It's 44°C here today with a hot Northerly wind that's blowing at 10m/s, so it's like a fan forced oven outside.
The garden got a really good watering yesterday in preparation for it. The shade umbrellas were up this morning but I've wound them down already, the wind is just too strong.
The main aquaponics has had ice added to it and the IBC covered with shadecloth to help keep it cool and reduce evaporation.
Bottles of ice have been added to the worm farms and they're covered too.
This sort of weather is a major test of our garden design. Most is still in shade from the bigger trees but that wind is getting in everywhere, drying out younger plants and the mulch.
It'll be interesting to see what dies. With the new climate we're giving ourselves, only the strong will survive at the front. Softer plants are all in the aquaponics now so they can be cared for more and with greater water efficiency.
The chooks are doing OK. They're in full shade all day thanks to the Apple tree and Passionfruit vine in the chook run. There's also the dry space beneath the chook house itself.
They've fresh water this morning and a bottle of ice added to it. I also gave the ground a bit of a wetting yesterday evening.
The funniest thing is their reaction to their newesy Summer feeding and cooling idea - frozen blocks of fermented grain.
They've looked at the one I put in the run just now, clucked at it and at the moment are giving it a wide berth.
I think they'll get to love them though as the Summer progresses.
Keep yourselves and your pets and livestock cool, hydrated and healthy this Summer...
Is that Amelia cautiously peering at the ice block?
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Yes, she's the more cautious and curious one. Dolores had already been to take a look and clucked away to the other side of the run. Amelia will look at for a while before sauntering on over. Pappy will follow her lead and Yurei will sneak in when the others aren't looking
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When I start or grow plants I try to never use dark containers if they are in the sun at all. Here, they just cook.
I use frozen vegs in large pans of frozen water during the heat of summer for the chickens. It gives them something to peck at, offers cool water to ensure they drink enough, and offers a small amount of nutrition. I use bright vegs that will attract them.
Also to keep them cool, I use an old sturdy seedling tray and put frozen pints of water in it. They LOVE to stand in it to cool down.
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Those are some good tips. I keep planning to paint 1 side of my pots white and leave the other black and rotate them with the seasons. I just keep forgetting about it
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