Mishmash #3

And, once again - we do the mishmash thing.  Why?  Because it seems like a way to get a batch of things off my mind and out into the... what is this place anyway?

1. The first batch of chicks for our broilers come tomorrow.  Per the norm, there is always more that was left to the last moment to do in order to prepare for their arrival.  And, as seems to happen most of the time - they'll grow up and we'll figure things out.
2. Speaking of chickens - we were?  Oh, yes.  I guess we were.  We found an auracana hen that had died for no apparent reason today.  It wasn't an old bird, no visible injuries and was one of our more active and healthy seeming birds.  I suppose these things happen.  But, when these things do happen, we tend to get nervous that there is something else going on that we should be responding to.  We shall see - we're at least on alert just in case.
3. The new BCS tiller/tractor is now in our possession.  It's a good looking machine.  With a quick test, we can tell you that full throttle in high gear requires you to keep up at a run.  So, we won't be doing that speed.  I suspect high gear will get very little use on anything but low throttle.  We knew this would be the case, but we had to try it.  And for the record, Rob did not fall down or let go.  He was able to bring it to a stop under control.  So there!
4. Since February 28, we have been able to pick over 60 pounds of spinach out of the high tunnel.  For a point of comparison, we tend to sell spinach in half pound bags at market and people seem to like that amount.  Another point of comparison - a standard rubbermaid tub will hold 3-4 lbs when it is full (loosely packed). It's nice when something works.
5. From the "why didn't we think of this before?" category.  We ordered a self-inking stamp for our logo and address.  Prior to this, we would either print labels or hand write our address when doing mailings or other farm business.  Hand writing takes more time than we want to spend.  Labels take less time, but uses more resources than we would like.  Labels require backing paper, adhesives, etc  AND the ink we print.  It's a little thing - but it's a little thing that will save us time, save us money over the long run and use fewer natural resources as well.  Sometimes it's the little things...
6. Hi Dad!
7. Ah - about that weather....   Last time I posted I tried to use positive reinforcement with Mother Nature.  Unfortunately, I think she suspected that I was trying to manipulate her and she decided we could have more wet and cold.  Sorry about that.
8. The grading is done!  The grading is done!
9. Paperwork is currently dragging Rob down.  One might be surprised how much of it there is to do and how quickly things fall behind.  And, no, others aren't usually able to help.  The process of getting it all together in order to accept the help is nearly as bad as just doing the work.  Ah well.  Guess I post something here instead of doing the paperwork.
10. An interesting, but relatively easy dish to make.  Grill some bratwurst.  Boil up some pasta.  Saute some swiss chard with onions, garlic and whatever you like.  Cut up the brats and combine the whole thing.  Pretty good taste combination.
11. We've signed up our farm as an underwriter for the KUNI public radio station.  You just might hear our farm plugged by them during the second week in May.  We support public radio anyway - so we decided to take it to the next level.   If it gets us a new member or two for the CSA in the process - all the better.