Labor Day

Readers ask who's writing this blog. Well, Anna started it, but Vince has taken over the "farming practices" entries, which makes it look like he does all the work. But, here is proof that Anna likes using the tractor too! (This was a well deserved break, I might add.)

Here are some visitors or future "interns" learning to plow (disregard any safety issues, two in the seat for a photo op. is fine)

Plowman's Folly

Plowing proves to be difficult with our little Kubota and single bottom plow. After some adjustments on the plow I was able to get a furrow started, but with undulating ground and the lightness of the plow, it seems to clog when the coulter is unable to cut through the years of vegetation. My past experience with a plow included more horsepower on flat ground with relatively short vegetation. This is more frustrating than that ever was. The goal is straight furrows and completely inverted sod. This should still work but it will require continued cultivation. I hope to prepare a seed bed and have it planted this fall. Next spring I will mow the cover crop and only cultivate the rows I plant with strips of vegetation between rows.

Rain & Weeds

Weeds are sprouting from the help of recent rains. Our focus in the vegetable patch this week will be weed managment. After pulling up cauliflower stumps we need a cover crop to help surpress weeds, recover nutrients and keep the soil alive.

Beginnings

The idea for this blog started in April, when we moved in to our house and immediately started tilling soil, burning a huge burn pile, planting vegetables and otherwise cleaning house. It is now the end of August, and we finally have time to sit down and write, upon the encouragement of our faithful family, friends, neighbors and supporting customers. That first month we tilled soil with a rototiller and moved the chickens in to do their work scratching weeds and fertilizing. We planted small spaces as we moved the chickens around, built two hoop houses (cold-frame green houses), dug out a parking space, and weeded like crazy. Luckily for us, spring was very long and slow to bring summer and and gave us a chance to plant those things that typically would have been in the ground too late. A lot of progress has been made since then, and we are discovering and learning new things all the time. We have learned and taught each other and others about soil, insects, and growing seasons and about construction, tractors and tools. We have also practiced patience, diligence and put in long days. Why are we doing all of this? More about that later.