Argosy Farm

Scorching temps mark summer

2011-07-31T13:41:00.005-04:00

The last day of July and finally the temperature is below 80 and drizzling as I type this entry. It's been hovering above 100 the past week. The entire farm -- animals, plants, pond and land -- show the effects of daily baking. The tomatoes are producing, but eggplant and just about everything else in the garden is suffering. Both egg and milk production are down somewhat. And the pond, with its ongoing leak, is little more than a mud puddle at this point. I had a pond expert come take a look at it. He said it would be $12-15k to fix it (the way it should have been done in the first place), which is out of the question right now. I'd like to first try using bentonite, a natural substance which swells when it gets wet, thus forming a seal.

Work began on the farm stand on July 20, just as this stretch of 100 plus temps began. It is taking shape, with the 6x6 posts topped by rafters and ready for the metal roof, which should go on next week. Then the builder will pour the concrete floor.

Spring time progress

2011-05-17T11:46:00.003-04:00

Spring is a time of beginnings on the farm. The first ducklings have finally hatched. Chicks are scratching in the dirt, following their mother's lead. The baby turkeys are performing turkey ballet in their barn stall, running and semi-flying, chasing flies. Entertaining to watch. And the goat kids are growing fast, romping and playing together as they follow the herd on pasture. Pretty pastoral. Almost easy to forget all the work that goes into creating this scene. But well worth the effort.

Last night's dinner was proof, all from the garden -- turnips disguised as mashed potatoes, with shredded homemade mozzarella melted on top; sliced beats in a dijon vinagrette; a salad of sliced carrot and snow peas; and a whole Chinese cabbage wilted in chicken broth with sauted onions and garlic. Dessert was homemade applesauce. A meatless dinner, but chicken, duck or eggs could have been added. A wonderful feeling to produce your own food.

Much has been planted: potatoes, onions, celery, carrots, garlic, lettuce, eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, swiss chard, turnips, spinach, snow peas, artichokes, asparagus, cabbage, beets, kale, radishes and corn. Still more to get in the ground, but time is elusive. And the orchard is finally showing progress with apple, pear and tiny cherries appearing on trees. The elderberry flowers have given way to small berries, the strawberry patch is prolific and the blackberries are covered in green berries, waiting to blacken.

Spare moments during the day turn goat milk into cheese -- cottage, feta, mozzarella, chevre and a white cheddar. I'm still learning the craft, but each production gets a little closer to just right.

Laundry hanging on the line, taking in the sun's rays, makes me think about the other "solar" projects I want to accomplish. Food security is just one part of this equation. The as yet unbuilt house still simmers in my thoughts, not quite done. But the barn is built. The animals have sturdy shelter. And Argosy is truly looking like a farm.

First hoophouse strawberry

2011-03-19T14:21:00.004-04:00

Entering the hoophouse at this time of year nearly always brings a new discovery. This morning it was the first strawberry of the season just three days before the spring equinox. The plants are laden with blossoms which means I'll soon be eating fresh berries and putting up preserves.

Other plants are also thriving: spinach, mustard greens, several lettuce varieties, radishes and bok choy. Snow peas are doing well and hope to see peas soon.

Bucket o' Babies

2011-03-18T18:05:00.000-04:00

What do you do when seven goat babies won't follow their moms out of the barn to pasture? Load 'em up in a wheelbarrow and give them a ride. Hopefully this won't become their preferred method of travel, but sure beats loading a baby under each arm out to the field. Shown in photo are the four doelings: Pepper, Clover, Java, Ginger; and three bucklings: Brennus, Duncan and Rob Roy.

First kid of the season

2011-03-08T14:29:00.004-05:00

After two days of wet and cold weather, the first kid of the season waited to arrive until temps hit a "balmy" 58F. Thank goodness. Jalapena delivered one healthy girl, as yet unnamed, right after lunch today.

Dervaes Assimilated by "the Borg"

2011-02-24T22:15:00.005-05:00

For some time now, I've followed the progress of the Dervaes Family of Pasadena as they've taken a small house in the city and turned it into a productive homestead. How cool. Until today, I had them listed as a link worth checking out.

Change.org is reporting that the Dervaes Institute has filed trademarks on the terms "urban homestead" and "urban homesteading", followed by letters to anyone using those terms requiring attribution to the Dervaes Institute. How disappointing. And what bunk.

The tragedy of industrial agriculture

2011-02-03T19:30:00.012-05:00

Our food system is broken. The inputs required to operate the industrial agricultural system aren't sustainable. Gas, diesel and propane to run farm equipment. Petroleum to make the chemical fertilizers required because the soil is depleted of nutrients. Nothing brings all this home for me more than seeing the elements of industrial agriculture clustered all in one place.

Because I'm a "farmer in training", I try to take every opportunity to attend seminars, presentations, lectures and courses -- anything that might help me increase my knowledge and hone my skills. Naively, I drove to Raleigh today to attend The Southern Farm Show. I should have known better. The fairgrounds were packed with visitors, all there to see every piece of farm equipment you can image. Tractors so large that ladders are required to reach what amounts to a second story cab. Chemical concoctions to boost production and kill pests. Every accessory you'd need if you were running a "factory farm" or concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO). It was an industrial ag extravaganza. And miles away from the smallscale, but sustainable route I'm trying to achieve.

Which brings me to a book I recently purchased. Fatal Harvest, edited by Andrew Kimbrell, studies the question of "how and why has agriculture, an endeavor that for millennia involved intimate knowledge of and profound respect for nature and place, become so industrialized that it's wreaking havoc all around the world?" The book provides side-by-side photo comparisons of industrial ag versus agrarian-based agricultural systems and poignantly demonstrates not only how unsustainable industrial ag is, but also how hazardous it is to Earth and her inhabitants.

Rain, rain, go away...

2011-02-02T16:01:00.017-05:00

Last night's rainstorm left buckets of standing water around the construction site so there was no work on the barn today, although the ducks enjoyed splashing around the water-filled post holes. In the meantime, the building supply company brought in another load of lumber and prompty got stuck. I had to start up the tractor, which had been sitting idle during the cold months, to give the truck a push. It worked, but the truck left large gashes in the mud, which did nothing to add to the rough landscape left by winter's chill. I can't wait for spring.

In the mood for love
The cow was all doe-eyed and adoring this morning when I took her hay. After she rose up on her hind legs and tried to come over the fence, I was pretty sure it was time to call Mr. Hall, the AI guy. For months I've been watching for signs that she was in heat, but they aren't always straight-forward clues. Her first year, she'd bellow for hours - generally the early morning hours. Followed by several hours of jumping up on her shed. But she was too young to breed.

Mr. Hall has been doing cattle artificial insemination (AI) in the county for 52 years. He says I shouldn't get my hopes up as it may take another try. And we won't know for several weeks whether this first session "took". Having cow bred: Another "first" to add to my list.

Day Two: Barn Construction

2011-02-01T19:35:00.007-05:00

Building supplies arrived first thing this morning. Because the forecast called for rain, I wasn't expecting any building activity. But a crew arrived shortly after the delivery and began installing the large 6 x 6 posts that form the barn's skeletal structure.

By the end of the day, all 24 posts were in the ground, upright and secured to temporary bracing. Concrete was mixed on site and poured into each hole. After the crew left, I walked through what could now be called a structure and began picturing how the animals would be housed, what would fit in the milkroom, and how the stairs would reach the upper level.

Day One: Barn Construction

2011-01-31T16:00:00.008-05:00

Work began on the barn today. It was cold and overcast and rain is expected tomorrow, but the ground was cleared, holes dug for poles and concrete footings poured. The barn will be 30' x 50', with a loft for hay, and will provide shelter for the dairy goats, a milk "parlor" and grain storage. There will be additional space for Isabelle, my Jersey heifer, and hopefully her future calf.

Free-Range versus Free Meal
I found predators had eaten two ducks this week. The ducks have been uncooperative about living in their shelter at night and, in the interest of allowing free-ranging, I haven't wanted to lock them all up full-time. But capturing 40 ducks by net every night, while providing wonderful entertainment for neighbors and passersby, isn't something I'm willing to commit to.

The night before I found the remains, I'd come in from an evening out to find several wandering around by the front gate, seemingly confused. It was pretty cold that night and I rounded up as many as I could catch and forced them "indoors" for the night. Of course, finding a headless duck and a separate pile of feathers changes the game. Next day I put netting over the duck pen and lured them in. Day one of their incarceration leaves me wishing I had another option, but not sure how to solve this dilemma.

December 2010

2010-12-14T22:15:00.008-05:00

Freezing temps have settled in for the month, hitting a low of 15 degrees last night. Everything takes more time when the weather is this cold -- break ice off water troughs, pack in more straw for warmth, trudge around in 15 layers of clothing.

Attended the 25th Annual Sustainable Ag Conference in Winston Salem this month. Came back brimming with enthusiasm and ideas for the farm. Check out this conference video produced by GeoCore Films:

2010 Sustainable Agriculture Conference - CFSA from GeoCore Films on Vimeo.

If you don't blink, you may catch a (very) brief glimpse of me at the 45-46 second mark in a rose-colored Carhart vest and brown hat with Holstein cows in the background. If you haven't attended one of these CFSA conferences before, it's well worth the time and money spent, whether you're a farmer, gardener or lover of good food.

November 2010

2010-11-29T22:54:00.000-05:00

Friends came out and helped with a day of duck and rooster processing. The ducks were much more difficult than I'd anticipated and it took longer than planned. You'd think I'd have learned that lesson by now as EVERYTHING takes much longer than you originally anticipate. I may give serious thought to taking the next batch in and paying to have them processed, which certainly takes away from the learning to be self-sufficient model.

October 2010

2010-10-25T19:40:00.003-04:00

Sent the tractor out for some basic maintenance this month. Really, really wish I'd had the foresight to take some kind of mechanics class in high school, tag behind Dad when he rebuilt a Carmen Ghia during my teens, or to pay attention to any kind of small or large engine repair over the years. Just never came up before. Living a farmsteading lifestyle has shown me where my weaknesses lie, and fixing mechanical things is a big one.

Leased a buck for the month for the five oldest does. Dried them off before his arrival and already very much missing their delicious milk. Store bought cow milk doesn't compare. But we all need the break -- me from the daily milking routine and the does need to concentrate their efforts on growing what I hope will be a healthy "crop"of kidlings.

Ten more ducklings hatched this month, bringing the farm's total duck population to nearly 40.

August 2010

2010-08-11T09:37:00.007-04:00

What a blur the past six months have been. The goats kidded in March, two new beehives were added in April, new water hydrants run to the garden and hoophouse in May, 24 ducklings hatched in June, chickens were harvested and processed in July, and fencing went up this month. Cheesemaking, planting, harvesting and canning filled the remaining time. The garden has churned out peas, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, cucumbers, beets, turnips and swiss chard. Blackberries, strawberries and raspberries also produced this year. Plans are in the works for a barn-raising, possibly as early as this fall. And special thanks to all the family and friends who have visited the farm and helped to make things happen.

June 2010

2010-06-25T16:16:00.005-04:00

Seems Spring never made a showing this year as it rolled straight from Winter into Summer. Blistering temperatures have kept me out of the garden most of this month. Several days of over 100-degree baking have sent most of the plants into decline. Even the chickens are too hot to lay eggs, with just a trickle coming in each day. I don't remember June being this hot before. The land is dry and dusty and I'm painfully aware of the AC running constantly in the non-energy-efficient temporary house. I've spent the time looking at earth-sheltered homes online and working through designs for my future passive solar house, dreaming of the time when I can rely less on coal-generated electricity to bring comfort and more on common-sense home design.

During my first two years in Hillsborough, I rented the "stone house" on Churton Street, a beautiful old home built in 1932, out of stone quaried here. The house was built in a thoughtful way, in an era before AC was widely available, and although this amenity was added in later years, while I was there I rarely turned it on. It wasn't necessary as the house stayed wonderfully cool, even on the hottest day.

During cooler moments, over 90, but less than 100, I'm working on extending fencing on the hedgerow that separates the north property from the south. It will help me to better contain goats, who have finally learned to breach the solar-charger guarded electric-net fencing I've been moving around the property. I frequently have to rescue goat kids who thrust themselves into the netting, only to become hopelessly entangled, then bellow for help. The electric net fencing was very expensive and has ended up being a great waste of money. A rooster died in the netting, other birds have become entangled and now goats are breaching it, making it useless.

And I'm also learning to master the ancient tractor. It's a quirky beast, more complicated and obstinate than the cow or goats. Hold up the PTO handle when turning the key in the ignition or the beast won't start. I set it on low speed and let it amble along to my destination. Despite its quirks, I'm grateful to have the help.

May 2010

2010-05-30T11:06:00.001-04:00

Farming is hard, hard work. But certainly worth the effort if you're dedicated to the idea of knowing where your food comes from and having control over good, healthy food. There are days where I wonder if I can keep up the pace. But, I continue to scratch this new lifestyle out of raw dirt. And try to do it without going into debt. So onward with building a farm, complete with animals who make the land fertile so plants can feed the animals (and humans) who continue to make the land fertile. Repeat cycle. Build a house, and in the process, learn new skills. Discover the outer limits of my capabilities. What a great opportunity for growth.

March 2010

2010-03-26T13:57:00.010-04:00

Spring has arrived and so have the goat kidlings! Two bucklings and four doelings. All healthy and cute. The first doe, Emmy, kidded on St. Paddy's Day, so I named the first born "Patrick". Jalapena kidded the next morning, 3/18, and Heidi on 3/21. In one week, the herd has doubled and the goat yard is filled with jumping, romping and leaping goat babies.

Here's a photo of one of the Muscovy ducks, using a dog house as her nest. It takes about 35 days to hatch the ducklings. She's been off the nest enough that I wonder if the eggs will hatch.

February 2010

2010-02-28T13:47:00.003-05:00

Winter drags on. The vet came out to check on the goats and to see if she could tell if they're pregnant. Short of taking them in for an ultrasound, it's kind of like a box of "Cracker Jacks". Is there a prize in that box or not? Have they been overfed (they're obviously larger) or will there be kids next month? Just a few of the questions asked by new goat herders. Being an optimist, I'm gathering up supplies for my "kidding kit" and reviewing the goat kidding videos at Fiasco Farms. I can't say enough kind things about Molly's very extensive collection of goat information.

January 2010

2010-01-30T13:17:00.002-05:00

Glad to say goodbye to this month of ice and snow. It's been a terribly cold winter with little opportunity to get outside and do much beyond daily animal chores. The hoophouse, however, has offered a nice respite, with plants growing prolifically. Lots of spinach, mustard greens, swiss chard, bok choy, beets, turnips, radishes and a range of lettuces.

Most of the month has been spent inventorying my seed collection, perusing new selections in seed catalogs and making lists of things that need doing.

December 2009

2009-12-30T16:06:00.001-05:00

I added six Muscovy ducks this month—one drake and five ducks. They're hanging out with the chickens until I figure out their shelter needs. Three of the ducks put themselves to bed each evening in the chicken house, but the drake and remaining two ducks head for the pond at sundown. They show up for breakfast each morning in the chicken yard. Watching them swim in the big pond is a treat, joyously splashing and playing like children.

King of Hearts went back to his farm at the beginning of December. He lost his "goaty" smell after several weeks here. Male goats have some interesting habits, such as encrusting their head in urine, curling the lower lip and sticking out the tongue. Apparently, this is VERY attractive to female goats. I don't get it.

Strawberry plants are blooming in the hoophouse, in spite of recent temps in the low 20s. Collards, Swiss chard, spinach, turnips, radish, beets and several lettuce varieties continue to do well.

November 2009

2009-11-30T13:00:00.002-05:00

More berry plants went in this month in raised beds—gooseberry and elderberry join blackberry, raspberry, strawberries and blueberries in the orchard. Garlic is planted, a little later than last year, but rain kept me from working the ground. I'm using my own seed grown from this year's crop.

I've put up a shelter to store hay and straw until I can get a barn built. The pastures need a lot of work next year to improve grazing for the animals.

October 2009

2009-10-30T16:03:00.002-04:00

Milk and egg production has slowed down with October's arrival, along with cooler temperatures and fewer daylight hours. This means less time to get things done on the farm, and I'm finding most of my evenings after work go towards animal chores, making weekends even more precious. This month will be devoted to preparing for the winter ahead -- winterizing animal shelters, tending the hoophouse garden, and making sure the goats will be back in milk come spring.

King of Hearts, a Nubian buck from Humbug Farm, will spend the month here at Argosy. Hopefully I'll have goat kidlings come Spring.

September 2009

2009-09-30T14:00:00.002-04:00

The raised beds are finished in the hoophouse and the plants are thriving: lettuce, collards, swiss chard and some volunteers that popped up on their own -- tomatoes and cucumbers. I've left them to grow, hoping they'll make some progress before the cold weather sets in. Two sets of paved walkways, separating the three raised beds, are nearly finished, leaving the other half of the hoophouse to complete. In this next phase I'll build potting tables, provide an area for potting soil and organic amendments, and access to water -- when I find some extra time. I also put in blackberry and raspberry beds in the orchard.

The goats are now registered with the American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA).

August 2009

2009-08-31T02:50:00.001-04:00

This year, like last, August was a complete blur. Most of my time was spent harvesting, canning, freezing or drying produce. It's a real challenge to keep up with both garden chores AND animal chores.

One of my hens hatched another chick, bringing the total born at Argosy this summer to four.

July 2009

2009-07-31T16:00:00.000-04:00

We finally found some time to open the bee hives and harvest some honey, after ordering an extractor from Brushy Mountain. A great discovery—the bees will clean all the excess honey residue off the extractor, if the equipment is left outside. Wish we could let them loose in the kitchen.

The pace has picked up in the garden with weeding, watering, picking and processing taking more of our time. See the garden slideshow.

June 2009

2009-06-30T16:50:00.003-04:00

Ursa, a Great Pyrenees puppy, arrived at the farm this month. She'll serve as livestock guardian once I've completed her training. For now, she's a white fluffy ball of energy, intent on chasing the goat kids, turkeys and chickens.

Goats turn out to be pretty cool. Not only do they provide milk, but they also work as a land-clearing crew, eating up briars and poison ivy. Electric net fencing allows me to move their pasture around once a week, opening up new territory for them and gradually clearing land. I'm building a milking shed on skids which will enable me to move it as needed. And I built a milk stand using a plan from Fias Co Farm. See the milk house slideshow.

The 14 young pullets purchased in February started laying eggs this month, bringing the hen population up to 24. I have way too many roosters though, so I'll soon be processing a few of them to bring peace to the barnyard and food to the table.

In the garden, green beans are coming in great batches, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers and squash are ready, while sunflowers and other cut flowers provide a beautiful backdrop to the garden. The carrots, peas and Swiss chard are ignoring the hot weather. The young blueberry plants produced a handful of berries. Strawberries haven't been very prolific. Yukon Gold potatoes are delicious and the little French fingerlings were a good choice. I also harvested the garlic crop this month. I set aside the largest bulbs to use as seed in the fall and it looks like I'll have plenty to sell after the curing process is complete.

After trying several soft goat cheeses, I finally ordered a cheese press and made the first one-pound wheel of cheddar cheese, coated in red wax. The aging time on this recipe is just a month, so I'll have my first slice come August.

Flies have been unrelenting this month, with my Jersey cow Isabelle taking the brunt of the assault. I talked to several local feed stores looking for an organic solution, but as in many areas of our society, the "easy" answer always involves some kind of potent chemical. Do you really want to drink milk or eat meat from an animal regularly drenched in poison? I finally found an herbal mixture that, when sprayed or rubbed on her coat, offers some temporary relief, when combined with a fly mask made for horses. She does present a strange sight though, standing in the pasture.

May 2009

2009-05-30T15:49:00.002-04:00

Argosy Farm had it's first birth this month. One of my Key West hens went broody and, after diligently sitting on one egg for three weeks, hatched out a little chick. Wish now that I'd had more faith in her ability as I would have slid more eggs under her.

The garden is progressing and is well-planted with a much wider variety of vegetables than I had the previous year. It was a challenge getting everything into the ground on schedule. Seedlings did well in the hoop house, strawberries are producing, and looks like I may have some fruit developing on the fig tree. Spinach, lettuce and mustard greens are still looking good, but as the days heat up I'll see those vegetables slow down just as the beans, corn, tomatoes and other vegetables hit their stride.

I built housing and fenced a paddock for three goats that arrived from Humbug Farm this month. Emmy and Jalapeña are Nubians, and Heidi is a Nubian/Saanen mix. I'm getting milk from Heidi and Emmy so I'm now working my way through Ricki Carroll's book Home Cheese Making. So far, I've tried easy queso fresco, a quick farm cheese and yogurt. Chocolate goats milk is also pretty good and it makes excellent ice cream.

A week after the first goats arrived, I added two-month old Nubian twins, Zora and Zada. The older goats aren't too thrilled with the new additions.

And to round out the month, we added a handful of Red Bourbon turkey chicks, a heritage breed.

April 2009

2009-04-30T17:09:00.003-04:00

All Fool's Day brought the birth of little Zora, a Nubian goat kidling born at Cedar Moon Farms. She is the first of what I hope will be two doelings coming to me after weaning. And I've reserved a Great Pyrenees puppy who will serve as a livestock guardian to the goats. The first eggs have begun to trickle in. Strawberries, asparagus, sweet potatoes, French fingerlings and Yukon Gold potatoes are in the ground, and I planted a brown turkey fig in the orchard near the apples and pears.

March 2009

2009-03-31T17:04:00.002-04:00

March roared in like a lion with blustery winds, driving rain and icy temps. And eight Key West chicks found themselves a new home, albeit a bit nippier than what they're accustomed. But the chicken house is standing up to the weather, keeping the new tenants warm and dry. They seem happy. (Read more)

The hoop house plastic is finally on! I regularly get some strong winds over the ridge, which made it more challenging to install, but the final product looks great. A temperature test taken around noon a few days later registered 81 degrees F. inside and 54 degrees out. I'll be transplanting seed starts into larger pots and moving them out to the hoop house.

We moved the 5-week old chicks into the larger chicken house after cordoning a portion of it off with leftover deer fencing to protect them from the older Key Westers.

Twelve blueberry bushes arrived from Finch Nursery—four each of Tifblue, Premier and Brightwell. We planted them in the orchard near the apple and pear trees.

We also adopted six, 19-week old Barred Rock hens rescued from a factory farm. Their clipped beaks and timid response to us contrasted with the outgoing, free-spirited Key Westers. The hens spent the first three days cowering in a corner of the coop before finally venturing outside. Our black Key West rooster immediately formed his own harem and has the new "girls" following him around.

February 2009

2009-02-28T16:55:00.008-05:00

The chick order arrived on February 10. (See chick photos). And the chicken house is nearly complete, and none too soon with the chicks expected to outgrow the brooder at age 4-weeks. While it may seem a little fancy for a chicken house, I knew I needed building practice for the sheds, barns and houses to come. Most of the outdoor work is finished and I'll begin making roosting ladders and nest boxes next weekend. (See chicken house photos).

In the meantime, I also have eight certified Key West chickens arriving the first day of March, complements of my parents. The chicks, complete with certificate signed by Key West's mayor, are descendants of Spanish Fighting Game Cocks, brought first to Cuba in the 15th century, then to Key West by Cuban immigrants. This batch lost their mother to a hawk, were rescued, sent to a shelter, adopted by my parents, and will make North Carolina their new home.

January 2009

2009-01-31T23:55:00.005-05:00

Winter arrived with a vengeance this month, with high winds and driving rain bringing in the New Year. Falling temperatures then hit a low of 9 degrees for two days running, covering the ponds in an inch of ice. Arctic air brought snow on Inauguration Day. All conspiring to delay installation of the plastic covering on the hoop house. Being forced inside does have its benefits, however, providing time to pore over the growing stack of seed catalogs. After inventorying my saved seed collection, I ordered more for the coming season. My goal this year is to grow a larger assortment of vegetables and flowers.

I also placed my order for day-old chicks from Murray McMurray Hatchery to arrive in February -- 6 each: Araucanas, Barred Rocks, Buff Orpingtons and Delawares, and 5 each: Dark Brahma Bantams and Mille Fleur Bantams. The hatchery throws in an "exotic" freebie, bringing the total to 35 chicks. I've built a brooder and am making progress on a 12'x12' chicken house.

How fast can a calf run? Pretty darn fast when she's out of the pen and running free. I've had Isabelle for just over a month now and I'm still getting to know her. Weighed down by heavy winter gear and hampered by snow, catching her was no easy task. Although this escape was made possible by not adequately latching the gate, I'll be looking at fencing around the property to help keep her contained should she make another run for freedom.

December 2008

2008-12-30T17:53:00.003-05:00

Isabelle, a 3-month old Jersey calf, arrived this month. I built a small pen and metal-clad shed for her on the eastern side of the property, with plans to fence a larger western pasture soon. It will be some time before she's ready to be bred and produce milk, but that gives me time to learn about dairy cows.

It will also provide more time to learn the art of cheese-making. I took NCSU's 3-day Farmstead Cheesemaking short course this month and came away with a couple pounds of cheese—and a couple pounds heavier from daily cheese-tastings.

Apple and pear trees went into the new orchard and nearly 5-pounds of garlic was planted in the garden. Cold and wet weather continue to make for a lot of indoor days.

November 2008

2008-11-30T16:51:00.001-05:00

The heirloom apple and pear trees arrived this month. I've scoped out a northeast facing slope beyond the hoop house for the orchard. However, five days of rain have soaked the ground, delaying their planting.

Organic seed potatoes also arrived from Milk Ranch. I'll plant La Ratte and French fingerlings, Rose Finn Apple, Garnet Chile and Yellow Finn varieties come early Spring.

October 2008

2008-10-30T17:49:00.001-04:00

This month brought the highly-coveted, County-issued "certificate of occupancy" for the temporary house. Without it, there is no power to the house. No house number on the mailbox. No legitimacy with the local government. And, as far as I've been able to ascertain, there is no step-by-step guidebook for do-it-yourself building neophytes. What have I learned in the process? You can request a free consultation with an inspector prior to having them inspect. I discovered this important piece of information on the day of the first inspection, right before I failed. Two weeks and another $50 later, all items passed.

September 2008

2008-09-30T16:46:00.002-04:00

I finally have water in the new pond after Hurricane Faye's remnants brought more than 5-inches of rain in one day, closing out a dry August. Hurricane Gustav topped off the remainder with another 5-plus inches. Hopefully I'll be able irrigate the new apple and pear trees I've ordered by pumping water to the orchard. The trees will arrive in November from Century Farm Orchards, which specializes in the preservation of old Southern varieties. Just as I prefer to grow only heirloom vegetables, I think it's important to preserve heritage fruit and nut trees. I'll grow Kieffer and Seckel pears, and apple varieties include William's Favorite, Bevan's Favorite, Aunt Rachel, Grimes Golden, Blacktwig and Old Fashioned Winesap.

Organic garlic is also on the way from Hood River Garlic, with delivery scheduled this month. Varieties include Early Italian Red, Red Toch, Shantang Purple and Susanville.

The eggplant crop is finally coming in—at least the few plants the Colorado Potato Beetles left me. Covered in homemade tomato sauce, the eggplant makes a fabulous parmiagiana.

August 2008

2008-08-31T17:43:00.003-04:00

Up to my eyeballs in tomatoes, canning season is off to a good start. After 8 to 10 hours at my day job, I was back at the farm in the evening for picking sessions followed by canning the harvest. I'll have plenty of vegetables stored for the winter -- canned tomatoes, sauces, salsas, preserves, jams and jellies, green beans and black-eyed peas. Quart bags of wonderberries, squash and melon have pushed the freezer's holding capacity. Fresh melons are still coming in daily, providing plenty of vitamin C.

Putting up food from the harvest provides a satisfying sense of accomplishment and independence. I'm controlling what goes into my food and into my body. No chemicals or pesticides go into the garden. Nothing is genetically-modified. No endocrine-disrupting bisphenol A lining the inside of canned goods. Seems home food preservation is making a comeback as people begin to take charge of their food again. (Read Preserves Become Ideology in a Jar).

July 2008

2008-06-30T16:40:00.006-04:00

As June rolls into July, I continue to enjoy a good harvest. Over 80 lemon cucumbers were picked in just one day. Tomatoes are now in -- grape, paste and Homestead varieties, and melons are about ready. I'm still battling a few hornworms and potato beetles, but so far handpicking is working. Check out my What's Growing page to see the full list.The first wonderberries came off the bush and into a pie this month. The general consensus is that they're better than blueberries when baked.

June 2008

2008-06-30T16:25:00.009-04:00

Zucchino Rampicante turns out to be a VERY prolific squash. The skin is tough, so must be peeled, and the pulp is similar in taste to a winter squash. Cut into slices and sautéed in olive oil, it's quite good. Rare Seeds, my source for heirloom seeds, says it's good for baking so suspect this will turn up in a pie soon.

Lemon cucumbers are also coming in and the bees are very fond of their flowers. Melons are also doing quite well and should be ready to pick soon.

Work has finished on the long driveway into the property, up to the temporary home and back to the middle pasture where the future house and cottage will go. See driveway photos. It took many loads of dirt to raise the driveway's low spots. Because the front pasture had an area that was consistently wet, I pulled dirt from this area and had it sculpted into what is now a one-acre pond—or rather, a one-acre hole. Heavy rains moved in the day after the crew finished the pond, leaving a few puddles of water. It will take awhile to fill. As the rain fell, a dinner-plate size snapping turtle dragged itself to the top of the pond wall and stared out into the hole.

After the dirt-moving equipment finished the first day of work in the pond area, I found a woodland vole running frantically in circles across the large expanse of sun-baked earth left void of its vegetation. I deposited it in a nest of leaves in the small forested area next to the Bee Haven. This brings up a difficult question. One of my goals is to care for and nurture our land, yet heavy equipment, in the process of establishing the farm infrastructure, leaves uprooted trees, bare exposed earth and displaced creatures. How do I reconcile my need to make space for a farm and meet my goal of treating the Earth gently?

Treating the Earth gently is one thing. Sharing my produce with Tobacco Hornworms is quite another. I discovered them feasting on tomatoes and wonder berries. For now, hand-picking the worms appears to work, and as an added bonus, provides fishing bait. I hooked, then returned, a Bluegill Sunfish from the small pond using the hornworm as bait.

The bees now have a third 8-frame super on each hive. I added a queen separator between this box and the last. If they're able to fill the box, perhaps I'll get honey this year after all.

The 100-degree plus heat wave continues, making movement in the garden slower than usual. Sometimes you just have to take a break and paddle for awhile. My son put a canoe out on the pond for just that purpose.

I've harvested the first crops, purple plum radish and summer squash. Tomatoes, beans, peas and more are progressing. Eggplant has been decimated by Colorado Potato Beetle. See garden photos.

Drip tape is hooked-up and I'm now able to water the garden using the generator to operate the well pump.

May 2008

2008-05-31T17:14:00.008-04:00

This week brought the purchase of an old John Deere tractor. Working with a scythe and other "old-fashioned" farming implements has certainly given me a new respect for previous generations that farmed without petroleum-powered engines. I'm glad to have the help.

Finally found time to install the wax frames in a new hive body for the bees, so they've gained a second-story. They'd managed to completely fill the first hive body added in April.

Both the electric and phone companies were out last week, installing underground lines. It will be nice to have power as I'm currently working off a generator.

The septic system is now in the ground. A 1500-gallon tank sits near the site of the future cottage, while the drain field is west of the main house site. Don't get me started on what a waste of money and space this is. See photos.

Deer fencing is up around the 120' x 120' garden and hoop house, and the seedlings are in the ground. While a portion of the drip tape is in place, it's not yet connected to the well, making watering an important issue. I'll have a pump and well house installed soon. In the meantime, I'm manually watering the seedlings using rainwater collected in rain barrels and water hauled from the pond.

I planted the seedlings on a Saturday. By Sunday morning I discovered something REALLY love Suyo Long Cucumbers. I'm researching companion planting and natural bug deterrents. No sign of deer or rabbit intrusion yet.

It's time to hire an electrician. I'm finding it incredibly difficult to identify contractors and get consistent quotes for jobs. In some cases I've been fortunate to get referrals.

Flooring is going down in the temporary house. All three bedrooms are primed and painted. Decks are up on the front and rear entrances.

I experienced my first bee swarm. A cloud of bees filled the air, surrounding me as I worked in the garden. As I slowly moved away from thousands of hovering bees, they flew off in unison. I've been too busy to suit up and go down to the hives to see how many remain.

Located the nest of Killdeer eggs in the un-planted section of the garden. The mother has spent the last few weeks scolding me as I've worked in the field. Fortunately for the eggs, my tiller expired before I could finish that row. Apparently the bird is common in farmyards and likes to lay her eggs in gravel.

April 2008

2008-04-30T17:02:00.004-04:00

Six pounds of bees arrived April 5th. Fortunately, Brushy Mountain provided an introductory lesson that made it easier to transfer the bees from their temporary home into the hives I'd prepared. Otherwise, prying the lid off a box of buzzing bees would have been a scary challenge. They seem to be adapting well. I find it difficult to leave them alone, wanting to peek into the hive to see what they're up to.

Permits have come in from Orange County for septic, well and the first temporary housing. I'm in the process of interviewing contractors to put in septic, driveway and possibly a second pond in the front pasture. What's the best way to build a gravel driveway? How much should it cost? What's the best septic system? Who should I hire to install these features? These are some of the questions I've pondering this month.

I asked a dowser to help me find a spot to drill my well. Using a dogwood branch, he slowly walked back and forth with the divining rod held horizontally at chin height. After a few passes, the branch tugged toward the ground, announcing the presence of water.

A few days later, the well driller confirmed the dowser's talent when he struck water at just 165 feet at 20 gallons of water per minute -- in an area where the average well depth runs 230-400 feet. I should have all the water I need for house, cottage, barn and gardens.

I've hauled more loads of compost from the horse stables to spread over the fields. In the meantime, seedlings are growing inside for planting after the last frost. I'll make it to the 13th Annual Piedmont Farm Tour next weekend, but need to make time to get the first seedlings into the ground.

Spring growth is filling in and the pond in the back pasture is beautiful. I recently discovered the remains of a partially-eaten large-mouth bass on the bank of the pond, so I'm assuming there are more where that one came from.

March 2008

2008-03-31T16:56:00.002-04:00

Still waiting on septic and well permits. The heirloom seed orders have arrived -- over 137 varieties, ranging from amaranth to zucchini. Found a good source of aged horse manure and have begun hauling in loads to till into the soil.

I decided against making the first hoop house out of PVC, and instead ordered a 16'x96' hoop house from Atlas Greenhouse. The parts have arrived and construction will begin as soon as I can get a dry weekend. Discovered the source of the "peent" sound coming from the southern field at dusk. One or two American Woodcock males chirping to attract the females. Listen to the sound here.

February 2008

2008-02-28T16:34:00.001-05:00

The first two beehives have been purchased with bees scheduled to arrive in April. Began researching hoop house construction as a way to get an early start on our seedlings. I also started tilling a 100'x100' area for vegetables, which quickly made me aware of the differences between smaller backyard home gardening and larger-scale farming. I've determined an old used tractor would be a good thing.

January 2008

2008-01-31T22:31:00.004-05:00

This month saw the clearing of trees to make way for a farm gate entrance and driveway culvert, a bush-hogged front pasture and the first 450 feet of farm fencing installed. The land is flush with bluebirds who seemed to appreciate the addition of bluebird housing installed on fence posts.

I were also accepted into Orange County's farm enterprise incubator program -- the PLANT (People Learning Agriculture Now for Tomorrow) at Breeze program is dedicated to revitalizing agricultural activity in Orange County and the Piedmont region through training on small-scale sustainable farming techniques.

December 2007

2007-12-13T10:30:00.001-05:00

The land has been purchased! Now begins the long process of building the farm, a house and cottage -- simple, low-energy natural homes that limit our fossil fuel use as well as other resources. We'll soon be busy clearing fields, improving the soil, planting crops, and building a barn. As the project progresses, we hope to produce the bulk of our food, grown using natural practices, enabling us to limit our dependence on outside sources, and to know where our food comes from. In time, we plan to grow enough to offer community supported agriculture (CSA) to the surrounding community.

Why Local Food?

2007-10-06T22:07:00.000-04:00

Cargill Inc. is voluntarily recalling more than 840,000 pounds of ground beef patties distributed at Sam's Club stores nationwide after four Minnesota children who ate the food developed E. coli illness, a Cargill official said Saturday. [read the story]

The Cargill recall comes on the heels of Elizabeth, New Jersey-based Topps Meat Co.'s recall of 21.7 million pounds of ground beef amid E. coli concerns. The recall - the second-largest beef recall in U.S. history - caused Topps on Friday to announce that it's going out of business.

Why buy local? Food is fresher and tastes better when grown locally. Food shipped long distances from other states or countries sits in the supermarket freezer before you put it in your freezer. Knowing where your food comes from and how it is grown or raised enables you to buy from farmers who avoid or reduce their use of chemicals, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, or genetically modified seed in their operations. Buying locally strengthens your local economy. Buying local food keeps your dollars circulating in your community. Get to know the farmers who grow your food.

Lessons from our Ancestors

2007-07-05T16:01:00.002-04:00

I'm increasingly intrigued by how things were done before we became so mechanized and today ordered a DVD of the BBC series Tales from the Green Valley. The series follows historians as they recreate farm life, wear the clothes, eat the food and use the tools, skills and technology of the 1620s.

In an article on the series, Megan Lane of BBC News Magazine says participants came away with a list of things they would bring back to modern society:

Knowing your neighbors provides social contact, shared labor, skills and produce. If you're willing to help others, then others are more likely to help you in times of need.
Sharing the load with others is mandatory for running a farm.
Growing your own food is healthier.
Reusing and recycling was mandatory, with a use for everything.
Dressing for practicality meant wearing the right clothes to keep warm and dry, or to prevent bites, stings, sunburn and scratches.
Biodiversity protected against unforeseen calamity.
Reliance on any one thing leaves you vulnerable.
No pesticides meant a richer variety of birds, butterflies and other insects, many of which feast on pests.

John Seymour covers much of this wisdom in his book on self-sufficiency, and Dr. E.E. Schumacher writes in the book's forward:

We can do things for ourselves or we can pay others to do them for us. These are the two "systems" that support us; we might call them the "self-reliance system" and the "organization system". The former tends to breed self-reliant men and women; the latter tends to produce organization men and women.

We are an "organization" society, dependent on a vast and complex system to survive. In the U.S., the average grocery store’s produce travels nearly 1,500 miles between the farm where it was grown and our refrigerators. The country grinds to a halt if oil supplies are interrupted. After Hurricane Katrina hit, oil refineries struggled to restore the pipelines that fed the entire east coast (electricity was out and facilities were flooded). The 2003 Blackout stopped subways, elevators and air conditioners as a record heatwave hit the northeast U.S. and Canada.

The point is, we are intricately tied together in this grid and few have the skills needed to survive when the "grid" goes down. My goal is to create a self-sufficient lifestyle (to whatever extent that is possible). It's NOT about returning to an earlier age, but rather learning the lessons our ancestors left for us, while incorporating the best the 21st century has to offer.

Voluntary Simplicity

2007-07-04T16:58:00.002-04:00

In Voluntary Simplicity author Duane Elgin provides a list of behaviors and patterns associated with this approach. I've edited the list for my own use:

Invest the time and energy freed up by simpler living in activities with my partner, children and friends (walking, making music together, sharing a meal, camping, etc.).
Work to develop the full spectrum of my potential: physical (running, biking, hiking), emotional (learning the skills of intimacy), mental (reading, taking classes), and spiritual (learning to move through life with a quiet mind and compassionate heart).
Act in ways that express great care for the Earth and a reverential concern for nature.
Foster compassionate concern for social justice and equity in the use of the world's resources.
Lower my overall level of personal consumption--buy less clothing, pay more attention to what is functional, durable, and observe holidays in a less commercialized manner.
Alter my patterns of consumption in favor of products that are more durable, easy to repair, nonpolluting in their manufacture and use, energy-efficient, functional and aesthetic.
Shift my diet away from highly-processed foods toward foods that are organic, more natural, healthy, simple and appropriate for sustaining the inhabitants of a small planet.
Reduce clutter and complexity in my personal life by giving away or selling those possessions I seldom use that could be used by others.
Use my consumption politically by boycotting goods and services of companies whose actions or policies I consider unethical.
Recycle metal, glass and paper and cut back on consumption of items that are wasteful of nonrenewable resources.
Pursue a livelihood that directly contributes to the well-being of the world and enables me to use more fully my creative capacities in ways that are more fulfilling.
Develop personal skills that contribute to greater self-reliance and reduce dependence upon experts to handle life's ordinary demands.
Downsize to a smaller home that fosters a sense of community.
Participate in holistic health-care practices that emphasize preventive medicine and the healing powers of the body when assisted by the mind.
Consciously change transportation modes--walking, car pooling, riding my bike and driving a fuel-efficient car.