We’ve been doing this farm-gig for over 20 years now, so the
whole cycle of life thing is patently obvious. Each season has similarities
that show up year after year (after year). If you don’t believe me…check out
these posts from the past.
After nearly nine years of writing about the farm on a somewhat
regular basis (I started in 2009 and with the exception of that awful stretch
in 2010, I’ve posted faithfully) it can be a challenge to find something new
and interesting. Not only is it boring to read “same old, same old…blah, blah,
blah…”, living it can be crushing in its monotony. So, I’m always on the
lookout for a new angle, both for your reading enjoyment and my mental health.
This week was like most other weeks in summer…it was hot,
there was lots of work to do, and we went to Market. There you have it. Our week/my life. In 25
words…or less.
On the other hand, each and every week has something new and
different in it. Good and bad, that make up the fabric of our lives and give
our existence some sort of meaning.
Here’s a little more in-depth version.
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| shhh..don't tell him there's better amusement than Mamaw, a grocery buggy and a graham cracker! |
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| ready to go! (we don't need no Moms...lol) |
Monday when I headed out to do my usual round of errands, I
had some company. While the “big boys” headed out on a day trip to Busch
Gardens with their moms, #3 came to spend the day with the old folks. Life sure
is different with little folks around.
…and I managed to seed the fall brassicas. (thanks to the
Boss’ major assistance)
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| they've already germinated! we will put the in the garden about August 1st |
Then, we finally got around to hauling that load of hay.
Now, the hay-guy is nice enough to leave it on the wagon for us until we can
fit it into our schedule, he even keeps it tucked up safe and dry in the shed
for us. But it is a business, and he does have more hay to harvest (and a
limited number of wagons) so, we can’t leave it there indefinitely.
With a threat of rain in the forecast, it probably wasn’t
the perfect day to haul the hay, but it’s stacked to the rafters on one side of
the barn. And, I’m pretty sure we’ll have to fit in another load this week,
since our trip to town revealed that the wagons are full again.
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| can we beat the rain? |
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| Karma - the hay helper |
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| I'm not too fond of heights, so unloading the wagon can be tricky. But, the view is cool from up here! |
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| unloading hay |
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| hay stacked high |
The routine got interrupted slightly as the Boss had an
appointment with Sports Medicine to take a look at his shoulder. (the irony of
a visit to “sports medicine” granting us more than a few chuckles throughout
the morning) It was a record-setting trip to UVA with xrays, exam and treatment
all taking less than two hours. We would be back home by lunch!
…but, wait…
WHAT is that up ahead on Mbrk Road?
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| on Middlebrook Road |
There was a small pick-up truck with one of those oversize
load signs on it. But, WHAT was that load in front of it? It looked like a huge
pile of lumber. As we went around one of the many curves in the road, we could
see that it was in fact a huge load of roof trusses. The biggest roof trusses
we had ever seen. Travelling down Mbrk Road was slow going…lunch might be late
after all.
But, there was nothing to do but sit back and enjoy the
ride…and just maybe solve a mystery. For months now, we’ve been wondering about
the big construction job just off the road.
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| big construction project |
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| WHAT is going on out there? |
At first it looked like a road was going in. But, it stopped
abruptly before it got anywhere.
Could it have something to do with the proposed pipeline?
Nah…wrong location.
Maybe it was a housing development. Stuck out in the middle
of nowhere with cattle on one side and a cornfield on the other, that seemed
fairly unlikely.
But, WHAT was it?
The site was only visible for a short span on the trip home,
and we hadn’t seen any of the neighbors “in the know” for a while, so we were
on our own to speculate as to what was going on.
Then, one day I had an epiphany on my way home.
Long, straight construction in the middle of Ag land could
only mean one thing…a poultry house! (or
possibly houses, plural)
The sight of the huge trusses making their way down Mbrk
Road just proved my theory. And, by Saturday morning, it was obvious that a new
poultry house was well underway. Well, that mystery is finally solved.
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| big roof trusses making the turn |
After seeing all the work that is going into this enormous project, I understand why the cost is well OVER $500,000 for a thoroughly modern poultry barn. I wish these folks all the best…because it’s gonna take a huge number of chickens/turkeys to pay for the infrastructure alone. (a WHOLE LOT of chicken nuggets!)
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| this thing is HUGE! probably 1,000 feet long |
Back home on the hill and our teeny, tiny operation, it was
back to the routine.
(a few random shots from the old homestead)
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| morning farm |
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| dove on the back fence |
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| part of the cabbage harvest |
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| drying garlic |
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| barnswallows in the garden |
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| WHY is this hen in the feeder? |
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| ...because that's where she lays her egg! (don't have a clue as to a reason) |
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| sunrise (that's not a bird...it's a bat!) |
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| foxtail millet in the early morning light |
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| It was Karma's first week on "paw patrol" during Market |
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| red admiral butterfly |
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| assassin bug (on Angus' freshly shorn wool) this guy looks creepy (he's not) but, he eats Japanese beetles (we need MORE) |
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| look who was in the lane when I got home! |
Angus really needed a haircut.
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| Angus the "before" shot |
With the heat indices
predicted to reach triple digits over the weekend, the time was at hand. Being
too hot can render a ram sterile (just for the short-term) but with breeding
season right around the corner, we don’t want to take any chances. Now,
shearing the ram is not a job neither of us look forward to, and apparently,
Angus didn’t think it sounded like fun, either. He totally flipped out when the
Boss opened the gate, bolted for the woods, and was determined to stay
there…permanently. After a short ram-rodeo, he was corralled and shorn. Hauling all the equipment,
setting up the generator, mowing the paddock, herding Angus and cleaning up the
wool took far longer than the 10 minutes it took to shear him. But, he’s clipped and cool ahead of the hot weather. And, we can check one more job off the annual
“to-do” list. (and, Angus can start counting down the days until he gets to go
back in with his “ladies”)
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| the "after" shot |
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| all the shearing is done for 2018! |
Now, it was time to get busy harvesting for Market.
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| sunlit lettuce |
Market prep always includes a little
re-organization/cleaning of the cooler and there was some leftover broccoli
that needed my attention. While the Boss harvested new potatoes, I blanched and
froze broccoli for winter. The broccoli harvest hasn’t been the best this year,
and broccoli sales have been off, but at least we won’t go hungry this winter.
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| chilling broccoli after blanching |
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| digging new potatoes |
I guess the weird weather is to blame for the many of the growing
difficulties this year. We aren't alone in the challenges. Everyone is talking about the weather...and their gardens.
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| the weed growth is phenomenal! this is the broccoli garden post0harvest the weeds are past my waist |
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| after bush-hogging the weeds will die and dry and add to the green matter of the soil potatoes will go in this area in a couple of weeks |
We should be inundated with squash by now, but we’ve only
had enough for one meal. The fruits form, but then before they begin to rot
before they are ready for harvest. We’ve never seen anything quite like it. There
are indications that pollination was poor (misshapen fruits) and I just read
last week that the honeybee population in the state took a huge hit over the
winter. Read this. But, honeybees are not the only pollinators, so I am at a loss for an
explanation. We’re just hoping that the succession plantings are more
successful.
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| these are sad (and gross) |
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| the next crop is looking beautiful! |
Despite the squash maladies, we managed to have a good
amount for Market. There was a great band and whole lot of folks downtown which
made for a day that was both enjoyable and successful.
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| pretty morning at the Market |
Thanks for stopping by.
Have a Happy Sunday!
…and come back and “visit” again soon.
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| getting a head-start on the "dog days" of summer |
I would take your sweet, smaller scaled mixed farm any day over a huge poultry operation like the one being built. There are some similar to that around here. The people who own the land surrounding us, also have the contract for cleaning out those barns when the chickens get loaded onto trucks. They dump mountains of chicken manure on the fields to sit for weeks (sometimes months) before they spread them. I'm a country girl and can handle all kinds of "aromas" but that can be pretty intense.
ReplyDeleteI think your ram should be thanking you for his summer hair cut!! -Jenn
I'm right there with you, Jenn! Ugh, I don't like the smell of poultry litter being spread. But, it IS a great fertilizer.
DeleteI think the ram is quite happy with his summer "buzz-cut". :)
Have a great week!
It may be the same old ritual for you Barbara but do bear in mind that I get such a lot from reading your weekly account of what has been going on - I look forward to it so much. Don't please ever think of stopping.
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Pat, for your continued messages of encouragement!
DeleteI love reading about the farm. I love seeing all your pictures too, good or bad. And I am with "coffee", I would MUCH rather buy from a local small farmer than big box, or anyone like that. Unfortunately, sometimes I have to, like everyone. I did however, take the jump in to eggs myself and have 6 chickens! I love them so much too. Hours of entertainment!!! I have a small container garden too, but LOVE looking at all your good veggies! I WISH I could have a larger garden, but my health just doesn't allow it. :( So thank you for sharing yours!!! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you SO much for reading.
DeleteYAY for getting your chickens! They are truly entertaining. Some of them have so much personality. (and then there's the eggs) Wishing you all the best with them. :)