This is from my journal at the farm. Its probably a late entry. I may make several entries a day to try to keep up with the backlog of entries I have.

We planted the vineyard gardens today.  I had one gardenin this location last year and learned a bit from it.  Its too hot and dry for things like radishes, carrots, beets but great for vining plants such as squash, gourds, pumpkins, watermelons and such.  So in the first plot, we planted yukon gold potatoes.  I think Rich thought we put maybe 300 seed spuds in.  I'm not sure it was that many but it was a 50 lb sack to start with.

After we got those in, we planted sweet corn in the next plot.  Since I'm trying companion planting this year, I planted a few green beans and peas along with the corn to see how that works.  I also added the squash, zucchini, watermelon, and cantaloupe  vines to this plot.  Supposedly, the beans/peas will use the corn stocks as a pole/trellis and the vining plants will shade the ground helping with water retention and weed control.  We'll see how this works.  I plan on munching the gardens as soon as things are sprouting.

Rich also set up the sprinklers so we can water these gardens.  We have sandy loom soil so things get dry pretty fast.  These areas will require some watering I'm sure.

While we were working the garden plots, I had some chicken stock cooking on the stove.  I used a few of last year's stewing chickens.  I have the best recipe for chicken stock... so yummy.  I'm going to have to share it with you soon.  I really need to order my pressure cooker/canner so the stock can be canned instead of frozen.

Carol

This is from my journal at the farm. Its probably a late entry. I may make several entries a day to try to keep up with the backlog of entries I have.

We had an aweful storm roll through there tonight.  The winds were in excess of 70 mph.  It didn't last long but it did some damage.  Rich looked out the window and said, I think the tree went down that was in the broiler chicken pasture.  I was like WHAT?  you are kidding, so outside I went.  It was about 10 pm.  With the light from the yard light shining on the pasture, I looked and sure enough, a tree was down with the root ball out of the ground.  So I come back up to the house and told Rich he was right.  He then asked, did the tree hit my truck?  Umm... well I don't know, I didn't look on that side of the tree.  I was worried about my chickens, not a silly truck!  lol

So out he went with a flashlight to survey the damage.  Next thing we hear is Rich in the window saying I may need to replant my tomatoes.  Now, why would he say that?  Well, there was a tree laying on top of my tomatoe patch!  UGH!  Good news, the other tree missed the truck and trailer but not by much.

Well, there wasn't much we could do about anything tonight so we will wait and see what the real damage is tomorrow morning and deal with it then.

Goodnight!
Carol

Madison had her first piano recital tonight.  She did very well.  I'm very proud to say we have lots of very talented young ppl here in our small town.

We moved the rest of our outside rabbits to the farm today.  We just have the mamas to move now.  They will move this weekend.  Oh, the garage is soo cute with all the little bunnies in there.  I'll have to snap a picture to share with you.

Farmer Mike put together my clothesline poles for me and Rich set them in the ground yesterday.  We will be without a mechanical dryer at the farm.  I haven't had a clothesline to use since we moved to our current home in 1992. 

Betsy is doing so much better. She is running around jumping on this and that keeping up with her brother.  She still favors it a bit but nothing she can't deal with.

We also set up a pool for the ducks to swim in.  Oh, they are going to like that once they find it.  As soon as Rich gets the pasture fencing done, we will create a area by the barn for them to run in.  We have too many coyotes in the area to just let them run.  My plan is to have them in the vineyard for bug and weed control but that's a lot of fencing to put up and for now, we can't afford it so it will wait.

I think that's about it.  I'm off to bed.
Carol

We are back home after the "family" weekend stay at the farm, LOL.  Rich and Chas stayed there last night (I was working) and he said she did very well.  She doesn't always do well in a different environment so I was glad to hear he didn't have any problems with her.

We have this week to finish moving what we believe we need at the farm.  We have to downsize and it feels like we are moving to a cabin for a long vacation camping!  LOL  We are doubling up on a few things, one stays in town and one to the farm.  That way, no matter where we are, we have what we need. 

I was happy to see that my strawberry plants (50) are leafing out and there are buds on the raspberries.  The plum and cherry trees have leaves as well as the gooseberry bush.  I have one cherry tree that hasn't woke up just yet.  I was hoping to have apricot trees this year but Gurney's ran out of stock so I'll have to look locally or wait until next year.

The wind from the storm on Saturday destroyed most of the apple blossoms on our crabapple tree.  The tree was so pretty covered with white petals and the fragrance was so sweet.  The tree is very old but gives the best apples.  I make applesauce from them, no sweetner necessary!

Well, I'm off to work again.
Carol

We had a horrible thunderstorm roll thru yesterday.  We were lucky getting only rain (1.5 inches) in 20 minutes.  The storm turned deadly as it moved across our state.  A 2 year old died after a tornado hit Hugo, MN by the Twin Cities.

I checked on our vineyard today to find the vines are leaving out.  We were really concerned with them coming back as they froze to the ground in early September.  Everyone reassured us they would come back and they were right.  I doubt we will see any fruit this year.  Its year 2 for these vines.  Sometimes you can get fruit on year 2 but we don't have perfect soil and with the early freeze off, I have a feeling we will see fruit in year 3.

I couldn't work in the garden today as its still too wet from the rain.  I'm hoping this week to get this garden finished and then work on the one by the vineyard.  I want all my vining plants out there.  My squash and watermelon did wonderful last year in the sandy soil there.

Well, I'm off to work.
Carol

The farm had its first animal sale today.  We sold our Boar buck to a farmer a couple hours north of us.  All our new does are related to him so it was time for him to go.  So we no longer have a buck for our does.  Which is ok for now.  I think we have 2 does due this fall.  We will look for a new buck sometime this fall.

We processsed the first broiler chickens this morning.  They were 9 weeks old and live weight was 7lbs 12 oz to 8 lbs.  They dressed out at 5 lbs 3 oz to 6 lbs 6oz.  We dry picked 2 and skinned 2.  I really prefer to skin them.  Actually Rich does the skinning, he's really good at it.

Another first for me was the processing of 3 rabbits.  Rich did most of it and I just held and pulled.  We saved the pelts.  I thought maybe I could tan them.  We'll see if I can find the time.  I still have a bag of shetland wool to clean and get ready to spin.

Speaking of spinning, I got an email from someone who knows someone that has a spinning wheel for sale.  Its a Ashford traditional wheel, 3 bobbins and lazy kate.  She's asking $250 for it.  I haven't a clue about spinning wheels.  I don't know if that's a fair price or not.  Does anyone know or have advice about spinning?  She's offered to let me try it out and help me learn to spin which is awesome except that she is at least an hour away from me .

Its time for bed.  I'm hoping to go out and hit some garage sales tomorrow.
Carol

Today, most of the chickens headed out of the coop on there own!  WooHoo!  They are learning.  I will be butchering the 4 older broilers tomorrow.

I did a little plant shopping.. picking up some cabbage, broccoli, tomato and pepper plants.  I'm studying up on my companion planting.  I'm going to try planting my onions in the strawberry patch.  I will add garlic in the fall to the patch as well.  As for the rest, I'm still plotting the garden and I'm not sure anything is going just yet.  I'll get it all figured out, hopefully sooner then later!

We had a sheep out of the fence today.  Snowman seems to think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.  Thank goodness he is easy to get back through the gate!

We moved 3 rabbit hutches out to the farm.  They are in the broilers fence.  Its nice and shady plus the chickens can clean up after them should they waste their food.  We still have several more cages/hutches to move.

Carol

Theresa come out today and picked up her 3 rabbits and took an extra buck as well.  So that's 2 more cages available for our bunnies. 

We had a nice visit. Theresa brought us some Ober goat's milk.  She told me its tastes just like cow's milk.  Austin and I each had a glass and yes, it does taste like cow's milk.  So now I'm thinking an Ober goat might be a nice addition to the farm once we are living out there full time.

The turkeys made their move as well.  Poor little things, they looked so tiny in their new pen and very scared.  I'm thinking I should have moved a few of the bantams with them so things were a bit more familiar to them.  I'll probably move a few tomorrow.

That's all for today.
Carol

Today I spent the afternoon (it was a beautiful warm day) in a classroom recertifying my CPR.  Oh sure, a dry warm day and that's the day I have class.  Oh well.

We also let Jackie and her kids into the barnyard/pasture this evening.  Those poor kids didn't know what to think.  Our shetlands were very curious and I was surprised at how close Jackie let them get to her kids.  She went after Wilbert when he came in for a sniff.  LOL 

Rich also set up a small pen for my turkeys.  The orginal 3 I got last month keep flying out of their box so it's time to move to the barn.  The other 7 young'ens are doing fine.  I will move the older ones tomorrow.

Tomorrow, Theresa is coming to pick up her rabbits.  I'll be very happy to have the extra cage space with those 24 little ones, I'm going to need it!  LOL

Time to get ready for bed.
Carol

No kids yet from Jackie but she is definately bagging up so we are very excited.  I thought it would be fun to have them born on Mother's Day.  Oh well.  They will get here eventually.

Rich set up my new broiler chicken yard.  Well, he put in the fence posts.  We need to buy wire yet before the chickens can come out to play.

Madison spend some time in the barnyard trying to convince Gandhi that he should wear a halter.  Needless to say, she didn't get very far, LOL.  She has also managed to teach Peaches and Booger how to walk on a rolling barrel.  Its pretty darn cute.  I managed to record some of it on  my camera the other day.  I hope I can figure out how to share a bit of it with you all.  She is hoping to get Wilbert to push the barrel while the goats walk on it.  She's going to have a little circus!  LOL

I need to get some sleep before I head into work.1
Carol