BIG News and other Happenings

BIG News:

Fat Bear Farm was recently awarded a USDA grant to build a 30'X72' high tunnel!  Construction will begin within a month or two, and there will be some demolition beforehand.  We're taking out a treeline that's full of pines and scrub.  The treeline stands between our yard and the blueberries.  We've wanted it gone since we moved in.  We will be replacing the pines with fruit trees (mostly peaches), and we'll grow strawberries inside and outside of the high tunnel for market.  I'm thrilled to bits about this project.  It will mean a lot more work this summer, but I know it will be worth it. 

The dozer has arrived!

 These trees will soon be replaced with a beautiful orchard.

We plan on planting the strawberry crowns this fall so that we'll have a full crop next year.  That means that we'll have to take soil samples, amend the soil, plant, and mulch a huge area.   I can't wait!

Round About News: 

The chickens had their first day out in their yard.  Ben's lovely father helped us finish it up, and the ladies are lovin' it.  It took them a few hours to venture out of the house after I opened their little door.  They like chilling out in the shade under the house.  The girls made happy chicken noises and ate bugs all day.

We thought the ladies would like to roost on the old ladder when they get a little bigger.

Cuties under the coop.

The kitchen garden is almost completely planted (for now).  I've left some space for later tomatoes and corn (see sidebar for full listing), and I'll soon replace the salad and wilting greens with peppers.  When the peas are over with, I'll put in cukes.

Kitchen Garden and Hen House Happenings

We've made a lot of progress on the Hen House.  I'm finished with my part of the painting.  I just need Ben to paint the very tippy-top of the front side (he's 6' 3").  Our colors are "Pearl" and "Sauteed Mushroom."

Side view, shutters closed

Shutters open

Back side, chicken door closed

Chicken door open

Front view, almost done

 Interior

The chicks got to stretch their legs for a few hours today.

They're in that awkward stage.

We have a lot growing in the kitchen garden, but it's about to EXPLODE next week.  Stayed tuned.

Our garlic is thriving.

 Spinach is doin' it.

Arugula, my favorite.

The beets are happy.

 Every time I think I'm finished thinning the carrots, more pop up.

 I can't wait to taste the first strawberry.

 I finally got the wineberries in the ground.

Amish snap peas have finally grasped the fence.

Wineberry row.  Support system to follow.

Let's see what's headed for the kitchen garden.

 Eggplant

A sea of tomatoes

 The peppers are growing up.

 Pesto?

 Sweet delicate thyme

 All the squashes and melons are saying "hello" to the world.  This is a Waltham Butternut.

 Our last frost date is April 18th.  I have a lot to transplant during the next two weeks.  At the top of my list are artichokes, a gazillion flowers and tomatoes.  I'll also be sowing sunflowers and corn.  Happy planting!

Nesting

Our baby chicks are due to arrive one week from today, and I'm beside myself with anticipation.  One dozen Black Australorps will grace this house with their female power.  It'll be nice to have some ladies to keep me company.  You know, someone to talk to.  Someone who understands the intricacies of a woman's mind.  Ben and the boys are great companions, but I expect that the girls and I will have a special bond. 

The little ladies will stay in our multi-purpose room for the first six weeks or so.  I'll move the grow lights out of there and put the brooder in front of the window so that they can get a taste of sunlight in addition to the heat lamp.  We should have plenty of time to finish the Hen House.  Ben is doing an amazing job on the construction, and I have BIG plans for the paint.

 This is what the Hen House looks like now:

South Side

I love the shutters.  They're just begging to be decorated.

North Side

 West Side

You can't really see it, but there's chicken wire above the door.  We decided to leave it open for air flow.  If it gets too cold in the winter, it can be easily covered.

I put in two beds last summer to mark the entrance to the trail in our backyard.  They are filled with irises, lilies, and lamb's ears.  I didn't know at the time that these flowers would also mark the entrance to our hen house.  How fortuitous!  This is one of my top ten favorite spots on the property.

We have everything the chicks will need except for the starter feed and bedding for the brooder.  We ordered most of the supplies online months ago, and we've been saving egg cartons since last summer.  We've had chick fever for a long time.

Work in Progress: New Kitchen Garden

I've been working on the backyard veggie garden since last autumn.  Now that all the beds are beautifully dug, I'm mulching between the rows with newspaper and straw to keep the weeds down, the moisture up, and the worms happy.  We did something similar in the asparagus field, but used cardboard instead of newspaper.  Newspaper is tricky.  It flies away with the slightest breeze.  So when working with newspaper as mulch, remember that water is your friend.  I spray the newspaper with a hose after laying every few sheets, and it does the trick until I can get the straw down.

 I love using this method.  I would normally till up the earth before putting down the mulch, but I think it's okay that I skipped this step because the grass hasn't started growing yet.

I was thrilled to see this morning that the Columbine I transplanted during the driest days of last summer has come back!  Also, the artichokes and basil in the greenhouse have germinated.  It has been a pretty good day.

Work in Progress: Hen House

One Dozen Black Australorp hens will arrive next month.  Ben and I (mostly Ben) have been working away at their new home since January.

Two very generous men put on the roof for us along with this set of stairs.  That was a huge help.  They will be paid with free eggs for life!

We orded day-old chicks, so they will spend the first six weeks indoors under a heat lamp.  That gives us until the end of April to finish the construction and painting.  Completely manageable.