Our first U-Pick customers

By planting 1200 blueberry bushes I became a "blueberry farmer".  Our 600 Reka, 300 Patriots and 300 Northland blueberry bushes did remarkably well their first year (in spite of my lack of weed control).  We were not expecting many blueberries their first year after planting.  But they surprised us.  I've been picking blueberries for three weeks now and taking them to the market.  But I found that I couldn't keep up with the picking.  And so our dream of a Pick-Your-Own berry farm started before we thought it would.

But I am a hovering blueberry mother.  The plants are still quite fragile and young.  One needs to pick carefully and gently.  So..... this young lady and her charming mother (who happens to be a terrific friend) came over the other day for blueberry picking. Her camera-shy mother picked alongside her beautiful ten year old daughter.  They were careful, methodical, and fun to pick alongside with me. We enjoyed several hours of chatting and eating and picking.

I still have much weeding to do and there is about one to two more days of picking left.  But the early blueberries have been a joy.  The plants are showing great signs of new growth promising more blueberries for next year.  We will definitely have more people over for picking.  I have found that eight hours of picking in a day is exhausting... perhaps picking is for eager ten year olds. 

Today's Journey Joy - friends who pick gently

It's nice to share

This spring we had two momma cats have kittens.  Zilchie had six fluffy little ones.  Three are mostly white and three are mostly gray.  And Tabby Girl had five kittens.  This was her first litter of kittens.  When she was just a kitten last summer she would let the bigger kittens nurse on her.  She so wanted to be a mommy cat.  The kittens didn't get any milk but everyone seemed happy.

When Tabby Girl had her kittens in the garage she was so proud.  Two mostly white, one mostly black and one that was black and white (reminds me of a cow!).  She nursed them and cared for them wonderfully.  But she was too trusting.  She wouldn't protect them from the other cats.  And so we basically locked her and the new ones in the garage. (Even displaced the Gator).  But last week we decided that the little ones were old enough to be recognized as kittens and not little mice.  So out they came.  Unfortunately, the mostly black one, who was the most adventurous, somehow got hurt and died.  So Tabby Girl only had four kittens left.  But that was no problem for Tabby Girl.  She simply "adopted" some of Zilchie's six kittens.  She'll nurse all ten of them.... and later Zilchie will be nursing all ten of them.  Well "nursing" might be a stretch.  I don't think that is physically possible.  But they all do try and snuggle and get some milk and love.  It's amazing seeing all those fluffy beautiful little kittens with one momma cat.  I didn't know cats "shared" nursing responsibilities.  We had kittens on our small farm growing up but I do not remember any cat being an "auntie".

Tabby Girl and Zilchie remind me that I can't do "mommying" alone.  Sometimes I need help.  I am so very grateful for friends who encourage me and come along side and help me.  Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, "And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken." 

When I need strength for my parenting responsibilities today or see someone who needs help.... may I be the "auntie" who shares and comes alongside.  It's nice to share.

Today's Journey Joy - Sharing responsibilities

15 out of 23

For fifteen of the past twenty three days it has been raining.  Sometimes torrentially... sometimes constantly... sometimes in a slow drizzle.  Much of the weather has been accompanied by lightening, winds, and thunder.  The ground is saturated.  My boots sink up to my ankles when I step.  Only those areas that have received enough grass mulch are passable.  And that means only the potatoes.  But they do seem to be happy.

I am looking forward to the day when I can uncover the mulch and gently push my potato fork into the soil.  What will I find?  In just a few more weeks I should know. 

The flowers continue to bloom.... even through the rain.  Rows and rows of white and lavender.  The buzz of the bumble bee occasionally heard.  And thankfully, no sign of the nasty potato beetle.

Yes, it is raining again today.  I have decided not to go to the Wednesday market.  The forecast is for thunderstorms yet again and the radar supports that prediction.  So the blueberries, heavy in ripeness, will have to remain one more day.  Thursday and Friday will be filled with frantic picking.  I must get the berries off the plants before they over-ripen. 

Today I ordered 800 new blueberry plants for next spring's planting.  The new planting will be made up of Patriot, Blueray, and Chandler.  This will allow us to length the blueberry season somewhat and have more blueberries for fresh eating.  I have found that Reka is very productive and extremely yummy for processing.  But it has an occasional "twang" factor that I have found unpleasant at times.  Perhaps I need to add something to the soil to make it "sweeter".  I'll do some investigating.  But our Patriot is definitely delicious and Northland is as well....although this variety has smaller berries in general.  Good for baking in muffins.

And speaking of blueberry muffins.... that's sounds like a fun rainy day adventure. 

Today's Journey Joy - blooming through the rain

A Mother's Love

Sunday evening six furry little kittens ventured out of the metal scrap pile.  "Mew! Mew!" they cried.  As if to say, "Mommy, where are you?"  They scrambled to me as I walked toward their call.  Whether one is their mother or not, a child's call tugs at your heart.  "Where is your mother?" I asked them.... as if expecting them to answer me.  "Mew! Mew!" they continued to cry.  "Oh Zilchie, where are you?  Your babies are calling."  I called for her.  "Zilchie!"  "Zilchie!"  

Zilchie was our first kitten when we moved to our farm.  She arrived with her brother from a colleague at work.  She was thus named "Zilch" after my inventive son's favorite dice game.  She has had two litters of beautiful kittens in the subsequent years.  Of all our cats she is the oldest.  And of course I give her special attention.  Every time she has kittens I give her extra treats.  I can't help myself.  Perhaps I empathize.  Raising children is exhausting work.  Wonderful, exciting, heart warming, and exhausting.  Especially when they are young.  Young children do not know their boundaries.  Have no idea of safety or danger.  They know only of their wants.  "Mew! Mew!" the kittens cried.

Sunday night brought storms and rain.  I had hoped Zilchie was out on a hunting adventure.  She's a great little mouser.  I dreamed of her cuddled up with these six fur balls.  Her keeping them safe and reassuring them.  "It's just rain my little ones.  The thunder will pass.  Stay close to me and you will be safe."  But Monday morning.... still no sign of Zilchie.  And the six little gray and white now wet and slightly fluffy kittens cried even more.  "Mew! Mew!"

I searched the garages.  I searched the chicken coop.  I called and called.  But no Zilchie.  "Oh" I thought, "She may have succumbed to the life of a farm cat."  Coyotes, hawks, owls, neighbors with pellet guns, cars and trucks.  Anyone of them could have ended her life prematurely.  And in this case, the life of her six young kittens.  And yet I searched more.  "Zilchie!"

"Where could she be?"  And I hoped for the best.  Last year another new momma cat was hit by a car.  Her three young kittens were orphaned.  We tried to nurse them.  We got kitten milk supplement.  A tiny bottle.  A warm cozy bed.  But one by one the small kittens died.  I did not want to experience that again.  "Zilchie!"

Saturday evening I had emptied the SUV from the market.  It was raining then and I was in a hurry.  But Zilchie was not like the other cats.  I had never seen her jump into one of our vehicles.  But it wouldn't hurt to look.  I opened the back door and gave a hopeful call, "Zilchie?"  And immediately a happy grey head popped up out of the tables, baskets and canopy.  She came running.  I picked her up and hugged her strongly.  "Zilchie!"  I shouted to my children.  "I found her!  She was in the car!" Her nipples were filled with milk and she was quite thin.  I brought her over to her crying babies.  She quickly laid down and all of her children attached themselves and suckled.  I think both Zilchie and I gave a collective sigh.  "Ahhhh..." 

My son filled a bowl with cream (a very, very special treat).  He set it right by her.  And yet she didn't budge.  She nursed those six hungry kittens until their tummies were round.  She licked them clean until they were soft and fluffy again.  And then, and only then, did she drink her cream.  After that she laid down in the grass next to them and fell asleep. 

A mother's love.... speechless.

Today's Journey Joy - a found mama cat and six little happy furry kittens

Raining (Again)

Everywhere I look water seems to be accumulating.  It is raining again.  Still.  And more is forecasted.  Typically a farmer appreciates rain... longs for it.  It is the sustaining hydration for the growing plants.  But much like any powerful asset, too much can bring damage.  Only a few of the blueberries are threatened.  But the corn and beans are soaked.  The grass in their respective rows is the only plant that thrives in this environment.  And because the fields are wet and waterlogged, I can not rescue the young plants.  The grass will grow and impair the strength of the crop.  The rain will make for a lot of difficult weeding in future days.

Saturday's market started precariously.  I left our small farm at 6:30.  The western sky was deep gray and there were rumbles in the distance.  "Oh, no." I thought.  I momentarily dreamed of jumping back into bed and sleeping the morning.  But there were thirty five pints of just picked blueberries and 8 quarts of the last of the strawberries in the vehicle.  I had to sell the fresh fruit.  It would not keep until the next market on Wednesday.  And my hard working and supportive husband had worked hard at preparing more smoking chips and chunks.  Although they would keep until the next market I was reluctant to stay home and not try to sell them.

So off I went to the market.  At 6:50 when I pulled up to my spot, the rain had just started.  With the help of my neighborly vendor I got my canopy up, weighted and secured with tie-down straps to the back wheels of my SUV.  Then I held on.... The wind blew.  The rain came down in torrents.  And the lightening and thunder filled the river front sky with adventure.  Well.... perhaps adventure is not the right word.  Frankly, I was a bit scared.  Standing under a canopy.... even a weighted down and secured canopy.... holding on to aluminum structures.... and watching a storm pass overhead was a bit unnerving.  I love watching storms.... not being in them.  But the worst of the storm was done in 30 minutes and I was able to set up my tables.  Blueberries, strawberries, mulberries, just harvested spring honey, bizarre looking garlic scapes, geraniums, wave petunias, and apple and hickory smoking chips and chunks filled my table.  And as the wind and rains dissipated, the kind brave folks came out.  Eventually I sold out of the fruit.  The honey and chips sold well throughout the day.  And I only went home with about 100 garlic scapes.  (I took about 500). 

One hour into the market I realized that I had forgotten my beautiful signs.  My always helpful farmer's husband called and volunteered to bring them to me.  "Oh, thank you!" I thought.  He had not been to this market before and I had hoped he would get a chance to see how wonderful it was.  So it was with a grateful and happy heart I saw him and my daughter coming down the aisle about 30 minutes later.  And the best part was that they stayed!  It was great to have them there.  I loved hearing him describe what a garlic scape was and how to use it.  And folks listened attentively.  Perhaps a guy with a Saturday morning beard dressed in a short sleeve shirt and pants led credibility to the message.  But folks listened and bought those scapes.  And he even sold the $25 honey bucket.  It sure was great having him there.

So today, Monday it rains again.  The children and I will have to be indoors.  But there is plenty to do.  Perhaps I'll even get that kitchen floor washed.....

Today's Journey Joy - pitter-pattering of rain

Garlic Scapes

These strange looking curly things are garlic scapes. This is not my photo.... I forgot to take a picture before I cut them all off. But this photo looked so similar to my garlic garden that I figured it would suffice. I don't have that cute little white house in the background though......

Garlic scapes are the flower portion of the stiffneck garlic. If left to mature the flower would be quite similar to the flower of the onion. But alas, the garlic bulb left in the ground would be teeny. The energy needed to produce large delicious stiffneck garlic bulbs is put into making the flower if the scape is left. So every year, about this time of year, I go through my garlic and cut off these bizarre looking flowers. Last year I threw them in the compost. A waste I discovered. Apparently, one can cook with these edible delights.

I found this recipe which looks interesting: "Raw Scape Pesto"

1/2 pound of scapes cut into one inch pieces

1 1/2 cups olive oil

2 cups grated Parmesan cheese

In a blender add scapes and oil. Pour mixture into bowl and add cheese by hand. Can be used in any way that traditional pesto is used. Also the recipe makers suggest using a couple tablespoons as a substitute for the oil in the bread of garlic bread.

Yesterday, I took some of these to the Farmers Market. Out of all the people that walked by only two people knew what they were. I did convince a couple of people to give them a try. I will take the rest of the scapes to the market on Saturday. If nothing else it sure does generate a lot of interest.

Garden update - the potatoes are flowering well. Blueberries are ripening (should be able to take some to the market this weekend, snow peas are forming, purple beans are flowering, black raspberries are forming).

Today's Journey Joy - fun flowers

Blueberries

Have you ever seen so many berries on one little plant? We planted these plants last year. It was quite an endeavor. (Check out last year's blogs for more details if you desire.) I took off all the blueberry flowers last year in order to allow the roots and plants to become well established. It was difficult but necessary. This year the flowers were left to become fruit. And our mighty little bumble bees and honey bees did their pollination job with gusto. Look at all those berries! This particular blueberry plant is known as "Reka". It is an early ripening variety developed in one of my most favorite countries: New Zealand. The berries are sweet and pick easily. I can only imagine how many berries they will produce when the plants are more mature.

The evening rains have washed these berries fresh and clean. Picking begins in two days. I tried picking a few berries.... they were great but unfortunately some of them were just a little premature and therefore a bit tart. So... I will be patient and allow the sun to sweeten the berries.

I'm hoping to take many pints to the market on Saturday. Perhaps there will still be some strawberries and if I have time, I'll grab some mulberries as well. The snow peas are ready to pick and I'll even try bringing some rocambole garlic scapes. But today I will enjoy watching the berries ripen.

Today's Journey Joy: anticipating blue sweetness

Spuds

The 1600+ potato seed I planted many weeks ago are thriving. They must like rain. And the mulch my wonderful husband swept up is doing a great job at keeping the weeds down. I always need more but I am pleased with the results in the potatoes.

The Carola golden potatoes have just begun to flower. I was surprised at that. They were the last to peek their heads out of the soil and through the mulch. They are supposed to be a smoother flesh potato than their well known counterpart the "Yukon Gold". In addition the organic farmer who sold me the seed emphasized that the Carola does not have the hollow center problems that often accompany the Yukon Gold. We shall see. I have always liked the Yukon... and it has name recognition. But a better potato is just that. A better potato. I wonder if it makes good french fires? (grin).

The French fingerlings and northland red potatoes are also doing well but no flowers yet. I suspect though that I will have some yummy new potatoes in just a few weeks. Perhaps by the end of the month.

More rain is forecasted for tomorrow. We've already received over 3+ inches since Monday. No more thank you. The weeds in other parts of the garden are overtaking. But pulling them up in this muck also pulls up the plants. And so I weed the blueberries and mulch and pray that the weeds in the broccoli and beans and corn do not hinder their growth.

Today's Journey Joy - flowering potatoes

Appetite for learning

He grows. And grows. And grows. He eats. And eats....whenever his head comes up from the words or his eyes leave the program he is writing.... he eats. "Mom, what is there to eat?" "Mom, I'm hungry. Can I have something?" And as quick as he can, he gobbles nutrition (hopefully) and is re-energized to learn more. Even power outages do not stop him. "I'll just get some candles..." And back to reading and learning he goes. He's reading "Bringing Up Boys" on this stormy evening. Learning about himself and others. Learning that a foundation built on God and His care is tantamount to a growing young boy. Does he understand it all? I do not think so. Some concepts may be beyond his eleven year old mind. Yet, he surprises me. And he learns. He reads and he re-reads. And his appetite is growing along with him.

His mind is always thinking, analyzing, and sorting. "How does this fit with this other information?" "Mom, did you know...." as he recites some specific fact. To which I think, "He's definitely his father's son." Remembering bits of information, numbers and quantities to great distances or fine minutia, categorizing logical arguments or even identifying logical fallacies. His dad has a similar ability. I never thought like this at age eleven. I was playing hide and seek, raising a pet duck in my bedroom, and swimming in our farm spring-fed pond. I enjoyed books and learning but it wasn't emphasized in our family outside of school. Not until many years later did I discover that one could learn about life, about struggles, about wisdom from reading. He, already, has surpassed me in many ways.

Hungry for life. Hungry for learning. An appetite unending. May the world hold enough books for my young son. Today he's reading a series on Sherlock Holmes. "Mom, is this a true story? Mom, did you know....?"

I grin. Keep learning my son.

Today's Journey Joy - Life's appetite

Still more plantings...

In March I started some various types of pepper (cayenne, Hungarian hot peppers, red, yellow and green bell peppers) and tomatoes (yellow, gold, and red cherry and grape tomatoes). Unfortunately my labeling system was faulty. I had cleverly hot glued the paper label to toothpicks and placed them in their respective rows. But, as you have already surmised, the paper fell off and disintegrated over the two months in my basement growing center. So hopefully I will "discover" which type of pepper and tomato I planted as they mature. Oops. Next year I will use used plastic milk jugs and cut some label markers. Permanent marker should do the trick.

I finished planting the Diamond and Alibi cucumbers next to the trellis where I had planted the burpless ones last week. I also got the beets, edamame soybeans (not for me.... a friend requested some), turnips (or were those parsnips?), small red sunflowers, yellow bush beans, and the second planting of sweet corn (10,000 more seeds). Today I hope to weed my three rows of blueberries, finish weeding the garlic, plant the spaghetti squash and some of the pumpkins. I also need to clear out the basement of the leftover flowers and prepare for honey harvest next weekend. Probably too ambitious.

Last Saturday I went to a different Farmers Market. People have commented over and over again that I should go to this particular market.... but I have been reluctant. It is huge (a good thing - over 200 vendors!), but vendors can go to the local food distributor outlet and "resell" things. Hardly seems "local". And I certainly am. The experience was good though. Yes, there were vendors who were selling melons, sweet corn, garlic, squash, and other non-seasonal items... but I can't tell you how many times people asked me, "Did you grow this?" "Where are you from?" So the local thing is important to some people at least. So I will be back. As I get more and more produce I hope to sell out every market day... or at least close. My wonderful husband will go to the other market when blueberries and sweet corn are ripe. Since we've paid for the other market already.... that way we can hopefully capture the local area. (Wow, this sounds very business - like).

The experiment of selling flowers was a failure. Didn't even break even. A good learning experience though. I've already made plans to change. For next year's spring markets I will sell popcorn and dried beans. Those are two items that I can take home and store if they do not sell. Perhaps I will plant some asparagus and some radishes and green onions as well. And maybe just a few flowers....

Time for a few more plantings....

Today's Journey Joy - learning