After a roughly 1-year hiatus from updating any information on my website, I felt like it would be a good idea to re-evaluate things. I am not technologically savvy (with my Facebook addiction being the exception), and so it is difficult for me to get excited about web postings, domain names, blogs, etc. But as I sat in front of my computer, looking glossy-eyed into a post from winter 2011, I knew things needed to change. So I sought out the one friend (Nate) who understands this stuff and has time to help me, and I asked for his assistance. As a result, he has moved or "ported" my website to a new "host". Not really sure how he did this or what really happened, but I am ecstatic with the end result. I will now be able to post things so much more easily (and even through my smartphone) and I hope this means a better way of communicating with all of you. So check back more often (at least more than once a year), as I hope to be continually adding new information about the successes and failures of Back Home Farm. There will be pictures, blog posts, and other technological what-nots...so come back and visit more often this year!
Winter Is Here
I realize that it has been quite a long time since I’ve posted anything, and I apologize for that. It seems that although our warm weather growing season had ended, we had much to do. I’ve provided a summary below of what all has been happening at the farm since my last post.
October was spent cleaning up the fields, which included bush-hogging the remnant crops, pulling drip tape, removing tomato cages, and breaking down trellises that we used for cucumbers and beans. After bush-hogging, I tilled under much of the crop fields and allowed all of that organic material to decompose back into the soil. After two weeks, I applied some fertilizer and re-planted these fields with a cover crop of rye and crimson clover. This crop is typically called a “green manure”. Rye grass has a deep taproot that provides a mechanism for breaking up hard pan areas below the till depths which can increase nutrient availability. Clover is a legume, and is one of God’s designs for a natural way to capture available/usable nitrogen that is needed for soil fertility. Despite October being incredibly dry and warm, the fields are now green and healthy. I hope that they will continue this way until it is time for spring planting. The lush growth that is being produced can be tilled under 2 weeks before planting which will add some much needed organic material to the soil. Most sustainable farm experts will say that if you take care of the soil, the soil will take care of you. I hope this is true. It’s easy to understand why conventional farms do not typically utilize this method as it requires additional labor, time, and expense without any direct return. But as a steward of what He has given us, I feel strongly that this is the prudent approach.
Also during October, I began planning for chickens. I’ve never had chickens before (much like I’ve never farmed before), and so I read a few books on raising chickens this summer. My plan is to have pasture-raised eggs available for our CSA customers this spring. Despite many folks warning me against getting started with chickens in the colder months, my plan was to get chicks in November and grow them until they were mature enough to lay in Spring. Chickens generally require about 4-5 months before they reach maturity for laying eggs. We decided on black australorps for their egg-laying ability (5/week/hen), their ability to naturally forage, their hardiness, and their gentle nature. I purchased 25 and they arrived in early November. Prior to their arrival, I researched ideas about where I would keep them. I decided on chicken tractors. In short, chicken tractors are moveable pens and coops that allow you to move your birds to different fields/areas from day to day. This allows the birds to range on new grasses/forages each day, enabling them to have a more varied diet. Research indicates that chickens raised in this manner have higher amounts of vitamins/nutrients. That fits our mission and model well, so we opted to go that route. The only problem was that I’d never built any such contraption. I looked at several plans and then just winged it. Sure enough, the first one is pretty rough, but the chickens haven’t complained. I just finished the second one, thanks in large part to the help of Justin Hammonds and David Vance, good friends who spent a weekend helping me out. Although we lost one chicken in transit and two to an unknown illness within the first two weeks, we now have 22 healthy “girls”. And they are sweet in nature, allowing the boys to pick them up and move them without much of a fuss. By April, we should have eggs available by the dozen. Australorps lay a large brown egg and often are “double-yolkers”. I am excited about being able to offer our customers these eggs. Let us know if you are interested!
I also spent some time planting a small winter garden for us. This planting included broccoli, snap peas, lettuce, spinach, turnip greens, and onions. All fared well with the exception of the snap peas. Without insects and weeds to deal with, I’m beginning to wonder if I shouldn’t try to grow more stuff in the cooler months and expand our season.
Finally, we have been working on tractors, fixing miscellaneous small engines, etc. There is always plenty to do. And my nemesis, organizing the barn, remains in the back of my mind. I know that if I can tackle this project, it would save a huge amount of time in the long run.
But, January is here and that means seed catalogs and finalizing my irrigation design and installing it. Organizing may have to wait. For those that have signed up for our CSA this year, let me know what your top veggies are so that I make sure to include as many favorites as possible (and also let me know if you have a favorite cultivar/variety). Right now, the following types of produce are being planned:
Sweet corn
carrots
new potatoes
broccoli
cabbage
lettuce (Romaine and butterhead types)
green beans
lima beans
purple hull peas
canteloupes
watermelons
tomatoes
sweet peppers
hot peppers
cucumbers
squash
zucchini
eggplant
sweet onions
sweet potato
pumpkins
okra
As always, we welcome your input. You can reach us via facebook, email, or phone. Many thanks to all who have signed up for our CSA thus far. Please spread the word as we still have room for additional members! Once we have closed registration, I will be in contact with our future members concerning payment, delivery schedule, distribution points, etc. Again, thanks so much for your interest and we are looking forward to a great year!