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?

Today has been an interesting day to say the least.  I was able to start it out in great company.  The market was so much fun for me, maybe because I got to just sit back, watch, and mingle.  Listening to good music, eating fresh off the farm beef hotdogs, spending time with good friends, and enjoying the beautiful town of Beaufort's not a bad way to start it out.  That bloody mary at Queen Anne's Revenge wasn't bad either!  I end my day with gratitude.  I am thankful for the wonderful people in my life, for good friends, good food, healthy soil, blue skies, and cool breezes.  Happy Memorial Day weekend!! 

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!!

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!

1st Farmers' Market

I am so excited to report that the 1st Beaufort Farmers' Market was a huge success!  The crowd was waiting for us to open at 9 and we saw a steady stream of customers until around 1030 when things started to slow down.  I sold every bit of produce I had except for 3 onions and a few bunches of herbs! The other artists at my table, Susie Willis, Brian Wright, and Mandy Prodgyzinski all sold their crafts as well.  I'm just hoping that I'll be able to keep up with the demand.  Please remember that I am a one woman show!  I operate my garden, chickens, and bees on my own and run out of hours in the day to get things done!  I will continue to bring as much high quality, pesticide free produce as my little garden can grow!  I have not been able to harvest honey from my hives yet but anticipate an extraction in the next few weeks.  I know folks want honey and I'm happy to provide it ASAP!  As soon as I extract, I'll post an update but come quickly as it sells almost as soon as it is out of the hive! 
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!   

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! 

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!