Homestead mailing list

[Gloria M <gloriamorris59 AT gmail.com>]

I've been around the homestead list for many, many years. But mostly I
lurk. From time to time I post, but probably a couple of times per year on
average. And I bet I go several years sometimes between posts.

I live in Central Illinois - not a great many miles from Marie McHarry,
another member here. Hi, Marie!!

I'm on 2.5 acres. I love gardening (Master Gardener with lapsed
certification), have some chickens, and raise various fruits, including the
blueberries. Other fruits we have: cherries, raspberries, highbush
cranberries, elderberries, strawberries. I used to have goats, but sold
them when I took a new job that was taking up a vast amount of time -
meaning milking was not possible. Eventually I would like to have dairy
production again. I also have horses, but I don't count those as
homesteading - they are very large pets that produce compost material. :)

We are not self-sufficient. I do not earn a living off the homestead (hence
the job). But I enjoy homesteading activities and raising some of our food.
So we are more homesteading-lite.

I also like canning, making yogurt and soft cheeses (that sort of fun is on
hold while we are goat-less), fiber arts (spinning, knitting, crochet,
weaving), and tackling various DIY projects around the house and property
(running a water line to the barn, building a milking stand, etc.). At one
point I raised sheep, and I may again. I also kept bees, but have not for
some years - my significant other is extremely allergic to bee stings.

Right now I am up to my elbows in house fix-its. We are trying to get the
house ready to sell so that we can move closer to my job. Once we move, I
will have more free time and can once again consider dairy (and possibly
sheep).

I give the blueberries a sulfur based soil acidifier once per year. I also
give them some compost in addition. The sulfur is not OMRI listed, but I
can't afford to do everything 100% organic. What I strive for is to use
things that are either organic or at least not BAD. I avoid insecticides. I
avoid herbicides (other than vinegar - I did some early research with
vinegar as an herbicide and wrote up my findings on an organic list).

Where I live now is sand - like sand-dune sand. I used to live on clay. Not
sure what is next for me to garden. :)

Gloria

On Mon, Jun 18, 2012 at 7:50 PM, Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com> wrote:

>
> On Jun 17, 2012, at 3:58 PM, Gloria M wrote:
>
> > I'm not Lisa, but I'm here (lurk infrequently to see if anyone posted
> > anything). I raise blueberries - have for several years and am getting
> > fruit now. I have mine planted where they get half day sun and they seem
> > pretty happy. I amended the soil with peat at planting and added
> acidifier
> > even though my soil is on the acid side. So far, so good. I'd be happy to
> > try to help you figure out what's wrong if you'd like.
> >
> Hi, Gloria M. How long have you been here? Sorry if I should remember you.
> Please remind, or tell us where you are and what you do in the homestead
> realm.
>
> What and how often do you feed your blueberries?
>
> Gene
>
> >
> > On Sun, Jun 17, 2012 at 2:52 PM, Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>
> wrote:
> >
> >> Lisa Perry, you still here?
> >>
> >> With substantially-home-produced goodies, we just consumed a fine meal.
> >> For accoustical ambience I selected Scott's album, 8 Miles to
> Perryville.
> >> Which of course reminded me of you. Which reminded me of your
> substantial
> >> blueberry experience. I am very close to throwing up my hands and
> admitting
> >> apple and blueberry production failure, due partly to more items on my
> menu
> >> than time to enjoy them--the inevitable time challenges, the
> environmental
> >> conditions here in this part of the Ozarks, and the knowledge that we
> can
> >> buy good, organically grown fruit at somewhat reasonable prices.
> >>
> >> As I move through geezerhoodism, I am more and more skeptical of the
> >> proclamations of food producers. So, yeah, I ever more prefer to grow my
> >> own.
> >>
> >> We have thus far this year gorged on strawberries, cherries, and now
> >> boysenberries. The blue fruit did not make it. But before I give up on
> >> blueberries, I solicit you advice.
> >>
> >> Gene GeRue
> >> www.ruralize.com
> >>
> >>
> >>
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