Just a Start

It's been so long since we've shared any farm news, I've been overwhelmed with where to begin. There has been a lot of progress and thinking and planning the past few months - gardening, harvesting, chicken & horse tending, coop-building, greenhouse & business planning, home & barn designing - not to mention vacations and visits with family & friends. Last night I started to feel the melancholy of mid-summer approaching. While the real fun is about to begin, it's already half over. I love this time of year.

We hope to distill news of all these projects and future plans via blog and conversation, as we always do, but often neglect. Today, I'm going to start small, with what's right in front of me every morning when I walk out the door - the garden. Thanks to my dear friend Christa, whose request for garden photos was the impetus I needed to get back to blogger.

This is the upper garden: herb spiral, flowers and tomatoes up front; basil, garlic, peppers, peas, cucumbers, onions, asparagus, horseradish toward the back. Things are thriving so far this year, as we've had lots of sun with just the right amount of rain in between. We only hope we're as lucky in August and September!



Spiderwort - probably my favorite "ditch flower." We transplanted bunches of these from the roadside last year. They open up bright blue in the morning and close during the heat of the day. They are so strong and intricate and unusual - beautiful little creatures.

Ahhh, basil - this Italian gold is growing happily all over the place - in the upper garden, the herb spiral, and all over the lower garden. This is the "keyhole" layout of the upper garden.

The lower garden beds and chicken tractor - here, we've got carrots, lettuce, spinach, herbs, potatoes, beets, beans, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, sunflowers, squash, melons, corn, rhubarb, raspberries & hops.

Carrots, chard, lettuce & beets.

Ellis's new hobby - climbing the apple tree.

And this is our willow tree. We planted this tree the year we bought the farm and I love watching it grow each summer...graceful and green. I remember swinging from willow branches as a kid and like to imagine hiding under these boughs someday.