May 28, 2012

Memorial Day, 2012.  We've been so busy, I havn't had time to write or I forget.  The garden is growing, but so are the weeds.  We're looking into getting a Red Dragon propane weed killer.  It's pretty bad out there.  It'll be great to get all the weeds around the new fence lines too.  Looking for one with a dolly for me and a backpack for David. 

With the plants come the bugs.  I have been picking off the harlequin and stink bus and drowning them, but now the worms are getting the cauliflower and I've resorted to sprinkling DE on everything.  Because of the warm, mild winter the bugs are going to be even worse than usual - that means constant attack every day!  Strangest thing in my little kitchen garden by the back door - hundreds and thousands of teeny black bugs are destroying every leaf of the garlic chives.  Not sure if they're mites or thrips.  I've sprinkled the DE all over everything hoping that works - may need to water and drown.  We'll see. 

The new pasture is almost ready.  We're getting the gates ready today and then the electric needs to go on top.  A little more work to do.  Exciting!  Looking for some goats to eat some bad parts to clear.  It is now full of poke berries, locust trees and thistles.  Nasty looking.

Spinach and arugula are done - alot of lettuce is bolting.  I'm trying two new kinds of spinach that is supposed to be good in the summer heat - malabar and new zealand.  Looking forward to getting greens in the summer if it works.  I have beautiful heads of romaine right now.  I have a store in Westlake that is going to buy my produce every week to sell at their little market.  Glad about that.  I can't move it fast enough here at my little farm market opened Thurs., Fri., and Sat.  It's going to take a while to get established.

Pekin ducks are growing and looking great.  They'll be butchered later in June.  Meanwhile, I've enjoyed them so much I'm going to get some ducks as pets for the garden and for eggs - two females and a male.  Should be fun.  We'll be getting two more new kittens in June also.  Peter killed and ate a bunny yesterday - the whole thing!

Olivia is making homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast that look fantastic!  Can't wait to dig in!