I've gotten quite a bit done in the last week or so.. here's a list of what's in the ground, what's on deck, and what's not checked off the list yet..
.... Spring seeds are popping up. I've got broccoli, collards. cauliflower, parsley, cilantro, chard, beets, and spinach soaking up the fake lights inside.
....Potatoes were cut yesterday and will be left to cure for a few days before setting them out in the ground.
....Asparagus, horseradish, and ginger are ready to go in.. Just waiting another week or so. I'd rather be safe.
.... Baby chicks are ordered and should arrive the first week in April. My friends over at Yellow Bear Farm, Erica and Kelly, came over to help move the soon to be coop into place. Now to find a creative and funky design... and build it!!
....Another friend, Jim, agreed to get his truck dirty and helped with yet another load of compost.. Now to shovel it in place and get the new beds growing.
....I'll be going up to pick up blueberry and grape transplants very soon! Can't wait for some summertime jelly.
....The one hive I've had so much trouble with is , yet again, at risk. After combining the hive in fall I've kept my fingers crossed for a winter survival. I noticed the other day that they were being robbed by the neighboring hive. I had to quickly throw a sheet over the hive as it was almost dark and wait until the next day to act. I replaced the boardman feeder with a top bar feeder and am again hoping for the best. I took a very quick peek in at high noon when it was the warmest out. There is still a sizable cluster of bees so that is a good sign. If they make it through, these are some tough ladies!!
....The new crop mob date is set for March 30. Come out and help build a hoophouse, run plumbing for the garden, and electricity for the "back 9".. It should be a fun day!
If you're interested in seeing a farmer's market in Beaufort, come out to Backstreet Pub on Tuesday at 7pm. Enjoy a tasty beverage by the fire and hash out some ideas.. I for one would love to see one started but we're going to need support and helping hands.
Thank you Mike Gerken for this amazing image of Ms. Papa doing her thing!
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Winter Reflections
I woke this morning to a light dusting of snow on the ground. It was nice to see all the animals huddled together for a bit of warmth and the few plants Charlie and Butterbean didn't manage to ravage in the garden were a bright spot of green. It seems winter is showing itself in NC again.. Although I'm sure it will be back up to 70 in a day or so!
Winter offers up a lot of time to nest. Time to plan for the seasons to come, time to ready the ground, and to clean out old piles. Those days, like today, when it's too cold to do anything productive, are good ones for reflection.. what went wrong, what should be repeated? What can be improved?
I've had a lot of changes happen in the last few months. My brother moved out, my boyfriend moved on to other things, and I've been spending a lot of time alone. This can be both a positive and a negative. I have admitted before, and will again, that it scares the shit out of me to have this much land and this many dreams in my head without someone here to help when I need to lift the other side of something too heavy. I often question what exactly it is that I'm doing, and if I should even try for something more. Maybe it would be more practical to live in a little house in town with a small garden and two chickens again? Maybe that wouldn't be as scary? But then I wake up and walk my property on a cold day like today and I stop to count my blessings. I'm fortunate to have found a little piece of Earth to call mine. I'm lucky to have the room to dream big, to build and create, to turn this place into my own little fairytale. I see asparagus shoots peeking out, bluebirds readying the new nesting box, snow on the ground, and can't help but smile.
Winter offers up a lot of time to nest. Time to plan for the seasons to come, time to ready the ground, and to clean out old piles. Those days, like today, when it's too cold to do anything productive, are good ones for reflection.. what went wrong, what should be repeated? What can be improved?
I've had a lot of changes happen in the last few months. My brother moved out, my boyfriend moved on to other things, and I've been spending a lot of time alone. This can be both a positive and a negative. I have admitted before, and will again, that it scares the shit out of me to have this much land and this many dreams in my head without someone here to help when I need to lift the other side of something too heavy. I often question what exactly it is that I'm doing, and if I should even try for something more. Maybe it would be more practical to live in a little house in town with a small garden and two chickens again? Maybe that wouldn't be as scary? But then I wake up and walk my property on a cold day like today and I stop to count my blessings. I'm fortunate to have found a little piece of Earth to call mine. I'm lucky to have the room to dream big, to build and create, to turn this place into my own little fairytale. I see asparagus shoots peeking out, bluebirds readying the new nesting box, snow on the ground, and can't help but smile.
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