Please let the record show that the Johnsons have six tomato plants transplanted and ready to party for 2026. A far cry from the 50 plants we had in 2021, but after zero garden in 2025 it’s good to be back at it.

- Two Cherokee Purple (hard to grow but THE BEST) / indeterminate
- Two Husky Red / dwarf indeterminate
- One early girl determinate
- One “tomato patio” a determinate cherry type
* plus whatever we get from our “orange hat” super dwarf plants we started from seed

#gardening #Zone6B #homegrowntomatoes #Missouri #macjohnsonfarm

Suboptimal start. But it’s going to be a gorgeous day. I have no commitments other than to making it an enjoyable and productive one.

Perfect chilly and sunny weather. Clean overalls and my “good” yard work shirt. Comfy work boots. Energy drink in hand, ambition in my brain.

Let’s see if I can make all the things happen!

#DisOldHouse #MacJohnsonFarm

Today our babies graduated to the chicken run. We had to run hardware cloth around the chain link fence because they were JUST small enough to squeeze through if they really wanted. They sure are cute.

#BackyardChickens #MacJohnsonFarm

We lost a cream legbar chick today. I put the class of 2026 in the chicken run, inside a dog kennel crate.

The runt managed to escape both layers. She remained nearby, until we chased her away. Someday we’ll learn… Ugh!

#BackyardChickens #MacJohnsonFarm

They had already sold out of the cream leg bars we wanted. They were also out of Olive Eggers. Booo.

We still somehow walked out with black laced gold wyandotte, blue laced red wyandotte and splash laced red wyandotte.

We might have a problem.

#BackyardChickens #MacJohnsonFarm #ChickDays #ChickenMath

Shout out to local fellow @billinkc for taking time out of his morning to give us some chick supplies so we don’t have to give Jeff Bozo more money while our brooder plate is inop. Mastodon folks rock!

#MacJohnsonFarm #ChickDays #BackyardChickens

It was only 18° (f) when I decided to finish shoveling compost this morning. Turns out, it’s hard as hell when it’s frozen. Also yesterday me was a super jerk to today me for not just getting it done. But now I have my trailer back, yay! Stuff needs tending to.

#MacJohnsonFarm #DisOldHouse #Gardening #Zone6B

I played in the dirt today and it was warmish. I’m filthy, and happy.

I’ve finally decided on a use for some of the TWO PALLETS of cinder blocks I have: Small gardens at opposite ends of the chicken run (will be protected from hens) with a cattle panel arch spanning between. Pretty excited, NGL.

I forgot what a pain it is to try and get the blocks straight, and plumb. Yeesh!

#DisOldHouse #MacJohnsonFarm

Can I tell you folks a secret? Ever since we got chickens... 2021ish I've wanted cream legbars. We can't order them due to minimums and a dumb cap imposed by our city. And retailers typically don't carry them...

WELL. @Jillianmarisa has done some excellent sleuthing and there's a decent chance we might have a path to procuring some later this month. Fingers crossed. 🤩

#BackyardChickens #DisOldHouse #MacJohnsonFarm