Weather permitting, I will be at the Olde Beaufort Farmers' Market tomorrow. A little rain won't keep me away but lightening and heavy winds will. Please check out our facebook page for updates. I'll have the following tomorrow:
Honey
Eggs
Veggie Grab Bags filled with: peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, okra, and squash. Perfect for a stir fry!
Potted plants: Sage, chives, dill, oregeno, zinnias, mums, bee balm, and calamint
Cut Herbs: chives, rosemary, stevia, sage
Hope to see you there!
Thank you Mike Gerken for this amazing image of Ms. Papa doing her thing!
Friday, July 12, 2013
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Summertime
I just finished my second week of summer vacation and already, it feels as though time is slipping away. I still don't feel that I'm able to get everything done on my neverending to-do list. This week was especially tough to stay focused. One week ago today I had to say goodbye to my best friend for the past 10 years. My dog Maxx has been my constant companion. He's been on roadtrips, seen too many changes to even mention, followed me around, and loved me though everything. Losing him was the toughest thing I've ever had to endure. He was such a wonderful farm dog. While out doing my chores daily, he was constantly by my side. He would walk right into the chicken coop and they barely even noticed. This week as I've been working in the garden, I've found myself looking up to see if he was sitting by the gate. His absence has left a hole in my heart that has been very painful. I am filled with wonderful memories and will cherish the short time I had with him forever. If you are lucky enough to have a dog like Maxx, spoil them! I wish he was still around for me to do so!
Things here at Two Bees Farm have been rolling along smoothly. The garden is doing well for the most part. Dealing with new beds and mediocre soil has been a challenge this season. My plants aren't baring as much as I'd like to see but all in all, they are healthy plants. I have tons of green tomatoes, squash, zucchini, peppers, and okra that will be ready to pick after today's rain. I'll be at the Beaufort Farmers' Market next weekend so come on out and enjoy the bounty!
The bees are doing their thing. I harvested about 4 gallons of honey a few weeks ago and it's already sold. If only I had 50 hives and a constant supply of honey..
I was hoping to start work on the greenhouse today but rain interfered with my plans. I'll start tilling the ground as soon as it dries out and will also start building shelves and getting things ready for fall. I'm very excited to grow in a greenhouse.. a real one.. and can't wait to see how much more I'm able to harvest through the winter.
For today, I'll veg out on the couch with some baked brie smothered in newly made plum chutney and read my gardening books. It's a good lazy day on the farm!
Things here at Two Bees Farm have been rolling along smoothly. The garden is doing well for the most part. Dealing with new beds and mediocre soil has been a challenge this season. My plants aren't baring as much as I'd like to see but all in all, they are healthy plants. I have tons of green tomatoes, squash, zucchini, peppers, and okra that will be ready to pick after today's rain. I'll be at the Beaufort Farmers' Market next weekend so come on out and enjoy the bounty!
The bees are doing their thing. I harvested about 4 gallons of honey a few weeks ago and it's already sold. If only I had 50 hives and a constant supply of honey..
I was hoping to start work on the greenhouse today but rain interfered with my plans. I'll start tilling the ground as soon as it dries out and will also start building shelves and getting things ready for fall. I'm very excited to grow in a greenhouse.. a real one.. and can't wait to see how much more I'm able to harvest through the winter.
For today, I'll veg out on the couch with some baked brie smothered in newly made plum chutney and read my gardening books. It's a good lazy day on the farm!
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Farm Life
Days like today make me stop and think about how entertaining things can get around here! Here are a few samplings of random events on the farm...
- After getting my ring caught in the chicken tractor/goat pen and having to cut it off, I then lost it. It was found in a steaming pile of chicken poo... It's now on my hand.
- I was actually excited to get up at 6 on a Saturday morning to go to the market. I wasn't even selling today.. I just went out to help and enjoy the friendly faces. I remember the days when a fire alarm was the only thing getting me out of bed that early on a weekend!
- I discovered a secret egg laying spot.. complete with 45 eggs that can't be sold or eaten. I crushed them up and put them around the plants instead. I almost cried.
- I can't actually fit any store bought food in my fridge. It's now packed with radishes, collards, and other unexpected treats from today.
- I took "redneck" to a new level today. I drove the 4 wheeler on the main road down to the neighbors to collect horse manure. I then drove back down the road with a steaming pile of poo with two flat tires.. with traffic lined up behind me. At least my hair looked good, right?
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Pinkie the Two Bees Farm truck
A HUGE thank you to my mom and dad for making my life so much easier! I guess they felt sorry for me and the ragged out pathfinder... After a few years of begging friends for help hauling compost, farm supplies, trash, and everything in between, I finally have my very own truck! Pinkie is a 1995 Ford F-150 and I couldn't be happier! I've already made two trips to the farmers' market and look forward to many more!!
Farmers' Market Break Memorial Day Weekend
In order to give my garden time to catch up, I will not be selling the weekend of Memorial Day. I will be back the following weekend however, and expect to have the following for sale:
Chard
Sugar Snap Peas
Fava Beans
Beets
Broccoli
New Potatoes
Onions
Chives
Herbs (Rosemary, Basil, Mint, oregeno)
Potted plants: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, sage, chives, dill, oregeno
Mother of Millions (succulent plant)
Eggs
Honey!!!! yes, Honey!!!
I hope to see you there!!
Chard
Sugar Snap Peas
Fava Beans
Beets
Broccoli
New Potatoes
Onions
Chives
Herbs (Rosemary, Basil, Mint, oregeno)
Potted plants: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, sage, chives, dill, oregeno
Mother of Millions (succulent plant)
Eggs
Honey!!!! yes, Honey!!!
I hope to see you there!!
Thursday, May 16, 2013
May 18 Farmers' Market
Two Bees Farm will again be at the Olde Beaufort Farmers' Market this Saturday. Please check out our website at www.beaufortfarmersmarket.com. You'll find more deatiled information there about upcoming events! This week at the market I will have the following:
Eggs
Lettuce
Radishes
Beets
Herbs (rosemary, chives, mint)
Chard
Onions
Sugar Snap Peas
I hope to see you there!
Eggs
Lettuce
Radishes
Beets
Herbs (rosemary, chives, mint)
Chard
Onions
Sugar Snap Peas
I hope to see you there!
Monday, May 13, 2013
1st Farmers' Market
Thank you so very much to my family and friends who have been supportive in this venture. Thank you for coming by the farm to lend a helping hand, for encouraging me when I get frustrated and behind in work, and for coming out Saturday! I look forward to many more successful markets!
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Family
Monday evening finds me with a smile on my face. I had a wonderful weekend with my mom and grandma, my sister went to the prom, friends came by to chat and help out, goals were accomplished, I ate too much..
I did have to cut off the ring that I've worn for 15 years or so. One swollen finger and Sheldon's snips later and I regained feeling! I planted seeds, harvested lettuce, moved the goats around, introduced the chicks to the outside world and dirt... I feel calm and yes, rather collected. Having my family here was so fulfilling and needed. I was surrounded by their sounds and laughter and love and I am reminded of how very blessed I am.
The garden is alive and green. Right now I'm harvesting lettuce, chard, and kale. The arugula bolted way too early to even harvest more than a few springs.. Soon to come are beets, radishes, onions, potatoes, and maybe a few peas if it doesn't get too hot too soon.. Or tomatoes if it does? The chickens have finished their short molting spell and are laying again. The bees are busy gathering nectar and I hope to gather their honey in a month or so. The baby chicks went out into the new coop yesterday and seem to be content and comfy.. Their first rains came today. Charlie and Butterbean are in the old portable chicken coop for now. They've figured out the electric fence.. again.. so I'm trying this for a while. They'll be moved around the yard every day to eat a rectangle of grass.. I think they'll get bored very quickly but it's worth a try for now.
The farmers market is coming up in two weeks and I have a lot of work to do. Yard sales yielded lots of baskets, a board for posting products and pricing, grandma brought coolers, table cloths, and aprons, and I'm on my way! I am very excited about the prospect but rather nervous at the same time.. I'm hoping I'll have enough to last three hours a week, but I'm thrilled at the opportunity and challenged by the idea so this too is worth a try. I will put out a list of available goodies a few days before the market. In the meantime, if you're in the neighborhood stop by! I have eggs, lettuce, kale, spinach, and chard available now!
I did have to cut off the ring that I've worn for 15 years or so. One swollen finger and Sheldon's snips later and I regained feeling! I planted seeds, harvested lettuce, moved the goats around, introduced the chicks to the outside world and dirt... I feel calm and yes, rather collected. Having my family here was so fulfilling and needed. I was surrounded by their sounds and laughter and love and I am reminded of how very blessed I am.
The garden is alive and green. Right now I'm harvesting lettuce, chard, and kale. The arugula bolted way too early to even harvest more than a few springs.. Soon to come are beets, radishes, onions, potatoes, and maybe a few peas if it doesn't get too hot too soon.. Or tomatoes if it does? The chickens have finished their short molting spell and are laying again. The bees are busy gathering nectar and I hope to gather their honey in a month or so. The baby chicks went out into the new coop yesterday and seem to be content and comfy.. Their first rains came today. Charlie and Butterbean are in the old portable chicken coop for now. They've figured out the electric fence.. again.. so I'm trying this for a while. They'll be moved around the yard every day to eat a rectangle of grass.. I think they'll get bored very quickly but it's worth a try for now.
The farmers market is coming up in two weeks and I have a lot of work to do. Yard sales yielded lots of baskets, a board for posting products and pricing, grandma brought coolers, table cloths, and aprons, and I'm on my way! I am very excited about the prospect but rather nervous at the same time.. I'm hoping I'll have enough to last three hours a week, but I'm thrilled at the opportunity and challenged by the idea so this too is worth a try. I will put out a list of available goodies a few days before the market. In the meantime, if you're in the neighborhood stop by! I have eggs, lettuce, kale, spinach, and chard available now!
Friday, April 12, 2013
New Logo!
Thank you to Alan Joyner for creating my new logo! I'm looking forward to t-shirts, stickers, and business cards coming soon!
Monday, April 8, 2013
Crop Mob Spring 2013
The Crop Mob held on March 30 was a wonderful success! About 20 folks showed up to lend a hand with a multitude of projects. The hoophouse frame is up and ready to go, the pig pen has been cleared out and ready for the house to be put into place, the Two Bees sign is up, dirt was moved, wood chipped, weeds picked, bees checked, and a great time was had by all! It was so uplifting to see so many folks working together.. Some have been doing this for years while others just bought their first pair of gloves for the event! It was amazing to watch young and old learning from one another and to see such bright smiling faces! Thank you so very much to everyone that came out!
This Spring has been a bit "wacky" to say the least! At times, it felt more like January than March. The cold, rainy weather has really stalled seedlings.. my potatoes are just now coming up and those poor tiny seedlings are finally starting to take off. It seems the worst of the cold is behind us. Everything in the garden is finally coming to life and I hope to have my first veggie boxes out in a few weeks.
The bees have been VERY active lately. The three new hives that were put in a few weeks ago are doing well. One of my older hives is busting with bees. I checked yesterday and there are queen cells, which means they will swarm soon. I've got emergency lesson plans set up at school in preparation for the swarm that will surely come. I just hope I'm lucky enough to be around when it happens.
I had a little bit of that luck on Saturday. I looked up to see a huge cloud of bees. As it turns out, it was a swarm that settled right under a table near the hives. Pictures will be added soon.. I was able to capture the swarm and they are now in a nuc box close by. I'll check them in a week to make sure the queen is settled in and laying. So, lucky me, I now have 6 hives, and maybe 7 by the end of the week?
This Spring has been a bit "wacky" to say the least! At times, it felt more like January than March. The cold, rainy weather has really stalled seedlings.. my potatoes are just now coming up and those poor tiny seedlings are finally starting to take off. It seems the worst of the cold is behind us. Everything in the garden is finally coming to life and I hope to have my first veggie boxes out in a few weeks.
The bees have been VERY active lately. The three new hives that were put in a few weeks ago are doing well. One of my older hives is busting with bees. I checked yesterday and there are queen cells, which means they will swarm soon. I've got emergency lesson plans set up at school in preparation for the swarm that will surely come. I just hope I'm lucky enough to be around when it happens.
I had a little bit of that luck on Saturday. I looked up to see a huge cloud of bees. As it turns out, it was a swarm that settled right under a table near the hives. Pictures will be added soon.. I was able to capture the swarm and they are now in a nuc box close by. I'll check them in a week to make sure the queen is settled in and laying. So, lucky me, I now have 6 hives, and maybe 7 by the end of the week?
Crop Mob Photos
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Happy As a Pig in... (well, almost anything)
I am a creature of habit. Not that I haven't always known that.. I've fought the urge for years.. Move to Portland, San Francisco, Belize, join the Peace Corps. My mother told me once that I suffered from "greener pastures syndrome", and it has taken me 35 years to finally realize her truth.. Thanks mom!
I came home today and carried out my usual daily chores:
I took care of the chickens. At the moment I have 18 laying hens and 1 rooster. Each evening after work I go to the hen house and throw out food, collect the eggs, and check their water. I notice a little bit more with every trip.. The Aracuanas (they're the ones with the beautiful green eggs!) are brave and friendly. One golden hen jumps on the side of the feed bin every day and never seems to mind when I reach out to shoo her away. The Speckled Sussex are calm. They are beautiful heritage birds with a light purple hue in their feathers. I had one stand on my feet today as I was trying to get to the feed. She just looked up at me like "hey.. where's the food".. The Black Sex Links and Barred Rocks keep their distance..and my little game hen, who is less than half the size of the others, holds her own and has been for 4 years now. In the next few weeks I will be expecting to add about 50 new hens to the mix.. I'm incubating 6, picking up 20 layers from Newport Garden Center, and getting the others via mail, 15 of which will be broilers for meat. New brooders need to be set up soon.
Charlie and Butterbean, my dwarf nubian goats, are crying away while I'm making the rounds. Each day is the same.. Charlie tests the electric fence as many times as he can stand until I get his feed in the bucket. He's so excited about this every time that I can't help but smile.. He's like my chocolate Lab Henry.. jumping around, crying, head butting.. All for the same sweet feed he got the day before!! After this, they usually run around, chase each other off the hills, and frolick a bit before heading in. Watching them play is always one of my favorite parts of the day. I'm hesitant to add to their company right now. I eventually want to get a few more females and start milking them for cheese, soap, and milk... I think I'll hold off on that one for a bit longer.. I may like my routines but I don't know about having to be here EVERY day.. morning and evening to milk.. I'm not that committed yet!
The bees are the definition of routine. They are the most amazing creatures to watch.. Today especially since I now have 5 hives. On Saturday I installed 3 new hives and replaced the queen in my weak one. I'm watching them closely for activity.. that being a very good sign that all is well and they are settling into their new home. I'll go back in the hives in a few days.. once the weather decides to warm up.. and check to see how they've done over the last week. Fingers are crossed for a good honey harvest this season!!
The cats and dogs.. well they certainly have routines. The cats spend all day sneaking up on one another or lounging around.. the dogs eat dirt.. and send me to the vet for an $800 bill with an additional surgery costing $2000 that hopefully won't happen!! They lick, scratch, beg for food, and follow me around the house.
I'm settled into my routines.. I am happy that I haven't decided to sell this place and move for the hell of it. I'm happy that I've learned to clear my head at the end of the day by doing simple things like taking notice of chicken patterns.. I'm happy that I've been fortunate enough to end up here, and happy that I am building a life that I love.. Sure I dream of other places all the time, dream of having other things, but in the end my pastures are pretty green right where they are.
Don't forget about the work day Crop Mob planned for this Saturday. We'll be starting around 8 am but come by whenever you can. There are plenty of projects to be completed and enough to keep the kiddos busy if you wanna bring them too! Please consider leaving your dog at home however, I've got 3.. one of which has been really sick recently and probably doesn't need the stress.. Bring gloves and any useful tools like shovels and rakes that you can cram into the car. The more the merrier!! Email me at seahorsenc@gmail.com if you need details or directions!
I came home today and carried out my usual daily chores:
I took care of the chickens. At the moment I have 18 laying hens and 1 rooster. Each evening after work I go to the hen house and throw out food, collect the eggs, and check their water. I notice a little bit more with every trip.. The Aracuanas (they're the ones with the beautiful green eggs!) are brave and friendly. One golden hen jumps on the side of the feed bin every day and never seems to mind when I reach out to shoo her away. The Speckled Sussex are calm. They are beautiful heritage birds with a light purple hue in their feathers. I had one stand on my feet today as I was trying to get to the feed. She just looked up at me like "hey.. where's the food".. The Black Sex Links and Barred Rocks keep their distance..and my little game hen, who is less than half the size of the others, holds her own and has been for 4 years now. In the next few weeks I will be expecting to add about 50 new hens to the mix.. I'm incubating 6, picking up 20 layers from Newport Garden Center, and getting the others via mail, 15 of which will be broilers for meat. New brooders need to be set up soon.
Charlie and Butterbean, my dwarf nubian goats, are crying away while I'm making the rounds. Each day is the same.. Charlie tests the electric fence as many times as he can stand until I get his feed in the bucket. He's so excited about this every time that I can't help but smile.. He's like my chocolate Lab Henry.. jumping around, crying, head butting.. All for the same sweet feed he got the day before!! After this, they usually run around, chase each other off the hills, and frolick a bit before heading in. Watching them play is always one of my favorite parts of the day. I'm hesitant to add to their company right now. I eventually want to get a few more females and start milking them for cheese, soap, and milk... I think I'll hold off on that one for a bit longer.. I may like my routines but I don't know about having to be here EVERY day.. morning and evening to milk.. I'm not that committed yet!
The bees are the definition of routine. They are the most amazing creatures to watch.. Today especially since I now have 5 hives. On Saturday I installed 3 new hives and replaced the queen in my weak one. I'm watching them closely for activity.. that being a very good sign that all is well and they are settling into their new home. I'll go back in the hives in a few days.. once the weather decides to warm up.. and check to see how they've done over the last week. Fingers are crossed for a good honey harvest this season!!
The cats and dogs.. well they certainly have routines. The cats spend all day sneaking up on one another or lounging around.. the dogs eat dirt.. and send me to the vet for an $800 bill with an additional surgery costing $2000 that hopefully won't happen!! They lick, scratch, beg for food, and follow me around the house.
I'm settled into my routines.. I am happy that I haven't decided to sell this place and move for the hell of it. I'm happy that I've learned to clear my head at the end of the day by doing simple things like taking notice of chicken patterns.. I'm happy that I've been fortunate enough to end up here, and happy that I am building a life that I love.. Sure I dream of other places all the time, dream of having other things, but in the end my pastures are pretty green right where they are.
Don't forget about the work day Crop Mob planned for this Saturday. We'll be starting around 8 am but come by whenever you can. There are plenty of projects to be completed and enough to keep the kiddos busy if you wanna bring them too! Please consider leaving your dog at home however, I've got 3.. one of which has been really sick recently and probably doesn't need the stress.. Bring gloves and any useful tools like shovels and rakes that you can cram into the car. The more the merrier!! Email me at seahorsenc@gmail.com if you need details or directions!
Monday, March 4, 2013
Crob Mob!!!
We got rained out last fall, but fingers crossed for a few days of sunshine and dryer grounds! The new Crop Mob date has been set for Saturday, March 30 starting at 8 am. There are lots of projects to be completed including a new hoophouse, chicken coop, garden irrigation, burning and land clearing, trellis building, weeding, and lots of other work! Come on out and lend a helping hand. Bring gloves, tools, and your energy! A morning of work will be followed by a light lunch and drinks. Hope to see you there!!
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Sprouts!
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.
.... 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.
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.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Winter Happenings
Last weekend it was 75 and sunny. Three days later the nighttime temperatures dropped to around 17. The weather in NC can be very up and down. We are lucky enough here at the coast to have a very long growing season but this wacky weather sure makes it confusing! And tempting! A weekend of 75 degrees makes me want to rush out and put seeds in the ground. From all the classes and readings I've done people say that's the most common mistake.. getting too excited. Getting ready for Spring a bit too early, getting seeds in the ground, and only being met with that late season frost. I'm trying to resist the urge! I started my seeds this weekend inside under lights and am waiting impatiently for those first little green spouts to show themselves. I'll put fava beans, english peas, and crimson clover seeds in the ground this weekend.
The rest of my time has been spent getting through chores to make spring easier. I'm ordering seeds, planning new garden spaces, bringing in compost, and mending fences. The rescheduled Crop Mob date is March 30. Look for more details to come out soon!
The rest of my time has been spent getting through chores to make spring easier. I'm ordering seeds, planning new garden spaces, bringing in compost, and mending fences. The rescheduled Crop Mob date is March 30. Look for more details to come out soon!
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Winter Chores
The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity. Visiting with friends and family, enjoying a much needed break, and keeping up with winter chores has kept me busy and smiling. In between all of the festivities, I've managed to get a few things done around this place..
I've been working on the addition of permanent raised beds in the garden. The rain and soggy ground have made it difficult at times but most of the timbers are in place. My next task is to start bringing in compost to fill the beds. It will take a while before these beds are ready to plant but with time, they'll be home to more asparagus, ginger, and horseradish. The other beds are still green in a sea of brown Winter. Dinners can still include lettuce, radishes, bok choy, collards, broccoli, cauliflower, chard, and arugula.
I'll spend the next few weeks lounging around and browsing through the new seed catalogs with dreams of Spring!
I've been working on the addition of permanent raised beds in the garden. The rain and soggy ground have made it difficult at times but most of the timbers are in place. My next task is to start bringing in compost to fill the beds. It will take a while before these beds are ready to plant but with time, they'll be home to more asparagus, ginger, and horseradish. The other beds are still green in a sea of brown Winter. Dinners can still include lettuce, radishes, bok choy, collards, broccoli, cauliflower, chard, and arugula.
I'll spend the next few weeks lounging around and browsing through the new seed catalogs with dreams of Spring!
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
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.
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.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
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.
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.
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