Independence Days Challenge: Week Ten

Well, we will call it Week Ten just for the sake of continuity, but I have missed I don't know how many! This will just be a catch up post and then I will be back into it properly next week.

Spring has sprung here in Australia, although it is still cold and rainy here. I have been continuing the garden weeding and am nearly there, finally. I can see the end in sight. All the enormous weeds are almost gone and then it will be maintenance only. 

On Tuesday, we finally burnt those giant stacks from the removal of the cypress pines. My goodness, they were huge! I had friends texting me, saying they were just driving by and couldn't miss the massive flames!

And this is what they look like now! As my daughter said, it has to look worse before it will look better!
It will be wonderful to be able to build the new fences so I can finally start planting in the back section - with no sheep to worry about.

The first chicks hatched last Friday. Boy, do I just adore little chicks! It is always exciting and I never get tired of watching them. Whirlwind just planted himself on the grass in front of their pen and watched them for ages.

 Whirlwind was also happy that I had chosen the 'nice' broody to hatch them. She is a lovely girl - the only hen I have who won't peck of you try to pat her while she is sitting. 
I cannot wait to see what colours these little cuties turn out to be, as they are cross breds. I love a chick lucky dip!

The garden is coming along slowly. I planted some more rhubarb and asparagus crowns over winter.

 I have even seen a few very thin asparagus spears appearing.

The peas have been moping along very lethargically in the cold, but are now starting to perk up and put on some growth.

 This is my $35 purchase from eBay. I probably wouldn't trust it with too much weight, but it is perfect for getting some seeds started.

I would love a real glasshouse - maybe one day when I have shown that I can grow lots and it is worth it.

I missed the best of the daffodils as I was inside sick for so long. These are some the remaining ones. I just noticed today that the tulips are just starting to peek some colour out through the green buds.

My chooks are doing a wonderful job. They are making me some lovely compost in their compost area.

I started selling excess eggs, just to friends, again in August. 
I have been keeping records and for the month of August I even made a teeny tiny profit, just comparing feed cost to eggs sales. 

Here are the figures:
Eggs laid was 368
Eggs sold was 168 for $80.00
Food cost was $62.40

But the most eggs I had in one day in August was 14. It is only 4 days into September and I have already had one day of 17 eggs and one of 18 eggs. So I may be able to sell another dozen or two a week to boost those figures.
It is so satisfying, selling something you have produced yourself. Now I just have to convince hubby that it can work!

I have been working on some little labels to stick on egg cartons. I would love to hear which one you like the best!

And I would also add this label.

What do you think?

I am not sure that our property is the right place to be. See below, my crazy blue lines on that land behind our block - it has all been sold to a developer, 35 acres. I definitely do not want my view up the hill to be of little boxes on the hillside. Let's hope it doesn't go ahead. Plus I have always wanted more space around me - I prefer not being on a highway and being so close to neighbours. But then the highway is perfect for a produce stand. Too hard to make a decision!

Recently my mum and dad gave me a fabulous birthday present. I am now signed up to the Ancient Moon Gardening Super Almanac, which provides a PDF of a detailed day-by-day moon planting and other garden activities guide. It is wonderful - and the author lives on pretty much the same latitude as me, so I don't have to alter the guides for a different climate zone. 

You can sign up for a free monthly newsletter at the website here. This gives you the monthly guide in one page. Kerry has been wonderful; I even asked her advice about which moon phase to set eggs for hatching. Apparently chicks born in a waxing phase, particularly a fertile waxing phase, would be healthier and more vigorous. 
It is well worth having a look at the website. I think it is great to have a set plan to follow of when to plant, fertilise, prune, etc. 

I hope all your gardens are growing well, although in the US and UK, you will all be preparing to batten down the hatches for winter soon. I am looking forward to some warmer spring weather and some serious gardening time.