Pictures

Preview to summer

Well I am finally getting over a nasty sinus infection that had been making me miserable for the last week or so. I owe much thanks to antibiotics and NyQuil. Amazing stuff!
We have been having great 70's and sunny weather the last few days and being stuck inside made being sick all the more miserable. But today I was able to get out into the garden and turn a few beds and check in on the perennials. The rhubarb is up and growing like well, rhubarb. The hops are all up and will be in need of trimming and trellising probably before the week is over. No sign of the asparagus yet but I am thinking early next week. The strawberries are going like gangbusters as well. The Garlic I planted last fall are all up as well. I was able to do a bit of planting today as well. I got my onion sets and the shallots I saved from last year planted. I also planted up some potatoes left over from last year in trash cans as well.
All this along with trimming up the herb bed made for a rather productive and not to tasking day.

Now I just hope the rain we have been promised shows up.
Rick

Current happenings

Well spring continues to creep in. The temps got up to near 65 F today. The ground has begun to warm and the grass has started to really green up. I hear we should see some rain by the end of this week and then things should really start to take off. I am really looking forward to starting to forage for new nettles and also the spring mushroom season shouldn't be far off. I may have to spend some time in the woods this weekend and see how things are coming along.

Also it looks like my parsley seeds have gotten up to a quick start as well.

All is good.

Rick

Projects

Well just a quick word about some projects and plans for this year at the farmlet.

First I have divided up the chicken run to give some of ht egrass shoots a chance to get started this spring. I am planning on rotating the hens through the chicken yard as the year progresses.

Second I am attempting to increase the amount of area that I am growing on again. I have already put in a small 3X3 raised bed between the chicken run inner and outer fences. I am planning on using that bed to grow greens right next to the chickens for easy feed augmentation. I have also already turned one of the beds that I left fallow last year and am loving the look of the soil. I am also collecting newspaper and cardboard to cover more of the yard and create more raised beds.

Third I have decided that I will start vermicomposting this year. My composting setup should probably be expanded to more pins but I am hoping that vermicomposting will help by breaking down kitchen waste quicker. I will probably put the bin in the pole barn.

I know I will have a million other projects as well but those are a few that I have been looking at as of late.

Rick

Well Spring creeps on.

We had pretty good weather here this weekend. I managed to get out and clean up the chicken yard. One of the hens kept hoping out of the coop so I had to remove the old broody coop from the run. Which may have been a poor choice as I think one of the hens has gone broody.
I also got into the garden a bit more and cut down the last of the asparagus ferns from last year. It looks like the oregano and thyme survived the winter OK. I am still not sure about the lavender it looks a bit peaked and the sage looks rough as well. I may have to replace them.
I also picked the heads of many of my marigolds and now have an old Gatorade bottle half full of the seeds. I started a few up in the pots I bleached Saturday night.
I also watched a movie on Permaculture in Australia on Saturday night and it has gotten me thinking about how I use my land. I think I need to learn to think more strategicaly about combining areas of land use and also in how I organize the crops.
I also got the old lawn tractor started today. I replaced the battery and fresh gas and lo and behold she started. Which is excelent as I have heard rumors of a snowstorm coming some time tomorrow.

Gotta love Minnnesota.
Rick

Spring!

Well it is officially spring today. I took a few pictures to mark how the garden is doing on Wednesday. I take much the same pictures every year. The first picture is of the rhubarb shoots just coming out of the ground. I am always surprised to see that they have survived. It fills me with excitement at the possibilities of spring to see those shoots coming up every year. So much delicious potential. The other picture is just a overall shot of the garden. I like to take this picture so I can look back at how it all stated in midsummer.

63F

It was 63F today. And it was -1F four days ago! Nothing like living in Minnesota to give you an appreciation of change. We are almost completely snow free and most of the puddles have even dried up. The ground has moved from hard to sploshy. Signs of life are even showing themselves again. This evening I was in the garden in an area that was covered by snow yesterday and today I spotted a woolly bear caterpillar crawling along! While I was outside this evening I could hear a sound like earthworms pulling down bits of leaves and dead grass and while I stood there a flock of Canada goose flew over. They were so low I could hear the sound of their feathers. Yup spring has officialy sprung. I plan to wash pots this week and start some seeds this weekend. WooHoo!

A Glorious Weekend

This was a beautiful weekend. We had highs in the 40's and 50's all weekend and tons of sun. most of the snow is gone. I took advantage of the weekend and trimmed up the raspberry canes and burned them along with last years hop bines. Yes they are actually called bines not vines. Not sure why. I can't wait to get some plants started even if it is just some herbs on the windowsill.
I also racked the grape wine this evening. I am going to watch that young cat around all that alcohol.

Rick

Winter sowing.

I got an idea from On the Way to Critter Farm or more directly form the site they linked to Wintersown.org. I had heard about winter sowing. Winter sowing is basically to make a small greenhouse out of a jug or bottle and plant seeds of the appropriate crop in it. You then place the bottle outside and let the spring weather do the rest. I will be trying this with a few tomato plants this year as last years volunteers did quite well without any help.

Update

Well Jess and I spent a few hours walking through the home and patio show in Minneapolis yesterday. These things are always more aimed at the suburban remodeler but it is always a great relief to walk through the gardens that are set up by the landscape companies and smell the hyacinths. It is also fun to drool over the outdoor pizza ovens and paver patios with pergolas.
I definitely noticed a green edge to most of the booths and everyone had an idea how to help you spend some of the stimulus tax credits we have coming. We stopped and talked to a fellow from PAF Architecture. I have been intrigued by there booth before and we found out that one of their portfolio project was a energy efficient house in Cannon Falls that was done in the farmhouse vernacular. We may have to see if we can find that and ogle from the road.
Jess and I also took the time to talk to some folks about solar hot water and also chat with some folks about an interesting roof mount VAWT.
Jess and I then sat in on a home canning presentation byAna Micka author of The Fresh Girls Guide to Easy Canning. It was mostly review for us but did hit on pressure canning which Jess and I have yet to do. We also took away a great way to use pectin from dried apples to reduce the amount of sugar needed in berry jams.

That along with the best lunch I have had all year and a pint of Strongbow at Brit's Pub as well. Not a bad day.