05-24-06 Update

I have been making more papercrete blocks since our days are longer, and the temperature has been in the middle 80's.  I really do like the way the ones I made last year are holding up.  They look really nice around the trees and shrubs.  I found out that the ones that were made of just paper, without any cement in them, hold up just as well as the ones with cement.  Since I am not using them for any structure and they are bearing no weight, they will probably last for years and years.  So this year, I am not using any cement in them.  By not using the cement they cost me nothing to make.  It makes me feel good to be able to take junk mail, magazines, etc and turn them into something useful for my garden.  Every thing I recycle does not have to go to the garbage heap where it will pollute our environment for decades to come.

 
05-14-06 Update

The papercrete blocks that I made and placed around some of the trees are doing great.  I am well pleased with them, and I fully intend to make quite a few more this summer.  They really look great around the plants and they do not cost much to make them.  I figured the entire cost to me for each block which measures 6 inches by 12 inches cost less than five cents. 
 
01-28-06 Update

It looks like we will be getting rain this afternoon, so this morning I decided to plant some of our potato crop.  I planted in potato cages like I have talked about *in past articles.  This seems to be one of the best ways to grow great potatoes. 

If the rain holds off, I will also be planting some radish seeds.  They go great in salads, and I like to eat them right out of the garden also.  This week, we harvested some of our cayenne peppers that grew right through the fall and winter.  We have an abundance of these seeds if anyone should want some of them.  **Just let Nita know. 
Soon it is going to be time to set out our first tomato plants of the spring season.  I already have some German tomato plants that are ready to set out in the garden.  I will set these out with a cover near them that I can place over them in case of any cold nights.  We have had such a warm winter this year that we still have some tomato plants left over from the fall planting that is producing fruit.  The pepper seeds are not up yet, but should be coming up within the next few days.  I will wait on these plants until it gets much warmer and the ground temperatures are 70 or above.  I am planting five different peppers this year.  Serrano, bell, ancho, cayenne, and jalapeno. 
*** The papercrete blocks I made last year are holding up really well. (The original instructions) The  update: I have had them out in the rain and weather all fall and winter, and they are still hard and in really good shape.  They do seem to make a good lining for flower or vegetable beds.  I plan on making quite a few more just as soon as the weather turns warmer and the sun is out more so they can dry properly.  As you can tell, I really do like them so far.
The hens have started laying again and it is good to get more eggs each day.  They went through their winter molt season and during that time we would only get a few eggs each day. 
That is all for now from this farm to your farm.
Happy gardening and God bless.
 
Byron