Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Strawberries

Well the garden is finally beginning to look like a garden! Yes, it's about time! I know that our vegetable deliveries have been very sparse recently so it's heartening to see flowers on the peas and squash, the potatoes are up and the russian blues have lovely lavender flowers so we hilled them all up again yesterday. Not long now until fresh new potatoes! And we're planting several more rows this afternoon after I do the animals and get the field squash watered.

We're getting down to the last of the lettuce from the first batch so now we're planting some more hot weather friendly and more bolt resistant types. This weeks box will include some mouth watering strawberries if we're lucky and we're thinking of doing a trade with another local farm for some cucumbers. They're organic too. What do you guys think?

Our appologies to our egg customers who didn't get eggs this past delivery. Best laid plans and all saw us leave on time, get our daughter to the dentist on time, and then realize we'd forgotten eggs. Then our daughter in law was sick and rushed to hospital where they parted her from her appendix. She's doing much better now but it was a crazy and hectic last few days around here. It was lovely to have time with our granddaughters more than usual though.

I'm making baked beans today in the crock pot for dinner tomorrow and shepherds pie for tonight. We've got lots of eggs at present so last night the kids voted to have breakfast for dinner so we had a sumptuous feast of french toast, yoghurt and blueberries. It used up a couple dozen eggs so I was happy.

The lambs and sheep are moved to new lovely pasture while their home pasture rests. The pigs moved with them but have discovered they can get under the fence so we keep finding them in the adjoining goat pen. They're sure growing fast now and eating about 3 lbs of grain a day each plus the table scraps they so enjoy. We've discovered that their favourites include watermelon rind and strawberry hulls. Yum!

Dates are booked for our meat birds to meet their maker so we'll have fresh chicken in July at $4 lb. Did you know that's actually cheaper than the store? Same with our turkey. Speaking of turkey, they're moving this week into new housing.

I've got to get back to work. Hope you're all well and happy!

Elizabeth

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Dost mine eyes deceive me? Is that the sun?!?!

It finally happened...a day of sun! And wouldn't you know it, we were working at the youth group's fundraiser garage sale at Q.Bay resort. We did well though making nearly $600 so far and a couple of big ticket items still to go. Camp is definitely looking better for the boys now :)

Once we got home we headed right for the garden. Reports of a rabbit were not exaggerated, one has a taste for lettuce (preferring romaine) and peas. Not too much damage but I have no intention of feeding this little critter again.

We got lots more planting done. More peas, beans, kohl rabi, lettuces, scallions and we put some leggy tomatoes outside using our sideways method. More tomatoes will be going out tomorrow and lots more seeds are going in the ground. Next week will see the planting of main crops of oats, buckwheat, more potatoes, leeks, cabbage, turnips, corn, and all the squashes including pumpkins. It's going to be a very busy week. The weather looks like it will be sunny for a few days and then showers so finally we have good planting weather! We'll be putting our first application of organic seaweed fertilizer for those crops that are up already.

On the animal front, we're deciding if we should attend the Coombs swap and find homes for some goat kids. Maybe the Silkie roosters too. Or a few odd chickens we have around. Hmmm, what else can I sell? Alpaca fibre? Maybe the billy goat.

The turkeys have stopped their big die-off so we're holding steady at 41. However the meat birds are eating and growing and eating and growing and eating...you get the idea. 5 more weeks and some will be eating sized, it's hard to believe...until you see them eat! We usually grow ours a little more slowly and let them outdoors as it's so much more healthy for them and more natural if they can peck around outside and feel the sun on their backs. They certainly seem happy.

Our injured chicken is ready to return to the flock tomorrow once his bandage comes off. Jasper the smelly Manx cat is fixed so that's a good thing and the last 2 kittens should be going to homes tomorrow with any luck.

That's it for tonight. I got most of the dirt from under my nails, fed the cats, and washed some laundry so now I'm going to bed for some well earned rest.

Thanks for praying for good weather!