Another busy week!

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!