Composting 101

Good morning!! Finally enjoying a little nicer weather here in Ohio so I've been out working on the flower and garden beds a bit. I decided this year I would like to try my hand at composting after seeing how many food scraps we throw out even though we do throw out them into our field.  This way I can get some benefit from them.  Since this is a first time, I didn't want to invest a lot of money and time into a bin in case I don't continue.  So off to Pinterest I went.  Seriously, what did we do before that glorious website emerged?  It makes us feel like we can do anything!!!  I love it!!  Here is a link to the one I thought I would try.  

https://extension2.missouri.edu/G6957

It takes wire hardware cloth or chicken wire, metal posts and heavy wire to hook it all together. 

 I had intentions of putting it together and posting pics of the process, but my husband and son put it up for me yesterday while I was gone so here is the finished project.  I put a few sticks in the bottom so air can circulate some through it.  Then topped it with some old leaves and some vegetable scraps.  I'm still searching Pinterest for what to compost and what not to, but I definitely feel it is something I will continue.  I'll keep you posted on the progress!

Thanks for stopping by.  Hoping you have a wonderful day!!  

Blessings...

Melissa

Has Anyone Seen Spring?

Spring is the season that is supposed to give us warm days, sunshine and an abundance of ambition that we most times lack during the long never-ending winter months...at least here in Ohio. Well, this spring has given us very little of these blessings.  We have had only  a handful of warm days to be outside freshening up flower beds and dragging all of the garden decor out of the little shed.  Most days have been so cloudy and windy it's not even fun to be out.  I have actually accomplished more spring cleaning this year than before.  Only a couple of more rooms.  I usually put it off because I like to have the house opened up a bit while I clean. Then poof, suddenly it's beautiful outside and I'm like it's way too nice outside to be inside cleaning!!!

We farm for a living and normally this time of year brings the tractors and planters out in full force.  They are sitting idle waiting for the weather to cooperate.  It has rained and rained and rained.  We have learned though that you never wish for the rain to stop only to slow down a bit to get the work in.  If you wish for it to stop, well, frankly we can go for weeks in the summer when we really need it without a drop!!!

I thought I would share a couple of my spring flower beds with you.  And my lonely little garden just waiting for herbs and tomatoes and such.  Notice the "cat path" leading from the garden to the house.  Heaven forbid the cats walk outside of the path!!

I have also added a couple of new summer listings to my Etsy shop. I have "punched tin" stars, American flag, and United States bowl fillers.  

I hope that wherever you are reading this from finds your spring days full of sunshine and warm temperatures.  In the meantime, I'll just wait impatiently for it to show up here!!  Have a wonderfully blessed Easter.  Thanks for taking time to stop by.

Blessings......

Melissa

Where Has The Time Gone????

Hello.  I have been away from here for so long that I was surprised that I was able to get back into it!!  Over the past couple of years, yes, it's actually been that long, a lot has happened to keep me away.  Mostly, I feel like it was lack of content and a developing interest in other areas of crafting.  I found myself getting out of the painting and repurposing items mainly because my stack of things to redo became so large!!  We have all been there, buying a few more things than we have room for just because it is such a bargain and it will be so perfect when it's done.  

I have been focusing on my blackened beeswax items and my Etsy shop.  My items are both seasonal as well as everyday decor for your primitive/colonial/farmhouse look.  The items are hand poured with pure beeswax dyed black and HEAVILY scented with a cinnamon oil and dusted lightly with a very FRAGRANT cinnamon.  Here are a few of the spring and everyday items that I offer.  I currently have over 200 listings to choose from.  I also offer wholesale to shops and vendors.  If you are interested in that route, please email me for a current price list.  Here is the link to my shop....

etsy.com/shop/farmfieldprimitives

My intent is to post more frequently,  and keep you updated on new items available as well as activities that are happening around our grain farm.  Spring is here but the cool weather is definitely keeping the guys out of the fields for now.  

I am so grateful that you took time to stop by.  Take care and have a blessed day!!

Melissa

Gardens

Hello.  I have had a couple of more blooms from the Chocolate Garden I wanted to share. 

Nasturtium.   

Dahlia "Chocolate Sundae"

Here are a few of my other flower beds.

I kinda love Coneflowers.

My smokehouse got a new roof last week. The old one was over 25 years old.  I wish there was a way to instantly weather them.  I didn't realize how bad the old ones were!!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Blessings...Melissa

Blooms and Furry Friends

Hello! I've decided to take this rainy day and show some updates of chocolate garden. When I planted them back in mid April, they looked so tiny and I wasn't sure they would make it.  It was so cold and rainy for the longest time and they just wouldn't grow.  It finally warmed up, but became so dry.  I was always out watering.

  So finally, the weather has evened out a bit and they are beginning to look good.  I was disappointed that more of my seedlings didn't sprout, but I really don't think I would have had room for them all if they had.  My spacing could have been better when I transplanted also, but they were so little!!  

I have Nasturtiums in the front that I started with seeds in the garden.  Behind those are a couple of Sweet Williams.  I had trouble getting them to sprout and grow so I only had a few to transplant.  Next are the chocolate flowers. They are doing very well!!   Then there are the Dahlias.  They are budding right now so soon there will be flowers.  The Rudbeckia are next.  They are growing very well, but I'm thinking since they are perennials, they probably will not bloom this season.  I will definitely have to do some transplanting since they are too close together.  Next are the chocolate wild carrot that have a few buds as well.  Finally, the chocolate sunflowers are in the back.  They are just the perfect size and have the  most beautiful blooms.  

The chocolate flowers are supposed to have a chocolate scent, but I don't really notice it.  My little friend, Felix, is posing.  Someone dumped him and his brother, Oscar, off in the middle of the night.  So, now we have two more kitties!  They are sweet little guys.  

Chocolate Sunflower.

In the front is one of the Sweet William flowers.  I made the little bird bath "cat water dish" a few years ago.  Schmitt, another newbie this year was too shy to look at the camera.  He was a "town kitty" who showed up at our son's girlfriend's house. They have dogs so he came to live with us.

I have a couple of pepper plants and tomatoes mixed in as well.  Next to this garden is my Herb Garden.  I have always had a few herbs but never in one spot.  I have 3 barrels that I have Chocolate Mint, which smells as good as it sounds, regular Mint, and Lemon Balm.  The barrels keep them under control as they really spread.

My Cilantro (top left)  has now become Coriander and needs to be trimmed back.  I read to plant cilantro seeds every two weeks to keep a continuous supply.  I may try that or just put it in a pot so I can keep it out of the hot sun.  It is a cooler weather plant.

Next to my Herbs sign, I have a Pineapple Sage plant.  It smells heavenly!!

The bunny sits in a patch of Thyme.  

Here is the new crew.  The little black one is named Hannah.  Our daughter's friend found her along the road, but couldn't keep her. Apparently we run a cat sanctuary here!!

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Have a wonderful weekend. 

Blessings..

Melissa

Progress....

Hello!  I wanted to post a picture of the progress my Chocolate Garden is making.   As of today, almost two weeks since planting, the Chocolate Viola is the only plant that hasn't sprouted any  seedlings at all!!  The germination on those is a little later, so I'm hoping that is why they aren't up yet.  It has been cool, so today I put a heating pad under the tray for a bit to warm them up!!  I have been spritzing them with a water bottle a couple of times to keep the pellets wet.  

I am ready to get outside and start working on flower beds.  The cool and rainy weather is getting rather tiresome.  I purchased a few pansy and viola plants yesterday that I need to get potted in the next couple of days.  The bright pop of color that flowers bring is a welcome addition to the spring landscape.  

Thank you for stopping by!  Have a wonderful day!!

Until next time...

Blessings....

Melissa

Chocolate Garden

 A Chocolate Garden?  Sounds like something only found in Heaven!!  This garden will be a feast for the eyes (hopefully)  more so than the palette (with the exception of a couple of plants).  What gave me the inspiration for this new project was a plant I purchased at the end of last summer.  It was a cute perennial with little yellow flowers and brown centers that promised the fragrance of chocolate.  I did a little searching on line and found a wonderful site.  Chocolate Flower Farm. 

www.chocolateflowerfarm.com.  How did I never hear of this before??  I decided to purchase the Chocolate Garden Favorites bag that comes with seeds for 6 flower varieties as well as a delicious chocolate smelling votive.  In it were seeds for more Chocolate Flowers, Sunflowers, Violas (edible), Hollyhocks, and Sweet William.  It was to include Pincushion Flowers as well, but Chocolate Wild Carrot was substituted.  I was excited about this because I really wanted those  but didn't get them because I thought there was a large extra shipping charge associated with them.  When I told my husband, he said, "That's a weed, you know?".  Leave it to the farmer!!  Anyway, I also purchased seeds for Nasturtiums, Dahlias, and a beautiful Rudbeckia 'Green Wizard.  

Each variety comes packaged and labeled so well.  There are also sowing instructions included with each .  There are six of them that require they be sown indoors 6-8 weeks before planting.  I was going to start this last week but didn't get to it.  Hopefully they will first actually sprout, and then more importantly, grow well enough to be transplanted outside.  I tend to over care for plants by giving them too much water.  I promise to be more careful this time!!

I purchased this little Jiffy Greenhouse for my seeds. I followed the directions to add water and boy do those little pellets take so much in!!  Within a few minutes, they were ready!!

I'm sure there is an appropriate tool that "real" greenhouse gardeners use to fluff up the pellets.  I don't have one of whatever that is, so toothpicks it was for me!!  I used them to push back some of the mesh, fluff up the dirt, and gently cover the seeds.  

Since many of these seeds are super tiny, I also used the tip of the toothpick to pick them up and put them into the pellet.  I put two seeds in some of the pellets because I only had another large greenhouse and I didn't want to use it for just a few seeds.  I'm hoping I don't regret that.  

All planted, labeled, and ready to be placed in our south facing bow window!!

Obviously, it will have to be lot sunnier outside than it is today for the poor little things to sprout!!  I put Winston in charge, but he's too busy napping in his bowl to be much help!!

Wish me luck!!  I'll keep you updated with pictures!! Thanks for stopping by.  Have a wonderful weekend. 

Until next time..... 

Blessings...

Melissa