Wow...what a Season!

Summer is Here! We are so excited and a little tired, from all we have been doing at our mini-farm.  We are officially open most Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday now to the public, for Farm Sales and Sharing Sessions.  We are not pros and haven't written any books, but do have a lot of practical experience in lots of areas for the past 20-30 years and like to Share our knowledge.  See the Farm Calendar for details and updates.  The Chickens are doing well...the chicks are almost big enough to move into the large coop and the ducks are growing so fast! Ducks are so interesting...very different from chickens.  They are almost ready for a wading pool to swim in.  Since they were incubated, the book says to wait until about 8 weeks before having access to swimming depth water, so their feathers will be mature enough.  We have Khaki Campbells, a land duck, since we don't have a pond or lake on the property.  These ducks will be happy with a small pool.  We are building a permanent area for them near the small coops. It will have a nice pool that drains and fills easily.  We are building a Rabbit area right next to them where we will raise rabbits, for meat and fur, naturally... in a colony manner.  We are hoping to add a few pigs next year and turkeys too.  Everyone always ask if we are going to get goats...we just don't have enough room or forage for goats.  Our little farm would not be healthy for cows or horses either...no pasture.  So...we work with what we have! We still have so much construction going on...the center garden area still needs lots of work and all the outbuildings and barn needs to be painting.  Egg and plant sales are going well.  Due to the mild winter, we saw a few whitefly in May, but handled it in an organic way.  Contacted a company called Natures Controls and bought some Parasites and Predators which quickly handled the situation.  These voracious bugs even eat aphids and other pest too! Very interesting....you will have to google the bugs you can release to handle things naturally without using pesticides.  After much inspection, we don't see a problem anymore.  Thank God! We still inspect every plant before selling it.  I am putting on the calendar next year to order and release these garden heroes annually as a precaution against problems.  I am busy working on all the potted plants and gardens...the battle against weeds is on-going! Sometimes I am losing, sometimes I am winning...I won't give up! Almost time to harvest, then the dehydrating/freezing/canning begins...love it! Dehydrating some dill right now...then will work on some lemongrass tea.  Time to think Fall already...need to start seeds for winter veggies.  I think I will plant some flats to sell containing bedding plants...collards, kale, swiss chard, spinach, etc.  Per request we will be selling bedding plants in the spring too...hard to find flats of naturally grown veggies to plant in your garden.  We can fill that niche! :)  Out the door....catch you later...