by Chappell on our previous farm

by Gianni on our previous farm

Since most of our garden spaces are built on permaculture practices we have multiple areas and scattered terraced beds instead of row crops with the exception of this years sorghum & bean field.  This make varmint control and weeding a little extra difficult. 

~ by Gianni on our previous farm
An opportunity to grow a lot of sorghum to make syrup, prompted us to Plow, Disc and Till a small field.  It doesn't seem so small when you're planting a seed every foot.  We intend to use No Till, Winter Kill Crop Covering tactics to never have to do ALL that again. 

by Chappell on our previous farm

they're everywhere! on every vertical surface, in the leaves of trees, on door jambs and window frames, just everywhere.

~ by Gianni on our previous farm

Last fall we began working to transform a hillside cow pasture, over run with sumac and ragweed, into a system of terraced planting spaces that utilizes the rain water that had been rutting out our road to irrigate the field.  Nick named Terrace Heights; the system currently includes 2 swales, a collection pool and 4 terraces.

it's full on spring on the farm.
life is abundant and beautiful.
we're busy weeding, feeding, prepping and planting the garden beds and fields.
the spring rains are seeing to it that our perinneals are flourishing and the plants in the ground are taking root beautifully.

everything is in bloom here on the farm and high winds and a freeze are on the way... this is how our seedlings made it through the night with both greenhouse doors compromised (or blown out) by a 55 mph gust at sunset.

sometimes you just miss the ones you love and you feel a little heartache. an old folk cure for grief is the sweet violet or viola spp. - includes a recipe link for making candied violets.

it's acting like spring here in the holler...

by Chappell on our previous farm

in tibetan buddhism there is a saying: "our greatest enemy is our greatest teacher"
i have never considered anyone an enemy, i might be someone's enemy, but never intentionally, and i would never reciprocate. enemies do not exist in my belief system ... until saturday, february 27th. that day i came upon my enemy. my enemy was not a person, and in fact, my enemy took no sentient form at all. it was an extenuating set of circumstances: the circumstance of being unprepared for a dire medical emergency with our working dog: alone, without a vehicle or a phone, for days, just me, the internet, and my dog.