dalthauser

We recently took another step in our homesteading journey.  Adding to our family of fruit trees.  We are adding two Jujube trees and another Fig tree.  

Jujubes (not the candy) are small fruits.  They are also known as Chinese dates,  I've never tasted one, but they say they have a flavor like an apple.  They are often dried.  I chose this because I've never seen them grown and would like something unique.  Also, they are supposed to grow very well in our area.


Panache Fig -  We already have good luck with figs.  I have a Texas Everbearing fig tree that is about 6 1/2 years old now.  I enjoy eating them and making jam with them.  They require very little attention once they are established.  I chose Panache because it is beautiful, and it's supposed to be a good fig for eating fresh.




Received our trees from Trees of Antiquity (not the cheapest supplier out there - but they have a good reputation and offered a variety of fig we had a hard time finding elsewhere).    


They all came healthy and with good roots.



We prepared the holes for the trees a couple weeks ahead of time, and we purchased a truck load of compost the morning we planted them.  We mixed native dirt to compost at about a 4to1 ratio.  


I'm just posting this one because I think my husband is one foxy dude..... (the bandana around his neck is not a fashion accessory - he has a cold, and it's keeping the Vick's vapor rub warm.... haha)


We set the trees on a little "hill" and spread the roots out as much as we could.  


We  covered them with landscaping fabric and made a temporary fence around them to keep the chickens out.  We'll remove the fencing after about 18 months once the root systems are firmly established.


We hope that these trees will provide good shade for the chickens in summer.  Since they are deciduous - they won't give shade in the winter, but the days are short then - and it's cool - so it's not as much of an issue.

On a side note - today we also culled two chickens.  Marcel taught me how to humanely kill and clean them.  It was a bit traumatic I will have to admit, but I am committed to learning to live this homesteading lifestyle.  We stewed the chickens to make chicken soup since the birds were rather old.

My dearest fig tree - the first thing I ever planted on my property - blessed me with with an actual crop this year.  The first year I owned it I almost killed it.  It died to the ground, and I almost dug it up and gave it a decent burial.  I procrastinated though - and the next spring it began to grow again.  I vowed to treat it right from then on.  This year it really took off growing.  Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I bury random dead animals I come across underneath it (so far two squirrels, a raccoon, and a few birds).

Fig tree started as a little 2 ft high baby tree in a gallon bucket.  Now it's well over 8 feet.




Fig tree is big enough now that I have to use a ladder to get to the top.


Fig tree is producing enough this year for the birds AND me.

* I'm still sick, but I've entered into the stage where I hack up crud from deep inside my chest.  Gross, but a good sign.  By Monday I should be right as rain.

*  I went into the garden this morning to uncover all the stuff I quickly covered last night in case it froze (it didn't), and I said "hello" to the sheep who stay in the front of my neighbors property this time of year.  They like me.  I throw over green things to them whenever I'm in the area.


* I can't remember what this tree is called but I caught a pic of it blooming.  The bees love it.  When I first moved here they looked like two overgrown bushes, and my mom did a great job taming and shaping them.  I try and keep it up every year. 


* Still no new food.  I've found many items in the freezer I'd forgotten I put there.  I can probably go another week before I have to break down and shop.