Around the Farm ~ Early Spring

With the approach of the first day of spring this weekend, we are itching to get back outside again.  Part of our trip preparations is getting early spring work around here wrapped up before we leave.  We are typically home over spring break and with the exception of maybe a long weekend away with the kiddos, dedicate this time to preparing for the garden season.  Thankfully we got ourselves well ahead of the game with our fall wrap up, so the pressure is down.  We did evacuate the winter's straw layers from the hen house this morning, cleaning and prepping their digs for warmer weather to come and some added roommates in early summer.  Our compost heap is cooking away and growing nicely with the addition of chicken and pig litter.  We should have an excellent batch for late summer top dressing and fall bed replenishment.

We are rewarded in early spring with the first buds, and baby plants poking through the soft wet earth.  The maple trees branches are beginning to get heavy with deep burgundy flower poofs, that do not put on much of a show, and make a huge mess when they drop, but are a welcome sign of spring none the less.

The giant rhubarb plant looks like it enjoyed its winter nap covered in compost, I suspect this will have just burst in growth by the time we get back.

The garlic is doing beautifully with rows upon rows of shoots finding their way to the surface.

The horseradish plants are also looking robust early on, and as I mentioned earlier this week, the spinach in the cold frame should soon be ready to eat.  Everything seems to be running right on schedule!

In the Garden ~ November 15

I never thought that I would have the opportunity to write an in the garden post on November 15!  Yesterday was a gorgeous 65 degrees,  rare for mid-November.  After last week's 'final' push outside winterizing I decided that if we could not squeeze anything else in, then I was perfectly happy with the clean up and jump start that we had on the garden for spring.  We were fortunate that he weather stars aligned this weekend and we finished everything!  Every single garden bed has been top dressed with compost and covered.  The hugelkultur, garlic and sun chokes are heavily mulched in straw.  The compost is cooking, and the French Lavender is still giving us a fragrant hint of green.  We have kohlrabi, kale and leeks still in the ground and there they will remain while they are perfectly happy.  We will re-move the leeks and plant them in a bucket of peat moss this year, we have heard that they will last a couple of months that way in our root cellar so we will give it a try.

 
Though very tardy, we got the pool closed.  We trimmed the large pines that are on our drive and around our entrance, picked up fallen sticks and had the final bonfire of the season.  Finishing up gave us a huge sense of accomplishment, I do not think we have ever had a season when we have been able to button up so thoroughly before the weather turned on us.  Even better, we both came in the house with pink sunburned faces....on November 15th!

Fall on the Farm

A windy rainy week will be capped off tonight with a frost advisory.  It is beginning to look a lot like fall around here.  Crisp temperatures make grabbing a sweater the norm, walking across the yard is a shuffle amongst the fallen leaves and the Halloween decor made its appearance this week.  Sadly, the beautiful gourd display that I normally decorate the porch with will remain hidden this year.  I suspect a mischievous puppy and a basket full of gourds would not be a good mix!

The cool weather crops are enjoying the temperatures.  We are still pulling leaks, peppers, kale, flower sprouts and onions from the garden.  As you can see the one light frost that we had last weekend finished the winter squash plants and this weekend will see them harvested and nestled into their new root cellar home.

It looks like after this weekend we will see a string of dry days together.  With more than half of the garden beds closed down, and frost in the forecast, I suspect that the next couple of weekends will be comprised of finishing the remaining beds, topping the asparagus, pruning berry canes, planting garlic, and beginning the task of next seasons compost by way of a mass mowing and the beginning of leaf pick-up.  Just a few little tasks, mid to late fall on the farm is the last big push towards putting everything to bed before the darker and much colder months ahead.

The Promise of This Year's Garden

The cool damp weather has been perfect for beginning to harden off all of this year's garden babies.  Even the wind is helpful giving them some exposure and allowing them to strengthen.  We seeded the peppers and tomatoes four to a pot and they are now ready to transplant into their own pots for a couple of weeks when they will be put in the ground.  If the weather remains moderate then they will take up permanent residence here in the cold frame, on colder days or if there is a chance of frost, they will be tucked into the warmth of the grow room in the basement.   The broad leafed plants in the immediate front of the photo are our first succession of Kaleidoscope (Kale Brussels) and as they are cold tolerant, they are headed directly to the ground in the next week.

The cool weather crops are all growing nicely.  We pulled the covers back from our little hoop houses yesterday so that we could weed and everything looks wonderful.  The beets have sprouted in another bed, but are much smaller.  When they are about the size of these radishes, then we will plant the next batch.  Based on how these have grown in the last week, it looks like it may be time for our next seeding of radishes.  One of our challenges this year is staying on top of succession plantings so that we can have volumes of one time harvests regularly.

The mammoth rhubarb plant that we inherited with the farm is emerging beautifully this year.  This plant gives tender stalks the size of B's arm and is prolific long into the season.  The mound of dirt that it is pushing up this year as it comes through is quite impressive.  It is an almost cathartic feeling, after a week of such gray, to finally see some beautiful color and the promise of this years garden.

Random 5 Friday

1.  We have tried for years to come up with the right name for our homestead.  We are now looking to some Celtic names for inspiration.  What do you think of Aisling Acres (Aisling =dream or vision)?

2.  We were thrilled to see our bees out and about for a few hours on Wednesday.  I am so glad they had the opportunity, since it appears that our temps are headed back down to the basement.

3.  I am going to try these muffins this weekend.  How can they be bad!?

4.  We got all of our seeds for the garden sorted this week, ordered some new ones, and have our plan for seed starts mapped out.  Now we will just wait and see what Mother Nature has in store for us...which at the moment that I am writing this is a 50 mph wind.

5. I recently finished Life after Life and have now been reading Monuments Men.   I have been digging being thrust into the WWII era and seeing it from such vastly different experiences.

Please join us!

Time

Time.  That is what it is all about isn't it?  How we spend it.  Do we fill every hour to the gills or stop and savor them before they pass us by?  In today's world, every day seems to be an exercise in time management; how to be the most efficient, most effective, most well rounded.  Why is this?  To keep up with those around us?  To give into that fast speed by jumping into the flowing main stream? To make a name for oneself? 

Time.  Each moment is precious, yet sometimes we are so caught up in the pace of things that we forget to indulge in what is in front of us.  We all have the luxury of time if we live in each moment don't we?  Have you ever thought about how your actions may affect the space of those around you?  We should enjoy and respect the time we are given with each other, you never know when someone else's distracted moment may alter your time.

Time.  Mother nature, has it right.  The spring has been cool and wet, so planting is much delayed this year.  The time has been delayed, but she is not worried.  Over the weekend as the sun finally began to warm us we put these seeds in the ground.  In time, they will grow to sustain us.  Patience, and some TLC will see the garden through.  Shouldn't this philosophy be applied to how we all function in every day life? 

Have you ever been frustrated by someone who comes up behind you fast, tail gates for a period of time, then passes you in a hurry, only to be stopped just in front of you at a stop light?  Then they begin their frantic commute process again.  How much time do they ultimately save?  One minute?  Two?  Was the intensity worth it?  And, how did you as the recipient let it effect you?  Emotions can be contagious.  Did you get caught up in that other persons moment, or did you just let it go?  Now, can this be applied to how we conduct ourselves in the rest of life?  Work, kids, activities, social commitments.  Moving to the farm was in part a way to slow down that pace that runs at break neck speed beyond the cocoon of the homestead every day.  The best of both worlds, all reliant on how we spend our time.

Have you thought about how you spend your time?

**I am headed to Mexico with some girlfriends later this week.  I am looking forward to the time :)

My Three Sons

I had just finished my tomato post and was walking past this plant.  I received this plant as a gift from a dear friend when my grandmother passed away six months ago.  As I went passed it this morning, it struck to me that it is doing quite well and has produced three babies.  Much like the three sons that my grandmother has.  I think, maybe, she's saying hello.  Dad, Dick, John...I thought you'd like to know.

Planning and Planting

We are early risers. Partially because I don’t want to spend all of the kids waking time doing chores, so I try to get stuff done before they get up, and partially because we need copious amounts of coffee to kick start our day.

This time of year our priorities shift to running out to the garden before work, at lunch, and after work. Today at lunch it was 80 degrees in the shade. Beautiful by all accounts, except for when you need to weed beds, get more seeds set and water young tender plants that are undergoing a temperature shock. Even though it’s technically two more weeks before the generally accepted safe start date for summer planting, we feel a little under the gun to get everything in the ground and started. This time of year is always nerve wracking that way…decisions, decisions.

This weekend in between soccer games and birthday parties, we were able to get fairly caught up on a backlog of chores that resulted from our 30 year old tractor being perpetually on the fritz. Now, fixed, for the moment at least, we feel caught up and can a little more leisurely go about planning, planting, weeding and implementing. I so look forward to our nightly strolls through the garden, picking our supper and weeding as we meander. To check out what we planted this weekend, go here. What is your process for planning and planting?  Happy Monday!

Newspaper Seed Pots- A Video Tutorial

Over the weekend we started making newspaper pots to start our seeds in.  Over the years we have tried lots of different options; from little peat pellets, to coconut husk pots, to soil in yogurt containers.  The thought of plopping them right in the ground has always appealed to us, but all of those means never seemed to effectively break down.  This year we think we have found a winner!  B saw some information on making this type of seed pot in Grit magazine.  I checked out YouTube for some ideas, then we took those ideas and tweaked them slightly and presto, we have seed pots!

 Here is our first video tutorial!

A Spring Saturday

A little glimpse of a spring Saturday, leaves me breathless but fulfilled. 

It can be hard to get out of bed for the day, but boy scouts called with soccer immediately following.

Goals were scored and the kids played very hard, ready for next weekends tournament game.

The herb bed was weeded and new markers placed.

The rabbit hutch was assembled.  We took the easy way out on this one and found a great quality one on sale.  We are going to use all of our wood to further refine the chicken coop and build out a pig stall!

Pork Chop (Chi Chi) is in her new home and will remain in there until we get our Mini Rex, and then she will be moved to an enclosure below.

Chopped asparagus slaw with supper.

And as we got a soaking 2 1/2 inches of rain here, B's folks were taking cover.  Thankfully, the tornado touched ground again about a mile and a half from them, but the two pink heavy areas, basically flank their house...made for some tense moments!  Hopefully our warm up and storms later this afternoon will be all show and no crazy!  How was your Saturday?

Silent Sunday

Meet Me At The Fair

We have one day left of the county fair, but all of our judged events were completed by this morning.  We were conservative with the number of entries we competed in since this is our first year and we had no idea what to expect.  It was a great learning experience, and we found that the best bet is to enter a lot of categories and show, show show!  You see, when you are doing any animals along with whatever your other entries are, you have to be there every day, and often a couple of times a day.  Best advice, enter lots and make the most out of each trip. 

Both kids have expressed that the fair days have been the best of their summer so far and each time we go, they don't want to leave.  A friend let us in on a tip before fair started that one of the community banks offers a mega wristband with a ticket purchase for a special price.  The kids wear them all week and have unlimited access to all of the rides.  The perfect thing for kids who have to be there multiple times a day for taking care of animals, showing, volunteering, barn duties, etc.  With one day left we are all exhausted and the house is suffering from neglect, but everyone is contented.

This weeks take:

Sidney:  2nd place, watercolor

rooster crowing~nada, performance anxiety :)

2nd place, poultry showmanship

1st place, high honor best Silkie rooster

Charles:  1st place, carrots

Me:  3rd place quilt, first time entry

A Little Relief

After a tremendously hot week, and little rain to speak of all summer, this morning we awoke to a dark sky and a slow steady rain.  Though we only got a 1/2 inch,  it allows for us to give our drip system and well a little reprieve from the constant garden watering.  As I walk outside this afternoon, the sun once again heats us up and the ground gives an audible sigh. 

We have delivered our third farm bag in as many weeks and are beginning to need to harvest twice daily in the garden.  The steady rain of this morning allowed for some guiltless quite reading time while the kids slept and the garden drank.  I head into the weekend preparing for a busy week that begins Sunday with my 4H'ers first time showing in the county fair.  Every day has a segment that requires our presence at the fair grounds, it should be quite an experience and Sidney has been counting down the days. 

This weekend begins both with excited anticipation and a heavy heart.  The school mate that I mentioned earlier this week, passed away this afternoon.  My thoughts are with her family trying to deal with such an unexpected loss.  I am once again reminded at how precious life is.

June In Review

A quick look at how June went down, through my lens...

Sweet Breath of Peace

Since we leave on Thursday for California, we are racing around to finalize the last of the garden planting, mowing, loads of laundry, and generalized picking up, after a crazy weekend of celebratory, school is out activity.  Whew.

Then as I run from task to task tonight, 

I saw these beauties.  

Our first peonies of the season;

open, smiling, and breathing

the sweet breath of peace into my evening. 

What's Undercover?

When I looked at this picture the first thing I thought was *wow* there are a lot of things covered up here!  The row covers are covering all of the beds, warming the soil so we can plant.  The milk cartons are covering up all of the peppers that we planted today.  They are much too large to keep in the house or cold frame now, so they now each have their own little greenhouses.  The white cover is protecting our cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower from flies who like to lay eggs at the base of the stems, which lead to the dreaded root maggots. Then, the black plastic in the foreground, is suffocating out weeds in the new expansion area.  So, there is a whole lot of undercover work happening in the garden right now!  If you would like to read a little on the companion planting I did today head over here.  Happy Monday!

A Mother's Day Birthday

I can think of nothing more appropriate than celebrating Charles 8th birthday on Mothers Day, after all, that is what it is all about isn't it?  After celebrating the "best birthday party yet" yesterday, today was the perfect combination of Charles and Mama's day.  A special breakfast, followed by presents to be played with all day long, while mama and dad spent a very productive day in the garden.

We began the first mow, laid out pathways, put down black plastic to kill off weeds in the expanded area, planted the strawberry patch, readied the chicken tractor for the babies transition outside tomorrow, and bought a big flat of marigolds to companion plant in the garden proper.  As we walked the homestead late this afternoon, the kids were playing a very intense game of "spy" on us and came in with bright rosy cheeks and full of winded smiles.

Now we are settling down, basking in our accomplishments, and readying for a birthday/mother's day supper.  Charles is immersed in his new Lego's set, building as much as possible.  Sidney is settled in watching a little television.  B is working his magic in the kitchen.  Me?  Well I am marveling at how fast the Internet can be on a new computer and looking oh so forward to singing Happy Birthday to my little man.

And of course digging into a Mother's Day Birthday cake!

Strangely Cathartic

 I wasn't sure if I was going to like it when I  followed Martha's instructions on leaving fall foliage in order to create winter interest above the snow.  I typically like to have things all tidied up in the fall so that I do not have to worry about it again.  I must say that we enjoyed having the added texture in our winter landscape.  With spring so incredibly slow to start this year, I have been itching to get outside; and now all of that lovely "interest" has been driving me absolutely bonkers.  So this afternoon, when the sky became blue and the sun was shining (despite the weather channel saying that at that moment there was an 80% chance for rain), I grabbed by biggest pruners and off I went. 

Let me tell you, there is another benefit to leaving all of the "dead heading" until the spring.  You do not need the above mentioned pruners to get the job done.  Everything is so dried out it just breaks off nicely at the ground.  There is something strangely cathartic about getting on your hands and knees and literally ripping out winter and revealing all of the lovely bits of spring that are resting beneath what was once winter interest.