Planting

Despite the cold, trees are greening up at a fast pace.
Mushroom soil will be spread on the new garden. Note the bare trees just a few weeks ago.
This is a shot from early May.
Soon enough the weeds came and we had the annual battle commence.

Cold, Rain, Crops, Poultry

The birds are finally able to run around! The geese especially needed to have more room.
After one week wing feathers are appearing, at 2 weeks tail feathers.
This is a heritage turkey, not sure which breed. You can see the snood starting above the beak.
One of the stranger looking chicks, the Naked Neck or Turken.
They come in a box with holes. It was terribly cold and rainy that morning, so we blasted the heater in the van. These are an assortment of brown egg layers.
This is the local post office, it is quite rural and homey.

Whew! We have the new ground planted. The other plot is partially planted, due to a late rye cover crop and our BCS has been in the shop. It has been unseasonably cold, as in frost at night cold. Our furnace has kicked on despite our having turned it "off". Our fields have been a soggy mud hole. Mix in the sporadic 88 degree day and you can imagine the plants are confused.

Rural living has its quirks. Since March I have not had internet, and this has proved a blessing and a frustration. I need to be able to send out notices to CSA members, look up information and update web pages. Trying to accomplish this on a bargain cell phone does not cut it. Anyway, the online glow is emanating once again from the screen.

Raising poultry is a new enterprise for us. As Joel Salatin sagely advises in his Pastured Poultry Profits; get the pen made before you order the birds as research and development will invariably cause delays, resulting in the birds outgrowing their brooder facilities. Umm, tell me about it. Today we moved our chicks outside. They have been so fascinating to watch. I think they grow so fast you can see new feathers every morning!

How hard could it possibly be to build the simplest pen??? Arrgh..........don't ask. I had no clue and no blueprint. Suffice it to say after trial and error the pen is finished. It needs a few extra features for convenience but that would have added 2 more days to the project.

New Growing Location

Aaron clearing off the front yard.
Hoops set in place, still need row cover and sandbags.
Johnny's hoop bender.
Half way to planting.
The neighbor came back the next day with his tiller.
A three bottom plow, a miracle worker compared to a shovel and my biceps!
My neighbor offered to plow up my field. Farmers are some of the most honest, generous folks on earth.
The front of the trailer. It is just the right size for our needs. Afew flower beds will make it cheery.
The backyard!
Gracie making herself at home. The loom settled, much to the relief of those lifting her.
Too big for the front door, the sliding glass entry works. Below, taking her off the truck.

Big Changes For 2010

No posts recently for a very good reason..........we are expanding our farm. Now instead of just teensy, we're tiny. Lots of opportunity for better infrastructure, water, buildings and an increase in land. A bigger bonus is less commuting, less petro.

This barn is going to be our new post harvest wash/pack area. March to do list is long! I'm so excited about having water and a pack area, finally, that work will be a pleasure. Seeds and paper mulch arrived today.

Thanks to everyone who signed up for 2010 CSA. We still have slots open.

Sign Up!!

Sign Up!!

It is that time of year.........CSA Lovers, please make your commitment. February is a rough cash flow month for farmers. Expenses for seed, supplies and hardware are incurred now for your veggies even though there is snow on the ground. Your support is vital. Now is the time to get behind local, organic fresh food. We are very busy planning and sowing flats to secure a harvest of delicious, exceptional produce. So make that decision!! Know your farmer........know your food!

We Want To Be Your Farmer!

More Management

This is the lovely opening page spread. The left depicts the English farmstead. All pictures can be clicked on to enlarge so you can read these gems of wisdom.
Frugality never goes out of style!
Need to know the arrangement for a game banquet layout??

Household Management 1861

I have stumbled upon a most fascinating tome:

BEETON'S BOOK OF HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT , is a 1112 page epistle of all things the mistress of a proper English home would need to master. Apparently this classic has evaded me all these years. I cannot begin to describe all this treasure trove has to offer, on every imaginable subject. It was originally published in 24 monthly installments by Englishwoman's Domestic Magazine. Isabella Beeton was only twenty eight when she died, from childbed fever.