The leaves are changing color and reflect their autumn raiment on lakes and streams; brilliant burning reds and crisp bright oranges. This morning their reflections were softened by a soft curling mist, rising through the morning air. It is a beautiful day, following a gorgeous weekend, following a brief period of downright chilly weather (we had flurries and hail on Thursday last week).
The pigs are now butchered. We hired out the job to a mobile butcher and he dispatched the pigs on Thursday last week. The barn yard seems far less interesting without their antics. We visited Ross Farm Museum on Monday and watched their Berkshires for awhile. They have a sow which is probably twice the size of our Berkshire. Her piglets are the size of Labrador retriever puppies. Such a contrast.
The pig carcasses were taken to a meat cutter who lives a few kilometers away. He's letting the sides of pork hang until today when he'll cut them up. We should have it in our freezer this afternoon or tomorrow. We sold one side, our first "commercial" farming effort. It should pay for the cost of butchering and cutting the two pigs.
We're left only with the laying hens. Sunday we returned from visiting my family to find an egg in the pen. A lovely, light brown egg. A second was laid yesterday. We think it may be one of the Rhode Island Reds. Now with the pigs out of the shed, we're converting the space to a chicken house. Rob started making two nest boxes yesterday and I reattached the shingles the pigs pulled off. I'm short shingles as they cracked a number of them. I'll filled in the gaps on the inside to stop drafts and predators. We hope to move the chickens into their new digs by Wednesday, as the beautiful fall weather is slated to change to rain.
I dug up the raised bed yesterday, leaving the carrots and turnip to continue maturing. Where I grew lettuce during the summer I planted two varieties of garlic. If they do well, I'll harvest it early next summer.
All in all, we feel our first season of farming was successful. And we're looking forward to the cooler months and planning for the next season.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
The Full Cupboard
Tonight my kitchen is filled with the fragrance of vanilla, cloves and cinnamon.
I am canning pears for the first time.
It is a rich, spicy aroma reminincent of Christmas cookies baking and oranges stuck with cloves. It makes me look forward to winter and evenings when I can enjoy the foods I've put away this fall.
The pears are the latest in my efforts to stock the pantry instead of relying upon the grocery store. To date I've made two batches of salsa, chokecherry jam and blackberry jelly (the fruit I picked along the edges of our fields). Tonight's efforts netted three large jars of pairs and one small. I think I will probably make more, but use the middle-sized jar the next time. Rob isn't the biggest fan of fruit and the large jars will be too much for one sitting.
I feel really good about our efforts this year. Our goal is to eventually produce half of what we consume. Although we were late starting this year and the garden was small we're pretty pleased with ourselves.
We put butchered 26 chickens this fall and our freezer is now full of poultry. The meat kings ranged from a low of seven pounds to a high of just over 10. The cockrels from the layers weighed in around four pounds each. We cooked two earlier this week and enjoyed them for supper. The meat was darker than grocery store fare, and I felt it was more flavorful too.
The pigs are weighing in around 200 pounds each and I expect we'll have them butchered in another few weeks.
Plus, from the garden, we enjoyed lettuce, peas and beets. I was also able to grow a good crop of onions and shallots. I planted a late crop of carrots, beets and turnips, we'll see, I may yet run out of growing time.
The hens should start laying soon. I expect to see the first egg in the next two to three weeks.
As apple season kicks into full gear I'll acquire some fruit and makes apple sauce, as well as freeze some for pies later on.
This winter I'll be looking at the seed catalogs with new purpose as I plan for next year's bounty.
I am canning pears for the first time.
It is a rich, spicy aroma reminincent of Christmas cookies baking and oranges stuck with cloves. It makes me look forward to winter and evenings when I can enjoy the foods I've put away this fall.
The pears are the latest in my efforts to stock the pantry instead of relying upon the grocery store. To date I've made two batches of salsa, chokecherry jam and blackberry jelly (the fruit I picked along the edges of our fields). Tonight's efforts netted three large jars of pairs and one small. I think I will probably make more, but use the middle-sized jar the next time. Rob isn't the biggest fan of fruit and the large jars will be too much for one sitting.
I feel really good about our efforts this year. Our goal is to eventually produce half of what we consume. Although we were late starting this year and the garden was small we're pretty pleased with ourselves.
We put butchered 26 chickens this fall and our freezer is now full of poultry. The meat kings ranged from a low of seven pounds to a high of just over 10. The cockrels from the layers weighed in around four pounds each. We cooked two earlier this week and enjoyed them for supper. The meat was darker than grocery store fare, and I felt it was more flavorful too.
The pigs are weighing in around 200 pounds each and I expect we'll have them butchered in another few weeks.
Plus, from the garden, we enjoyed lettuce, peas and beets. I was also able to grow a good crop of onions and shallots. I planted a late crop of carrots, beets and turnips, we'll see, I may yet run out of growing time.
The hens should start laying soon. I expect to see the first egg in the next two to three weeks.
As apple season kicks into full gear I'll acquire some fruit and makes apple sauce, as well as freeze some for pies later on.
This winter I'll be looking at the seed catalogs with new purpose as I plan for next year's bounty.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
September Already
It is September again. A year ago today we took possession of the farm. Our only regret is we didn't do it sooner, a decade sooner. We love this lifestyle, we love this property.
We've had successes and failures. We read a lot of books and struggle to find the best way to do things. The Internet is a favorite resource answering many of our questions and our local co-op is on a first-name basis with Rob.
We've survived the first year with our enthusiasm intact, and that alone says a lot.
We've cut down saplings, raised chickens, our pigs are thriving, we have a great crop of onions and we're getting a wood stove next week.
We've lost three chickens (one was crushed as a day-old chick, one was a meat bird who died of heat stress and the third was our silver-laced Wyandotte who we had to put down because her neck was suddenly twisted and she couldn't hold up her head; the last one was the hardest as she was a beautiful, gentle bird).
The garden was a small version of what I planned. We weren't here enough early in the spring to get it ready and then the wet weather played havoc as well. But the onions and shallots did well. The lettuce flourished and we're now feeding it to the livestock because it has gotten too big. I have beets and tomatoes and cucumbers as well. The late carrots and turnips are growing and hopefully will be ready for a late fall harvest. I've learned mulching works well, but the site we're currently using probably doesn't get enough full sun. We'll look at relocating it for next year.
The days are already getting shorter and cooler; a sign of the passing season. This month I hope to get some tomatoes and make tomato sauce for the winter ahead. We're also harvesting two chickens a day (thank goodness Wally and Jen loaded us freezer space; we're having a delay in getting our own.) We'll have the pigs butchered late-October or early-November and be comfortable with the fact that we're providing the bulk of our meat.
While I don't look forward to the winter, there is a sense of personal satisfaction with all we've accomplished this year and we'll use the coming months to plan for the next season as well as enjoy the fruits of labours (as well as some farm-fresh eggs as the hens should start laying in another four to six weeks.)
We've had successes and failures. We read a lot of books and struggle to find the best way to do things. The Internet is a favorite resource answering many of our questions and our local co-op is on a first-name basis with Rob.
We've survived the first year with our enthusiasm intact, and that alone says a lot.
We've cut down saplings, raised chickens, our pigs are thriving, we have a great crop of onions and we're getting a wood stove next week.
We've lost three chickens (one was crushed as a day-old chick, one was a meat bird who died of heat stress and the third was our silver-laced Wyandotte who we had to put down because her neck was suddenly twisted and she couldn't hold up her head; the last one was the hardest as she was a beautiful, gentle bird).
The garden was a small version of what I planned. We weren't here enough early in the spring to get it ready and then the wet weather played havoc as well. But the onions and shallots did well. The lettuce flourished and we're now feeding it to the livestock because it has gotten too big. I have beets and tomatoes and cucumbers as well. The late carrots and turnips are growing and hopefully will be ready for a late fall harvest. I've learned mulching works well, but the site we're currently using probably doesn't get enough full sun. We'll look at relocating it for next year.
The days are already getting shorter and cooler; a sign of the passing season. This month I hope to get some tomatoes and make tomato sauce for the winter ahead. We're also harvesting two chickens a day (thank goodness Wally and Jen loaded us freezer space; we're having a delay in getting our own.) We'll have the pigs butchered late-October or early-November and be comfortable with the fact that we're providing the bulk of our meat.
While I don't look forward to the winter, there is a sense of personal satisfaction with all we've accomplished this year and we'll use the coming months to plan for the next season as well as enjoy the fruits of labours (as well as some farm-fresh eggs as the hens should start laying in another four to six weeks.)
Monday, August 8, 2011
Year Two - Still Cancer Free
I had my two-year check up on Wednesday (August 3). It's hard to believe it is just about two years since I had the bilateral mastectomy. I admit to feeling nerves as I waited for Dr. Ginny to complete her examination. But the good news is there is no sign of any lumps or bumps. She thought the reconstruction looked very good.
In farming news, the tractor arrived on Friday. A pretty mid-sized John Deere. We used it on Sunday to take the old hay out of the main floor of the barn. We're going to reinforce the barn in that area in order to store the boat and tractor for the winter.
Saturday I picked the last of the peas and pulled the vines (which I fed to the pigs). I then planted turnips, beets and carrots with hopes of getting a fall crop of each. The rain this morning should help things along.
Jessica and I took our first riding lesson together on Friday evening. She has grown so tall this summer that she has been moved to a larger mount and she has to mount from the ground. I, on the other hand, get to use a mounting block (which after years of riding western, still feels rather foreign).
Also on Sunday, I cleared a bunch of weeds out of the flowerbed by the kitchen wing. I plan on moving everything to a temporary bed this fall to facilitate construction in the spring, but I had no idea of what was actually in there because it was so overrun by weeds and an annoying ground cover. It looks much better now, and I have a much better idea of what I'll need to accommodate in the new bed.
We have Oscar for the week. Wally and Jen are camping with the kids and Max is with Jen's mom.
In farming news, the tractor arrived on Friday. A pretty mid-sized John Deere. We used it on Sunday to take the old hay out of the main floor of the barn. We're going to reinforce the barn in that area in order to store the boat and tractor for the winter.
Saturday I picked the last of the peas and pulled the vines (which I fed to the pigs). I then planted turnips, beets and carrots with hopes of getting a fall crop of each. The rain this morning should help things along.
Jessica and I took our first riding lesson together on Friday evening. She has grown so tall this summer that she has been moved to a larger mount and she has to mount from the ground. I, on the other hand, get to use a mounting block (which after years of riding western, still feels rather foreign).
Also on Sunday, I cleared a bunch of weeds out of the flowerbed by the kitchen wing. I plan on moving everything to a temporary bed this fall to facilitate construction in the spring, but I had no idea of what was actually in there because it was so overrun by weeds and an annoying ground cover. It looks much better now, and I have a much better idea of what I'll need to accommodate in the new bed.
We have Oscar for the week. Wally and Jen are camping with the kids and Max is with Jen's mom.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Peas in the Garden
I have peas growing in my garden. Not just vines, but actual pea pods filling with sweet green peas. Although small the garden is growing lush and green and it is a battle to stay ahead of the weeds. It is kinda of like staying ahead of the dog hair in the house.
In addition to peas, I've already been eating lettuce out of the garden, in fact this week I must think about re-seeding some more lettuce. I believe the beets are also just about ready to harvest. The tomatoes all have flowers on them and I may try pulling a shallot to see how they are.
I went to the Middleton Market on lunch yesterday. The Valley floor was a whopping 38 degrees. It was marginally cooler on the mountain and by supper time the fog crawled in and cooled things off, making it almost comfortable by bedtime.
Rob cut a couple of the branches of the big ash tree at the edge of the large field. He'll probably put his tree stand there this fall. He's captured photos of a doe on both cameras in the past week and seen her in the big field as well.
The electrical work is finally done on the house, with a few small exceptions. On to the next project, getting the outside painted. We also went out to look at wood stoves. We have some hard decisions to make and some prioritizing to do. They are much more expensive to install and hook up than we anticipated and the cost of a good stove is also more than we originally budgeted.
On a more positive note, Rob ordered his tractor. He'll receive a shiny green and yellow John Deere in about three weeks. That will help with getting the firewood in and a lot of other chores too.
Too hot to think of more type. Time to kick back with a cool drink.
In addition to peas, I've already been eating lettuce out of the garden, in fact this week I must think about re-seeding some more lettuce. I believe the beets are also just about ready to harvest. The tomatoes all have flowers on them and I may try pulling a shallot to see how they are.
I went to the Middleton Market on lunch yesterday. The Valley floor was a whopping 38 degrees. It was marginally cooler on the mountain and by supper time the fog crawled in and cooled things off, making it almost comfortable by bedtime.
Rob cut a couple of the branches of the big ash tree at the edge of the large field. He'll probably put his tree stand there this fall. He's captured photos of a doe on both cameras in the past week and seen her in the big field as well.
The electrical work is finally done on the house, with a few small exceptions. On to the next project, getting the outside painted. We also went out to look at wood stoves. We have some hard decisions to make and some prioritizing to do. They are much more expensive to install and hook up than we anticipated and the cost of a good stove is also more than we originally budgeted.
On a more positive note, Rob ordered his tractor. He'll receive a shiny green and yellow John Deere in about three weeks. That will help with getting the firewood in and a lot of other chores too.
Too hot to think of more type. Time to kick back with a cool drink.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
July Already
It's July already, and the middle of July at that. We are now on the farm full-time. The house in the city sold and we closed on the property on July 4. We're making headway unpacking, but it is a slow process because we have no closets in which to hide things.
The pigs and chickens are growing. As are the weeds in my garden. The pigs have double in size since we brought them home. Their snouts are now at my knees and any time I go into the pen to get their feed container I get pig kisses (at least I hope that's what they are, and they aren't thinking about making me a snack). As a result my pants are covered in mud from my calf to my knee.
The first back of chicks now look like full-grown hens. They still have some filling out to do and some are trying to crow. On Wednesday we heard a commotion at the pen and when we looked out there was a hawk sitting onto of the chicken wire roof.
The meat birds are partially fledged; they still have bald patches here and there which makes them appear partially plucked.
I picked a flat of berries today. It is the end of the strawberry season and picking was slow going. There's nothing like the smell of a berry field, the ripe sweetness of the berries tempered by the smell of dry grass. My hands are stained red by the juice of berries past their ripeness. There is a certain luster and glossiness to a perfectly ripe berry. Too dark a red you can be sure the bottom is soft, or a slug has snacked on it. Too orange and it won't be sweet. The berries are small this year due to the cold season we've had. However, hulling the flat will keep me busy this evening and freezing berries and making jam will keep me out of trouble tomorrow.
I've started working from home and commute into the city one day a week, unless there is a business need to have me their more. It's working out well so far, and I love it when I finish the day and walk out into the fields.
I showed the fields to Peggy, Mark, Sam and their friend Amanda yesterday. It's wonderful to share this property and its views with family and friends.
The pigs and chickens are growing. As are the weeds in my garden. The pigs have double in size since we brought them home. Their snouts are now at my knees and any time I go into the pen to get their feed container I get pig kisses (at least I hope that's what they are, and they aren't thinking about making me a snack). As a result my pants are covered in mud from my calf to my knee.
The first back of chicks now look like full-grown hens. They still have some filling out to do and some are trying to crow. On Wednesday we heard a commotion at the pen and when we looked out there was a hawk sitting onto of the chicken wire roof.
The meat birds are partially fledged; they still have bald patches here and there which makes them appear partially plucked.
I picked a flat of berries today. It is the end of the strawberry season and picking was slow going. There's nothing like the smell of a berry field, the ripe sweetness of the berries tempered by the smell of dry grass. My hands are stained red by the juice of berries past their ripeness. There is a certain luster and glossiness to a perfectly ripe berry. Too dark a red you can be sure the bottom is soft, or a slug has snacked on it. Too orange and it won't be sweet. The berries are small this year due to the cold season we've had. However, hulling the flat will keep me busy this evening and freezing berries and making jam will keep me out of trouble tomorrow.
I've started working from home and commute into the city one day a week, unless there is a business need to have me their more. It's working out well so far, and I love it when I finish the day and walk out into the fields.
I showed the fields to Peggy, Mark, Sam and their friend Amanda yesterday. It's wonderful to share this property and its views with family and friends.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Middleton Market
What a beautiful day. It's been breezy up here on the mountain, but the sun has been shining on and off all day.
I started the morning with a ramble through the fields with Cole. Rob, Ian and Dave were off to the Annapolis River early this morning to start leg one of the annual Amigos Fishing Weekend. Dave caught his first shad and I guess this means the formula used to determine who takes home the trophy will need to be tweaked as it only accounts for pickerel and bass.
When they returned from the river, Cole and I gave Dave the nickle tour of the property before they loaded the boat to head to the lakes.
I spent the afternoon visiting an old friend and learning from a master gardener. I still have to take it easy, so I watched as Debbie G. filled a bed with snap dragons. I toured their new barn to get ideas of what to do with our barn and left with an armful of fresh rhubarb and a promise for some plants this fall so I can grow my own for future years.
One the way home I stopped at the used bookstore in Middleton and picked up a copy of "The Good Life" a book which is considered the forerunner of books for people seeking self-sufficient living. I think all of the books Rob and I have purchased over the last year reference this book.
My final stop of the day was the Middleton Farm Market. I picked up two loaves of bread, a birthday gift for Trudy and two tomato plants from Annapolis Seed.
I think I'll make a rhubarb jam and try that with the bread.
Overall, a busy day and I'm feeling good. I need to behave myself for the rest of the weekend -- no heavy lifting, no stretching. Hopefully the nicer weather will hold and Cole and I can spend some time outdoors.
I started the morning with a ramble through the fields with Cole. Rob, Ian and Dave were off to the Annapolis River early this morning to start leg one of the annual Amigos Fishing Weekend. Dave caught his first shad and I guess this means the formula used to determine who takes home the trophy will need to be tweaked as it only accounts for pickerel and bass.
When they returned from the river, Cole and I gave Dave the nickle tour of the property before they loaded the boat to head to the lakes.
I spent the afternoon visiting an old friend and learning from a master gardener. I still have to take it easy, so I watched as Debbie G. filled a bed with snap dragons. I toured their new barn to get ideas of what to do with our barn and left with an armful of fresh rhubarb and a promise for some plants this fall so I can grow my own for future years.
One the way home I stopped at the used bookstore in Middleton and picked up a copy of "The Good Life" a book which is considered the forerunner of books for people seeking self-sufficient living. I think all of the books Rob and I have purchased over the last year reference this book.
My final stop of the day was the Middleton Farm Market. I picked up two loaves of bread, a birthday gift for Trudy and two tomato plants from Annapolis Seed.
I think I'll make a rhubarb jam and try that with the bread.
Overall, a busy day and I'm feeling good. I need to behave myself for the rest of the weekend -- no heavy lifting, no stretching. Hopefully the nicer weather will hold and Cole and I can spend some time outdoors.
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