| March,
2005. As hints of green begin to adorn the
landscape, the yearning to open up the earth and insert seeds
emerges with the coming of a new season. However, it is nature
who dictates when one can begin playing in the soil, and it
seems that she is still reveling in wintry weather for the
time being. So, as I patiently wait for the thawing of the
ground, I spend most of my time seeking to keep the ladies
content. That is, my small herd of milking does and 99 hens.
The seeds are now ordered and arriving in intervals. Most
of the vegetable seeds are an open-pollinated variety, with
the exception of red bell peppers. This being my first year
growing peppers, I decided to play it safe and stick with
a quicker-setting variety that does well in cooler climates.
One of the local health food stores has specifically requested
red bells, so I went with the hybrid to improve my chances
of a successful crop. I also decided to order flower seeds,
hoping to find time to make a few bouquets to offer at the
farmers’ market.
I am still unsure of my seed calculations, as I am a novice
at growing for market. Because the farmers market is relatively
new and hasn’t had a consistent supplier of vegetables
in the past, I am not sure how much produce I’ll be
able to peddle. Also, I was recently approached by the owners
of another health food store who would like a supply of local
vegetables. Really, I have no idea how to project the amount
of produce I will need to supply and if I have enough seeds
to fill the demands. This season will be a huge learning experience
in that respect. With successive planting, I should be able
to increase certain crops to match demands if I find that
my calculations were low.
As far as starting seeds, I am a bit behind schedule with
broccoli, cabbage, and a few flowers—which should have
all been started March 15. I had hoped to have my hoop house
up weeks ago, but again nature reminds me that it is she who
is really in control. The snow and winds have put a halt to
my goal of having the greenhouse erected and my seeds happily
germinating away inside.
This has also caused me to rearrange my plans for chicken
housing. The original idea was to keep them in a portion of
the hoophouse, but being as they were due to show up on the
farm last Sunday, I had to create a space for them in the
barn. So for now the hens and goats are cohabitating and seem
to be getting along just fine, even if the goats end up wearing
chicken manure more often then they would like. I purchased
the flock from a local chicken “pro” who was getting
out of the egg business. He told me to show up early laden
with burlap sacks and we would catch us some chickens. Soon
we were filling potato sacks with birds and, though they fiercely
fought being plunged into the “gunny”, once inside
they were quickly pacified. All but one (rest in peace) transported
well this way.
Two hens have been placed in a makeshift bird hospital because
their eyes were swollen and secreting a bubbly fluid. I believe
this is due to an imbalance of carbon to nitrogen in their
previous bedding. The eyes were getting burned by high levels
of ammonia. Also the flock’s production is down, with
an average of 25 eggs a day.
I’m trying to figure out the best feed rations to promote
productivity but realizing it will probably take some time
for them to adjust to their new home. They don’t seem
to appreciate the nesting boxes I built, but instead keep
sneaking off and depositing the goods in various nooks and
crannies in the hay stack and goat feeders. Both health food
stores want me to supply them with eggs now, so I hope that
these little ladies turn it up soon. Most likely I will have
to increase the size of my flock to supply both stores and
the handful of customers I already have.
As for the four goats, they are pumping out around 21 pounds
of milk a day. I have rented a buck, but it is late in the
season and there doesn’t seem to be much lovemaking
going on in the barnyard. I am currently looking into regulations
on selling chevre at the health food store, as they have expressed
interest there.
The scene is ripe for organic farming in this valley as the
local market is craving whole foods and there are not many
producers. I have been blessed with many opportunities opening
up just as I was ready to get in. Now if my funds, the weather
and the animals all cooperate, this should prove to be a successful
season. 
|
