AROUND THE FARM

The beginning of our orchard.

Not too much going on today here on the farm so I thought I'd post a few pics of the stuff we have growing. This pic is of one of three apple trees we put in two years ago. They were just loaded with blossoms and I should have taken all of them off but I couldn't resist letting them put on a few apples. We put in 10 more apple trees, two pears, two cherries, and two plums this spring. One of the plums didn't make it so I will replant that next year. We will probably add at least ten more apple this coming spring. I'm going to wait and see how things go on the pears,cherries, and plums before I put in more of those.
 We also put in blueberries, raspberries, and gooseberries. None of the gooseberries made it so I will have to try those again next year too. We started strawberries, asparagus, and rhubarb in the garden. I guess that end is now devoted to perennials.
      While we are not certified organic, we do use organic methods of production on all our property. Part of that process involves using hogs to cultivate next years new garden space. We also go over those areas with chicken tractors to add fertility.

A chicken tractor at work.

Piggy cultivators taking a break.

I have to get busy and get another chicken tractor built. This one is getting too crowded. Part of these birds are a Cornish cross type broiler and some are laying hens. Well, part of them are hens and part are roosters as we bought straight run chicks. We hope to be able to include eggs as part of the share on our C.S.A. In the future we will offer pasture raised chicken as well.We are still considering pork as part of our offerings.

    We are really happy with the job the pigs are doing on the future  garden space. With any luck at all they have eaten most of the quack grass roots and it won't be to much of a problem.
   
I will move them out of this area soon, rototill it,and plant oats on it as a green manure crop. We need lots of organic material on this plot to improve the tilth on this heavy clay soil. This plot will be used for corn next year. We will inter plant some pumpkins and squash in it too.

A job well done.