We are excited to be at market tomorrow. I am amazed at the resilience of our crops. In the fall when I tossed some sweet turnip seed to the soil, it was an educated experiment. I didn't really expect to be gifted with delicious globes of sweet turnip-y goodness. We will be bringing those, along with a slew of other vegetables and a friendly face.
Before I get on to telling tales of the farm, I want to invite you to check us out instagram and facebook. If you want a more detailed vision of what's going on farmwards and want to see pictures more frequently, following us on social media is the way to go!
Now back to the tales. While the vegetables grow at a snails pace, we are laying the farm's foundation at lightening speed. Our current focus is building our greenhouse. The first round of seeds is due to be started in just a few short weeks and they need a place to call home. We have been working prepping the site and planning out the construction, but were starting to get antsy in the absence of the greenhouse itself. I called the company we ordered if from enough that we recognize each others voices immediately. At long last, at 7:30 pm the greenhouse came in the "mail"! And by mail, I mean a 50 ft tractor trailer packed full of farming materials to be delivered to farms across the Northeast. Our order took up about an eighth of the trailer.
Our greenhouse consists of 30' x 48' steel frame, circulation fans, an exhaust fan, an air intake, a heater, and plastic to skin the house, along with various hardware. I immediately took stock of the order and could hardly stop myself from getting right to work. We still have quite a bit of labor ahead of us on this project, but in my wild hopes, the frame and and plastic are all up and on by the end of next week. Here's to high hopes!
Before I get on to telling tales of the farm, I want to invite you to check us out instagram and facebook. If you want a more detailed vision of what's going on farmwards and want to see pictures more frequently, following us on social media is the way to go!
Now back to the tales. While the vegetables grow at a snails pace, we are laying the farm's foundation at lightening speed. Our current focus is building our greenhouse. The first round of seeds is due to be started in just a few short weeks and they need a place to call home. We have been working prepping the site and planning out the construction, but were starting to get antsy in the absence of the greenhouse itself. I called the company we ordered if from enough that we recognize each others voices immediately. At long last, at 7:30 pm the greenhouse came in the "mail"! And by mail, I mean a 50 ft tractor trailer packed full of farming materials to be delivered to farms across the Northeast. Our order took up about an eighth of the trailer.
Our greenhouse consists of 30' x 48' steel frame, circulation fans, an exhaust fan, an air intake, a heater, and plastic to skin the house, along with various hardware. I immediately took stock of the order and could hardly stop myself from getting right to work. We still have quite a bit of labor ahead of us on this project, but in my wild hopes, the frame and and plastic are all up and on by the end of next week. Here's to high hopes!
Surveying and building are two of Jim's favorite things to do, Exie The Dog clearly doesn't share his enthusiasm
All of the ground posts are in. Next we will assemble the arches and end walls. Then we will put the plastic skin on!
Even with all the commotion, we still made time to explore the infinite depths of the world around us. Jim, Exie, and I, along with Megan and Devin, visiting New Jersey farmer friends, took a stroll through the wetlands on the East side of the farm. All the water that I had been sloshing around in during the milder parts of the season was frozen solid! Exie rolled joyously on her back, pushing herself along the frozen surface with squirms. I dreamed of ice skating. Jim took stock of the ancient farm boundary lines.
We noticed the bodies of bees strewn about on the ice, both on the surface and encased within. I was alarmed, but Megan, a bee keeper, told us that during the winter, bees take advantage of warmer weather to bring out their dead, cleaning the hive. I also learned that bees are quite fastidious. They don't excrete waste inside their hive but hold it until they go outside. They clean the surfaces of the hive by licking. And they clean themselves using their tongue, licking their legs and then comb their fur with them, much like cats. The number of bee bodies indicates that their is a bee hive close by. We are really excited to find them and watch their existence.
That's all for now! Farmwards and upwards!
We noticed the bodies of bees strewn about on the ice, both on the surface and encased within. I was alarmed, but Megan, a bee keeper, told us that during the winter, bees take advantage of warmer weather to bring out their dead, cleaning the hive. I also learned that bees are quite fastidious. They don't excrete waste inside their hive but hold it until they go outside. They clean the surfaces of the hive by licking. And they clean themselves using their tongue, licking their legs and then comb their fur with them, much like cats. The number of bee bodies indicates that their is a bee hive close by. We are really excited to find them and watch their existence.
That's all for now! Farmwards and upwards!
One of the bees seen on the frozen wetland. Rarely are they still enough for such a detailed glimpse.
This is our frozen pond in the woods. Can't wait to get some ice skates!
Fresh from the Hoop!
Choi
Kale
Garlic
Radishes
Spinach
Sweet Salad Turnips!
Choi
Kale
Garlic
Radishes
Spinach
Sweet Salad Turnips!
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