Life, Recently

Big pigs 

 Planting corn

Three out of four

 Wetzel County Farmers Market

High fives for 400 broccoli plants

Bridgeport Farmers Market

A farm-y anniversary

Today is our 5th wedding anniversary. We are, of course, having a farm-y celebration. 

Last night, at the market, Farmer John traded some beef for all these beautiful flowers. This morning we had blueberry pancakes with local berries and syrup. 

Next, we put all these plants in the ground. These are 200 cabbage plants and 400 broccoli plants. They arrived from a greenhouse in Michigan. Farmer John had intended to use his new transplanter to plant these, but he is still waiting on a few parts. Thankfully we have some wonderful friends who are willing to work in exchange for blueberry pancakes. 

It felt good to get such a big job done quickly. Plus, it was a beautiful day to spend outside. Not unlike a breezy afternoon five years ago. 

Field of Beans

If you plant them, they will grow. 

Our bean plans are LOADED with beans right now. In fact, they are so full of beans that I should be out there picking right now instead of typing. 

We have three varieties that we've been picking and selling at Farmers Markets and by the bushel. Half-Runners are string beans that are very popular around here for canning. Contenders are a string-less green bean that are tender and delicious. Yellow Wax Beans are also string-less and very easy to pick. They are the sweetest bean we grow. 

Migrant Farm Hand Becky and I added up the hours spent in the bean patch and came up with no less than 40 in the last week.

The beans are teaching me lessons about hard physical work and exhaustion.
They are teaching me that maybe we shouldn't plant so many next year.
They are teaching me that a hard task becomes easier when shared with friends that can carry on a great conversation, tell stories, and laugh at inside jokes.

With a LOT of help from our friends

I've mentioned before that we just could not run this farm without help. Our friends and family support us in many ways. Last week, we had lots of friends lending us a hand to pick and sell produce. 

Here is our favorite Tajik Goat Herder aka "ps" in blog comments. He helped Farmer John with the Bridgeport Farmers Market. He's always been a big supporter of Farmer John and the farm...and really anything having to do with food. 

Here is our IT Guy aka my brother. He visited the farm over the holiday weekend and helped us pick lots of produce for the Wetzel County Market and the Bridgeport Market. He also taught us a great game to play while picking beans...we've discovered it's more fun to play when he's here. 

Last, but far from least, is Migrant Farm-Hand Becky. She thought she was coming to the farm for a vacation - ha! At this point she's picked bushels of beans, peas, and chard. She is also taking care of the farm so that we can skip town for a week!

Thank you Patrik! Thank you Sam! Thank you Becky! There is NO WAY we could have survived the last two weeks without you! 

Labrador of the Corn

Welcome to the farm

A calf was born yesterday!

She(!) was born to a good cow, and seems healthy. However, Farmer John thinks she might have been born just a bit early due to her size. He's been keeping a close eye on her over the last 24 hours. Please send some good thoughts her way just in case. 

The first calf from this year was VERY curious about the newest addition to the herd. We think she might be excited to have a new playmate. I'm hoping they'll be bounding around the pastures together soon. 

Have a happy weekend!

The farm is full of friends and family this weekend, including LOTS of surprise visitors. We are sandwiching so much fun in between two(!) farmers markets! Hope you are having a great weekend too!