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.