Yeap we officially have a homestead now that we have both a large garden and chickens! And today we have spent alot of time between these two things.  I had planned and mentioned that I would do gardening updates on Sundays but I wanted to get all the numbers on paper while I can remember.

Lily’s chickens are now four weeks old; they will need to remain inside for at least 2 more weeks. Today, as we have feared one of the chickens escaped from the brooder box.  It was likely my fault as I was getting an Amazon package out of the closet to use in the garden and the screen was knocked down and out came the rooster.  Oh yes by the way we have confirmed that we indeed do have a rooster.  This was the first chicken she picked so it is here to stay until it attacks.  We were able to find a taller cardboard box and transferred the chickens. This was only possible as we are turning off the light today for good.  Rugar got into the excitement as well but all is well that ends well at least for now.

Now on to the garden update!   I decided that because it is only 70 days until our beach trip we needed to get  the garden planted. I will wait 2 weeks to plant/ replant to help avoid a big harvest the week we are gone.
Snap Peas-   50 planted in front bed, only 26 seeds germinated and they are finally tall enough to reach the trellis.
Tomatoes- We moved 34 to the greenhouse and transplanted 32 today into several different spots.  Most of these plants are very small but I am hopefully that we get some tomatoes’ this year.
Green Peppers- After a second planting and removal of the heat lamp we moved  21 pepper plants to the greenhouse.  Today we transplanted 16 plants.  These again are very small but if we can get 2 peppers per plant I will be happy. I purchased 4 green pepper and 3 banana pepper plants this week from a farmstand.  I want tons of peppers this summer.
Squash- I have lost a packet of yellow squash seeds. Instead of attempting to purchas another packet, I purchased 6 plants for $1.75 from the farmstand. I broke the roots of one plant so I am hoping to have 5 yellow squash plants. Which will be an abundance of squash.
Zucchini- We have used all of the zucchini that was frozen.  So I planted 8 zucchini seeds today. I am hoping to go big with Zucchini this year!
Cucumber- I purchased 6 plants to count as my stagger planting.  I also planted around 20 seeds today. I am not sure of the exact number but if they have not germinated in 2 weeks I will be purchasing more plant starts.
Green Beans- I have planted an entire package of bush commander beans and blue lake green beans. I am planning to plant the same amount in 2 weeks.  I would love to have enough beans to freeze this year.
Basil- an entire packet planted in the green stock. This is another thing that I will be replanting in 2 weeks if they do not germinate. I grew no Basil last year so I have to get something going this year.

In other purchase I did purchase sage, thyme and oregeno. And several different types of flowers. I have plant marigolds around the tomatoes with the rest in the greenstock vertical planter.

Money Spent
Lowes      $52
Farmstand  $42 including a gallon of strawberries
Nursey- $15
Total $105