Been keeping busy here on the homestead, as one does, since the work just won't wait.
In addition to the post snow-melt clean up and the incoming-spring-growth projects I have been working with the team at discoverpermaculture.com which is simultaneously exhausting and inspiring. Check out what we're getting up to over there:
This is only the first of the Master Class videos on offer, and the discussion in the comments is both robust, and active.
There was a farmer, had a blog...
Every element has a story to tell, and every day has its trials and tales.
Saturday, April 20, 2019
Sunday, May 1, 2016
Signs of Spring
Radish and vetch |
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Never Enough
The literal fruits of our labors and the inevitable trying to keep the literal spoils to a minimum. |
Of course that doesn't mean I have anything like enough time to appreciate it. Today's accomplishments included (yeah, just Sunday), tweaking and testing a yellow summer squash pizza crust recipe (5 qts shredded squash, who knows how many pounds) which was a great success, a full oven of overloaded cookie sheets covered with roasting peppers (because even after being frozen, they're ROASTED PEPPERS mmmMMmmmm), elderberry kombucha (so good even Mrs. Farmer likes it), another 7 quarts of processed tomato sauce and another pot of chopped tomatoes in the pipeline for the next batch... and no doubt stuff I'm forgetting now.
By the time you're done accounting for all of that, the animal chores, the prep and processing for what we ate today (all fresh of course), and a little of the "ugh tomorrow is Monday" last minute catch up chores... we're done. Good night.
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Having a Hutch, it's Not All Intuition
Oh yes, "wascillwy" indeed. |
The full story, with all the lessons and trials and problems (and interesting bits) will have to wait for another time. I'm not sure when I'll have the energy to power through it all in one sitting but even touching so briefly on it now I know for sure I do not want to make the attempt today. Which means we fast forward, for now and I tease the full story until "someday".
After 16 months and a lot of learning we have 15 rabbits here on the farm. I am grateful to have so many, and also frustrated because it should be a great deal more. (continued)
Monday, August 17, 2015
Oven Pickles, a Retrospective
2015's storage pickles are starting earlier this year. |
The answer, of course, is they are excellent. Even now, 11 months later they have lasted well in the pantry if they have lost just a touch of their original crispness. The only reason they lasted this long at all is because we buried a few jars otherwise in this house pickles go fast. Very fast.
Which is one reason why we're meeting our early cukes with extra Ball Jars. (continued)
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
A Softie?
Going outside in the morning to check on the animals is NOT a time when I want surprises. Too many of them have been bad over the years. Sometimes though I find something interesting, and that is always worth sharing.
Normally an egg like this won't last long in the bustling community nest many chickens share. My girls are no exception waiting (only occasionally patiently) for their chance to add their egg to the growing pile in the corner of our cook. Trading places, rolling eggs and otherwise stomping around of all those chicken feet would spell almost instant disaster for a soft shelled egg like this, at which point the girls would literally snap up the evidence so that nothing goes to waste. (continued)
Normally an egg like this won't last long in the bustling community nest many chickens share. My girls are no exception waiting (only occasionally patiently) for their chance to add their egg to the growing pile in the corner of our cook. Trading places, rolling eggs and otherwise stomping around of all those chicken feet would spell almost instant disaster for a soft shelled egg like this, at which point the girls would literally snap up the evidence so that nothing goes to waste. (continued)
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Garden Bed FarmVid
After moving compost and manure for yet another double reach bed I decided that taking a walk to appreciate the work done past and present was a good idea. Sharing seemed like a good idea too.
With appearances by:
Porkchop & Tenderloin
You will be able to see quite clearly that our beds are not straight. This is intentional, the shape of the hill is not straight and it makes much more sense to follow the lay of the land than taking out a carpenter's square and trying to impose straight lines and angles on the landscape. (continued)
With appearances by:
Porkchop & Tenderloin
You will be able to see quite clearly that our beds are not straight. This is intentional, the shape of the hill is not straight and it makes much more sense to follow the lay of the land than taking out a carpenter's square and trying to impose straight lines and angles on the landscape. (continued)
Saturday, June 20, 2015
A FarmVid Update
A few minute "look" into some of the goings on today.
With appearances by:
Baby birds (5 weeks old), baby bunnies (5 weeks old), a mama bunny (Gold Doe)... and just a peek at baby bunnies (5 minutes old), Lily, Geordi
With appearances by:
Baby birds (5 weeks old), baby bunnies (5 weeks old), a mama bunny (Gold Doe)... and just a peek at baby bunnies (5 minutes old), Lily, Geordi
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Finally time for Manure Therapy
Something in the compost is even more interesting than fresh grass... I don't wanna know. |
So much changes with the beginning of spring.
Soon the animals will move from winter housing to a more spread out (less messy) set up. Soon the gardens will be planting and I'll be building more beds to make up for all the over estimating we have done with our seeds and starts this year.
But before that though, as soon as the piles can be pitchforked and there's a spot of grass clear it is time... to start the compost! (continued)
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Saturday, February 7, 2015
In which I wish there was no mention of snow.
We're running out of room above the snow line. Soon we'll be living in tunnels, devolving into sad blind creatures surviving on nothing but hatred, darkness and ice. Or I suppose spring will eventually come. I'm saying it now: next year can we spread out the misery some please? 5+ feet of snow fall in only 2 weeks time proves your point, mother nature. Business as usual would be appreciated. Just saying. (continued)