Week #18 - Farm by numbers

Endless potato planting..

Patty and her brood outside for the first time!

Oliver and Graceson cuddle each night

Caesar, the rooster

Over 900 potatoes planted, 65 tomatoes - all snug in their own kozy koat, 9 pigs moved to their new home, 100s of plants seeded and moved countless times around the greenhouse, three bottles a day for Oliver (the goat kid), 150 new broiler chicks picked up and settled into the brooder, 3 successful hatches of layer chicks, over 2500 feet of irrigation drip tape connected, tested and ready to go! 

It was another busy week but the sore muscles and exhaustion is worth it. We are feeling like we are on track and on schedule. Hope your week was as fruitful and satisfying! 

Week #13 - We're growing again...

 If feels good to growing again! 

We've been seeding trays of plants for several weeks now and things are starting to come up! 

The familiar routines of checking the plants, watering, weeding, transplanting are starting up again. 

This year I'm feeling a bit more organized with a weekly seeding/transplanting/planting plan all laid out. 

Here's hoping that we can stick to it! You know what they say about the best laid plans! 

Every year we try something new.... this year we are going to give artichokes and peanuts a try! Artichokes need a long growing season so we've already seeded them and I saw them poking up this morning! 

Peanuts grow just like potatoes and are seeded directly into well drained soil. We are thinking about sticking them next to the asparagus and see what happens! 




Has anyone else tried peanuts? I'm excited to see how they do!

We've expanded our growing area this year again and are also planting more apple and pear trees. 

I'm so tempted to try apricots as my middle son devours them but not sure how they do here. We'll see what's in the truck after the trip to the nursery....

Week #7 - Plant therapy

I hit it! I hit the wall! 

Even though this winter has not brought particularly bad weather... each February usually just after Valentines Day, I hit the "I'm totally done with winter wall!

On Monday our seed order came in and the urge to dig in the soil and plant something was palpable! The yearning for the smell of freshly turned earth and sunshine on my face was overwhelming. 

So yesterday, I turned to a little bit of plant therapy.... Got some pots out and some soil and started playing! Planted some herbs, lettuce, some spinach and some edible flowers. Put some calendula in as I'm hoping to use the petals to dye our soaps and violas to add to our salads. 

Can't wait to see the green shoots pop out of the rich dark soil, reaching for the sun. It's not the same as digging in the garden but it will have to suffice for now.... spring is just around the corner!

What do you do to get through the winter months? 

Growing strong!

FFF Photo a Day - Day 168

Our onions are growing strong! 

This year we tried three different methods for our onions. We started our own onions inside from seed, purchased some onions started in a greenhouse and planted onion sets straight into the ground.

The onion sets are by far the winner this year! 

.... it begins

FFF Photo a Day - Day 115

#Plant15 began today with the laying of the the plastic mulch. This is black plastic that we plant into. Drip tape runs underneath to water the plants. 

This method reduces the amount of weeding, tilling and watering that we need to do and allows us to plant sooner. 

It is typically a day that is cold and windy so today was a wonderful change. Farmer Phil and I got through it and we are still married! (laying plastic together definitely tests your relationship!)  

Potato salad anyone?!

FFF Photo a Day - Day 99

Our seed potatoes arrived today (Thanks Bruce!). 

We plant our potatoes into rows of black plastic mulch. This serves to heat up the soil, keep weeds down, and moisture from evaporating. 

With the stretch of warm weather that is expected this weekend, we are hoping that we will be able to lay our mulch soon! 

A Spring Haiku

FFF Photo a Day - Day 70 

Some of our first seedlings are up, stretching towards the sunlight. 

To celebrate, I offer you a spring haiku: 

Planting has begun,

Seeds germinate in the sun,

A sure sign of spring.