First Year on the Farm

I'm amazed at how quickly last year sped past.  With our "summer of sickness" it felt like I didn't get much done.  It's hard to see what's around you when you're only looking ahead at all there is to do.  And I have a mile long list of projects and plans and plants floating in my mind.

So I'm thankful for my compulsive need for a 'to do' list, for lists and charts of any kind, doesn't matter--I love them all.  Those scribbles serve as a memory marker for this first full year on our little farm.  For all the things we haven't gotten done, there is still a good bit that we accomplished. 

• We've done A LOT of clearing out and cleaning out of limbs and weeds and overgrowth
• We've planted our orchard (at least the beginnings) with peaches, apples, nectarines, plums, pears, figs, oranges, lemons, pomegranate and mayhaws.
• We've added two separate berry patches--one is blackberries and raspberries, the other is blueberries. 
• We set up our grape trellis system.
• We added onto our chicken flock--some were purchased and some were hatched by our broody hen Peeps.  
• We converted some of the barn stalls into a chicken coop.  
• I got my Egg Candling Certificate and am licensed to sell eggs.  
• We created our garden space and planted the first of our crops.  
• We've picked, canned, frozen, and pickled lots of our harvest.
• We've enjoyed going out to the garden and gathering food for the table.
• Jack started his mushrooms.  
• Riley was busy with his photography.
• Meredith raised her ducklings. 
• We've added rain barrels.
• We butchered our first chicken. 
• We've added a new roof, new windows, worked on the house.
• We've created flower beds, chopped down trees. 
• We've loved spending time with family and friends who come out to visit.  
• And these are just some of the things...

 It was a great first year.  And things are still going on and growing on.  Here's a glimpse at a few.

My trial run of wheat.  I love it.

One of the fellas.

Early Peas

Finally, these are the best carrots I've ever grown.  I had almost given up growing them.

See?  Those are the same carrots.

Cabbage

Jack, collecting moss for his bonsai tree plantings.

Lettuce

Beets

Now we're into a new year.  So far this year on the farm:

• Jon and the boys have cut down trees and turned them into firewood, chunks for the BBQ smoker, even some wood slices for me to use in table decorations.
• We've planted elderberries near the raspberry patch.  
• I finished shelling this season's pecan crop.
• The boys built me a new compost bin from pallets.
• I finished writing my farm planting guide and creating my farm 'to do' calendar.
• We've cut back two more big sections of undergrowth in the treeline.  

And this is only the fifth day.  I think this is going to be an amazing year.