Sugar House progress #2

Sugar House progress

This is the site, cleared and leveled, where the sugar house will go....just down from the barn.

Cock-a-doodle-do

Two of my ten little chicks turned out to be cocks. So far so good, but I've been warned the guys like to fight.

Clearing the way for a sugar house

The plan is to have a sugar house built before next sugaring season, so a space is being cleared and some land trenched to improve drainage. Lots of the trees being taken down are being chopped back up and thrown back into the woods, other is being used to mulch the garden paths. The sugar house will be on the west side of the barn, looking out to the west field.

New house for the turkeys

Their long necks pushed them out of the roof of their brooder so Don put together a turkey RV, which they seem to find very accommodating

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The Cherry Tree at the End of the Drive

Last summer this cherry table was a tree. We had to take the tree down to get our certificate of occupancy because it was blocking a safe view distance for getting out of the drive. We took the tree to Lathrop's in Bristal, to turn the tree into boards. Then we took the boards to Vermont Furniture in Salsbury to make it into a table. The table now sits in our entry way.

Water to the Garden

The garden is located over in the west field, hundreds of feet away from any water. But Don, the engineer, devised the beginning of an irrigation system, starting with laying tubing through the woods and across the field, and connecting it up with hoses and valves to the house outdoor faucet so that we now have running water at the garden. What a time saver and back saver. Soon we will have irrigation to all the rows, with valves to regulate each one. This is the best way to water efficiently and only where you need it.

Meet Tom, Tetrazzini, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Meatball, and Noodle Soup

Six little guys arrived today. I fear naming them since, #1 I may get attached, and #2 There's a good chance they won't all survive. They are having a hard time figuring out the eating/drinking part of staying alive and need lots of coaxing. I really think they need their mama. But, hopefully they will all make it till the holidays.

Here's the Dirt

Just in time for planting....Don gets

a spot tilled up for the garden. The soil looks perfect in structure....crumbly but moist. With a little lime added, it should be perfect.

Meet Melanie, Lucille, Harriet, Velma, Beverly, Bertie, Becky, Elsie, Audrey and Sally

Not sure who's who, but here they are, sure to make their namesake proud. Wanna bet the pecking order that will develop?

Pick Your Own

Want some fresh dandelion greens? We've got lots. They're organic, and they're delicious.

Please release me...

The tree experts call it 'releasing' when you try to reclaim old, overgrown apple trees. We have at least a dozen old, fruit bearing apple trees that we are starting to release. I've pruned out old wood, overlapping branches and other tree growth that is interferring with the apple tree getting adequate light. It will take several years to get them back, doing a little bit more each year. We don't want to shock them by doing it all at once!

We Got Our Tests Back

Seven different soil samples were sent in to the UVM soil lab to test for nutrients and pH, and to see what condition are soils is in. I had to take 10 samples from each 7 areas, composite them and measure out a cup to send in. Turns out almost all samples have a very low pH, so I think we'll be applying lots of lime. The test results will help us to decide what to plant where on the property, and how to amend the soil to make it fertile.

Migrant Workers

Our bees are being prepped to go over to Adams Apple Orchards to join the other migrant workers doing some seasonal pollination. Don and Scott opened the hives to check and see if they all had their green cards. They were all abuzz in the hive!

We're Expecting!

Baby chicks that is....