Garden Update

Last weekend I planted some green beans and sugar snap peas in my garden. I did this for three reasons: one - green beans and sugar snap peas are delicious; two - the beans I planted in my cold box were of good size and the roots were growing out of the bottom; and three - because I was getting my bees in a couple of days (which I will report on later) and I wanted the beans all set up before they came in.



I wanted the bean poles to act as a barrier which the bees would need to fly over, and stay out of "people space" when they head off for pollen, nectar, and water.



I used hay from the chicken coop as mulch, and fertilized them with Espoma's "Plant-Tone" as I planted them.

I also planted squash in the middle as a "three-sisters" kind of thing (without the corn)...though you can't see them in this picture since they're in the bed in the background.

Bottom Board Conversion

Screened bottom boards allow varroa mites and hive beetles. Two of the hives I got (Duke and miles) don't have screened bottom boards.



It was really easy to convert my bottom boards using #8 hardware cloth (1/8" squares). I started by using the saber saw to cutout an opening in the board.



Then used string and nails to the underside of the bottom board to make a "cradle" to hold a piece of corrugated plastic which is useful in evaluating varroa mite infestation of the hive.





Then simply used the staple gun to put the hardware cloth to the upside of the bottom board.



bata-boom-bata-bing...integrated pest management.



Once I got this done, I set up miles and herbie on cinder blocks so they're a little bit higher.



And got duke all set up at my dad's house.



I think the bees are gonna be happy there.

An Introduction

This blog documents my experiences in urban homesteading at my home in mid-town Columbia, SC.


Here is my my backyard, which is my gardening site, apiary, and spot for chicken keeping.



I've set up a chicken coop which resides in the bamboo thicket in the Northeastern corner of my property



This coop houses 3 Black Australorp chickens. When I originally stocked the coop, I purchased 2 Rhode Island Reds and one Black Sex Link. These guys turned out to be very noisy which made me concerned about complaints from the neighbors. I traded them for some Black Australorp (much quieter breed) pullets which belonged to my mother. They produce on average 15 medium-large eggs per week.



I will also begin beekeeping this spring. I have 3 8-frame Langstroth hives which will receive their colonies in late March. Here they are after a (very rare) snow storm



These hives will be named Duke, Miles, and Herbie. Duke will be kept at my father's house in uptown Columbia.

Last week, I tilled a 10'x14' spot for a garden.



The garden may be expanded depending on how well it does.

I separated it into 6 raised beds; planted bibb lettuce, radishes, and spinach; and covered the rest till I'm ready to plant it.