Gardening With Guineas

Something new is occurring in the farm garden.
I'm not sure if this will be a good or a bad thing.  


The guineas have been hopping up into the garden boxes.
I assume they are looking for bugs.


If so, then it is truly a great thing
and maybe the answer to some of my garden pest issues.


If, however, they have decided to add vegetables to their diet,
well, that will definitely have to stop!!


Time will tell.
For now I will let them proceed.

Every day I spend a little (or a lot of) time in the garden,
weeding, watering, and harvesting.
Each time I am there, Elton joins me.
He is the most sociable of all our Roos.


This particular day I dropped one of my harvested tomatoes.


In no time flat, Elton had his little beak sunk deep into the juicy flesh.


What a yummy treat!!
I sure hope he doesn't have a clue how to find the rest of my tomatoes!!


And lastly, as requested...

Tomato Basil Jam
(compliments of Better Homes and Gardens)

3 1/2 cups peeled, seeded, cored and finely chopped tomatoes
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 tbsp. snipped fresh basil
3 cups sugar
1 pk. powdered pectin for lower sugar recipes

Bring tomatoes to a boil, and simmer, covered for 10 minutes.
Stir often.
Measure 3 1/3 cups of the cooked tomatoes and put into a pot with lemon juice and basil.
Add sugar and pectin and bring to a boil...stirring constantly.
Boil hard for 1 minute.
Skim off foam.
Ladle into hot half pint jars with 1/4 inch head space.  Place lids.
Process in boiling water bath for 5 minutes.
Makes 5 half pints.

Comments

Country Gal said…
Gota watch them rosters and Guineas they can get into a whole heap of trouble with your veggies ! I remember my mum always chasing the chickens and geese out of our veggie patch . There are Guineas just up the road from us on the farm and they are home wreckers Mrs Strawbs is always out there telling them off lol . Wonderful photos .Have a great day
Junebug said…
My girls made fast work of my corn last year. Every last little plant there was. So now there is a chicken wire fence around the garden boxes. My corn is looking wonderful this year. They are garden wreckers for sure!!! keep a close watch on Elton my that he has got his treat! Hope you have a great weekend!!!
Unknown said…
I was hoping you would share that recipe...it sounds so delicious!
Kris said…
My hens love tomatoes too! I will file this recipe for later. Thanks for sharing. It sounds wonderful!!
XO Kris
What a cute little roo! Our Duke loves tomatoes, in fact, when I took him out the other morning we were standing by the garden and he snagged a cherry tomato!

Thanks for the recipe too, it looks delicious!
This N That said…
There was a reason Elton was following you around...He had hopes of butterfingers :)..Have a great weekend.
Joyce said…
I just got a glimpse of a few of your (many) photos on FB about your trip. What I saw was wonderful! I can't wait to look at them all and read all of your wonderful captions! You tell amazing stories between your photos and words!
Comeca Jones said…
Oh my my lil roo has yet to discover my garden .But he is so beautiful!