June 10, 2013: Another busy week!
Somehow it seems like spring
rather than almost summer. With a
late frost Memorial Weekend and plenty of rain this year we are still trying to
get the plants in the ground.
Last week we had our
first class in our new facility. Last week we had our first class in our new
facility. The class was organized by Live Healthy Appalachia and consisted of 7
new graduates of the CHIP program (Complete Health Improvement Plan).
The theme was "Plant Strong Summer Cooking" and Mary
Chleboun led the group in learning how to alter their favorite summer recipes
to be non-dairy, sugar-free and egg free. They made their own condiments…
mayonnaise, catsup and barbeque sauce and used those condiments in the dinner
and in making potato salad . They ate grilled portabello mushrooms,
veggie burgers, vegan baked beans, potato salad, strawberry sorbet and more.
Everyone seemed to have a really good time.
We are still waiting on the
kitchen sink and the stove to be hooked up to the propane tank but we got by with
a gas grill and a couple buckets doing dishes.
I was feeding the animals
this morning and checking out the potatoes we got them in late but they look
great. About the time I found an area that the ground has started to wash out
down the hill, I realized it had taken several potato plants with it. Then whoosh the skies opened up
again. Then this afternoon
the same thing happened in the same area.
I did get one row of potatoes weeded but have to get back tomorrow when
it dries out with some straw. I
have always heard if the sun shines onto the green potato directly it is not
good. In the meantime I can
confirm one of those “old wives tales” which says if you plant your potatoes in
June you will not have potato bugs.
So far that is true!
Still trying to get the rest
of onions, brussel sprouts, broccoli, eggplant, squash, cucumbers and pumpkins
in the ground.
The bees were inspected last
week. No mites but still short a
couple queen bees. I was told I
could combine two of my hives so will be ordering a new queen and then putting
a couple hives together. Hopefully
we will have a couple batches of honey to share this year.
Friday I took Jade, the
Pyrenees to the vet. She is limping
again. There is concern about an
ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) in her back right knee. Gratefully her antiflamatories are
working and the limping is decreased.
I did find out that we have to now treat our pets, especially dogs for
Lyme disease. Another
Pyrenees was found nearby and was nearly lame and covered with tics. The vet treated him and cared for him
and he recovered, but I cannot imagine watching one of my animals going lame.
Friday night Scott and I
finished picking and pitting the cherries from the cherry tree. I promise to get some cherry trees to
add to my small orchard in the making.
We selfishly enjoyed two
pies and have made 12 jars of homemade jam. There is something about sitting on the porch and watching a
sunset with your livestock grazing in the distance that just slows you down
from all the rush, rush, rush of day to day.
Saturday was busy. The Athens Farmers Market is in its
full capacity for the season and after three years I finally have a permanent
spot. If your looking at the mall
I will be directly below the entrance to Dunham’s and Kiser’s Barbeque.
After unpacking from the
Market we went on a farm visit to the local Snowville Creamery. They are hormone free and have the best
products (in my opinion) and are local.
We have our second bunch of their young bulls, which we are raising for the beef. I like the fact that they are so
organic in the treatment of their cattle such that the bulls we get have no
hormones in utero and this time we got them so young (24 to 48 hours old) that
only a couple required any antibiotics during the first few days. The bulls are a couple months old now
and we took one down to their open house for a hand on petting zoo for the
children.
See you at the Athens Farmer's Market on Saturday!
