Well I've finally gotten rid of all the bad for one reason or another eggs. My geese haven't resumed laying yet but the ducks have. I'm down to only 3 duck hens now (2 Rouen & 1 Runner) but production is pretty good. I'm bring in 2 or 3 fresh eggs daily and writing the harvest date in pencil on each. If I continue bringing in only 2 a day I'll have a dozen in 6 days or 14 per week. A day or two with 3 would give me 12 to sell plus 3 or 4 farm fresh weekly for my own use which is just about plenty.
I've located a couple of people with hens for sale but both are so far away that going to fetch them would be a more or less day's ride round trip. I'll keep looking for someone closer.
My tomato plants are doing poorly to swimmingly depending on location and variety. As was welcome so last year my volunteer cherry and grape in the North East corner are standing tall and covered in blossoms. My Roma in the front yard (East bed) have fruits about as long as and slightly thicker than my thumb. I've also got beefsteak and some other type I can't recall that are in the South bed that are seeming to struggle.
Some of my chili pepper plants are flowering and/or putting on fruits as well.
Having struggled through the Great Depression none of my grandparents it seems ever threw anything away if there was any chance it may find some later use. I remember both my Grandmothers "putting up" fruits, veg, jellies & preserves. Putting up is a Southern term for canning in Mason jars, salting, smoking or drying for the Winter. I'll have to check with my Mom to see if she still has her Mom's old canning pot, any jars, etc and time to show me how to do it right. I know I could read any of 10,000 or more books or magazine on online articles on how to but nothing beats hands on tutoring. Up at my Dad's parents' place I remember Maw Clara taking these hard ass bitter mealy apples from the orchard and drying them between 2 screens she put in the windowsill to dry in the Sun. Those barely fit to eat raw apples with her love added made the best apple pie I ever put in my mouth.
I'm guardedly optimistic re: the maters and peppers making enough to put up a few jars of plain diced maters, marinara sauce and some salsa; mild, medium, hot and nuclear!
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