All Things Feeling Neglected

Yesterday I spent about 2 hours in the seedling nursery (greenhouse) getting it ready to go to bed for the winter.  I noticed it had been sorely neglected with weeds growing everywhere.  I also have an invasion of mint in one of the beds from a "thoughtful" husband who knew that I was planting herbs at the time and didn't know that mint is next to impossible to contain and/or kill.  Anyway that got me to thinking about this blog - another thing I have been neglecting.  So...the update as promised.  But sorry, no pictures.  I have lost my canera AGAIN.  I swear that sucker hides from me.

Let't start the update with the blueberries.  We have had a drought, bordering on severe here in our area.  I have done every rain dance I can think of, except nude,but still no rain.  Thank goodness we have a well that is filled with natural springs.  It has never ran dry and I hope never will.  We have to water the blueberries so that they get about an inch a week.  With over 2 thousand bushes that is a lot of water.  We have set up an irrigation system for most of them, so I hope all survive until next spring.  We are hoping for our first harvest this year. 

The gardens are nearing the end of production.  That is good as we only have 2 more farmers markets for the season.  As it is we only have okra, eggplant and peppers to pick.  Everything else has gone to the compost pile.  I hope to have all the raised beds cleaned up by the first of  the month.

Our value added products are going gangbusters.  We are getting better known each year.  It is so exciting.  We have added a few new places for wholesale.  I'll let you know how that is going.  Our newest PourAPie flavor  -  Strawberry Rhubarb has been a hit.  You should try it.

All 4 grandkids are going great.  Growing like weeds.  Wyatt is so tall now it is hard to remember him as a toddler just a few short years ago.  Sam is going to be a butterfly for Halloween.  She is butterfly crazy.  Tucker is a dragon and Lauren will be Raggedy Ann if Nana gets her butt in gear and gets the costume done.

Don't forget to follow us on Facebook.  Hope to have pictures soon.  Fall in the midwest is breathtaking.

See ya on the farm
Charlotte

AND THE WINNER IS.....

And the winner is....

Kristen

You are the lucky winner of a jar of PourAPie.  Loved your memory about your and your grandmother.  She must have been something special.  I'll drop off your jar next time I'm in Terre Haute. 

Farm Update:

Seedling room is going well.  Starting a new seeds now every week or so to help with the staggering of the planting this summer.  This gives up great produce all season long.

The greenhouse is FULL. I have plants on the ground even.  There has been a swarm of wasps who have decided to use squatters rights in there.  There are vicious little creatures.  I love the pollenating that bees do but dive bombong the landlord is not a good idea.  Had to resort to wasp and hornet spray.  Can't let the little future farmers get stung.

I have finished putting plastic on all the raised beds that we have ready.  I also lined the walkways.  Last year, we had to fight weeds to get through.  Not this year.  Pictures soon, I promise.  I will put red mulch down on all the pathways and around the greenhouse.  What I have done so far looks smashing. 

Putting sawdust around the blueberries is an all spring project.  The sawmill I get the sawdust from is open to all.  It is first come, first served, so you have to be quick to get it.  I can remember when the sawdust building was full and it was in the parking lot.  Oh  the economy.  Anyway, I have the rows closest to the homestead done and will now start the ones on the hill.  Sometimes, I just pray for rain.

The orchard is looking great.  We had to replace about 20 trees that were planted last year and didn't make it.  I think that is all we will plant is just replacements this year.  With the kids moving, it is hard to get it all done.  I have yet to put sawdust around all the trees in the young orchard, but hope to get it accomplished this summer as well. 

All for now, enjoy this fabulous weather.  Love to all

See ya on the farm

Charlotte

ALL AROUND THE FARM

Here is the long awaited, previously promised farm update.  And, WOW, have we been busy.

The seedlings that were planted in late Jan and early Feb are now officially plants.  In fact, we sold several flats of them at the Master Gardeners Spring Seminar in Terre Haute Saturday.  We have pinched back basil at least twice already.  I have transplanted tomatoes twice and pushing toward the third soon.  I have to transplant eggplant today into a bigger container. 

I will be starting more seeds today for future shows and for our farm.  We plant several different times (succession plantings) to have fabulous local veggies to offer.  I also will be planting tomatoes and green beans in the heated greenhouse so that we have at least some veggies at the first farmers markets in June. 

The chickens are growing like weeds.  We bought new ones this spring and have them under warmer lights at Jennifers.  Sammie couldn't part with them so Jenn had to take them home and care for them.  DARN (lol).

We also had 3 ducks for Wyatt to show at the fair.  But they didn't make it, I suspect they caught a draft and got chilled.  They picked up a few more to try again.  Wyatt loves the poultry show at the local (Sullivan County, Indiana) 4-H fair.  Last year was his first year and he completed 14 projects!   Mommy is not going to let him sign up for so many this year. Live and learn, Mama.

Robert looked at a 6 row planter on Sunday but didn't buy it.  We are on the hunt for one if anyone knows where to find one that is reasonable.  I do plant most of everything by hand but as we grow and I age, that is becoming almost impossible.  We aren't getting too high tech but a 4 - 6 row planter would sure lighten the load a little bit. 

Orders are picking up for pie filling now.  Jan and Feb are always are slowest months on the farm for the value added merchandise.  That helps to have time to get caught up on the aprons and start the seeds.  Oh yeah, maybe pick up the house once in a while.  That seems to always come in last place on the to-do list.

The first 70 degree day we had last week, I spent 5 hours in one of the flower beds cleaning and guess what?  Yep, I got POISON IVY.  It is early March and I got poison ivy already.  Last year, I had it 14 times.  The doctor finally told me to pick another hobby, as if.  The flower beds are for several reasons.  One because I love to work in them, but they are also used to trial new plants and then we cut blooms and sell bouquets at farmers markets.  It's a win win for us.  Except the whole poison ivy thing.  That darn plant is making me forget my aversion to chemicals.

Oh yeah, the funeral home that I blogged about last time is going up for back taxes.  It can be gotten for just over 1000.00.  Any takers out there?  Never bought at a tax sale before but it seems easy enough.  Just contact the Sullivan County, Indiana courthouse and get the details.  Good Luck!

See ya on the farm

Charlotte