June 2008

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

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.