Unexpected Operating Expense

Okay, not everything around here in operating expenses is purely seed and water; I do have another important expense; my MP3 Player. It carries me through the day with anything from classical to movie soundtracks to rock and lots of Country of course. It is the one time I can listen to anything I want to. Well, as I was running through cutting kale yesterday my cord to my MP3 player fell out of my pocket and the music went dead; yes I cut the cord. Oh well, a new set of headphones, but then in all the wind I was constantly using my jacket to protect the greens from flying and thus it went into the wash with the linens yesterday because of this; well I normally take off my ear phones/MP3 player as I come in because it is in my ears; this time it was still in my jacket. It is now drying out on my washer; hopefully to recover. :) Yes, I will be glad when the winds stop.

Celery is something new I tried this year, and not bad!! My stalks are about half this size now (yes, I have not replaced my dead camera card reader yet). I have been enjoying munching on them along with a few snow peas, sorry I just can't help it!! Of course with the temperatures rising it will have to be shaded and I will say a prayer over it that it continues to do well. Next year it will go out in the new greenhouse with the retractable sides so heat will not be an issue until mid summer, but then again this is a crop that will be available through Fall and then again in the Spring. I look at what I am managing to do now and then picture another 100 feet (I only have 40 feet of greenhouse now) and with more time to manage it the possibilities are so fantastic!! I can't wait!! NRCS called to confirm that everything is on track, and that she needs my Organic System Plan sometime soon since I am registered under the Organic EQIP Program; so here goes!!! Thanks again for your support!!

Well I thought I would write a bit while I am sitting here waiting for the onions and radishes outside to defrost! Yes they were under an inch or so of snow this morning, but will be fine in a little while. I also fed the animals and discovered the alfalfa all over the place again even though I tried to protect it with a tarp. Not critter damage, dog damage. My husband built them a huge dog house costing about $300 to stay warm and being typical farm dogs they choose the alfalfa! Like buying kids Christmas toys and they play with the box. Beautiful day, enjoy!

VERONICA FROM NRCS JUST CALLED AND I GOT THE CONTRACT FOR THE NEW HIGH TUNNEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are going to go with a new design using a "wiggle wire" that will allow the sides to be raised for ventilation like the one pictured here!! One major study for Moonstruck Farms and the NRCS to begin very soon!!!!!!!!!!

After days of trials and frustrations, mainly with Honey pictured, including the eating of Swiss chard, roses, plastic bags, coffee filters, standing on chicken coops including the one that is 12 feet high, chasing chickens out of the coop, following me into the coop and standing on the lower set of nests to try and help me collect eggs by standing on the roosts and breaking them, sniffing my ears as I collect eggs causing me to almost drop them, scaring the chickens once again to leave me in a cloud of chicken dust I have finally made peace with her after inspecting a lot of plantings and doing more plantings and using the goat manure/alfalfa/straw for the mulch. The goat mulch is the best. It has retained the most moisture, does not blow away and piles up beautifully around leeks hopefully for nice long white stems. The soil under the goat mulch is not only beautifully moist and dark, but as the mulch breaks down it is nourishing it. Okay, maybe she can stay :)

Radishes

It took me a while but a few weeks ago I finally took the time to tuck in some radishes. The French radishes as you see here are my favorite; nice mild flavor, but I hear that some like the Daikon so they are in the carrot field. Why the carrot field? I know you are dying to know :) Daikon radishes are considered a cover crop not to mention edible and they do an incredible job of breaking up the soil in record time and with the temps going up I am sure they will be ready to eat and have the soil ready for some more carrot seed in no time (some carrots are overwintering). See everybody tomorrow who ordered!!

Basil

Well due to technical problems

this photo is from online, but I do have 72 Genovese basil that were the inspiration for this blog entry. They smell so good in my living room!! I am waiting for this storm to pass, though I did place two out in the greenhouse for a test "pattern". I smell them and all I can think of is farm fresh tomatoes, there is nothing like it in the world! A little basil, tomato slices and balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper; the simplest of foods, yet amazing powers of nutrition!!

Chicken/Sustainable agriculture

This is the Pirociciabo Broccoli that was in an earlier blog. It was mulched with the last of my chicken manure compost and it went crazy!! This is why I do what I do. Nothing like seeing the "Circle of Life"; yes I stole that from Lion King. Whether I am cleaning out a chicken coop like I was yesterday and filling up my composter or processing chickens at the Bashaws it represents the circle of life and sustainable agriculture. There is no waste. At delivery today Phil was teasing me calling me "sadist" because I love being involved in the processing of the chicken, but for me it just completes the process and I get so jazzed to be living what I have always dreamed of. When I am involved in the entire process and I see no waste I feel that I am respecting what the Lord has provided to us. He has provided everything we need whether it be the vitamins and beta carotenes in the vegetables to the protein and vitamins in the chicken. Thank you for supporting me and allowing me to be part of your lives in providing these gifts to you.

My girlfriend, Carrie, asked where I get my motivation. My motivation is in the wind blowing in my hair and seeing a plant alive and well after a snow storm, knowing that I am as close to God as I am going to get for now. It all makes me feel so alive. Feeling my heart pump and blood run through my vessels as I unload a truck load of manure believe it or not feels good. On a lot of days my head hits the pillow and I am out in a second, but it is due to a day of "good work". Of course Harvest Day is always a thrill to see what I have managed to accomplish in my haphazard course. I hope that I bring you all just a little closer to nature on my path.