35. And Now It’s Fall

So where have we been?

Like so many farmers, simply put, I was busy. It’s hard to devote a couple hours a week to blogging, picture taking, and editing when there is so much to do. Essentially, I don’t value the time spent on posting updates as much as I do tending to the animals and plants on the property. Sue me.

The Great and Powerful Midge atop her throne.

So what’s new?

The geese are almost fully adult, playing at mating, splashing around in little pools, and honking loudly at every person, animal, car, and leaf that blows through the farm.

The chickens are laying up a storm, and babies keep appearing, trailing their mothers after almost a month of being disappeared under some weedy brush somewhere on the property.

The produce is consistent and delicious. My fall garden is full of cabbage, kale, broccoli, brussel sprouts, squash, pumpkins, potatoes, pac choy, cauliflower, carrots, lettuce mix, spinach, radishes, and collards. It is glorious.

My plan this season, as it gets cooler, is to continue to tend and plant, covering the crops as the temperature drops. I’d love to extend my growing season into winter with the previously-mentioned cool-weather-loving crops. And then, it’ll be maple syrup season, and after that, spring. Whoa. I guess that’s how days and weeks get away from me: I’m always planning on the next step, the next crop or amendment. I suppose part of why I love farming so much is the fact that there is always something to do, some improvement to make, something to learn. Every day of it is different, with secrets and surprises to discover while poking around in the dirt.

News on the house is that we are in the middle of a major, whole bathroom renovation. A leaky facet turned into opening a wall, which led to a discovery of rot and mold (of course), that then resulted in our tearing everything out (i.e. tub, shower, walls, floor, ceiling, toilet, sink) to create an entirely new bathroom. Or at least, that’s the plan. Presently, we’ve replaced the floor, walls, ceiling, toilet, and light fixtures (there I go using that pesky pronoun “we” when it is ALL the Hubs totally killing it on the remodel, teaching himself as he goes how to do all of the things: rewiring, drywall, the Schluter System, built-ins, and tiling). Presently, we are showerless and have been for the last month. Taking showers beneath the stars with the garden hose was fantastic and beautiful when it was ninety degrees during the day, but now that it’s in the 40s when the sun goes down, my desire to be naked and wet outside has dimmed. Go figure. Luckily, a farmer friend down the street allows us to schedule showers at her house.

The biggest news we have, however, is that we have added another member to our family. At the beginning of spring, we welcomed a young woman into our home who was on the brink of homelessness, and over the months of getting to know her better, have absolutely fallen in love with her. She’s learning farm skills, helping the Hubs with home renovations, taking care of all of the animals, and learning how to be an adult in the world, slowly but surely. It is such a privilege to know her and share our life with her. She’s the cat’s pajamas.

Oh yeah, I quit teaching, paid off my car, now have a day job working for the computer overlords of Amazon (you know, to pay bills), and am excited about my orchard expansion this fall and spring. All-in-all, a solid six months.

So that’s the last six months. Doesn’t seem like a lot, but it’s a life, one that I love.