Make the Earth Smile….COMPOST!

Composting is the breakdown of kitchen scraps, lawn clippings & leaves to be used as fertilizer and soil amendment.

With time, and minimal maintenance, the collection of organic materials will turn into usable soil that is rich in nutrients and minerals that your plants will love.

What you can compost:

Raw Vegetable Scraps

Rotten Fruit

Egg Shells

Shredded Paper

Lawn Clippings

Leaves

Small Limbs (less than ½ inch in diameter)

Pine shavings or straw from pet cages (i.e. Guinea Ping, Hamster or Chickens)

What you can NOT compost:

Any foods that have been fried

Oils

Meat

Plastic

Large tree limbs (over ½ inch in diameter)

Once you decide to compost, the first thing you will need to do is find a place to collect it! Keep in mind while you do want a convenient location, it is important to choose an area that is not near a door to your home. Decaying compost will naturally draw insects, squirrels and other critters.

This compost pile is on the side of the house away from any doors.

You will notice that the compost will quickly begin to “pile” up. Building some type of structure to contain it is advisable. Also, the pile must be “flipped” every two weeks. This can be done using a shovel or rake. It is important to not let your pile dry out. To prevent this water your pile every week depending on the weather in your area.

Simply scoop from the top of the pile and flip to blend in recently added material.

How do you build a compost container?

You can use just about anything to build a compost pile. Building a frame out of bricks, blocks or scrap wood is a good idea. Also, you could opt for T-Post and chicken wire or buy a composting barrel.

Here is an example of a commercial barrel. It retails for over $100.

For the compost pile pictured below cinderblocks and wood scraps were used.

The above pile was recently relocated from a different area of the yard. It has been building for approximately 17 months and has yielded about a dozen 5 gallon buckets of compost over that course of time. Keeping the pile free of meat and oil products has prevented any unpleasant odor from developing.

Below is an example of the soil retrieved from the bottom of the pile after turning it. This batch was added to enrich the normally sandy soil, in an area of the yard, before transplanting some plants.

Happy Composting,

Ling Ling & Crutch

The Storm Came…Lives Changed

A tornado In Oklahoma? Not so unheard of. A tornado in Chickasha, OK?? The last time a tornado hit Chickasha was on May 3, 1999. That tornado skirted the town but on Tuesday, May 24^th, 2011 a tornado hit the east side of town. The entire state of Oklahoma was warned about the possibility of the tornado a few days before.

The day started calm & serene. You could see the clouds packing in but that is nothing unusual on a stormy day.

The sirens went off a few seconds before the tornado hit between 5:30 – 6:00pm. People were outside, at work, at home. School was out for the summer. It hit the east side of town, including, a mobile home park, a few apartment complexes, a church, a strip mall, gas station, several small businesses and several homes.

After a tornado rips through your life what do you do? Thank God no one was hurt. You know “things” can be replaced….You may question God as to why this happened. If you are lucky, you are standing looking at your house trying to understand. Realizing your belongings are all over the county. You slowly understand you need help. Not the kind of help that comes from friends after work or on the weekend, but the immediate emergency, need it now kind of help. Immediate shelter, food and clothing are a priority. Granted you may have that one pay check you can splurge with for dinner out or a new outfit for Sunday morning, but I don’t know any of us that can by a new house, a new car, new clothes for the kids……the whole bit.

So what do you do....?

·        Red Cross headquarters for Chickasha is currently set up at Bible Baptist Church. They are offering temporary housing for those dislocated by the tornado and meals are being provided by Salvation Army mobile unit. Please join us in prayer for all the families and businesses that have been affected by this storm.

·        Crossroads Community Church is asking that those with immediate needs to contact them.

·        Local Food Pantry

·        Your friends are always a source of kind words, baby sitter, a couch to sleep on, good meal or just a pair of ears to hear you.

·        Your family will not take no for an answer. They will do anything they can for you. Just ask them. It’s okay; this is a mother-nature induced need for help.

What do you do when you know a tornado is coming? Or, just want to be safe rather than sorry.  Click on the link below  for our local News Channel 9 safety tips.

http://www.news9.com/story/7515440/tornado-safety-tips

 Tuesday May 24, 2011, God proved Himself to be Jehovah – Nissi (My Protector). Two tornados made their way into the city limits of our small town. Though my step-daughter lost her home, and my youngest stepson’s place of work was destroyed, they both came through without a scratch. Our Father is truly the giver of all good things. In this blog I have been able to highlight a few of the earthly blessings He has given me, I want to take this moment to thank Him for one of the most precious - my family.…Ling

This was my stepdaughter’s home. The homes on either side of her's were destroyed.

This is where my stepson worked. He left just before the tornado hit. 

(Image rights belong to The Chickasha Leader)

When the tornado came into my little neck of the woods I had gone to the $ tree and Wal-Mart. Little did I know how close things came to the kids and I. Praise God for the protection and the calm state of mind he put around my family.  After we were released from Wal-Mart I thought we would see if anyone needed our help. By the time we made it to the hardest hit areas emergency crews were already in place. So we decided to check on the church. A 1/3 of the roof was ripped off. Within minutes a few others showed up to check things out at the church. It was very cool to see how many people came out to work without being told there was even a need. In a matter of hours everything that could be done was done. The next day they started getting the roof covered and succeeded in that. The women made sandwiches and pushed rakes.  It will be a few months before we will be able to get back in that building….Praise God you can have church in any building….Crutch

This is the Wal-Mart where my kids and I sought shelter.

(Image rights belong to The Huffington Post)

This is Grand Assembly of God, my church home.

We can’t wait to see what great and wonderful things God is going to bring out of this devastation. May God be with the people whose lives were, and continue to be, affected by this event.

Our love & prayers goes out to you all.

Ling Ling  and  Crutch

Bird Nesting Bag

Things Needed:

Scissors

Ribbon, Yarn & Fabric Scraps...

As for the color of ribbon pick thing you think a lady bird would like to see in her nest.

Mesh Bag-Like the one popsicles come in.
Popsicle? Don’t mind if we do...

How to make a B-N-B:

Cut ribbon, yarn & fabric in to 3-5 inch pieces.

Fill the bag with scraps.

Tie ribbon or fabric around the top to hang from a tree.

Walla.....You’re done and the Birdies thank you!

Hint: In our case the Popsicle bag was too long

so we cut it in half.

Then use ribbon to tie the end just like you would the top.

The night before you start this project put your popsicles in the freezer so you can enjoy one while you are watching the birds pull a ribbon to make their nest attractive.

Happy Bird Baggin' & Popsicle Eatin',

Ling Ling & Crutch

Sprout… Sprouting… Sprouted!

What is a SPROUT?

–verb (used without object) to begin to grow; shoot forth, as a plant from a seed.



*dictionary.comWhat is a SPROUTING?Sprouting is the practice of germinating seeds to be eaten either raw or cooked.
*wikipedia.org
What has SPROUTED?
Success

*Sha Chicks



On a recent trip Ling Ling had a salad made mostly of sprouts. In this time away from her non-sprout region (her kitchen), she noticed sprouts on burgers, being used as garnish, mixed in stir-fry... AND it was all good!

This brings us to today. Ling said she would like to try and grow sprouts. Well if she is going to try, so am I.

This is how we went about it….

What you need:

Jar- We chose a canning jar with a screw-on lid. Any recycled well cleaned jar will work.

Screen- Make a simple screen to fit under the screw-on lid. We used aluminum window screen. You can use cheese cloth and a rubber band or twine.

Seeds- Found at your feed and seed store or order online. (Freeze until you need them)Organic seeds are best other seeds may be treated with fungicides.

What to do:

Measure & Pour seeds in jar, fill jar half way with water and soak overnight.

small seeds: 2-3 tablespoons

medium seeds: 1/4-1/2 cup

large beans and grains: 1 cup

Rinse seeds often. All seeds, and particularly the wheat, spelt, and flaxseeds, are susceptible to mold if not rinsed properly and frequently (2 - 6 times per day). To rinse, fill jar ½ way with water to cover the seed and swirl. Drain water off. Make sure the jar opening is not covered with seed. We don’t want any yucky mold.

Each time you drain the water off , tilt the jars with the opening down on a towel or dish drain. The goal is to have air circulate in the jar so tilt and leave screen not covered with seed.

Wait 3 to 5 days sprouting times are different for all seeds.

Two leaves will appear for each of the sprouting types, at which point they should be ready.

Refrigerate and use in 2-3 days

Failure is an option!!! Just ask Ling; she has yet to find success in her sprouting endeavor. If this happens to you just start over. Keep notes so you will know what worked or what didn’t.

Below is a list of seeds that we sprouted (or attempted to sprout) & our opinion their taste….

Arrow Leaf Clover:

somewhat mild flavor, slightly bitter 

Sugar Snap Peas:

technically not “done”, yellow sprouts had a mildly bitter flavor; green sprouts were not palatable

California Black Eyes:
technically not “done”, nutty flavor, texture of a raw corn kernel, great for salad, slightly sweet

Mustard:

herbal flavor, hot, good toping with grilled chicken salad

Cabbage:

mild, bland, good filler for salads

VNS Alfalfa Seed: grew early, slight mold development, should have refrigerated after sprouts developed

Here are the Sha Chicks choices for best sprout source…

Best seeds: Cabbage, California Black Eyes

The wrap up…

To maintain a constant supply of sprouts, a new jar must be started every three days. We however, will be sprouting less often for the occasional chicken treat or to spice up a salad. Never eat anything that is molding!

Sprouts, Successes and Failures,

Master Sprouter Crutch & Sprouter Apprentice Ling Ling

 

Meet Ling Ling's Chickens

With very little time around your chickens you will dicover they each have their own persinality quirks. Just like people some are endering and some.....

not so much.

 Lucy is a one year old Welsummer. She is definitely a feisty red head. She doesn’t mind being held as long as you don’t mind your jewelry being pecked! Never go close to her when you are wearing sandals, she just can’t resist the urge to peck your toes. She is a happy, but vocal bird. She will squawk and cackle when she lays, when she wants attention, when she is hungry or for no reason at all! However, her quirks are easily tolerated when you see her large speckled chocolate eggs. She is a faithful layer, averaging 4 – 6 a week.

Rose “The Miracle Chicken” is a one year old Australorp who lays 5 – 6 light brown, medium size eggs a week. Rose hatched on May 16^th 2010, she laid her first egg on a cold winter day in November 2010. She is a docile bird who loves attention; petting and holding her are easily done. She is very quiet, only cooing and cackling for attention or out of delight. She earned the name “The Miracle Chicken” when she made a complete recovery from an accident that left a 7 inch cut from her throat to her groin. Despite losing some of her breast feathers,(which are starting to come in now) she incurred no permanent damage and began laying eggs two weeks after the injury.

Blanch is a beautiful Australorp whose glossy black feathers contain a lustrous green sheen in the sunlight. She is one year old, averaging 5 – 6 light brown, medium size eggs a week. She laid her first egg at six months old. Her very quite but curious nature makes her a joy as she follows us around the yard always sticking her “beak” into our business. If you ignore her for too long, she will begin cooing until you acknowledge her. Usually stroking her soft feathers is enough to appease her.

Sophia is a Silver Laced Wyandotte, with a very striking black and white feather pattern. She is one year old, averaging 4 –5 light brown, medium size eggs a week. She laid her first egg at six months old. She is the watch dog of our brood. If anything is amiss in the yard, she will sound the alarm. Whenever we hear her squawking, we know either the dogs are too close for her comfort or a cat is nearby. If all is quiet on the home front, then she is quiet as well. Keeping mostly to herself, she must be bribed with a treat if you want to try to pet her. Even then, however, there is no guarantee she will let you near!

New to the Coop The Babies & Teen Chicks. Baby Chicks have a sweet nature. It’s cool to see them loose their down and grow their feathers. Teen Chicks are odd, awkward & flighty. They are quick and like to back talk to the older hens. If the hens pay the teens any attention the teens will jump on them and peck them.   More to come as they are named & grow into sweet natured hens….we hope!!!!

Squacking, Cackling, Cooing & Quiet Persinality Quirks -

Ling Ling  and  Crutch

What are the Sha Chicks about?

Sha Chicks are a couple of Town Chicks from a small town in Oklahoma, who love the idea of Barnyard Life but have never lived on a farm. Sha Chicks enjoy talking to people and finding out what barnyard talent they may have. If you look around and take the time to talk to people in your town, you will be surprised at what you see and learn. This blog is a way for us to share informative, funny, real life stories, ideas and thoughts on everything from chickens to crafts. Check back regularly to see just how much barnyard our backyards can hold!

Heading to the backyard,

Ling-Ling and Crutch