Here’s a view of the west-facing side of the drive shed that I seldom notice, although it’s right beside the gate to the market garden field—during the growing season, I walk by it several times a day. It’s the little window that I always find mysterious, and that I might or might not remember… The upper level of the drive shed is a dim jumble of well-picked-over storage, stuff gathered over the decades, including some old, horse-drawn plowing gear. I haven’t been up there much, no need. It’s like that for a few areas of the farm. I’ve only been through the woods and down to the natural pond a handful of times (well, it is kinda boggy for most of the year). I’ve yet to explore the unused silo. And there are just so many ANGLES to view the place from, that I didn’t get to much in the daily market garden routines—other spots I’ve walked by literally thousands of times. As this farm gets set to move into new hands, I figure it’s a good idea to intentionally snap a few extra photos. For the record!
Veggies
Flashback: Harvest share!
Round about this point in the year, especially with the frozen, white winter we’ve been having this time around, it’s easy to forget what the full-on summer veggie garden is really like! That’s the beauty of living in a cold-weather climate—you get to marvel again and again. As a reminder of what the other end of the year (usually) looks like in the market garden, here’s a snapshot from a harvest past. Fresh veg. I guess it’s what all this fuss is about! :)
A little winter rain…
Just when all the cold was getting a bit monotonous, we get some crazy weather changes to keep things interesting. By late morning, the packed snow on paths had turned to ice and puddles. Today was the first of two days forecast to be “unseasonaby warm,” with rain and 50°F+ (10°C+) daytime temperatures. By tomorrow, most of the snow will be gone… The day after, it’s back to double-digit subzero and…more snow! Meanwhile, this morning I was happily sliding around outside in a T-shirt and shirt…!
Christmas bear…
Hmmm… Christmas. I don’t think I’ve heard more people unenthusiastic about the Holidays than this year. Of course, here in the country, I run into a tiny fraction of the people I used to when living in cities…so maybe it’s different right in amongst the masses! For a variety of reasons, the Farm was extremely quiet this time around. I looked at the Tree—it’s been up since early December—as a sign of the times. Until a couple of years ago, the decades-old tradition was to cut one from the strip of woods at the north end of the farm. Then, suddenly, we got an artificial tree. It’s deluxe, tall and slender, and a perfect fit for the narrow corner between two doorways in the kitchen-dining room. It’s the first thing you see when you enter the house. I don’t remember why the change, it wasn’t me that did it. I think it was just convenience winning out over a dwindling connection to the tree-cutting tradition. In any case, the new guy is a fine looking facsimile tree that needs no watering, poses no fire hazard (I think it’s fire-retardant, you know how crispy these old farmhouses can get), and due to location delivers way more upfront Christmasy ambiance than the real trees used to from their old spot further back in the house. The decorations are elaborate and cheery as well, with a designer old-time feel, the classic balls and streamers and tiny Christmas lights, along with tons of little, antique-looking doll ornaments: puppets and wise men, songbirds and Santa bears. They’re all mostly plastic, but quality, non-plastic-looking plastic. All in all, a beautiful (and practical!) MODERN farmhouse tree that should last for years and years! Great. Then again, it’s up to people, not trimmings, to make the season. Happy Holidays to all! :)
Snow days
Another day, another 6″ (15cm) of snow. This time, it came down in a proper, visibility-reducing mini-blizzard for just a while. I haven’t been listening to the news, which includes weather news, so I’m not sure whether we’re setting any records for early, wintry behavior, but compared to the last five-six years, this is something different. White Christmas, coming up!
Visiting down the road
Ryan, Corrie and their girls moved onto their farm this summer, new to the experience, and they’re already eating their own chickens, turkey, lamb and eggs, and managed to get some veggies out of a late-planted garden. CSA members last year, next year, they’ll be growing their own. Pretty cool! Yesterday, Lynn came by, and we dropped in for a visit that included home-baked muffins and bread, pots of coffee and tea, seed catalogs and my first encounter with The Lorax. Hmm… A lot different than the usually high-octane “visiting” from big-city-living days not so long ago. More and more over the last couple of years, I’ve realized how much tiny farming is actually about people, and simply farming a piece of land is only the half of it (of course, the all-important “we need to eat” half!). It’s exciting. Change is in the air. Something is happening… :) (I forgot to take photos, so today, Ryan sent along one of his.)
Off-season visit
Lynn and her friend Ian dropped by for a visit today. Not quite the same as hanging out on a warm and sunny afternoon. But it was fun listening to Lynn happily chat about the growing season as we trudged around in calf-deep snow, visiting the half-buried greenhouse, checking on the chickens in the chilly chickenhouse, saying hi to Jack the Miniature Donkey in the cold barn. Memories of the summer’s farming settled over the whiteness everywhere. On this tiny farm, it’s definitely the off-season…