Around the Farm
We’re coming into Fall weather, and boy have we been waiting in anticipation. The hot days, that were into the 110’s+, were starting to wear on us in those last few days of the 100’s. Everyone was tired of sweating from every wrinkle and bend.
And now the winds start up, and the weather cools down. The wind was never a favorite, but it does make for a nice change. It does affect my gardening, though. Planting for winter crops in the garden has to start, first, indoor so that the little seedlings can grow big enough and strong enough to be able to survive the winds that can get pretty brutal in the fall.
This past week, I started some micro-greens inside, which have some double purpose to them. Not only at the micro-greens really healthy on their own, but it gives me a good start with some seedlings that I can transplant outside after they’ve had a week or so to get used to the cooler and windy weather.
The benefit of growing Microgreens, as well, is that I can sell them as well. Microgreens are bringing in quite the profit for some people at farmer’s markets lately. It’s definitely something that I am considering.
The chickens and other birds have started to slow their egg laying, and preparations for protecting them from the winters cold and wind are on my mind daily. My geese and ducks free- range all Spring and Summer, but the winter definitely calls for some more protection. In the past, the typical tarp-covered-coops have been a disaster with our wind and rain. Something more solid and permanent is called for, but I’m still working that out in my mind as I like to work with what I already have around the farm.
This Spring and Summer wet weather brought us a nice bit of fruit to our trees for the first time since we’ve been here. We’re at our Third Anniversary of living at the farm, and prior to last Winter season, it was so dry that we thought most of the fruit trees were a loss. But we got to see some almonds pepper the trees that are still alive, and some plums made an appearance as well. I was quite surprised with the plums! They were a lovely surprise, and now that I know they are there, I plan to baby them a bit so that in the future we might be able to make use of that fruit in the coming years. What I thought was a dead Peach tree, also grew some fruit. It’s location calls for more water, but that can be easily remedied.
It seems that each new season brings new surprises and things to tend to. Some are welcome surprises, and some are just maintenance. But either way, it’s enough to keep me busy for a long while. I enjoy the hard work, and even when I am very annoyed by difficult tasks solving them like puzzles is like winning a prize.
The season ahead is looking promising with things to do and projects to tackle. I’m confident that I will not be bored through the winter!
