BYE BYE FLIES- BARN HOP #3

Warm weather approaches and with that comes other challenges, mud from the melting of the ground, and flies, who can now exist in the spring temperatures.

The mud is short lived as the ground firms up and dries out, but the flies are here to stay until the first frost, which is the end of October around here.


If you own animals, or have wet areas on your homestead, you will have flies. Even if you don't but a neighbor does, you will, because flies can travel over a fourth of a mile.

We have wet areas and animals, Horses, Rabbits, Chickens ,and Ducks, and have kept the flies under control for the six years using Fly Predators, a natural way of fly control.

Fly Predators are parasitic wasps, a beneficial insect, that eat the larvae of flies, keeping fly reproduction under control. They don't harm people or animals, are minute in size, and  come out at night to do their job. We order our fly predators from here.


They won't kill the adult flies though. We just have to wait out the 30 day life span of the adult fly, and in the meantime, we hang fly sticky tape in the barn and in the chicken coop, replacing them quite often. It works well and they are very inexpensive.


Of course, we also have to do our part by keeping animal habitats clean, by removing manure and any damp shavings or hay to the compost pile.


The fly predators come in a clear sealed bag in larva form. They are not released until some have emerged and are moving around in the bag. Then you simply sprinkle them near animal areas. They can travel about 150 feet.

We put them in our horse manure compost pile. We make a small hole, just a few inches deep and gently cover it up. They will emerge when they are ready and come out at night .


We also have to be careful where we put them and try to hide them because they are delicious treats for birds, hens and ants. We also hang the bag on a nail behind the barn and outside the chicken coop and they can fly out when they are ready.


It's an easy and natural way to keep the fly population under control.


Check out the others at the Barn Hop #3 .

happy day!

GHOSTS IN A TREE

We love to use natural materials in many of our projects, and this time we decided on the fiber from our French Angora rabbits. 


 (Thank you for the fiber, Poof !)

It's dreamy and soft. . .  and a little bit *ghostly*, don't you think?

We took some of the angora, rolled and shaped it into *ghost form*, and tried our hands at needle felting, to make the fibers take form and stick together. Needle felting ( vs wet felting) allowed it to be wispy and still flow, like a ghost.

Once in desired shape, we glued on some eyes that we cut from black felt.

We made a loop to hang the ghosts with fishing line (because it's clear) and arranged them on a large branch we found in the woodlands. 

We leaned the branch against the wall and stretched some polyester batting for a "spooky" feel.

BOO !

If you want to see some absolutely glorious needle felted art, go here to Marie's inspiring blog, Softearth's World. It will take your breath away.


    happy day!