This video was intended to show you another part of the organic hay making business, but we encountered a huge fire on the journey. Fortunately in the end, everyone was safe, the fire was put out and we delivered the hay without any problems. But it just goes to show, you never know what surprises you will encounter when delivering hay.
Enjoy this video and be sure to subscribe, comment, like & share.
Thanks for watching!
You can see more farm pictures on our instagram:
@sweetwaterdiaries
or visit:
www.oursweetwaterfarm.com
https://www.facebook.com/SWFarmerdiaries
Poshmark Page: @cannonbridge
Soundtrack:
Vagabond Trail - Constellate
https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/wYxYJ4dTku
Rolling in the Hay - Benjamin Carey
https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/GHbFpOc7N9
Hay Bales - Hunting for Sunsets
https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Q499zAoMZ9
Catching Fire - Lvly
https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/uCJRkXvex9
Editing Software:
Software Davinci Resolve (Beta)
Sunday, January 26, 2020
Friday, January 24, 2020
Starting Seeds - What Products Do You Need to Start Seedlings for your Garden? Some of our Favorite Seed Starting Products.
Ugh...Today is a grey snowy & rainy day here on the farm. You know the ones you get in January and February...they are no longer those idyllic holiday seasonal snow storms... now it is the mucky mood consuming dreary winter scene.
So in an attempt to keep my mood up, I started thinking about our Spring garden. I am so excited this year because we have had to put our garden on hold the past 3 years due to pregnancies, c-sections, & baby years. Now that O is getting older and likes to help me more, I think this year we will be able to start a small garden again. I really hope to be able to incorporate O in the process because he will love the science of it all.
This year we will probably keep it simple with a couple of barrels and hay bales to plant our garden. We use hay instead of straw because we make hay and well it works, cost effective and only needs a little more weeding than straw. In the past we had a massive green house, but we had to take it down when we moved over to this farm 6 years ago...bummer. One of our goals is to rebuild our green house again, but we really want to make sure we put it in the best location on the property. So we are holding off on building just yet.
I thought since I was planning our garden, I would share some of the items we like to use to start seedlings. We are currently testing some old heirloom seeds I bought around 4 years ago. We figure they could be our test batch and help us perfect our seed starting staging area. I am not sure if they will sprout because they are so old, but I like to give them a chance. I would hate to just chuck them out if they still have life in them.
Below I listed some of the products we are using now and some cheaper alternatives/ products I have seen recommended by others and would like to try some time. I have listed the links below too if you are interested or want to read the reviews. We definitely have had a successful garden in the past and have enjoyed trying different gardening methods, including in ground, raised beds, topsy turvy, and hay bale to name a few methods.
So here are just some of our product suggestions for starting your seeds and prepping for your wonderful garden. Hope you enjoy and be sure to check out our upcoming YouTube video where I talk more about some of these products and some of the plans for the upcoming growing season.
Let's start with Grow Lights: You really need good light to get those seeding strong and healthy before you transplant them into your garden. In past years we have used standard flourescent lights you can buy at any hardware store and they work fine. This year we decided to invest in grow lights after researching the benefits of grow lights for garden seedlings. I am also including a small grow light that I have to help my house plants get enough light in the winter. I am also including some more cost effective and starter light ideas that work really well.
1. Rozway Premium Grow lights - Great for house plants and just a few seeds. Our house is small and has very narrow window ledges. So I bought this light to help make sure my plants get enough light in the winter. I have had it for close to 4 months and it has helped so much in keeping my plants healthy during the winter. I will probably buy another one soon, so I can cover all my house plants. Plus I love that it low wattage (10W LED Bulb) so it doesn't run up the electrical bill. It has two adjustable lamps and a clamp so you can easily place it safely near your plants. It uses a light spectrum that is favorable to start seedlings and encourage growth. Again this is a smaller light, so it would only be good for a few house plants or a small tray of seedlings.
2.Plantation Products KLIGHT Ferry Morse Light for Seedlings & Cuttings - This Kit is a great starter light kit for small gardens or beginner gardeners. The bulb gives a full daylight spectrum and has a low output (energy saving). It claims to have 20% more light intensity than comparable fluorescent grow lights. It includes a 2ft fixture and stand and runs about 24 W. Definitely a great starter light for those who don't want to build their own.
3. Mars Hydro Reflector LED Grow Light - So we decided to try this Grow light this year after some research and a really good review from well know YouTube Channel - Epic Gardener. Now I only mention this light for those of you, who plan on big gardens/ green houses. This is a bit of an over kill for a small backyard garden. This particular light gives options for different types of natural sunlight. Include quiet fans, and a circuit board which allows for a longer life for the product. Based on the reviews, it should do the job for our vegetable garden. We will probably do a personal review after we have tried it on all our seedlings and let you know if it is a must buy or not worth it. I am still including it now, so you can do your own research and see if it is right for you.
Finally, just some bonus suggestions:
1. Vivosun Seedling Heat Mat with Digital Thermostat: Again having a heat mat with digital thermostat helps take the guess work out of creating the ideal environment for your seedlings. If you just don't have the time, the best indoor set up, or want to improve your success rate then this purchase is worth it. This particular brand is easy to set up and use. So you can get started right away.
2. Kinglake Reusable Plastic Garden Labels - This is one of those items you forget about until you are already starting your seeds. Seed labels. I always forget about this and I end up sticking tape on the box that gets smudged and I am playing guess work on where I need to plant the seedlings to get the best companion gardening set up. So I included these plant starter labels in this list so you don't make my mistake. This is one suggestion, but there are different sizes and shapes you can find that fits your set up best.
Hopefully, this list gives you some ideas on what you will need and gives you some options. I will keep you updated on our progress on our garden this year, including successes and failures. As I am prepping for seedlings, I am also thinking about what i will need for the actual garden. I might do some Topsy Turvy gardening again this year because Okra and tomatoes seem to love growing in them. Also, I need to go to my local garden center and find some good Neem oil to keep bugs away. I also will probably make some hot pepper spray & cinnamon spray to help with pests too. Ah...but that is for another blog. I hope you enjoyed and good luck with starting your garden!
DISCLAIMER: This blog contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support our farm, blog, and YouTube channel and allows us to continue to make blog content and videos like this. Thank you for the support!
So in an attempt to keep my mood up, I started thinking about our Spring garden. I am so excited this year because we have had to put our garden on hold the past 3 years due to pregnancies, c-sections, & baby years. Now that O is getting older and likes to help me more, I think this year we will be able to start a small garden again. I really hope to be able to incorporate O in the process because he will love the science of it all.
This year we will probably keep it simple with a couple of barrels and hay bales to plant our garden. We use hay instead of straw because we make hay and well it works, cost effective and only needs a little more weeding than straw. In the past we had a massive green house, but we had to take it down when we moved over to this farm 6 years ago...bummer. One of our goals is to rebuild our green house again, but we really want to make sure we put it in the best location on the property. So we are holding off on building just yet.
 |
| Our Old Green House |
I thought since I was planning our garden, I would share some of the items we like to use to start seedlings. We are currently testing some old heirloom seeds I bought around 4 years ago. We figure they could be our test batch and help us perfect our seed starting staging area. I am not sure if they will sprout because they are so old, but I like to give them a chance. I would hate to just chuck them out if they still have life in them.
Below I listed some of the products we are using now and some cheaper alternatives/ products I have seen recommended by others and would like to try some time. I have listed the links below too if you are interested or want to read the reviews. We definitely have had a successful garden in the past and have enjoyed trying different gardening methods, including in ground, raised beds, topsy turvy, and hay bale to name a few methods.
 |
| Our Old Garden |
So here are just some of our product suggestions for starting your seeds and prepping for your wonderful garden. Hope you enjoy and be sure to check out our upcoming YouTube video where I talk more about some of these products and some of the plans for the upcoming growing season.
Let's start with Grow Lights: You really need good light to get those seeding strong and healthy before you transplant them into your garden. In past years we have used standard flourescent lights you can buy at any hardware store and they work fine. This year we decided to invest in grow lights after researching the benefits of grow lights for garden seedlings. I am also including a small grow light that I have to help my house plants get enough light in the winter. I am also including some more cost effective and starter light ideas that work really well.
1. Rozway Premium Grow lights - Great for house plants and just a few seeds. Our house is small and has very narrow window ledges. So I bought this light to help make sure my plants get enough light in the winter. I have had it for close to 4 months and it has helped so much in keeping my plants healthy during the winter. I will probably buy another one soon, so I can cover all my house plants. Plus I love that it low wattage (10W LED Bulb) so it doesn't run up the electrical bill. It has two adjustable lamps and a clamp so you can easily place it safely near your plants. It uses a light spectrum that is favorable to start seedlings and encourage growth. Again this is a smaller light, so it would only be good for a few house plants or a small tray of seedlings.
2.Plantation Products KLIGHT Ferry Morse Light for Seedlings & Cuttings - This Kit is a great starter light kit for small gardens or beginner gardeners. The bulb gives a full daylight spectrum and has a low output (energy saving). It claims to have 20% more light intensity than comparable fluorescent grow lights. It includes a 2ft fixture and stand and runs about 24 W. Definitely a great starter light for those who don't want to build their own.
3. Mars Hydro Reflector LED Grow Light - So we decided to try this Grow light this year after some research and a really good review from well know YouTube Channel - Epic Gardener. Now I only mention this light for those of you, who plan on big gardens/ green houses. This is a bit of an over kill for a small backyard garden. This particular light gives options for different types of natural sunlight. Include quiet fans, and a circuit board which allows for a longer life for the product. Based on the reviews, it should do the job for our vegetable garden. We will probably do a personal review after we have tried it on all our seedlings and let you know if it is a must buy or not worth it. I am still including it now, so you can do your own research and see if it is right for you.
OK, now lets move on to seed starters.
1. Jiffy Mini Green House - There are lots of options, but we tend to just grab the Jiffy Green House kits. I like them because you can get a few uses out of the green house kits. Plus they are inexpensive. Below is a link to the smaller version, but if you click on it you can also find bigger capacity green house seed starter kits. They are really easy to use and we have a high success rate with this product. They include the starter fertilizer pellets and you can buy replacement pellets when you are ready to start a new batch of seeds.
2. Burpee 72 Cell Self Watering Seed Starter Kit - I am including this version of the seed starter kit because it is great for busy folks or those who have a less than green thumb. It is a self watering kit and takes the pressure off of making sure your seedlings are getting enough moisture. Again it is the same concept as the one above, but includes a wicking panel to help take the guess work out of watering. Of course the convenience comes with a bigger price tag though.
Finally, just some bonus suggestions:
1. Vivosun Seedling Heat Mat with Digital Thermostat: Again having a heat mat with digital thermostat helps take the guess work out of creating the ideal environment for your seedlings. If you just don't have the time, the best indoor set up, or want to improve your success rate then this purchase is worth it. This particular brand is easy to set up and use. So you can get started right away.
2. Kinglake Reusable Plastic Garden Labels - This is one of those items you forget about until you are already starting your seeds. Seed labels. I always forget about this and I end up sticking tape on the box that gets smudged and I am playing guess work on where I need to plant the seedlings to get the best companion gardening set up. So I included these plant starter labels in this list so you don't make my mistake. This is one suggestion, but there are different sizes and shapes you can find that fits your set up best.
Hopefully, this list gives you some ideas on what you will need and gives you some options. I will keep you updated on our progress on our garden this year, including successes and failures. As I am prepping for seedlings, I am also thinking about what i will need for the actual garden. I might do some Topsy Turvy gardening again this year because Okra and tomatoes seem to love growing in them. Also, I need to go to my local garden center and find some good Neem oil to keep bugs away. I also will probably make some hot pepper spray & cinnamon spray to help with pests too. Ah...but that is for another blog. I hope you enjoyed and good luck with starting your garden!
DISCLAIMER: This blog contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support our farm, blog, and YouTube channel and allows us to continue to make blog content and videos like this. Thank you for the support!
Monday, January 20, 2020
These are a Few of our Favorite Things - Best Items for Winter on the Farm (Cold weather Gift Ideas)
Today to get us started, I am going to begin this series with some products I mentioned in one of our YouTube videos (https://youtu.be/rVQlT-k57Ac). I will also be working on a bonus one this month that I am very excited about because it means warmer weather is on its way. Hopefully this week/weekend I will have a Favorite Gardening and Planting items list coming up, plus a YouTube video to accompany it. So without further ado, here are some of our favorite winter products for the farm and farm living (plus a few can be great for anyone in general). If you are interested in one of the items you can just click on the picture links* and it will direct you to the product. Hope you enjoy!
- Tiesta Tea - Fireberry: My New Favorite Tea for a Cold Day (Plus has elderberry to prevent colds). My lovely sister-in-law gave me a sample of this tea, Tiesta Tea - Fireberry, over Christmas and I just absolutely LOVE it. I just ordered some more along with a few other flavors. This tea has cranberries, hibiscus flowers, rooibos, and elderberries in it. All those ingredients can usually either be too bitter or too sweet in teas and syrups, but this tea is perfect balance of sweet and bitter. It is my favorite thing about the tea. They also have these great flavors & more too: Maui Mango Tea, Chocolate Ginger Tea, Lavender Chamomile, Blueberry Wild child...Click the picture link below to see the different varieties and quantities.
2. Tevana Perfectea Maker - Really Cool and Easy Way to Steep Loose Tea Leaves. They use a patented drain mechanism that strains the tea directly into your cup while keeping the loose leaves in the tea maker. It is so easy to use and clean. I just dump the used leaves into my chicken feed container and give them to the chickens when I am done. I love the tea. They love the tea. It is definitely a win-win on the farm with this little item. Click the picture link below to learn more about this item.
3. Odear Super Bright Torch Rechargeable LED Flash Light - We have had ours for years and it still works. We have used it to check on farm livestock and check for unwanted critters at night. It has a very long distance about 2600 feet. Plus it has two ways to charge it (USB & Standard plug). Seriously, I have dropped it, knocked it, got it soaking wet, cold, hot, etc and this flashlight is still going strong after years and years of regular use. Highly recommend. Click the picture link below to learn more about this item.
4. Nite Guard Solar Predator Control Light: This little blinking red light can be attached to a tree or fence post and scares away night predators from your livestock. We put one outside our Chicken Coop to keep foxes, skunks, racoons etc away. We actually have some by our entrance gate and it makes people think twice about entering without permission too. It is solar powered and we honestly have had one for 5 years that still works great. We now have about 6 posted all around the farm and livestock pens. It seems to help keep curious night predators away. Highly Recommend. (You can see how it works on this YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/rVQlT-k57Ac ) Click the picture link below to learn more about this item.
5. Farm Innovators Cold Weather Thermo Cube: Great For Winter in order to keep heat lights on only when it is cold. Plugs into a standard outlet and turns power on automatically based on the ambient air temperature. When the temperature drops below 35 degrees (F) it turns on automatically and when it rises about 45 degrees (F) it shuts off automatically. Great to help save money and power use for home and farm. We have at least 6 of these around the farm and house and they are awesome! Click the picture link below to learn more about this item.
If you haven't already signed up for Amazon Prime, I highly recommend it if you find yourself ordering lots of products. You can find most of your products for free two day shipping...and we usually get our items just that quickly even out in the country. My farmer and country folks can appreciate the benefits of having items shipped to us quickly because we know that a trip to town can eat up our entire day (half of the time is just driving to and from town). I am putting a link to sign up for free Amazon Prime trial below:
*Disclosure: Please be aware that some of the links in this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. Keep in mind that we link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission we receive from your purchases. These are all products that we have used, tested and love on the farm. We only share products that we like and use. Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!
Sunday, January 19, 2020
How a Barn Cat Saved Me - Story Time
This is a story time about how a sassy little barn cat showed up on the farm right when I needed her and saved me. This is a story about loss and grief and how sometimes we find healing in the most unexpected ways. Thanks for listening and letting me share this story with you. If you know someone who might need to hear it, please feel free to share it with them. Sometimes sharing these moments helps us heal.
Thanks for watching!
You can see more farm pictures on our instagram:
@sweetwaterdiaries
or visit:
www.oursweetwaterfarm.com
https://www.facebook.com/SWFarmerdiaries
Poshmark Page: @cannonbridge
Editing Software:
Software Davinci Resolve (Beta)
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Baby Goat Update: Fall/Winter Babies At Play
We are almost done with our Fall/Winter kidding (baby goat) season. So we thought you would enjoy a video of the 15+ babies (goats and a few lambs too) doing what they do best - exploring and playing. Enjoy this video and be sure to subscribe, comment, like & share.
Thanks for watching!
You can see more farm pictures on our instagram: @sweetwaterdiaries
or visit: www.oursweetwaterfarm.com https://www.facebook.com/SWFarmerdiaries
Soundtrack: Girls & Boys Come Out to Play (Toys Edition) - Dag Anderson https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/YHfi1xbQqp Play Cabin - Andreas Ericson https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/58TyE2Usqr Come Out and Play - Plain Strolls https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/fw6o95Yg6s Let's Play - Isola James https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/2BSMVwbiBD Editing Software: Software Davinci Resolve (Beta)
Thanks for watching!
You can see more farm pictures on our instagram: @sweetwaterdiaries
or visit: www.oursweetwaterfarm.com https://www.facebook.com/SWFarmerdiaries
Soundtrack: Girls & Boys Come Out to Play (Toys Edition) - Dag Anderson https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/YHfi1xbQqp Play Cabin - Andreas Ericson https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/58TyE2Usqr Come Out and Play - Plain Strolls https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/fw6o95Yg6s Let's Play - Isola James https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/2BSMVwbiBD Editing Software: Software Davinci Resolve (Beta)
Sunday, January 5, 2020
Goat Pregnancy Check: Walk & Talk with Me
It is the season for our second kidding (baby goats being born) and I need to check on my pregnant mamas and separate them from the rest of the herd. In this video I will talk about how I check and separate my mamas to be, why I separate them, and how I prep for upcoming pregnancies. I hope you enjoy this goat & sheep video. Plus stick around until the end for a sneak peak of babies goats that will be in my next video.
Thanks for watching!
You can see more farm pictures on our instagram:
@sweetwaterdiaries
or visit:
www.oursweetwaterfarm.com
https://www.facebook.com/SWFarmerdiaries
Soundtrack:
Honor Your Mother - Isabelle Walton https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/3yLyN5agtj
Mother Earth - Alek Bluntz https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/4LTurOFHea
Mother - The Big Let Down feat. Divity https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/gOwIJYJKW0
Editing Software: Software Davinci Resolve (Beta)
Soundtrack:
Honor Your Mother - Isabelle Walton https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/3yLyN5agtj
Mother Earth - Alek Bluntz https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/4LTurOFHea
Mother - The Big Let Down feat. Divity https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/gOwIJYJKW0
Editing Software: Software Davinci Resolve (Beta)
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
Baby Goats - What Better Way to Start the New Year than Watching Them Play. Happy New Year & Enjoy!
As we start the New Year, we wanted to start you off on a happy note. So please enjoy our silly and sweet baby goats playing. Wishing you and yours the best 2020 with happiness, heath, prosperity, and lots of love. Enjoy the video and be sure to subscribe, share, like, and comment below.
Thanks for watching!
You can see more farm pictures on our instagram: @sweetwaterdiaries
or visit:
www.oursweetwaterfarm.com
https://www.facebook.com/SWFarmerdiaries
Poshmark Page: @cannonbridge
Soundtrack:
Jump, Jive, Roar - Jules Gaia https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/y8K4QRcIKz
Cheese Holes - Mike Franklyn https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Vxvyn6em9Y
No Big Deal - Mike Franklyn https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Vte2RMV2YM
Editing Software: Software Davinci Resolve (Beta)
You can see more farm pictures on our instagram: @sweetwaterdiaries
or visit:
www.oursweetwaterfarm.com
https://www.facebook.com/SWFarmerdiaries
Poshmark Page: @cannonbridge
Soundtrack:
Jump, Jive, Roar - Jules Gaia https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/y8K4QRcIKz
Cheese Holes - Mike Franklyn https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Vxvyn6em9Y
No Big Deal - Mike Franklyn https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Vte2RMV2YM
Editing Software: Software Davinci Resolve (Beta)
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