ChiefD
Footballguy
Since I'm not running at the moment, may as well give you all a Wisconsin update now that we have been here a year and a half.
1. Oldest son is in his second year of college. He has been sharing varsity kicking duties with another kicker. The #1 kicker caught Covid and hasn't been able to play the last 3 weeks, and won't be able to this weekend. It has really affected the poor kid, so Covid is still out there and causing damage. My son was elevated to varsity and he's been handling kickoffs. The other kicker is handling the extra points and field goals. This is one of the things I love about his head coach is that he provides opportunities for the kids so they can contribute. My son's job to angle his kicks to the sideline to try and pin the other team back. He has had some tremendous results, a few so-so kicks, and a few in between. He also made the Dean's List last year as a freshman.
2. 2nd son's hockey team won state last year. My son was shafted by the coach unfortunately. Pretty much the new guys syndrome, especially in a small town. He isn't playing hockey this year. BUT - he only needs 3 hours to graduate high school this year, so Wisconsin has a program where you can remote school and then work. So he has been apprenticing with an electrician since summer and he's making good money and thinking about his future. So he is all good with things. Catching a bunch of walleye and he's gotten a muskie this year, so all is alright in his world.
3. Daughter has been in the theater program at school and immediately has a group of friends. So much so she was named Outstanding Freshman of the drama department at school last year. Which is saying something since she was new in town. Has been working at a local bar/restaurant since last year and has saved up a ton of cash. The place has also welcomed her and the employees treat her like one of their children. So we are very comfortable with her being there.
4. As for us, we are meeting people and just now really starting to get comfortable. Last year was a hard year. Selling the house, moving, starting a new job, kids in a new school....and all that comes with that. My wife has really adjusted to the weather - we went out a lot last winter and enjoyed our property, the snow, ice skating on frozen lakes, etc. This year we are going to grab some snowshoes and try those out. The lifestyle here has been so rewarding from a peace of mind perspective. It's quiet. Little traffic. Wildlife. The people are so kind. There isn't that bitterness and "edge" that comes with living in a city.
Now that all that is out of the way, here is what you all are really here for: The Farm and Land Report!! So, I have two garden spaces:
1. Garden 1: was here when we moved in. About 20' x 20'. Located right next to the woods (makes a ton of sense). So it gets about 4 hours of sunlight a day. There are two apple trees in there, and they are late producers. So the apples are just now about right to pick. So we have gotten probably 75 apples off of those. There are still about 2 dozen still left to pick. So they have been awesome.
I also have asparagus in that space, and I planted a bunch more this year. Some will be ready next year and some the year after. I will add another batch of planting next year. Asparagus does well here, so this space will be for the two apple trees, asparagus, strawberries, and maybe cucumber. I planted cucumber and squash and zucchini this year, but I may move them next year. The thing is, the cucumber produced about 2 cucumbers a week, so that is about the right amount for how we consume them. Still thinking about this. I have all winter to think.
2. Garden 2: we put this in this year. 20' x 20'. This one is behind the shop in full sun all day. We put a fence that has 3' of chicken wire on the bottom, with 4' of wire fencing above that. So basically 7' of protection from rabbits and deer. This garden had sweet corn, tomatoes, green beans, and green peppers. This garden did FANTASTIC. Due to the cool weather at night, we had almost 4 weeks of sweet corn available once it started to ripen. We ate like kings once everything started to go. At this point I have frozen the following:
Green beans: approximately 15 bags for meals (one last bunch ready for processing)
Mixed veggies: green beans and carrots - approximately 15 bags for meals
Mixed veggies: green beans, carrots, corn - approximately 10 bags for meals
Diced tomatoes: 1 qt bags to add to soups, etc... - approximately 10 bags
Diced tomatoes/basil: for spaghetti sauce - approximately 5 gallon bags (more to come as I have a couple dozen tomatoes needing processing)
Grammas sweet corn: a recipe our family has used for 3 generations - 3 large gallon bags
Sweet corn: quart bags for soups, etc....aboot 5 bags
Apples: 1 gallon bag prepped for apple pie (more to process)
Finally had a hard freeze this week so the garden is done for this year. Picked everything left so I have tables in my shop with fresh fruit and produce on them ready for processing.
We are going to expand this garden with an additional 10' x 20' space. Ground prep starts now.
Anyway, that's about it for now. Been doing a lot of forest work lately - cleaning up the downfall and making piles near the edges of the woods so we can easily grab wood for bonfires this winter.
Enjoy your running and post some dang decent race reports once in awhile!
1. Oldest son is in his second year of college. He has been sharing varsity kicking duties with another kicker. The #1 kicker caught Covid and hasn't been able to play the last 3 weeks, and won't be able to this weekend. It has really affected the poor kid, so Covid is still out there and causing damage. My son was elevated to varsity and he's been handling kickoffs. The other kicker is handling the extra points and field goals. This is one of the things I love about his head coach is that he provides opportunities for the kids so they can contribute. My son's job to angle his kicks to the sideline to try and pin the other team back. He has had some tremendous results, a few so-so kicks, and a few in between. He also made the Dean's List last year as a freshman.
2. 2nd son's hockey team won state last year. My son was shafted by the coach unfortunately. Pretty much the new guys syndrome, especially in a small town. He isn't playing hockey this year. BUT - he only needs 3 hours to graduate high school this year, so Wisconsin has a program where you can remote school and then work. So he has been apprenticing with an electrician since summer and he's making good money and thinking about his future. So he is all good with things. Catching a bunch of walleye and he's gotten a muskie this year, so all is alright in his world.
3. Daughter has been in the theater program at school and immediately has a group of friends. So much so she was named Outstanding Freshman of the drama department at school last year. Which is saying something since she was new in town. Has been working at a local bar/restaurant since last year and has saved up a ton of cash. The place has also welcomed her and the employees treat her like one of their children. So we are very comfortable with her being there.
4. As for us, we are meeting people and just now really starting to get comfortable. Last year was a hard year. Selling the house, moving, starting a new job, kids in a new school....and all that comes with that. My wife has really adjusted to the weather - we went out a lot last winter and enjoyed our property, the snow, ice skating on frozen lakes, etc. This year we are going to grab some snowshoes and try those out. The lifestyle here has been so rewarding from a peace of mind perspective. It's quiet. Little traffic. Wildlife. The people are so kind. There isn't that bitterness and "edge" that comes with living in a city.
Now that all that is out of the way, here is what you all are really here for: The Farm and Land Report!! So, I have two garden spaces:
1. Garden 1: was here when we moved in. About 20' x 20'. Located right next to the woods (makes a ton of sense). So it gets about 4 hours of sunlight a day. There are two apple trees in there, and they are late producers. So the apples are just now about right to pick. So we have gotten probably 75 apples off of those. There are still about 2 dozen still left to pick. So they have been awesome.
I also have asparagus in that space, and I planted a bunch more this year. Some will be ready next year and some the year after. I will add another batch of planting next year. Asparagus does well here, so this space will be for the two apple trees, asparagus, strawberries, and maybe cucumber. I planted cucumber and squash and zucchini this year, but I may move them next year. The thing is, the cucumber produced about 2 cucumbers a week, so that is about the right amount for how we consume them. Still thinking about this. I have all winter to think.
2. Garden 2: we put this in this year. 20' x 20'. This one is behind the shop in full sun all day. We put a fence that has 3' of chicken wire on the bottom, with 4' of wire fencing above that. So basically 7' of protection from rabbits and deer. This garden had sweet corn, tomatoes, green beans, and green peppers. This garden did FANTASTIC. Due to the cool weather at night, we had almost 4 weeks of sweet corn available once it started to ripen. We ate like kings once everything started to go. At this point I have frozen the following:
Green beans: approximately 15 bags for meals (one last bunch ready for processing)
Mixed veggies: green beans and carrots - approximately 15 bags for meals
Mixed veggies: green beans, carrots, corn - approximately 10 bags for meals
Diced tomatoes: 1 qt bags to add to soups, etc... - approximately 10 bags
Diced tomatoes/basil: for spaghetti sauce - approximately 5 gallon bags (more to come as I have a couple dozen tomatoes needing processing)
Grammas sweet corn: a recipe our family has used for 3 generations - 3 large gallon bags
Sweet corn: quart bags for soups, etc....aboot 5 bags
Apples: 1 gallon bag prepped for apple pie (more to process)
Finally had a hard freeze this week so the garden is done for this year. Picked everything left so I have tables in my shop with fresh fruit and produce on them ready for processing.
We are going to expand this garden with an additional 10' x 20' space. Ground prep starts now.
Anyway, that's about it for now. Been doing a lot of forest work lately - cleaning up the downfall and making piles near the edges of the woods so we can easily grab wood for bonfires this winter.
Enjoy your running and post some dang decent race reports once in awhile!
