August is a wearisome month.
No doubt about it, everything seems a little tired this time
of year. Any enthusiasm we’ve had for all those growing projects has wilted and
withered under the hot summer sun. But, we can’t give up yet, there is still
much to do before the first frost.
In addition to growing things, there is a daily onslaught on
our humanity, our decency and our reality with the awfulness that spews forth
from the white house on a near constant basis. The effects of the constant
barrage can be seen across the country. Coupled with the worries of the
pandemic, the social unrest brought on by the exposure of the extent of the systemic
racial injustice and concerns over the state of the economy, is it any wonder
that we are all weary, worried and unsettled?
And, there’s just no getting around it, this entire year
things have been weird. Truly weird.
2020 just continues to bring the hits…the pandemic, weird
weather, racial injustice, the looming election…ugh. There is a feeling of
tension and anger the likes of which I have never seen.
Honestly, there are days when I don’t think I can possibly
deal with any more bad, distressing, worrisome, irritating news.
And, I just read there is an asteroid headed straight for
earth. Truth! Check this out )
This global pandemic we are facing is unlike anything in
recent history, perhaps ever. (it hasn’t “gone away” and I really wish folks
wouldn’t act like it has) People are dying, others have been murdered in the
streets, and social unrest is at an all-time high. All the lies and vitriol on
constant repeat help absolutely nothing…in all probability making everything
worse.
Ugh.
Wearisome, worrisome and weird…
What a way to begin a post!
I won’t blame you if you already quit reading. But, I am
really going in another direction, I promise.
Eventually.
Just to touch on the weird weather for a moment, though.
Three weeks ago, Staunton was hit by horrific flash-flooding
of historic proportion. Most are saying it was worse than Hurricane Fran in
1996, and it has been compared to the devastating flood of 1896. In all 164
properties were damaged. Some businesses will never re-open, others must move
elsewhere and there were reports that at least one home collapsed. A
cataclysmic event by any reckoning.
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| flood at the Wharf 8-9-2020 |
And, then just two weeks later, another thunderstorm and
another flood. Just par for the course in 2020---you cannot make this stuff up.
This time the floodwaters came from a slightly different direction. But, both
times the Wharf (where the Farmers’ Market sets up) was underwater and all the surrounding
businesses were impacted.
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| flooded Market sidewalk in storm #2 (Eccohollow photo) |
The images were terrifying and all I could think about was
that just hours before the Market had been full of people---folks happily
shopping the Market from the vendors and farmers who make it possible for them
to get the best in local food…even during a pandemic. Not to sound like
“Pollyanna” but, if it had occurred any earlier in the day, the damages and
losses could have been so much worse. Video footage can be seen here.
For a place that lives or dies by tourism, this has been a
tough year. First COVID19 and now the
issues of re-building after the floods. The City has made sandbags available
and will be re-assessing the ways to deal with stormwater. While Lewis Creek
(that runs under the city) was a crucial feature when Staunton was home to
nearly a dozen mills back in the 18th and 19th centuries, it causes some serious issues for modern infrastructure. Some
businesses have already figured out how to re-open, proving that Staunton is
indeed strong and resilient and the downtown community is unlike anything I’ve
ever seen. But, there is still much work to be done and I’m fairly certain
everyone will be watching the weather quite closely in coming days. For more
about Staunton…click this. https://www.ci.staunton.va.us/
At the risk of seeming like an ostrich and burying my head
in the sand (which, I don’t think actually happens…although, I don’t personally
know any ostriches to do any fact-checking, so…) I’ve got to think about
something…anything else. I am not advocating completely removing ourselves from
the news cycle or ignoring world events. But, seriously, I think we need a
break!
Around here, when I need a break, I head to the hoophouse. No matter the weather, you can always find something new inside.
While the hoophouse is not one of the original structures
here on the hill, it has been here a long, long time.
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| Things have sure changed since hoophouse construction in 1997 (I don't think the cow was actually inside...lol) |
And, it has probably had more incarnations than any of the
other buildings. The house and shop are pretty much the same, at least on the
outside. The barn has expanded over the years, but never changed its use. Over
the years, the hoophouse has been a winter-time henhouse, a cornfield, sea of
broccoli plants, a melon patch/tomato garden, a storage unit, and one year we
grew hundreds of pounds of beautiful cucumbers that graced the tables of fancy
restaurants on the other side of the mountain. Once we discovered shadecloth,
we were able to produce literally thousands and thousands of bags of some of
the finest lettuce in the area (if not the best) year-round. Per square foot,
it has been almost certainly the most profitable part of the farm.
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| shoshito pepper |
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| baby cucumber |
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| gorgeous greens |
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| lovely lettuce |
These days it isn’t so profitable. But, it is still quite
productive. And, it’s a great place to get all those “feel good” microbes from
digging in the dirt. It’s where I go when I need a change of perspective or some
delicious fixin’s for supper.
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| picture perfect harvest |
I wasn’t sure about Tom’s great idea to upcycle some old
mineral tubs as planters. I guess I should have had a little bit more faith. Wowee!
We can get an amazing amount out of those 2.63sq.feet. (yeah, I did the
math…call me a nerd if you want to) We’ve gotten buckets of beets and carrots, more
shoshito peppers than anybody could possibly eat, all sorts of greens, lots of
salads, some cucumbers, and yesterday I picked the first of the squash!
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| summer squash |
Aside from growing tasty food, the hoophouse is a haven for
all sort of critters. For the most part, we try to live in harmony with the
other creatures in our environment, but when they start eating the foodstuffs, something
must be done. …and when they poop in the lettuce? They’re goners! Boundaries, oh
my word…everybody needs to have boundaries! (and apparently, I have found mine)
Battles for the foodstuffs aside, I’ve discovered all sorts
of insects that I’d never even heard of and taken some pretty cool photographs.
This year, the hoophouse covered in the most abundant and beautiful “crop” of
morning glories I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. And, morning glories bring
back pleasant memories. https://homesteadhillfarm.blogspot.com/2018/09/mornin-glory.html I may have gone a little overboard with flower photos...
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| morning glory bud |
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| even the spent blossoms are pretty! |
Yep, the hoophouse is definitely my happy place!
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| this little hummer in the maple out back just made me smile |
Here are just a few shots from the past week or so...not just from the hoophouse.
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| cat on the porch at sunrise |
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| acleris moth |
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| african daisy |
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| it was an excellent corn year! |
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| baby cardinal in millet under the birdfeeder |
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| volunteer hollyhock by the backdoor |
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| cardinal flower by the fence |
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| it's time for garden spiders (I always think of Charlotte's web) |
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| a cricket in the basil (he may have to go...I think he is eating it) |
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| damsel fly at the creek |
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| grass along the fence |
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| sheep taking a break |
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| honeybee in wingstem |
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| jewelweed at the creek |
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| locust borer in the garlic chives |
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| mason bee in morning glory |
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| flying mason bee |
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| I had long wondered about the little white dots on morning glories... they are the pollen granules left behind by the bees |
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| morning glory leaves climbing up the hoophouse |
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| mushrooms pop up after the rain |
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| sunrise |
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| sunset |
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| summer salad |
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| thread-waisted wasp in garlic chives |
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| toad in the stocktank |
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| another wasp in the garlic chives |
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| wet potato blossoms |
To continue on with the theme of weirdness, yesterday was
Tom’s last Market as Manager.
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| Tom's last Market (thanks to Ashley for documenting it) |
Talk about weird!
After 15 years, the time had
come to move on…time to pass the torch to the new manager…Ashley of Malcolms' Market Garden We will be wishing her all the best, always!
He made a little montage of our years at the Market:
I want to join him in saying THANK YOU to Staunton, to the
Market, and to all those folks who showed up every Saturday for making it
possible for us to make a go of our little farm on the hill. We truly love and appreciate
all of you!
While we’re not going anywhere and we are still working to
grow the best lamb chops possible, things are definitely going to change. For
the first time in over 22 years, we don’t have the concerns of the Market hovering
in the corners of our minds. all.the.time. I didn’t realize how much the Market impacted
everything we do around here, but it did. Right down to when we went to town and/or
planned any type of activities. It’s kind of freeing…and definitely weird.
We’ve got two fairly major projects that we hope to get
finished before the snow flies…
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| ugh...where to start?! |
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| can you guess what he's doing? |
But, I’ll have to tell you about those next time.
For now, THANK YOU for reading. THANK YOU for joining us on
this crazy ride of life.
Have a Happy
Sunday!
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| the hoophouse offers everyone a little change of perspective! |
Hope to see you next time!