About a week ago, son David called and said there were free swamp mats, stacked in a yard, leftover from when, during a COVID layoff, he had worked as a skidder operator on the pipeline near Floodwood, Minnesota. These pads are for heavy equipment to run on over possibly soft ground, so they don’t get stuck or damage the soil. They are about 18-feet long, composed of 8×8-inch timbers, bolted together about 4 feet in width. Some folks use them for firewood or even building projects.
As Floodwood is only about 86 miles from us, Will called a friend who is an independent semi-driver to ask if he could haul some home for us and if he was interested. That was a “yes-yes” and he’s going to go get them tomorrow. Today, Will and I drove down there to scope out the situation and were very happy with the results. There were literally acres of piles of swamp mats, maybe 10 feet high. All the way home, we talked about ideas of how to use some of them for other than firewood. We can possibly use them for solid walls for Will’s cow run-in shed he’s building off the cow yard, even, with some pressure washing, saw some up on our bandsaw mill for other projects. The not-so-hot ones, of course, can be firewood for Drew and us. We’re pretty excited to see them home tomorrow! It’s so cool when something like this comes up. Free is wonderful. Of course we’ll be paying for the trucking, but, still, what a wonderful opportunity!
Otherwise, we’re filling seed orders as spring gets closer and closer. (Closer for some folks than us, but closer, anyway!) I’m mapping out our gardens for this year. As we don’t have time to start onions this year, we got together with friends, Sherri and Dara, plus the folks at the Nett Lake Reservation, to make a group order of onion plants from Dixondale Farms in Texas. We’ve bought plants from them for two years now, and a long time ago, when I did market gardening, I bought cases from them. The more you buy, the cheaper the bunches are, so we always try to order with friends.
With our warmer weather, we’re sure thinking of spring! — Jackie
It seems every clove of garlic I planted last fall “popped up” during our unwelcome climate change weather. It was windy today and will be tomorrow. We’ll get some straw on them after that as the weather is going back to what should be normal.
I too am being patient – I see the weeds I didn’t get pulled in the perennial beds (planting is at least 2 months away). We got some rain which is needed as we’re under our normal snowfall (welcome to climate change).
Tuesday is spay day for the kittens – established cat continues to make a bit of progress re: kittens aren’t prey. Kittens are getting bigger and tonight was keeping them from bothering established cat. Needless to say, I have been getting my exercise.
I’ll bet you are getting plenty of exercise chasing those new kittens around! We’re having warm weather, which is melting a lot of the slick ice in the driveway around the house. I’ve been so careful not to fall!
I got my first bulbs today! From Breck’s. Don’t they realize I can’t even get a shovel in the ground until May??? Duh.
Jackie, Each time you post I see it among all my unopened emails, and I skip everything to go to yours, because no matter what you write, I see it as good news; no matter what (no pressure!), it will be positive to me! It’s actually a relief among all the scams, unsolicited emails, unsubscribed to emails, etc, etc, etc
Boy, I hear you about all the unsolicited emails and scams. I’ll bet I also get about five scam phone calls, trying to get me to “re-finance” or “consolidate my bills” or “get a personal loan”. Holy cow! I can’t block them as they’re cagey and use different numbers each time. I’m so sick of it!!
Wow! What a find David got you! Plus a neighbor with a semi! My pepper s are finally sprouting- wood stove and your Excellent advice. Be moving them to the greenhouse to join the onions. Today is so spring like,daffodil burst open. Snow forecasted for this week though. Hard to stay outa the garden on days like this. Experience has taught Patience. Stay warm and healthy in your winter days area
Yep, homesteaders sure need patience for sure! And judgement. When it’s so beautiful out, you start thinking “planting”. But it’s a fool’s spring and more winter is in store. I hope your daffodils don’t get mashed by spring snow. That’s happened to me and I was so sad.
Dear Jackie, I’m so tickled about your swamp mats. I love to recycle things that people throw away. I am making quilts from scrap cloth this year. Yes, it is like manna from heaven. I can’t wait for the spring onions to come in to eat. LOL I don’t plant anymore, just flowers in flower boxes on the porch. But we have lots of Amish farms nearby that sell produce and real cheap. Honestly, I can buy produce from them cheaper than I could plant and work a garden (if I were younger). I’m so thankful for these folks and its always “manna” from heaven that you appreciate the most. I had resigned myself that I would have to eat grocery store produce in my old age; but then we moved out to the country and realized we were next to Amish farms. Such a wonderful surprise and such a blessing.
It’s so nice you have Amish neighbors who sell produce reasonably. A long time ago, Grandma and Mom would drive out in the country where local produce farmers’ trucks lined the road, selling large amounts of produce very cheaply. They would stock up and can like crazy.
Dixondale is the best!
Wow! What a great deal on the swamp mats. I never knew that’s what they were called. They must be pretty beefy if they are 8×8’s! What kind of mill do you have?
We have a Hudson mill and we love it. Some of those mats are 8″x12″ even! We were impressed!!
I have gotten my onion plants from Dixondale for a number of years with good results. Any advice on disease resistant short season tomatoes. Last year my Subarctic 25’s and I think the Siberia plants had the leaves turn yellow and dry up half was thru the season. The tomatoes that were set ripened ok. I just can’t replace my growing media (dirt) and I have a. Gravel floor so disinfecting it is iffy.
I’m wondering if you have Septoria Leaf Spot in your tomatoes? We do each year. You can spray copper on them periodically, before it shows up. We don’t as the tomatoes ripen well and we have so many, spraying would take a whole lot of time, which we seem never to have. You might try planting Peron and Legend. Both are pretty resistant.
Speaking of catalog orders from you, will your list of addresses of customers be sent to the new seed business owners or do need to ask them directly for a catalog?
From what I understand, our addresses will be transferred.
Yes, we are definitely passing our customer list on, with our seeds, for Lynn and Jesse.
Good question, Sheryl.
Thanks, Jackie.
Those mats almost resemble railroad ties; do they have oil or other substance coated on?
No, they are not treated at all.
Wow! What a great deal! With wood being so expensive and all the great projects you guys do, that is So wonderful!😁
We’re so happy to find this source of free material. I’m not sure what we’ll use two semi-loads for, but I’m sure we will be using all of them. Will has even mentioned getting more.
Its not going anywhere once on your property. Worst case is they become firewood.
What a good “buy” re swamp mats. Raining heavy here today. I finished the sap -12 pints from 60 gallons. Slow run of sap this year as I usually boil 100-120 gallons. The peppers came up-I need to learn patience. My onion seedlings are up. Inside work today. All is good in our corner of the world and I wish that were true for everyone. Your sawmill is handy and creates a lot of value.
Yes, the only thing we regret in buying our bandsaw mill is not buying it sooner. We’ve saved thousands by milling our own lumber so far. Right now, Will is unloading the first load of swamp mats. Pretty cool!
I’m hoping your sap will run stronger soon so you can boil down more. That’s so exciting!