Focusing

"Do you think I'm being realistic?"

My Farmer Husband sits patiently gliding back-and-forth, back-and-forth, in his rocking chair.  The soft whirl of the ceiling fan the only sound in the silence that follows my question. I've been talking quickly and fervently for the past five minutes.  With barely a moment for a breath.  I've outlined my thoughts about our new focus. I'm excited and hopeful.

He quietly shakes his head from the whirl of my litany, trying to focus himself.  Lost in the presented information. "Uh, ... sure.  That sounds great," he responds trying to sound supportive.

"Are you sure?" asking for more reassurance.  For I was unsure. I was eliminating so many tasty vegetables from our farm market. But we had to focus.  My ambitious vision surpassed my abilities to maintain.  The weeds, particularly the grasses, destroyed 3/4 of the sweet corn, 100% of the dried beans, 100% of the melons and cucumbers, 3/4 of the onions and half of the leeks.  The tomatoes almost succumbed but they have only been delayed.  The big pumpkins are not vining like they should as well.  Although much of their difficulty is the squash beetles this year.  We have had strawberries, blueberries, a few black raspberries, potatoes, some sweet corn, some snap beans and a few onions and leeks.  Without the potatoes doing so well I don't believe there would be much of a reason to go to the market these past few weeks.  But if our melons, onions, cucumbers and the rest of the sweet corn had made it, well, then it would have simply been much better.  The prolific growth of weeds this wet and hot summer has been great for the grass.  But not so great for the vegetables.

And so I read the list to him again.  He didn't ask for it.  I'm not sure he actually heard me in the rapidity of my first report. But he is, and always has been, supportive of any farming decisions I have made.  And really, I just needed to hear it for myself again.

"We will expand the fruiting plants.  Eighty hundred more blueberries.  Fifteen hundred summer red raspberries (three varieties that ripen over different periods of the summer).  More strawberries to fill about 1/8 acre.  Black raspberries.  Blackberries. Fruit trees (sweet and sour cherries, pears, plums, peaches, nectarines and apples).  Table grapes planted on the west fence."

He's listening again.  Not so blurry-eyed this time.  Taking it in and thinking.  "Yes..."

"But it's the vegetables we will really change."  I pause to state it again.  Because taking out a bunch of different vegetables is difficult.

"Our major vegetable in the summer will be....." I pause looking at his face trying to determine his response.  "Heirloom tomatoes."

"Amish paste, marglobe, marmande, JDT (the Campbell's soup tomato), Green Giant, Brandywine and German reds and yellow.  We will start them in the hoop house in March so that we will have some ready to go by mid May. We will plant around 350 plants throughout the summer because many of the plants are determinate tomatoes that only produce for a couple of weeks and will need to be replanted.  We would still plant potatoes (but fewer), peppers, garlic, onions, Mirai sweet corn, beans and pumpkins. But the rest.... someone else will have to plant."

"What do you think?"  "Am I being realistic?"  "Can we do this?"

"Sounds great.  And if we are able to do these well we can always add more later or remove the more labor intensive things like potatoes if we run out of time or energy," he says encouragingly.

I sigh with relief.  Always hopeful.  Always looking for that perfect growing year.  And always learning.  But I think we can do this.  Farmer Husband's Mulch-o-matic collecting system will help tremendously.  We can place the grass mulch between the plants and till the rows.  We may use some selective pre-emergents on some of the plants... especially the sweet corn.  But for the most part the fruits and vegetables will be grown as naturally as possible.  I'm encouraged about the future.  I hope that this new focus will eliminate the tortuous work of finding vegetables through the grass.  And that our efforts will be rewarded with beautiful, abundant, superb tasting produce. 

"Ah, honey?" I ask.  "One more thing..... we will have to grow more flowers.  Zinnias, cone flowers, rubeckia, and marigolds.  We need more color around here...."

He smiles.

Today's Journey Joy - Focusing

Visitors

We had visitors yesterday.  Farmer Husband Gary met the wife at the farmers market on Saturday.  She was interested in farm fresh eggs.  Since the market he goes to does not allow us to bring our eggs there we suggest to interested persons that they come visit the farm and purchase direct.  They get to save 50 cents a dozen as well.  Farmer Husband gave her one of my "Farmer Chris" business cards as she left.

She called me late morning.  "Do you have some eggs?"  "Yes," I replied, thinking she wanted maybe a couple of dozen.  "Do you have...say, ten dozen?"  "Ah.... I don't think so, but I'll let you know by the end of the day and you can have what the girls give us."

With the help of a very good friend who also free ranges her chickens, I was able to get a total of eight dozen.  Apparently this new family goes through a dozen eggs a day.  They have four young children (six years and under) who like pancakes and eggs for breakfast every morning. "Great!" I thought.  Now I should have no trouble getting my eggs sold come this fall when I am not at the markets anymore.  But ten dozen a week?!  That's 120 eggs.  And I only have about 25 girls laying right now.  And they are sporadic due to the excessive temperatures lately.  And "Tom," my other regular, usually wants about six dozen every ten days.  Good thing that the new ones should be laying in about a month and the 25 baby partridge rocks should easily be laying well by spring.  We may have a slight difficulty meeting demand in the meantime though.

But I wander.

The visitors came as a family.  They all wanted to see the farm and the chickens.  I guess I was unprepared for such scrutiny.  Usually my egg buyers (or any buyers for that matter), simply drive up, get their stuff, chat a bit and leave.  They don't want a tour.

But these guys did.

I discovered that they were a young family who recently moved back to the area.  They try to eat only organically grown fruit and vegetables and free range chicken eggs.  They sweeten everything with honey.  In fact, they purchase their honey by the 30 pounds. (That's a lot of honey!).

As we were showing them the fields and our progress I found myself getting anxious.  Weeds everywhere.  Disarray.  Branches down in various piles.  Equipment here and there.  Hoses stretched in coils on the sidewalk.  Kittens jumping.  Chickens (and their droppings) cruising about. Crops lost in grasses waist high.  Flowers barely able to bloom between the horse weed.  Not my idea of a beautiful farm.

I was embarrassed to show the farm.  We've been working so hard at farming organically / naturally.  But on this scale, with only a couple of hands, that beatific vision I have of the farm is unrealistic.  And looking at the place through "new visitor eyes" made me aware of the chaos surrounding me both inside the home and outside on the farm.  Change is due.

We have made plans to focus.  For which I will have to wait until tomorrow or so to describe.  But I am excited about the possibilities.

Today's Journey Joy - visitors

July's Garden Adventures

Sugar Baby Pumpkins for pumpkin pie making.

It's garlic powder makin' time.

Rocambole "Music" Garlic.

Pumpkin Blooms

The sweet corn ripening in the field drifts an aroma of delight and anticipation.  It fills my olfactory sense with delight and reminds me of summer's past.  Childhood festivals.  Family reunions.  Bubbling water on the stove.  Butter oozing through the stack of hot corn.  Stripping husks and peeling silk.  Salt... just enough.  Faces full of corn pieces and buttery fingers and cheeks. Finger licking and full tummies.

The cherry and grape tomatoes remain hard and green.  But promise of yellow, golden and red delights are in the future.  Picking jewels of sweetness from the vines.  Almost as good as berries.

Blackberries ripening. Juicy, sweet and yummy.

And yellow string beans.  Lost in the weeds and yet bearing beautifully. Exceptionally colorful.

Today's Journey Joy - July's harvest

A Day of Reflection

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:29-30).

The day is full before I even begin.  Laundry washing and pegging on the line.  Chicken feeding.  Japanese beetle trap emptying.  Animal watering.  Baby partridge rocks.  Broccoli snipping.  Bean picking.  Onion pulling.  Summer squash amongst the weeds.  Washing dishes.  Washing produce.  Loading the vehicle for the market.  Ice making.  A shower please.  Ninety degree temps with high humidity. Library run.  Five hour farmers market.  Return home.  Unpack vehicle.  Prepare for tomorrow's interview and presentation.  Supper.  Shower again please...

But those are only activities.  Stuff to do.  Not a person to be.  Today I chose to focus not on the many things filling the day but the wonder and joy of remembering the past and experiencing the present.

Green grass, leaves, plants.  Plenty of rain.  Good earth.  Fruiting raspberries.  Purple beans.  Dark red norland new potatoes.  Sterling white onions.  Free range chickens. Mr. Two-Toes and Mr. Bard Rock (MBR for short).  Ten fluffy kittens.  Half a million happy nectar-collecting bees.  A home with air conditioning.  A family of love.  A creative and enterprising son.  A fun-loving, present-living daughter. A wise, hard working, supportive and loving husband.  Friends who know when to tell me to take a break.  A teaching job at a local university.  Opportunities for tenure.  Pursuit of doctorate education.  Learning. Growing.  Hawks soaring just for the fun of it.  Horse weed nine feet tall.  Lawn mowers and tractors.  Clothes flapping on the line. Rest.  New friends at the market.  Freedom. New life.  New joy.

"There is a joy in  the journey.  There is a light we can love on the way.  There is a wonder and wildness to life.  And freedom for all who obey." (Michael Card).

Today's Journey Joy - wonder and wildness of the yoke of Christ

To Break The Cycle

I'm still impressed.  Twigs planted in the dampness of spring. Rains and sun nourishing throughout the summer.  Leaves bursting forth verdant green.  Transforming to brilliant fire engine red in autumn.  And finally returning to twig form in the crispness of winter.  To start the amazing cycle again.  This time heavy with fruit.

But now the young blueberries are beneath grass and perennial weeds.  Japanese beetles attack.  And I have only so much time and energy.  I cannot keep up.  What will happen to our wonderful blueberry field?  It can not be good for them.  To be so choked and suppressed.  They have completed their fruit bearing but they need to keep growing for next year.

That's why we have decided to take back the field... with synthetics. (That's a nice way of saying "chemicals").  I feel as though I failed.  My dreams are larger than my time and energy.  Certainly not larger than my effort, for I put hours and hours in the humid hot heat of our Midwest summer sun.  Bent over with hoe in hand and weeds ripping from soil left in a heap to be mowed into mulch.  But the grass is close to seeding.... to repeat their annual seeding.  And the field is large. Those weeds which are too tall or old to succumb to the chemical will be yanked and destroyed manually. 

We will return to natural practices as soon as the cycle is broken.

Journey Joys - It's hard to express the "journey joy" today.  I am thankful that there are chemicals that can help.  And yet I am torn between my strong desire to grow naturally without chemicals and my strong desire to have a healthy productive field.  My husband and I have always said that we would follow organic farming as long as we could.  But if the crop was in danger of failing we would use chemicals.  We are at that point.  And yet I still feel.... discouraged. 

Fish in the sky?

This spring and early summer have been filled with gray skies, rainy days,thunder, lightening and wind.  Our gardens are filled with grass and weeds.  The tiller cannot get into the field.  My ankles sink deep.

Can fish fly? 

But the past five days have been filled with sunshine, dry air and cooler temperatures.  The soaked soil is drying and actually cracking in some places.  Today the tiller attacks the garden.  But unfortunately the mower will have to go first.  That's how bad it is.

I almost succumbed to chemicals.

How can I keep all these weeds out of the gardens?  They grow prolifically and choke the growth of the vegetables.  They harbor diseases and insects.  They have deep roots.  But there are only so many hours in a day.  And my forty-seven year old muscles can only pull so many weeds with my hoe and bent shoulders.

If this bluegill-looking fish can fly..... perhaps I can get some crops to grow organically.......

Well, I'll just do my best... because fish do not fly, and weeds don't jump out of the field by themselves, and vegetables need space to grow.  As do I.

Today's Journey Joy - reality check

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

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

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

Powdery Dust

The shadows linger longly over the freshly tilled soil. The sun sets in a somber somnolent manner. And I feel it with her. The day was filled with tractoring, hazy heat, and perspiration. The long rows of promising vegetable seeds planted with plodding care. Foot prints of tired legs and a hopeful heart. This year I am reminded, almost daily, that gardening is a process of faith and hope. "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1). I prepare: I carve into the soil; I place tiny little seeds; I cover and pat. I space; I plan; the Lord waters and brings warmth. The sun heats and empowers. And eventually my garden sown in hope and faith pushes up from powdery dust and develops into a new expression of life.


Tiny little watermelon starts already leaning towards that heat and light.... even though the shadows are becoming long...

My faith journey is much like this. Ever hopeful. Not always seeing.... usually not until many sunsets have been spent.... some times never. But still hopeful. Still leaning. Still dependent on the Giver of life... Resting and yet energized through His power.

Today's Journey Joy: Faith without seeing.

Mulching and planting

My gator has been a blessing and a work horse. It has never been stuck, only had one flat tire, zips up and around all our hills, and hauls and hauls and hauls. My farmer husband busily scoops oak mulch into five gallon buckets and tarps. Then I haul it out to the blueberry field and replace the old mulch. Last year's mulch was much too thin in places and in some places nonexistent! Hence, tons and tons of weeds. I have made a promise to myself that the blueberry field will never be like that again. We have spent way too much time weeding already this spring. But the mulch will certainly help. Every time I take the gator to the blueberry field I fill up about 12 five gallon buckets and deliver them to the most needed spot. We're making progress.

Yesterday, I spent almost the entire day rototilling. It always seems to take longer than one would think possible. I did manage to get some purple beans, watermelon, acorn squash, zucchini and yellow summer squash and yummy cantaloupe in. This morning I rotilled the apple orchard area where I had tilled yesterday and planted yellow popcorn (let the popcorn saga begin!). I also have planted the Tanja burpless cucumbers starts next to the trellis my hard working husband and son put in for me. Next comes the tomatoes and peppers.

I mentioned yesterday to my husband, "I'm running out of ground...." Meaning literally, ground. I have almost used all of the tilled area already and have not planted the pumpkins. And they take sooooo much room. I may be tilling again.

The storms that hot humid weather foster are coming today. The horizon is already hazy and cloud filled. Back to planting....

Today's Journey Joy - experiencing the wonder of planting

Spring continues....

The hills roll and spring forth with life. As if to say, "Ah.... that was a long rest." The grass stretches its blades, seeking to seed and spread yet again. The apple blossoms are a-buzz with bee activity, trying to get some more nectar and pollen for the early spring build up.

And my wonderful and helpful farmer husband (although he always says, "She's the farmer; I'm the farmer's husband."), neatly sweeps up the first cutting of the rye grass we planted last fall. The old apple orchard was cleaned of 50+ year old despairing fruit trees and replaced temporarily with winter rye grass.... until this spring when we started replanting the orchard. The grass was used as mulch for the 16-1800 potato seeds I planted. They are growing beautifully. The rest of the orchard will hold pumpkins and popcorn. And then next year 25 more fruit trees and transplantation of black raspberries.

It is hot today. That spring morning pictured above was over a month ago. Now the trees have tiny fruit, the grass has been mowed and swept a second time and the potatoes are awaiting their next mulching. The old orchard soil has yet to be turned though for the planting. I am torn between planting melons and squash and preparing the soil. Which to do first? I planted about 1/4 acre of various types of dried beans yesterday. And about 45 tomato plants (more to plant still). The peppers, squash, melons and okra (not for me thank you!) have yet to be planted.... but it's 90 degrees today and bright and sunny. Maybe later this afternoon when the sun gets lower in the sky.... But the seeds can go in. We are expecting rain tomorrow afternoon. I suspect the rain will be accompanied by big thunder booms.... summer is fast approaching.

And still I ramble.... the bees we brought across from the other side of the road have adjusted well. We have had only one small swarm 2 weeks ago which was readily captured. We have split and split our hives this year in the hopes that they would not swarm. I think I am getting to old to be climbing ladders. And besides, it's a lot easier to split. By the way, the swarm that I got out of the lady's garage about 20 miles south of here earlier this week is now happily collecting pollen and nectar at my friend Stacy's house. This week I will go over there and move them to their first deep. Hopefully, they will build up comb quickly and maybe even get a honey harvest from them. I think my friend and her family would like that.... honey from their property. Yum.

And still I ramble.... it's only getting hotter. Time to put the sun screen on, drink a couple glasses of water and jump on the tractor. From afar I will savor the wonder of those potato plants growing their deep green and long for the blueberries to ripen. I may stop and pick a few strawberries along the way. The heat makes them ripen fast and sweetly. Enjoy your day my friends.

Today's Journey Joy - Bustle of spring planting in a beautiful warm (hot) day.

Closing In

Finals week has ended. I've submitted my semester grades. I've packed the textbooks for the move to the new Health Science Building. My email inbox has ceased flurrying. I almost feel lazy.

Yes, there is still much that can be done. Committee work mostly. And 2 full days of meetings which rarely serve any productivity.

Ah...but I got a call from a lady 20 miles south of me who says, "There is a swarm of bees in my garage!" I respond, "Oh, how exciting!" To which she thought I was probably nuts. Apparently they have been making a home in a bucket that used to have sunflowers in it. They somehow got the bucket out of their garage but want the bees gone. Can't say that I blame them. i wouldn't want bees in my garage either. So later this evening I will happily go fetch this "bucket" of bees. I sure do like it when swarms are on the ground!

Two more rows of weedy blueberries and we will be ahead o the weed game. But then the fun begins... the rest of the garden... potatoes are up, broccoli is growing, some purple beans are up and growing, peas are flowering, radishes are...radishing? The cucumber plants in my basement are beginning to flower....Yikes! Time to go outside. Weather permitting the basement green house" will be shut down this weekend. But there is so much to do:

1. The local Popular Astronomy Club is coming out on Saturday for a picnic and viewing through their observatory telescope.

2. The fields need plowing... some for the first time. Popcorn, Indian corn, pumpkins, squash, melons, beans, peppers, herbs, and tons more needs to be planted.

3. The spring honey is ready for harvest.

4. Farmers Market on Saturday morning. Will I ever sell these 600 flowering plants?

5. And those two rows of blueberries.....

Hopefully.... a farmer is always hopeful..... it will all get done. It's good to be hopeful.

But I must get back to business.... Three more days and then it's summer vacation!

Farmer's Market

Last weekend was the best Farmer's Market I have had all year. I was so excited! I felt like a little girl.... looking and longing to experience everything. I couldn't stop smiling! My friend Stacy (and her family) came by and thankfully captured some of the beauty with her camera.

It was a lovely 85 degrees day... sunny with a slight breeze. I brought the most variety I have ever brought. I felt like a real farmer. The colors were so beautiful. Yellows, reds, greens, purples, white. Oh the splendor!

Stonehead cabbage, red cabbage, cauliflower, cheddar cauliflower, and broccoli spears.... Organically grown. Because they were so fresh, I enjoyed their fragrant aroma every time I walked near.

Acorn squash, sugar pie pumpkins, goofy gourds and Mirai sweet corn.... The sweet corn permeated the area with images and aromas of the most delicious corn on the cob. I kept finding myself taking deeps breaths by the corn. There is something about fresh picked corn.

The spread also included pickling cucumbers, burpless cucumbers, rocambole garlic, purple (red) onions and yellow storage onions, green sweet peppers, snack 'em peppers, Yukon gold potatoes along with a couple of Kennebec potatoes. Chiogga beets (the ones that look like a target when sliced) and regular purple beets (called "red cloud") packed in gallon bags. Green and purple string beans, spaghetti squash, yellow and zucchini summer squash, and a few tomatoes finished out my table.

I spread out my plaid bed sheet, put up my sign, and marveled at the assortment and quantity of the garden's bounty. "Beacon Woods"... our dream of a fruit and vegetable farm (and wood working shop).... the glimpse of a fantasy coming true. It was as I imagined it. Abundant, full, beautiful....

Often my dreams or visions of reality do not come to fruition (please, no pun intended). I often can close my eyes and "see" what I envision. But then, I open them and the view of reality is quite different. Sometimes I am defeated. Usually not. I keep pressing on. Knowing that dreams take time, energy, passion.... and vision.

I wish I were a poet.... Able to pen thoughts and feelings in a creative and artistic way. I feel a song brewing....

Rejoice with me today. God has blessed the work of our hands. Thank You Lord!

Today's Journey Joy - Glimpses of a dream

Cats, Cats, and more Cats

We love cats. They are affectionate, independent, entertaining, and very effective at eliminating mice, moles and voles, and bunnies from around the farm. I have only seen two bunny rabbits all spring and summer (and who knows? Maybe it was the same bunny). I haven't seen any of those nasty telltale signs of moles. Our cats are wonderful.

Recently, our mama cat had kittens. Five of them. They are so fun to watch. Their curiosity and playfulness makes me smile. They embrace life. They enjoy it. They explore it. Oh, so good for my heart and soul. If only I would be more like a kitten.

Today, a friend of my husband is bringing us more cats from the city. Apparently her family has "adopted" every stray cat in the neighborhood. And then they had kittens too. "Enough is enough," she said (or at least that is what I imagine she said). So the crew of cats is coming to the farm. When I asked my husband how many she was bringing... well, apparently "a lot" was the response. "This could be interesting," I said. My son will have to expand his naming business.

I'm glad we have a place for cats to run and play.

A farm cat's life may be shorter than a city cat living in a home. But, the farm cat enjoys life in a cat's sense. Chasing, hunting, and interacting in nature and each other. Our cats and kittens are a blessing to us. They love us and are affectionate toward us. We smile and laugh when they do their funny antics. And we are sad, very sad, when they succumb to the life cycle of farm life. I am grateful for their life and their service on our fruit and vegetable farm.

Today's Journey Joy: Laughing with the kittens

John Deere 3720 Blessings

A few weeks back a tragedy occurred. The JD 2210 that we have had for about six years got broken. Apparently the brush mower that was cutting some of the tall grass struck a stump and the impact sent reverberations up through the PTO and into the drive shaft. $9000 to fix. Yikes! Alas, we needed a new tractor. We can not run our fruit and vegetable farm without the ability to use a PTO. The PTO rototills, chips up wood brush, runs the mower deck and the brush mower. All essential implements for a small farm. So off to the John Deere guys.

After looking over all the options we decided that a 3720 would meet or exceed our needs. We have found in the past few years that we tend to run a machine to its limits. So hopefully this new tractor will be able to run the farm. We got a new (bigger, faster, stronger) rototiller, a broom (to sweep snow and grass) and.... the best part (for my husband who gets a twinkle in his eye just talking about it)... a grapple bucket. Check this out:

The tractor will need more weight in its tires. We are thinking about foaming the back wheels. That should help.

We also had fun seeing how the rototiller worked. It was amazing. It really pulverized the dirt. Even though the soil was pretty wet with 1/2 inch of rain last night. I was pretty impressed. I can hardly wait to till the rest of the popcorn and sweet corn fields so I can plant the last plantings.

The other journey joy is that my resourceful husband believes that he can make the old 2210 work... maybe not like new, but at least functional.

Today's Journey Joy: Tractor blessings