Tag Archives: garden

Quickies

Posted on March 2, 2012 by | Comments Off on Quickies

What’s going on right now:

  • There’s 14 1/2 dozen eggs in my fridge right now.  It’s getting dire, people.  I am going to start doing egg drops on peoples’ doorsteps.
  • I’ve been reading 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created by Charles C Mann and I am loving it.  There’s all kinds of great little – known facts about the impact that contact with the “New World” made globally. Did you know that at Columbus’ time (he was called Cristobal Colon then, btw) people had known for years the earth was round; Columbus (or Colon) insisted it was pear – shaped, with the very top resembling a woman’s nipple?  Did you know earthworms were unknown in the Americas before the Europeans arrived?  Or that Pocahontas’ name was actually “Mataoka”.  The name “Pocahontas” was a nickname which meant “Little Hellion”?
  • I’m working furiously on Wicked using the luscious Superfine Alpaca yarn Caroline and I bought from the Montpelier Fiber Festival in the fall.  It’s very slow going, and normally I would be ultra bored with it by now, but the yarn is just so wonderful I can’t put it down.
  • To assist with all that knitting – we got a new dvd player.  Okay, we got it because our old one broke.  Paul picked up a new one with all these crazy bells and whistles that I can barely figure out BUT.  I can access my Amazon Prime account through the dvd player so that I can watch any of the streaming shows and movies from my online account ON MY TV!!!  I know I am so late to the party on this but I am very much enjoying it!  Now I don’t have to rely on my laptop to watch Downton Abbey!!!  (And goodness, if you haven’t been watching Downton Abbey, please do.  It is so very good!)
  • I started working out every day back in January.  I’ve been alternating between a strength – training Pilates program with resistance bands and an “Ease into 5K” program on the elliptical.  I also gave up soda completely and have replaced it with green tea.  My favorite is The Republic of Tea’s Blueberry Green Tea.  I’m feeling pretty good.  My goal is to run on the beach this August during my book club beach weekend.  My super – fit friend Beth runs every morning while we are there, and this year I plan to join her.
  • Today I got my spinach and broccoli planted.  As last year, I am using all heritage non – GMO seeds from Baker Creek.  We’ve expanded the vegetable garden site and I am excited for all the fresh veg we’ll have this year!
  • Last but not least, I bought supplies to take to Juniper Moon Farm this weekend where I will get to meet Lizzy House! She’s giving a quilting workshop and I get to go sew with some of my favorite people (and meet Lizzy House!!!!!!)

What are you up to this week????


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Saying Goodbye to Winter

Posted on February 27, 2012 by | Comments Off on Saying Goodbye to Winter

Normally I wouldn’t give up on winter so soon.  After all, where I grew up,  March was blizzard season.  Even here in Virginia we’ve had more than a few surprise March snowstorms; at least of those was nearly record – breaking.  However, given the incredibly mild weather we’ve had since fall I think it’s not foolish to expect winter is done.  Perhaps we’ll have another blow-out – who knows?  But I am not holding my breath.  Not when in the same week we’ve had several inches of snow followed by nearly 80 degree temperatures three days later.

So, over the course of the week we’ll be washing and packing away the heavier winter items and changing out our winter decor for spring.

Yes, I change the art on the walls along with the sheets, the pillows and the blankets to coordinate with the seasons.  It’s easier than a re-doing your furniture every time you get sick of where it all is.

It’s hard to believe I took all of these pictures not eve a full week ago, considering a few days ago we were outside like this:

I gave in and planted some of the cold crops: beans, peas, arugula, Black Seeded Lettuce, and Red Romaine.  I’m afraid if I wait for the normal planting date it will be too warm.

Spring cleaning, here we come.


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Gentlemen, Start Your Tomatoes

Posted on January 20, 2012 by | Comments Off on Gentlemen, Start Your Tomatoes
At last.  I've finally gotten ahead of the calendar and started some tomato seeds indoors.  And if all goes to plan, I'll have many, many more than I can use, so there will be some to share.

I bought one of those trays pre-packed with peat pots that swell up when you water them.  I also got some Martha Stewart organic tomato seeds because, well, they were right in front of me at the store.

 
Those little seeds are tiny, so I used the moistened tip of a chop stick to carefully get two or three seeds into each little pot.


 
Yeah, there's a lot of them.



And Martha's none too generous with her seeds - I barely had enough to fill all my pots.  But we got it done.  I'll post an update when they sprout in (according to the label) 7-10 days. 

Baby 'maters!!






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Farm Survey

Posted on January 18, 2012 by | Comments Off on Farm Survey
It's been too long since our last walk around the farm together, so I snapped some shots of critters who would love some virtual scritches.

Judah and Tella vie for attention

Social grooming bonds this working pair

Tella is such a beauty.  A busy, mischievous beauty.

The ewes and lambs are shaggy and plump

Rachel is brave, behind the fence

Phineas eats and dozes on Shadrach's back

Shad and Mordechai get fresh water

Ms. Smokey shadows me on my rounds

Ruthie is always alert.  Except when she's sawing logs.

Boaz enjoys the sunshine

This weather is heavenly to the alpacas - cool mornings and sunny, mild afternoons

These Ameraucanas are trying to make a break for it.  Patience, girls.

Ice overnight will give way to spring-like temperatures by afternoon

How does our garden grow?  Our patience has been rewarded.  The seeds have germinated and new sprouts are coming up in the protected environment of the greenhouse.  This provides good wind protection, and a bit of temperature mediation.  Even though it's not airtight or heated, the cover makes a big difference for these cool weather veggies.  My next plan is to get some onion starts to fill up the vacant plot in the greenhouse.  I'm also starting some tomatoes indoors.

The spinach has sprouted in the greenhouse

Baby turnips

A row of young lettuce
I'm putting together the next farm newsletter, which will be chock-full of news about the very cool plans we have for 2012.  If you're not on our list, sign up via the link in the left margin.  I think you'll like how our calendar is shaping up.

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So Much to DO

Posted on June 16, 2011 by | Comments Off on So Much to DO
So this is our first spring and summer in our new to us house.  I swore I would just care for the yard and manage what was there....but like usual I had to brighten it up and make it OURS.  So through the 98 degree days we have been having (only 80s this week thank God!) I managed to accomplish quite a bit in the garden:

New hosta bed under our pink dogwood, all moved from the back yard where we have a ton more....

Bee Balm (the bees and butterflies are happy)

Lavendar.  I hope I have better luck with it here...
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Another new bed with plants sent to me by a friend in Massachusetts!  I think these hot days have been quite a shock for them.  Luckily we have full rain barrels....

LOVE this coreopsis.  I've been trying to keep natural dyeing in mind while planting....

Chocolate Mint sent to me from Texas!  (You'll notice its in a pot.  Learned my lesson years ago about the invasiveness of mint!!)


Echinacea (should be a good show next year) zinnias and dusty miller with some basil in between. (MMMMMMM  pesto!)

Our first tomato is almost ready!  Thanks Aline!!

Cascadian Hops.  The previous owners were homebrewers.  Greg packed up his homebrewing supplies when he bought his last guitar....his aunt wants to use the cones for baking bread and I am researching the dyeing possiblities for the vines.  One things for sure.  THE VINES ARE LETHAL.  The sticky spiney vines left bloody scars on the backs of my legs after a day of weeding.  Now I know.

Of course, in the evenings I found time to spin...Wensleydale from Flying Fibers in Pennsylvania.



And YES I have been throwing pots.  I have a few commissions that are ready to be bisque fired...
Below are some assorted farm style cereal bowls, slipped and painted and ready to go.













A herd of sheepy banks....




Full to the brim.  But I have two more small plates that I have to make room for....


I only have one table to work on in my studio, and a small one at that.  So my Dad and I came up with a plan, carried out by Dan the Handyman.

These two side by side shelves have become....


...a terrific canvas covered work surface!

Still have a long list of things to do this Summer....painting rooms in the house, new stock for my Etsy shop, preparations for the Fall Fiber Festival (I need to modify my show setup) three looms to warp, concerts to attend (The Decemberists, Gillian Welch and Ray LaMontagne to name a few!)

I'll be back!

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Seeds in the Ground!

Posted on April 4, 2011 by | Comments Off on Seeds in the Ground!
Today I am home with laryngitis. Yesterday, I got seeds into the ground! Now I have to figure out how to keep the chickens OUT! Right now the seeds are covered with a cloth which is supposed to let in air, light and water, hope it will discourage the chickens! They tend not to go into the garden if the gate is closed, but it is only a matter of time - if food is involved - until they figure out that they are indeed birds and can actually fly over the fence -- shhhhhh, don't tell them!

I have been scooping the compost out and tossing it onto the beds a little at a time for the last couple of weeks and letting the chickens go at it - you can see in the left-hand bed that they do a pretty good job!


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There are new pretty flowers- these are the best tulips! They are super bright, early and last!
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Crocuses -
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and of course, forsythia-
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Can't forget the chickens - here they are in their prison run waiting to be let out
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If you are needing a good dose of spring - go check out the Lambcams - yes they now have THREE over at Juniper Moon Fiber Farm. The babies are coming and nothing says spring like baby sheep and goats! Two cams look into nursery pens, the third (cam 2) looks out into the small nursery field. So far there is 1 lamb (bird names) and 4 kids (apple names)

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What a Beautiful Weekend it Was!

Posted on March 22, 2011 by | Comments Off on What a Beautiful Weekend it Was!
This was the first line-dried laundry of the season:
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My plan was to begin planting, I have planting charts from the Penn State Extension Service, Burpee seeds, maps of my beds, square foot gardening plans...
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My first job was to dig out the compost bin that has been sitting all winter and get a pile ready for pole beans, and sprinkle a nice coating on the garden beds etc. As it turns out the only thing happier than a pig in shit is a chicken in compost!
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We don't get to see a lot of Ethel, she is a pretty independent hen, but she had just as much fun in the compost as everyone else.

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But the day was so lovely I got sidetracked and while I did get the chickens got the compost spread, I lolled about a lot and watched the flowers!

Lenten Rose (hellebores)
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Apples
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Plums
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We are expected to get cold and a "wintry mix" on Wednesday, so planting can wait until next weekend! Spinach, collards, peas, shallots and garlic will be the first to go in!

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