Nesting Time!

It's hard to believe Thanksgiving is just a few days away!  Is it just me, or does time go by much quicker these days?  It seems I'm so rushed now after work.  I tutor most days of the week and don't get home until close to 5pm so I've been going out with a headlamp to take care of feeding and other chores.  I do love the time to nest inside but it makes getting anything done a real pain. 

The chickens are in nesting mode as well.  This time of year, with decreased hours of daylight, the ladies don't lay much at all.  I've had 3 eggs this week and will be setting those aside for a Saturday morning breakfast, keeping them all for myself!  Their coop is full of fresh straw to keep them warm at night and I look forward to the newer hens laying more in the Spring.  I should have plenty of fresh eggs to share.  Over the winter I will be researching new breeds to raise.  I'd like to get a few funky chickens.. mohawks, fuzzy feet and such and hope to get started on building a new coop soon. 

Charlie and Butterbean are enjoying a newly expanded paddock. Their grazing area is now doubled and they seem happy to run into their shed with full bellies every night.  This is only after they get  their  daily treat of "All Stock", which is a molassas covered barley they love.  Their winter coats are thick and full to keep them warm at night.  I'm still giving thought to expanding the herd soon but don't know that I'm ready to start breeding and milking just yet. 

I am beginning to think that my skills as a beekeeper are lacking, seriously.  I'm trying not to be discouraged but I am just not having the best luck.  I combined my two weaker hives earlier this week and it did not go as smoothly as I'd hoped.  I was already stressed because I had to kill a queen for the first time, something I did not want to do.  While looking through the weakest hive to find the queen, she managed to fall to the bottom of the hive and a lot of the few remaining bees in the colony followed her.  This means they were not on the frames that I needed to move to the other hive.  A long and depressing story made short, the few surviving bees from the weakest hive are now combined with the "stronger" of the two and I'm waiting for them to eat through the layer of newspaper that separates them for the time being.  For those of you wondering.. when combining two hives one queen must be killed.  If not, the two queens will fight and the other worker bees will also attack an unknown queen resulting in more deaths.  Therefore, it's best to kill one of the queens.  A layer of newspaper is placed between the two boxes.  The bees from the two colonies are able to smell one another and eat through the paper over about a week period and are given time to adjust to new bees being in their territory.  This lessens the likelihood of an all out bee battle.  To add to all of this, I'm having to feed them sugar water still and will probably have to continue through the winter.  All I can do is keep my fingers crossed that these are some really tough ladies who will keep each other warm through the winter.  If not, I'll be ordering even more in the Spring.

The garden is doing well.  I've got tons of greens and have been eating salads as much as possible.  I've had a few folks come out to pick their own but haven't had as much business as I'd hoped for.  I think it adds to the experience of getting a box of garden fresh goodies if you can pick them yourselves.  Busy schedules seem to always get in the way, which is exactly why I haven't been able to deliver boxes during the fall.  The short days and busy work make it very difficult to get into "town" to deliver.  I'm hoping folks will be up for the drive out to Mill Creek to gather their own sweet potatoes, arugula, lettuce, chard, radishes, chives, cilantro, and collards.  I've already started flipping through seed catalogs for Spring and am again in love with the colors and varieties!  Every year is something new. 

I have been making plans for a hoop house and/or greenhouse and again, as soon as I win the lottery they will be constructed.  Until then, I'm saving scraps of wood, windows, and anything else that I might be able to one day use.  If you come across old windows or wood put it aside for me and I'll be more than happy to come out and get it from you. 

This week, as we celebrate Thanksgiving, enjoy time with family and friends.  Be thankful.  And take a minute to think about where the food in front of you comes from.  Most of America goes to the grocery store for our Thanksgiving meal.  Canned pumpkin pie filling, prepackaged Turkey, and green beans in a can.... If you know your farmer, thank them for putting time and love into the food that sits on your plate.  And cherish every bite. 

Fall Happenings

I am sitting on my back porch on a beautiful Fall morning with a nice cup of coffee... I could not be happier but what is that sound???  My bees are not as happy and all I can hear is their buzzing around the yard!  I went into my three hives yesterday to inspect the situation for the upcoming cooler weather.  What I found is not what I was hoping for.  One hive is doing great.  They have plenty of honey to get them through the winter.  Their numbers are strong and they are content to feed on goldenrod.  The other two hives, however, are a total mystery to me.  I found NO honey in either hive.  They have been weak all season and I was hoping the fall bloom would strengthen them, but to no avail.  I made the decision to take off the extra boxes since bees will freeze if given too much space and wax moths will come in.  After taking off the boxes I noticed that the two weak hives were attacking one another.  I went to bed in hopes of a resolution in the bee wars but came out to find hundreds of bees on the outside of the hives.  Not a good sign.  I quickly put on my gear ad replaced one of the empty boxes to give them more room.  I'll watch them for a few days and see what happens.  The real concern is the lack of honey.  Bees need honey to eat during the cold winter months and since mine have none, I am going to have to feed them.  This is not something I normally like to do since sugar water is not their natural diet but I am forced to give it a try.  Without it, they will surely perish.  I am keeping my fingers (and toes) crossed for a mild winter and determined bees. 

My friends Kelly and Erica brought over their shiny red "Whiz Bang Chicken Plucker" and I'm going to give it a whirl today.  I've always plucked chickens by hand so today will be a new experience.  I've already processed most of the broilers but three chunky birds are still waddling around the coop.  Today is their day.  They have proven to be very tasty and at about 10 pounds each, they provide a lot of meat.  I cooked one in a browning bag covered with Apple Butter and it was the tasiest chicken I've ever had.  I plan to add the others to the freezer and enjoy them through the winter.  I do have some Mango Chutney just needing to be enjoyed so chicken may be on the menu tonight in Mill Creek! 

Charlie and Butterbean, my dwarf Nubian goats, are starting to get their winter coats and have fluffed up quite a bit.  A few weeks ago Josh, Jordan, and I spent a whole day making a new paddock for them using electric wire.  They have now eaten most of the green in the area.  It amazes me how much they are able to clear out in only a short time.  One of my students came over yesterday and just loved spending time with them.  He fed them carrots, one of their favorites, and discovered that Charie will take a carrot right out of your mouth!  They are entertaining and cute to say the least!  I am giving more thought to breeding Butterbean so that I can venture into the world of milking but do believe I'll hold off until I've gone through a winter with them first. 

The garden is alive and beautiful!  I now have planted the following:  3 varieties of lettuce, swiss chard, arugula, collards, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cabbage, spinach, kale, corn salad, leeks, onions, garlic, beets, radish, carrots, and cilantro.  The first salad of fall was wonderful and I look forward to many more. I also look forward to starting up with CSA boxes again and should be able to make a full delivery in a few weeks. 

On another note, my house now has a beautiful new red roof!  After working for 4 days straight, it is finally done.  Thank you to my amazng brother for all of his hard work.  Friends also came over to pitch in and without them I'd probably still be nailing!  I chose to go with Ondura roofing.  It is a recycled composite material that I am very happy with.  The waste was close to nothing since we were able to put it right over the one layer of shingles on the roof.  The only drawback is that it takes a lot of nailing and a nailgun can't be used since there are rubber washers on each one. This was a project that has, most literally, been hanging over my head for quite a while.  Now maybe I can start saving for a shiny new TRACTOR!!!! 

Happy Fall to all!  I'm off to kayak the Newport River today and enjoy the perfect North Carolina temperatures. 

Slow Times In The Garden

My poor, pitiful garden...  Right now I have two eggplant bushes that have somehow managed to survive the flooding, and okra.  Everything else rotted from the roots up.  To remedy this problem, I've had lots of help building raised beds.  I'm spending my days after work filling wheelbarrow loads of dirt to take over.  However, even this is a problem since the yard is saturated.  The wheels dig into the ground and pushing gets ten times harder.. not to mention the unsightly ruts left in the grass!  For now, I just keep wheeling along and hoping to fill each box before planting time arrives!

The seedlings that I have planted are doing well.  I have lots of lettuce, arugula, kale, asian greens, broccoli, and collards.  The other seedlings will come from Newport Garden Center.  They have a great selection right now and I always enjoy the conversation when I stop in for feed or plants. They are great folks and I'd encourage you to support your local growers! 

I'm heading up to Raleigh this weekend for the Carolina Farm Stewardship Eastern Triangle Farm Tour.  You can find out more information on their website at http://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/.  They are a great organization with lots of helpful tips and wonderful programs.  I'm looking forward to touring the farms on this year's list and am secretly hoping to pet a few adorable baby goats! 

For now, I'm trying my best to stay positive and looking forward to the time to plant.  The rains over the last few weeks may have wiped out my summer garden but that's the wonderful thing about gardening.. you can pull up one plant and start all over again! 

Rain!!!

Due to the endless rain over the last few weeks, and more to come this week, I've decided to postpone the Crop Mob scheduled for this weekend, until a later date.  My yard is a pond and the garden is even worse.  I'll update everyone as soon as a new date has been set.  Thanks so much to everyone who has offered to come out and help. 

Rain, Rain, Go To The Midwest!!!!

Yes, that's my yard!!!!  It is so hard to believe that parts of the US are suffering from extreme drought.  We here in eastern NC are most certainly not!  It has rained every day for the last two weeks and my yard is at capacity!  The shots you see above are areas surrounding the exisiting garden.  As you can imagine, the veggies are none too happy with the situation!  While they need water, too much can be just as bad as too little.  At this point, I still have beans, eggplants, peppers, and okra holding on but I am not putting a lot of faith in their ability to produce quality vegetables after this set back.  Unfortunately, I've had to let my CSA subscribers know that they may not be receiving another box for a few weeks.  The decision to have folks pay for boxes as they get them is one that I am glad I made.  While I may not get the money I need upfront to start the growing process, I feel that my customers are happier knowing they only pay for what they receive, when they receive it, and that makes me feel better.  The recent weather is a perfect example of why I decided to venture from the typical "CSA" model. 
I have started a ton of seedlings and they are all doing well.  I'm really looking forward to the fall garden.  I love nothing more than fresh greens!  I've got a variety of goodies planned for the fall and can't wait to deliver! 

On the business front, I have made a bit of progress but mostly am just waiting to win the lottery!  I do have a meeting set up with the health department today to find out what it takes to actually get a commerical grade kitchen set up.  I really want to be able to offer cooking classes and give folks the option of actually eating what they cook.  Food laws being what they are, it's going to be a fairly difficult, and expensive, process but I know it will be worth it in the end.  I'll keep you updated.
Until then, happy growing!

Crop Mob!!!

Join the Carteret Local Food Network for a CROP MOB at Two Bees Farm!!
What is Crop Mob?
 A crop mob is a group of folks who come together to build and empower communities by working side by side. We work together in the spirit of mutual aid. Volunteers show up at a farm to offer their know-how and a helping hand in the spirit of community to assist a farmer with the endless projects that never seem to get done.   Come take part in something meaningful and productive!
We will meet at Two Bees Farm on September 8.  In the event of rain, we will reschedule for September 15. Work will begin at 9 am and continue until noon.  After a morning of hard work we will enjoy a potluck lunch and celebrate community.
Bring a dish to share, plenty of water, a playful spirit, and your tools (shovels, rakes, gloves, etc.). 
Projects to be accomplished include:  tilling ground for grapes, berries, and gardens; building raised beds and grape vine trellis, amending garden beds with compost, clearing land for new planting areas, and honest, hard work! 
Two Bees Farm is located at 753 Old Winberry Road, Newport NC.  Please contact Tanya Scott at 252-342-3447 or seahorsenc@gmail.com for additional details. 

The crop mob concept started right here in NC.. You can read more about it at www.cropmob.org

Runaway Goats!

Things have been so busy that I've barely had time to sit down at my computer, much less update the blog.  Summer brings constant chores and the hot weather has made it rather painful to get them done!  I find myself waking at an insane hour for someone who is "off for the summer" but it's the only time I can get work done without melting away! 

The garden has done well.  I've picked Asian Yard Long Beans all summer and they are yummy!  My squash started off strong but has finally been taken over by my nemesis, the squash vine borer.  I've watched peppers, okra, tomatoes, and other wonderful summer crops come and go.  Just last night I planted seeds for the fall garden.  It's hard to believe that it's time already! 

Charlie and Butterbean decided to go on a little adventure.  They made their way over to the soybean field next door and just kept going!  They showed up this morning on a neighbors back porch.  He was drinking his morning coffee and looked up to see the goats peering through his back door!  I loaded them up in the backseat (yes, I said that...) and brought them back home.  We'll see how long it is before they decide to take off again? 

Veggie box deliveries have been steady and I think everyone is pleased?  They have included a nice variety of veggies, honey, eggs, and other "gifts".  I have decided to keep the list to 6 for the fall as I'm finding that I just need more time and energy to get things done here before committing to more customers.  I'd rather make a small group happy!

Goats, Veggies, and Summer Fun!

I am loving the fact that I'm off for the summer!! It gives me time to do things like can and make pesto!  If only I could win the lottery and be a "Stay at Home Susie Homemaker"!  I've posted a few pictures that many of you have already seen on my facebook page.  I apologize for the repeats but my mom did such an amazing job with the pics that I had to share again!  She's one talented and amazing woman! 

Butterbean and Charlie are my dwarf Nubian goats.  Charlie is now a "wether" which means he's neutered.  I banded him about two days after getting him.  As I'm just starting out, I didn't want to deal with everything that goes along with having a male goat (they pee on their beards!!!) so he and Butterbean are living a very stress free life on the "back 9".  I installed an electic polynet fence and am moving it around as they clear an area.  I can't believe how much they eat in a week!!  Jordan and I have been busy building their house and moving the fencing around but eventually they'll help us clear an area for grapevines and another garden.  Charlie is very friendly and loves to be held.  He comes right up to me and I hear his cute little cries every time I open the back door.  Butterbean is a little skiddish and I'm working with her every day.  I hope that she'll begin to warm to me.  Dwarf Nubians are referred to as "scrub goats" because they eat just about anything.  They are one of the easiest breeds of goats to care for and maintain.  Eventually, I plan to start milking and dwarf nubians are also known for being good milkers despite their small size.  Can you say goat cheese!!!! 

The garden is doing well despite a few setbacks.  Organic gardening can be a challenge.  It's hard when you see plants being taken over by bugs but multiple visits to the garden each day help to keep them in check.  I think I should market a stink bug perfume.. Probably not a best seller, but I've been sportin it for a while now!  Today I am delivering veggie baskets to six folks.  They will receive a mixture of the following (although not enough for everyone to have everything):  Chard, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, beans, peppers, herbs, brussel sprouts, eggplant, pesto, pickles, and jalapeno jelly. 

The bees are being very difficult this year!  After already losing one swarm, I'm down to three hives.  I had to order a new queen this week, and at $60 a pop, I sure hope she does her job!!  I should be able to harvest honey from Hazel's hive by mid July if all goes well.  I'm really looking forward to the honey harvest as it's such an exciting time. 

There's never a dull moment around Two Bees Farm!  Anyone that's up for a visit, just let me know.  I'm "off" for summer break and around most days!

It seems the green in my "green thumb" is not feeling so bright these days. I've added compost, turned the soil, and kept things as bug free as humanly possible but things just aren't taking off.  My poor little watermelon and cantaloupe plants are just that.. little.  They are stunted and don't want to go anywhere.  So, I am buying plants from a local garden center and will see if a second planting  does the trick.  I've had trouble with mexican bean beetles since my bean plants came up and it seems they are stunting the growth of the plants.  Today I'm going home to replant those as well.  It's hard not to get frustrated, especially when I see so many lush and green plants in other gardens.. What's that called, "green with envy"?  I have harvested quite a few cucumbers and will be making dill pickles this week.  A nice addition will be the dried dill seeds that I harvested last week.  I was also able to gather quite a few corriander seeds (picture below).  I'll be busy canning this week and will add pictures of this venture soon!  Also, pictures and information on the two cutest additions to Two Bees Farm:  Butterbean and Charlie are coming soon! 

And I have to show off my new toy.. Thanks Gaskill's Hardware!!



Each year, I am amazed at the changes going on around me.  The transition from one season to another is  bittersweet it seems.  I am always overjoyed at the arrival of Spring.  New blooms, a bit of green (finally), and lots of wonderful food from the garden keep me smiling for months.  This time of year is no different.  Summer will be here soon.  The fact that I only have 11 days of school left makes me want to scream and shout with joy, but I also think about the fact that Spring is on it's way out.  I was again reminded of this fact this week with the last of the spring veggie boxes going out.  I said goodbye to the spring side of the garden.  It will be tilled under this weekend and vetch will be planted as a summer groundcover.  Now I'm keeping an eye on the new arrivals and am pulling out the old canning recipes.  I have tomatoes, squash, beans, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, and herbs well established and looking healthy.  I may even be able to pick a squash or two this week!  I sent out an email to those folks who receive veggie boxes asking for input and feedback.  I'm thinking I'll try something new for their summer boxes and offer some canned goods, infused oils, and cheese in addition to the standard tomatoes and peppers.  Another great thing about having a summer break is that I will actually have time to spend in the kitchen during the heat of the day.  I'm looking forward to creating some tasty treats! 

Heading into Summer

I'll have to admit, things have been a bit crazy these last few weeks.  It's been hard to keep up with everything that goes on this time of year!  I'm still harvesting so many wonderful veggies from the spring crops.  I just put out the latest round of baskets.  They included:  lettuce, arugula, chard, radish, beets, potatoes, onions, and sugar snap peas.  The summer garden is up and running but I'm trying to stay ahead of the bugs!  My bean plants are already suffering and I'm hoping that my late evening picking efforts will keep them at bay?  We'll see!  When the bugs get to be too much I do use a few methods for combating them.  First, I try to hand pick as many as humanly possible.  If there are just too many I will use Neem Oil or a mixture of Bronner's soap and water.  This usually does the trick.

The bees seem happy these days.  I've had to add new boxes each week and the ladies seem thrilled to have so much in bloom.  They are a non-stop train of pollen and it's so fun to watch!  I'm still hoping for a mid to late June honey harvest.  I have seen a few wax moths but the ladies are going strong and should be able to defend themselves against the pesky (and messy) intruders.  Fingers crossed...

I'm counting down the days to summer (only 18 more days of school left!!).  I've set a goal for myself.  By the end of the summer I will have a full business plan written and be ready to lauch a kickstarter.com fundraising campaign.  I just have to practice a little self-discipline.  Don't be tempted to sleep in, don't spend too much time out on the boat, and focus!!

Wow!! It's been really busy around Two Bees Farm.  This past weekend folks enjoyed their second vegetable boxes.  I was able to fill them with lettuce, chard, carrots, radishes, beets, arugula, spinach, bok choy, herbs, and eggs.  The last of the spinach, radishes, and carrots were picked to make room for summer seedlings.  As much as I love summer I'll have to admit that I'm sad to see all the beautiful leafy greens go.  There's nothing like fresh, crisp lettuce straight from the garden.  Warmer weather brings tomatoes, beans, and squash.  I'm a little behind on planting this time and will be busy this week working to get everything in the ground.  Weeding is starting to become a chore, and one that I will have to force myself to do daily! 

The bees all seem to be happy!  I was excited to add boxes to the two older hives and should be able to harvest honey by late June!  The new hive, which has seen it's share of troubles, and was combined with another new hive apparently poisoned by fermented sugar water, seems to be doing well.   I'm keeping a close eye on them and sure hope they stay happy! 

If you're looking for a different way to spend an hour or so, come on out and help in the gardens!  There's plenty of weeding and planting to be done.  I also have seedlings for sale in the greenhouse.  Come check it out! 

happy planting
t

Successful First Delivery!!!

This past Satuday was a big day at Two Bees Farm! My first 5 veggie boxes went out and I'm so happy to report that everyone seemed pleased.  I was able to provide radishes, carrots, chard, lettuce, dill, cilantro, and rosemary this time.  I have hopes of the next boxes going out in two weeks. 

I was thrilled when I went into the new hives on Saturday.  The new queens are alive and well!  There are tiny little eggs in the cells and the workers are busy gathering the spring goodies!  I'm still worried about one of my older hives and will check it in a few days to see if there is new larvae.  When I checked on Saturday, there was uncapped larvae but I still didn't see eggs or the queen.  I'm really hoping she's just hiding! 

Spring Break is coming up (thank goodness) and I am looking forward to a week off!  I'm forcing myself to relax a bit and look forward to some down time spent with old friends on the beach.  The plants can do without me for a few days, right??

Here's a picture of the weekend harvest...

Spring has Sprung!!!!

I can't tell you how much I love Spring in Eastern NC!  We've had some unusually high temps for this time of year and I'm hoping that won't hurt us later on, but it sure has been nice!! I spent all weekend out and about in the yard, part of that time spent in a lovely tent hammock relaxing to the sounds of spring.. The rest of the time was, of course, spent working!  The "new" greenhouse is finally complete!  A friend donated the frame to me and it is now complete with recycled windows and carpet flooring.  I used old windows from my house, the carpet is from the 50's and is serving as a great weed barrier.. But man how cool is the orange shag underneath!!  I transplanted a few varieties of tomatoes and peppers and am trying them out in the new digs.. We'll see how they do as temperatures are supposed to get down at night a bit this week.  I'm planning to transplant basil and a few other herbs this week and will be adding them as well. 
I set up two new hives on Friday.. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and am hoping for the best but I made some pretty costly mistakes.  I wore my new gloves and found out too late that they were not for holding a tiny nail and trying to push the cork out of the queen box.  Instead of leaving the candy cork, I pushed it all the way out.. The purpose of the candy cork is to prevent the queen from escaping too soon.  The worker bees have to get used to her, know her pheremones, and accept her as their queen before she can be released.  The release is usually up to the bees as they eat slowly through the plug.  I sped up the process and am hoping that the workers had enough time in the box with her and won't decide to kill her.  At the very worst, I'll have to requeen next week.  I'm just hoping they can sustain themselves for that long without her!  As for my small original hive, it's not looking so great inside! There weren't many bees when I checked a week ago and there is no new larvae or eggs.  I'm hoping the queen isn't dead but I'll wait again until this Friday to check.  Fingers, toes, and everything else crossed! 

It's been busy around Two Bees Farm!!  It seems we made a leap straight from winter (a very mild one) to summer!  Temperatures have already reached 80 and it's not even spring yet!  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for few bug problems this year in the garden.. We'll see how that works out!  I've been busy moving seedlings around.  The top picture shows lettuce and chard growing in one of the new cold frames.  It seems very happy and indeed, my belly was very happy last night after eating a bit for dinner!  I was so excited to enjoy the first spring veggies!  Beets, carrots, peas, kale, arugula, chard, cabbage, collards, broccoli, potatoes, onions, radishes, leeks, and bok choy are all thriving in the new spring garden.  I'll be transplanting some of my seedlings to bigger pots to include in my first veggie baskets in about two weeks!  I have to be honest, I'm growing a bit nervous about starting up the baskets and hope that I can make my customers happy!

The bees are coming!! I'm scheduled to pick up two boxes of bees this Friday, March 23 and will be placing the ladies in their new hives before dark (I hope!).  I've gone with some new colors on the boxes this year.. I guess I just got bored with plain old white boxes!  I went into my hives this past week and all is well with the ladies.  One hive is down to one box and I had to put a feeder on, but the queen is laying and larvae is developing.  The other hive is doing great.  Numbers are high and the bees are already gathering pollen and nectar.  I'm looking forward to watching their progress! 

The baby chicks are growing like weeds.  I've already moved the Cornish Cross pullets to the outside pen and plan to move them to the chicken tractor later this week.  The others (Speckled Sussex, Brown Leghorns, and Aracaunas) all seem to be doing well but aren't quite big enough to brave the cooler night temps just yet.  The older ladies have amped up egg production as the warmer temperatures settle in. I took 5 dozen to the Beaufort Community Market on Saturday and will probably take about the same amount this week. 

Spring seems to have sprung!  I'll post pictures of the chicks and bees very soon and hope to have another exciting update soon. Happy Growing!
t

Shelburne Farms, VT The ABC's of Educational Farming

I attended a workshop called the ABC's of Educational Farming held at Shelburne Farms, VT last weekend.  I came away with a great resource book, Project Seasons, which is full of activites to use with visitors to the "educational farm that will be..." one day in the (sooner than later) future!  I was able to brainstorm with folks who already run similiar programs, volunteer, or are involved in Farm to School programs in and around Vermont.  Programs that focus on educational farming and connections to local food systems are abundant in the New England area and my hope is for this interest to trickle down south a bit!  The most valuable information that I gained came in the form of fundraising and business ideas.  My biggest obstancle at this point is how to gain the funds to actually make my ideas a reality.  I am researching the possibility of launching a fundraiser campaign on http://www.kickstarter.com/.   Check out the website if you have time!  I'm more than interested in your opinions and advice on how to attain start up funds for Two Bees Farm educational programing.  I am also working on a survey to assess community interest in educational farming programs (after school, summer camps, and weekend classes) and would appreciate any sharing of email addresses.  I'd like to have this ready to send out by mid-April and could use your help.  If you know of anyone who might be intested in what I'm doing and wouldn't mind taking a short needs assessment survey, send me their email address!  You can reach me at seahorsenc@gmail.com.  Here are a few links that may be of interest..
Shelburne Farms:   http://www.shelburnefarms.org/
The Farm Based Education Association:  http://www.farmbasededucation.org/
Kickstarter Fundraising Website:  http://www.kickstarter.com/

I hosted the first "Young Farmers Potluck" this past Sunday at my place in Mill Creek.  Despite the rainy weather, fun was had by all.  We had about 15 folks show up for good food and conversation.  There are a lot of exciting things happening in Carteret County and my hope is for this group of vibrant folks to continue this tradition of learning and sharing.  We look forward to the next potluck to be hosted by Daniel and Tara in March. 
As for my happenings here at Two Bees Farm... I am about to take off for my second business class at CCC.  Tonight we will be working on our business plans and, I hope, moving one step closer to making this idea a working reality!  The seedlings are doing well.  I topped them off yesterday with worm castings and watered them with a seaweed emulsion.  I'm hoping this will give them the kick they need to grow strong before going in the cold frames.  Speaking of cold frames, the lettuce and chard seem to be doing well.  Not too shabby for my first time growing in frames!  I planted some summer veggie seeds this past week as well.  Tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, herbs, and squash will soon be germinating!  A friend scored about 8 boxes of rotting produce from the local food bank and it is now sitting happily in two of my compost bins.  I'm super excited about the day old baby chicks scheduled to arrive this week.  The brooders are set up and awaiting their arrival.  I can't wait to hear those cute little chirps! 
Fingers crossed for clear skies this weekend.. I'll make another run to the Hibbs Road Transfer Station for compost to add to the new garden area.  The chickens have been eating the leftovers in the garden this week and unfortunately, found my new carrot sprouts.  I'll have to replant them, along with some of the English Peas.  If the soil is dry enough, I'll be tilling in the crimson clover and weeding the new garden beds.  Beehives are about halfway assembled.  I kept my poor brother up with the sound of banging hammer and nails, but the first new hive is completed!  Bees are scheduled to arrive in late March. 
There's a lot going on here and I'm more than excited about the arrival of Spring!  Happy growing to all.

If you or anyone you know is interested in farming ventures in Carteret County, please join me at Two Bees Farm on Sunday February 19 at 2:00 pm.  I will be hosting the first "Young Farmers Potluck".  Now please don't take offense to the "young" part... but I'm trying to promote more involvement from the younger folks in the area.. We are a retirement community afterall and at times it is very difficult to get the next generation involved and invested in our area.  I will offer a short tour of my place (keep in mind there's not a lot going on at this time of year!) and we'll gather together for good food and conversation about opportunites in our area.  Hope to see you there!!

February is a time of transition.  I am currently cleaning out the garden to make way for the new Spring arrivals.  I harvested the last of the broccoli side shoots for a yummy final dish.  In their place, I have planted Sugar Snap Peas and Early English garden peas.  I've also planted onions and carrots and am patiently awaiting their arrival.  The inside seeds have been started (Arugula, Brocolli, Chard, Collards, Kale, Lettuce, and Spinach) and most of them have already germinated!  I also direct seeded lettuce and chard into the new cold frames and will see what happens.  This is my first time using a cold frame and I'm eagerly awaiting the results.  This week I am planning to work on the new garden area.  I've added a layer of wheat straw which will be covered with horse manure and compost.  I'll wait a few weeks and till it all in before planting Summer Alfalfa as a cover crop.  This area won't actually be ready for planting until Fall.  Soil samples have been taken and sent off, and compost piles are being increased.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a successful Spring growing season.  I've got more folks to provide for now and the pressure is on!!! 

Today's post is not about gardening, or what's happening here in Mill Creek, but more about life and it's cycles I guess.. I went home today to see my great grandmother Hazel after receiving the call that she wasn't doing well.  She is a tough old bird who has been such an enormous part of my life and I wanted to take a minute to thank her.. and to thank all the wonderful ladies surrounding me today.. My grandmother, my mom, my aunts, my niece.  They inspire me.  They comfort me.  They support me.. in this new venture and in everything that I do.  My roots are deep.  My life is lush, productive, and vibrant.. all the things I wish to see around here.. because of those who have nurtured and loved me.  And to Mama.. thank you for teaching me to sew just about anything, to roll out dough and how to cook soup, to garden and grow, to laugh, and how to be a little fiesty. 

This is a lot of pressure.. Writing my first blog post.  But since I have not decided if this blog should be entertaining or business like ( mullet anyone?) I will start by explaining what I'm working with here.. I have 9.4 acres (that's 0.6 acres from tax credits..) and a house that is in constant repair.  Walls have been knocked down, concrete floors covered... I have a fancy new bedroom sans stinky carpet and a worm bin in a trash can.  I have a garden that is small by most standards, but feels huge in July.  I feed 18 chickens, some of which are very old.  The neighbor across the way gave them to me after they kept crossing the road and others came from a birthday present with too many chicks in the box.  I took 8.  Six turned out to be roosters.... Thank you Mary April. My compost bin has been depleated for the season.. and it's January.  But I've started new piles, as I always seem to do, and am learning as I go. 
I picture so many things happening here.. But for now I will be (hopefully) providing for about 8 folks this spring.  Vegetable and herb seeds are going in this week.  I have tilled up an additional 20x30 area for the garden and will be recruting friends with trucks to caravan to the county compost pile :)  I'm thinking mid-February? I'm expanding the apiary up to 5 hives.. have visions of a baby goat, and pigs, and apple trees..  I am so excited that my stomach truly does feel like there are butterflies flittering around in there.. I'm nervous and God, I really hope I don't screw this up.. But I can't help but smile.. I'm hoping I'll have the steam to keep writing about what I experience here and that we'll all learn a little along the way?