Our apologies for the light posting ’round these parts — and to anyone who’s had a hard time reaching us — over the last week or so.  Half this farm family was out of town for several days.  The other half, along with our wonderful crew, had their hands quite full under early July’s blazing sun: picking, washing, sorting, picking, loading, mowing, picking, irrigating, staking, picking, weeding, seeding … and picking.  All hands are back on deck, so check in here at the farm blog often for news and recipes and a couple new features as well!

And now, the last week (or maybe two) in pictures!

There are no tomatoes hiding under that snow, and even our cold-hardy crops like kale and collards have succumbed to the fiercest of winter’s frosts and geese.  But — after a gloriously warm and lazy trip to the Gulf Coast — we’re keeping pretty busy around here nonetheless!

For us, winter means seed orders and crop plans.  It’s a really creative time in our year: what crops are our stand-bys, reliable in production and taste?  What didn’t grow well?  What have we always wanted to try?  What varieties do our farming friends recommend?  Should we grow more melons this year?  Fewer turnip greens?  A new kind of tomato?

Winter means repairs and maintenance.  Our hoop house collapsed in that first big snow in December, and we’ll need to repair it before the season begins, since that’s where we put our vegetable seedlings to harden off before transplanting them into the fields.  We started construction on a small tool and repair shed last year, but found ourselves sidetracked by our busy CSA schedule and unexpected irrigation difficulties.  We’re hoping to get that built early in the season this year, before things get too busy.  We wrote a bit about those irrigation issues last year; that’s another big job to finish before the vegetables start growing.

Winter means doing our books, making sure we understand well how the business did last year, and using those lessons to make smart decisions about what directions to go this year.

Winter means finding the new season’s work crew.  Reading applications always fills us with excitement and hope.  Who will we spend our days with this year?  How will the farm change with their energy?  And ain’t it grand, that there are folks out there who want to do what we do, grow delicious food and get to know the people who eat it?

Winter means lots of planning and preparation for market and for our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscription program.  Spots are filling up; have you sent in your registration form yet?

Winter also means lots of hot chocolate, lots of snuggles with Arlo, and lots of time by the wood stove.

We hope these last months have been good to you all, and we can’t wait to see you again.

Goodness!  Between preparing for the Winter CSA and preparing for this new baby, posting has been a bit light around here!  Here then are a few recent scenes from the farm to tide you over till we get back on track with the daily photos.

Our days are full and lovely, and we cannot thank y’all enough for making this life possible for us.

It’s with gratitude that we’ve been enjoying some fine roast chicken on these recent chilly nights.  We eat this chicken and think of the good weather, the uninterested predators, our kind neighbors, our rockin’ farm crew, and this lifestyle which allows us to produce so much of the good food that nourishes us.

If you feel up for it, follow a bit of the journey these chickens made by clicking here.

Are you looking for some good folks to buy good meat from?  For now we’re only raising enough meat for our own little family and workers, but here in Pamplin we’re lucky to live near two great families who raise pastured animals on a small-scale commercial level.  Check out Ault’s Family Farm & Apiary and Consider the Lilies Farm.

A week ago Sunday we had a delightful and delicious potluck here at the farm.  We were a happy crew of CSA members, farmers, friends and neighbors … and the kids made sure the chickens had a blast too!

More pictures coming tomorrow here!

Oh, we may be busy getting ready for the autumn vegetables, repairing our irrigation system, and harvesting … but not these boys!  A few days ago we moved the broiler chicks to fresh pasture, where they currently spend most of their time relaxing in the shade and tangled branches of a gnarly old apple tree.  Not a bad way to pass the hours!

Now that we’ve got some good fencing up, Luanne the Goat doesn’t have to be on her tether anymore.  She is celebrating her freedom … by holing up in the chicken coop with the broody hen.

First they were tiny.  Then they grew some.  Then they grew some more.  Looks like they’re still at it!

“Nah, really, I’m good here.  Carry on with what you were doing.”

Seriously!  I mean, mainly because of the delicious eggs, but also because of the serious goofiness factor they’ll bring to your days.

(even young chicks about to enter their awkward weeks)

Remember those new chicks?  They’re two and a half weeks old now, and hoo boy, have they grown!  They’ve still got downy foreheads and backs, but their wingtips have real feathers on them, and they’ve lost much of the down on their bellies.  Anyone who wants to is welcome to come say hello to these boys and learn more about how they grow.  Just give us a call and set up a time!