June Farm Report

It seems like the time is right to update everyone about what's going on at the Genuine Faux Farm.  So, let's give it a go and see where it lands.

Things Break - Of Course

Every Spring we go through the process of accepting that things are going to break and that there is really never a good time for them to break.  This year, at least, the pressure to produce at the farm is lower than it has been in years when Rob's primary job was the farm.  But, someone needs to tell Rob and Tammy that the pressure is lower because neither of them actually seems to have bought into that program.

At present, Barty (our BCS walk-behind tractor) is in the shop.  We really could have used him before the last batch of rain.  But, we didn't have him available so some things didn't get done.  That's the way it is sometimes.  Rather than list the litany of breakage on the farm, I thought I would instead give myself a "shout out" that I am really not as bad at mechanical stuff as I profess to be.  I've managed to trouble shoot a few problems and come up with solutions in the past few weeks despite the my inner dialogue that tells me I don't know what I am doing.

There is something to building a positive narrative that makes you more willing to tackle problems.  Maybe I should apply that philosophy a bit more often?

Speaking of breaks.  Last Spring and early Summer was Rob's turn to be broken and unable to do farm work.  This year, it is Tammy's turn.  If anyone has noticed Tammy hobbling around for the past year, the news there is that there is a significant problem with her heal and the Achilles tendon.  After a recent trip to a new foot doctor (who prefers not to do surgery), it was pronounced that surgery was actually a really good idea - if only to prevent an emergency surgery if that tendon were to let go on its own.

Progress on Big Projects

There were three big projects we identified over the Winter that were needing to be budgeted so we could get extra help to complete them.  The first of which was to finally get that pit filled in front of the Poultry Pavilion so we could prevent the building from falling apart, begin work on restoring the lean-to on the front and actually walk safely in that area.  As we have mentioned in a prior farm blog report, that work is complete (mostly).  As we all foretold, there has been some settling of the fill and we continue to work to address that on our own.  

The sidewalk from the back of the farmhouse has been completed for some time and the outdoor Farm Supervisory Crew LOVE it.  They have decided that both the sidewalk and the back deck are great places to await the expected presence of farmers - whether they are returning to or leaving the house.  Unfortunately for the farmers, the Farm Supervisory Crew have decided it is OUR responsibility to avoid them if they are in our way and we are carry a heavy load of anything rather than their responsibility to get out of the way.  Here's hoping that can change without a traumatic event.

The third "big" project is to deal with the two large, dead, ash trees that stand prominently on our property.  While we like keeping habitat for woodpeckers, we do not like the fact that branches come down semi-frequently in the wind.  And, the trees don't even look to see if a farmer is nearby when they do it.  Our intent is to leave the main trunks up to a certain height for habitat, but take the rest and chip it up so we can use it as wood mulch.

These were the "big" projects where we hired someone to help because the tools and expertise they possess were well worth paying for.  Maybe we'll talk about the other "big" projects that only involve the farmers in the future.  Although, you could guess one such project - doing the finish work for each of the big projects listed here.  It's just a reality of things.  The big projects aren't actually complete as of now, they need the farmers to do all of the surrounding things that always need doing once a "big project" is completed.

Quick Crop and Poultry Report

As we've mentioned before, this has been a slow start to this year.  Part of the issue is that, with both of us working "off-farm" we can't pick and choose our moments to do work.  Unfortunately, the weather has not cooperated.  The best times to work have been at moments when neither of us is free to do that work.  Even so, we have about three hundred broccoli and about 100 other brassica in the ground as well as about 400 feet of squash and pumpkins.  

The garlic is looking pretty good, if a tad bit behind schedule for this year (like many other perennial crops).  We're just about done harvesting asparagus for the year.  It, too, had started very late - about two and half weeks later than usual.  But we're still going to adhere to our normal schedule for halting harvest to give the plants the full period to rejuvenate for next year.  Who knows?  They may start two weeks early next Spring.

We're still looking to get other crops into the ground.  To do that, Rob took some vacation time this week - and it decided to rain and equipment decided to break.  However, we did manage to get the broilers out on pasture and the hens are soon to be moved to the Summer Cottage.  The turklets are also scheduled to arrive this week.

I guess we'll need to give you another farm report after the weekend, because I suspect there will be plenty of change.