far. I was in the nursery when I say T. turn the truck and begin to back towards the garden. "oh, no" I thought, but I couldn't get there in time to stop her. I got there in time to hear the wheels spin and see that she was truly stuck in the mud. T. looks at me and says with surprise, "its muddy". I laughed, "you know it is wet, you walk in it, why try to drive in it?" I tried placing an old section of carpet under the tire to give it traction but that didn't work. I asked T. to go to the house and ask Ali for help. T. was worried, but I told her it was ok, no one would be upset with her. Later Ali came down and was able to drive it out.
T. and J. and I filled the old garbage can with chips and placed chips around the tomatoes and cucumbers. That should help keep the weeds down and keep the moisture in. Also moved the trellis to the new cucumber hills. The cucumbers planted on bed three died, too much water.
I seeded manoa lettuce and bell pepper in the vermicompost. Seeded green onions in black pots.
T. and J. said they would be working a half day and then going to the hospital to see his mother. They had taken her to Queens earlier in the week. She has not improved.
February 8 -
Had time to feed the chickens and dump the compost before meeting with M.
Walked through the areas where we are considering using vetiver to hold up the stream banks. M. had a classy yellow wheel/measuring devise. The priority area is the corner nearest Waihee Road where the two streams cross. However, we also walked along the far side of pasture where the vetiver could be used as a visual barrier for the cattle. Walked back on the makai side of pasture, ideally, I'd like to use the vetiver in the corner and behind the fence. Might solve some of our fencing problems, it would be a very visual barrier for the cows. M. will submit a proposal.
Seeded more vermicompost cubes, the watermelon variety of papaya, bell pepper, grape tomato and an entire tray of manoa lettuce.
Transplanted approximately ten tomato plants to a raised bed, and a few remaining onion plants. Watered the established tomatoes in bed two, the majority look very healthy, two are fading.
Picked a lot of current tomatoes and a few of the yellow pear tomatoes. I picked as many red ones as I could find and then sat down and thought a bit about quality control. Under a strict, blemish free quality control protocol, about half of the tomatoes I picked ended up going to the chickens. Most of the blemishes were due to over ripeness. If we pick more often that won't be a problem. Need to think about display.
The hen with the five chicks was in the nursery, again. She was in the eggplant bed, but still, that chicken could do serious damage. The hen flys out, but I think she is walking in, need to look at where she could be coming in.
Fed and watered the chickens, again, before leaving. The chickens always act as if they are starving.
In the evening I attended the Farmer's Union meeting. This was very interesting. I recognized several people. The Union is a good idea, it has potential. Anything that brings small farmers together is a good thing.
T. and J. not working today. Hopefully, they are bring the mother home from hospital.
February 9 -
Moved the eight anuenue lettuce plants to the hydroponics bed.
T. and J. back at work. J. clearing the high ground while T. working on shaping another bed.
Cows were right at the fence, so I used my phone to take a few photos. Will send to someone to identify breeds.
I cleaned out the makai water trough. Let it sit in sun to dry. Asked T. to fill it as last thing before she leaves. I also cleared out a section of wooden fence the cattle had been walking on.
Began clearing old plants out of bed three. Noticed that bed four looks very disturbed, chickens! There is one plant coming up, in the vicinity of where I planted cucumbers. Looks like it will rain so I only watered the vermicompost cubes. I keep four trays on the table under the green shade cloth. Two trays are in the final section of worm bin, under that shade cloth. No chicken damage.
Pulled together a list of needed tools and equipment. I also called Tin Roof Ranch, left a message asking to set a time for a visit.
Showing posts with label vermicompost. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vermicompost. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Review of January actions
January 11, 2010
Meeting with E. Focus of production to be on salad mix: primarily this would be types of lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, green onion and red onion. Secondary could be chives, dill, cilantro, additional salad greens.
Goal to clear out piles of old building materials, old cars and rubbish.
Cattle fence needs to be secured.
January 14-
Worked with T. on re-filling the large worm bin, demonstrating how to use cardboard and waste paper to create layers. T. had done an excellent job clearing trash out of worm bin. Demonstrated how to use vermicompost as planting medium.
January 19-
I marked out dimensions for two raised beds and T. and J. began clearing grass and digging soil.
I seeded lettuce and green onions in vermicompost on trays in nursery.
Cows got out, jumped through loose wires in fence.
K. is to come back to assist Tl. to work on fence. It is agreed that if K. is working on farm he must be under direct supervision.
January 20-
E. and K. walked about farm and discussed future plans. K. will email grower about vetiver grass. E. considering obtaining pigs and re-building pig pens.
Discussed renting tiller as J. and T. having difficulty with grass.
January 21-
T. and K. transplanted seedlings of unknown variety to the first raised bed. Might be from cabbage family. Onions and peppers were transplanted between the pineapple rows. The beds K. made were dismantled and the toxic materials removed and bagged for disposal.
January 22-
T. and K. transplanted tomatoes and cucumbers to second and third beds. K. supplied dill and chive seedlings that she had grown, transplanted to third and fourth bed.
January 23-
Tl. finished with frames for raised beds in house area. Need to obtain mulch and composted manure to fill these frames and top off seedling beds in nursery.
January 26-
K. supplied lettuce seedlings from her stock to place in aquaponics tray.
K. explained time sheet process to T. and J. Asked Tl. to sign off on K. time sheets.
January 27-
Small amount of wind damage, plants ok. Strip of roofing material blew off shed and landed on nursery fence. Bent but repairable.
J. collapsed in garden. Unaware that he had fallen, was slightly disorientated for a few minutes.
January 28-
Rain began during the night and remains constant. Moved seedling trays to sheltered space. Set T. and J. on sweeping and organizing shed, then they moved to filling in more sections of worm bin. T. will plant papaya. Also, K. gave T. flower seeds to scatter about. Learned that J. had fallen again the previous evening. Learned that neither had health insurance.
Spoke with C, checked hours and dates, T. and J. need to be added to health insurance, required by state law as the thirty day grace period is almost pau.
January 30-
Spoke with E. on phone, because of the constant rain, T. & J. given day off, can work Monday instead.
Said I would be down to check on flooding. E said she may be out on errands.
I arrived and as walking down lane could see that nursery gate was standing wide open. The rock that holds the gate shut had been moved off to the side. When I entered it was immediately clear that the cows had gotten out and wandered through the open gate and walked through the seedling beds. Damage to the tomatos, a little damage to peppers. The bed they did the most damage to had not yet been seeded, so that was lucky. Need to emphasis to all that nursery gates must be secure.
Walked along section of fence, but no cows were out at that time and could not determine where they had crossed the fence.
I then checked the raised garden beds. The flooding was not unexpected. The first bed remained above the water. The tomato bed was mostly above water, one or two plants were partially submerged. The edges of beds three and four will have to be re-shaped and deeper trenches dug. Bed five was flattened by the rain and luckily nothing had been planted there. Bed six, with the beans, was ok. The pineapple rows were half submerged, however most of the onions and peppers were above the water line. The tomatoes I had planted previously were above the flood area. However, this is where the cows had done the most damage. I had noticed the cow tracks but luckily the tracks avoided most of the garden beds. However, the tomato plants suffered damage as did some onion, pineapple and peppers. Overall, damage was minimal.
Meeting with E. Focus of production to be on salad mix: primarily this would be types of lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, green onion and red onion. Secondary could be chives, dill, cilantro, additional salad greens.
Goal to clear out piles of old building materials, old cars and rubbish.
Cattle fence needs to be secured.
January 14-
Worked with T. on re-filling the large worm bin, demonstrating how to use cardboard and waste paper to create layers. T. had done an excellent job clearing trash out of worm bin. Demonstrated how to use vermicompost as planting medium.
January 19-
I marked out dimensions for two raised beds and T. and J. began clearing grass and digging soil.
I seeded lettuce and green onions in vermicompost on trays in nursery.
Cows got out, jumped through loose wires in fence.
K. is to come back to assist Tl. to work on fence. It is agreed that if K. is working on farm he must be under direct supervision.
January 20-
E. and K. walked about farm and discussed future plans. K. will email grower about vetiver grass. E. considering obtaining pigs and re-building pig pens.
Discussed renting tiller as J. and T. having difficulty with grass.
January 21-
T. and K. transplanted seedlings of unknown variety to the first raised bed. Might be from cabbage family. Onions and peppers were transplanted between the pineapple rows. The beds K. made were dismantled and the toxic materials removed and bagged for disposal.
January 22-
T. and K. transplanted tomatoes and cucumbers to second and third beds. K. supplied dill and chive seedlings that she had grown, transplanted to third and fourth bed.
January 23-
Tl. finished with frames for raised beds in house area. Need to obtain mulch and composted manure to fill these frames and top off seedling beds in nursery.
January 26-
K. supplied lettuce seedlings from her stock to place in aquaponics tray.
K. explained time sheet process to T. and J. Asked Tl. to sign off on K. time sheets.
January 27-
Small amount of wind damage, plants ok. Strip of roofing material blew off shed and landed on nursery fence. Bent but repairable.
J. collapsed in garden. Unaware that he had fallen, was slightly disorientated for a few minutes.
January 28-
Rain began during the night and remains constant. Moved seedling trays to sheltered space. Set T. and J. on sweeping and organizing shed, then they moved to filling in more sections of worm bin. T. will plant papaya. Also, K. gave T. flower seeds to scatter about. Learned that J. had fallen again the previous evening. Learned that neither had health insurance.
Spoke with C, checked hours and dates, T. and J. need to be added to health insurance, required by state law as the thirty day grace period is almost pau.
January 30-
Spoke with E. on phone, because of the constant rain, T. & J. given day off, can work Monday instead.
Said I would be down to check on flooding. E said she may be out on errands.
I arrived and as walking down lane could see that nursery gate was standing wide open. The rock that holds the gate shut had been moved off to the side. When I entered it was immediately clear that the cows had gotten out and wandered through the open gate and walked through the seedling beds. Damage to the tomatos, a little damage to peppers. The bed they did the most damage to had not yet been seeded, so that was lucky. Need to emphasis to all that nursery gates must be secure.
Walked along section of fence, but no cows were out at that time and could not determine where they had crossed the fence.
I then checked the raised garden beds. The flooding was not unexpected. The first bed remained above the water. The tomato bed was mostly above water, one or two plants were partially submerged. The edges of beds three and four will have to be re-shaped and deeper trenches dug. Bed five was flattened by the rain and luckily nothing had been planted there. Bed six, with the beans, was ok. The pineapple rows were half submerged, however most of the onions and peppers were above the water line. The tomatoes I had planted previously were above the flood area. However, this is where the cows had done the most damage. I had noticed the cow tracks but luckily the tracks avoided most of the garden beds. However, the tomato plants suffered damage as did some onion, pineapple and peppers. Overall, damage was minimal.
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