Spring!

Well another two weeks at home showed even more that if I am going to go on these raids,like a good viking, I should be doing it in the winter months.  There is too much farming to do in the spring and summer.  But, like a good viking, I will be an opportunist and take the treasure when its in front of me!

The farm is coming along nicely.  We work hard everyday and hope that it's all going to come together for the farmers market season.  The start to the market was a success with us selling out of eggs.  We look at it as our learning season.  We plan on sorting out what's working and what people want and hopefully have fun and learn a lot along the way!  

There's so much to do and figure out, it's exciting! My first lesson is don't let your brain plan more than your back can do!

It's been a little rough start to the planting season, for two reasons.  We lost our beloved mouser, and then a damned rat came and ate all of our flower and some vegetable starts!  

Thunder was a great family kitty and was becoming a good mouser.  I think an owl or coyote got him, we knew the risks of it on the farm, but we believe in having our cats as indoor/outdoor.  RIP Thunder We will miss you.

Well the fields are prepped, Uncle Dana disced it and dragged it flat for us, and then we hand plowed it.

Plowing is interesting with 2 children.  But as with everything on the farm, the more they are involved the more they "help".  Sterling and I hoed the ground by hand at first and then as Laird became more restless, Sterling and I invented the Plow Baby.  

This is where Dad is the draft horse and the boys are the weight and the Plow runner.  First you take the wheel off the jogging stroller then you get the boys on and start dragging them down the field rows!  Entertainment for the boys and a workout for me!  In the end the plow baby was fun, but not very efficient, so the last thing I used was the old cultivator.  It's like a mini plow that you push by hand. Seems that all the old tools around here were built to last and I'm sure that plow will be used a bunch more!

The fields turned out really beautiful and momma planted behind us as we got the fields ready.   We planted all of the cut flowers, beans, corn, rutabaga,  beets, tomatoes, squash, melons, lettuces, spinach, carrots and a whole bunch of other stuff.  

I built 3 mini chicken tractors that fit between the rows, They are for our little Bantams so they can weed for us!  So far it seems to be working out!

The onions and garlic wintered over nicely and we will have them to eat soon!  We are leary of deer getting in, but We put up a large fencing around the whole field and are hoping that and the flashing tape will keep them back.   

I'm looking forward to seeing and smelling the countryside again,  Watching the farm grow and nourishing our family.   It's going to be an amazing summer this year and I hope some of you can get a chance to come and visit us!

Love,
The Rowlands

Blackbird on Cat Tail

Sterling And Libby Adventuring together.

Time for a cold one!