April 28th began with some of the hardest rain storms since the flood of 2006. It was a reminder of just how bad it was 5 years ago. As I described it then – it was like the hardest 2 minute surge of an already intense downpour, but for 4 days straight!! As the day…
Category Archives: Gardens
Still WInter in Walton
Still no calf from our sweet Jersey cow, Sierra. I am guessing that she will calve when we least expect it. (does that count as expecting it?) The temperatures around here refuse to go above 40 at day and drop to a mean 20 and lower at night. We have used up almost all of…
Hot..too hot for May
May Day Festival was incredible. Tons of kids running around, playing in the creek, doing sack races, great food, farm tour with all of the animals munching grass, great tunes, great folks… a great day.. Thanks to everyone who came and made it a fun event. A special thanks to Laurie and Ira for filling…
Milk for all!!
The KICK STOP – Well, it has been two milkings now, last evening and this morning that I have not been smeared with cow poop from Sierra’s over active leg!! How exciting. I thought that things were beyond hope yesterday morning. Disappointed that the families coming this summer wouldn’t be able to witness the magic…
Carrots and Milk
ok, as promised, here is a closeup of some amazing over-Wintered carrots that will be a part of our dinner tonight. Today we got our first taste of Sierra’s milk…or I should say cream. This photo should demonstrate the ratio she’s putting out right now. More on the details of her first milking sessions in…
Parsnips and Carrots
After a long Winter’s nap our last rows of carrots and parsnips have emerged (at the prodding of a garden fork) to witness the beauty of early Spring (almost). Kate lightly sauteed some parsnips for dinner. Yum. They were truly devine, having had their sugars concentrated by countless frostings throughout the Winter. Carrots tomorrow…
cold frame rebirth
Shoveled the foot of snow off of our defunct cold frame. Our lack of arable soil always leads us to a raised cold frame..which has never really worked the way good ol’ Eliot Coleman claims it will. I understand why..It doesn’t get the benefit of being in the earth and the relative warmth that comes…
Permaculture workshop a success (despite the rain)
We had Andrew Leslie Phillips here for the day. The future Freer Hollow Community Center was christened with the one day introduction to permaculture. Alice, Anya, and Terra set up some tables, we sat on a hodgepodge of chairs, coolers, and wooden chests. Each attendee brought a dish to share at our lunch potluck and…
Pine Lake students
A great group of Hartwick, Pine Lake Campus, students generously donated their time yesterday to pick up tons of rocks, transplant blueberry bushes, and deconstruct an old shed. Our garden has never known so much clear soil!! Thanks guys. Hope we can return the favor some day! heading home after a hard day’s work
