Farmer's Market

Last night was the first Wetzel County Farmer's Market. It was a great success! 

There were at least 10 producers that brought goodies to sell. There was beautiful produce, baked goods, maple syrup, corn meal, goat's milk soap, garlic, and pies. We took beef and eggs. 

There were also lots of folks from the community that came out to shop. We had so much fun visiting with everyone that stopped by our tent. I think that may be our favorite part of the market.

Thanks to everyone who helped organize the market. All that hard work really paid off. We'll see you next week! 

Dinner time

Oh my, we've been eating the best food recently. You should come by for dinner. The garden is producing so many of our favorite veggies, and we get to base our meals around them. 

Migrant-Farm Hand Becky made stuffed peppers. The peppers were so sweet, and the rice filling was so good!

This was the first batch of sauce. Farmer John scooped some out and used it for eggplant Parmesan. 

This is one of my favorite meals ever!

Migrant Farm-Hand Becky found a new recipe. It was right next to the tomato sauce recipe that we already had out, and it comes from "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver. The recipe is "Frijole Mole", which is just great fun to say. It looks a little strange, but is basically a green bean pesto. I like it because all the ingredients come from the farm: green beans, basil, eggs, and onions. We eat it on crackers as a side or after-school snack. 

The cherry tomatoes are producing more than we can manage. Bruschetta has been a meal at least twice during the week - and then again on the weekend!

After a busy Saturday of putting in more hay, we feasted on pizza. No sauce, just fresh tomatoes, basil, and roasted eggplant. 

Thanks for reading about our food. It's the best part of living on the farm!  (Oh, and if this sounds good to you, be sure to stop by the Farmer's Market!)

The flock on pasture

A couple weeks ago, we moved the chickens. Now, you should know that the events leading up to these pictures were quite the sight. I just didn't get any photos during those events. 

I decided that we should move the chickens, during the middle of the day, which generally isn't a good idea. It's better to move them after they've been closed in the coop for the night. If you move the coop when the chickens aren't in it, they can't find it. Chickens are not very bright. 

So first thing we had to do was get the flock into the coop. We bribed most of them by giving them some grain. Then we herded a few more inside with all the others. But, things are never easy around here, and we were left with seven stubborn Araucanas that were not about to go in the coop. We gave up on them, and got busy taking down the 'Electro-net' and hooking up the tractor. 

After pulling the coop about 20 feet forward, we had it in an area with lots of fresh pasture. They are now just below the cow corral. Farmer John mowed down some of the grass to prevent the 'Electro-net' from grounding out. Then we set up the fence. Even with three of us working on it, this was the most time-consuming  part of the process. 

Next we had the challenging job of gathering the seven runaways. Picture Farmer John, Migrant Farm-Hand Becky, Coco, and me all running around carrying sticks to try and herd these gals inside the fence. Farmer John climbed through poison ivy after them.  Migrant-Farm Hand Becky threw rocks for Coco to chase which flushed them out from their hillside hiding spot. I climbed through the lower part of the barn after a couple. 

Finally we had six back with the flock. (We gave up and let one just roam around, and she eventually got back with everyone else.) They all seem very happy on their new patch of pasture. There's fresh grass to scratch and lots of bugs to eat. 

Fall Garden

School has started, and that means we are thinking about Fall. Last week Farmer John pulled up all the plants that were done (cabbage, broccoli, collards) and tilled up a space for our fall garden. 

Then he planted beans, spinach, lettuce, kale, broccoli, cauliflower and more cabbage. All those crops are tolerant of cooler temperatures. We are hoping that at least some of them will be ready for the upcoming Fall Farmer's Market.

Harvesting

Last week we dug up the potatoes. We started the season so hopeful about about that harvest. Then, they got a blight, were attacked by potato beetles, and we didn't get much rain. So the harvest was disappointing. We planted 75 pounds of seed potatoes, we harvested 75 pounds of potatoes. That is pitiful. 

However, our tomatoes did not disappoint! We've harvested enough now for 2 big batches of sauce. Tomatoes are also making an appearance at just about every meal. 

Farmer John pulled up all the summer cabbage, to make room for the fall cabbage. These were sill in the garden. One was rotten in the middle and went to the chickens. One I turned into coleslaw for a potluck. Another turned into coleslaw just for us. The other two are still in the fridge. Maybe they'll be more slaw, or maybe filling for egg rolls.

Back to reality

Farmer John and I returned to the real world this week. We miss the farm all day long. But, I will be excited to see the students when they arrive next week. 

Our last week of summer was spent with Migrant Farm-Hand Becky. We all worked on farm projects, hung out on all the porches, planned multiple upcoming trips (!), and participated in Jennings Brae Bank Farm Olympics. One event was the Badger Lift. Farmer John got the gold. 

Guinea Fact

On Sunday morning we watched the guineas as they hung out around the back porch. They also made quite a bit of racket. Sometimes for no reason. But, once because there was a very large snake in the yard. Which meant that when I went out to see just why they were making a racket, I promptly went running back into the house, making a racket all on my own! 

Not a cucumber

Home Sweet Farm

We just got back from a week in Kitty Hawk, NC. It was a great way to spend one of our last weeks of summer - with friends, great food, and lots of swimming. That's Farmer John in the wave!

Last night we had our first fresh bruschetta from the garden, and this morning I picked flowers and lunch. 

It's good to be home too. 

"Uncle" John's Garden

Our good friend, "Uncle" John, keeps a big garden at the farm. It's below the barn, close to the creek. John's garden always looks so good. He has flowers, Bluebird houses, and a seemingly weed-free garden. He works hard to make it like this and we see him puttering around down there almost every day. 

Last year, lots of critters got into his patch and helped themselves to his plants and veggies. This year "Uncle" John is fighting back. He has an electric fence with a solar charger and at least 5 strands. He also hung pie tins smeared with peanut butter from the fence lines. The idea is that the deer will lick the peanut butter and get a shock on their nose. Hopefully that will be enough to scare them away from the garden. 

If not, the guineas will surely put up a fuss, and do their best scare pests out of the garden.