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!!