My Favorite Season

It is been a very long, very hot and very dry summer. The weeds loved it. I certainly did NOT!
Herbs did great, as did the asparagus and we are still getting some tomatoes. Today we harvested peanuts from the upper garden which was a wonderful surprise! It is like finding a buried treasure and in my opinion it is better than gold.
It's time to plant some fall crops such as:

• Kale – Nutritious leafy greens on productive plants that over-winter easily even in cold climates.
• Collards – Another leafy green similar to kale but with larger, stronger flavored leaves.
• Lettuce – Plant varieties bred especially for growing during the fall season or in cold frames.
• Spinach – Not as easy to grow as kale and collards, these leafy greens will also over-winter.
• Turnips – Here’s a quick maturing root crop that’s productive and easy to grow.
• Rutabagas – Larger and sweeter than turnips, plant earlier in the summer for fall harvests.
• Broccoli – Popular, productive and much easier to grow than cauliflower.
• Cauliflower – Finicky grower, planting must be timed well in order to develop large heads.
• Mustard – Spicy hot leaves, this is a very fast growing vegetable.
• Mache – Very cold hardy, mild greens can be grown right into the winter months.
• Cabbage – Grow from transplants (like broccoli and cauliflower) or start seeds indoors under lights.
• Oriental Vegetables – Wide range of unusual varieties are available for fall production.
• Escarole – A bitter leafy green vegetable that can be cooked or used raw as a salad green.
• Endive – Similar to escarole with attractive frilly leaves.
• Brussels sprouts – Start seed in early summer or purchase transplants.
• Arugula – Fast growing leafy greens for salads or gourmet recipes.
• Leeks – One of the hardiest plants in the garden, leeks can even withstand winter freezes.

Enjoy the fall, and don't forget to get those cameras out and take lots of pictures!

Spring, not summer

Spring started out very warm here and I already have a jump on my farmers tan. Temps were soaring into the 80s for a few weeks, but now things have cooled off again. I am actually glad about that because my peas, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts were not doing well in the heat. There were two mornings with frost after the last frost date, but everything seems to be doing well so far. The apple trees are just about done blooming and the peach trees finished about three weeks ago, the cherries and pears are also done as well. I look forward to all the fruit this year.
We have started to give farm tours for the first time, and I think that they are going well. I love to tell the story of how we got here. The kids help a lot too setting up their rock collection and lining up the pet cages to show off all of our animals. Over the last few months we have sold some animals and gained some. Rabbits are the newest addition and I just love to watch them hop around the house and tear old coloring books to shreds, throwing paper everywhere and making a bloody mess! We now have a broody hen sitting on about 10 eggs so we are expecting little ones in about two more weeks. We were hoping for some broody ducks this year, but that is not looking too good right now. The white chinese goose is sitting on a bunch of eggs so we are hoping that some of them may hatch out this year because none of them hatched last year. I will keep everyone updated on our facebook page.
For plants I have started about 80 tomatoes, and equal amount of basil and then, in smaller amounts: cilantro, rosemary, sweet majoram, oregano, romanesco broccoli, leeks, onions, garlic chives, and flowers. I bought pepper plants and raspberry plants this year. I had my first asparagus come up this year, which I had found lying on the ground after I accidentally chopped it off while removing the chicken wire from that section from the garden. Keep laughing...it could happen to you! The herbs survived the winter well for the most part, except for the rosemary, which happens to be my very favorite. I have declared war on the mint, chocolate, and other types because they are running through the herb bed like wild unruly children. Mint makes a wonderful tea and has many other uses so none of it will go to waste. The one thing that I am most excited to grow this year are pineapple tomatillos. I couldn't believe it when I saw them in a catalog so I just had to try them. Last year the tomatillos did great in the garden.
Finally, to the right is my pea box, as I like to call it.
My friend got the box for 5 dollars, Dan salvaged the
four posts out of the trash, and I stapled leftover
chicken wire to the sides. The peas will grow up the chicken wire which will shade the lettuce growing in the box. I think that I will add carrots to the soil later when the lettuce is done.
So... what are you doing in your garden this year? And most important of all... are you supporting your local farmers? Please be sure you do!

Waiting for Spring

I went for a walk around the farm the other day and guess what I say under the hazelnut trees? The crocuses have poked through the ground, but the flowers haven't opened yet. The weather people are saying we may get into the 50s later this week. I went through all my seeds the other day to see what I have and I walk through the garden trying to plan for this year. One of our geese has already started laying eggs so I will begin shipping orders of goose eggs soon. The chickens have slowed down with the cold weather, but we are hoping they will pick up soon so we will be able to fill more orders. I have been reading books by Joel Salatin and I really love his books. I have learned a lot about making my farm more profitable, and I am trying to take steps in that direction. Going local is all the rage right now, but we need to stop talking about it and start really supporting local farmers by putting our wallets into our local economy and not into the pockets of the evil empire. I bought some goat the other day from a local farmer and I would encourage you to take some of your money and put it into your local farms, without YOU we will all disappear! I love farm life, and I can't imagine any better way to spend the rest of my days here on earth.
If you are wondering where your food comes from I encourage you to watch the movie FOOD INC. Stay warm, and remember SPRING IS COMING!!!