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We are making progress!

Posted by lorivertin on

A few days ago we had our last frosty evening, kind of like winter’s last hurrah. With temperatures in the 70s and 80s, the whole farm has really turned quite green, plenty of pollen and so many things starting to bloom. We had a busy weekend on the farm getting the vegetable garden ready for spring planting and tackling the new equipment house for the pond. The actual design of the equipment house is still in my head but the pond builder is doing a great job framing.

The Pond

We’re back to work on our pond. I have added two large fish chimineas to use in a future sitting area. We saw a jumbo terra cotta fish chiminea similar to these while touring the Seagrove pottery area the other weekend. I think one could be ordered from somewhere in Texas but these two will do.

Pond builder completed some interior caulking and placing J-bolts which hold the frame of the equipment house. These are those boring tasks that need to be done but aren’t very glamorous.
Here’s the fun weekend project – building the equipment house. Several trips to Lowes and we have a tidy pile of lumber. The pond builder watched some YouTube videos about framing and I think he’s doing a pretty good job. We did a lot of measuring and checking our measurements.

The equipment house will be slightly shorter than the water pump house with cedar shingles and I’m leaning towards black siding. Shoshugibon would be good…The siding will only be on the north and west walls of the house. The other sides will have greenhouse roof panels recycled for the walls.
Our second profi drum is on its way to the farm 😊. Kevin Pham of Genkikoi happened to have one slightly used at a client’s house in San Jose, California. We’ll see how well it transports to North Carolina.

Gardening

While I started my seeds on time, I left them in the greenhouse and they took a hit one night. I started over and will baby the seedlings a little more. Even the bamboo did very poorly during the frosty nights. I’m always anxious to get the seedlings going but my COSTCO greenhouse has been unsatisfactory in many ways. We’re going to cannibalize it for other projects this year.
Random new plants – some day I hope to have a little grocery store growing on the farm. I like the idea of having my favorite foods growing on the farm but I’m sure the local wildlife might enjoy them as well. Maybe growing in bulk will ensure that we have enough for us.
Since the weather was warmer, I planted some sunflower seeds, nasturtiums, and peonies. The hazelnut shrubs will stay inside the vegetable garden this first year.
All of the raised beds, planting squares and pots are ready for the growing season. I always have high hopes at this time of the year. It’s always one thing to think you are organized and then the reality later in the summer. By September, I can’t wait for the tomatoes to stop producing. I’m also more apathetic about keeping the plant area tidy.
Next weekend I’ll need to set up the new watering system. I have purchased irrigation hoses that look like a pain in the neck to put together. I will always be separating the garden into four watering zones.

I’ll also be starting the cut flower garden outside of the vegetable garden. This year I’m starting with Iceland poppy, zinnias, and strawflower. I planted one of my raised beds in the garden with dahlia tubers in shade of pink, salmon, peach and apricot.

Chickens

All of the chickens are laying eggs now. One of the Andulasians was a little confused about where she should be laying her egg. They have settled into the routine of wandering around the house area, straying a little farther each day but not too far. They seem to loop around the house about three times each day. They are also vigilant of possible predators and when I hear a wild bird trying to lure a predator bird away from their nest, the hens all scurry under a bush and remain very still and quiet for a few minutes.
It’s Chick Days at Tractor Supply but I’m going to buy pullets from a farm near Asheville. Their tagline influenced me to want their hens – “Beautiful Poultry for Your Backyard.” I am on their waitlist and think I may be able to pick up four new hens later this summer. The farm specializes in Swedish Flower hens and Belvedere hens. Both will be very pretty additions to the flock. The varieties do not have a standard, are cold hardy, pleasant temperament, and just look neat.

I really should check my work before I publish but at the end of a long weekend I’m rather lazy. Watching television at the same time as writing a note is probably not helpful…will we finish framing next weekend? maybe….