Where’ve I been? Sick and recovering from influenza type A and it took 2 weeks but I finally stopped coughing. The arctic blast and all these low accumulation snow falls have had us scrambling around tending fires and throwing salt.
A little introduction since I’ve got a few subscribers besides my loving family and friends. My name is Olivia I am a horticulturist, wife, mother of two, urban farmer, all around new school old school lil big mama. I have been studying horticulture my whole life MSU college of ag and natural resources, Royal Horticulture Society of london Trainee in its 100th year of hosting students, and at Great Dixter pruning bird topiaries so I’m pretty confident in my skills; I had better be an expert of sorts after all that otherwise, I’ve been wasting my time. But there is always something new to learn and experience.
Update on the animal ordinance its live. check the detroitmi.gov for details, but i could not find details at the time of this vlog. So far 8 poultry no roosters for home gardeners, 12 poultry no roosters for farms. there will be a permit application, $50 fee, and an animal control check of your coops, and up to 4 hives.
Chickens vs ducks. Chickens tend to have smaller eggs they are less messy but duck eggs tend to have a higher protein and the bigger yolk makes home baked goods extra rich, you can keep a self sustaining bevy because unlike roosters drakes are actually quieter than duck hens but they are water benders- puddles appear whenever they are. They must have water at all times deep enough for them to submerge their heads in order to keep their nairs (nostrils) clean.
Family Home and Farm, the somewhat problematic Tractor Supply Center have chicks now. Chick days are here, they usually get the new load in on Tuesdays and there’s always ordering online from hatcheries, local like Townline to mega ones like Murray McMurray.
I have my first question; from Christina/Tina, your husband’s precious olive tree has scale insects; spray with a diluted dish detergent water and gently brush off the scales after they die. Apply solution as often as needed until no scale appear. Top dress soil with finished topsoil or compost and water evenly.
Tasks to do
a. Break dormancy on any forced bulbs
b. Check on stratifying seeds, start them in flats outside, or place them in the freezer according to seed packet guidelines
c. Check houseplants for bugs
d. When seed starting keep in mind that the seeds you start indoors are going to have to be kept under grow lights until the last frost; 50% chance that day is April 25 this year for Detroit and the inner burbs according to gardening.org. But there are always nights when you have to close the coldframe or throw a row cover on the flats. The usual last average frost date is the 2nd or 3rd week of May; it often snows 1-2in of big fluffy flakes in April. Don’t rush things. Annual flowers and allium family seeds such as onions, chives, leeks, even garlic that you didn’t plant before the ground froze can be started now.
This is still the time to get your growing plans in order, comfort yourself with the knowledge that you are doing all that you can to ensure your food supply. Fix tools, get your potting bench and coldframes/hoophouse cleaned up and organized with potting mix, flats, fresh shapie and labels.
Order seeds, tubers, and fruiting trees and shrubs.
There is an Urban Ag Summit at MSU on February 27 Enhance a statewide urban farmer network by bridging existing connections. Identify obstacles to accessing resources and ways to enhance UA through collaborative, community led research, initiatives, and funding streams. Highlight existing resources available from local orgs to federal government. Registration required.
This is a great time to catch up with your gardener/farmer friends and strengthen the ties that bind before the growing season ties us down
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