March 2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.