Fur and Feather

Weekend homesteading sure would be lonely without some fur and feather companionship. I've been a fan of bird watching since I was a kid in Shelton thanks to my mom. Striped sunflower only was the rule. Nothing but the best. Well since then I've become a family man and homeowner and the birds I feed are on the budget plan. Don't get me wrong, they still get plenty of sunflower seed but now its black oil seed mixed with econo seed and cracked corn to stretch it even further.

Ingredients

Reaching for whatever bucket is close by, and there's usually always one close by (being  homesteaders we're sorta bucket hoarders) in goes a couple of cups of sunflower seed, some econo mix, and some cracked corn.Dig in with my gloved hand and mix it up and wallah-done. I mention the gloved hand because bare handed sure is a cold wake up call after a night in the teens.

Toady's blend

By now the scouts have alerted the troops and the music is filling the morning air with high pitched pleasantries. And it's OK that the resident flock of sparrows anxiously await the feeder to be filled because the cardinals, nuthatches, blue jays, juncos and titmice get their fill to. Ah the bird feeder. Indeed. Always searching for the perfect squirrel proof feeder. It was easy for me. Nothing but the best for mom and l inherited hers from many years ago.

 I strongly recommend putting this feeder on your gift list.Other than having to replace the perch every 2-3 years it's been trouble free for many years. There are thumb nuts (?) that secure an adjustable counter weight.

Just loosen, slide the counter weight until the perfect balance is met between your generosity and enough is enough. I have it set to hold three or so songbirds before the gate starts to come down to block the flow. With the painted steel housing and a perfectly pitched roof the squirrels don't have a chance. The cardinals and blue jays have cleverly figured out that if they stay to the very edge of either side they too can indulge up high instead of being bottom feeders. I mean ground feeders. Sorry for throwin' shade on a couple of the most colorful back yard visitors.

Stay tuned for my next blog about the "fur" and their special place in my heart and garden.

Back for part two.
We always keep a couple of rabbits in the family as pets. currently we have Thor and  Maxine.

Thor

Maxine

Aside from keeping me company while in the yard doing chores these lil' guys provide a good dose of manure for the  gardens. With a nice ratio of N-2.4 P-1.4 K-.6 it  does wonders for the plants.

Anxiously Waiting to tap

Well after reviewing the extended forecasts and talking to a Connecticut sugaring expert I've decide to hold off tapping until late next week because of the expected warm overnight temperatures.



Holding off will give me some more time readying my supplies and maybe just maybe I'll even get to painting a couple of rooms in the house!

Previous years tap hole healing up

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Identifying via buds

2016 Tree Tapping starting in Connecticut

Crazy winter right? Winter 2016 certainly won't be tagged as typical, that's for sure. Same goes with the upcoming maple season. The above normal temperatures are leading us to start tapping earlier than "normal" this year.

I know of a few CT maple producers already tapping and Sam from Sam & Sons in Shelton already produced some syrup. Based on the 10 day forecast it looks to be favorable to get out there and start setting taps. Take a look at my links for some tips on tapping and producing some syrup for yourselves this season.

Welcome to Greg-the weekend homesteader blog

Welcome to my blog:  Greg-The Weekend Homesteader. I've always had a want, a need to connect to the way things use to be done. To turn the clock back to our grandparents days, or perhaps even further back, the days when we would grow a lot of our own food, and preserve our harvests. A lifestyle that puts me back in touch with the land. Away from the social media, the supermarkets, the rushing around lifestyle.

This blog invites you into my hybrid journey out of the passing lane and into the travel lane, the slower hands on approach. My way of incorporating  homesteading into todays lifestyle.

"You all come back now" while I share my weekend homesteading through the seasons. Next up-

Tapping trees!
Thanks

PS
I will be incorporating my previous blog pages into this Weekend Homesteading  blog!