A Sustainable field of Hope

Whew, we made it!

Aunt Bee — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:12:00 GMT

    Hello farm friends, today I am writing from the cozy confines of our home in Bethlehem, PA. Fern and I have been here since mid-October.   We had an abrupt halt to our farming season. I was absolutely rundown and had caught a cold, became dehydrated, and passed out, giving myself two champion lumps on my head. Thankfully all this happened during a visit to PA, so my family made us stay home to recouperate. We would have been in sorry shape had I passed out at the farm. Joe handled the last week of CSA shares. I have always taken my health for granted, and I'm starting to feel wiser these days. Working in the weather really takes it's toll, plus lugging an extra twenty pounds wears you down even more. I must admit that I've also been suffering from superwoman syndrome. Now that I'm looking back, I persevered in a sopping wet growing season and was able to maintain our CSA, two weekly markets, and some restaurant sales. I need to give myself a pat on the back. It feels great to take a break, for sure.
    We've lots of farm planning to do this winter, since next year we'd like to erect a building.   Looking forward to working with a local builder, starting to define the spaces at our place, and revolutionize my work day.   Just having shelter from the sun for us, the produce, and equipment will be a huge difference.    It's pretty cool how resourceful one can be, but you can lose efficiency as you "make do".
    Fernie just turned one year old a couple of days ago. It's amazing how time flies!! She is a happy-go-lucky kid, happier going on an adventure than playing with toys. She is almost walking, and beginning to verbalize. Wondering how she'll do next year as a toddler.....stay tuned.

The last few miles of this year's marathon

Aunt Bee — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:38:00 GMT

    Hello farm friends! I haven't forgotten about blogging, just a little time crunched. Catching WIFI with Fern on my lap is challenging since she wants to type the blog herself.   And then I'd like to mention that baby slime in the keyboard brings all progress to a halt.
    So what have I been doing with my time? Making sure that we have enough planted to satisfy our 6 member CSA, and then trying to move any extra produce through two weekly farmer's markets, the Madison Bounty program, and a few restaurant sales. To me, it seems elementary on paper. Wait, but I forgot to factor in the extreme rain that we've received. Not only does it make me grumpy, it means that Fern must ride in the backpack ALL THE TIME. It's tough to bend over and harvest spinach with 20 wiggling pounds yanking off your hat.
    We've had good fortune the latter half of the summer into fall regarding labor issues. I've found three young men who do guest appearances, each able to give us a few hours each week. This means that half the potatoes are dug now, onions are stored, and that organic matter has been spread into existing beds. They are all family oriented, so hanging with Fern is not an effort. Just having their company for me makes a difference.
    I miss Joe alot. It has been a tough year in so many ways: weather, economy, ag labor shortage. I've been occupied with fulfilling my commitments, and need to remember to look up at the sky and count my blessings.  We have a great life, and Fern and I are able to be together all day. Sometimes it's hard to get anything significant done, but we have a healthy child and are working on a lifetime project with our farm. Gotta remember to be in the moment and enjoy.

Summer has arrived!

Aunt Bee — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:14:00 GMT

     Ahh, it's July.   We are blissfully pulling giant weeds from our fields and watching most of our crops grow. (See the pictures of the week on our website) The copious rain could relent a little, as I'm done with wearing the rubber boots. The tomatoes, peppers, & okra could use some heat now! Row covers are our friends since they give us a few extra degrees.

    We are preparing for our fourth CSA share pickup this weekend. So far, so good with this endeavor. I enjoy the weekly interaction with members, hearing how they prepared our produce. We look forward to the beans and squashes that are rapidly filling their spaces in the garden.

    It feels very wholesome to bring our child into the garden while we're working. Sometimes we'll wear her, other times she enjoys assorted baby furniture we've inherited. When Fernie rolls off of her blanket, she becomes immersed in the jungle! Oh where, oh where has my baby gone.....Her immmobile days are gone for sure!! She loves watching branches sway in the breeze, & occasionally she talks at the dogs.   Lately I've been hitching Bernie to a snow sled and then taking her for rides which she loves. He definitely has blossomed with his new job, excited to wear his harness and care for the baby. It is a busy day keeping all of our wards occupied!

Sowing before the rain tonight

Aunt Bee — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:47:00 GMT

Ah, it feels good to report the huge amount of seed that I sowed today in anticipation of tonight's rain. Winter squash galore, soybeans, multicolored sweet corn, zucchini, sunflowers, broom corn, and lastly mangels and oats intended for the livestock. This is half of my last big push of direct sowing. Now I can focus on subsequent rotations of all the greens like arugula, spinach, lettuce and even radish. I really lilke growing basil directly from seed in the field rather than using started plants. It is so much more robust with an incredible root system. I confess that I love seeds, so I find myself sowing them all year round. I have a knack I suppose. The other half of direct sowing will include other beans, cukes, and assorted herbs. Hopefully I'll be sowing tomorrow afternoon after harvesting for the first CSA share distribution and the Cazenovia Farmer's Market. All this jockeying goes along with me needing to do all tasks in two hour increments found around Fern's needs. I'm getting much better at it. Woo-hoo!
Our dogs flushed a woodcock fledgling last night during our evening walk around the farm. It was pretty big, with its distinctive curved beak and spherical body. This is the third year in a row that I've seen fledglings. It was fun looking them up in a key to find out their name. We are continually finding new life forms on our farm, even after five years of ownership. We just found a Mapleleaf Viburnum near the goat enclosure, and promptly made sure it was protected from Peach and Plum. It is rewarding to know all this diversity was there, and that it hasn't went anywhere.

Soil stained hands are beautiful

Aunt Bee — Wed, 27 May 2009 14:19:00 GMT

     Whoa Father Time! Where have the last two months gone? Today is a rain day, supposedly when I have time to do ALL of the computer work and phone calling that I haven't made time to do. I haven't been ignoring any of you on purpose!! Please speak up if you need some Bee and Fern time! New (cell) phone number that replaces all others: 315.552.4267.   Also new mailing address: Aunt Bee's Farm, P.O. Box 463, Cazenovia, NY 13035.

    I love being a mom, but it is way more time consuming than I could have imagined.  Sometimes my work ethic competes with mommy duties.   I've conceded to using a whole day to do a few hours worth of seeding or bed prep.   Gone are the days where I would work till dark, and then remember to eat. Fern is good for me since she does make me take breaks. My self worth occassionally takes a hit when all I got done in a day was weeding ten feet of lettuce. I would not trade this experience for anything, though!   Fern is so much fun, and the best little buddy. She likes to ride on the sled that her dog friend Bernie pulls around for me. We are blessed with many trees that she naps under and will someday climb. She is becoming aware of the natural world, forcing me to check-in and "be" in her moment.

    This week's calamity is the incorrect pipe that I bought to build our high tunnel greenhouse. Our wonderful friends from Pennsylvania visited for the holiday weekend, offering to help put up the tunnel. All was going well, till it was time to stand up the ribs of the structure and they looked more like wet noodles. That's when I saw my mistake, AARRGGGHHHH! So, we have several hundred feet of pipe that is cut, but not strong enough to use for this project. We are rallying, using it for little tunnels. And waiting till we have capital to buy the right pipe.  We have lots of plants that are supposed to be growing in the tunnel right now, so they're in a holding pattern till we assemble more little tunnels.

    Add the high tunnel incident to the fact that we are down two hands, and you begin to understand my absence from the computer. My brother declined an employment opportunity with us after several months of being interested, so not only are we down a farm hand, but he also would have been helping us with his neice. Joe works one week in PA, and one week at our farm. My brother would have helped bridge the gap between Joe's availability. Now I'm trying to figure out how to get it all done with fewer people. Hence, we have soil stained hands that care for our perfect little girl, and clasp one another's hand as we fall asleep after a hard day's work. It's a great life in pursuit of our homesteading dreams.

Farming Inspiration

Aunt Bee — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 22:24:00 GMT

    Happy New Year to our fan club! These new parents were in bed by 11:30pm. We are wintering at our home in Bethlehem, PA, and got to see fireworks out of our bedroom window. The red, green, and white display was a real treat with my pajamas. January has found me researching seeds, tractor implements, and marketing options. Joe is searching for the best camper for his little family. I'm looking forward to family camping. Fern is looking forward to riding in wagons pulled by her dog friends.
    We've been checking in with other farmer friends, exchanging magazines and books eagerly. One of them showed me how to carry Fern without using my hands with four different techniques of wrapping fabric. I have begun with the front carry in the center of my chest. She really likes it since we can make eye contact and she can fall asleep to my heartbeat. Now I can type and move about more freely.   What a difference!
    As I prepare to be on the farm with my new family, I have found myself reflecting on my farming ancestors. My great-grandparents Violet and Edgar McElheny used mules to raise grains and hay for their farm and sale. Their farm was sustainable, all their meats harvested on site, served with lots of homegrown potatoes. My Dad remembers a cold room with a giant butcher block table holding an entire slab of bacon. They would just go out and cut off when they wanted to cook. Dad said they always worked hard, ate well, and were happy. Nothing was wasted-Edgar would drink the water in which potatoes were boiled.  I wish I could have known them. Such a wealth of unrecorded knowledge. I'm sure they found their medicines in the forest and in their foods. Lately I've been probing my father about his memories of them and their techniques around the homestead. I'm sure they'd be proud of our choice to build a homestead that is self-sustaining, raising a family with good foods to eat, and sharing the abundance with our neighbors. I wish I could go on a field walk with Edgar, or sit with Violet on the front porch rocking chairs.
     Another farming relative is my grandmother's little brother Charles Krug a..k.a. Uncle Sonny. Throughout my upbringing I would occasionally hang out with him and his trio of small mules Gus, Festus, and Zeke. They pulled a covered wagon that he used in Appalachian Wagontrain re-enactments. He also kept a large mule and a couple of horses. These mules would occassionally go logging in his woodlot. I loved listening to him speaking to his animals, requesting their help rather than forcing them to work. I don't remember them doing any field work, although he did raise small grains. Uncle Sonny died in 2002. After he had worked the mules in the morning, he went in his house for lunch, sat down and passed away. I'm sure he'd love to chip in his two cents right now,. I often invoke his memory when we play horseshoes after a hard day's work.   I'd like to use mule power on our farm someday and treasure the little bits I've learned from him. I expect to add them to the homestead in the next three years. Wish me luck!

IT'S A GIRL!!!

Aunt Bee — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 00:56:00 GMT

Greetings farm fans! We are proud to announce the arrival of our daughter Fern Violet on November 14, 2008. She came to us 4 weeks early, choosing a full moon to herald her arrival. It's been several weeks now, and our family life is blossoming with the new member. She is a happy baby, thankfully. Bandit and Bernie are loving protectors, following me around the house. I've learned to wrap Fern onto my body with a section of fabric, freeing my hands for typing and chores. She is truly growing like the proverbial 'bad weed'.
I'll be spending the next months cruising catalogs for exciting seeds to grow and planning for the spring hustle. We've set up the seed starting chamber here in Bethlehem since I'll be returning in May rather than April like last year. Joe will be joining Fern and I at the farm during the growing season, continuing with his current job part-time. We are in year 3 of our dream of establishing a sustainable vegetable farm and homestead. Hopefully 2010 will see Joe farming full time. I will enjoy his comraderie,as well as his technical and creative perspectives. It will be so much fun with the family together working on our dream. We are still researching which type of home we'd like to build in the next couple of years. We will be camping at our place again this year. I enjoyed it quite a bit the last two years, each year getting better. The stars are incredible at our farm, so many galaxies are visible, shooting stars abound. We are eager to share all the wonder that Mother Nature has to offer with our daughter.

Fall fun on the farm

Aunt Bee — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:17:00 GMT

    Happy Autumn to you all! This is our favorite time of year-great colors, smells, harvests, cider making, and our anniversary. We just celebrated three blissful years of matrimony preceded by 12 years of friendship. Wow, time sure does fly by when you're living your dreams. We are so thankful for all that life has offered us. We're looking forward to sharing our adventures with you. 2008 has been a great year of networking and crop growing, finding us planning for a banner 2009.
    The end of September found us extracting 34 frames of honey, yielding approximately 90 pounds of glorious golden goodness. Our friend Mike found a 3 frame manual honey extractor for our homestead.  Last year my mentor Bob extracted our honey in his honey house, a fabulous facility. We wanted to do it the hard way this year, truly appreciating Bob's help last year. Our honey is unfiltered and unheated, containing all the subtlties that make it so healthy.
    Joe and I spent 5 hours uncapping and spinning the honey frames, teaching ourselves technique along the way. Joe was a great sport, especially when the bees found their way into our shed and were crawling in his hair and up his pantlegs. I am accustomed to their behavior, but it was a new experience for him. Although working with honey is fun and delicious, it does make EVERYTHING sticky. Honey on your glasses does get you down.
    Early October found me wrapping up farm markets and field chores, getting ready to move back to Bethlehem, PA for the winter. Joe and I spent two entire weekends processing all the gleanings from our fields: basil, tomatoes, apples, chard, spinach, etc.  We thoroughly enjoy spending time together in the kitchen, no matter what the task. Salsa, sauce, clear tomato soup, pesto, and applesauce now line our shelves waiting to be exulted in the depths of winter. Now I am home, enjoying the daily company of my husband. Lots of preparation to be done before our 'sprout' arrives in 7 weeks....

Goats join farm team

Aunt Bee — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:34:00 GMT

    Hi friends, hoping September is treating you well. It is cool here, the tomatoes taking their time ripening. I was thrilled to get 18 pounds last week for a tasting event I did at Green Hills Farms grocery store. Last season I harvested them till late October, so cross your fingers for me! The advantage of growing them in the field with turf is that the weeds can actually shield some fruits from the frost!! On the job learning.....
    We recently welcomed two kid goats to the team. They are both San Clemente/Arapawa Island crosses. Peach is the aunt, and is 6 months old, and Plum is her neice at 2 months old. They are so cute!! Peach loves to romp with Bernie, and Plum loves to be held and cuddled. Hence the pic of me holding her on the "Cultivating Happiness" page of our site. Our dairy farming friends gave them to us, and we're honored to give them a home. Plum's cry truly sounds like a baby crying, so I think they were playing a joke on me=training me for the one in my belly. Bernie and I enjoy them, we check in with one another several times a day. They will bleat if they haven't seen us in a while. They add to the farm comedy routine. I will taking them and the chickens to Pennsylvania for the winter, what a ride that will be!
    Time is flying for me, finishing up gardening and farm projects. I consider this fall a prenant woman's marathon till Halloween. I expect to have everything wrapped up and be home by then. Joe and I have great accidental perfect timing regarding the arrival of our child. I'll be home for the last trimester, able to nest and enjoy his company. I'm REALLY looking forward to going home. He and I are very strong people, but we also relish one another's company. I try not to think about how hard it has been this year being apart so much. Some rainy days one's mind wanders though...My body is quickly growing, and the shortening days are putting the emphasis on getting work done. Till next time....Beehive

New farm sport: SKUNK WRESTLING

Aunt Bee — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:02:00 GMT

Hello friends! Yes, I bet you know what Bernie did last night....he shared this fun with sis's dog who is visiting for a few weeks. YUM, two stinky dogs who want to love and lick you constantly. They know I'm avoiding petting them too, so they try even harder to get attention. I arrived at the farm at dusk after the market in Syracuse, and unleashed them for some fun before bedtime. I was in the camper chatting on the phone with Dad when my nose detected something never experienced at the farm. OH NO!! Those two dogs were so happy that they had chased something, running to me to share the good news. We're going to take a swim with some homemade skunk wash this afternoon....wish me luck!!
Regarding the swarm, I managed to get the queen in the box, so they stayed!! Yeah!! I let them get comfortable for a day, and then moved the box to the beeyard at dusk the next day. Bees are heavy! It was a challenge to carry the box down a twiggy path, through the field, and into the beeyard, about 150'. Three bees stung me on the foot of all places, while I was walking. My hands were full, so I couldn't even soothe myself till later. I'm wondering why they swarmed so late, but elated that they're staying at the farm.

Bernie the dog is secretly vegetarian; Bees on the move...

Aunt Bee — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:42:00 GMT

        Rain, Rain, Go Away!! The abundant rain has made the cucumbers ripen quickly these days. I was throwing the overripe ones over my shoulder into the bushes. Bernie surprised me by searching out these fruits and eating them!! He really likes cukes. He also enjoys onions and potatoes. Yesterday he ate the split shoulders of a tomato that I had throw in the compost bucket. He was sneaking potatoes when Dad and I were harvesting last week. I just found the half eaten potatoes today when trimming the rows.  Bernie is such a joy to have at our farm.  He has really blossomed and calmed down in the six weeks that we've had him.
      He is truly earning his keep: A stranger stopped at the intersection a few days ago and was out of the car approaching the garden. He let out some fierce barks and met them before they walked 20 feet. Hackles and muscles were definitely a deterrant, since this person did not stick around. The out of state license plates made me think this person could have been lost, but approaching a lone woman in a field in the country is not the best way to find your way. Bernie came out of the hedgerow at a run, and it was awesome to view. He knew the property line, and stood his ground till they pulled away. I am so proud of him.
    On the bee front: We were prepping for market yesterday and heard a LOUD buzzing sound. Lo and behold, a swarm was moving through the air about 15 feet from the ground. I was excited to see this phenomenon, and dismayed since they were probably splitting from one of our colonies. It is late in the year for them to be swarming. Redemption, they rested in a buckthorn tree on our property. This morning I cut a path in to the tree, set up a hive body, and gave the tree a hearty shake. The third shake gave the desired result, and a blob of bees fell into the box. Many bees were flying around in alarm. I'll go back later today to evaluate if the queen fell into the box. If she did, the other bees will stay with her, and "TADA!", a new colony for free. Cross your fingers for me!!

NEW YORK IS BECOMING TEMPERATE RAINFOREST

Aunt Bee — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:09:00 GMT

    GLOBAL WARMING CONFIRMED: NY DECLARED TEMPERATE RAINFOREST. I feel like I'm in the Alaskan panhandle this summer with the occurances and volume of rain we've been receiving. The temperate rainforest is a natural wonder, but I thought it was only up north... at least our crops have escaped any fungal outbreaks thus far. I am happy for the rainfall, since our soil drains well. It also holds moisture well, so it is rare that we complain about moisture.
    If I were to complain, the tomatoes COULD use a little more heat. Lately our evening temps barely crawl above 60 degrees. It makes for great sleeping weather for this farmer.
    Dad and I dug some blue potatoes yesterday, they were lovely!! It was a scavenger hunt for us, since the blue potatoes blend in well with mud on them. Last year's crop suffered from scab, but these were beautiful in condition and size. We also worked on the tractor, replacing the on/off switch which had corroded contacts. No wonder some days it just wouldn't start for me. I thought it was the gnomes playing tricks on me. He also reattached the brush hog wheel; I had managed to shear the bolt that held it on. Easy fixes for him, but huge improvements for me! For his reward, I bought him some gasoline so that he could go for a tractor ride and mow brush. He looks so content when cruising up and down the hill, flushing rabbits for Bernie. We exulted in tomato sandwiches with cucumbers on the side for dinner. What a joy!!

We're expecting a new farmer on team!!

Aunt Bee — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:52:00 GMT

    Hello farm fans! It is a beautiful July morning here in central NY! I spent the morning sending in applications for additional markets in Syracuse, and one for the Madison County Ag Expo. We're expanding our marketing efforts and hope that the Syracuse markets work out. So far, I've found the clientele in Syracuse area very receptive and happy to meet the actual person who grew the great veggies and herbs they're buying. Also going to give the Cazenovia Farmer's Market a try this summer. It would be more sustainable for us to sell there on Saturdays rather than travel to Hamilton. It is a smaller venue, but our proximitiy begs us to try it.
    So, regarding the title of this entry....We'd like to officially announce the impending arrival of our child in December! Yes, Beck is pregnant!! Apparently Joe planted some seeds in March before she had departed to the farm. We're super excited, and marvel at the accidental perfect timing.  I will continue farming till October, and then head to Bethlehem for my last few weeks of pregnancy, delivering in Pennsylvania. Winter will find this farming couple enjoying family time and making plans for the spring. I will start seeds at home, then the babe and I will head to NY in May to begin sowing and transplanting. I'm very thankful to spend farm down time nurturing our new family. It is a magical sensation feeling "quickening" for the first time. We look forward to raising a child on the farm and introducing it to the intelligent, pro-active group of people in our circle of friends. We already know the sex, so if you want to know, write me an email at auntbee@auntbeesfarm.com. I don't want to divulge the infomation to those who want to be surprised!
    Our livestock collection is increasing this week with the addition of 12 Wyandotte chickens. We ordered them online and my sis has been caring for them till yesterday. Their first night went well, and Bernie is wondering why he can't go in the chicken tractor with them. They're slightly larger than songbirds right now, and will grow to be 8-10 pounds, yielding eggs and meat for the farm. We expect to harvest a few birds before winter, and then keep the rest for egg production. They're so cute with their black and white markings. We're starting to figure out which ones are roosters and hens; the little combs are beginning to fill out now. It has been well over 10 years since I've kept birds, so it is fun to observe them feeding and scratching. I also look forward to hitching Bernie to the chicken tractor, using his strength to move it to a new spot in the garden. He wears the harness with pride and will enjoy his new job.

New farm dog joins team

Aunt Bee — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:23:00 GMT

Happy Summer friends!! As you can tell by my lack of posts, this farmer has been busy!! In addition to the Hamilton Farmer's Market on Saturdays, I've added a Wednesday venue at Green Hills Market on South Salina St. in Syracuse. This is a new venue, with tons of promise. The crowd is eager and diverse, perfect for a vegetable grower. I sold out in two hours yesterday, so I spent the rest of the time visiting with the other farmers. Root crops like radishes, beets, and onions are maturing, and many herbs are ready for harvest. Assorted greens have carried me over the last two months. I am definitely looking forward to tomato and potato season!! Ahhh, the basils are getting ready, 9 kinds this year!!
Big news: we adopted a dog!! We found him at Wanderer's Rest in Canastota. He's my favorite kind, a mixed breed. Bernie is approximately a year old, lean, happy guy eager for a job. We've had him for a week, and he's a shoe-in!! He is doing great managing his independence, scouting the garden and checking in with me. He comes when he's called, even with the new name I gave him. (He was formerly Woofers-a farm dog deserves a more dignified name!!) He gets along great with Bandit, and loves to ride in the truck. I think he has alot of love to give, and needed someone who recognized that fact. He's gonna be a great farm dog. This is our first time adopting, and we're so impressed. Looks like he had spent alot of time on a lead line, judging by the thin spot on the D-ring of his old collar. Glad to give him a better life. Iris and Hazel would have liked him, I'm sure. Looking forward to sharing stories about him over the years. Thanks for all of your love regarding the passing of the ladies. It was a tough time for me, and your support helped me get through it.

Happy June to you!

Aunt Bee — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:00:33 GMT

    Hello friends! It's been a few weeks, sorry about that fact. I actually had a hard time writing since the passing of the dogs. My attitude has gotten better. I've been working off farm more these last few weeks, time moves faster that way. I miss them terribly regardless of the date. I've been passively looking for another dog to no avail. That's fine, it will find me.
    I've been selling assorted greens, chives, and mint for a month at the Hamilton Farmer's Market. It is great to be selling so early this year. Previously July was my earliest appearance. We have so much in the ground right now! It's thrilling to dream about the three tables I'll be using the display our great sustainably grown produce in just a few weeks. Our fingerling potatoes are 10 inches high already. I'm so proud of them.
    Our tractor has been doing a great job keeping the weeds down around our property. I really enjoy taking the old girl for rides and getting something done as well. A friend gave me an old table umbrella that I need to retrofit to the tractor, then I'll be stylin'!
    Bee back in a week,    Bee

The dogs were together...RIP HAZEL

Aunt Bee — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:24:00 GMT

Dear Friends,
     The worst case scenario has come true.  It appears that Hazel and Iris were hit on the same evening, I'm guessing by the same person(s). The neighbor kids found her in a deep ditch literally across the road from where Iris was found. In my grief over Iris, I never looked over there for Hazel.  I brought her to the farm on Friday evening, placed beside her mother. I am overcome with loneliness and grief. I'm trying to understand the greater significance of the situation, why it had to happen now, why two great dogs in one fell swoop.
    Joe and Bandit came to the farm this past weekend, their visit a wonderful spirit lifter. We downloaded many photos from our digital camera, and found a great family photo of us and the three dogs. I hope to put this on the website/blog soon.
    Two things bring me solace right now. 1. Another great dog will find us 2. The person(s) who hit our dogs will get what is coming to them. They knowingly hit them, and then kept driving, never stopping.   The cowards could not even own up to their mistake.
    I normally live a "Forgive and Forget" philosophy. I feel a pang of seething anger right now. I hope it recedes with time. Thank you for all of your well wishes and love. It is wonderful to know that we have such great people on our team.

Celebration of Life...RIP IRIS

Aunt Bee — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:54:00 GMT

Dear Friends,
    We feel great sadness to report the passing of our original Rodent Acquisition Specialist, Iris. She went out in style, chasing down a scent trail, failing to look both ways before crossing the road. This occurred on Saturday night May 3. I buried her at the farm on Sunday, barely enough room in her grave for all the tears that fell. Many of our friends have commented that I'm a tough gal and the best person for this task. Maybe, but that doesn't make it any easier.
    Iris was a free puppy in a cental PA newspaper in August 2002. I never intended to get a puppy, let alone one with lab in it. The puppy's family ended up knowing my dad when he and mom were expecting me! 27 years later Tom's daughter shows up for an orphan puppy. She wandered over to me, and I was hooked.
    She and I were inseparable; I happened to have 2 part-time jobs who both let her come to work. She also charmed the staff at the facilities where my mother was receiving care for the last stages of breast cancer. She would quietly rest in mom's room, and then cruise the floor bringing joy to the nurses and other patients. This dog had a gift for reading people. She even charmed my mom, who reluctantly admitted she was a good dog. That was a tough sale!!
    I'm crying in the coffee shop right now. I just can't believe she's gone. This 45 pound scrapper saved me from deep depresssion after mom passed. She and I had many addresses and adventures over the last nearly 6 years.    Iris was a tough working dog, loved to ride on the kayak, and snooze in the sun. Her ball drive was so strong, even high energy kids would tire from playing with her. I really enjoyed sharing her with our family and friends. Her many aunts and uncles always inquired when Iris would be available for a sleep over.
    It's been a few days since her passing already. I couldn't even think about writing this any sooner. Here's the kicker: Iris' understudy was with her on the scent trail. Hazel hasn't been found yet! I'm doubly heartsick over my best friend's passing and Hazel's missing status. My neighbors and I have blanketed the countryside with fliers and word of mouth. I've posted an ad in the local newspaper. The dog warden and shelter have been notified. Irrational Bee drives around everyday looking for her in a ditch. Here's what rational Bee thinks happened: 1. Hazel charmed a family with children, who were delighted to find a trained dog. 2. Hazel is having fun eating deer carcasses and chasing wildlife in the big open country out here and will eventually come home.
   And finally, to rub salt in the wounds: The rodentia around the farm know the dogs are gone! Every corner I turn, there's another one readying the assault on the farm.
   We will always share our life with dogs, and look forward to our next one. This double sided loss comes at a tough time of the year...lots of rodent pressure, and limited time to train another dog. This experience is like mourning a person...Iris left some big paws to fill.
Bee

Welcome May!!

Aunt Bee — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:04:00 GMT

    Hello friends! Let us celebrate the first day of May! Let the outdoor planting season begin! I know this comment may seem premature for those who experienced last night's frost, but there are foods that will take some frost. Potatoes, peas, spinach, arugula, rhubarb, and chives to begin the list. I am thrilled that we recently received some overdue rain. I've been sowing for weeks, and nothing wanted to germinate with the 85 degree arid conditions in April! Ahh, cooler temperatures.
    The Hamiton Farmer's Market begins this Saturday May 3. It will be nice to visit with our other vendor friends. We enjoy the community that attends the market as well! Our customers are so supportive of our endeavors and curious about our offerings.   We're looking forward to a fabulous season of plenty.
    Our farm recently acquired a little Ford tractor!! My father brought it from Pennsylvania.  My uncle found it in a hedgerow, it just needed some TLC. My family has a gift for finding the needle in the haystack, the diamond in the rough. We're so excited! It has a bucket on the front, and has a brushhog for mowing. We will also be adding a plow, discs, and harrows to the collection this year....they all didn't fit on the trailer! My family in PA really misses us, but shows their love with equipment. We are so thankful for them!

Burdock adventures

Aunt Bee — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:20:00 GMT

    Good Morning to you!  Iris, Hazel and I have found a tried and true method for ridding the farm of burdock seed balls--roll around on the ground with each other, enjoying the sunshine.   The seeds really stick in Hazel's longer fur, and my fleece jacket is covered in them. Arrgghh! We're having a great time despite being covered in this stuff.
    The 55-65 degree weather has been spoiling us, finding us burning brush from the orchard prunings, pulling out the old fence and digging out burdock plants and noxious weeds. The farm is shaping up nicely! Sunday found my sister, niece, and nephew working with me to make a new bed to sow greens. We also covered our low tunnel greenhouses with salvaged plastic. This hard work allowed me to sow chard, spinach, arugula, radishes, mesclun, and assorted lettuces on Monday. Yesterday I made two more beds, double digging them to get out all the perennial weed roots. I'm excited to transplant some herbs into this area.  First in these new beds will be bronze fennel, chives, and thyme. Peas will be going in today too!
    The key to organic agriculture is crop rotation combined with cover crop integration. These techniques help a farmer keep ideas fresh, always changing the position of crops in the field. The winter rye that I sowed last year is growing fast with this week's warm weather.   I had also sown oats, which did a good job of shading out weeds last year. It has died down and is now a thin mat covering the soil nicely. We have an entrenched weed bank, giving us a challenge for years to come. I'd like to start using a scythe this year to control weeds on the edge of the garden. I'll keep you posted on my progress.
    Last but not least: All our bee colonies have made it through the winter!  Joe and I were so excited to open the lids, finding little ladies busily going about their duties in all the hives.   Today I'll be visiting with two of my beekeeping friends, helping them manipulate their hives. They are masters who have taken me under their wings. I look forward to being their understudy for years to come!

HAPPY SPRING!

Aunt Bee — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:16:00 GMT

    Hello Friends! HAPPY SPRING!! I'm already claiming that time is flying, and it's only been spring for two weeks! I just arrived at the farm yesterday , April 1, after a lovely winter break with Joe in Bethlehem. It will be tough being away from my best friend/ husband, but we're both motivated to get the farm growing again. Both of our female dogs are staying with me at the farm, the male with Joe.   The girls are already earning their keep scaring away voles and rabbits!
    I'm happy to report that we have a camper now at the farm. It's great to have a weather tight place to do office work, store food, and sleep. Last year my tenting adventures were spoiled twice by hailstorms, whereby I bailed ice balls/water off of the tent before setting it back up, at night! I also have a laptop now, so I need to be vigiliant about caring for it. I am hard on equipment, in case you didn't know! The camper is our office, and definitely a welcome addition to our operation.   Last night was our first night staying in the camper. It was very windy, but not bad curled up with two dogs under the covers!
    I met the Madison County Ag Economic Devleopement Specialist yesterday in Morrisville. Becca is awesome-dynamic, informed, and passionate. We had an impromptu meeting that was full of inspiration. I look forward to working with her. She has been applying for and receiving grants for several programs in our county. I'm glad to have her on our team.
   Seed starting is foremost on my mind, both in flats, and under low tunnels. Ah, seed dreams are lovely. Lots of tweaking to be done to the equipment to make it perfect. See you soon,    Beck