Resolution, Schmesolution

Our last Tom Turkey...trying to impress the ladies.

Recycling pine cones into bird feeders.

I know my resolution to write weekly has already been broken...(as has my exercise regimen.) However, I am going to try again for the Chinese New Year, which is February 3. We shall see. Regardless, the new growing season has officially begun. I have started artichokes (yes, we can grow those here), leeks, celery, and onions from seed. This is the first year I have started onions from seed, so I may be buying plants come April. If it works, I will have saved a lot of money and I will not have to worry about any of the onions bolting. Onions are biennial, so they form a seed head every second year. Those seed heads ruin the integrity of the onion, even if you snip them off. So if all goes well, we will have a great onion crop this year.

Mom and I have started taking a business course for agricultural producers. Hilarious, considering I dropped every business class I tried to take in college by the third class. After the initial shock and bewildered looks, we decided that it will be beneficial for us and our customers to work hard at our business plan. And we did not get reprimanded for giggling during class yet, although I really believe we may have to sit separately to avoid disrupting the class.

We recently ordered 50 pullets in order to increase egg production by the time our CSA starts. There was a tragedy that occurred during mailing and we have significantly less chickens than we ordered. Luckily, my father in law managed to save a few lives, and the remaining chicks are thriving. Needless to say, we are waiting for warmer weather to increase the flock.

And, as you can see, some of our turkeys survived the holidays. Because Wyatt came a little earlier than expected, our goal of selling the turkeys took a backseat. We did enjoy some fresh, chemical free turkey for Thanksgiving and hope to have the rest dressed within the next two weeks.

More updates to come on planting, livestock, and academic progress. Until then--Happy Chines New Year!

New, New, New

New Year, new resolutions, new baby... This past year has brought some new changes and this next year promises to bring many more. Beyond my new year's resolution (which includes an exercise regimen I do not love and may have seriously injured me after two days), this year also brings a fresh enthusiasm for the farm. We hope to erect a hoophouse this spring, we have a giant refrigerated trailer we are turning into our harvest and packing shed, and I am scouring the seed catalogs. The most exciting news is that I am doing this with a 9 week old baby on my lap.

The newest addition to the farm is Wyatt, who was born on November 1st. He and Holden are getting along beautifully and we hope Wyatt loves the garden as much as Holden.

Another of my resolutions is to update my blog weekly. I know you have all heard this before, but new year's resolutions have to last the whole year, right? Finally, we have opened up our 2011 CSA. As soon as I talk to my wonderful brother-in-law, we will have the new brochure and sign up sheet on the site. Happy Happy New Year!